DeLonghi PrimaDonna Review: A High-End Machine With Too Much Technology?

DeLonghi fully automatic coffee machines have long since stopped doing things by halves. Rather, you can expect modern technology, slick design and features galore. And anyone who buys a top-of-the-line DeLonghi model can enjoy every way to make coffee.

No other machine demonstrates this as clearly as the new DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic. It offers hot and cold beverages, app connectivity, an electronic grinder, premium materials and so much more.

Even though the PrimaDonna line has been around for a long time, it’s only with the Aromatic model that it becomes clear who DeLonghi is targeting. The Italian company obviously wants to poach customers from high-end competitors like Jura and Miele.

The only question is whether this can actually work. After all, DeLonghi is known more for offering good value than as a luxury brand.

For the PrimaDonna Aromatic, you’ll have to open your wallet wide, dig deep and then decide whether it’s really worth the $2,499.95 asking price. My DeLonghi PrimaDonna review is here to help you with that decision.

DeLonghi was kind enough to provide us with the PrimaDonna Aromatic to test. As always, though, you can expect a completely honest and unbiased review of the machine.

New edition

DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic

Definitely recommended. It’s robust and well-thought-out

Expansive beverage menu

Hot and cold drinks

Straightforward operation

Excellent value for the money

Hot milk foam could be better

CHECK PRICE

All specifications

DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic
Manufacturer	De’Longhi
Model number	ECAM63075TM
Product category	Super automatic espresso machine
Removable brew group
Housing material	Stainless steel with plastic parts
Color options	Titanium
Milk frother	Integrated carafe
User interface	Touch screen
App
User profiles	4
Removable water reservoir
Water reservoir capacity	60.9 fl oz / 1.8 l
Number of boilers	1
Pump pressure	15 bar
Maximum cup height	5.5 in / 14.0 cm
Minimum cup height	3.5 in / 8.9 cm
Grinder	Stainless steel conical burr grinder
Grind adjustment levels	13
Bean hopper capacity	8.8 oz / 250.0 g
Pre-ground coffee bypass
Grounds discard container capacity	14
Specialty drinks	38
Pre-infusion
Adjustable coffee temperature
Adjustable milk foam temperature
Adjustable milk temperature
2-cup function	Yes (non-milk drinks only)
Pot function
Hot water function
Hot milk function
Milk foam only option
Water filter
Power consumption	1350 W
Weight	28.6 lb / 13.0 kg
Dimensions	16.0 x 10.3 x 18.2 in 40.6 x 26.2 x 46.2 cm
Warranty	2 years
Notes	Included Accessories: User manual, 2 x milk carafes, ice cube tray, cleaning brush, water filter, cleaning supplies
Current price on Amazon	$2,499.95
All specifications

Overview: DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic Review

DeLonghi connoisseurs can tell at a glance which category the Aromatic machine belongs to. All PrimaDonna fully automatic coffee machines have traditionally featured a classic metal design with high-quality construction, making it immediately clear that you can expect a technologically advanced machine.

The PrimaDonna Aromatic most closely resembles the PrimaDonna Soul, my favorite DeLonghi model to date with fully electronic features. Functionally, the Aromatic also draws inspiration from the Eletta Explore, which introduced DeLonghi’s Cold Extraction Technology.

When the DeLonghi PrimaDonna Soul hit the European market, I was immediately impressed: Finally, a fully electronic machine at a reasonable price!

However, I get the impression that customers aren’t really into the Adaptive Grinding Technology. At the very least, the Soul seems to be underappreciated, which could be why it was never released in North America. The PrimaDonna Aromatic is now set to change that. When comparing the Soul and the Aromatic, both offer:

The Soul model relies on the classic hot brewing method, while the Aromatic model also features Cold Extraction Technology.

As with the DeLonghi Rivelia, the PrimaDonna Aromatic features “smart technology.” Coffee Routines is a feature that intelligently adapts the user interface based on your most frequently brewed drinks and the time of day. It’s a nice touch for everyday use, but not essential.

DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic Features

Now that we have a clearer idea of what we’re dealing with, let’s continue this DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic review by examining the machine’s standout features.

Materials and Design

You could never accuse DeLonghi of prioritizing form over function. While a manufacturer like Jura produces beautiful high-end machines, DeLonghi is happy to dominate the mid-range sector, offering affordable, solid performers with a utilitarian aesthetic.

To be honest, the PrimaDonna Aromatic doesn’t exactly break the mold, although I do think it’s fairly sleek and streamlined. However, the Italians have certainly upped their game in terms of construction materials.

Rather than the usual abundance of cheap looking plastic, the PrimaDonna Aromatic sports durable stainless steel housing. What’s more, the large, colorful screen lends the machine a clean, modern vibe.

In terms of size, the DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic isn’t exactly huge. However, the manufacturer has made it big enough to sport a beautiful, spacious drip tray and generous cup warmer.

Overall, I really like the look of the PrimaDonna Aromatic, and I think it would fit seamlessly in just about any kitchen.

User Interface

As I just mentioned, the DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic is equipped with a gorgeous color touchscreen interface. Dominating the front of the machine, the 5-inch (12.7-centimeter) screen features crisp color graphics and works seamlessly with no lag whatsoever. What’s more, operating the PrimaDonna Aromatic via the touchscreen interface is extremely easy. In fact, the whole coffee-making experience is about as intuitive as it gets, and the machine will guide you every step of the way.

As a nice touch, the screen displays lovely graphics of milk being frothed or espresso pouring, which only adds to the PrimaDonna Aromatic’s premium feel.

App

During my DeLonghi PrimaDonna review, Mauri and I talked at length about the new DeLonghi app called My Coffee Lounge.

For a fully electronic machine, app control naturally makes sense. And in theory, the new app is superb. You can access everything from stats about your machine to articles about coffee. You’re also able to set up Bean Adapt using the app and access a ton of weird and wonderful coffee recipes. However, the new app isn’t quite finished yet – or at least it wasn’t when I was using it.

It crashes every now and then for no apparent reason and is incredibly slow. When it’s running, though, it works pretty well and has a nice, clear layout. I’d still recommend making the basic adjustments directly on the machine itself. Otherwise, you might end up quitting in frustration.

Grinder

Whether it uses electronic technology or not, DeLonghi sticks with a 13-level conical grinder even in its most advanced model. As is almost always the case, the second-finest setting is the best choice – or setting 3, depending on how fresh your coffee beans are.

You no longer have to adjust this using a dial in the bean compartment while the machine is running; instead, you can tap the corresponding menu icon and let the machine do the work.

Personally, I’m convinced that this kind of electronic control system will significantly extend the life of your machine, because you’ll no longer run the risk of adjusting the grinder “the wrong way.”

With a measured 63.5 decibels, this grinder is neither particularly loud nor particularly quiet. Still, given its design and high-quality materials, I would have expected a little more (or rather, a little less) in this regard.

Specialty Drinks

As you’ve probably guessed, the DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic comes fully loaded with a huge drink menu. You’ll find everything from espresso and americano to galão and flat white, and you can make your wildest dreams come true by adjusting settings like size, strength and temperature until your drink is perfect.

The “most important” innovation this machine brings to the table is its cold brewing technology. If you’d like cold black coffee drinks, press the “Cold” button to view the options on the touchscreen. The machine takes about five minutes to make a cold shot.

If you also want the milk frothed cold, you’ll need to swap out the black LatteCrema container for the white one.

Since both cold versions are cool but not actually cold, DeLonghi includes a silicone ice cube tray. I’d definitely use that if I were you.

Incidentally, if you’d rather have a cold lungo instead of straight cold espresso, just add a few ice cubes to your glass, brew an espresso and use the melted ice water to top it off. This makes for a well-rounded iced americano with plenty of flavor.

Milk Foam

Mauri usually has a few complaints about the milk foam from DeLonghi fully automatic coffee machines. However, that certainly wasn’t the case during my DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic review. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Jura coffee machines may not have much to worry about, but they should keep an eye on DeLonghi from now on. In my experience, both the volume and the consistency meet all foam requirements. And the temperatures certainly do as well.

At 162 degrees Fahrenheit (72 degrees Celsius), the cappuccino is one of the hottest beverages I’ve experienced from a fully automatic machine. Meanwhile, the latte, at 153 degrees Fahrenheit (67 degrees Celsius), will warm even the coldest of hearts.

When it comes to cold milk foam, we have very little to compare it to. Aside from the Philips Café Aromis, I can’t think of another competitor that’s developed a cold milk frother. I really like the consistency of the DeLonghi cold foam, but it’s no match for the hot version.

Bean Adapt Technology

For a while now, DeLonghi has been promoting its Bean Adapt Technology in all of its higher-end fully automatic coffee machines. During my PrimaDonna Aromatic review, I took a closer look at it for the first time.

This “innovation” is supposed to automatically adjust all brewing parameters to the coffee beans you’re using. With a built-in electronic grinder, that makes sense – but more in theory than in practice.

If Bean Adapt Technology is enabled, this DeLonghi espresso machine becomes annoyingly stubborn. Although you can adjust settings such as volume or strength after brewing, the menu doesn’t unlock the grind setting – the most important adjustment – until you’ve made three drinks.

It’s true that a grinder does need a few cycles to adjust properly. But if I can see right away that something isn’t right, I should be able to make the correction sooner.

I think Bean Adapt turns the fully automatic coffee machine into a “black box,” and doesn’t give you a chance to understand the workflow involved in making espresso.

Most importantly, when I look at the cup test results, I don’t really trust the machine’s supposed expertise regarding different roasts and coffee beans.

The DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic in Use

Just how much the DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic relies on technology is illustrated by an interesting fact: the user manual is largely pointless, since it mostly refers you to a menu option on the machine or to the app.

Still, if you’ve ever stood in front of a fully automatic machine and adjusted the water volume, brewing temperature or coffee strength, you should be able to quickly get the hang of the Aromatic model quickly. And you can decide whether you’d like to operate the thing via the touchscreen or the app.

More and more fully automatic coffee machines are displaying drink sizes as clothing sizes by default. While this makes it tricky to match your cup sizes, DeLonghi is smart enough to also list the corresponding number of ounces for drinks ranging from S to XL.

At least when it comes to the amount of coffee, you should press the “My” button on the respective drink menu. Both espresso and coffee are set too generously by default. I recommend adjusting the volume to 1.4 ounces (40 milliliters) and 4 ounces (120 milliliters), respectively.

These settings will also be applied to the milk drinks. For each one, I selected a factory-preset “M” drink and was able to get by just fine with my glass and cup sizes.

Although the PrimaDonna Aromatic offers three temperature settings, they are buried in the menu and apparently apply to every beverage dispensed.

However, I’d say there is absolutely no reason to tinker with the temperature. As you’re about to see, the default setting is ideal.

How Do Espresso & Coffee From the DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic Taste?

Really hot, really pretty and really good: The results from the DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic are truly top-notch.

My espresso displayed rich notes of nuts and marzipan, with a long, chocolatey finish. Plus, it arrived in my cup at a piping-hot 158 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius). Meanwhile, the coffee demonstrates what “umami” means in this beverage category. At 167 degrees Fahrenheit (75 degrees Celsius), it, too, is well above the typical temperature for fully automatic espresso machine coffee.

The cold brew function produces a very pleasantly flavored drink that, for me, strikes the perfect balance between chocolatey notes and a mellow coffee profile. That said, I’m just not one of those people who are overly drawn to cold brew options.

Cleaning & Descaling

Cleaning and maintaining the DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic is a piece of cake. Still, as with other machines, the materials used in the PrimaDonna Aromatic’s construction are particularly prone to unsightly fingerprints. Other than that, there are no surprises when it comes to cleaning programs or descaling. I recommend skipping the user manual and just following the instructions on the machine itself.

I should point out that the water tank and drip tray are nice and spacious, so you don’t have to keep emptying or refilling them, even when running multiple rinse cycles or preparing lots of drinks.

Just keep in mind that very little – if anything – should go in the dishwasher. Then again, the drip tray, water tank and other removable parts are easy to clean by hand. To further extend the life of your machine, be sure to use compatible cleaning products for descaling and rinsing the milk circuit.

PrimaDonna Aromatic vs DeLonghi Eletta Explore

Until the PrimaDonna Aromatic was released, the DeLonghi Eletta Explore was the brand’s jack-of-all-trades: hot brewing, cold brewing and a huge menu of specialty drinks. The Aromatic model has adopted some of those features and added high-end functionality:

My verdict should be clear: If variety in preparation methods is what matters most to you, the Eletta Explore is a much more affordable option. It’s one of my favorite DeLonghi machines and represents extremely good value for the money.

See Also: DeLonghi Eletta Explore Review

Verdict: DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic Review

New edition

DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic

Definitely recommended. It’s robust and well-thought-out

Expansive beverage menu

Hot and cold drinks

Straightforward operation

Excellent value for the money

Hot milk foam could be better

CHECK PRICE

All specifications

DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic
Manufacturer	De’Longhi
Model number	ECAM63075TM
Product category	Super automatic espresso machine
Removable brew group
Housing material	Stainless steel with plastic parts
Color options	Titanium
Milk frother	Integrated carafe
User interface	Touch screen
App
User profiles	4
Removable water reservoir
Water reservoir capacity	60.9 fl oz / 1.8 l
Number of boilers	1
Pump pressure	15 bar
Maximum cup height	5.5 in / 14.0 cm
Minimum cup height	3.5 in / 8.9 cm
Grinder	Stainless steel conical burr grinder
Grind adjustment levels	13
Bean hopper capacity	8.8 oz / 250.0 g
Pre-ground coffee bypass
Grounds discard container capacity	14
Specialty drinks	38
Pre-infusion
Adjustable coffee temperature
Adjustable milk foam temperature
Adjustable milk temperature
2-cup function	Yes (non-milk drinks only)
Pot function
Hot water function
Hot milk function
Milk foam only option
Water filter
Power consumption	1350 W
Weight	28.6 lb / 13.0 kg
Dimensions	16.0 x 10.3 x 18.2 in 40.6 x 26.2 x 46.2 cm
Warranty	2 years
Notes	Included Accessories: User manual, 2 x milk carafes, ice cube tray, cleaning brush, water filter, cleaning supplies
Current price on Amazon	$2,499.95
All specifications

If you’re looking for a DeLonghi fully automatic coffee maker that can do just about everything the manufacturer currently has to offer, the DeLonghi PrimaDonna Aromatic is your top choice. The only question is whether you actually need all those features.

For example, with the DeLonghi Eletta Explore, you get most of the standout features at a much lower price, even though the PrimaDonna Aromatic takes it up a notch or two in terms of design and espresso quality.

In the end, the question remains whether the latest DeLonghi PrimaDonna can hold its own against the best fully automatic espresso machines from Jura and others. Given its sleek design and outstanding performance, I tend to think that it can.