It’s estimated that 60% of US citizens love a daily cup of Joe, and a recent study published in The Times revealed that millennials spend an average of £728 annually on coffee shop coffee, which equates to roughly $920. Generation Z also reportedly spends £676 on their coffee-to-go, so it’s safe to say that barista coffee is an increasingly important part of many people’s lifestyles.
During Black Friday 2024, we saw some fantastic deals on coffee machines, with many of the best pod coffee makers and espresso machines reduced significantly, and bean-to-cup coffee makers are ever-popular and coveted items for purchasing around the fall and winter sales. If you’re in the market to buy one of the best coffee makers, you’re in the right place.
De'Longhi Rivelia coffee machine: Key specs
| Type | Bean-to-cup |
| Water capacity | 47.3 fluid ounces (5.9 cups) |
| Bean capacity | 8.8 ounces |
| Dimensions | W9.6 x D16.9 x H15.1 inches |
| Frother? | Yes |
| Grinder? | Yes |
De'Longhi Rivelia coffee machine: Setup
The Rivelia arrived in a large box with plenty of packaging to secure and support the machine. It was rather heavy and challenging to maneuver the box myself and lift the machine onto the work surface, but possible. All the accessories and parts external to the machine arrive in individual plastic bags and containers.
It took me around twenty minutes to unpack and set everything up before even switching on the machine, and there was a lot of packaging to recycle after unpacking.
Following the instructions and using the QR code to access the digital instructions, setting up the machine, and making coffee was reasonably straightforward.
Once the machine is plugged in and after you follow the first few instructions, the full-color display and interface guide you entirely through installing all the components, from the water tank to maintenance and cleaning.
The machine also creates personalized profiles for each user and remembers that user's favorite beverage. Before long, I was making my first coffee.
- Score: 8 out of 10
De'Longhi Rivelia coffee machine: Design & Features
The De’Longhi Rivelia boasts three iF Design Awards 2024 for Product Design, User Interface, and User Experience categories for its intuitive performance and customization options for users. The Rivelia also holds a Red Dot Award 2024 for sought-after product design.
With its softly curved edges, it’s certainly stylish and contemporary in design. It’s also available in a range of neutral shades, giving it a sleek and elegant aesthetic.
Its slim design is also great for smaller kitchen spaces. However, I feel it sticks out quite far on the worktop surface, so I positioned the Rivelia on the edge of the bar top surface in my kitchen for the best look and ease of access.
If you have a small kitchen space or limited worktop surface, there may be better options than this.
The innovative Bean Switch System has two coffee bean hoppers, so you can easily switch your coffee beans to explore different varieties and intensities.
This feature also minimizes the exposure of the ground beans, keeping them as fresh as possible for longer. As a personal preference, I also enjoy the look of the beans in the hopper above the coffee machine.
The design is solid and durable; every element performs as expected, and the quality is impressive.
I really enjoyed the full-color display and intuitive interface. However, I personally prefer coffee machines that look more classically barista in style, as if straight out of an Italian caffè bar.
Personal aesthetic preference and the depth of the machine aside, Rivelia’s design features really stand out, especially given its multiple awards.
- Score: 9 out of 10
De'Longhi Rivelia coffee machine: Performance
I tested my favorite Americano daily throughout the testing process and consistently enjoyed excellent coffee. I could taste subtle differences in the flavor of the beans, and I attributed that to the Bean Adapt Technology, which was impressive.
I noticed that the first cup brewed was not significant in flavor and intensity, but thereafter, every cup was fantastic, so I put that down to the machine, warming up when grinding the beans and brewing the coffee.
Occasionally, I also selected adding more coffee before the water automatically followed.
I regularly frothed dairy and non-dairy milk, though, with only one milk carafe, it required frequent washing. The display always reminded me to store the carafe in the fridge to keep the milk fresh. If I failed to do this, the milk would spoil quicker than it would if it hadn’t been added to the carafe.
The milk-frothing process does expose the milk to some steam as it heats the milk, which may impact its freshness. So, I opted to add only as much milk as I required for each beverage at a time unless I was making multiple drinks at one time.
I also regularly used the water spout, which is stored in a compartment at the top of the machine and can be swapped over with the milk carafe, depending on whether you wish to add hot milk or water to a drink.
I often frothed a whole cup of hot milk for hot chocolate, which I would add to my mug before selecting the milk option. The results were delicious, and I felt they rivaled those of popular hot chocolate makers available on the market.
I would stir my hot milk with my hot chocolate mix to ensure everything was incorporated. Of course, the Rivela cannot blend hot chocolate together as a hot chocolate blender would, but the quality of the LatteCrema technology did most of the work to make some of the best hot chocolate I’ve ever made at home.
We also made espressos, lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and more from the extensive list of hot and cold beverages that Rivelia can make, which we enjoyed and appreciated the nuances of each style of coffee beverage. However, in all honesty, the vast menu is somewhat wasted on my husband and me as we know how we like our coffee and enjoy the same cup of coffee each day, which I suspect is true of a lot of people.
That said, I have impressed some of my friends and family, who enjoyed requesting their coffee shop favorites from our at-home coffee bar.
If you know you enjoy one kind of coffee and rarely venture outside of your comfort zone, you may find that the extensive list of options is redundant and overwhelming. However, if you regularly entertain, throw dinner parties, or invite friends over for a catch-up and a coffee, you may find the drink variations really exciting, and it would render the price point even more impressive in terms of value for money.
Even with the few hiccups mentioned and my personal preference, I was very impressed with the performance of the Rivelia; I felt as if I had my own barista in the kitchen, and it was really comforting to know that every morning I would get to enjoy another fantastic cup of coffee. The quality of the machine is excellent; it’s durable and reliable; the brewing performance of the machine was top-notch, especially as both my husband and I could taste the subtle differences in flavor from bean to bean.
We have settled with our favorite go-to bean for now: the Lavazza Rossa. It includes a blend of 70% Brazilian Arabica and 30% African Robusta coffees and is characterized by a medium-strength, full-bodied flavor with chocolatey notes and intense aromas. We are excited to try more artisan coffee beans and always look for specialist coffee beans whenever we visit new places, delis, etc.
Most importantly, the coffee flavor and texture are delicious and smooth, and the milk is warm and silky soft. Rivelia consistently delivers delightful coffee, and I’m extremely impressed with its performance.
- Score: 9 out of 10
De'Longhi Rivelia coffee machine: Care & maintenance
Depending upon the frequency and quantity of use, the water tank requires refilling at least once, occasionally twice daily.
The milk carafe also needs to be cleaned daily and between different kinds of milk if you intend to swap between dairy and non-dairy.
The machine prompts the user to switch the milk froth setting to the clean option, which essentially rinses out the system with hot water; however, deeper cleaning of the milk froth and components is advisable daily.
The Rivelia also intuitively prompts the user to clean out the grounds container and drip tray every day or two and will not allow drinks to be prepared if these steps aren't completed. A deep clean of the machine is also recommended per week.
I do believe that the Rivelia requires more time, energy, care, and maintenance than a kettle and an instant coffee would, but for barista-style coffee that tastes that good, it's absolutely worth it. I find the process is already habitual and not really a hassle for the quality of the results and the joy we get from it.
Ultimately, I would expect the extra five minutes to clean out, refill, deep clean, and maintain on a daily and weekly basis from any similar bean-to-cup coffee machine, and quite honestly, I have been impressed that the care and maintenance processes are as simple, streamlined, intuitive, and quick to complete as they are.
If you find yourself in a rush in the mornings, it may not be for you. However, if you're like me, you may wish to simply schedule an extra five to ten minutes to brew and enjoy the best cup of coffee ever—I think it's worth it.
- Score: 7.5 out of 10
De'Longhi Rivelia coffee machine: Price & Value
I personally prefer the quality and efficiency of a bean-to-cup coffee machine over a pod-to-cup or drip coffee maker. Although many people consider the standout models to be too expensive, what if you could enjoy barista-quality coffee at home for the same price as buying coffee from a coffee shop? After a year of use, the machine could essentially pay for itself.
To illustrate, the De’Longhi Rivelia has a recommended retail price in the UK of £899, but it is currently available on Amazon for £649. This price is £79 less than what the average millennial spends on coffee shop coffee per year. While the De’Longhi Rivelia is not yet available in the USA, many similar models we have reviewed are, including the De’Longhi Eletta Explore. We hope the Rivelia will soon become available in the USA and Australia.
On paper, spending hundreds on a bean-to-cup coffee machine may seem extravagant, but if you enjoy a daily cup of coffee from your local artisan shop, investing in a reliable machine like the De’Longhi Rivelia can save you money in the long run and allow you to savor delicious, barista-style coffee from the comfort of your home every day.
De'Longhi is a trusted and reliable manufacturer of coffee machines and kitchen appliances. Their bean-to-cup coffee makers are among the most luxurious options on the market. The Rivelia is one of the more affordable models from De’Longhi, priced more reasonably than premium lines such as the PrimaDonna Elite and mid-range models like the Eletta Explore. The Dinamica and Magnifica models are similarly priced, yet all of these machines are known for their excellent quality. A bean-to-cup coffee and espresso machine will always be significantly more expensive than pod-to-cup or drip coffee machines.
What truly sets the Rivelia apart at its price point are its impressive smart features, including Bean Adapt Technology, which adjusts the grind settings to suit the coffee beans, and LatteCrema Hot Technology, which produces luxurious and silky milk foam from both dairy and non-dairy options. The adjustable froth setting is an additional feature I appreciated.
It’s also worth noting that the Rivelia is a multi-award-winning coffee machine, boasting three iF Design Awards 2024 for Product Design, User Interface, and User Experience, thanks to its intuitive performance and customization options for users. It has also received a Red Dot Award 2024 for outstanding product design.
If you value smart features and appreciate De'Longhi’s reputation for excellence in brewing coffee, it's likely you will enjoy this model, especially given its price point. Moreover, if you're a regular visitor to coffee shops, investing in a machine like the Rivelia could save you money over time.
- Score: 8 out of 10
Would I buy the De'Longhi Rivelia coffee machine?
Overall, the De'Longhi Rivelia coffee machine ticks many boxes for me. I absolutely love the innovative technology features, and the best part is having such delicious barista-style coffee first thing in the morning in the comfort of my home.
Before testing this machine, I was skeptical that it would be worth the expense, but having tested it for over a month, I know I have already gotten so much value from it and will continue to do so despite not being a regular coffee shop frequenter.
Aesthetically, I think I would prefer it if it wasn't quite so deep in terms of the amount of space it takes up on the counter. My personal preference is for a coffee machine that looks a little more barista-like. However, those points aside, I can't really fault the De'Longhi Rivelia.
I would highly recommend this coffee machine to coffee aficionados and anyone who regularly visits a coffee shop. For a one-time investment in the De'Longhi Rivelia, you can enjoy years of barista-style coffee for a lot less, especially after one year of use.
After testing it, I would personally invest my own money in the De'Longhi Rivelia. However, if you have a very small kitchen space, this may not be the model for you.
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Price & value | What is a mid-range model in the market broadly, is one of De'Longhi's most affordable models, and I consider it great value for money. | 8.5/10 |
| Design & features | Boasting multiple awards based on its design innovation and intuitive ease of use, the design features and attributes of the Rivelia really shine through. | 9/10 |
| Performance | I was super impressed with the performance of all of Rivelia and it's consistent delivery of delicious coffee, plus the wide range of beverage options available. | 9/10 |
| Care & maintenance | Overall, I would expect a certain amount of care and maintenance to be necessary for such a machine, and whilst overall, it might take a few more minutes to get everything ready and to keep the machine running smoothly, for the quality of the coffee, I think it's worth it. | 7.5/10 |
| Setup | It was very easy to setup and the machine's clear full-colour display provided simple step-by-step instructions to follow. | 8/10 |
How do other De'Longhi coffee machines compare?
As the De'Longhi Rivelia is not yet available in the US or AU, if you're interested in picking up a similar model, you may enjoy the De'Longhi Eletta Explore or the De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro, which we also reviewed.
Each offers slightly different features at varied price points, but what is consistent is the quality and reliability of De'Longhi coffee makers.
How I tested the De'Longhi Rivelia coffee machine
I tested the De'Longhi Rivelia coffee machine at home for over a month using numerous varieties of coffee beans.
My husband and I consistently tested our favorite drinks and all other beverages offered, both for ourselves and friends and family who visited during that time.
I tested all the beverage options, hot and cold, the water spout, the Bean Adapt Technology with both bean hoppers, and the LatteCrema Technology with fine milk froth, using both dairy and non-dairy milk.
I evaluated the De'Longhi Rivelia based on its overall results, ease of use, versatility, control panel, cleaning, and maintenance, plus the taste and texture of the coffee produced and the machine's consistency of performance over time.
Find out more about how we test.
