- Better: cold drink quality The reviewer says the Jura Z10 makes better cold drinks, though it costs much more.
DeLonghi Eletta Explore Espresso Machine Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Eletta Explore if you want one-touch hot drinks, cold brew, strong milk foam, profiles and travel-mug support. Skip it if you won’t use cold/to-go features, need a quiet grinder, or expect a polished app.
Best for
Best for households that want many one-touch drinks, especially both hot and iced milk drinks, without manual espresso work. It also suits commuters who will use the to-go function and larger mug clearance.
Not for
Not for buyers who mostly drink simple hot coffee, want a quiet grinder, or care deeply about app control. Reviewers also warned that the price is harder to justify if the cold and travel-mug features go unused.
Verdict
Reviewers found the DeLonghi Eletta Explore most convincing as a broad, one-touch drinks machine rather than a purist espresso tool. Its biggest strengths are rich espresso for a superautomatic, strong hot milk foam, unusually capable cold drinks, guided profiles and a genuinely useful to-go mode. The tradeoff is that the feature set adds cost, size and some friction: the app was often criticized, the grinder can be loud, and the two-carafe milk system is useful but not always elegant. For households that drink both hot and iced milk drinks, the evidence points to a polished, versatile machine whose practical results matter more than its occasional gimmicks.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Dinamica Plus
- Similar: coffee-making experience and lower price The reviewer says Dinamica Plus offers a similarly excellent experience for less money, but lacks cold brew.
- Worse: cold foam and to-go features The reviewer says Dinamica Plus lacks the Eletta Explore’s cold milk foam and to-go features.
Breville Barista machine
- Better: espresso flavor complexity The reviewer says Eletta Explore espresso is proper, but not as complex as a Breville Barista machine.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
26 reviewed features- Very positive 4.5-5.0 54% 14 features
- Positive 3.5-4.4 35% 9 features
- Neutral 2.5-3.4 12% 3 features
- Negative 1.5-2.4 0% 0 features
- Very negative below 1.5 0% 0 features
Pros
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Accessories were repeatedly praised, with reviewers noting two milk carafes, travel mug, ice tray, cleaning items and other included pieces.
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Reviewers consistently praised the Eletta Explore for rich espresso and strong beverage quality, with repeated notes of crema, sweetness, balance and cafe-style results.
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Setup was described as easy and guided, with the machine or instructions helping users through the process rather than leaving setup intimidating.
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Time-to-cup was a strength, with reviewers citing quick heat-up, fast pouring and notably rapid cold brew compared with traditional steeping.
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Warranty comments were positive, with reviewers treating DeLonghi’s two-year warranty plus registration extension as useful reassurance on an expensive machine.
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Overall user experience was strongly positive across reviews, especially for ease of use, guided menus, profiles, broad drink variety and polished day-to-day operation.
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Milk performance was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers repeatedly praising hot foam, cold foam, texture and cappuccino/latte results.
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Brewing performance was described as consistent, rich and capable, with several reviewers saying the machine produced good crema, balanced shots and reliable results.
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Travel use was a clear strength, with reviewers praising tumbler filling, travel mug clearance, to-go menus and compatibility with larger mugs.
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Automation was praised through Bean Adapt, profile support and machine-guided operation, though one reviewer noted the app-dependent Bean Adapt setup as a limitation.
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Capacity was praised as generous, with reviewers highlighting large water, bean and grounds capacities that reduce refilling in daily use.
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Hot-water evidence was positive where tested, with reviewers noting consistent high tea temperatures and useful tea-temperature settings.
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Pressure-related evidence was positive: reviewers noted the machine could reach espresso-like extraction pressure and produce pressure-supported crema.
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Used-puck disposal received a positive maintenance note from one reviewer who found the spent pucks bone dry, reducing moisture concerns.
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Cold and iced drink performance was a major strength, especially cold brew and cold foam, though some reviewers found certain cold espresso or cold coffee modes odd or ice-dependent.
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Maintenance was generally viewed as easy and well-guided, though reviewers still noted the need to manage descaling, tank alignment and regular milk-carafe cleaning.
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Build quality was generally positive, with reviewers saying the plastics felt solid, the machine did not feel cheap and durability held up during daily use.
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Design and ergonomics were mostly praised for a modern look, usable interface and manageable width, but some reviewers found the machine bulky or counter-space hungry.
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Popularity evidence was limited to one reviewer’s opinion that the machine is popular because it handles both hot and cold drinks.
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The grinder and dosing system drew strong praise for fine grinding and sizable doses, but multiple reviewers warned that the grinder can be loud or screechy.
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Cup, tray and carafe handling was mixed: reviewers loved the plug-in carafe system but criticized switching carafes and the need to clean them regularly.
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Value opinions were mixed by region and use case: reviewers called it expensive, especially in the US, but worthwhile when its cold and to-go features are used.
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Marketing-claim accuracy was mixed: one reviewer said the cold foam promise is met, but also felt the execution was awkward.
Cons
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Connectivity was the most mixed area: some reviewers liked app control and support, while many complained about bugs, slowness, US availability or limited usefulness.
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Pot-function evidence was limited and mixed, with one reviewer personally dismissing it while acknowledging some users may appreciate it.
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Design flaws centered on practical annoyances such as the water tank, cold drink execution, appearance, capacitive controls and two-carafe setup.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Coffee Machines, this product is above average in Accessories, Warranty and Customer support, Portability and travel-friendliness, below average in Pot function.
Summary
8 compared features- Above average 0.4+ pts higher 88% 7 features
- Same as average within 0.3 pts 0% 0 features
- Below average 0.4+ pts lower 13% 1 feature
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accessories | 4.8 | 3.7 | +1.1 |
| Warranty and Customer support | 4.7 | 3.7 | +1.0 |
| Portability and travel-friendliness | 4.5 | 3.7 | +0.8 |
| Hot water dispenser | 4.5 | 3.7 | +0.8 |
| Milk, steam and frothing | 4.6 | 4.1 | +0.6 |
| Pot function | 3.0 | 3.8 | -0.8 |
| Iced / cold-brew function quality | 4.4 | 3.9 | +0.5 |
| Capacity | 4.5 | 3.8 | +0.7 |
FAQ
Does the Eletta Explore make good espresso?
Yes. Reviewers repeatedly described the espresso as rich, balanced and full of crema for a superautomatic, though one noted it will not match the complexity of a hands-on espresso setup.
Are the cold drinks actually useful?
Mostly yes. Reviewers praised the cold brew, iced drinks and cold foam, but several said results depend on following the machine’s ice instructions and that some cold coffee modes feel less convincing.
How good is the milk frothing?
Milk frothing was one of the most praised areas. Hot foam was described as excellent or silky, and cold foam was well liked, especially with the right milk.
Is the app worth using?
The app was the weakest recurring point. Some reviewers liked the setup and remote options, but others called it slow, buggy, limited, unavailable on some US models or not worth buying the machine for.
Is it easy to clean?
Reviewers generally found cleaning easy and well-guided, with automatic rinsing and removable parts. The caveat is that milk carafes still need regular washing beyond the quick clean cycle.
Is the Eletta Explore worth the price?
It depends on use case. Reviewers saw strong value if you will use cold drinks, profiles and to-go features, but called it expensive if you only need a simpler hot-drink superautomatic.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.7/5
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.1/5
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.0/5
Article Reviews
techadvisor.com
- Review score
- 4.7/5
homecoffeeexpert.com
- Review score
- 4.2/5
techradar.com
- Review score
- 3.9/5
Consider This Instead
If you want better App, connectivity and smart control
Choose De’Longhi Rivelia Automatic Espresso Machine. It scores 4.6 vs 3.0 for App, connectivity and smart control, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better Value and Price
Choose Braun PureFlavor 14-Cup Coffee Maker, KF5650. It scores 5.0 vs 3.6 for Value and Price, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better Pot function
Choose Technivorm Moccamaster KBT Coffee Brewer. It scores 4.7 vs 3.0 for Pot function, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better Accuracy of marketing claims
Choose WACACO Pipamoka Portable Coffee Maker. It scores 5.0 vs 3.5 for Accuracy of marketing claims, with a 4.1 overall score.
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