Rivelia by De’Longhi review: Delicious bean-to-cup coffee made simple
Scott Hocking
STACK Senior Editor
Coffee connoisseurs will insist that you can’t beat a cup that’s brewed using freshly ground beans. De’Longhi’s superb new Rivelia fully automatic coffee machine makes bean-to-cup prep a breeze, with a bean-switching option and easy coffee customisation.
At a glance
• Slim, stylish design and user-friendly colour touchscreen
• Two interchangeable hoppers for easy switching between different beans
• Bean Adapt function to grind and brew according to bean type
• 16 preset recipes at the touch of a button
• Customisation options for up to four user profiles
• Learns your coffee habits according to the time of day
First impressions
This reviewer was immediately struck by Rivelia’s sleek and stylish design (the review unit was an Arctic White model) and its distinct presence on a kitchen benchtop. This is a machine that says you’re serious about coffee!
The 250g bean hopper, 1.4L water tank, and 200 ml milk carafe are all clearly visible, so you’ll know when it’s time for a refill.
Heat-up time is always a key priority (who likes waiting for their morning cup?) and Rivelia is ready to go in around 30 seconds.
The adjustable spout can be slid up or down to fit your desired cup/mug size, and will dispense a little hot water when heating up, so wait before putting your cup beneath.
The colour touchscreen display is on top of the machine for quick and easy access, flanked by buttons for power, coffee, milk and user profiles. A brewing animation and time bar is displayed during preparation, and should you want to top up your cup, press Extra after brewing is complete.
The beauty of an automatic coffee machine is that there’s no fuss with preparation; select your brew from the menu and press a button to begin grinding and extraction. Simple! You’ll be enjoying a delicious and aromatic coffee within minutes of setting up the machine.
The daily grind
Rivelia has two interchangeable bean hoppers that easily twist and lock to the integrated bean grinder. Select your preferred grind from up to 13 settings and keep a preloaded hopper on hand for easy switching between bean types.
The machine’s Bean Adapt function grinds and brews according to the bean type selected; simply tap the bean icon and select the type and settings for grind and temperature.
You can also use ground coffee; beneath the lid on top is a chute and a scoop for this purpose. Load the coffee and select Ground from the menu.
What’s your brew?
Rivelia runs the gamut of coffee choice with 16 preset recipes to satisfy everyone’s taste, from staples like cappuccino, latte, flat white and espresso, to Americano, cortado, latte macchiato and more. There are also cold coffee options for Americano, coffee and espresso.
Just add milk
You don’t need to be a barista to master this bit. When making milk-based coffees, fill the milk carafe, position the spout over the cup, select your recipe and follow the prompt on the display. It’s as easy as that!
Rivelia will also froth plant-based milks, and this soy-dedicated reviewer was happy to enjoy a cappuccino that was every bit as foamy as a dairy cuppa.
Customise your coffee
Straight up, the coffee is delicious, however you can easily customise it to your taste. Select and save the right extraction temperature for the type of bean, as well as grinder settings for optimum extraction, and up to five strength options.
If espresso with an extra shot is your go-to but your partner or spouse prefers a frothy cappuccino, no problem. You can set up to four user profiles and save respective brews for individual access.
Coffee routines can also be customised. For example, if you want an espresso to wake you up and a flat white as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, save them to your profile and the recipes are ready to go according to the time of day. Note: Be sure to set the time and day from the setting menu beforehand.
There is even a handy stats display that tells you how many coffees you’ve made to date, and the type.
Keeping it clean
Simply detach the milk carafe and slide out the drip tray and grounds container for emptying – give them a rinse under the tap or pop them in a dishwasher.
When the grounds build up, the display will prompt you to empty, and when the machine needs descaling it will guide you through the process. You can also activate a grinding cycle to clear any stray beans and grounds from the grinder.
The bottom line
De’Longhi is a name synonymous with the very best in coffee machines and Rivelia is another winner in their automatic range for its ease of use, customisation options, simple maintenance, and those swappable bean hoppers.
If you’re the type of person who sees a bean-to-cup coffee machine and immediately thinks, “complicated”, Rivelia will dispel any trepidation with the touch of a button.
For delicious and aromatic café-quality coffee made easy, the Rivelia by De’Longhi gets our highest recommendation.
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