Contrary to what you might think, the $1,800 De’Longhi Eletta Explore is not for coffee snobs. It’s more for schmoes like me who can’t tell the difference between a $30 bean and a $7 bean and are definitely not going to notice if an espresso drink is pulled by hand or made in a fully automatic espresso machine. Yes, this gleaming device is pricey, but considering the amount of fancy drinks I’ve shelled out for over the years, it actually saves me money by making my brew of choice at home — with the press of a button.
This superautomatic espresso maker from De'Longhi makes more than 50 different espresso drinks with the press of a button while offering an array of cold brew drinks with silky-smooth milk in an instant. It's a splurge, but you'll never have to plunk down cash for Starbucks again.
Why it’s worth it
The De’Longhi Eletta Explore, which falls into the category of a superautomatic espresso machine, is by far my favorite gadget in the house. My husband and I use it every single day, and I get to wow guests with an offer of more than 50 hot or cold brew drinks in minutes. This baby grinds your beans, brews your coffee, froths your milk and does just about everything but say, “Thank you and have a nice day.” It’s easy to set up, it’s simple to use and, frankly, it’s a joy to show off. And though I can’t speak to the coffee snobs of the world, I have not gotten a single complaint from anyone (yet).
How it compares
When I first upgraded to the De’Longhi Eletta Explore from the Cuisinart drip coffee maker I got as a wedding present, it was like a revelation. Not only could I now make lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites and the like, all in less time than it took to brew a pot of coffee, but even I could taste the huge difference in my drink. I started with a plain old Americano (espresso and water), using the same beans I had always used, and the added strength and depth of flavor was palpable.
However, you’re not paying $1,800 to just upgrade your regular old joe, so here’s what you need to consider if you’re going to splurge on this fancier superautomatic.
Easy setup
You might think that a device that does as much as the De’Longhi Eletta Explore would be tough to get working. But right out of the box, this thing is simple to use. I’d say the most annoying thing during the unboxing was identifying and storing all the extras the machine comes with, including two milk frothing attachments (one for hot, one for cold brew), a travel mug, an ice cube tray for iced drinks and a glass, double-wall cappuccino cup that shows off your drinks with panache.
Once that was done, I just plugged the machine in. The 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD display is where all the magic happens, and it advised me to fill the reservoir with water and the hopper with beans — before it rinsed and cleaned itself, and pronounced that I was ready to start brewing. Yup, it was just that easy.
You can also connect to Wi-Fi and download the De’Longhi Coffee Link app — though, other than trying out some fun recipes, I didn’t find much use for this.
When you’re done making a drink, and if the machine hasn’t been used for about 10 minutes, it automatically rinses itself and shuts down. The only annoyance we found was that it tends to shut down a little too quickly and we’re constantly pressing the power button to turn it back on for our second cup in the morning. A quibble, but certainly not a deal breaker.
A huge array of espresso drinks, including instant cold brew
The Eletta Explore does not skimp on options to help you find your favorite espresso drinks, both hot and cold. As mentioned, it comes with two milk frothing attachments, each of which must be specifically used for either hot or cold choices. Because the weather is getting cool, I keep my hot frother filled with skim milk in the fridge and my cold frother on the counter in case I have a hankering for an iced drink during the day.
Once you’re ready to brew, you choose from the Hot or Cold section on the Eletta Explore’s control panel, then get micro on the color LCD screen. In addition to the espresso, cappuccino, latte and flat white, you can also choose from more diverse offerings like a cortado and espresso macchiato. And all of these are also available as a cold brew option. Just tap the icon and the machine does the rest. Like magic.
In addition to a fuller, more distinctive taste for all our espresso drinks, the milk was smooth and airy. And the cold brew was delicious, especially considering that a true cold brew drink takes more than 12 hours to make from scratch.
Bottom line
There’s no doubt that spending just under $2,000 on a fancy espresso maker is a splurge. But for me, it was most definitely worth it. With Starbucks and the many upscale coffee shops in my Brooklyn neighborhood charging upward of $6 per drink, this pays for itself every single day.
But what really blew me away was the Eletta Explore’s simplicity, diversity and quality. As an everyday coffee drinker who has no interest in learning how to pull my own espresso, the fact that I could press a few buttons and have exactly what I want is well worth the price. Even my husband, who is jaded from the many gadgets I force him to try in our kitchen, cannot get over how easy and delicious this is.
And, if you’re like me and love a good cold brew drink at any time of the day, having that option is also extremely pleasing. In the end, however, this is about how much coffee you drink and how much it matters to have access to more than 50 types of espresso drinks. Of course, if you’re one of those coffee snobs who understands that you can always make a perfectly good espresso on a budget, we salute you — and suggest you stick with a traditional, manual espresso maker like our pick in the $100 De’Longhi Stilosa.