Compare De’Longhi Rivelia Automatic Espresso Machine vs DeLonghi Eletta Explore Espresso Machine

Reviews highlight a generous box: the second bean hopper for swapping beans/decaf is a standout, and several sources mention a milk container, water filter, and descaler being included.

Most reviews note a generous bundle for a superautomatic: hot and cool LatteCrema milk carafes, a travel mug/to-go kit, and often an ice tray plus basic cleaning items and a water/carbon filter.

Several reviews note there is no finicky app required and everything runs from the touchscreen. That is great for simplicity, but it also means phone-based control is not the focus.

Coffee Link connectivity is a mixed bag. Some reviews like the extra recipes and parameter tweaks, but multiple reviewers call it laggy/buggy or mostly gimmicky, and several point out that app features may be limited or unavailable depending on region.

Setup is repeatedly described as guided and quick, with the touchscreen walking through basics like language and water hardness. Physical ergonomics (weight, no handles, screen angle) are the main setup-related gripes.

Setup is generally praised: the touchscreen walks you through priming and first-run steps and reduces guesswork. Reviewers highlight that it is hard to skip important steps, which helps beginners.

Automation is a core strength: Bean Adapt-style guidance, user profiles, and prompts that steer grind/temperature and maintenance. Some reviews also mention the machine surfacing different drink options by time of day or remembering prior tweaks (like extra shots).

Automation is a core strength: user profiles, one-touch drink recipes, Bean Adapt-style calibration, and guided “wizard” prompts help dial in beans and drinks. Remote convenience exists, but rinse/clean cycles and app limitations reduce true hands-off control.

The machine is typically described as a single-boiler/thermoblock-style superautomatic. Reviews don’t treat this as a practical blocker, largely because the system automates brewing and milk delivery quickly.

Across reviews, drinks come out consistently smooth with dependable crema, and the guided dialing-in helps repeatability. A few reviewers note you can still over-extract or need a couple of tries to land the ideal grind for a specific bean.

Across reviews, brewing is described as consistently strong for a bean-to-cup machine, with good temperature stability and repeatable results once grind and strength are set.

Build impressions are mixed: multiple reviewers call out a lot of plastic and at least one found parts (like the carafe) flimsy. On the upside, long-term use reports describe steady, reliable output over months.

Build impressions skew premium: a mix of sturdy plastics with stainless accents, and several reviewers call out Italy manufacture as a quality signal. Long-term durability data is limited, but the removable brew group and solid feel are positives.

Capacity is compact-friendly but not huge: multiple sources cite a 1.4L water tank, two 250g/8.8oz bean hoppers, and a grounds bin that fills around every 10 coffees. Heavy black-coffee households may refill the tank more often.

Capacity is repeatedly cited as convenient: roughly 1.8–2.0 L water, about a 300 g bean hopper, and a used-grounds bin around 14 pucks means fewer refills for multi-drink households.

Cup and tray handling is generally practical, with adjustable outlets and cited cup clearance around 13.5-14 cm. Some reviewers want a deeper drip tray or note you need to be mindful of the grounds container to avoid spills.

Cup and carafe handling is mostly well liked thanks to the pull-out/flip-up tray and to-go sizing that fits tall travel mugs (including large tumblers). A minority mention fiddly tanks/trays or carafe-lid fit as small day-to-day annoyances.

Design is widely praised as slim, modern, and space-aware (and it is associated with design awards). The side-mounted tank and clean layout help usability, but it can still feel deep/heavy on the counter and the top-mounted screen angle is not ideal for everyone.

Expect a sizable footprint and notable depth; several reviews say it can hog counter space. The large touchscreen and clear menus improve day-to-day ergonomics, but small-button/placement quirks show up in a few accounts.

Common annoyances include a small purge/waste when switching hoppers, occasional extra water purges into the tray, and design quirks like screen angle or fiddly milk parts. A few reviews also call out grinder noise and the not-quite-cold-brew style cool drinks.

Recurring complaints include app instability, noise during grinding, and a few ergonomic quirks (water tank/drip tray details, capacitive buttons, or carafe parts). Cold recipes can also be temperature-sensitive, depending on drink and ice use.

Espresso and milk drinks are broadly rated as rich and satisfying, with repeated praise for crema and chocolatey notes. The main caveat is nuance: some reviewers say it cannot match the depth of a manual portafilter shot, and default strength can lean mild unless adjusted.

Espresso and milk-drink bases are a highlight: multiple reviews describe syrupy, crema-forward shots that beat many superautomatics, especially in stronger double-shot modes. Flavor nuance still won’t match a dedicated manual setup, but quality is repeatedly called “excellent.”

Water filtration is supported and discussed in reviews, including setting water hardness and replacing filters on a regular schedule (often every 2-3 months) to reduce scale and keep taste consistent.

A water/carbon filter is commonly included and is positioned as part of scale management. Owners should expect periodic replacement along with routine descaling prompts.

The grinder and hopper system is a headline feature: interchangeable dual hoppers make regular/decaf switching simple, and reviewers mention 13-14 grind settings plus on-screen guidance. Tradeoffs include residual beans in the grinder (sometimes requiring a purge) and occasional complaints about grinder noise.

The conical-burr grinder is widely praised for grinding fine enough to produce real espresso-like extraction and for offering many steps. Downsides mentioned are loud operation, a not-airtight hopper cover in one review, and potential clogging in the pre-ground chute if used.

Heating is strong for coffee, with multiple sources praising drink temperatures in general. The recurring limitation is milk (often around 60C) and hot water for tea (one review cites about 80C), so people who want extra-hot beverages may prefer a manual steam wand.

Iced and cool options get mixed reviews: some are impressed by the cold/iced modes when poured over ice, while others say it is not true cold brew and tastes best with added ice. Several sources point to an optional cold-foam accessory that upgrades iced milk drinks.

Cold options are a major differentiator: cold-brew-style and over-ice recipes get frequent praise and can be genuinely refreshing. At the same time, several reviewers caution that some “cold” drinks rely on plenty of ice and may pour lukewarm otherwise.

Used-ground handling is generally easy and tidy, with multiple sources citing a grounds bin capacity around 10 drinks and straightforward emptying. One reviewer warns the grounds container can drop if you do not support it during removal.

Used-grounds handling is generally tidy: pucks are described as well-formed, and the bin size (often cited around 14 servings) reduces mess and emptying frequency. Regular emptying and rinsing are still part of ownership.

Milk performance is a highlight: reviewers frequently describe plush, adjustable foam (sometimes latte-art capable) and like that the milk container stores in the fridge. The main downsides are extra cleaning steps and milk temperature that some find too lukewarm.

Milk performance is repeatedly strong, with LatteCrema delivering thick foam and good texture for cappuccinos/lattes and adjustable foam levels. Cold foam is viewed as impressive but sometimes less stable than hot foam, and owners must keep up with cleaning routines.

Overall, reviews describe a very approachable, one-touch experience with a responsive touchscreen, profiles, and lots of recipes. Satisfaction dips mainly around maintenance for milk drinks, occasional quirks with hopper switching, and price.

Overall experience is described as highly user-friendly: a bright touchscreen, huge drink menu, and profiles make it easy for households. The biggest experience negatives are noise, size, and the uneven app experience.

Multiple sources frame the Rivelia as a popular, in-demand super-automatic, especially for people who want a compact all-in-one with bean switching.

Several sources frame the Eletta Explore as a top pick or one of the best superautomatics in its class, especially for buyers who care about cold drinks and one-touch milk beverages.

A pot/large-coffee style option is mentioned as an available extra. Some reviewers see it as nice-to-have rather than the main reason to buy the machine.

Only limited evidence appears, but where pressure is mentioned it is framed as a high-pressure, stable super-automatic platform (often quoted at 19 bars), with no widespread complaints about pressure-related inconsistency.

When discussed, reviewers note it can reach espresso-range extraction and even choke/stall with fine grinds, suggesting solid pressure capability for a superautomatic. Few reviews quantify consistency, but overall extraction feedback is positive.

Design recognition comes up repeatedly, with reviewers mentioning major design awards (such as iF and Red Dot) tied to the machine's look and user experience.

At least one hands-on review calls out practical storage for the measuring scoop, which helps keep the counter setup tidy.

Speed is repeatedly praised: the machine heats quickly, produces drinks in well under a minute in several accounts, and generally delivers one-touch beverages faster than manual workflows.

Speed is a consistent plus when mentioned: quick warm-up (often around tens of seconds) and efficient drink workflows make it feel fast for daily use, including cold programs that complete in minutes.

Value is debated: some reviewers call it a strong deal for the feature set (especially where pricing is closer to the midrange), while others highlight the premium MSRP (around $1500) and extra-cost add-ons for enhanced cold drinks. Most agree the dual-hopper convenience and milk quality are the key justification.

Price is premium and frequently called expensive. Still, multiple reviews argue the feature set (especially cold + milk systems) can justify the cost, and some frame it as better value than similarly featured rivals.

Warranty details are rarely discussed in depth, but at least one review notes a 1-year warranty, which is standard for the category rather than best-in-class.

Warranty/support coverage is lightly discussed; one review highlights a 2-year warranty and notes DeLonghi is generally reliable, but there isn’t much transcript evidence about service experiences.

Maintenance is mostly well-supported by on-screen prompts: water hardness testing, periodic descaling, and simple access for routine brew-group rinsing. The recurring negatives are milk-system cleaning (more parts and frequent rinses) and occasional reports of extra rinse water ending up in the drip tray.

Maintenance is considered manageable: removable brew group access, prompts for descaling, and rinse/clean cycles for milk lines help. Reviewers still emphasize that carafes need periodic disassembly/washing and drip trays/tanks can be a bit fiddly.