De'Longhi Rivelia EXAM440.35.B + Descaler

I have tested the De'Longhi Rivelia EXAM440.55.W for 3 weeks now and I am not entirely convinced. The device is easy to use and actually plug and play out of the box. The screen guides you through all the steps. In no time you have your first coffee. The milk container delivers excellent foam and the choice is huge. The device cleans itself, which is also easy. However, there are also some drawbacks. Especially if you set the grind of the coffee to very fine, the device does not deliver enough pressure, causing your coffee to drip instead of flowing. And then it takes a very long time before you have coffee. Sometimes it even gets stuck. In addition, the residue container and the water container are relatively small, which means you have to deal with these containers more often than you would like. Finally, in my experience, the LED screen gives too many notifications ranging from warnings to tips. In short, a handy device, but not the best.

After many years of using a Philips fully automatic coffee machine, it was time for a new one. After that, I briefly had a piston coffee machine, but found it (much) too complicated for daily use. Then I found this one, and after a cashback promotion, I was able to buy it at a very competitive price.

The machine is very versatile and offers approximately 16 coffee specialties. The differences between the specialties are sometimes small, but there is a clear distinction between each variety, and you can taste it. For example, there are four different black coffees alone (regular coffee, espresso lungo, lungo, and Americano), each brewed slightly differently. The taste and amount of each coffee variety can be adjusted to your preference and easily saved to your profile. You can also dispense hot water by connecting the water tap pin instead of the milk system. Changing it is easy, and the pin can be conveniently stored at the top of the machine. The machine also offers a standard option for cold coffees without milk (not tried yet). If you also want to make cold coffees with milk, you can purchase a special milk jug, which will add various cold coffees with milk specialties to the menu. This accessory is quite expensive, but it's nice that it's available for enthusiasts.

The coffee tastes excellent by default, and you have many customization options (something many automatic machines unfortunately lack). You can manually adjust the grind size, as well as the strength and amount of coffee via the menu. There's a system called Bean Adapt that, after grinding one espresso, provides tips on the best setting for that type of bean. It's unclear exactly what it bases this on, but I generally find the advice good regarding settings, especially the grind size. Unfortunately, this setting can only be used with regular espresso; for other milk specialties, you have to adjust the strength yourself.

The milk system with the milk jug is very practical for daily use. You can put the whole thing in the refrigerator, so your milk will last 2-3 days without needing to be cleaned. After each use, a small amount of water is automatically rinsed through the milk system, keeping it sufficiently clean. After a few days, your machine will prompt you to thoroughly clean the milk jug, though you can also largely clean it in the dishwasher. The milk froth is of excellent quality, and you can also adjust the froth intensity using the dial on top (from warm, unfrothed milk to very creamy froth). The display shows the best setting depending on the drink you're making.

The LCD screen on top is simple and intuitive to use. Maintenance and cleaning instructions are also clear.

The machine comes with two bean hoppers. Changing them is easy, but you do waste a lot of coffee during the process. This is because the old coffee has to be ground first, and then you actually have to brew at least one more coffee to adjust the beans and grind size to the correct setting for the new beans. Honestly, I can't think of many situations where this switching is useful; it's only worthwhile if you want to make decaf for the whole group after a dinner party.

All in all, very happy with the versatility of this machine, and the pleasure of being able to choose from so many coffee varieties with many setting options!

After two weeks of testing the DeLonghi Rivelia EXAM440.55.G, I am quite impressed. As an experienced coffee lover, who has already used various machines from Senseo to fully automatic machines, I was curious about this model. What appealed to me most is that you can use different types of beans, just like with Nespresso, but with real coffee beans. My girlfriend likes decaf, while I like to experiment with different types of coffee. Previously, we had two fully automatic machines on our counter, but this machine offers an excellent solution.

Starting up the machine went smoothly. The DeLonghi Rivelia EXAM440.55.G has a large, clear display and the installation instructions were clear. What I particularly appreciate is that you can fine-tune your personal coffee taste thanks to the Bean Adapt technology in combination with the Bean Switch system. For example, I like to drink strong coffee, while my girlfriend prefers a milder variant. This machine helps you find the right settings for grinding, temperature and strength. Once set up, you don’t have to look at it again. The only downside is that you have to brew three cups before you can use a new setting. An instant change option would have been handy.

The LatteCrema milk frother that comes with the machine makes it easy to make delicious milk coffees. The machine automatically recognises the frother, tells you when it needs to be cleaned and is dishwasher safe.

Pros:

Easy to switch between different beans User-friendly interface Easy to clean, with clear on-screen instructions Perfect for milk coffees such as cappuccinos

Cons:

Some coffee is lost when changing beans The water tank and coffee grounds container are on the small side

Disclaimer: I received the DeLonghi Rivelia EXAM440.55.G as part of a product test. This review is objective and based on my personal experience.