De'Longhi Eletta, Fully Automatic Bean to Cup Coffee Machine, Cappuccino and Espresso Maker, ECAM 44.660.B, 2 liters, Black

Product Information

The price will put some people off, and that is understandable – this is not a machine that you buy on a whim. It is a serious investment. However, if it is within your budget, and you like the idea of great coffee being made for you at the touch of a button, then this has to be on your shortlist. I think you may have just found your new bean to cup coffee machine. If you consider yourself a true coffee connoisseur, then you have no doubt dreamed of owning a high-end espresso maker that you can finally use to make all of your favourite drinks with- just the way that you like them. Quite possibly the best feature of this particular machine is that it gives you the option to create a completely personalized espresso drink. From simple Americanos to more complicated drinks, the precision setting knobs and preset mix ratios make it easy to make any cafe beverage that you could ever think of. The average UK mug height is 96mm so plenty of room. How Long does the Delonghi Eletta take to make an espresso? Throughout the 20th century they continued to grow and expand their range into the kitchen appliance market, first producing a coffee machine in 1993. This culminated in the acquisition of British company Kenwood in 2001, and with it a whole range of kitchen and household appliances.

It's also a simple machine to use. Despite having a range of coffee customisation options, the control panel is intuitive and straightforward.

Using The De’Longhi Eletta?

During our research, we’ve found that the Gaggia Brera is one of the quietest bean-to-cup machines. So if you’re looking for a quiet model, this is a good place to start. Where to Find One on Sale or Discounted? Cleaning cycles and descaling are important to maintain a long life for your machine, so fortunately they’re simple to complete. Also the removable milk carafe that we mentioned earlier makes the job much easier, as it’s almost always the milk that’s going to cause problems fastest if left without cleaning after making drinks. While these are some of the best Delonghi coffee machines, they aren't the only bean-to-cup models the company produces. Others include: TheDelonghi Eletta ECAM 44.620 is another excellent model in the Eletta range. It has stylish design, milk frothing arm and two-output nozzle - and it's also proven to be a popular coffee machine. While it didn't quite make our top 10 list, it's still an excellent bean-to-cup coffee maker.

This is a true bean to cup coffee machine, in that with one touch of a button it will grind the beans and brew your espresso with no manual intervention.

You work at BID, what a legend.

The milk frother also has settings for the size of froth and a clean mode. The latter option cleans the milk nozzle automatically, but make sure you put a cup underneath to catch the liquid. But if the question is “is a bean-to-cup coffee machine the best option for me?” then the answer is more complicated. As we mentioned earlier, bean-to-cup machines produce the freshest coffee. They are more versatile, as you can use beans or ground coffee from any brand, and they offer extensive customisation. But that doesn’t mean they are right for everyone in the UK. If you want to brew large amounts of coffee for guests, for example, a simple filter machine might work best. And if you want a variety of coffees and hot chocolates available almost-instantly, then a pod machine might be a good option. For most coffee enthusiasts, however, a bean-to-cup machine is an excellent choice. But Doesn’t Ground Coffee Remain Fresh if it’s Refrigerated?

Other features include a control panel for customising your perfect coffee, “silent” grinder with 13 settings and an easy-to-clean design. Aside from espresso and cappuccino, the ECAM22.110.SB is also capable of producing a latte using the Cappuccino System. After being turned on, the machine requires around 30 seconds to warm-up. An espresso then takes a further 60 seconds to make, while a full mug of coffee can take up to two minutes. VerdictWhile it’s a relatively basic coffee machine, the Russell Hobbs 22000 still comes with some useful features. These include a 24-hour programmable timer, so you can brew coffee automatically at set times in the day, and a heat plate for making sure your coffee stays warm. Cleaning is easier than ever before with the De’Longhi Eletta’s built-in cleaning programs. From the console, you can run decalcification and rinsing programs to remove mineral buildup from water and calcium buildup from milk. This will ensure that everything runs smoothly for years to come. You can also remove the brewing apparatus for deep cleaning purposes, but you shouldn’t have to do this too often. There are also various customisation options. These include settings for size, strength, and temperature. It also has an automatic milk cleaning system, 15 bar pump, ground coffee option and a removable drip tray. To start with, the ECAM22.110.SB comes with a Cappuccino System. This combines milk, air and steam to produce an appetising froth. Reviewers have also praised the quality of the espresso and the rich crema. If that is all you want to use this machine for, that’s absolutely fine, but there is much more that it can do. Other than the large range of drinks that you can make (you can select these from the menu on the display – the machine will take care of everything else), you can also customise the machine to make your perfect coffee.

I found that there is a slight cooling effect when the milk is added, which is at 55c. This will obviously lower the overall temperature of the coffee, which is just below boiling when first brewed. Is there Warranty and Guarantee? When it comes to producing the drinks, the Eletta has the LatteCrema System. This is a special way to make the milk that will accompany many of the drinks it makes. Basically, it is specially designed to create the perfect creamy milk for your drinks, whichever one you select. In terms of recreating the sort of drinks that you would spend a few pounds on in a café or coffee shop at the touch of a button, this is one of the best machines around. While we are mentioning the cost, after the initial outlay of the machine itself, De’Longhi estimate that the machine produces a coffee with milk for around 15p a time. Compared to buying a coffee in a shop, I would say that you would save enough money in less than a year of using this machine. One person even made the point that they’re having theirs repaired as they love it so much, rather than buying a new machine. Despite this, the ECAM 44.620 can make excellent espresso, cappuccino, flat white and latte. So if you don't mind using a manual steam arm, it provides great value for money. Overview of FeaturesIf you love fresh coffee, however, then there really is nothing better than grinding fresh beans for your breakfast coffee! Frequently Asked Questions Are Bean-to-Cup Models Any Good? You can control the exact temperature of the milk, how much coffee goes into each beverage, and how much water you want in each beverage. If you have any leftover milk in your carafe, you can easily detach it and place it in your refrigerator for later use. Easy To Keep Clean Aside from its brewing settings, the E953-102 Caffeo has a number of other features. These include energy-efficient lights, a cup warmer, 2-cup option and a standby mode. You can also adjust the height of the spout depending on the size of your cups. Some machines, for example, include descaling programmes. These can be run every few months to prevent limescale buildup. Automatic rinsing programs are also common. The De’Longhi Eletta is a bean to cup machine, and priced towards the upper-mid range for a machine like this. But does it warrant the money? Let’s take a look.