Delonghi’s Eletta Explore is ready for adventure! Whether it’s tropical heat or the polar cold, this coffee machine will accompany you in all circumstances, with its ability to offer both hot and iced coffees.
Classed in Delonghi’s top-of-the-range category, the Eletta Explore is equipped with all the brand’s major technologies, from the famous 13-position grinder to the Bean Adapt and its milk carafe, the Latte Crema System.
Because it announces over 40 beverages, because its app promises over 120, because it’s a Delonghi machine and because its innovation with iced coffee is tantalizing, here’s my full review of the big 2023 Delonghi novelty: Eletta Explore.
(I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post)
Eletta Explore: a unique model
The philosophy behind an extracted coffee with the Eletta Explore
Coffee machines with bean grinders have been developing well in recent years, so brands are renewing themselves. We’re gradually moving away from technologically frustrating machines like the first Magnifica S, and turning them into more intuitive machines that are easier to operate, especially with an app or touch screen.
But that’s not enough. Neither for the consumer, who wants to have more and more options when choosing a machine, nor for the manufacturer, who is looking to renew his machines by moving upmarket.
This is the context in which Delonghi has set its new benchmark, the Eletta Explore. It’s a variant on an existing range, but a totally new one for Delonghi: cold extraction (room temperature) of coffee to open up to a wider range of recipes.
In the next few lines, we’ll see if the approach is coherent, if it’s easy to access, and if the result is simply greedy.
A question of style and design
For a product from an Italian brand, style is obviously important. And this model’s design is ultimately rather predictable, which doesn’t stop it from being a success. A Delonghi machine is immediately recognizable by its dimensions and cubic appearance.
We do, however, like its smart, upward-facing control panel. There are both keys and a 3.5″ touch screen, in the style of a smartphone. The combination of the two is quite well integrated. We’ll look at the benefits of such a formula later.
The Titanium version offers a slightly better finish, for a slightly higher price.
Technical data
- Water tank volume: 1.8 l
- Grain bin volume: 300 g
- Number of seed trays: 1 tray
- Marc bin volume: 14 wafers
- Width: 26 cm
- Depth: 49 cm
- Height: 38.5 cm
- Milk System: Automatic with carafe
- Milling trap: Yes
- Number of grinder settings: 13 positions
- Coffee strength setting: 5
- Programmable percolation temperature: 3 levels
- Interface: Touch screen
- User profile: 4
- Connected machine: Wi-Fi
- 2 simultaneous coffees: Yes
- 2 simultaneous milk drinks: Yes
- No. of percolations for 2 cups: 1
- Nozzle rinsing: Automatic
- Material(s) : ABS Mat
This machine costs around 1,000 euros.
Supplied accessories
- Carafe for hot milk
- Carafe for cold milk
- Mug-to-go by model
- Ice cube tray
- Delonghi filter
- Cleaning utensils
The advantages of the Delonghi Eletta Explore, classic Delonghi advantages
I won’t go into too much detail on each of these points. They are already well known to anyone who uses or is interested in a Delonghi machine.
The shredder
The grinder is the heart of the coffee machine. And at Delonghi, we use a 13-position grinder (you don’t need that many) that has been tried and tested for years. Its precision, the quality of the grind obtained and its longevity make it a masterpiece which ensures that every coffee is a success.
The Bean Adapt
Bean Adapt is a technology that Delonghi is increasingly deploying on its top-of-the-range machines. This system enables the machine to analyze the grain contained in the hopper, so that it can be crushed in the most optimal way, automatically adapting the extraction parameters. This doesn’t prevent you from setting your own parameters to which the Eletta will adapt.
On this machine, the adapt bean will provide us with information about the machine setting, but will not set it itself. I find this a practical option if you don’t know anything about roasting or setting up a grinder.
Latte Crema System
The Latte Crema System is the automatic milk carafe that Delonghi offers on its beautiful espresso machines with grinder. It is stored in the fridge so that the milk is at optimum temperature, then it automatically froths the milk and dispenses it into the cup at the right moment according to the recipe selected.
In terms of the One Touch system (or automatic milk system), this is really the most practical: the carafe rinses automatically, so you don’t have to do a thing. It’s my favorite milk system.
Quite simply, there’s nothing better than this system for dense, light, creamy and delicious milk foam.
The Coffee Link application
High-end espresso grinders are inevitably connected these days, and the Eletta Explore is no exception. The same applies to all the brand’s machines. This includes classic functions such as starting a cup of coffee and viewing maintenance information for the coffee machine.
Above all, this model offers a host of other recipes for hot and cold drinks. While the Eletta offers around 40 recipes on its touchscreen, your smartphone’s touchscreen offers up to 120 recipes.
The application is not free of technical faults, for example, it reboots a little too often. But it’s still a secondary way of using your Eletta that’s quite enjoyable.
I had a hard time connecting the machine to the application (it must have taken me more than 1 hour) and tried several times. Once connected, no problem.
A question of settings
The program lets you save 4 profiles (why not more?), and vary the coffee over 4 cup lengths and 5 intensity levels. This may almost seem low in comparison with other top-of-the-range models, especially from competitors. In fact, too many parameters end up becoming a gimmick.
The temperature is set in a separate menu, since it is set for the entire machine and not beverage by beverage.
What’s more, we mustn’t forget to use the Bean Adapt, which already provides the precision needed to make a highly relevant cup according to its grain. So here again, too many settings are irrelevant.
Click here to check the price of L’Eletta Explore
Simplified maintenance
Maintenance is a classic feature of any grain processing machine. At Delonghi, as with most brands, this is almost entirely achieved by the espresso grinder. On this model, it’s really only the hot-water rinsing of the extraction unit, say once a week, that requires your intervention.
For the rest, the machine works on its own, and very efficiently too. And it works just as well with coffee as with milk.
For the few operations you have to perform yourself, the screen guides you step by step, so you can’t go wrong.
The Mug option
The Eletta’s built-in mug option is a nice little feature, ideal before going to work, for example, by lifting up the dirty water collection grid.
Delonghi Eletta Explore: coffee beans with a difference
Eletta Explore recipes
In the world of cell phones, there’s a permanent race to see who can offer the biggest screen, or the highest resolution photo sensor.
For coffee machines, this race is based on the number of drinks offered. No brand will say that it wants to do better than the other, but the numbers are constantly increasing, even if it means being a little artificial at times.
The list is divided into two parts. On the machine, you can choose from a range of beverages, including cold or hot milk, or no milk at all. When using the app, gourmet recipes are added instead of coffee preparation variations.
The machine’s screen is the neighborhood bistro, the smartphone is Starbucks: a coffee shop full of ingredients (except coffee!).
The best-known recipes
- Iced or hot cappuccino
- Cappuccino Mix iced or hot
- Cappuccino mix
- Espresso
- Iced or hot Latte Macchiato
- Caffe Latte iced or hot
- Flat White iced or hot
- Expresso x2
- Coffee
- Americano
- Over Ice
- Doppio +
- Lungo
- Espresso macchiato
- Cortado
- Hot milk
- Coffee Pot
- Cold Milk
- Tea
- Hot water
The control panel
In addition to providing a singular and successful aesthetic, the control panel is interesting for its own sake.
The touch-sensitive buttons, those with icons, are shortcuts for choosing beverage categories. This way, you can switch more quickly between cold and hot drinks. There are 4 buttons: Cold drinks, hot drinks, Mug-to-go (typically light coffee served in an American-style isothermal mug), and access to favorites.
Secondly, the screen, while not very large, is easy to navigate. You choose your drink, set it up with the swipe of a finger, and save your preferences with a gesture. It’s both simple and effective.
The screen also features the ever-popular customization touches. Text content, such as maintenance instructions, is both flexible and relaxed.
There’s less of a feeling of being in front of a machine. The animated visuals, while basically useless, are a nice touch, and even useful for maintenance purposes, for example.
Did you know? Delonghi’s Eletta Explore is the big winner in our comparison of the best cappuccino machines.
Learn all about iced coffee
I won’t dwell on the milk carafe for hot drinks – it’s no longer a surprise.
Delonghi’s iced coffee is brewed cold, or rather at room temperature. The process is slower, so that the water takes on the coffee particles in the same way as if the water were hot. This is the cold brew technique.
Other beverages, on the other hand, will start from a hot beverage and cool down on contact with the ice cubes in the glass, which will instantly cool the coffee, while retaining the original strength of the espresso and the power of its flavours. This is the Over ice technique.
The milk may or may not be heated, depending on the recipe. And each variant has its own adapted milk jug. The carafe for cold milk is called Latte Crema System Cool.
The question now is whether milk drinks are a success, whether hot or cold. Hot, they have long been mastered by Delonghi. Cold, and this is a real surprise, they’re delicious. It’s the kind of drink you’d order in a Starbucks or as a dessert in a restaurant.
You don’t drink an iced cappuccino with 5 cm of foam and toppings on top like you would an espresso. And that’s what makes this machine so special, and so efficient. We’re really here on a family, even festive, machine.
I recommend this machine:
- You're looking for a machine with a wide variety of drinks
- You want to start preparing your drink remotely
- Hot or cold Latte Crema system
In summary:
The Delonghi Eletta Explore offers an impressive variety of over 40 beverages.
The machine can brew both hot and cold coffees, thanks to its innovative Cold Brew extraction system.
The Coffee Link app provides access to a range of 120 recipes and offers a connected experience for drink customization and control.
With Wi-Fi connectivity, you can start your coffee remotely and receive maintenance updates.
It features a 13-position grinder, Bean Adapt technology for optimal grinding, and the Latte Crema System for automatic milk-based drinks.
Maintenance is simplified with automatic rinsing and step-by-step guides on the touch screen.
- The wide variety of beverages available
- The addition of cold or iced milk-based drinks
- High-quality espresso extraction
- A touch screen combined with a touch ring for easy navigation
- Full self-cleaning system and simplified maintenance
- Two carafes: one for cold milk, and one for hot milk
- The app is interesting but not yet fully optimized
- The extra cost for the version with the mug-to-go feels unnecessary
In conclusion about the Eletta Explore
My interpretation of this machine is that you have to choose it with more of a smile on your face than Brad Pitt in the advertising clips. What I mean here is that you don’t buy the Eletta for its ability to make excellent coffee. There are many other Delonghi models to choose from for less, and just as sophisticated.
No, this model is chosen for its ability to produce a wide range of cold coffee recipes, including milky beverages. And that opens the door to gourmet delights, creativity and originality. It’s an ideal machine for the whole family, but also for entertaining friends.
Everyone’s going to want their own favorite recipe, and everyone’s going to be able to have infinite fun customizing their coffee, because the machine makes it possible.
C’est en cela que la Eletta Explore est une machine très festive, et familiale. bonjour comment allez-vous ? salut