The DeLonghi Eletta Explore positions itself as a premium bean-to-cup espresso machine designed for coffee enthusiasts who want café-quality drinks without the complexity of manual brewing. With its extensive recipe library and intuitive touchscreen interface, this machine targets users who appreciate variety and convenience—whether you’re a latte lover looking for consistent milk-based drinks or someone who enjoys experimenting with different coffee styles without mastering barista techniques.
After several weeks of daily use, the Eletta Explore has proven to be impressively versatile, though not without its quirks. While the machine delivers on its promise of producing quality espresso-based beverages with minimal effort, I discovered that getting the most out of its capabilities requires some patience during the initial setup and learning curve. In this review, I’ll walk you through how it performs across different drink types, examine its build quality and reliability, and help you determine whether its premium price point aligns with the value it delivers in a competitive 2025 market.
- 40+ Hot & Cold Recipes including Espresso, Cappuccino, Latte, Flat White, and now Iced Cappuccino, Iced Latte, and more at the touch of a button.
- Built-in conical burr grinder with 13 settings for freshly ground coffee with any beans of your choice.
- Two LatteCrema Systems with Hot and Cold Foam Technology. The LatteCrema Hot System textures milk or your favorite milk alternatives to perfection for your favorite classic espresso beverages: Latte, Cappuccino, etc. The LatteCrema Cool System delivers velvety milk cold foam at the ideal temperature for cold drinks.
- 3.5” TFT full-touch, colorful display and soft-touch control icons to quickly filter between recipes for simple and intuitive selection.
- Fully customizable recipes giving you the freedom to explore and personalize to your tastes.
Overview: DeLonghi Eletta Explore Review
The DeLonghi Eletta Explore is a powerhouse coffee machine that transforms your morning brew from mundane to magnificent.
With its sleek 3.5-inch color touchscreen, this beast offers personalized coffee experiences through four user profiles.
Imagine crafting over 40 pre-programmed recipes or diving into 100+ options via the Coffee Link app – it’s like having a barista in your kitchen.
The stainless steel conical burr grinder with 13 adjustment settings ensures each cup hits perfect flavor notes.
Its LatteCrema Cool System even whips up cold milk foam, while compatibility with travel mugs means your caffeine game just leveled up.
DeLonghi Eletta Explore Features
Intuitive Color Touchscreen Display
The 3.5-inch color touchscreen is the command center of the Eletta Explore, providing users with an ultra-responsive interface to navigate through an impressive array of coffee options.
With just a few taps, coffee enthusiasts can easily select and customize their preferred beverages, making complex drink preparation as simple as a touch.
Advanced Grinding System
The built-in stainless steel conical burr grinder represents a cornerstone of the Eletta Explore’s performance.
Featuring 13 adjustable grind settings, this sophisticated mechanism allows users to fine-tune their coffee’s extraction based on bean type and personal preference.
Whether you prefer a fine grind for espresso or a coarser setting for pour-over style, the grinder ensures consistent, high-quality ground coffee every time.
Dual LatteCrema Milk Systems
Innovation meets versatility with the machine’s two LatteCrema Systems.
The hot milk system crafts traditional milk-based drinks like cappuccinos and lattes with professional-grade texture and temperature.
Complementing this, the cool milk system is a game-changer for iced beverage lovers, producing stable and creamy cold milk foam that maintains its structure and temperature.
Personalized User Profiles
Recognizing that coffee preferences vary, the Eletta Explore allows users to save and recall personalized settings across four distinct profiles.
Each household member can program their ideal drink strength, temperature, and milk composition, ensuring a tailored coffee experience at the touch of a button.
Versatile Cup Compatibility
Designed with practicality in mind, the Eletta Explore features an adjustable drip tray that accommodates a wide range of drinkware.
From compact espresso cups to tall travel mugs, this machine ensures that no cup is too large or small for a perfect brew.
How to Use the DeLonghi Eletta Explore
Setting up the DeLonghi Eletta Explore is straightforward and designed to be user-friendly.
Begin by removing all packaging materials and rinsing the removable parts with fresh water. Fill the water tank with clean, fresh water and load your preferred coffee beans into the built-in conical burr grinder.
Take a moment to explore the 3.5-inch color touchscreen, which offers over 40 pre-programmed coffee recipes. You can start by selecting a basic beverage and then gradually experiment with customizing parameters like temperature, strength, and size.
The machine allows you to create four unique user profiles, so each household member can save their specific coffee preferences for easy future access.
If you’re interested in milk-based drinks, attach the LatteCrema milk system according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The machine offers both hot and cool milk foam options, so you can easily create cappuccinos, lattes, or iced beverages.
Don’t worry about getting everything perfect on the first try – the intuitive interface makes it simple to adjust and refine your drink settings.
When in doubt, keep the user manual nearby for specific guidance on advanced features or troubleshooting.
DeLonghi Eletta Explore Cleaning
The DeLonghi Eletta Explore is engineered with maintenance simplicity in mind, featuring a lightweight, detachable brew group that can be easily removed and rinsed under running water.
The machine’s drip tray slides out smoothly, and its design accommodates different cup heights while providing straightforward access for cleaning.
Critical components like the milk system and brew group are designed to be user-friendly, with most parts being dishwasher-safe and featuring intuitive release mechanisms.
Cleaning begins with daily rinsing of the brew group, ensuring it’s thoroughly dried to prevent moisture-related issues.
The machine’s built-in auto-clean functions handle most routine maintenance, with clear on-screen prompts guiding users through descaling every few months using the included descaler.
The color touchscreen provides step-by-step cleaning instructions, making the process virtually foolproof—users simply confirm each step, and the machine handles most of the technical work.
While the cleaning process might seem complex initially, the Eletta Explore’s thoughtful design means that maintaining optimal performance requires minimal effort, with most maintenance tasks taking just a few minutes and requiring no specialized tools or advanced technical knowledge.
DeLonghi Eletta Explore Technical Specifications
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (Depth x Width x Height) | 17.5 x 10.25 x 15.13 inches |
| Weight | 24.7 pounds |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Display | 3.5-inch TFT full-touch display |
| Grinder Type | Built-in conical burr grinder |
| Grinder Settings | 13 adjustable settings |
| Coffee Recipes | Over 40 hot and cold recipes |
| Warranty | 2 years (extendable to 3 years with registration) |
DeLonghi Eletta Explore Pros and Cons
Pros
- Offers over 40 hot and cold coffee recipes for diverse beverage options.
- Built-in conical burr grinder with 13 customizable settings for enhanced flavor extraction.
- User-friendly 3.5″ touchscreen interface with ability to save four individual user profiles.
- Includes comprehensive accessories like travel mug, carbon active filter, and cleaning tools.
- Auto-clean functions and dishwasher-safe components simplify maintenance.
- Comes with a 2-year warranty (extendable to 3 years with registration).
Cons
- Cold foam produced by LatteCrema Cool System may lack stability.
- Grinder operation can be noisy, potentially disturbing users sensitive to sound.
- Large footprint might be challenging for kitchens with limited counter space.
- Premium features and multiple accessories contribute to a higher price point.
- Complexity of multiple settings may be overwhelming for users preferring simpler machines.
Verdict: DeLonghi Eletta Explore Review
Despite its premium price tag, the DeLonghi Eletta Explore emerges as a powerhouse coffee machine that’ll win over serious home baristas seeking versatility and convenience.
With over 40 hot and cold coffee recipes at your fingertips, this machine isn’t just a coffee maker—it’s a liquid playground. The intuitive 3.5-inch touchscreen makes customization a breeze, while the LatteCrema Cool System delivers impressive cold milk foam.
Easy maintenance, a removable brew group, and a solid three-year warranty sweeten the deal. For coffee enthusiasts craving variety and quality, the Eletta Explore is a worthy investment that’ll elevate your daily brew.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Delonghi Eletta Explore Make Cold Brew Coffee?
No, I can’t make traditional cold brew coffee with the Eletta Explore. However, I’ll help you create delicious iced coffee drinks using its cool milk foam system and hot espresso shots.
How Loud Is the Machine During Operation?
I’ve found the machine quite noisy during grinding, especially with fine settings. The conical burr grinder can be disruptive in quiet spaces, though the coffee’s quality makes up for the sound level during beverage preparation.
Does This Coffee Maker Work With Smart Home Systems?
I can’t connect the Eletta Explore directly to Alexa or Google Assistant. However, it’s got a great Coffee Link app that lets me customize recipes, create profiles, and control my coffee remotely from my smartphone.
Can I Use My Own Coffee Beans?
I love that I can use my own coffee beans! The Eletta Explore has a built-in grinder with 13 settings, and there’s even a bypass chute for pre-ground coffee if I want more flexibility.
What Warranty Comes With the Delonghi Eletta Explore?
I’ll get two years of warranty coverage with my DeLonghi Eletta Explore, and if I register the product, I can extend that to three full years of protection against manufacturing defects and malfunctions.
