D’Longhi has an amazingly shiny new coffee machine to ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ – the Aletta Ultra – and if you’re an iced drink lover, you’ll want to check out the extent of the menu here.
Available now for £1,149 via De’LonghiThis automatic bean-to-cup machine is an upgrade to the existing, and very popular, Aletta Explore model. Ideal Home expert reviewer and home economist Helen McCue tries to explore that in 2024. ReviewIt’s the ‘ideal machine if you like cold coffee as much as hot coffee’.
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Let’s find out what earns this brand new machine its ‘Ultra’ title, starting with the drinks menu. is Many There are customizable drinks on offer here that I’ve taken the liberty of copying below, because I know you want to see what kind of coffee shop vibe you can create in your kitchen.
- Espresso
- 2x espresso
- Coffee
- Double+
- long
- Americans
- Espresso Macchiato
- Cappuccino, Cappuccino+
- Cappuccino Mix
- Latte
- Caffelet
- Flat white
- cut
- Warm milk
- Hot water (for tea)
- Espresso over ice
- Coffee over ice
- Americans over ice
- Cold Cappuccino
- Cold Cappuccino Mix
- Cold coffee
- Cold Latte Macchiato
- Cold flat white
- Cold milk foam
- Cold brew
- Cold Brew Pot (Multi-Serving)
- Cold Brew Cappuccino
- Cold Brew Latte
- Cold brew for mixing (for cocktails/mocktails)
- Hot to-go – Every hot drink is measured for a travel cup
- COLD TO GO – Every cold drink is measured for a travel cup
(Image credit: De’Longhi)
With such a long menu list, you’re essentially opening a coffee shop in your own kitchen. And added (and new) versatility is the fact that you can also switch between hot and cold drinks with dedicated milk frothing systems that you attach to the front of the machine. Plant-based milk drinkers are also covered, with specialist settings for non-dairy drinks.
The machine has a very immersive-looking interface, with a 4.3″ full-touch display from which you select your drinks – the Explore has a 3.5-inch color touch display that our reviewer called ‘effortless to use’.
(Image credit: De’Longhi)
Another thing Helen liked using the Explore’s screen was to tweak its settings to get the perfect cup of coffee. And the brand’s signature Bean Adapt technology has been taken to the Ultra as well. Helen praised it, saying ‘because I took the time to set up the BeanAdapt technology, every drink started with a base of perfectly brewed espresso.’
Plus, if you already have a bean-to-cup machine but it’s too noisy in the morning, the Eletta Explore also benefits from ultra-quiet performance. It’s QuietMark-approved (an organization that independently tests noise levels of appliances) and according to De’Longhi is 65% quieter than the previous model. That will be a huge selling point for people who want to enjoy their first coffee of the day in relative peace and quiet.
There’s a lot to read with this shiny new D’Longhi machine, and I’m excited to test it out in my own kitchen to see how it fares when iced coffee season hits. Here’s a quick look at the other De’Longhi automatic coffee machines we’ve tried here at Ideal Home and their specific USPs.
De’Longhi
De’longhi Rivelia
Interchangeable bean hoppers are a fab feature of the Rivelia (which is our top-rated bean-to-cup machine ever) and with its £750 price tag regularly dipping towards the £600 mark, you can’t ignore it on value alone. PS The color range is excellent – just look at this jade green version!
our De’Longhi Revelia Review Contains complete details.
De’Longhi
De’Longhi Magnificent Evo Next
The Magnifica Evo Next’s uncluttered feel impressed our reviewer as well as the sub-£500 pricetag. The menu here is not as extensive as other machines so it will depend on whether it is necessary for you.
Read our De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next Review For complete details.
There is a nice selection of 18 drinks available with this machine which is an elevated version of Evo Next. This is a really popular choice, especially during sales periods.
read mine De’Longhi Magnifica Plus Review For complete details.
Whichever automatic bean-to-cup machine takes your fancy, they all have one thing in common: sheer ease of use.
