Skilled’s Ranking
Execs
- Color touchscreen controls
- Integral milk frother
- Personalised settings
- Swappable bean hopper
Cons
- Expensive
- Touchscreen is on prime
- Water filter will want changing
Our Verdict
Bean-to-cup machines are already succesful however not all the time intuitive. With the Rivelia, De’Longhi has gone a step past: it’s a machine that can remind you to scrub it, supply totally different drinks for the time of day or level out the place instruments are situated. Whereas that comes at a value, for those who admire that stage of tech, it may nicely be value it. For others, it might really feel like an excessive amount of display interplay.
For individuals who want a hands-off strategy to espresso making, a bean-to-cup machine is a should, however can nonetheless be baffling to these unfamiliar with its controls. De’Longhi’s Rivelia is decidedly totally different: it’s a espresso machine that likes to talk.
Geared up with a touchscreen so you’ll be able to personalise drinks, save favorite settings underneath totally different profiles and be taken by means of upkeep step-by-step, one in all its most interesting options is the detachable bean hopper and a spare. This lets you swap espresso beans while you fancy a change, with out having to empty the entire machine.
Design & Construct
- 1.4 litre water tank
- Swappable 250g bean hopper
- Peak adjustable espresso spouts
From a design standpoint, the Rivelia resembles a typical bean-to-cup. There’s a beneficiant 1.4-litre water tank on one facet (although for those who add the water filter, you’ll lose a few of that quantity), and a reasonably boxy form softened by curved corners.
A couple of attention-grabbing options set it aside although: the 250g bean hopper on prime, which twists off to get replaced by one other, adjustable espresso spouts that may be raised to accommodate cups as much as 14cm tall, and a flap on the entrance that may both join a detachable milk carafe or a scorching water spout. Another plus is that it’s out there in 4 finishes: all neutrals, however it’s refreshing to have a selection.
Its giant touchscreen is in color, however positioned on the highest of the machine reasonably than the entrance. Whereas it will suffice for many, for those who’re of brief stature, it could possibly be troublesome to see when positioned on a median top worktop (round 91cm) because the Rivelia is 38.5cm tall.
De’Longhi has been making espresso machines for many years, so it’s no shock that the Rivelia makes a wonderful cup
The touchscreen is the place the whole lot occurs: right here you’ll be able to select from 16 totally different drinks, personalise how a lot espresso and milk you like, save these settings, arrange 1-4 profiles for various customers, watch animations of processes because it brews, and run by means of all of the totally different upkeep. Arrange a profile and the Rivelia will study your espresso routine, providing you totally different drinks within the afternoon, for instance, than it might within the morning.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Efficiency & Options
- Floor espresso chute
- Bean Adapt operate for various varieties
- Guided processes
De’Longhi has been making espresso machines for many years, so it’s no shock that the Rivelia, like its different machines, makes a wonderful cup. The alternatives on its menu cater equally nicely to black and milky espresso drinkers – you’ll be able to filter out both, due to buttons on both facet of the touchscreen panel – and there are chilly espresso drinks on supply, together with espresso and Americano. They’re all flawlessly delivered, and the height-adjustable spouts means you’ll be able to squeeze some reusable cups beneath.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
We had been puzzled nonetheless, that there was no full instruction guide included with our pattern, solely a fast begin information (a full guide may be downloaded). This can be a disgrace as a result of it’s simple to overlook a number of the options.
For instance, for individuals who prefer to drink decaf – for which there’s a a lot better selection of floor than beans – it’s not apparent that the Rivelia can brew utilizing floor espresso. The chute for it’s hidden beneath the lid, the place the mixed brush and scoop and the removable water spout are saved.
You’ll even have to enter the settings for a drink to pick floor as an alternative of beans, reasonably than with the ability to hit a single button. When doing so, the touchscreen may be too responsive: a couple of occasions we hit the brew button for floor and it registered twice, beginning then cancelling our espresso earlier than it had begun.
The descaling information is probably probably the most helpful components of the Rivelia’s management panel – conserving the machine in tip-top situation
Much less apparent options, akin to the flexibility so as to add extra espresso to your cup as soon as meting out has completed, are additionally simply missed. The one indication for this can be a small plus image and the phrase ‘additional’. You’ll should be fast deciding because it disappears quick as soon as brewing has stopped.
One characteristic that’s extra noticeable is the Bean Adapt: this lets you set the number of bean you’re utilizing and its roast so the machine can tailor the brewing to get the most effective from it.
Whereas that is most likely solely helpful for those who use the identical number of beans typically – though it can save you six bean profiles – it’s a considerate contact that takes the bean-to-cup expertise past deciding on a grinder setting and hoping for a superb consequence. Nonetheless, while you swap bean hoppers, it doesn’t ask you if you wish to set or select one other bean profile.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
What we particularly favored was the guided processes, akin to draining, cleansing and rinsing the machine after a interval of non-use. So typically, even the easy act of descaling a bean-to-cup includes an advanced sequence of urgent buttons in the correct order, which means that placing it off is less complicated than making time for it, and what suffers is the espresso.
It might sound unexciting, however the descaling information is probably probably the most helpful components of the Rivelia’s management panel – conserving the machine in tip-top situation. A ultimate plus for upkeep is that the drip tray and milk carafe components can go within the dishwasher.
Value & Availability
The De’Longhi Rivelia shouldn’t be but out there within the US, however for those who’re within the UK, there are many shopping for choices. It prices £749.99, which is not at all low cost however top quality bean-to-cup machines are costly and this nonetheless stays a well-priced possibility. For its characteristic set and performance, it’s good worth.
It’s out there from John Lewis, Argos, Amazon and Currys, however on the time of writing, the most suitable choice is to purchase direct from De’Longhi or from AO.com, the place it’s £10 cheaper. You might have to buy round for the color possibility you need.
Must you purchase the De’Longhi Rivelia?
In bolting on a layer of tech, the Rivelia seeks to enchantment to those that might have thought-about a bean-to-cup however written it off as being too sophisticated to make use of or keep. And it succeeds – the colorful touchscreen makes processes simple whereas animations present you what’s occurring.
Nonetheless, generally its chatty nature can really feel an excessive amount of – do it is advisable to be reminded to place milk again within the fridge or have a machine that learns your habits so that you’re supplied the identical factor? When you should buy a fundamental bean-to-cup for half the worth, whether or not the Rivelia is the bean-to-cup you’ve been ready for will come right down to how a lot worth you place on an amazing espresso that comes with a dialog.
For extra espresso machine shopping for choices, take a look at our round-up of the most effective espresso machines we’ve examined and for handy espresso making, try our most advisable greatest pod espresso makers.