There’s nothing quite like the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the morning. And despite attempting to recreate my favourite cup of Joe at home, it’s not quite the same as buying my usual from a speciality coffee house.
But, after living with the new De’Longhi Rivelia, bean to cup coffee machine for some months now, this may well give my local baristas a run for their money.
This fully automated coffee machine with Bean Adapt technology, offers up a selection of 16 drink options including rich espresso drinks, tasty milky coffees, and even iced coffee at just a touch of a button. What’s more, I’m able to experiment with artisan beans, grinding levels, and speciality drinks to create the perfect brew.
Typically, automatic bean-to-cup coffee machines have been considered a high-end version to the humble pod machine. And while I’ve always fancied the idea of trading in my pod for a more luxe machine, my only aversions have been the sheer size of it on my compact countertop (they’re usually huge), ease of use and how easy is it to clean/maintain.
This is where the De’Longhi Rivelia’s evolved design and smaller footprint solves this problem, making it more user-friendly and appealing to the consumer.
Setting up was simple – even for a technophobe like me. The 3.5-inch full colour display takes you through a step-by-step process, making it a user friendly experience. The water reservoir is slimline and slots in nicely at the side of the machine, and it comes with a LatteCrema Hot technology that heats up and foams your milk of choice, including alternative milks.
Perhaps the most impressive feature of the Rivelia coffee machine is its Bean Switch system that allows you to swap over between two 250g hoppers. This is ideal for the coffee lover who simply wants to experiment with different bean types, or if you have guests over who prefer a decaf (heaven forbid!), and can easily switch over.
In addition, the Rivelia is designed be intuitive, and form a bond with the user. For instance, it will greet you in the morning, afternoon or evening depending on which profile you’re using and time of time. It also asks various questions regarding bean type and roast which the Bean Adapt technology uses to find the ideal extraction for your drink. Then, for each type of bean, the De’Longhi Rivelia will recommend different grind levels and brewing temperatures to get the most flavour, texture and strength out.
What’s more, the De’Longhi Rivelia remembers your tastes, patterns and coffee routines throughout the day, so you don’t have to keep programming it for your morning coffee. You can also set up profiles for each member of the household, so that it can be consistent each time (and avoid making a ‘bad’ coffee!). You also have the option to use ground coffee should you wish.
If you’re a fan of milk-bases coffees (like myself), I particularly enjoyed switching between a cappuccino, mixed cappuccino and flat white throughout the day.
Simply press the coloured, drink icon on the screen and it will tell you to set the froth level, before mixing your tasty drink. Once ready, the Rivelia will deliver a friendly message, telling you that this is probably its “best coffee yet!”, or that it’s been made “just the way you like it!”. Best of all (and my favourite), it self-cleans after each use – so make sure you have a container ready to place underneath the spouts while it’s rinsing itself out with hot water. It also tells you when the bin needs emptying , and is easy to clean with removable parts.
The Italian brand may be well known for its vast range of domestic appliances, but De’Longhi are still keen to stamp their brand as a firm coffee market leader. I had the pleasure of visiting the De’Longhi HQ and factory in Treviso, Italy to see first-hand where the magic begins.
We began with an extensive tour around the huge factory, where we saw how the entire production process works from conception to end result. Here, we saw a huge emphasis on all De’Longhi products created and being made in Italy as key to their passion.
After the factory tour, we were all ushered into a conference room to meet the design and brand marketing execs, who placed huge emphasis on all De’Longhi products being created and made with passion in Italy. In the case of the Rivelia, much focus was placed on a softer design (the machine has curved edges), functionality, and ensuring that the customer has a great coffee experience. Of course, it helps when Hollywood star, Brad Pitt agrees to be an ambassador and face of the De’Longhi ‘Perfecto’ campaign.
The Rivelia coffee machine successfully creates a relationship between user and coffee machine, that is familiar and enjoyable.
Honestly, this bean to cup coffee machine has been the most user-friendly and enjoyable experience, and of course, tasty results. Plus, it makes a stylish addition to my (already full) countertop.
After seeing first-hand the passion, creativity, and hard work to make the final result, I truly appreciate each cup – and feel like a true barista at home.
The De’Longhi Rivelia is now available at delonghi.com and select retailers for £749.99. It also comes in a range of contemporary colours, including Onyx Black, Arctic White, Pebble Grey and Sand Beige – to suit every kitchen.
