De'Longhi Rivelia Review: Features, Trade-Offs, and Value
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De'Longhi Rivelia review: two swappable bean hoppers, 18 presets, hot milk with auto-clean, the cold foam upgrade and who should skip it.
This De'Longhi Rivelia review looks at whether De'Longhi's mid-range super automatic is the right fit for your kitchen. The Rivelia grinds, doses, brews and froths at one touch, offers 18 preset recipes, and has a feature few machines at its price share: two swappable bean hoppers, so you can switch from an espresso roast to decaf in seconds.
We cover the Rivelia configuration whose Amazon US listing documents its features in full, explain the optional cold foam upgrade, and point out where another machine suits a routine better.
Quick Verdict: Who Is De'Longhi Rivelia For?
Who Should Consider It?
The Rivelia suits households that drink a mix of espresso, coffee and milk drinks and want them at one touch. It is especially useful if someone in the house drinks decaf or you like to rotate beans, since the Bean Switch System swaps hoppers rather than forcing you to empty one. Expect light daily upkeep: emptying grounds, refilling water and running the milk auto-clean.
It also suits people who want café variety without learning barista skills. The 18 presets cover cortados, flat whites and iced coffee, and intensity, quantity and an extra shot let each person tune their own drink.
Who Should Choose Another Format?
Choose something else if you only drink plain black coffee by the mug, since a drip brewer is far cheaper and makes a full pot. If iced lattes with cold foam are your daily drink, budget for the LatteCrema Cool upgrade or look at a machine that includes cold foam. People who enjoy pulling shots by hand will be happier with a semi-automatic machine and a separate grinder.
Version, Specifications, and What Is Included
This review covers the De'Longhi Rivelia automatic espresso machine with grinder and milk frother as listed on Amazon US in the beige finish, whose listing documents 18 presets, two bean hoppers and the LatteCrema Hot System. Rivelia listings in other colors use different, more generic marketing text, and some describe different bundles, so check the included milk systems on the exact listing before you buy. Everything in this De'Longhi Rivelia review refers to the beige listing's configuration.
| Item | Rivelia (per listing) |
|---|---|
| Type | Super automatic bean to cup espresso machine |
| Recipes | 18 presets incl. latte, cappuccino, cortado, coffee, flat white, iced coffee, espresso, espresso over ice |
| Grinder | Integrated burr grinder, 13 settings |
| Bean hoppers | Two removable 8.8 oz hoppers (Bean Switch System) |
| Milk system included | LatteCrema Hot System with auto-clean |
| Optional | LatteCrema Cool Upgrade Set for cold foam |
| Customization | Intensity, quantity, extra shot |
| Water tank and dimensions | See listing or manual |
| Price | Around $900 at the time of writing |
The cold foam carafe is not part of this configuration. Beans, a compatible water filter and descaler are ongoing purchases.
To confirm you are looking at the same configuration, check three things on the listing: the recipe count, the mention of two removable bean hoppers, and which LatteCrema systems are included. If a listing promises cold foam or cold brew in the box, it describes a different bundle from the one reviewed here, and its specifications should be read on their own terms.
Setup and Kitchen Fit
Initial Setup
Follow the manual for first use: rinse and fill the water tank, fill one or both bean hoppers, and let the machine run its initial rinse. Set the water hardness and install a compatible water filter if the manual calls for it. Brew a couple of drinks before judging the coffee, since the grinder and settings need a moment to settle, and adjust intensity from there.
If you plan to use both hoppers, fill the second one at setup and label it, or keep a habit such as decaf always in the same hopper, so nobody in the house grabs the wrong one. Keep the lid on whichever hopper is out of the machine to protect the beans from air and light.
Controls and Access
Drinks are chosen from the machine's control panel, with intensity, quantity and an extra shot available for each recipe. The two bean hoppers lift out and swap by hand, and the LatteCrema Hot carafe attaches for milk drinks. Daily access points are the water tank, the drip tray and the used grounds container; check your manual for where each one removes.
Working Clearance
The listing we reviewed doesn't state dimensions, so measure from the manual or De'Longhi's product page before buying. Allow extra space above for lifting out and swapping bean hoppers, which is part of the daily routine on this machine. Leave clearance in front for the drip tray and grounds container and room beside it for attaching the milk carafe.
Espresso and Black Coffee
Verified Capabilities
The Rivelia grinds, doses and brews at one touch with an integrated 13 setting burr grinder. Its black coffee presets include espresso, coffee and espresso over ice, plus iced coffee, according to the listing. You can adjust intensity and quantity for each drink and add an extra shot for a stronger cup.
The Bean Switch System is the standout. Two 8.8 oz hoppers let you keep, for example, a dark roast for morning espresso and a decaf for the afternoon, and swap them by lifting one out and dropping the other in.
Results or Research-Based Assessment
We did not brew with the Rivelia, so we make no claims about taste, crema or temperature. The documentation does establish flexibility: a 13 step grinder, adjustable intensity and quantity, an extra shot option and a quick way to change beans. Those are the controls that matter most for repeatable everyday coffee.
Buyer feedback in aggregate tends to highlight the bean switching and the one-touch menu, while complaints on super automatics in general often relate to grind and intensity settings that need adjusting for new beans. Expect to fine-tune the grinder one step at a time when you change coffees, and give each change a few drinks before judging it.
The two hopper design also changes how you buy coffee. Instead of finishing one bag before opening the next, you can keep an everyday espresso blend and a single origin or decaf on hand at the same time. That suits households where tastes differ, though it does mean two bags open at once, so smaller bags help keep both fresh.
Practical Limitations
A "coffee" preset from a super automatic is a single, larger drink made through the espresso unit, not a pot of drip coffee. If several people want a mug at the same moment, they'll wait for each cup. The Rivelia makes one drink at a time unless your manual describes a double option for a given recipe.
Swapping hoppers is quick, but the grinder may still hold a little of the previous bean, so the first drink after a switch can be a blend. Check your manual for De'Longhi's recommended approach when changing beans, especially when moving to decaf.
Milk Drinks and Special Recipes
Verified Capabilities
The included LatteCrema Hot System froths milk or plant-based alternatives into hot foam for lattes, cappuccinos, cortados and flat whites, and it has an auto-clean function. Milk drinks are made at one touch: the machine grinds, brews and froths in sequence.
The optional LatteCrema Cool Upgrade Set adds a cold foam carafe that unlocks six cold foam recipes, including iced latte, iced cappuccino, iced café latte, iced flat white and a standalone cold foam. It froths cold milk directly rather than heating and cooling it, and the carafe can be stored in the fridge. The set also includes four double-walled glasses and a recipe book.
Results or Research-Based Assessment
We did not froth milk on the Rivelia, so we can't describe foam texture or temperature. What the documentation establishes is breadth and convenience: one-touch hot milk drinks with an auto-clean routine, plus a clear upgrade path to cold foam if you want iced milk drinks later.
For most households, the hot system covers the classic orders. The cold foam upgrade mainly matters if iced lattes and cold foam toppings are part of your weekly routine rather than an occasional treat.
If you use plant-based milk, barista versions of oat or soy milk usually foam more readily than thin, unsweetened cartons. Whatever milk you choose, keep it cold until brewing and return it to the fridge promptly, which also makes the carafe easier to keep clean.
Practical Limitations
Cold foam is not included in this configuration, so iced milk drinks with cold foam need the upgrade set, at around $110 at the time of writing. The listing we reviewed does not describe a cold brew extraction mode, so we don't claim one for this configuration; check the exact listing if cold brew matters to you.
Automatic milk systems also add parts to wash. The auto-clean helps between drinks, but the carafe still needs regular disassembly and washing, as the manual describes.
Controls and Everyday Use
Customization
Each preset can be adjusted for intensity and quantity, and the extra shot function strengthens any drink. Combined with the 13 step grinder and the choice of two beans, that gives a household plenty of room to personalize. Someone who wants a strong decaf cortado and someone who wants a long, mild coffee can both be served from the same machine.
A practical approach is to settle each person's favorite drink once, noting the intensity, quantity and whether they add an extra shot, then leave those settings alone. Small changes made every morning make it hard to repeat a cup you liked, while a fixed starting point lets you adjust only when the beans change.
A Complete Daily Routine
A typical morning: switch on and let the machine rinse, check water and beans, then choose drinks from the panel. For milk drinks, attach the LatteCrema Hot carafe, brew, and let the auto-clean run afterward. Before the day ends, empty the drip tray and grounds container if prompted, return milk to the fridge, and refill the water tank.
Swapping beans adds a step only when you need it: lift one hopper out, set it aside with its lid on, and drop in the other. Storing the spare hopper in a cool, dark cupboard keeps the beans fresher.
Multiple Servings
Like most super automatics, the Rivelia is best at making drinks one after another rather than many at once. For a household of three or four, brew drinks in sequence and keep an eye on the water tank and grounds container, which fill faster during busy mornings. We don't estimate cups per hour, since that depends on recipes and settings.
For guests, brew the black coffee drinks first and the milk drinks last, so the milk carafe only needs one auto-clean cycle at the end of the round.
Cleaning and Maintenance
After-Use Tasks
After milk drinks, run the LatteCrema auto-clean function, then return the carafe and milk to the fridge if your manual allows. Empty the drip tray and grounds container when the machine indicates, and refill the water tank. Wipe the coffee spout area now and then to prevent residue from building up.
If you use the cold foam upgrade, its one-touch self-cleaning function flushes the carafe and spout between uses, and all carafe components are dishwasher safe, according to its listing.
Periodic Cleaning and Descaling
On the schedule in your manual, take the milk carafe apart and wash it thoroughly, and rinse the brew unit if your model allows removal. Descale when the machine prompts you, using the descaler the manual names, such as De'Longhi EcoDecalk, and follow its steps exactly. A compatible water filter can stretch the time between descaling cycles.
Keep both bean hoppers clean and dry, and avoid oily or flavored beans if your manual advises against them, since they can affect grinder performance.
A simple weekly routine keeps the Rivelia in good shape: wash the drip tray and grounds container properly rather than just rinsing them, wipe around the coffee and milk spouts, and check the water tank for any film. Doing these small jobs regularly makes descaling day less of a chore.
Access and Service
User-serviceable parts are those the manual lets you remove: the water tank, drip tray, grounds container, bean hoppers, milk carafe parts and, where applicable, the brew unit. Grinder repairs and internal faults belong with De'Longhi support or an authorized service center. Don't open the housing, and stop using the machine if you notice leaks near electrical parts or a damaged cord.
Purchase Price and Ownership Cost
The Complete Setup
At the time of writing, this Rivelia configuration lists around $900 on Amazon US, and other color listings sit around $1,000 with differing descriptions. Add the LatteCrema Cool Upgrade Set if you want cold foam, which brings the total to around $1,000. No separate grinder, tamper or milk jug is needed for the included recipes.
Recurring Supplies
Ongoing costs are mainly whole beans, plus descaler, water filters and milk. With two hoppers, many households keep two bags of beans open, so buy smaller bags if freshness matters to you. Descaler and filter replacements follow your manual's schedule and your water hardness. We don't estimate repair costs, since they depend on use and care.
For context, the Rivelia's price sits between basic super automatics with manual frothers and premium models with automatic grind adjustment. What you pay for here is the bean switching, the one-touch milk system with auto-clean and the 18 recipe menu, so its value depends on how many of those you will use each week.
Pros, Cons, and Alternatives
Strengths and Limitations Established Above
Strengths: two swappable 8.8 oz bean hoppers with a 13 setting grinder; 18 one-touch presets with adjustable intensity, quantity and an extra shot; and a LatteCrema Hot System with auto-clean. Compromises: cold foam requires a separate upgrade set, and one drink at a time makes it slower than a drip pot for groups.
When an Alternative Fits Better
If you want hot and cold foam plus cold brew included, the De'Longhi Magnifica Duo lists LatteCrema Hot and Cool technologies and three brewing methods for less. If you want automatic grind adjustment and 38 presets, the PrimaDonna Aromatic is the premium step up. For a simpler, lower cost route to milk drinks, the Philips 4400 Series LatteGo offers 12 hot and iced recipes with a two part milk system.
If your household mainly drinks plain coffee by the mug, a programmable drip coffee maker serves more people for far less. Our guides to the best De'Longhi espresso machine and the best super automatic espresso machine compare more options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which exact version does this review cover?
This review covers the Rivelia automatic espresso machine with grinder and LatteCrema Hot milk frother, as described on the Amazon US beige listing with 18 presets and two 8.8 oz hoppers. Other color listings describe different bundles, so confirm the included milk systems and recipe count on the listing you buy.
What extra equipment is required?
You need whole beans, a compatible water filter and the descaler named in the manual. Cold foam drinks need the LatteCrema Cool Upgrade Set. No separate grinder, tamper or milk jug is needed, since the machine grinds, doses and froths automatically.
What cleaning does daily use require?
Run the milk auto-clean after milk drinks, empty the drip tray and grounds container when prompted, and refill the water tank. Wash the milk carafe thoroughly and descale on the schedule in your manual.
Is this model worth it for my routine?
It is worth it if your household drinks a mix of espresso and hot milk drinks and values switching beans, especially for decaf. It is less worth it if you only drink black coffee, need cold foam daily without buying the upgrade, or want a full pot for a crowd.
Final Verdict
Our De'Longhi Rivelia review finds it a strong choice for mixed households that want one-touch espresso and hot milk drinks with the flexibility of two bean hoppers. The main compromise is that cold foam costs extra through the upgrade set, and like any super automatic it serves drinks one at a time. If bean switching and an 18 recipe menu match your routine, the Rivelia is easy to recommend; if cold foam and cold brew matter most, compare the Magnifica Duo first. Our best espresso machine guide covers other formats.
