The Delonghi Rivelia is here. Announced by the Italian brand at the beginning of the summer, it’s finally moving on from the rumor stage to the stage of coffee in your cup. But why the impatience for a new Delonghi model? Perhaps because this one will bring that breath of fresh air to the world of espresso crushers that we’ve all been waiting for.
So, does this removable grain tank principle live up to its promise? Let’s take a tour of the Delonghi Rivelia.
Putting Rivelia into context
I’ll devote a few lines to reminding you of the principle behind this model. For more details, see the article dedicated to his announcement.
The Delonghi Rivelia is an espresso machine with grinder in the upper mid-range of the Delonghi catalog. This machine caused quite a stir before its launch, winning the Grand Prix de l’Innovation at the 2023 Paris Fair.
The reason for this victory: bean hoppers that can be changed in an instant, allowing you to alternate between different coffees on your machine without losing quality or waiting for the hopper to empty.
On paper, the idea is brilliant and perfectly in tune with the times, when consumers are increasingly concerned about the quality of their coffee. By playing with the interchangeable trays, you can always find cups closer to your tastes, even if you don’t all have the same ones at home.
Test the Delonghi Rivelia, everything you need to know about this unique model
In this test, I’ll focus on the features specific to this model, and deliberately skip over what Delonghi has always mastered.
Interchangeable bins or Bean Switch System
Let’s get straight to the heart of the matter: are interchangeable bins a good idea?
On paper, it’s a resounding yes.
In practice, the idea is also validated for several reasons. First of all, it’s really intuitive to change: you can do it in 2 seconds. There’s no problem at all. But above all, Delonghi has managed this change very well, as the coffee remaining in the machine’s circuit is either purged, mixed with the new coffee, or a cup is produced to eliminate the remainder of the first coffee.
The grinding residues that mix from one type to another do not exceed one gram. And it’s you who has control over the use of this coffee in the system at the time of the change.
Technically, Delonghi has responded well to a technical hurdle that could have made even the most demanding users lose interest in the machine. However, if the bins are interchangeable, don’t change them for every cup, as you’ll always have an extra cup produced with the first coffee (or a purge to do, wasting the grind).
The frequency of changeover is therefore a limit to the use of this machine, but not an obstacle.
However, I am surprised by one point. Delonghi has officially launched this machine, and leading specialist media such as Le Meilleur Café are talking about it, which can also be purchased from the usual retailers. But we can’t find any extra bins so we can have not 2, but 3 or 4.
Is this a commercial approach aimed at spreading out the customer’s purchases? Or is it in the design of this Delonghi Rivelia? I find this surprising and was expecting to see a slightly different approach, encouraging us to have more than one.
A final surprise: the bins are hermetically sealed, of course, but not smoked. Store them in a closed cupboard to prevent UV rays from damaging the coffee. The tray on the machine is not protected.
The Bean Adapt
The Bean Adapt is well known to Delonghi connoisseurs. They know that this system, incorporated directly into the machine program, and no longer just accessible via the application, enables automatic adaptation of parameters to the grain. In this case, there’s a nuance to be made for the Delonghi Rivelia.
In fact, either the Bean Adapt does everything according to its own settings, or you have to disable it completely. You can’t rely on the settings detected by the Bean Adapt to adapt it to your tastes.
As a result, we’re going to fumble a little more to find the ideal cup, especially as the Bean Adapt produces a coffee that lacks a little strength. It’s not a big deal, but it’s a bit surprising that you can’t set it up directly.
Latte Crema System, a safe bet as an option
Delonghi loves to multiply the references of the same machine. In addition to the various colors, you can choose whether or not to use the Latte Crema System. This is the automatic milk carafe for those who want milky drinks that are more gourmet than those made with a steam nozzle.
We still appreciate its efficiency (the foam is perfect), its temperature management (58°), and this version is quieter than its predecessors.
The display
Note 1: the screen is positioned on top of the machine and looks down on you. An unusual choice, undoubtedly designed to enhance the machine’s design, but which may prove to be a handicap depending on your height or the position of the Rivelia under tall kitchen units, for example.
Nevertheless, we’re going to appreciate that it’s very successful, although it could have been bigger. It’s easy to navigate the menus, choose from 16 different beverages or name each coffee to make it easier to find your way around the settings. We appreciate the 4 user profiles, which are linked to the screen. These are also available in coffee routines. In other words, you can program a coffee and its parameters according to the time of day: a full-bodied coffee for the morning, a mild coffee for the evening, to put it simply.
I’m sure it’s the kind of setup that no one ever makes (myself included), but it’s got the merit of existing all the same.
The drinks list
- Expresso and 2x Expresso
- Espresso Lungo
- Café
- Long
- Americano
- Iced coffee
- Iced Americano
- Iced espresso
- Hot water
- Cappuccino
- Cappuccino mix
- Latte Macchiato
- Espresso Macchiato
- Flat White
- Cortado
- Hot milk
- Café Latté
Yes, you read that right, the Rivelia takes its inspiration from the Eletta Explore, itself a winner of the Grand Prix for Innovation at the 2022 Paris Fair, and offers iced drinks.
Technical specifications of the Delonghi Rivelia
- Width: 24.5 cm
- Depth: 43 cm
- Height: 38.5 cm
- Interface: TFT touch screen
- Milk system: Latte Crema System carafe
- 2 simultaneous coffees: Yes
- Nozzle rinsing: Automatic
- Milling trap: Yes
- Warranty: 5 years
- Colors: Sand beige, Pebble, Arctic white, Onyx black
- Water tank volume: 1.4 l
- Grain bin volume: 250 g
- Number of bean bins: 2 bins, interchangeable
- Weight 9.4 kg
Additional information on the Delonghi Rivelia
This Delonghi Rivelia features some of the brand’s classics, such as the 13-position grinder and automatic nozzle cleaning. The water tank (don’t forget the filter) holds just 1.4 liters. On the other hand, the tubs are 250 grams, less would have been heresy.
A few final words about the Delonghi Rivelia
Should you go for the Delonghi Rivelia? If you don’t yet have a machine with a grinder, this is an excellent choice. There’s the intrinsic quality of the machine (it’s a Delonghi after all), but also this possibility of a double tray.
We buy an espresso grinder to obtain better quality than capsules. Coffee tastes are becoming more assertive. And with the simplified choice and easily accessible settings (with or without Bean Adapt), we’re really in this philosophy of Always Better. So yes to the Delonghi Rivelia.
If you already have a machine with a grinder, and moreover a Delonghi with the Latte Crema System (and therefore an already high-quality model), the innovation of interchangeable bins alone may not be worthwhile. You can easily get around this problem by filling your bean container with just the amount you need for a few coffees, without having to invest in another machine.
Special mention goes to the innovation of this model, which follows on from the cold-brewed coffee that Delonghi introduced in 2022 de 2022. The Italian brand has clearly understood that only the search for new processes and a new user experience can keep users interested, and the brand successful.