Here’s the quiet problem with most home coffee machines: they’re good at half the menu. One person wants a flat white, someone else wants an iced latte, and the machine on the counter only really does the first one.
The De’Longhi Eletta Explore is built around that exact gap. It makes hot and iced drinks with the same one-touch convenience, and it uses two separate milk systems to do it. That’s the appeal. The trade-offs are just as clear: it’s a big, pricey machine that favors presets over tinkering. This article walks through who gets real value from that combination, and who’s better off with something simpler.
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Two milk systems, one machine: why the Explore stands out
Most automatic machines froth milk one way and call it done. The Eletta Explore has two dedicated systems: LatteCrema Hot for traditional hot milk drinks, and LatteCrema Cool, an automatic frothing jug designed to produce silky cold milk foam for iced drinks. De’Longhi markets it as the first machine to offer two dedicated milk-texturing technologies.
In practice, that means an iced latte or a cold-foam coffee is a button press instead of a workaround. A cold brew setting adds another lane: an independent review from Olive Magazine called it an excellent cold brew machine and praised its versatility.
Accessories help the experience feel complete. The same review lists an ice cube tray, separate hot and cold milk cups, a travel mug for the To-Go function, and cleaning tools among the extras.
If you want to see the finish, the accessories and the cold-drink setup up close, the full gallery is the quickest way to judge whether it suits your kitchen.
See the photos and what’s in the box on Amazon →
De’Longhi Eletta Explore Espresso Machine with Coffee Grinder, Milk Frother
$1,999.95 $1,722.64
Price as listed when this article was prepared. Prices and availability change, so check the current offer.
A menu you’ll actually browse
The machine offers more than 40 one-touch hot and iced recipes, from espresso, cappuccino and latte to iced cappuccino and iced latte. That’s a long list, but the interface keeps it manageable: four buttons on top (To Go, Hot, Cold and Favorites) and a responsive touchscreen for the rest.
The Favorites button matters more than it sounds. In a household where everyone drinks something different, saved profiles and custom recipes (including through the Coffee Link app) mean the morning order isn’t re-entered each time. Picture one person who always wants a strong hot cappuccino and another who wants an iced oat latte over ice: that’s two taps, not two rounds of menu browsing.
Ground coffee has its own chute, so a decaf scoop doesn’t require emptying the bean container.
The grinder and the “presets first” trade-off
A built-in conical burr grinder with 13 grind settings feeds a 300-gram bean container, with a 1.8-liter (about 60-ounce) water tank, so refilling isn’t a daily chore for most households. The 19-bar pump and 1450-watt power rating are in line with what you’d expect at this level.
The philosophy is convenience first. The Explore is designed around finished recipes, not around manual control of every variable the way a barista-style machine is. If you love dialing in dose, extraction and temperature yourself, this isn’t the machine for that, and it’s better to know it up front. If you simply want a reliably good café-style cup on demand, preset-driven is the point.
One honest note on sound: one reviewer described the grinder as somewhat noisy for early mornings, and another described several seconds of grinding followed by a longer pump hum during a shot. Think about where the machine will sit relative to your bedrooms.
Counter space and daily routine
This is a big machine. It measures about 10.2 inches wide, 15.2 inches tall and 17.7 inches deep (26 × 38.5 × 45 cm), and Olive Magazine singled out its large footprint as a drawback. Check your cabinet clearance and counter depth before anything else.
Upkeep is moderate and mostly guided. The machine runs automatic flushing and an automatic milk-circuit cleaning cycle, and the touchscreen walks you through descaling and water-filter installation. The brew group is removable: rinse it under warm water without detergent, dry it, and put it back. De’Longhi recommends descaling every one to three months depending on water hardness, using its approved descaler rather than vinegar. The milk frother and drip tray are reported to be removable and dishwasher safe.
The small annoyance: the drip tray is reported to fill quickly, so expect to empty it often if you make several drinks a day.
Before you decide, it helps to confirm exactly what comes with the offer you’re looking at, since accessories and bundles can differ by seller.
Confirm the current price and included accessories →
Pros and Cons
Pros
- More than 40 one-touch hot and iced recipes, including cold brew.
- Two dedicated milk systems: LatteCrema Hot and LatteCrema Cool for cold foam.
- 13-setting conical burr grinder plus a separate chute for ground coffee.
- User profiles, favorites and custom recipes through the Coffee Link app.
- Guided cleaning and descaling, with a removable brew group.
- Generous accessory set, including a travel mug and ice cube tray.
Cons
- Large footprint: about 17.7 inches deep.
- Built around presets, not hands-on espresso tweaking.
- Grinder and pump noise reported by reviewers.
- Drip tray reported to fill quickly.
- One reviewer found hot drinks cooler than expected.
What should you know before buying?
A few practical details are worth checking so nothing surprises you after delivery.
- Measure depth first. At roughly 17.7 inches deep and 15.2 inches tall, it needs real clearance under upper cabinets.
- Budget for the descaler. De’Longhi’s approved descaling solution is recommended over vinegar, so factor it into upkeep costs.
- Prices vary. The Amazon price here is a snapshot, and other sources have listed it at different amounts on different dates, so check the live offer.
- Hot drinks run on the gentler side for some. If you like very hot coffee, preheat your cup.
Who it fits, and who should skip it
The Eletta Explore suits households with mixed tastes: someone who loves a hot cappuccino, someone who wants iced lattes, maybe a cold brew fan. It also suits coffee drinkers who are tired of paying for café drinks and want that variety on the counter.
Skip it if your counter is shallow, if you want hands-on control over every espresso variable, or if you drink one or two simple drinks and don’t need a long menu. A smaller, simpler machine will serve you better there.
Is it worth it?
If you’d otherwise keep buying hot and iced café drinks, the De’Longhi Eletta Explore is a strong, family-friendly splurge: two milk systems, a real grinder and a long list of one-touch recipes. You’re accepting a big footprint, some noise and a preset-driven approach. If you want full manual control or have limited counter space, look elsewhere. Otherwise, the logical next step is to check today’s price and what’s included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Eletta Explore have a built-in grinder?
Yes. It has a built-in conical burr grinder with 13 grind settings and a 300-gram bean container, plus a separate chute for pre-ground coffee.
Can it make iced drinks and cold brew?
Yes. LatteCrema Cool creates cold milk foam for iced drinks, and the machine includes cold brew recipes alongside its hot menu.
How often does it need descaling?
De’Longhi recommends descaling every one to three months, depending on your water hardness, using its approved solution rather than vinegar. The touchscreen guides you through the process.
