Last year, the Swiss captured the imagination of many experts by introducing a super innovative Jura Z10 with Extraction Pulse Process (P.E.P.), Intelligent Water System and CLARIS Smart cartridge, Product Recognizing Grinder or P.R.G. or Professional Aroma Grinder, Cold Extraction Process (Jura 3D brewing technology), etc. Today, its price almost reaches $ 4,000.
Not wanting to fall behind one of their main competitors, DeLonghi introduced the equally innovative Eletta Explore this year.
DeLonghi Eletta Explore
Innovative list:
– 40 pre-programmed coffee recipes – until now, this number has not exceeded 30;
– 100+ recipes in the Coffee Link app;
– additional LatteCrema Cool milk system.
Model comes with two carafes and uses two LatteCrema systems with hot and cold foam technology. The LatteCrema hot system textures optimal milk foam for classic espresso beverages, including Latte, Cappuccino, etc. Second system delivers velvety cold milk foam for iced milk-based coffee drinks. But it’s less stable and thinner because the temperature is too low to break down proteins. Furthermore, Eletta offers tips on the number of ice cubes for making cold drinks.
In general, the coffee machine has 40+ pre-programmed one-touch hot & cold recipes, including Espresso, Flat White, Cappuccino and Iced Cappuccino, Latte and Iced Latte, and more;
– To-Go recipes and pull-out tray for travel mugs.
The new product is more than half the price of the Jura Z10 ($ 1,800-$ 2,000 vs $ 4,000).
In addition, new model supports Bean Adapt technology, which was implemented in last year’s PrimaDonna Soul.
Using the Delonghi Coffee Link app, it automatically optimizes the grind, dosage and temperature for the specific coffee type (pure Arabica or Robusta blend) and roast degree (information on the packaging or visually by color with a colorizer).
Based on this information, Bean Adapt sets the bean profiles with optimum grind and temperature settings. For convenience, each profile can be supplied with a name or photo.
Unfortunately, fine tuning requires several test coffee brewing cycles. Of course, this aspect does not stop perfectionists, but some users find it too troublesome.
Specs
As known, DeLonghi has already used the name Eletta in mid-range machines. Perhaps someone remembers Eletta Cappuccino and Eletta Plus models. But of course the new Explore generation uses a more modern platform that includes:
– a stainless steel conical burr electronic grinder with 13 settings aupports Bean Adapt technology. Unfortunately, it works quite loudly, which is typical for some DeLonghi models;
– five settings for coffee temperature, strength and serving size;
– superb DeLonghi Coffee Link app;
– 4 user profiles;
– milk foam height and temperature setting;
– max cup height up to 6.7 inches (17 cm);
– 3.5 inch (8.9 cm) TFT color touchscreen.
Smooth menu scrolling provides viewing a huge number of offered drinks. Changed settings are saved in user profiles. To date, this interface is one of the best in the industry in terms of usability;
– pump pressure of 19 bar;
– water tank with a capacity of 60.9 fl oz / 1.8 l;
– bean hopper with a capacity of 250 g.
After making coffee, the company traditionally recommends rinsing the removable brew group, which is located behind the water tank.
DeLonghi Eletta Explore has a bypass chute for ground coffee, which is very convenient, for example, to prepare a decaf coffee.
But with frequent use, it quickly become clogged.
In addition, the developers have created a very elegant design that harmonizes perfectly with the interior of any kitchen.
Their efforts have not been in vain and DeLonghi Eletta has already won Red Dot and iF design awards in 2022.
Key features
This model uses a lot of good engineering solutions. For example, at only 15.1 inches (38.4 cm) high, it holds a cup with height up to 6.7 inches (17 cm). This is achieved by lifting one section of the drip tray.
Of course, Eletta Explore does not pretend to be compact, but the company rightly positions it as ‘travel mug friendly’.
The expansion of smart functionality has long been one of the main trends in the development of coffee machines and the Eleatta Explore is no exception. The model offers a much higher level of interactivity, accompanying the settings with fairly detailed tips and comments. Of course, this simplifies the process of making coffee even without the skills of a barista.
Quick and easy brewing with the Eletta Explore includes:
– drink icon selection in the touchscreen menu;
– size and flavor customization with adjustable sliders;
– ‘brew’ button.
Of course, temperature, amount of milk, etc are also adjustable.
DeLonghi Eletta Explore care is quite traditional and simple. Removable used grounds bin, drip tray and brew unit are rinsed under running water. In principle, a dishwasher is also suitable, but hand washing is preferable.
Two year warranty plus an extra year upon registration is an added bonus of the coffee machine.
DeLonghi Eletta Explore vs Dinamica Plus
In terms of value for money, Eletta Explore competes with DeLonghi Dinamica Plus, Jura Z10 and Gaggia Cadorna Prestige.
Curiously, the DeLonghi Dinamica Plus is the main competitor of the DeLonghi Eletta Explore. Except for the display and some small details, they have a similar design.
Dinamica Plus is slightly cheaper ($ 1,700 vs $ 1,800) and offers TrueBrew Over Ice technology. This is a patented brewing recipe at a slightly lower temperature with a higher dosage of coffee grounds for optimal extraction. In essence, this mode compensates for the coffee strength reduction due to the addition of ice. LatteCrema Cool in Explore prepares milk foam with a special consistency for cool iced milk-based coffee drinks.
In addition, Dinamica has 2 boilers vs 1 in Eletta Explore.
But Eletta has a new touchscreen display, significantly more cooking programs (22 vs 16), 4 vs 3 user profiles, and larger max cup height (6.7 in / 17 cm vs 5.5 in / 14 cm) for travel mugs (‘To-Go’ recipes). The models also differ in color (Silver vs Titanium). The rest of the specs are identical.
The choice is not clear and depends on individual preferences.
DeLonghi Eletta Explore vs Jura Z10
Probably, these models can be positioned as the most innovative on the market. But the double difference in price makes their comparison not very correct. Jura Z10 prepares superb espresso and milk foam. Despite some skepticism about cold espresso, its cold brew function works flawlessly. In general, with an impressive budget, swiss brand fans will get an excellent coffee machine.
DeLonghi Eletta Explore vs Gaggia Cadorna Prestige
As known, Gaggia S.p.A. was taken over by Italian competitor Saeco International Group in 1999. In turn, it was bought by the Dutch Philips in 2009. However, Gaggia is still a separate legal entity and operates a separate production line. Today, models under these brands are present in all price segments. In particular, mid-budget Philips EP series, premium Saeco GranAroma and several series Gaggia Cadorna are often featured on many top lists, successfully competing with Bosch / Siemens, DeLonghi and Jura espresso machines.
Gaggia Cadorna Prestige (RI9604/47, 2020) has superb value for money.
At a price of $ 1,300, coffee machine offers many specialty drinks, a full color display, 4 user profiles and a ceramic flat burr grinder. In addition, its integrated carafe produces sumptuous milk foam. In fact, cold milk foam, larger max cup height, pump pressure (19 bar vs 15 bar), more specialty drinks (22 vs 12) and longer warranty are the Eletta Explore’s pros. But the $ 500 difference is a very strong argument in favor of Gaggia.
Conclusion
In general, the market offers a wide range of superb fully automatic coffee machines priced from $ 1,300 to $ 4,000. In this list DeLonghi Eletta Explore occupies an intermediate position.
Perhaps its functionality and specs are slightly lower compared to the flagship Jura Z10, but a double win for the price ($ 1,800 – $ 2,000 vs $ 3,800 – $ 4,000) is a very significant bonus in favor of DeLonghi.
The $ 1,300 great Gaggia Cadorna Prestige (RI9604/47, 2020) is on the other side. Sure, the $ 500 difference is significant, but the Eletta Explore offers more specialty drinks (22 vs 12), higher pump pressure (19 bar vs 15 bar), larger max cup height, etc. In principle, these pros are quite adequate to the difference in their prices.
Curiously, DeLonghi Dinamica Plus is the closest competitor. With a slight price difference ($ 1,700 vs $ 1,800 – $ 2,000), the models have nearly identical specs. In fact, Eletta Explore offers more programs (22 vs 16), 40 pre-programmed coffee recipes, LatteCrema Cool carafe, and increased max cup height (6.7 in / 17 cm vs 5.5 in / 14 cm) for ‘To-Go’ recipes. But Dinamica Plus has 2 boilers and supports TrueBrew Over Ice technology. Other differences are less significant. Therefore, the choice between these great models is ambiguous. Perhaps for some buyers the color (Silver vs Titanium) will be the deciding factor.
This video demonstrates Eletta Explore with the new LatteCrema Cool technology.