De’Longhi Rivelia Review

In the ever-growing world of at-home espresso machines, finding one that balances automation, customization, and quality isn’t easy. That’s where the De’Longhi Rivelia aims to stand out. It’s marketed as a compact, intelligent, fully automatic bean-to-cup machine designed for people who want the café experience without the learning curve. With features like dual interchangeable bean hoppers, De’Longhi’s AI-driven Bean Adapt system, and one-touch access to 18 hot and cold beverages, the Rivelia doesn’t just make coffee—it tries to think about it for you.

But clever tech doesn’t always mean great taste or reliable performance. So, I spent several weeks living with the Rivelia, testing every feature from espresso quality to milk frothing, grinder precision, and long-term cleaning. Whether you’re a casual latte drinker or a daily double espresso type, this review digs deep into what the Rivelia does well, where it struggles, and whether it’s worth the price tag.

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Design & Build Quality

The De’Longhi Rivelia makes a strong first impression—sleek, compact, and quietly luxurious without screaming for attention. It’s clear from the outset that this isn’t some slap-together plastic appliance. The Rivelia has been crafted with care and with the user’s kitchen—and lifestyle—in mind. Design-wise, it’s a machine that feels like it belongs in a modern home, whether that means a clean white kitchen, a dark stone countertop, or a cozy corner coffee nook.

Size and Footprint

Let’s talk dimensions: the Rivelia measures roughly 15.1 inches tall, 9.6 inches wide, and 16.9 inches deep. That’s smaller than most fully automatic espresso machines with comparable features. This compact footprint is one of the biggest surprises given how much it packs inside—grinder, dual bean hoppers, milk system, and touchscreen. It won’t dominate your countertop like some bulky alternatives, and it slides in comfortably beneath standard cabinets. That said, you’ll want to pull it out slightly for top access if you’re refilling the water tank or swapping bean hoppers.

Despite its slim size, it doesn’t feel underbuilt. The unit has weight to it—not so much that it’s difficult to move, but enough to feel stable during grinding and brewing. No wobbles, no rattling.

Exterior Materials

The exterior shell of the Rivelia varies slightly depending on color selection. The unit comes in several finishes: black, white, light beige, dark gray, and in some markets, a soft sage green. Each one offers a different vibe, but all share a matte, almost powder-coated texture that’s resistant to fingerprints and smudging.

Plastic is used for most of the exterior housing, but it’s high-quality, rigid plastic—not the glossy, cheap stuff that tends to crack or discolor over time. The finish holds up well after weeks of daily use. Wiping it down is easy, and it doesn’t require constant polishing to look clean.

Around the drip tray and cup area, stainless steel accents help break up the plastic visually. The drip tray cover itself is metal, perforated with clean circles that let water flow below. The tray sits flush and removes easily for cleaning. It’s not magnetic or spring-loaded, but the tolerances are good, and it doesn’t rattle or shift.

Display and Interface Design

Front and center is the 3.5-inch full-color touchscreen. This display is what gives the Rivelia its modern personality. It’s angled slightly upward for visibility and uses a capacitive interface—meaning it’s touch-sensitive rather than pressure-based. Tap icons, scroll through drink menus, adjust settings—it’s all smooth and responsive.

The interface layout is thoughtfully designed. Rather than clutter the screen with icons, the Rivelia uses a rotating carousel of drink options, each with accompanying imagery and names. You can scroll through cappuccino, espresso, long black, latte macchiato, and more with a swipe. Drink customizations (volume, strength, temperature, foam level) pop up when you select an item, and the touchscreen guides you with animations and friendly text prompts.

The physical buttons are minimal—just power and a couple of context-based touch-sensitive zones near the screen. It’s clean and futuristic, yet not so high-tech that it becomes unintuitive.

Water Tank and Drip Tray

The water tank is positioned at the back and holds 1.4 liters (about 47 ounces). This isn’t a massive capacity, especially if you’re making several milk drinks daily, but it’s adequate for small households or light use. The tank pulls out vertically from the rear, with a molded handle for easy grip. Because of the rear placement, you’ll want to keep some clearance behind the machine if it’s under cabinets.

The drip tray is removable from the front and includes a float indicator that tells you when it’s full. Beneath the tray is a coffee grounds bin that can hold roughly 10–12 pucks before needing to be emptied. It all clicks into place snugly and feels well-engineered—no cheap clips or awkward plastic guides.

Bean Hoppers and Swapping Mechanism

One of the Rivelia’s standout design features is its dual interchangeable bean hopper system. On the top of the machine, you’ll find a 250g hopper that can be removed with a twist. Included in the box is a second hopper—identical in size—that can be swapped in seconds.

This means you can easily toggle between two types of beans—say, a dark roast for espresso and a lighter roast for milk drinks, or a regular blend in the morning and decaf at night. It’s a genius feature for couples or families with mixed preferences. The bean hoppers seal tightly with rubberized lids to keep freshness locked in, and the mechanism for switching is satisfying and precise.

There’s also a small trap door beneath the hopper that allows you to purge out remaining beans before switching to avoid cross-contamination. It’s not 100% bean-free unless you run a few dummy shots, but it’s pretty clean.

Build Quality and Internal Engineering

Internally, the Rivelia feels solid. The brew unit is removable, allowing you to take it out for weekly rinsing. This is a huge plus—machines that seal off the brew chamber tend to build up oils and residue over time. De’Longhi’s design makes it user-serviceable without tools.

The grinder housing is sturdy, the burrs are conical steel, and the 13-step grind adjustment dial has clear tactile feedback. You can feel a slight resistance as you rotate it, which is reassuring—no loose clicks or overshooting.

Milk frothing components, located on the side, attach with a single click. The carafe has its own removable lid with a dial for foam density, and the silicone tubing is thick enough to last. The machine automatically prompts you to clean the milk system after each use, and everything detaches easily for manual rinsing.

After weeks of use, no creaks, gaps, or rattling appeared. The unit runs quietly, heats quickly, and operates with smooth, fluid movement. The coffee spout slides vertically to accommodate different cup sizes, and even at its lowest setting, it leaves minimal gap for splashing.

Heat Management and Ventilation

Another smart aspect of the design is heat management. The Rivelia has venting in all the right places—primarily on the sides and rear, where residual warmth escapes. After pulling several shots in a row, the machine doesn’t get overly hot to the touch, and there’s no concerning plastic smell that sometimes accompanies lower-end models.

The cup warmer on top isn’t heated per se, but due to proximity to the boiler, it does warm cups passively. After a few drinks, you’ll find your mugs getting toasty if left up top. This is a nice unintentional perk.

Cup Clearance and Layout

Under the spout, you get generous clearance for taller mugs, which is often an issue with compact machines. The spout slides smoothly and doesn’t require any tools to adjust. Even large cappuccino cups or travel mugs fit comfortably—something not all machines in this category can claim.

The cup tray has drainage holes that lead into the drip tray below. It doesn’t flood, it doesn’t splash, and cleanup is straightforward. There’s even a small LED above the spout to light your cup—an appreciated touch when brewing early in the morning or in dim lighting.

Aesthetics and Overall Presence

Visually, the Rivelia is elegant but unobtrusive. It doesn’t demand attention like a chrome-covered semi-auto espresso machine, but it clearly doesn’t belong in the same category as a pod machine either. It’s the kind of appliance guests will ask about, not because it’s flashy, but because it looks modern, capable, and thoughtfully designed.

The visual balance of touchscreen, frother, hoppers, and output tray is exceptional. Every component has its place and fits the overall aesthetic. Even the cleaning indicators and lights are designed not to disrupt the look and feel—just soft glows and gentle cues.

Longevity Considerations

While long-term durability can only be judged over years of use, initial impressions are strong. After several weeks of daily brewing, there’s no degradation in materials or wear and tear visible. No bubbling on display edges, no rubber peeling, no fading.

The removable parts still snap into place cleanly, the hopper lids still seal tightly, and the grinder sounds as smooth as it did on day one. Time will tell whether internal components hold up to heavy use, but the build quality suggests it was engineered for frequent, daily brewing—not just weekend cappuccino duty.

Final Thoughts on Design

The Rivelia is a masterclass in design efficiency. It strikes the rare balance between premium aesthetics, compact form factor, smart layout, and everyday usability. Every detail feels deliberate—from the satisfying swap of bean hoppers to the intuitive drip tray design to the silky swipe of the touchscreen interface. If you value a machine that looks good, feels solid, and works without fuss, the Rivelia is up there with the best in its category.

It’s not flashy, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s the kind of design that makes you want to brew coffee—because everything about using it feels smooth, clean, and enjoyable. That’s where De’Longhi nailed it.

User Interface & Ease of Use

One of the most standout aspects of the De’Longhi Rivelia isn’t just what it does—but how it does it. This machine has clearly been designed with user experience front and center. From the moment you power it on, you’re greeted with a friendly interface, simple prompts, and intuitive workflows that strip away the intimidation factor that often comes with automatic espresso machines.

For both beginners and experienced users, the Rivelia’s interface balances simplicity and depth. It manages to offer a wide range of customizations without burying them behind endless menus. It’s responsive, engaging, and—most importantly—gets out of your way when you just want your coffee.

The Touchscreen Display

At the heart of the Rivelia’s user experience is its 3.5-inch color touchscreen display. It’s bright, crisp, and fast—no lag, no clunky transitions. It’s angled slightly upward so it’s easy to see whether the machine is sitting on a counter, tucked beneath a cabinet, or placed on an island.

The home screen features a drink carousel, which you navigate by swiping left or right. Each drink option has a clear icon and name, with helpful visuals that make it easy to find what you’re looking for. It’s not just espresso and cappuccino—you’ll see options like flat white, latte macchiato, cortado, iced coffee, and even hot milk or hot water for tea. Swiping feels smooth, and the icons react instantly, much like a smartphone.

What makes this interface special is that it doesn’t bombard you with information. Instead, it walks you through your choices naturally. Tap a drink and you’re taken to a simple adjustment screen where you can tweak strength, temperature, foam level, and volume. No deep menu diving. No guesswork.

Every interaction is guided, even friendly. You’ll see encouraging messages like “Let’s make your perfect coffee” or “Almost there!” during brewing or setup. While some might find this tone a bit overly cheerful, it certainly makes the machine feel approachable—even fun.

First-Time Setup

Initial setup is impressively straightforward. When you power on the Rivelia for the first time, it prompts you step-by-step to prepare the machine. It asks about your water hardness (with a test strip included), walks you through filling the tank, inserting the water filter, and loading beans.

Next comes the Bean Adapt process, a clever calibration system that helps optimize your grind and brew settings for the specific beans you’re using. You choose your roast level (light, medium, or dark), and the machine recommends grind settings, brew temperature, and infusion time accordingly. It then guides you through a few test extractions to dial things in.

The whole process takes less than 15 minutes, and once complete, you have a custom profile tuned to your beans. For new users, it’s reassuring. For experienced users, it’s a fast way to get consistent results without endless tweaking.

User Profiles and Personalization

The Rivelia supports up to four user profiles, each with its own saved preferences. This is an underrated feature that quickly becomes essential in multi-user households. Each person can set their own drink favorites, strengths, volumes, milk settings, and even Bean Adapt calibrations. No more having to re-set everything because someone else made a latte before your espresso.

Switching profiles is as easy as tapping the top icon on the display and selecting your name or avatar. Once selected, the interface updates to show your personalized drink options first, and the machine remembers your most commonly used drinks.

Even better, the Rivelia starts to “learn” your habits. Over time, it adjusts the order of drink icons to reflect what you use most frequently. For example, if you always make a flat white at 7 a.m., it will begin surfacing that drink near the front of the carousel around that time. It’s not full-blown AI, but it’s enough to feel smart and adaptive.

Drink Customization

Customization on the Rivelia is refreshingly simple. Each drink recipe lets you adjust:

• Coffee strength: Usually five levels, from mild to intense.
• Temperature: Low, medium, or high, depending on preference or bean.
• Coffee volume: Adjustable in 5–10 ml increments depending on drink.
• Milk quantity and foam level: Available for milk-based drinks via a rotary dial and onscreen settings.

These settings can be saved to your profile or adjusted on the fly. The machine remembers your last-used preferences, so you don’t have to reset every time unless you want to experiment.

If you’re not sure what settings to use, the Rivelia gently recommends combinations based on the bean profile and drink selected. It takes out the guesswork and replaces it with guidance—ideal for people who aren’t comfortable adjusting brew ratios or infusion times manually.

Daily Use and Workflow

From startup to first coffee, the Rivelia runs smoothly. Powering on takes about 40 seconds, during which it performs a quick rinse of the internal components. The display tells you what’s happening in real time: “Heating water,” “Pre-rinsing pipes,” etc.

Once ready, you just select your drink, tweak your options if needed, and tap the confirmation. The machine takes over—grinding, tamping, extracting, and, if applicable, frothing milk. You can follow along on the screen, which shows progress indicators so you’re never left wondering how much longer.

Milk drinks prompt you to adjust the froth level on the milk carafe via a dial before brewing starts. After the drink is done, the screen reminds you to store the milk carafe in the fridge and offers to run a quick cleaning cycle.

Even drink names and instructions are written in plain English with no jargon or cryptic abbreviations. If you’ve ever struggled with a machine that just flashes “Error 2” or uses unlabeled icons, the clarity here is a breath of fresh air.

Maintenance and Notifications

Ease of use extends beyond brewing—daily maintenance is handled gracefully through the interface. You’ll get timely, helpful reminders to:

• Empty the drip tray or grounds container
• Refill the water tank
• Reinsert the brew unit after cleaning
• Rinse or descale when needed

These aren’t just pop-up alerts. The Rivelia often walks you through the process step-by-step, showing diagrams or animations where necessary. It lowers the barrier for upkeep, which keeps the machine in better shape over time.

Milk system cleaning is particularly well-managed. After making a milk drink, the screen asks if you’d like to clean the milk circuit. One tap, and the machine does the rest—flushing out milk residue through the frother with steam and hot water. It’s a fast, painless process, and you’ll be glad it’s baked into the workflow.

Accessibility and Ergonomics

Beyond the software, the physical interface has been designed with comfort in mind. The screen is large enough to read easily from standing height, even if your kitchen lighting isn’t ideal. The touch sensitivity is calibrated well—you don’t need to mash the display or worry about accidental presses.

The spout height is adjustable by sliding up or down, and you can do it with one hand. Whether you’re using a small espresso cup or a tall travel mug, it accommodates most sizes.

Buttons are minimal and tactile, with clear haptic feedback. You don’t need a manual to figure out what anything does—this machine speaks your language from day one.

Learning Curve and Onboarding

For new espresso machine owners, the Rivelia’s user interface removes much of the learning curve that often makes bean-to-cup machines intimidating. You don’t need to know about grind size, brew temperature, or pre-infusion time. The machine takes care of it.

At the same time, it doesn’t limit users who want more control. If you want to dive deeper, you can override automatic settings and manually adjust nearly every variable. That dual-mode experience—automatic when you want ease, manual when you want control—is one of the Rivelia’s strongest suits.

Everything is contextual. You never feel like you’re hunting for buried settings or trying to remember how to navigate back to the home screen. If you make a mistake, the machine gives you the option to cancel, go back, or retry. It never feels like it locks you in.

Final Thoughts on Usability

The De’Longhi Rivelia delivers one of the smoothest, most user-friendly experiences of any fully automatic espresso machine in its class. It merges thoughtful hardware with clean, helpful software. The touchscreen isn’t a gimmick—it’s genuinely the center of the machine’s appeal, enabling everything from daily convenience to full customization.

Where many machines rely on complicated button combinations or confusing displays, the Rivelia chooses clarity. It doesn’t try to wow you with complexity—it tries to serve your routine. And it does that with surprising warmth and simplicity.

For anyone looking for a machine that feels like it understands them—whether you’re a coffee novice or a seasoned home barista—the Rivelia offers a near-perfect balance of ease and capability. You’ll find yourself making better coffee, faster, with less stress and more enjoyment. And honestly, that’s what using a coffee machine should feel like.

Coffee Quality & Brewing Performance

At the end of the day, the most important metric for any espresso machine—especially one in the premium super-automatic category—is the quality of the coffee it brews. The De’Longhi Rivelia may win points for design and ease of use, but it’s how well it extracts espresso, how balanced the flavors are, and how consistently it performs day in and day out that determine its true worth.

After several weeks of testing the Rivelia across a range of beans, grind settings, and drink types, one thing is clear: this machine is engineered to produce coffee that’s rich, satisfying, and remarkably consistent. It won’t replace a skilled barista with a commercial-grade machine—but it comes surprisingly close for a fully automated setup.

Espresso Quality

Let’s start with the heart of the machine: espresso. The Rivelia uses a built-in conical burr grinder to prepare fresh grounds on demand, doses them into a compact puck, pre-infuses, and then extracts under pressure to deliver a single or double shot.

The results are generally excellent. Most shots have a rich layer of crema, deep brown in color with a light marbling of golden highlights. The crema holds up well for several minutes and lends a soft texture to the sip. Taste-wise, espresso from the Rivelia is bold, well-extracted, and hot enough to enjoy straight without needing to reheat.

That said, the machine does lean toward slightly higher brew temperatures, which can sometimes exaggerate bitterness in darker roasts. While the Bean Adapt feature attempts to compensate by lowering temperature and adjusting grind for light roasts, some users may still notice a touch of harshness if the bean is particularly oily or finely ground.

On balance, though, the flavor profile is clear and expressive. You get chocolatey undertones, roasted nut notes, and subtle acidity when the beans support it. What the Rivelia doesn’t quite achieve is the full flavor clarity or layered complexity that you’d get from a well-pulled shot on a manual or prosumer machine. But for a super-automatic, it delivers impressive results with minimal effort.

Bean Adapt and Shot Optimization

A major contributor to the Rivelia’s strong performance is its Bean Adapt feature. This system uses an initial bean calibration process—asking you to select roast level and run a few test extractions—to fine-tune grind size, brewing temperature, and infusion time for the specific beans you’ve loaded.

Bean Adapt isn’t just gimmicky AI. It actively adjusts machine parameters that would otherwise require trial-and-error from the user. For example, if you choose a light roast, the Rivelia may default to a higher temperature and a finer grind to ensure proper extraction. With dark roasts, it might reduce brew temperature slightly to avoid bitterness.

While not as granular as professional-level adjustments, this system works well for the average user who wants quality coffee without geeking out over PID controllers or bar pressure. The result is a more drinkable shot with better balance and a lower risk of over- or under-extraction.

It’s not perfect—sometimes the recommended grind settings lean slightly too coarse or fine—but you can manually override them and lock in your own preferences. For everyday use, the smart automation provides a great baseline that can be fine-tuned with a little experimentation.

Long Coffee and Americano

The Rivelia isn’t just about espresso. It also excels at long coffee drinks, including Americano and Long Black. These drinks typically involve either a single or double shot of espresso diluted with hot water to create a smoother, less concentrated flavor profile.

The Rivelia handles this by adjusting the extraction volume and timing, then adding hot water in a separate step to preserve crema. Unlike some machines that over-extract to create a “long coffee,” the Rivelia avoids bitterness by following a proper espresso-first-then-water sequence.

Taste-wise, long coffees are mild, aromatic, and easy to drink. The temperature is hot enough to enjoy slowly, and the mouthfeel remains smooth even when the drink volume pushes past 150 ml. Whether you’re using a medium roast Colombian bean or a dark Italian espresso blend, the Rivelia does a good job of preserving origin character while dialing back intensity.

If you’re someone who prefers sipping a big mug of black coffee rather than a small shot, you’ll likely be very satisfied with how the Rivelia handles long drinks.

Iced Coffee and Cold Brewing

The Rivelia also includes a dedicated iced coffee option. While it doesn’t produce cold brew in the traditional sense (slow immersion brewing over 12+ hours), it does extract a hot espresso shot over ice or chilled glassware to approximate a cold espresso-style drink.

This process works reasonably well, especially if you’re using lighter or fruitier beans. The coffee retains brightness and clarity without becoming overly acidic or diluted. You’ll need to manually add ice, as the machine doesn’t chill the water or dispense cold directly, but it’s a good option for warm months.

For users who buy the optional LatteCrema Cool accessory, the machine can also deliver cold milk drinks like iced lattes with chilled foam. When paired with this add-on, the Rivelia becomes a genuinely versatile all-season coffee machine—something very few super-automatics offer.

Temperature Stability

A key aspect of any espresso machine’s performance is temperature stability. If the brewing temperature fluctuates, the flavor of the shot can swing dramatically from one cup to the next.

The Rivelia maintains a stable brew temperature across repeated extractions. Whether you’re pulling back-to-back shots or switching between espresso and milk drinks, the internal thermoblock does a good job of holding steady heat. Even after sitting idle for an hour, the first shot of the next round comes out hot and ready to drink.

The machine’s temperature settings—low, medium, and high—aren’t labeled by exact degrees, which might frustrate expert users. But in real-world testing, the “medium” setting delivers coffee at about 70°C to 75°C (158°F to 167°F), which is just about ideal. You can tweak it up or down depending on your preference or the bean’s sensitivity.

Shot Timing and Brew Speed

Shot timing on the Rivelia is mostly automated, with the machine adjusting extraction time based on drink type, coffee strength, and grind level. Most single espressos take about 25 to 30 seconds from the start of brewing to final drop. Milk drinks can take a little longer due to the frothing process.

The machine does require a rinse cycle at startup and shutdown, which adds about 10–15 seconds each way. But the actual brew time is fast enough for busy mornings. From button press to hot espresso in hand, you’re usually looking at under a minute.

One important note: the Rivelia is more methodical than lightning-fast. It prioritizes cleanliness and accuracy over speed, which means if you’re hoping for a rapid-fire caffeine shot, you may need to factor in a slight wait. That said, the pay-off is a cleaner taste and better machine hygiene.

Consistency Over Time

Over the course of several weeks of use, the Rivelia showed strong consistency. Shots tasted the same day after day, as long as beans, water, and settings stayed the same. There was no noticeable drop in quality due to heat creep or oil build-up—something that can happen with poorly maintained machines.

Regular cleaning of the brew unit, drip tray, and milk system helps preserve that consistency. The machine also reminds you when it’s time to rinse or descale, ensuring optimal performance over time.

It’s worth noting that beans make a huge difference. While the Rivelia can make average supermarket beans taste decent, it really shines when paired with fresh, specialty-grade coffee. Lighter roasts can show off the clarity of extraction, while medium roasts highlight the machine’s ability to balance acidity and body.

Limitations and Minor Drawbacks

No machine is perfect, and the Rivelia has its limits. For one, its pressure and temperature settings are pre-programmed and not directly adjustable beyond broad “low/medium/high” controls. You can’t fine-tune pre-infusion time or control flow rate like you could on a manual or higher-end semi-automatic.

The grinder, while good, isn’t infinitely adjustable. The 13-step grind dial is sufficient for most beans, but it lacks the micro-adjustments needed to perfectly dial in lighter or very dense roasts. As a result, some shots can feel slightly over- or under-extracted, depending on the bean.

And finally, because the machine automates puck creation and disposal, you don’t get the satisfaction (or control) of tamping or inspecting the puck. For some coffee lovers, that hands-on ritual is part of the experience. The Rivelia trades it for speed and convenience.

Final Verdict on Brewing Performance

The De’Longhi Rivelia strikes a smart balance between user-friendly automation and genuinely good coffee. It consistently delivers rich, hot, flavorful espresso and long drinks that outperform most super-automatic machines in its class. While it won’t satisfy the tinkering demands of a home barista looking to control every variable, it nails what most people want: reliable, great-tasting coffee with little effort.

It’s not about perfection—it’s about consistency, ease, and making good coffee a daily ritual instead of a chore. On that front, the Rivelia delivers in full. Whether you’re making your first espresso or your hundredth, the quality of the cup rarely disappoints.

Grinder Features & Performance

A good espresso machine is only as good as the grinder it relies on. No matter how advanced the brewing technology is, if the grind isn’t precise, consistent, and matched to the bean, the end result will always fall short. With the De’Longhi Rivelia, the grinder is not just an add-on—it’s a core part of the experience. And in this case, it’s a surprisingly competent one for a super-automatic machine.

The Rivelia uses a conical burr grinder with 13 settings, designed to give users flexibility in grind coarseness while maintaining consistency and ease of use. The grinder plays an essential role in both the brewing process and the Rivelia’s standout “Bean Adapt” feature, which intelligently calibrates the machine to the bean you’re using.

Burr Type and Build Quality

Let’s start with the hardware. The Rivelia comes equipped with a built-in stainless steel conical burr grinder. This is important because conical burrs provide a more uniform grind than blade grinders or even flat burrs at this price point. Uniformity of grind means more even extraction, fewer bitter flavors, and less channeling during brewing.

The burrs themselves are durable and quiet. They’re housed in a sturdy compartment that reduces vibration and keeps noise levels down. Unlike many cheaper super-automatic machines that sound like a garbage disposal when grinding, the Rivelia’s grinder operates with a smooth, dull hum. It’s not silent, but it’s not intrusive either. You could comfortably use it early in the morning without waking the entire house.

What’s also impressive is how clean the grind process is. There’s minimal static, very little mess inside the bean chamber, and the grounds appear to fall neatly into the brew chamber without clogging or buildup.

13 Grind Settings

The Rivelia offers 13 grind settings, adjusted manually via a small rotary dial located under the removable bean hopper. It’s not an electronic adjustment—it’s mechanical, and you can only change it when the grinder isn’t actively running, which is standard for most super-automatics.

These settings range from coarse to fine, with markings from 1 to 13. In practice, the difference between each level is subtle but noticeable. Fine settings (1–4) are best for espresso, producing a powdery grind that encourages strong flavor and good crema. Mid-range settings (5–9) work well for longer drinks like Americano or lungo. The coarsest levels (10–13) are seldom used unless you’re experimenting or using very dark, oily beans that clog easily.

The granularity here won’t satisfy a perfectionist barista who wants to fine-tune grind size to the micron. But for a machine that does everything else automatically, the level of control is generous. You can absolutely influence flavor and texture with grind changes, especially when used alongside the Bean Adapt system.

Bean Adapt Integration

This is where the grinder really becomes part of a smart system. The Rivelia’s Bean Adapt feature is designed to help users get the most out of their beans without needing to understand the chemistry of espresso.

When setting up a new bean profile, the machine walks you through a calibration process. You indicate whether the roast is light, medium, or dark. Based on this, the machine makes intelligent recommendations for grind size, brew temperature, and dose strength. It then invites you to brew a couple of test shots and asks for feedback on flavor and crema.

Behind the scenes, the Rivelia is adjusting grind time, water temperature, and pre-infusion settings. The user is still required to physically turn the grinder dial to the suggested setting, but once that’s done, the rest is handled automatically.

This blend of automation and user input is a sweet spot for most people. It gives you control without making you guess. You can override the Bean Adapt recommendations at any time, but in most cases, following its advice results in better-tasting coffee with less hassle.

Interchangeable Bean Hoppers

A truly unique grinder-related feature on the Rivelia is its dual interchangeable bean hoppers. Unlike most machines that lock you into one set of beans until the hopper runs dry, the Rivelia gives you two separate 250g hoppers that can be swapped out in seconds.

Each hopper locks in with a twist-and-click mechanism and seals tight with a rubberized lid to preserve freshness. You can label each one, keep them filled with different beans—say, one with a dark roast and another with a decaf or single origin—and change them out based on the drink you want.

When you switch hoppers, the machine automatically asks which bean profile you’re using, so it can load the right grind and brew settings. It’s a seamless system that allows variety without waste. You don’t have to purge the entire chamber or run dummy shots—though a few grams of the previous bean may remain in the chute, it’s minimal and rarely affects flavor.

This system is a major advantage for families, couples with different preferences, or anyone who likes to change up their beans often. It turns the Rivelia into a much more flexible machine than most super-automatics in its class.

Grind Performance and Shot Results

In daily use, the grinder performs admirably. Grounds are fluffy, consistent, and clump-free. There’s minimal retention in the chute, so flavors stay true to the bean profile. The dose appears to be consistent across multiple extractions, with very little variance in volume or appearance.

Taste-wise, the grind performance contributes heavily to the machine’s ability to deliver full-bodied, aromatic espresso. The fine settings pull smooth, crema-rich shots that taste balanced. When dialed in correctly, the Rivelia avoids the common pitfalls of under-extraction (sourness, weak body) and over-extraction (bitterness, astringency).

That said, if you’re chasing perfection, the 13-step adjustment may feel a bit coarse. For example, if you find that setting 5 is too coarse and 4 is too fine for a specific bean, you can’t dial in a 4.5. This isn’t unusual in super-automatics, but it’s a limitation for those who want micro-control.

Also, oily beans can sometimes cause issues with flow and clogging. That’s less a grinder problem and more a super-automatic design challenge in general, but it’s worth noting that some beans work better than others in terms of flow, crema, and maintenance.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Maintaining the grinder is relatively simple. The top burr is accessible once you remove the hopper, allowing you to give it a brush-down every couple of weeks. You don’t need to disassemble the grinder or use compressed air to keep it clean. The machine’s internal rinsing system keeps oils from building up in the chute, but a manual clean every month or so is a good habit to develop.

Because the grinder is enclosed and only opens when beans are being ground, contamination or exposure to moisture is minimal. This keeps beans fresher and ensures longer-lasting burr performance.

Final Thoughts on the Grinder

The De’Longhi Rivelia’s grinder is one of its best features—not just because it’s quiet and consistent, but because it’s integrated into a smarter system. The combination of Bean Adapt guidance, dual bean hoppers, and grind versatility makes it far more adaptable than most built-in grinders at this price point.

It doesn’t offer infinite precision, and it won’t replace a $500 standalone grinder. But for a super-automatic espresso machine, it punches well above its weight. It gives you enough control to shape the flavor of your espresso, with the convenience of push-button operation.

Whether you’re a single-bean loyalist or someone who likes to experiment with different roasts and styles, the Rivelia’s grinder is built to handle the challenge—quietly, efficiently, and with surprisingly good results.

Milk Frothing & Specialty Drinks

For many coffee lovers, the real magic of a home espresso machine isn’t just the espresso—it’s the milk-based drinks. Lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, and macchiatos rely on smooth, creamy milk texture and the right temperature to balance espresso’s boldness. A great frothing system can make the difference between café-quality indulgence and a disappointing cup of hot milk with bubbles. The De’Longhi Rivelia takes this challenge seriously and delivers a smart, consistent milk system that holds up well even under daily use.

The Rivelia comes equipped with De’Longhi’s LatteCrema Hot technology—an automatic frothing system designed to deliver silky, microfoam milk for a variety of specialty drinks. Whether you use dairy or plant-based milks, whether you prefer extra foam or smooth velvet textures, the Rivelia offers customization and convenience without requiring any barista skills. And while no super-automatic frother is perfect, this one comes close in terms of ease, cleanliness, and drink variety.

The LatteCrema System

At the center of the Rivelia’s milk capabilities is the LatteCrema Hot milk carafe. This carafe is fully detachable, fits into the fridge when not in use, and connects to the machine with a simple one-click slot-in design. It has a built-in rotary dial on the lid that allows you to adjust foam density, with options for less foam (for drinks like flat white or hot milk), medium foam (for latte or macchiato), and high foam (for cappuccino and foam-heavy drinks).

Once you’ve chosen your drink and the correct foam setting, the machine handles the rest. It automatically draws milk from the carafe, steams and textures it, and dispenses it into your cup, followed by the espresso. This process is smooth and almost entirely hands-off, making it a huge win for anyone who wants café-style drinks without the learning curve of a manual steam wand.

Milk froth temperature is hot enough to enjoy without scalding, and the texture is impressively fine for an automatic frother. It isn’t latte-art grade microfoam, but it comes close—dense, creamy, and able to hold its shape for several minutes without turning into soup or separating into watery milk.

Drink Quality and Consistency

The Rivelia’s milk drinks are a highlight of the machine. Cappuccinos come out with a generous crown of foam, hot and balanced, with clear layers between espresso and milk. Lattes are smooth and milky with a touch of foam on top. Flat whites—often botched by many machines—are actually handled well, with a tighter foam structure that blends seamlessly into the espresso for that signature velvet mouthfeel.

Where the machine really shines is in consistency. Day after day, the milk foam is the same: dense, creamy, and evenly distributed. There’s no wild variance in texture or temperature like you’ll sometimes find in cheaper machines or older frothing systems. Whether you’re using whole milk, 2%, oat, almond, or soy, the Rivelia adapts well.

It’s worth noting that the best froth still comes from cow’s milk. Plant-based milks generally work fine—especially barista-formulated oat and almond milks—but the foam can be thinner or break down more quickly. Still, for lactose-intolerant users or vegans, the results are more than acceptable. The machine doesn’t discriminate.

Foam Control and Customization

The physical foam control dial is simple but effective. It allows for three levels of milk texture, and once you find your preferred setting, you can leave it there. However, the Rivelia also prompts you to check your foam setting depending on the drink you choose. For example, if you select “Cappuccino,” it will remind you to set the dial to “Max Foam.” This helps prevent the common problem of brewing the wrong drink with the wrong foam texture.

There’s also the ability to adjust milk quantity and coffee strength separately. Each drink recipe can be customized for:

• Amount of milk
• Amount of espresso
• Foam level (via dial)
• Temperature (three levels)

These options are especially useful if you like strong coffee with just a dash of milk, or if you prefer larger milk drinks like a latte macchiato. You can also save these settings to your personal profile, so your favorite version of each drink is just a tap away.

Cold Milk and Iced Drinks (Optional Accessory)

By default, the Rivelia is built for hot milk drinks. But if you purchase the optional LatteCrema Cool accessory, the machine expands its repertoire to cold foam and iced coffee specialties. This unlocks the ability to prepare:

• Iced lattes with cold milk foam
• Iced cappuccinos
• Cold foam-topped espresso shots
• Iced macchiato-style drinks

With this accessory, the machine doesn’t heat the milk at all—instead, it froths it at fridge temperature. The resulting foam is surprisingly stable, even over ice. It adds a café-style texture to cold coffee that pod machines and blenders just can’t replicate. For summer use, this makes the Rivelia even more versatile and attractive.

Drink Menu Variety

The Rivelia offers a robust lineup of 18 pre-programmed drinks, with more unlocked via accessories or updates. These include:

• Espresso
• Double espresso
• Ristretto
• Lungo
• Coffee (long black style)
• Americano
• Cappuccino
• Flat white
• Latte
• Latte macchiato
• Cortado
• Hot milk
• Hot water (for tea)
• Iced coffee
• Iced cappuccino (with accessory)
• Cold foam milk (with accessory)

Each of these drinks is built on a combination of espresso and milk (or water), and the recipes can be modified. This means you can turn a latte into a mini macchiato by halving the milk and doubling the strength, or flip a cappuccino into a flat white by decreasing the foam and increasing espresso.

You can also name and save customized drinks to your profile. So if you’ve dialed in the perfect “morning latte” with extra espresso and less milk, it’s a one-tap affair from then on. The personalization adds a level of control rarely seen in machines at this price point.

Layering and Sequence Control

An important (and often overlooked) detail in milk drinks is the sequence in which ingredients are poured. Some machines brew the espresso first, then add milk. Others pour milk first and espresso afterward. This affects not only flavor but also presentation.

The Rivelia uses an intelligent pouring sequence, adjusting based on the selected drink. For example:

• Cappuccino: milk first, then espresso
• Latte macchiato: milk first, espresso on top for visual layering
• Flat white: espresso first, then textured milk to blend smoothly

This attention to detail helps ensure drinks not only taste right, but also look like what you’d get from a café. In a fully automatic machine, that’s a big win.

Cleaning the Milk System

One of the major headaches with any milk frothing system is cleanup. If milk sits too long in tubes or nozzles, it can sour and clog the machine. De’Longhi mitigates this with a clever self-cleaning feature built into the carafe system.

After making a milk drink, the screen prompts you to clean the milk circuit. If you confirm, the machine runs a steam and hot water flush through the frother and tubing, ejecting any milk residue into the drip tray. This cycle takes under 20 seconds and works well. You can skip it if you’re in a rush, but it’s so fast there’s little reason to.

For deeper cleaning, the milk carafe disassembles into several pieces—lid, spout, foam selector, and tube—all of which can be rinsed under the tap. It’s not dishwasher-recommended, and hand-washing is essential to preserve silicone components and avoid detergent residue. A weekly soak in warm soapy water helps keep buildup at bay.

Performance Over Time

After several weeks of daily use, the milk system remained reliable. Foam quality did not degrade, and cleaning cycles remained effective. The only maintenance required was periodic rinsing of the carafe and occasional descaling of the entire machine (which is handled via prompts and guided steps on the display).

Some users report that over time, foam levels can subtly change if the dial is bumped or the spout becomes slightly clogged. In most cases, a quick clean of the frother resolves the issue. Keeping the carafe refrigerated between uses also extends the freshness of milk and prevents buildup.

Final Thoughts on Milk and Specialty Drinks

The De’Longhi Rivelia stands out as one of the strongest performers in milk frothing among fully automatic machines in its price class. It produces creamy, rich foam for a wide variety of drinks, handles dairy and plant-based milks with confidence, and gives you enough control to personalize every cup.

Add in the optional cold milk capabilities, and you have a machine that covers both hot and iced drinks year-round. Whether you’re a latte lover, cappuccino enthusiast, or just someone who enjoys silky milk in your morning coffee, the Rivelia delivers a barista-level experience with zero skill required.

It’s consistent. It’s clean. It’s easy. And for most people, that’s exactly what a great coffee machine should be.

Maintenance & Cleaning

Owning an espresso machine isn’t just about enjoying great coffee—it’s also about keeping that machine in top shape so it performs well over the long term. Many coffee lovers are hesitant to invest in fully automatic machines because of concerns about complicated cleaning, constant descaling, or hard-to-reach internal components. Fortunately, the De’Longhi Rivelia was designed with the average user in mind. It automates much of the routine cleaning and offers clear prompts and reminders to make maintenance as easy as possible.

While no machine is truly maintenance-free, the Rivelia strikes a smart balance between automation and manual upkeep. Its intuitive system of alerts, detachable components, and self-cleaning features makes it more approachable than most competitors, especially in its price category.

Daily Maintenance

The Rivelia has several systems in place to keep itself clean during daily use. At startup and shutdown, it automatically performs a rinse cycle. This involves flushing the internal brew path with hot water to remove residual coffee oils, keep the internal piping clear, and prevent the taste of old grounds from affecting new drinks.

This rinse water drains into the drip tray, so there’s no mess, and no need to manually initiate these cycles. However, it does mean you’ll need to empty the drip tray more frequently—especially if you’re brewing several drinks a day. It’s a small price to pay for cleanliness and consistency.

Each time you make a milk-based drink, the Rivelia prompts you to clean the milk circuit. This can be done immediately or postponed until later, but skipping it too often can cause residue buildup. The milk cleaning cycle takes under 30 seconds and flushes hot water and steam through the frothing system, ejecting any leftover milk into the drip tray. It’s simple, fast, and essential to preventing sour milk or frother clogs.

Also part of daily maintenance is keeping the milk carafe refrigerated when not in use. Since the carafe is removable, this is easy to do. It also ensures that milk stays fresh and the internal components aren’t exposed to warm ambient temperatures that could lead to spoilage or bacteria growth.

Drip Tray and Grounds Container

The front drip tray and used coffee grounds container are part of the same removable assembly. They slide out easily, and the tray features a floating red indicator that pops up when it’s full. This is a nice touch—no need to guess when it’s time to empty it.

The drip tray is large enough to accommodate several drinks before needing to be emptied, but if you’re using the machine heavily throughout the day, it’s wise to check it daily. The metal cover plate on the tray can be removed and rinsed separately, and the plastic basin underneath can be washed with mild soap and water.

The used grounds container can hold around 10–12 pucks of compressed coffee before reaching capacity. These pucks are usually dense, dry, and easy to discard. Tapping them out into a compost bin or garbage is quick and mess-free. The inside of the container should be rinsed regularly to avoid buildup of coffee oils, which can go rancid if ignored.

Brew Unit Cleaning

One of the most important parts of any automatic espresso machine is the brew unit. This is the internal mechanism that receives the ground coffee, compresses it into a puck, brews the shot under pressure, and then ejects the used puck into the waste bin.

The Rivelia features a removable brew unit, which is a huge advantage. Many cheaper super-automatics have sealed systems that require special tools—or a technician—to access. Here, you simply open a service door on the right side of the machine and slide the entire brew group out.

De’Longhi recommends rinsing the brew unit under lukewarm water once a week. No soap is needed—just a rinse to remove coffee residue and prevent buildup of oils and ground particles. Let the unit dry before reinserting it. This process takes under a minute, and because it’s so simple, there’s really no excuse to skip it.

Keeping the brew unit clean helps prevent blockages, ensures optimal pressure during extraction, and preserves the taste quality of your espresso.

Descaling

All espresso machines build up limescale over time due to mineral deposits in water. Left unchecked, these deposits can clog internal pipes, reduce pressure, affect heating, and eventually cause machine failure. The Rivelia combats this with a built-in descaling program and a water hardness calibration system.

During initial setup, you’re prompted to test your tap water using an included test strip. The machine uses this data to estimate how often descaling will be needed. It tracks your usage and water quality to determine when to prompt you for the next cycle.

When the machine alerts you to descale, the process is fully guided on the screen. You’ll need De’Longhi descaling solution (or a compatible alternative), an empty water tank, and a large container to catch the expelled water. The full cycle takes about 30–40 minutes.

Descaling flushes the boiler, brew system, and internal tubing with a mix of water and descaler. It’s thorough, efficient, and crucial for long-term performance. Once complete, the machine rinses itself and is ready to use again.

How often you need to descale will depend on your water hardness and usage. In soft water areas, once every 3–6 months may suffice. In hard water zones, expect to descale every 1–2 months. Using filtered or bottled water can significantly reduce the need for frequent descaling.

Milk System Deep Cleaning

While the Rivelia’s auto-clean cycle handles daily milk cleaning, it’s still important to do a deeper clean of the milk carafe components weekly. The carafe comes apart into several pieces:

• The lid, with its foam control dial
• The milk spout and dispensing nozzles
• The silicone tubing inside
• The inner cap and pressure mechanism

These parts should be rinsed under warm water, soaked in mild soapy water, and thoroughly dried before reassembly. This prevents any milk residue from hardening or clogging the frother.

It’s not a difficult job, but it does require a few extra minutes. If you ignore this step for too long, you’ll notice foam quality start to decline or experience inconsistent milk delivery. Doing it once a week keeps the frothing system performing like new.

Avoid using the dishwasher for these parts, even if some online sources say it’s acceptable. Dishwasher detergent can leave residue or degrade soft silicone materials over time. A quick manual clean is better for the long haul.

Filter Replacement and Water Tank Care

The Rivelia’s 1.4-liter water tank is fitted with a water filter to reduce limescale, chlorine, and other impurities. This not only protects the internal components but also improves the taste of your coffee.

The filter should be replaced every couple of months, depending on usage. The machine will prompt you when it’s time. Installing a new filter is easy—just submerge it in water for a few minutes, shake out the air bubbles, and insert it into the tank’s filter slot.

The water tank itself should be rinsed and wiped down weekly. Bacteria or mold can build up in any standing water container, so don’t let water sit too long unused. If you go away for a few days, empty the tank before leaving.

Alerts and Interface Prompts

What makes maintenance so seamless on the Rivelia is how well the interface keeps you informed. You’ll never be left wondering when to clean or how to do it. The screen provides:

• Alerts when the drip tray is full
• Warnings when the grounds bin needs emptying
• Prompts for cleaning the milk circuit after each use
• Descaling reminders based on water hardness and use
• Messages if the brew unit isn’t inserted correctly
• Step-by-step instructions for every major cleaning cycle

These prompts are clear, visually guided, and written in plain language. They turn what would be a frustrating guessing game on other machines into a stress-free routine.

Long-Term Reliability

The Rivelia is built to last, but like any complex appliance, it requires care. Users who clean the brew unit weekly, descale on time, rinse the milk system after each use, and avoid harsh detergents will find that the machine holds up well over time. Buttons stay responsive, the touchscreen remains clear, and coffee quality stays consistent.

Neglect these steps, though, and performance will degrade. You may see weak flow, temperature issues, or milk system malfunctions. Luckily, De’Longhi has made it easy to avoid these pitfalls by embedding smart reminders and automating as much as possible.

Final Thoughts on Maintenance

Maintenance is often the deal-breaker when it comes to choosing a super-automatic espresso machine. But the De’Longhi Rivelia has made it about as easy and transparent as it gets. With its rinse cycles, guided descaling, removable brew unit, cleanable milk system, and smart alerts, the Rivelia allows you to enjoy high-quality coffee without turning your kitchen into a service center.

It rewards users who follow the system with long-lasting performance and consistently great drinks. Take care of it, and it takes care of you. That’s the kind of relationship you want with a machine you’ll use every day.

Energy Efficiency & Noise Levels

In a modern household, energy consumption and operational noise are more important than ever. Whether you live in a shared space, value sustainability, or just want to avoid early-morning disruptions, these two factors can heavily influence how practical an appliance is for daily use. Fortunately, the De’Longhi Rivelia performs well in both categories.

Starting with energy efficiency, the Rivelia uses a thermoblock heating system rather than a traditional boiler. This means it heats only the water needed for each drink, on demand, rather than keeping a full tank constantly hot. As a result, the machine reaches brewing temperature in about 40 to 50 seconds, reducing idle power usage significantly. It also goes into standby mode automatically when not in use for a set period of time—adjustable through the settings menu—helping to reduce electricity waste between uses.

There’s no official energy star rating, but real-world usage reflects thoughtful engineering. If you’re brewing two to four drinks per day, the energy draw is modest, and the machine doesn’t run continuously. Daily rinse cycles do use a small amount of hot water, but these are brief and essential for cleanliness.

On the noise front, the Rivelia is among the quietest fully automatic espresso machines in its class. The grinder emits a low, consistent hum rather than a high-pitched whine, and the brew cycle operates with minimal mechanical chatter. Milk frothing, usually the noisiest part of any machine, is well-dampened and finishes quickly. You can easily brew drinks early in the morning or late at night without waking anyone nearby.

Overall, the Rivelia is efficient and neighbor-friendly. It doesn’t hog electricity, doesn’t disrupt your home with noise, and includes smart features to minimize its footprint without sacrificing performance. It’s well-suited for everyday use in any setting.