Diletta Bello Plus Review: Classic Beauty With Modern Upgrades

I love the folks over at Seattle Coffee Gear, so it’s no wonder I’m enamored with their exclusive Diletta espresso machine line. Lucky for me, I’m writing this initial Diletta Bello Plus review because I’m waiting for this awesome prosumer espresso machine to hit my doorstep.

If you can’t tell, I’m super excited to try this espresso machine out. In the meantime, join me as I go over the differences between the original Diletta Bello and this new upgrade, the Diletta Bello Plus.

Overview: Diletta Bello Plus Review

Let me start off my Diletta Bello Plus review by introducing Diletta, the house brand of Seattle Coffee Gear. As it happens, the pros over at Seattle Coffee Gear joined forces with espresso powerhouse Quick Mill to develop the exclusive Diletta line.

In fact, you can see a bit of the Quick Mill spirit in the Diletta Bello Plus. Like Quick Mill machines, all Diletta espresso machines are built by hand and quality tested in Milan, Italy.

The Diletta Bello Plus is the newest member of this line. It’s got the same manual controls, stainless steel build and stylish design as the OG Bello. That said, the Bello Plus is quite a bit smarter, with advanced and convenient features that appeal to modern home baristas.

With its $1,999.00 MSRP, the Bello Plus is only a bit more expensive than the original Diletta Bello espresso machine. But you’re getting a lot in the upgrade package, most notably PID temperature control and programmable pre-infusion.

What’s more, you’re getting convenient features like an automatic shot timer and a low-power eco mode. And since it’s a heat exchanger espresso machine, the Bello Plus is ideal for pulling shots and steaming milk simultaneously.

Fancy features aside, the Bello Plus is a stunner. It’s got a classic design with sleek lines and an approachable interface. And given its relatively small size, the Diletta Bello Plus is destined to be an asset in any kitchen.

Diletta Bello Plus Features

Now that we’ve gone over the basics of the Diletta Bello Plus review, let’s get into the nitty-gritty.

Size and Design

Like the original Bello espresso machine, the Bello Plus is a pretty little number. Actually, they’re almost identical!

The Bello Plus features the same classic Italian design as its predecessor. It’s super stylish, with sleek lines and flower-shaped knobs. As far as colors go, it’s available in stainless steel, black or white.

Whichever color you choose, you’re getting the same stainless steel frame and casing with black accents. And thanks to all the metal, this thing is a tank. In fact, it weighs in at a hefty 44 pounds (20 kilograms).

Needless to say, you won’t want to move the Bello Plus around too often. And since the removable water reservoir is located in the back, you need to make sure you can easily access it. Importantly, any overhanging cabinets could get in your way here.

Before I move on to the next section of the Diletta Bello Plus review, I should mention that the top of the espresso machine doubles as a cup warmer. Again, all this should sound quite similar to the original Bello model.

The only real difference between the OG and the newbie is the Bello Plus’s larger drip tray, which makes it easier to keep the espresso machine clean.

Of course, there’s also the updated user interface with a PID display. Feel free to keep reading my Diletta Bello Plus review for more details on that feature.

User Interface

As it happens, the user interface on the Bello Plus espresso machine is deceptively simple. It’s got manual controls for brewing and steaming milk, featuring a brew lever and steam knob. There’s also an on/off switch, a power indicator light and a dual manometer for monitoring brew pressure and steam pressure.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I can focus on the star of this Diletta Bello Plus review: the PID controller.

The Bello Plus features a digital PID display with two navigation buttons. Again, this may seem simple, but I assure you: the PID display is small but mighty.

After all, tons of features are hidden inside this thing. For starters, the display automatically transforms into a shot timer when you lift the brew lever. It’s also got a few programming options and indicators up its sleeve. Check them out:

PID Temperature Control

I’ll start off with the Bello Plus’s biggest improvement over the OG Bello: PID temperature control.

Since this is a heat exchanger machine, the PID controller can’t directly regulate the brew temperature. Rather, the PID controller changes the steam boiler temperature, which indirectly influences the brew temperature.

Still, if you’re after precise brew temperature adjustments you’re better off looking for an espresso machine with a dual heating system and dual PIDs. And there are plenty of those on the market for a similar price point.

At the same time, the Diletto Bello Plus espresso machine offers more temperature stability than its predecessor, and does a good enough job for most home baristas.

At the end of the day, the PID controller prevents big temperature fluctuations in the steam boiler, indirectly contributing to a more stable brewing temperature and group temperature.

Programmable Preinfusion

Like many prosumers of its generation, the Bello Plus espresso machine has a preinfusion function. Incidentally, preinfusion is a great tool for reducing the risk of channeling and encouraging a more balanced and flavorful shot.

In this particular machine, you can adjust the preinfusion time from zero to ten seconds. But the Bello Plus espresso machine has what Diletto calls “passive preinfusion,” rather than traditional preinfusion. Let me explain.

The Bello Plus’ preinfusion function works without turning the pump on. Instead, existing pressure in the group forces a bit of water into the coffee puck. This pre-wets the grounds at a very low pressure before the pump switches on and ramps up to full pressure.

Again, this is an upgrade from the original Bello espresso machine.

Boiler

The Diletta Bello Plus has a single 61-ounce (1.8-liter) steam boiler. Thanks to the insulated stainless steel construction, the boiler has impressive thermal stability. What’s more, the machine heats up in a reasonable 15-30 minutes.

It’s also big enough to brew and steam several milk drinks in a row. On a similar note, the 101-ounce (3-liter) water reservoir is big enough that you won’t have to worry about topping it off in the middle of breakfast.

All in all, the Bello Plus espresso machine has a boiler system that’s ideal for latte lovers and regular brunch hosts. That said, espresso connoisseurs may want to seek out an espresso-centric espresso machine.

I’ve already mentioned in this Diletta Bello Plus review that the Bello Plus is a heat exchanger machine. But what does that mean?

I’m no engineer, but basically heat exchanger (HX) espresso machines feature a cold water tube that passes through a small section of the steam boiler, picking up heat along the way. By the time the water gets to the group head, it’s at the ideal brewing temperature.

Even better, heat exchanger machines like the Diletta Bello Plus can steam milk and pull shots at the same time. All the more reason for a latte drinker to choose this prosumer gem!

Group Head

A commercial-style E61 group head is quite commonplace in HX espresso machines, and the Bello Plus is no different. This group design features thermosiphon circulation, which circulates hot water throughout the group to keep it at a stable brewing temperature.

What’s more, the group head has a commercial three way solenoid valve. This valve helps regulate the pressure in the group, while also diverting any excess water directly to the drip tray.

In layman’s terms, we can celebrate the Bello Plus’s group for its impressive thermal stability and mess-free design.

Portafilter

Diletta has fulfilled all my hopes and dreams with the Bello Plus’s portafilters. Seriously, the espresso accessory kit is stacked in this regard. Most importantly, the Bello Plus comes with a 58-mm stainless steel bottomless portafilter.

For what it’s worth, it also comes with a double spouted portafilter, which makes it easy to split shots. But I’ll admit the bottomless portafilter steals the show!

As far as baskets go, Diletta also showed up to win. They provide you with three brew baskets: single shot, double shot and triple shot. It’s not often that you see a basket large enough for a triple shot, so I’m pretty excited about this.

Tamper

The Bello Plus comes with a tamper, but it’s not clear from the product pages whether it’s any good. I’d like to think that it’s stainless steel, but as we know, plenty of high-end espresso machines include only a flimsy espresso tamper.

That said, I’m holding out hope here. I mean, the original Bello comes equipped with a stainless steel tamper with a wooden handle, so I can’t imagine the upgraded Bello Plus espresso machine would hold out.

Still, I’m lucky enough to already have a solid espresso tamper in my personal coffee toolkit to whip out at a moment’s notice. So, if it turns out Diletta has included a lackluster tamper, I’m already ready to go.

Steam Wand

I already mentioned earlier in this Diletta Bello Plus review that this is a latte lover’s dream machine. It only makes sense, then, that the steam wand is pretty spectacular.

I’ll have to show off my microfoam and latte art skills when I get my hands on this thing. For now, I can say that the Bello Plus has all the makings for quality milk foam:

What’s more, the Bello Plus has a designated hot water dispenser. In other words, the steam wand has one job and one job only: steaming milk to perfection. Fortunately, it seems to pass with flying colors.

Oh, and I suppose the PID controller would also enable you to set the steam boiler to your preferred tea temperature.

Low Power Eco Mode

If you want to conserve energy but also make sure the Bello Plus is ready to brew an afternoon cuppa, Diletta has a solution for you: Eco Mode.

As it happens, Eco Mode idles the steam boiler at 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius). Then, when you’re ready to brew, lift the brew lever to wake the machine back up. At this point, the espresso machine can heat up to brewing temperatures very quickly.

This mode has the dual appeals of energy conservation and fast recovery times. It’s a win-win!

Similarly, the stand-by mode is an option to keep the machine on but with the heating element off. Again, when you’re getting ready to brew you can lift the brew lever to turn the heating element back on.

You can access both of these modes via the PID display. Even better, you can program either the Eco Mode timer or the stand-by mode to automatically kick on after a specific period of time.

How to Use the Diletta Bello Plus

Using the Diletta Bello Plus is super easy. That said, learning how to brew delicious espresso is going to take a little time. I’ve already got a whole guide to how to pull the perfect shot, so for now I’ll focus on the basic functionality.

Once you’ve taken care of the manufacturer-recommended unboxing process, fill the reservoir with filtered water and turn the machine on. Remember that it takes about half an hour for the group head temperature to stabilize, so be ready to practice some patience!

Once the machine is ready to go, do your espresso puck prep as usual. Using a quality espresso grinder, grind some espresso beans into your portafilter, then distribute and tamp the grounds into a puck.

Next, tare an espresso cup on a scale, then insert the portafilter into the group head. Place the cup and scale on the drip tray, then raise the brew lever to start your extraction.

At this point, the Bello Plus will begin the passive preinfusion, so you’ll have to program this setting to your liking. Have fun and play around with it a little! After preinfusion, you’ll notice the sound of the pump, and pretty soon some creamy espresso will start pouring into your cup.

Once the shot has reached your desired specs, lower the brew lever to stop the extraction. If you haven’t already done so, now’s a good time to steam milk for a cappuccino or other milk drink.

Diletta Bello Plus Cleaning

Again, cleaning and descaling the Diletta Bello Plus is super easy. Fortunately, Diletta makes it even easier by including a backflushing basket and a group head brush.

That said, this machine still has manual controls. In other words, you’ll have to learn how to backflush on your own, but there are tons of resources on how to do so. Basically, all you need is the blind basket, cleaning powder like Urnex Cafiza and a group brush.

Beyond backflushing, you’ll also want to wipe all milk residue off of the steam wand after each use. Then, purge a bit of steam through to dispel any stubborn milk solids out of the steam wand tip.

Regularly backflushing and cleaning the steam wand goes a long way towards keeping your espresso machine in ship-shape for years to come. Always filling the reservoir with filtered water is a big help, too.

Diletta Bello Plus Specifications

Diletta Bello Plus vs Rocket Appartamento TCA

Comparing the Diletta Bello Plus to the is going to be a hard one. I mean, the Rocket Appartamento won the honor of being my best overall pick in my guide to home espresso machines, and the Appartamento TCA is a stunning upgrade to that original model.

What’s more, the Appartamento line is one of the most popular prosumers on the market. Of course, it helps that all Rocket espresso machines have a reputation for prosumer features, quality espresso and durable builds. So, can the Diletta Bello Plus compete?

Okay, I’ll stop waffling – let’s get into it.

For starters, the Appartamento TCA is just as gorgeous as the Bello Plus, only with a more industrial and modern vibe. It’s also a similar size with similar functionality, including a heat exchanger boiler system and PID temperature control.

Overall, the Appartamento TCA and the Diletto Bello Plus are similar in most ways, except for two key differences.

Incidentally, the Appartamento TCA has a $2,150.00 price tag, which makes it a bit more expensive than the Diletta Bello Plus.

More importantly, the Appartamento TCA lacks a convenient preinfusion feature. Rather, any preinfusion you want to do must be manually controlled using the brew lever. This feature could be either a pro or con, depending on your preferences.

As it happens, manual preinfusion requires a significant learning curve, but gives you more control. On the other hand, the Bello Plus’s built-in preinfusion settings are much more user-friendly.

Ultimately, I don’t think you can go wrong with either choice. But let me know in the comments which model you choose so we can declare a winner!

See Also: Rocket Appartamento TCA review

Diletta Bello Plus vs Rocket Appartamento TCA Comparison Chart

Verdict: Diletta Bello Plus Review

Now that I’ve reached the end of my Diletta Bello Plus review, I’m even more excited to try out this new machine. Again, this is a Seattle Coffee Gear exclusive. Fortunately, their gear experts are a great resource for all espresso machine owners, both new and old!

As always, keep an eye out for my updated review. I’ll try this machine out as soon as I can and share my observations on its performance and build.