To nobody’s surprise, I’m returning with yet another coffee machine review (I never have, and never will, pass up an opportunity for a great latte) – but this time, we’re doing things a little differently.
If you’ve read my other coffee machine coverage, you’ll know that De’Longhi’s La Specialista was my first love, and I do still think it’s one of the better models on the market. But given how extensively De’Longhi’s range of coffee machines has grown in recent years, I figure it’s about time I found out what I’ve been missing out on – and help you decide which model is best for your own coffee routine.
Meet the reviewer
Paris Blanchfield is Better Homes and Gardens’ shopping editor. When she’s not writing about appliances, you’ll likely find her posted up at a new cafe in search for Sydney’s best iced latte.
I’ve spent the last couple of weeks testing three of De’Longhi‘s online-exclusive, fully-automatic coffee machines: the Eletta Explore with Cold Brew & WiFi, the Magnifica Evo Titanium, and the Magnifica Start.
If you’re wondering how different coffee machines can really be, I don’t blame you. In fact, I went into this experiment thinking that as long as it can pull a great shot of espresso (with a dreamy crema layer, of course), any upgrades would be mostly design-related. But as I discovered, and you soon will too, each machine really does cater to a certain kind of coffee lover – it all comes down to your budget, your preferences, and how you’re planning to use it.
De’Longhi’s coffee machine range, at a glance
Before jumping into the review, it’s worth taking a look at what each De’Longhi coffee machine has to offer.
Jump to the full review:
- For casual coffee enjoyers: De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Start review
- For everyday coffee drinkers: De’Longhi Magnifica Evo review
- For specialty coffee lovers: De’Longhi Eletta Explore review
From the elevated simplicity of the Magnifica Evo Start to the premium design and features of the Eletta Explore, these machines are built to complement very different coffee rituals. The good news? Your choice of De’Longhi coffee machine doesn’t need to be informed by your level of barista experience; each of the following machines is fully automatic, with totally foolproof functions.
It’s also worth noting that, for a limited time, you can save an additional 20% on these dreamy coffee machines by using code SPRING20 at checkout. And with the purchase of select De’longhi machines, you’ll take home a free gift with purchase, too!
| Model | Price | Features | Best for |
| Magnifica Start (ECAM22061W) | $599.20 (was $699) with code SPRING20 | • Built-in grinder & milk frother • Customisable strength (aroma) & temperature • 4 one-touch recipes | • Casual coffee enjoyers • Tighter budgets • Espresso and long black drinkers |
| Magnifica Evo Titanium (ECAM29083TB) | $799.20 (was $999) with code SPRING20 | • Built-in grinder & milk frother • Customisable strength (aroma) & temperature • 7 one-touch recipes | • Daily coffee drinkers • Latte, cappuccino, flat white, and macchiato drinkers |
| Eletta Explore with Cold Brew & WiFi (ECAM45065S) | $1,279.20 (was $1,599) with code SPRING20 | • Built-in grinder, hot milk frother, and cold foam frother • Customisable strength (aroma) & temperature • Cold Brew function • App compatibility • 100+ in-app recipes | • Coffee snobs • Recipe experimentation • Specialty coffee drinkers • Smart homes |
For me, who drinks iced lattes year-round and loves a specialty coffee (I’m still trying to perfect my at-home mont blanc), it was a toss-up between the Magnifico Evo and Eletta Explore. The features that ultimately sold me on the latter, however, were the cold foam milk frother and app compatibility, which allows users to place their coffee order from their phone.
Test One: De’Longhi Magnifica Start
Best for: Those who enjoy simple pleasures; a perfectly pulled shot of espresso, a balanced long black, or just a really good latte.
As an ‘entry-level’ coffee machine, the De’Longhi Magnifica Start really exceeded my expectations.
Setup was surprisingly easy; it only took around 15 minutes to put everything together and flush the machine with a couple of practice coffees. And despite the Magnifica Start boasting customisable strength and temperature settings, I didn’t feel any real need to mess with the controls. Naturally, I appreciate the option to make a few tweaks, but only did so to test the capabilities of the machine; the default options worked perfectly. In this sense, it’s a great countertop addition for beginner brewers.
It’s also worth noting that while the Magnifica Start doesn’t have a cold microfoam option, it can still brew a great iced latte. When I make cold coffees at home, particularly during my pre-work rush, I always just pull an espresso shot over ice, throw in some milk and call it a day. It’s only on mornings when I have some extra time, which isn’t often, that I bother with a microfoam.
Pros
- User-friendly, fully-automatic controls
- Dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning
- Built-in grinder and milk frother
- 4 one-touch recipes: espresso, doppio+, coffee, and long black
- Smaller design; great for kitchens with limited bench space
- Lower price point at $699
Cons
- Limited number of automatic recipe options
- Water & milk compartments on the small side; require frequent refills
Test Two: De’Longhi Magnifica Evo
Best for: Those who like to switch up their coffee order and milky coffee lovers.
Before I touch on the coffee-making abilities of De’Longhi’s Magnifica Evo, let’s take a moment to appreciate the sleek design.
This is the kind of machine that deserves pride of place on your countertop (and it’s guaranteed to impress more than a few guests). Boasting a very chic titanium finish paired with black details that elevate the whole design, it’s made for modern, design-first kitchens.
Aesthetics isn’t the only thing this machine has going for it, however. It’s also packed with an array of clever features, like the MyLatte function, where the machine detects exactly how much milk is left in the canister and uses every last drop for less wastage. Those who feel short on time in the morning will also love the auto-cleaning feature and the dishwasher-safe parts for an easy refresh.
Like the Magnifica Start, this coffee machine was refreshingly easy to set up: the entire process took under 15 minutes (if we ignore the extra 15 I spent wondering why the machine wouldn’t start before realising the water compartment wasn’t inserted). And owing to the 3 additional one-touch recipes, operation was remarkably simple – with the Magnifica Evo, lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos are quite literally a button press away.
Pros
- User-friendly, fully-automatic controls
- Dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning
- Built-in grinder and milk frother
- 7 one-touch recipes: MyLatte, cappuccino, espresso, long black, coffee, latte macchiato, and hot water
- MyLatte function reduces milk wastage
- Self-cleaning milk compartment
- Sleek, modern design
Cons
- Larger design may feel excessive in some small kitchens
- Water & milk compartments on the small side; require frequent refills
- Makes a fair bit of noise, even when not in use
Test three: De’Longhi Eletta Explore
Best for: Specialty coffee lovers and self-described coffee snobs (like myself)
If you’re known to fork out $10+ dollars for a specialty coffee at your favourite takeaway spot, De’Longhi’s Eletta Explore is probably your best bet.
This is one machine that can really do it all, and well. I personally loved playing with the cold extraction setting; simply press a button, and you could have an authentic cold brew (without the usual bitterness) sitting before you in under five minutes.
Naturally, it’s capable of perfecting all your favourites too, including all your go-to iced drinks, thanks to an additional milk compartment to make cold microfoam. And when you land on a recipe you’re particularly fond of, you can add it to the favourites section on your account for easy access (and yes, you can make separate accounts for every user – simply use the touch screen display to set them up and you’re ready to go).
It’s also worth noting that while this is a premium machine, it’s still completely automatic and requires no prior coffee-making knowledge to operate. In fact, I found it to be the most intuitive of the lot, thanks to the Bean Adapt function, which analyses your chosen coffee beans and automatically adjusts the grind, dose, and temperature settings to suit. You can even connect to De’Longhi’s Coffee Link app for extra recipes and the ability to control the machine from your phone (though it does require a little patience to set up).
Pros
- Smart, user-friendly touch screen controls
- Unlimited coffee inspiration via the Coffee Link app
- Ability to save and easily select your favourite one-touch recipes via your profile
- Large dedicated milk compartments for hot and cold frothing
- Can be adjusted to fit large to-go cups
- Bean Adapt function automatically calculates the best grind, dose, and temperature settings for your beans
- Cold extraction function for an authentic cup of cold brew in under 5 minutes
- Compact design at just 26 x 45 cm (width x depth)
Cons
- Premium price point ($1,599)
- App setup and WiFi connection can be time-consuming
Which De’Longhi coffee machine should you buy?
While I thoroughly enjoyed using all three of these De’Longhi coffee machines, there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ model. And despite how that may sound, it’s actually a good thing; it just means you need to pick the one that best aligns with:
- How many coffees you drink a day
- What kind of coffee you like
- How much countertop space you have available
- Your budget
Sure, it may sound like an excessive pre-purchase quiz, but figuring out the above can prevent a lot of frustration down the line.
Your coffee machine cheat sheet:
| If you want: | Look for: | Avoid: | Recommendation: |
| To make your morning latte at home, but don’t have much time | • User-friendly controls • One-touch recipes • Built-in grinder & milk frother | • Manual coffee machines • Extensive custom settings | De’Longhi Magnifica Start |
| To try out the fancy coffee recipes you saved on TikTok | • Cold microfoam setting • Cold Brew setting • Customisable strength & temperature options • Extensive pre-set recipe range | • Limited recipe options • Machines without manual adjustment options | De’Longhi Eletta Explore |
| To keep cleaning and maintenance to a minimum | • MyLatte function (for less milk wastage) • Automatic cleaning settings | • Unneeded accessories and compartments • Non-dishwasher-safe parts | De’Longhi Magnifica Evo |
| To make specialty coffee without sacrificing bench space | • Built-in grinders & milk frothers • Machines under 30 cm x 50 cm (width x depth) | • Bulky designs | De’Longhi Eletta Explore |
| To enjoy simple (but delicious) coffee while saving money and bench space | • Entry-level models • Built-in grinders and milk frothers • Machines under 30 cm x 50 cm (width x depth) | • Premium coffee machines • Unnecessary functions • Bulky designs | De’Longhi Magnifica Start |
How do De’Longhi’s new machines compare to their La Specialista?
It’s no secret that I loved my La Specialista from De’Longhi, but I wouldn’t go comparing it to the three coffee machines I’ve just reviewed.
The La Specialista model is a manual coffee machine, which offers a very different brewing experience than the fully-automatic Eletta Explore, Magnifica Evo, and Magnifica Start. To operate the former, you’re responsible for manually adjusting grind settings, temperature, and dosing; get it wrong, and you’ll find yourself with either watery or burnt, bitter coffee.
Tips for a good brew:
- Grind: Your ground coffee should be the same texture as sand. If you make it too fine, hot water from the group head will struggle to make its way through the puck, resulting in overheated grounds and a burnt, bitter flavour. Alternatively, a grind that’s too big won’t properly extract the flavour of your beans, leaving you with a weak, watery shot.
- Dosing: You’ll know if you’ve over-filled your porta filter if you have to apply a lot of force when re-attach it to the group head; ideally, you want to be able to tamp your grounds down to a few milimetres below the top of the porta filter. Over-dosing can create bitterness, and underdosing can create watery coffee.
In short, manual machines require more practice, but offer more control over your brew; they’re great for coffee nerds, but not so great for beginners (or anyone who wants a quick, easy coffee that doesn’t worsen their pre-work rush).
The verdict: Which De’Longhi machine came out on top
Considering that I’m a self-proclaimed coffee snob, it comes as no surprise that the De’Longhi Eletta Explore won me over. Between the cold extraction function and the two dedicated milk compartments for hot and cold froth, it’s a versatile option for caffeine lovers like myself, who appreciate the option to try out new recipes.
That being said, I really don’t think every coffee drinker needs to fork out $1,500 for a premium machine, especially if cold brews and fancy iced beverages aren’t your thing. If you’re loyal to your long black order, the Magnifica Start is all you need. And if you’re a coffee enthusiast after a mid-range option, the Magnifica Evo offers plenty of additional functionality without blowing the budget.
I suppose the point I’m trying to make is that I’d happily dedicate bench space to any of these three machines: after all, each and every one of them can pull a brilliant espresso shot. Choosing the right one for you, however, comes down to knowing your budget and what kind of coffee recipes you’ll be making.
My only warning? If you regularly spend $8+ dollars on specialty coffees, don’t settle for an entry-level machine that can’t recreate your go-to order. Chances are, if you can’t make your favourite brew, you’ll be right back to pricey takeaways (plus, if trips to the cafe are currently a daily occurrence, the savings from switching to homemade coffees will pay off a premium machine before you know it).
