DeLonghi Eletta Review: Do You Know What’s Missing?

It wasn’t until recently that I realized there was a glaring omission in my super automatic espresso machine guide: a DeLonghi Eletta review.

My completist brain just couldn’t handle that, so I’ve decided to go ahead and take a closer look at this intriguing coffee machine. I say intriguing because I’m interested to see how the DeLonghi Eletta fits into the Italian manufacturer’s lineup.

Is this automatic coffee maker really all that special, or is it eclipsed by DeLonghi’s more high-profile offerings?

DeLonghi Eletta Automatic Espresso Machine Overview

First things first, I’d better clarify exactly which model I’ll be looking at during today’s DeLonghi Eletta review. Those of you who are already familiar with the brand will know that DeLonghi just can’t resist the temptation to release seemingly endless variations on a theme.

Add in the fact that you’ll be tearing your hair out trying to determine the difference between a string of confusing serial numbers and things can get infuriating pretty fast.

Don’t worry, though; I’m going to keep it simple by looking at just one of the several Elettas out there – the DeLonghi ECAM45760B Eletta. To keep things even simpler still, I won’t mention the other variations. You have my word on that!

Regular Coffeeness readers will know that I’m a big fan of DeLonghi espresso makers. In my experience, even the most expensive DeLonghi coffee machine represents exceptional value in terms of features, durability and quality of espresso and milk foam.

When looking at the manufacturer’s mid-range offerings, I’d say there isn’t another brand out there that can compete with what DeLonghi packs into a machine at that price point.

That’s why I find the DeLonghi Eletta kind of confusing. After all, this is a super automatic machine that’ll set you back $1,688.16 on Amazon, yet it doesn’t have a touchscreen display, isn’t compatible with DeLonghi’s Coffee Link app and doesn’t even allow you to create user profiles.

That said, there’s a lot to love about the Eletta. For instance, it allows you to choose between the wonderful LatteCrema automatic milk foam system or a manual steam wand. Plus, if my experience with other mid-range DeLonghi machines is anything to go by, the Eletta will produce pretty fantastic espresso to go along with that perfect milk foam.

DeLonghi Eletta First Impressions

The DeLonghi Eletta has a modern, streamlined look. Though there’s a lot of plastic involved, there’s also plenty of stainless steel incorporated into the design. 

Aside from the sturdy stainless steel drip tray, there’s an awesome metal cup warmer on top of the machine. I love this feature – the warmer plate is actively heated and you can program it to turn on before you wake up. Nice warm espresso cups waiting for me as I stumble out of bed? Yes please!

Directly behind the cup warmer, you’ll find the bean hopper lid. Inside there’s a 13-level dial for adjusting the grinder. This versatility in grind control is one of the reasons you’ll get such great coffee from the DeLonghi Eletta.

Next to the bean hopper, there’s a ground coffee chute for those times when it’s in everyone’s best interest if you switch to decaf.

I do wonder why DeLonghi insisted on adding “Cappuccino” to the Eletta’s branding on the front of the machine. This seems really old fashioned, harking back to the early days of fully automatic coffee makers.

Back then, manufacturers liked to wow us with machines that could make … wait for it … cappuccinos! Things have changed in a big way, and now we expect a machine to offer several different coffee specialties, at the very least.

I’m not necessarily the biggest proponent of touchscreen displays, but at this price point I’d expect to see a color display with pretty icons. That’s why I’m surprised to see a small LCD text window surrounded by buttons. It’s definitely missing!

Still, the user interface does seem to be very intuitive and, at the end of the day, I only really care about whether my automatic coffee maker can dispense delicious espresso and creamy milk foam.

Display

Located front and center, the DeLonghi Eletta’s display is angled upward, which is a nice design feature. The small text screen is augmented by durable touch sensitive buttons with easily identifiable icons and drink names. This makes the DeLonghi Eletta extremely easy to use, even for those who feel lost without a touchscreen in their hand!

Coffee Grinder

The DeLonghi Eletta has an integrated burr grinder that’ll give consistent results every time. With 13 grind settings to choose from, you can really dial in your espresso. However, I don’t recommend going too fine as you could run into clogging issues. 

Remember to only make changes to the grinder’s settings when it’s running. Plus, you may have to prepare a few cups before you see evidence of changes you’ve made.

Water Filter

I’m always happy when an automatic coffee maker offers a water filter option. After all, preparing coffee with clean, filtered water really does have a positive effect on flavor. The DeLonghi Eletta comes with a free water filter which will last for a couple of months. 

Installing the filter is as easy as clicking it into place inside the water reservoir and letting the machine know via the control panel. You won’t have to set yourself a reminder, either – the DeLonghi Eletta will let you know when it’s time to change out the filter for a new one.

Water Reservoir

I’m really impressed by the way the DeLonghi Eletta’s water reservoir is seamlessly integrated into the machine’s design. Not only that, it’s super easy to remove the 67 ounce (2 liter) tank for convenient filling.

Once the water tank has been removed, there’s easy access to the machine’s group head, which can be taken out and cleaned.

Spout Height

The DeLonghi Eletta’s coffee dispensing spout can be easily moved to accommodate whichever cup or glass you may be using. The maximum spout height is a generous 5.5 inches (14 centimeters) which should be enough for most latte glasses.

Best of all, the dispensing hose for the LatteCrema automatic frothing system can be moved up and down in tandem with the coffee spout, adding another layer of convenience to specialty drink preparation.

Specialty Coffees

If you’re looking for a super automatic espresso machine that’ll deliver every coffee specialty under the sun at the touch of a button, the DeLonghi Eletta is not for you. 

That said, you’ll get excellent espresso and exquisite milk foam from this machine, so don’t be deterred! Anyway, there are many ways to customize both coffee beverages and milk foam, so you can create the drink of your dreams. 

The DeLonghi Eletta features dedicated buttons for cappuccino, latte and latte macchiato. For flat white and other milk based drinks, you’ll need to go into the menu. What’s cool is being able to make adjustments to the espresso and milk foam on the fly, which means you can really nail down your coffee creations. 

How to Use the DeLonghi Eletta automatic espresso machine

If you’ve never owned a super automatic coffee machine, have no fear; I’ve yet to meet an automatic coffee maker that I didn’t think anyone could use with just the briefest perusal of the instructions.

As it happens, these machines have been designed to be really intuitive and user friendly. All you really need to do is add water to the reservoir and fresh beans to the hopper before getting started. 

Remember that you’ll need to make grinder adjustments, especially if you’re changing between different coffee beans. With that in mind, you’ll want to avoid using oily coffee beans – they’ll wreak havoc on your Eletta’s delicate insides.

Of course, it’ll take some trial and error to get everything really dialed in, but you can start making coffee, espresso and milk based specialties right away by using the Eletta’s control panel and menu. As well as being able to adjust settings on the fly, you can make changes to coffee strength, volume and temperature in the menu. 

DeLonghi Eletta Milk Foam

I’ve been saving one tasty tidbit until now: the DeLonghi Eletta has two independent heating systems – one for coffee preparation and one for the milk system. 

This is a really big deal, as it allows you to prepare coffee and milk foam simultaneously. You’ll also get more consistent results because the DeLonghi Eletta won’t be constantly dividing its heating capabilities between specialty coffee and milk.

LatteCrema System

For automatic milk froth, the Eletta uses DeLonghi’s awesome LatteCrema system. The LatteCrema milk carafe can be stored in the fridge, then attached to the machine when you’re ready to use it. 

I love the froth dial that allows you fine control over the milk foam consistency. Not only that, once it’s finished dispensing, you can set it to the clean position and the machine will flush the pipe with hot water.

Steam Wand

If all that wasn’t enough, you also have the option to steam milk manually with the DeLonghi Eletta. The machine comes with a steam wand that doubles as a hot water dispenser. From what I can gather, the steam wand is very effective in creating finely textured milk foam.

DeLonghi Eletta automatic espresso machine Cleaning

There’s just no getting around it, you have to treat your coffee maker well if you want it to keep treating you well! Fortunately, DeLonghi super automatic espresso machines are really easy to clean and maintain, so a few daily tasks is all it really takes to keep the Eletta in tiptop condition.

The DeLonghi Eletta has a rinsing function, which purges the coffee and hot water system upon starting up and shutting down. As I already mentioned, the LatteCrema milk system can be rinsed after every use. Still, it’s a good idea to remove the whole thing and give it a good rinse at the end of the day. The same goes for the drip tray and grounds container. 

The brew group is really easy to access and remove, so make sure to give it a thorough rinse under warm water. Aside from cleaning all removable parts, take some time to wipe down the machine of any coffee splatters. A clean machine is a happy machine!

Even if you’re using a water softener filter, you’ll need to descale the DeLonghi Eletta from time to time. Don’t worry – the machine will let you know when it’s time to perform this function. 

The manufacturer recommends using only DeLonghi EcoDecalk Descaler. Of course they do. Whether or not a different product would destroy your machine is anyone’s guess. Personally, if I’m spending over $2,000 on a coffee maker, I’m going to do what I’m told!

DeLonghi Eletta Accessories

As you might expect, DeLonghi offers a range of accessories that you may or may not find essential. Let’s take a look at how you can accessorize the DeLonghi Eletta:

Coffee Canister

If you’re using high quality coffee beans (which I hope you are), it’s important to keep them nice and fresh. I actually really like the DeLonghi Coffee Canister . It’s vacuum sealed and made from polished stainless steel, which gives it a sleek, modern vibe. 

The coffee canister holds up to a pound (453 grams) of coffee and has a built-in date indicator. Plus, it only costs $34.95 on amazon, which I think is pretty reasonable.

Milk Pitcher

When you’re using the Eletta’s manual steam wand, you’ll need a decent milk pitcher for hot milk. DeLonghi offers a 12 ounce (350 milliliter) stainless steel milk frothing pitcher for $19.95, which should help you in your quest to become the ultimate home barista!

Glasses

I just can’t resist DeLonghi’s collection of double wall thermal insulated glassware. I love preparing espresso in pretty glasses and there’s nothing quite as satisfying as admiring the layers in a latte macchiato. 

A set of six DeLonghi espresso glasses costs $49.95 on Amazon, while a pair of DeLonghi latte glasses will set you back $24.95. Money well spent, in my opinion.

DeLonghi Eletta automatic espresso machine Specifications

DeLonghi Eletta vs Other Super Automatics

Let’s take a look at how the DeLonghi Eletta measures up to a few of my all time favorite super automatic espresso machines.

DeLonghi Eletta vs DeLonghi Dinamica Plus

Sometimes I feel like DeLonghi is in competition with itself, although whether or not that’s a good thing isn’t for me to say. 

Costing $1,200.00 on Amazon, the DeLonghi Dinamica Plus is quite a bit cheaper than the Eletta, and includes a gorgeous touchscreen display, user profiles and a TrueBrew Over Ice function. Plus, you can navigate the Dinamica Plus menu using DeLonghi’s Coffee Link app. 

Even though the Dinamica Plus only has one thermoblock and doesn’t offer a manual frother function, it might seem like a more attractive option to many folks.

See also: DeLonghi Dinamica Plus Hands On Review 2024

DeLonghi Eletta vs Jura E8

The Jura E8 won me over during my hands-on review of the machine, and really helped restore my faith in the Swiss manufacturer. 

Costing $2,388.00 on Amazon, the Jura E8 is substantially more expensive than the DeLonghi Eletta, but I really believe you’ll get what you pay for. 

The Jura E8 doesn’t just look great, it also produces some of the best espresso I’ve ever tasted, thanks to the manufacturer’s Pulse Extraction Process (P.E.P.) brewing technology. Plus, the milk frother’s fine foam adjustment dial is a dream come true for lovers of microfoam.

See also: Jura E8 Hands On Review 2024

DeLonghi Eletta vs Miele CM 6360

The is another automatic coffee maker that really gives the DeLonghi Eletta a run for its money.

The German manufacturer consistently produces machines that are durable, elegant and easy to use. Like the Eletta, the Miele CM 6360 doesn’t have a touchscreen display, and the app isn’t really worth bothering with. 

However, this automatic coffee maker will produce excellent espresso and consistent milk foam. The Miele CM 6360 costs $2,799.00 on Amazon. 

See also: Miele CM 6360 Hands On Review 2024

DeLonghi Eletta vs Other Super Automatics Comparison Chart

Verdict: DeLonghi Eletta Automatic Espresso Machine

There’s little doubt the DeLonghi Eletta is a fantastic automatic espresso machine. Having separate heating elements for coffee and milk foam is a pretty big deal. The option to use a manual steam wand is a big plus, as well. 

I’m glad I did this DeLonghi Eletta Review. Still, I do wonder whether most coffee lovers will decide that they’d rather sacrifice a touchscreen, app and user profiles just to be able to prepare espresso and milk foam at the same time. 

At the end of the day, I can’t escape the feeling that the Eletta’s price point and lack of features just makes the more affordable DeLonghi Dinamica Plus look like a more attractive machine. Who knows … perhaps this is all part of DeLonghi’s master plan to conquer the super automatic universe!

DeLonghi Eletta automatic espresso machine FAQ