If you are considering an automatic espresso machine by DeLonghi, then you’ve come across Eletta Explore and Magnifica Evo.
Eletta Explore is DeLonghi’s higher end automatic espresso machine, while Magnifica Evo is on the affordable side for anyone with a budget less than $1000.
In this comparison guide, I will tell you what to expect from each DeLonghi coffee machine for the price you pay.
Overall, the differences between DeLonghi Eletta Explore vs Magnifica Evo lies in:
- The incredible amount of presets for hot and cold coffee drinks in the Eletta Explore vs Magnifica Evo.
- A Cold brew extraction technology that only Eletta Explore has.
- Design differences.
With the Eletta Explore, you really get what you pay for. But keep reading to understand the features of each model and whether it is something you need in your coffee machine.
DeLonghi Eletta Explore vs Magnifica Evo
Model Varieties
There’s just one DeLonghi Eletta Explore model that does it all. However, Magnifica Evo is available in two versions:
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo with classic frothing wand: this version has no milk based coffee drinks in its presets, and milk frothing is done manually by you.
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema: this is the version that includes an automatic milk frother. It also has milk based coffee drinks in its presets. So you can prepare all coffee drinks with a single press of a button.
I will base this comparison with Eletta Explore vs Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema because it is the most popular choice.
DeLonghi Eletta Explore vs Magnifica Evo Coffee Drink Presets
There’s a huge difference in what Eletta Explore can do on demand vs what Magnifica Evo does.
DeLonghi Eletta Explore has 40 drink presets, while Magnifica Evo has 7 presets.
Eletta Explore’s drink presets include:
Espresso – Double Espresso – Lungo – Coffee – Americano – Hot Milk – Cold Milk- Flat White – Doppio – Latte Macchiato – Caffe Latte – Cortado – Tea – Iced Cappuccino – Cold Brew – Iced Latte Macchiato…
These are some of the main beverages, and other duplicated that would be a variation of the same recipes. So the number 40 is a bit of an inflation of what the machine can actually do, but you still get a lot of presets that Magnifica Evo doesn’t have.
Magnifica Evo’s presets are:
Espresso, Coffee, Over Ice, Latte Macchiato, Cappuccino, Hot Water
DeLonghi Over Ice vs Cold Brew Extraction
DeLonghi Over Ice
On the Magnifica Evo, you’ll find Over Ice preset for iced coffees, but on the Eletta Explore, it says Cold Brew.
Is there a difference between these two settings?
Yes, there is!
DeLonghi’s Over Ice, which is available on many of their coffee machines, including DeLonghi TrueBrew, is a technology that does two things:
- It up-doses the coffee ground amount of a stronger tasting coffee
- It lowers the brewing temperature, slightly
- and it takes ice amount into consideration, to it brews have the beverage amount in coffee and the other half comes from ice amount. So brewing an 8 oz over ice, means the machine will dispense 4 oz of really strong coffee, the other 4 oz is ice in your cup.
Over Ice setting is designed in a way to produces a strong tasting iced coffee that won’t taste watered down.
DeLonghi Cold Brew Extraction
What is Eletta Explore’s Cold Brew, then?
It is actual cold brew.
Cold Brew extraction in DeLonghi Eletta Explore works by surpassing any heating element and pulsating the water in a slow flow over the coffee grounds to get your cold brew brewing. It’s a slower process than brewing hot, which is to be expected because coffee grounds don’t extract quickly when using cold water.
It uses ambient water temperature, and infuses the coffee under low pressure, and longer intervals, to enable a variety of cold and iced coffee recipes.
What comes out of the machine isn’t ice cold coffee, but more like room temp brew that is cooled instantly when added to ice. Due to the low temperature of the water used to brew it, the coffee is a lot smoother and refreshing.
To-Go Function on DeLonghi Eletta Explore
DeLonghi Eletta Explore has a special feature called ‘To Go’ which you’ll find an icon for on the control panel. It’s programmed to brew larger sizes up to 16 oz..
- Piccolo: 8 oz
- Medio: 12 oz
- Grande: 16 oz
This feature works with coffee and milk based espresso hot drinks. And the DeLonghi Eletta Explore includes a 16 oz travel mug, too.
If you enjoy your coffee on the go, you’ll appreciate how quick and easy this feature makes to-go coffee servings without the need to reprogram or adjust anything.
DeLonghi LatteCrema Frother
Both DeLonghi Eletta Explore and Magnifica Evo include the same LatteCrema milk frother. But, Eletta Explore being the premium coffee machine that it is, has a set of two LatteCrema frothers instead of one.
Elette Explore has two LatteCrema Frothers:
- Black colored LatteCrema that heats and froths milk for hot coffee drinks
- White colored LatteCrema that keeps milk cold and froths it for Iced coffee drinks.
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo has hot LatteCrema only, It can’t do cold milk froth.
What Kind of Milk to Use in DeLonghi LatteCrema?
For hot milk, you can use any type of dairy or non dairy milk you like. But the results of the froth will always vary depending on your milk type.
For cold froth, DeLonghi recommends low fat or non-fat milk. For non-dairy milks, the lighter the fat content, the better the results.
Control Panel on DeLonghi Eletta Explore vs Magnifica Evo
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo uses touch buttons with cool illustrated colored buttons. There’s a limited number of presets on the DeLonghi Magnifica Evo, so you’ll find them all on the control panel clearly marked with the name and icon of the coffee drink.
DeLonghi Eletta Explore, on the other hand, has a much nicer control panel:
- It uses a combination of a display touch screen and touch buttons.
- On each side, you’ll find your buttons for Hot Coffee or Cold Coffee, To-Go and Favorite. Pressing on these buttons activates the full menu on the display screen.
- Using the touch screen, you can press on the coffee drink you want to brew, then you can start customizing it to your liking.
- The machine will also prompt you with what you need to do if your machine requires a ‘recipe’ that you should follow.
Because Eletta Explore has a lot more customization settings, as well as profile and memory settings, you’ll find the touch screen to be incredibly helpful in operating the machine.
Customization Settings and Memory Function
When comparing DeLonghi Magnifica Evo to Eletta Explore, it’s quite limited in what you can customize.
Magnifica Evo allows you to choose from three coffee strength settings. You can also reprogram coffee volumes by long pressing the dispensing button, and it will reprogram it to the new volume. The only Memory function on the Magnifica Evo is My Latte button, which allows you to save one recipe.
Eletta Explore allows for several customization and settings:
- Coffee Strength: 5 selections
- Volume Settings: 4 selections
These can be accessed upon selecting your recipe. The machine will then ask you if you want to alter any of these settings before it prepares your coffee.
Your adjusted settings can be saved under a new recipe which you can name yourself. Or, under a user profile. Eletta Explore allows for a total of 4 user profiles.
Included Accessories
Your DeLonghi Eletta Explore will come included with everything you need:
2x LatteCrema Frothing systems, 16 oz travel mug, Ice cube tray, descaling solution, water filter, coffee scoop
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo includes:
Water filter, descaling solution, coffee scoop and one LatteCrema frothing jug.
DeLonghi Eletta Explore vs Magnifica Evo – Which One To Choose?
As you’ve just seen, Eletta Explore and Magnifica Evo are not equals. Not in features and not in price range. So, do you go for the budget-friendly Magnifica Evo or do you splurge on the premium Eletta Explore?
What You Get with DeLonghi Eletta Explore
Here’s what really Eletta Explore different and worth its dollars:
Cold Brew Extraction
this cold brew method exists in Eletta Explore and one other super automatic espresso machine: the Jura Z10. (read my comparison of Jura Z10 vs Eletta Explore). And it’s probably the reason this machine costs what it costs.
This technology makes true cold brew, which is a lot like cold brew that will traditionally take up to 8 hours to brew over your kitchen counter or fridge. But in the Eletta Explore? It takes under 5 minutes!
Customization Settings and Profiles
Having the option to create recipes, save them and create different user profiles is a great option when the coffee machine is being used a larger household or in an office. This means that each user will have their favorite recipes customized and saved for them, without the constant need to redo the settings.
Two LatteCrema Systems
Now, I truly don’t understand the science behind having two different frothers to make hot or cold milk froth. But if you frequently drink iced coffees, you’ll appreciate that the Eletta Explore has this option. But this alone is not worth upgrading to the Eletta Explore for. Cold froth can be easily achieved using other methods, like a simple $10 hand frother will do the trick.
What You Get with DeLonghi Magnifica Evo
Magnifica Evo is not as a advanced as the Eletta Explore, but you get everything you need to make coffee, espresso and milk based drinks with a press of a button, at a very reasonable price, which makes it the popular choice.
Of course, with the Magnifica Evo, you’re not getting true Cold Brew, but Over Ice coffee. Also, you’ll miss on the cold milk frother, but again, I don’t find that to be a huge issue as cold froth is truly easy to make using alternative methods.
How To Pick Between Eletta Explore and Magnifica Evo?
I find DeLonghi Eletta Explore to be worth it only if you find Cold Brew Extraction to be worth your time and money. This model excels in cold brew and iced coffees especially, and they will taste different than any other iced coffees you make using other automatic espresso machines.
As for other features, like user profiles, customization or touchscreen for example, I would actually recommend a coffee machine like Philips 4300 instead, which costs less and has the same customization and memory features (but it lacks iced coffee function).
If you simply want your latte, cappuccino and coffee with a press of a button and at a reasonable price, Magnifica Evo is an excellent choice that won’t break the bank.
Related Comparisons
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo vs Philips 3200
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo vs Philips 2200
DeLonghi Eletta Explore vs Jura Z10
Specs of DeLonghi Eletta Explore
Drink Menu: 40 hot and cold coffee beverages
Programmable Coffee Strength: 5 settings
Programmable Brewing Temperature: 3 settings
Programmable Hot Water Temperature: 3 settings
Control: 3.5″ colored touch screen
Bean Hopper Capacity: 10 oz
Water Tank Capacity: 60 oz
Included Accessories:
2x LatteCrema Frothing systems, 16 oz travel mug, Ice cube tray, descaling solution, water filter, coffee scoop
Technology: WiFi connected (not available in all regions)
Features of DeLonghi Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema
The DeLonghi Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema is a stylish and sophisticated espresso machine that provides users with an easy and convenient way to craft coffee drinks from the comfort of their own home. It’s equipped with all the features necessary for brewing delicious espresso-based beverages, such as a built-in conical burr grinder with 13 settings, a LatteCrema system for texturing milk or milk alternatives, and 7 one-touch recipes with intuitive color icons. The unique My Latte function allows you to personalize your drinks by saving your own custom recipes.
Preset Drinks
Espresso – Coffee – Over Ice – Cappuccino – Latte – Hot Water
Espresso, Latte and Cappuccino are what you know and love. With this machine, you have the option of adjusting strength, using single or double espresso or adjusting the foam settings.
Coffee option does a larger serving of coffee to imitate drip coffee, but it’s not the same. It’s still espresso based, and it does a long brew of espresso up to 8 oz.
The Over Ice option, works similar to Philip’s, by brewing at lower hot temperature and bolder taste.
On the control panel, you’ll notice a x2 button, which when pressed the espresso button lights up. This actually does NOT make a double espresso, it just splits your espresso shot into two cups, which I don’t see the point of. If you want to make a double espresso, you’ll basically have to press the espresso option twice instead of using the x2 button.
LatteCrema System
The detachable automatic frother makes it easy to prepare cappuccinos and lattes with adjustable foam in no time at all. The mark on the frother guides you in how much milk is required for each recipe. Plus, all removable parts are dishwasher safe which makes them easy to clean after use. LatteCrema is even designed to be stored in the fridge if you still have any left over milk in it, which eliminates any waste.
Built-in Grinder and Bypass Doser
In terms of capacity, the bean container holds 9 oz of coffee beans. It has a 13 adjustable grind settings, and a bypass doser for using ground coffee.
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo Adjustable Settings
- Coffee strength: select from 3 settings
- Froth settings which is adjusted by dialing a knob on the frother and not through the menu on the machine.
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo MyLatte Option
This is a nice memory function the DeLonghi Magnifica Evo that allows you to save your favorite adjusted setting and then reuse it with a press of the MyLatte button.
Overall, the DeLonghi Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema is an excellent choice if you’re looking for an user-friendly espresso machine that won’t cost you an arm and a leg but still delivers delicious results every single time. Not only does it give you one-touch access to all kinds of coffee-based beverages but also offers excellent convenience features such as adjustable grind settings.
