By: The Caffeinated Gear Team
Looking for an honest review of the DeLonghi Rivelia from genuine coffee experts who’ve put it through rigorous testing? Our team of certified baristas and coffee specialists have spent weeks with this machine, and we’re ready to share our comprehensive findings.
We pride ourselves on delivering thorough, unbiased reviews based on extensive hands-on testing. When you read our analysis of the Rivelia, you’ll notice we focus purely on what matters – real performance, practical features, and genuine value for coffee lovers.
Speaking of value, we’re pleased to offer our readers exclusive discount codes for various coffee machines and beans through our “Brew Time” mailing list. You’ll receive these special offers in your first welcome email when you join.
Our testing process was incredibly thorough. For instance, we dedicated hours to precisely measuring coffee output at each intensity level and analysing bean consumption patterns when using the innovative switch mode between hoppers. This attention to detail helps you understand exactly what you’re getting.
When we first encountered DeLonghi’s marketing materials for the Rivelia, we were admittedly sceptical. The promise of solving the long-standing decaf dilemma while delivering their finest bean-to-cup experience yet seemed ambitious. However, after two weeks of intensive testing, we’re genuinely impressed.
If you’re currently researching bean-to-cup machines, we might save you considerable time. The Rivelia could be your perfect match if you:
For most coffee enthusiasts, we believe the DeLonghi Rivelia represents an excellent choice. However, there’s one potential consideration: milk temperature. The machine produces milk at just above 60°C – perfect for bringing out optimal flavour and texture, but perhaps not hot enough for those who prefer scalding temperatures.
What truly sets this machine apart is its exceptional milk-frothing capabilities.
We were genuinely surprised by this discovery and confirmed our findings with Tom’s Coffee Corner, who noted similar results with the DeLonghi Eletta Explore, their premium model.
While many automatic milk systems struggle with creating true microfoam, the Rivelia breaks this pattern. We’ve discovered that this mid-range machine can produce the kind of silky texture previously reserved for manual steaming.
This particular pour used Momma Oat milk, demonstrating the machine’s versatility with plant-based alternatives.
The result shows more of a modern cappuccino texture (slightly stiffer microfoam than a flat white). For those who prefer traditional flat whites, we adjusted the settings slightly below the “creamy” preset and achieved this:
While the machine won’t create latte art patterns automatically, the milk texture quality remains consistent whether you use the automated process or collect the milk in a pitcher for manual pouring.
The key takeaway regarding milk preparation is the temperature point – if you enjoy properly textured milk at traditional serving temperatures, you’ll appreciate the Rivelia’s output. However, if you prefer extremely hot milk drinks, you might want to consider a machine with a manual steam wand or panarello. For alternative options, check our comprehensive guide:
It’s important to note that bean-to-cup machines typically produce a different style of espresso compared to traditional espresso machines. The result usually resembles a small-volume café crema – a longer extraction using a slightly coarser grind.
While you can approach traditional espresso characteristics by using the finest grind setting, maximum intensity, and minimum volume, there will still be subtle differences. For those seeking the ultimate in traditional espresso preparation, we recommend consulting our guide:
However, for those prioritising convenience while maintaining good quality, the Rivelia’s espresso output is impressive within its category.
In our testing, we noticed improved flavour profiles compared to previous DeLonghi Magnifica models. Surprisingly, we even managed to over-extract shots – a rare occurrence with bean-to-cup machines that typically err towards under-extraction.
While the Rivelia won’t match the shot quality of a well-dialled traditional espresso machine, it delivers remarkably good results for an automatic system.
The dual hopper implementation on the Rivelia represents a significant breakthrough in addressing the common challenge of switching between different coffee beans.
Until now, managing multiple bean types (particularly regular and decaf) has been problematic for home users. While some brands have attempted solutions – like dual grinders in premium models or divided hoppers – none have quite hit the mark for practical home use. For context on coffee storage best practices, see:
DeLonghi’s switch mode system offers an elegant solution. When changing hoppers, the machine enters switch mode and presents two options: purge the remaining beans in the grinder or use them for one final drink. This thoughtful approach eliminates waste and ensures clean transitions between different beans.
For example, when serving decaf to a guest, you can simply:
The system retains approximately 9 grams of beans in the grinder (equivalent to intensity level 4 out of 5) during the switching process. While this means you can’t adjust the strength during switch mode, it’s generally suitable for most drinks.
For those needing guaranteed zero regular caffeine content (for medical reasons, for instance), we recommend running a quick purge cycle with about 20g of decaf beans before preparing the actual drink.
The only minor limitation is that you can’t adjust drink strength in switch mode, as it uses all beans in the grinder (roughly 9 grams). However, this typically produces a well-balanced drink at medium-high intensity.
When you select the bean icon, you’ll discover the machine’s brilliant “bean adapt” mode.
This smart feature asks several targeted questions to fine-tune your brewing settings for the perfect extraction.
Before starting the bean adapt process, you’ll want to brew at least three coffees with your chosen beans.
The system then walks you through a series of questions about your coffee beans: whether you’re using 100% Arabica or a Robusta blend, the roast level (choosing from light, medium, dark, or extra dark), and your current grinder setting.
Based on your responses, the machine adjusts the brewing temperature to match your roast level and analyses whether your grind size needs tweaking.
If adjustments are needed, you’ll receive specific guidance on optimising your grind settings.
One brilliant feature we love is the ability to name your bean profile, ensuring these optimised settings automatically apply whenever you use these beans again.
Not quite satisfied with the results? The ‘refine’ option lets you fine-tune the extraction further.
The machine will guide you through brewing a fresh shot, then ask about the taste – whether it’s perfectly balanced, too weak and watery, or overly strong.
Your feedback determines whether the machine maintains current settings or makes precise adjustments.
The Rivelia’s user interface stands out as particularly impressive.
In our extensive testing, we’ve only seen this level of interface interactivity in Sage coffee machines, specifically their Barista Touch, Touch Impress, and Oracle Touch models with their intuitive control systems.
What’s truly remarkable is finding such a sophisticated UI in a mid-priced bean-to-cup machine.
From your very first power-up, the interface guides you through every step with remarkable clarity – from initial setup to crafting each coffee.
The interaction feels wonderfully personal, almost as if you’re working with an intelligent assistant.
The machine guides you through each step with remarkable clarity, making the priming and setup process wonderfully straightforward.
Navigation through the settings menu couldn’t be simpler – a single click followed by intuitive swipes reveals clearly labelled windows. The range of customisation options is impressive, including adjustable Auto-off timing (15 minutes to 3 hours), water hardness settings, rinsing protocols, descaling functions, sound control, milk carafe cleaning cycles, and extraction temperature modifications.
The main menu presents 12 one-touch options, smartly organised with two icons flanking the touch screen. A simple tap on “coffee” displays all black coffee options, while the “milk” icon reveals the full range of milk-based drinks.
The one touch milk coffee options are:
Latte. Cappuccino. Flat White. Espresso Macchiato. Latte Macchiato. Cappuccino Mix. Cortado. There’s also a stand alone hot milk option for hot chocolate, hot breakfast cereal etc.
The one touch black coffee options are:
Espresso. Americano. Long. Coffee. Cool Americano. Lungo. Double Espresso. Cool Coffee. Cool Espresso.
The “coffee” setting delivers something akin to a café crema – essentially a longer lungo. Meanwhile, the “long” option creates a stronger brew using a double shot (two grinding cycles), with water pulsed through in measured intervals.
Our testing revealed the cool options to be somewhat underwhelming. While you can choose between cool or extra cool settings, it simply provides ice cube quantity recommendations. The coffee temperature still reaches nearly 80C – hardly what we’d consider cold.
Cold Milk Froth
Adding the cool lattecrema carafe unlocks a new menu featuring cold froth variations of all the one-touch milk drinks.
Cold frothed milk offers a fascinating sensory experience. It creates an illusion of drinking something far more indulgent than simple milk or milk alternatives.
This feature brilliantly enhances everyday drinks – from making breakfast cereal feel more substantial to crafting spectacular iced lattes, cappuccinos and flat whites.
For an extra refreshing twist on hot days, we discovered that adding crushed ice from a blender creates an absolutely brilliant summer drink!
DeLonghi Rivelia – Questions
To summarise our extensive testing: this machine stands out as the finest we’ve used for milk texturing, particularly excelling at micro foam consistency.
The espresso quality genuinely impressed us, especially for a bean-to-cup machine. We found the dual hoppers particularly practical for switching between different beans, and the cool milk carafe’s foam capability adds wonderful versatility.
For a bean-to-cup machine in this price range, it’s hard to beat – particularly if you prioritise one-touch convenience and aren’t seeking exceptionally hot milk drinks (a common limitation among one-touch machines).
Let’s address some common questions we’ve encountered during our testing:
What dosage does each intensity relate to?
We wish DeLonghi provided this information outright. While exact measurements vary with roast level and grind size, we’ve conducted thorough testing to determine approximate doses.
Our usual testing methods needed adaptation for the Rivelia. With Gaggia machines, we typically access ground coffee by bypassing the brewing unit safety feature. DeLonghi machines usually allow us to stop post-grinding and collect grounds from the waste tray.
However, the Rivelia introduces a small amount of water even when cancelling, creating a puck for easier disposal. This led us to measure by weighing hopper beans and calculating the difference after grinding.
We discovered that unlocking the hopper releases about 9 grams of beans into the burrs – equivalent to intensity level 4.
Our measurements showed: Intensity 1: ~5 grams Intensity 2: ~7 grams Intensity 3: ~8 grams Intensity 4: ~9 grams Intensity 5: ~10 grams
For Nespresso Original Line users: intensity 1 matches a single pod’s quantity, while maximum intensity equals roughly two pods.
Does the Rivelia do a true double shot?
Yes – our testing confirms this. Selecting “2 x espresso” triggers a complete double grinding and brewing cycle at your chosen intensity level.
This sets it apart from many entry and mid-level DeLonghi bean-to-cup machines, which typically require manual repetition for true double shots.
The machine also allows adding an extra shot to any drink option.
What is the “Long” option in the menu?
This unique feature surprised us during testing. It’s neither a traditional lungo nor a long black, but rather a pulsed double extraction.
At intensity 5, it grinds about 10g of coffee, performs a slow-pulsed lungo-sized extraction, then repeats the entire process.
Perfect when you’re craving a substantial mug of strong coffee.
What are the iced coffees on the menu?
These proved somewhat puzzling in our tests. They appear identical to standard drinks but merely prompt adding ice cubes.
With output temperatures around 80C, pouring over ice results in room-temperature coffee. For proper iced drinks, we recommend pulling an espresso shot directly over ice and adding cold water.
Is the cool latte crema system worth it?
For cold drink enthusiasts and Frappuccino lovers, absolutely.
Cold milk froth transforms ordinary cold milk into something special – it’s genuinely impressive how it enhances the drinking experience.
It’s brilliant for summer breakfast cereals and can even create lighter alternatives to cream for desserts using regular milk or alternatives.
Is the Delonghi Rivelia the best bean to cup machine on the market?
Today’s market offers extensive choice, and while no single machine suits everyone perfectly, the Rivelia shines for many users.
Consider the Rivelia if you want:
If dual hoppers aren’t essential, consider the Eletta Explore – though it costs several hundred pounds more.
For those less interested in one-touch operation who prefer controlling milk temperature, consider Gaggia’s steam wand equipped models like the Anima Barista Plus, Magenta Plus or Cadorna Barista.
For espresso purists seeking uncompromising quality, investigate Sage’s hybrid machines like the Barista Express or Barista Pro, often marketed as bean-to-cup options.
Does the Rivelia make hot cappuccino & latte?
The answer depends on your temperature preferences. Our testing shows optimal milk temperature for flavour preservation and immediate drinking lies between 60-65C.
For oat milk (our preferred alternative), we target 62-63C to preserve taste and texture. The Rivelia consistently delivers milk drinks at 61-62C – perfect for flavour but possibly tepid for those preferring very hot drinks.
Does the Rivelia make hot espresso & black coffees?
Yes – our measurements show espresso and hot water consistently reaching 78-82C, typical for quality bean-to-cup machines.
Where is the DeLonghi Rivelia made?
While DeLonghi, an Italian company, maintains manufacturing facilities worldwide, including China and Italy, our test unit’s base clearly indicates Romanian manufacture.
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