Should you buy it?! My Delonghi Eletta Explore BROKE after a week.

We review the Delonghi Eletta Explore, despite it breaking in the middle of our short time with it. While feature rich and a nice looking appliance, the reliability of Delonghi strikes again. And while they have a good warranty, who wants to risk being without their coffee machine for weeks while Delonghi repairs / replaces the unit.
I was disappointed with the materials and build quality of the Delonghi. But I DID like the user interface, the espresso and coffee it produced, and the design of the machine. Its milk system, while not as good as the Philips, is also a decent make. But alas, it broke after 20 cups of coffee, and I will not be purchasing another after we return this one.
#coffee #coffeelover #delonghi #review #technology
‪@delonghi‬

[@waynelum9148]

Just a guess here, but I think the problem with your machine is that the grind setting was set at 2 as shown at 36 seconds of your video (My grind setting was default at 6). The grind setting at 2 would make it harder to push water through the finer grind. Instructions say to leave the grind setting at default for several cups of coffee before changing it one step at a time (and only while the machine is grinding). Not sure how long you waited in between cups before changing the grind setting to two, but I'm guessing not that many since you stated the machine "broke" after about 20 cups, Maybe backing off the finer grind setting might have saved your machine?

[@ComputerStuff]

Not to be argumentative, and I appreciate your thoughtful comment, but I promise that's not it. With that said if you have one of these machines and you like it, more power to you!

[@bradclutter9101]

Glad i got it for 1300 on amazon and sorry but I absolutely love it. Upgraded from the 5400 and theres no comparison.

[@ComputerStuff]

Glad you’re having a good experience with yours!

[@dibeling]

When did you snag that price? I'm seeing $1985, consistently

[@Mark12106]

Sorry changed from the jura E8 and personally I find this Eletta a great machine and haven’t had a problem

[@SJL2506]

Excellent review. Honest and straigtforward. I have been researching these machines for longer than I care to admit. It seems one can find good and bad reviews on all of them. I am somewhere between a Gaggia Accademia and a Jura J8. Any experience with either? I am passing on the Eletta Explore (I think)! Such indecision. It's a big investment.

[@ComputerStuff]

It is a big investment! I have a friend with the Gaggia and I have toyed around with the Jura's. The Gaggia makes a decent cup of coffee, better than the Delonghi, however I'd be a little concerned about reliability as well. Though for what its worth this machine makes about 4 cups a day and has been going strong for a couple years without going to the manufacturer once for maintenance. So.. maybe the Gaggia is a good option. The Jura, for me, I didn't like that A: they have so many damn options - it seems a bit gimmicky, but also that you need to send it back to Jura for any kind of meaningful maintenance. That's a money grab. Though it produces a solid product and is well made.

[@dbol205]

Chris you are so spot on. I watch the many paid for or promo reviews and all machine are great. The esg review on Philips vs delonghi diamica they are equally as good. Etc. I welcome you honest reviews

[@ComputerStuff]

Thank you for the nice comment!

[@loriki8766]

I've had my De'Longhi Eletta Explore for 8-ish months. I love it. It's easy to maintain. I'd give it a 10 out of 10. Highly recommended. There's only 4 parts to the milk containers and they come apart so they are easy to clean. I have not found the 4 pieces of them to be burdensome at all. I would rather have them come apart like that than not be able to properly clean them. Although I agree with you that the tray didn't need to be that many pieces, it still works well. AND The coffee is excellent. I like the friendly prompts. Even using fancy beans, I can make my coffee drinks (that would cost $6-8 at a coffeehouse) for about 50 cents a cup. So while it's expensive, it pays for itself quickly.

[@ComputerStuff]

Without question it's cheaper than a coffee house and it produces a better cup than most of the Super Automatic machines on the market. I'm glad you like yours. Thank you for the thoughtful comment.

[@jdc021]

My DeLonghi Dedicta style that I mentioned in your previous Philips coffee maker review broke straight away. My previous one lasted years. Infact it still works I just wanted an upgrade. The quality of the entire machine is far lower. This seems the norm with this brand now. I read “Which” consumer magazine here in England and then seeing how their recommended model fair customers and your new review helped me as well. All we want to do is pay for a great coffee machine. It seems far too much to ask.

[@ComputerStuff]

Appreciate your commenting again. Agreed it’s one of those kind of funny things where it’s like. “take my money”! But yeah I’m trying to figure out if I’m either nitpicking too much or the perfect machine just doesn’t exist. But that said, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect a decent amount of reliability.

[@dhsemp]

Eletta Explore Rocks! 15+ months, thousands of cups! Very reliable and easy to maintain! Not sure why you think Delonghi doesn’t have a good reliability reputation. They are solid, and unlike a Jura, an easy removable infuser for cleaning is key. Are you sure you weren’t grinding your beans too fine inadvertently causing the errors?

[@ComputerStuff]

It’s not a good machine. Get over it.

[@dhsemp]

From the guy that is trying to pull the infuser out of the machine while it’s still on. 😂👌👍

[@ComputerStuff]

@@dhsemp I kno i'm so dum

[@bobsimmons1470]

I was trying to see how this compared to the Gaggia academia and maybe I'll go that route. I also wasn't too thrilled that on Amazon all of the written reviews, but one come from people who received the item free! So gross that this exists as a thing on Amazon.

[@ComputerStuff]

That's a HUGE problem with products on line. That's my job on this channel is to bring a more transparent review of these types of products. They are too expensive to take gambles on for most people.

[@armandmelch8110]

All brands once in a while will have some defective units and the warranty covers those manufacturers defects. Those warranty issues help to make better products. Return it for a warranty and stop trashing companies when you get upset.

[@ComputerStuff]

Stop making excuses for big corporations? Delonghi has a history with bad quality control, and bad reliability. Hence they've upped their warranties to look more attractive. I made a clear list of good things about this machine, but considering my reliability experience isn't unique, I'm not going to keep the Delonghi and would advise others consider this in their purchase decision.

[@cyrano661]

Have a magnifica s, going strong after 11 years. You are absolutely right, every manufacturer has a lemon once in a while but Delonghi has a history of reliability

[@ComputerStuff]

I’m glad you have had a good experience with your Delonghi! Not to beat a dead horse here, but Delonghis reputation for reliability isn’t a good one. Personal experience: I’ve had another Delonghi that went bad after about 3 years. Wife had one before we married went out after a month. Friend had one broke after about two. Personal bias aside if you skim through online forums reviews etc a lot of people seem to have issues with their delonghis especially the more complicated designed ones. Their new TrueBrew system is by all accounts a disaster.

[@khikzmagz]

our machine broke after first descale. barely a month of usage

[@ComputerStuff]

Appreciate you sharing your experience! Another instance of reliability issues!

[@callin_p]

Seriously, does that bother you? That there are 2 milk containers and that the tray has too many removable parts? Well, there are 2 because you put normal milk in one and vegetable milk in the other. And maybe you want a hot coffee and your girlfriend/ wife a cold coffee. And so that you don't have to empty and wash that container, they gave you two. And those many parts of the tray are to be able to wash them more easily. In conclusion, all your complaints are exaggerated and a little stupid. And yes, the plastic is annoying, but not so much that it influences my decision to buy it or not. Basically, it's a coffee machine, not a refrigerator.

[@ComputerStuff]

2 milk containers don't bother me, but it may bother some, it was worth mentioning. Also, I'm sorry to break this to ya, but normal / oat milk or preferential drink temps are the reason for the two carafes. They have a technical difference, but I dont know what it is. Would love for Delonghi to weigh in on that. As for the tray, it can be simplified. Don't make excuses for a bad design. If Breville can make a tray with TWO parts, so can Delonghi. My man, if you like your machine, more power to you. But for $2,000 is has too much shortcomings especially considering its reliability.

[@callin_p]

@@ComputerStuff You don't think that all these "lacks" compensate with the multitude of different coffees he makes. Not to mention the cold coffee. How many other brands/ models know how to do something like this? And yes, buying this coffee machine just to make a simple espresso is a very bad and "very expensive idea".

[@ComputerStuff]

@@callin_p🤌🏻

[@bobsimmons1470]

You could put regular milk in both of the containers.

[@ComputerStuff]

Yes, you can. @@bobsimmons1470

[@dbol205]

Not sure why people will like paid reviews vs honest reviews but great job and I am passing on this machine.

[@ComputerStuff]

Thank you!