DeLonghi Eletta Cappuccino

I can see why it was discontinued – We have a Delonghi Cappuchino ECAM23.46X which seems to be this one. This is one for engineers who enjoy a challenging machine with an incomprehensible user manual. Seriously thinking about taking it back, it produces inferior coffee and I can't get the milk dispenser to work.

Makes morning much easier – Brilliant coffee machine. Its Coffee bean grinder makes the Coffee tasted so consistent. A few buttons make your coffee taste the same every morning. The down side is the coffee temperature is not high enough in the winter. Show details

Has to be one of the best coffee machines on the market – Once you get the setting to your liking it makes a great coffee every time. Not much clean up required after use which I love. Just move the dial to self clean then remove the milk container and wipe the nozzle. Milk container goes in the fridge to keep any left over milk cold. can program milk and coffee levels on multiple buttons. Easily… Read more

adjustable degree of frothing. Decaf is possible by adding powder to special hopper each time (once per cup) but selecting back and forth between the modes takes a little practice and concentration. Had the machine for about a year now - oh yeah, and you can set it to turn on at the same time each morning which also turns on the warming tray on top where you can leave a couple of cups so they are warm and ready for your brew by the time you et out of bed. I absolutely love this machine. Just to be clear - my machine is called "Eletta Top" but the model number looks the same as does the picture.

Respect for coffee science will get you a long way – Coffee is a science. I've discovered that bean to cup still requires the individual to respect the basic rules of coffee to get the best out of it. Nothing can be truly 'auto' in coffee land if you have a penchant for quality. What you have, though, is a machine that auto doses, tamps, and consistently pours a good shot - once you've set it up.… Read more

So here's my story: with two young kids and no more time in the morning to spend slaving over manual coffee processes, I sold my Expobar Office Control and Macap M4D grinder and - with great hesitation - pounced on an offer that seemed too good to be true - an Eletta for $900 at Good Guys.

I'd heard great things about these machines, and also bad things. My observation is that the bad reviews were being given by people using poor quality beans (eg, those from the supermarket) and who didn't observe coffee science.

Sure enough, I was right - this is a fantastic machine, and here's my tip for a great quality shot that will serve as an excellent espresso and/or base for a milk drink:

- Use fresh coffee (I roast my own beans - and avoid supermarket beans like the plague);

- TURN THE WATER TEMP DOWN! The default setting was burning my coffee. It's designed out of the box to be hot for oldies who like boiling coffee - but this kills the flavour. Turn it down one notch from default - that was perfect for my medium roast espresso beans. If you're using a lighter roast, experiment with an even lower setting. If darker beans (not oily as they clog the grinder) try the default temp. This setting is in the Menu.

- Dial the grinder in until the pour chokes, and only turn the dial while it's grinding. Once you've choked the machine, you know this is the point you need to work back from. Do so slowly, and again only while it's grinding, until you get a nice, syrup-like pour (no gushing).

- Ignore the preset buttons for Flat White etc - guaranteed sweaty jock taste as they override all custom settings.

- Only use the double shot OR single shot button to pour the espresso - don't interchange. For my tastes, single shot uses less coffee so I have dialled it in for the Double Shot button. The ground size enables maximum extraction for the full double dosage (14 grams) - if I were to suddenly use the single shot (10 grams), then there is less coffee and therefore less resistance of water through the grinds, resulting in a gushing shot that is underextracted and of poor quality. My advice: pick one button and focus on it. Forget the other. You can use one spout for half strength if you use the double, or hit the single button again for a double shot, whichever you choose. Just stick with it and dial it in.

- Dial in the grinder for new beans, and every day or two, check that it's dialled in correctly because beans age

- do not fill the grinder hopper (bean container) as heat from the machine will, over a number of days, ruin the beans. Top up as you go and store your beans in an airtight container away from sunlight and heat.

- Pour the espresso first, then pour your milk using the milk button. For the sake of a few seconds, it's a much better result than using the labelled drinks buttons.

- Where possible use the steaming wand for best microfoam results

- If you use the carafe, my view is that only the first setting - hot milk for latte/flat white - is closest to cafe milk in texture and flavour

I hope these tips help you as they did me. I am stoked that I can still get a great tasting cuppa despite this machine not being a circa $3k Italian machine. One day I will return to semi-auto coffee (when kids are older) but for now the convenience of a full auto machine is fantastic. And as a coffee snob, I appreciate the ability to still observe some coffee science to achieve the best possible results. Well done Delonghi.

Other things I like about this system:

- Big grounds container;

- Big water tank;

- Removable (and washable) brew unit - I was considering a Jura but they can't be removed, and must be serviced for $$$

- Auto On + cup warmers. You can set you machine to come on at a desired time, and if clever about it, have cups warming and ready when you wake.

- Steam wand option - underrated. If you find the time to steam manually it's better than milk from the carafe.

- BIG bean hopper. Although I recommend only inserting what you need, for parties or entertaining it's great to have the ability to load up what you need.

SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS/BUYER BEWARE:

- The technique is all that is auto - the coffee science must still be observed for optimal results;

- Horrendously poor manual/instructions. Ask a coffee friend to set it up for you;

- Expensive when not on special (I saved $500);

- Default temperature is too hot for real coffee.

Amazing coffee - but read the manual and reviews! – I purchased this coffee maker last week. I was hesitant, as I like my coffee very hot and so many reviewers said their coffee was cold, but I have found that after adjusting the heat settings, my coffee is hot enough to burn my mouth. No seriously, I burned the roof of my mouth after being a little too excited to drink my coffee straight from this… Read more

machine.

This machine IS fiddly. It took a night of making espresso after espresso and READING THE MANUAL to get the grind and taste right for our beans, after a few days on the finest grind the coffee started coming out at a drip and tasted like acid. Seems the machine settled into its stride and I had to dial the grinder back from 1 to 3 which seems to have fixed everything and coffee tastes wonderful again. I suspect I will have to do this same song and dance every time I put a new type of beans in. Which is fine, the price of perfection and all. :)

I like that you can calibrate the machine to make a cappucino that fits your size of cup, but it's a bit weird to do and takes more trial and error than usual because it puts the milk in first, then the espresso. I suspect this is to keep your coffee hot. In any case I had to program it quite a few times to get the cappuccino juuuuust right in strength and taste for my favorite mug. So worth it.

The milk frother seems to work well, but I have yet to use the manual steam wand. I like that it has a clean function which cleans it after every cup made. The machine itself also rinses before and after every coffee, so I leave a cup on the tray to catch the rinse water.

I spent way to much money on this machine so will never put anything other than bottled or filtered water through it. I am hoping that with care and attention I can get many years out of this machine.

Delonghi Eletta coffee machine – We have had this machine for many years and it makes a perfect cup. Easy to clean & maintain. It’s never missed a beat and is used every day. Highly recommend. Visitors / friends palways ask about the machine & the quality of the coffees we serve. Show details ·  1

LOVE IT!!! – We had a Primadonna that lasted for 10+ years so did a lot of research before deciding on the Eletta. The complaints about not hot enough worried me so I followed the instructions to run water through to preheat, and set the temp to max. Literally scalded my mouth, hotter than tea, and I like that HOT. I now forget any preheating and have the temp… Read more ·  1

on the 2nd of 4 available settings and it's perfect. We like full cream A2 milk and used it in the Primadonna despite the recommendation for skim, so tried it in the Eletta and the froth is as good as in coffee shops. Plus this machine seems to bring out more flavour in the same beans (Lavazza) from the same bag. Couldn't be happier.

Worst coffee machine we've had – Milk frother broke after one month Takes ages to make coffee, settings of how much coffee you want keep on changing so not possible to have it set to certain level It's quite old now but can't change it yet as it was very expensive for what it is. I'd stay away unless you have lots of time to make yourself a cup of coffee and enough patience… Read more

to out up with very gentle buttons that can mess up whatever you're trying to do

Ps I have an old version of this coffee machine Not sure how new ones are

Excellent Machine once you set it up right – The Eletta is highly configurable and makes a great cup to taste. Short coffee on extra strong, grinder at 2 -single shot- with milk made using the steam wand. That allows you to control the temp to taste. On factory settings coffee’s weak and watery but not now. If you want a strong flavour make a double shot.  Show details ·  1

Thrashed it for 5 years – Very pleased with my Eletta, but i think my steam pump has just died, after 2 cups a day for 5+ years. So i'm not complaining. New one or Repair? Show details ·  1

Manufacturing quality has dropped badly – I purchased this coffee machine about 2 -3 years ago. Always clean it without any chemicals and with a soft sponge. Recently, I found a piece of metal, shiny piece of aluminium inside my coffee mug! I nearly swallowed! When I checked the machine underneath the coffee spouts I could verified that they were peeling off! I have taken photos of it… Read more

and other tiny bits on a white napkin.

I am really shocked with this this. I have stopped using it due to health and safety concerns.

Makes good coffee but now milk jug doesn't work – I bought this machine approx 3-4 years ago and once the grinder was set correctly it started making great coffee. Recently I could hear the machine was making a different noise when the pump started up to make a coffee. Now the machine fails to produce steam and when I connect the milk jug the machine doesn't allow you to select the milk or a milk based coffee. Show details ·  1

I love my coffee machine!!! – It makes great coffee and is so easy to use. The coffee is consistently good and hot enough if you don’t have too much milk in it. I have my perfect coffee set in the machine and now all I have to do is press the button!!! Show details

My coffee maker is indispensable – Eletta is an excellent coffee maker for the home. I find it is easy to use and maintain. Not too noisy, and produces coffee at the right strength and temperature. (I do heat my cup first.) The milk heating function, I find the best way is to not use the jug, I just use the steam function. Easy to maintain. Show details

What a work horse!! – Our machine we use for work. had it nearly 3 yrs. It has made over 34 000 coffees. Just died. No coffee coming out of spouts.Steam, water and milk still works. We descaled it every month. Highly recommend it. Show details

Does it get any better? – Our delightful Elleta coffee machine died this morning after making 5686 coffees over six years. Without any hesitation I drove to Costco and brought home a new one tonight. NUF said. It still grinds and make the coffee but it won’t make the milk. Show details

Delonghi Eletta Cappuccino – I just received the machine this afternoon and the machine showing General Alarm, after turning off and on press Latte Button, it stuck there showing "Latte Preparation Underway" for more than 10 minutes and nothing comes out. Even pressing reset back to factory default. Remove the water tank and open the cover and pressed the red button to reset diffuser also remained the same. What sort of product quality is this machine? Show details

Cheap & Nasty – This machine is a big disappointment, weak coffee, warm coffee, you lose the settings if the power goes off and the instruction manual is very disappointing. Have owned a DeLonghi Magnifica for 8 years has been a brilliant machine at half the price. The Eletta is not easy to setup and get the required coffee taste you will use lots of beans and… Read more

milk and will have to use a microwave to get a hot coffee. Our machine broke down after 4 months of use and had to be sent away something in the milk pump failed ????? got it back and had to go through the setup again still makes lousy coffee would swap for another Magnifica.

Beans won’t autofill – I had the previous one and loved it. This one has a flawed design. The beans won’t go down most of the time! I called and they said that I couldn’t use French Roast—too oily? So I changed from my favorite beans and still it didn’t work. Then I was told to only put a very small amount of bean unlike the old one which you could fill. For $1700+ this is a regrettable purchase. wish they would exchange!  Show details

Horrible machine. Can’t wait to get rid of it – This machine is horrible. Have tried various beans and settings. We’ve given up. It’s a dust collector now. Can’t wait to get rid of it. Delonghi customer service is pretty average. After ringing to see if we can get a Delonghi expert to see if we are not using the machine correctly, we were told to go to there service centre and would have to… Read more

pay something like $100-$150 an hour for the privilege. Are you friggen serious? What, was a plumber going to show me how to use it? Pathetic

Great coffee machine – I have had the Eletta for 4 weeks now and we use it every day. The Eletta is very easy to use and maintain. The milk container is easy to clean and put back in the fridge. It makes perfect Capachinos and Lattes every time. The long black function slows down the brewing so you get a stronger coffee. I find the water temperature is just right.  Show details

A little over glorified – The machine requires constant washing and rinsing. This is quite annoying because when I turn it on in the morning I have to wait. Furthermore, it takes a while to get ready and make the coffee. The noise often wakes my wife up to so I guess it acts as a second back up alarm clock.  Show details

Amazing – Great coffee machine. Makes good coffee. The family love it. Easy to use. Only downside is that the milk is not heated hot enough automatically but can be heated further with the steam knob. But otherwise a really good machine. The best thing is being able to use our own beans.  Show details

Amazing – I like that there is a cup warmer.The machine is really great at coaching you through the many steps in keeping things running. It will let you know when you have to reload the water tank, empty the grounds, change the milk froth settings from clean. There is quite a bit of function as well as it's share of maintenance to this machine wonderful machine, fortunately the manual is quite extensive and has answered all of my questions so far.  Show details