The DeLonghi Eletta Explore and the Breville Touch Impress are both premium machines, but they cater to very different coffee drinkers. The Eletta Explore is a fully automatic machine from DeLonghi that prioritizes convenience and variety at the touch of a button, while the Touch Impress from Breville is a tech-forward, assisted manual machine that offers more hands-on control and a café-like experience guided by a touchscreen.
Here’s a detailed guide to help you decide which espresso machine is the right fit for your kitchen.
DeLonghi Eletta Explore
The DeLonghi Eletta Explore is designed for simplicity and versatility. As a fully automatic, bean-to-cup machine, it handles everything from grinding the beans to frothing the milk for you. It's particularly notable for its dual milk systems that can create hot milk foam and a unique cold foam for iced drinks, making it one of the most versatile automatic machines on the market.
- What it is: A fully automatic, bean-to-cup espresso machine that also makes cold brew coffee drinks.
- Key features: Built-in conical burr grinder, automatic LatteCrema hot milk system, LatteCrema cold milk system, customizable user profiles, one-touch drink recipes.
- Price: Around $900 - $1,000
- Style: A functional and modern design with a mix of stainless steel and high-quality plastic, featuring a straightforward touch-button interface.
- Materials/Construction: Durable plastic main body with stainless steel accents and high-quality internal components, including a reliable ceramic grinder.
- Dimensions: Approximately 12" W x 16" D x 17" H.
- Pros: Extremely easy to use with one-touch operation. Offers a huge variety of hot and cold drinks. Consistent results every time without a learning curve. Two separate milk frothers are great for households with different preferences.
- Cons: Less hands-on control for users who want to tweak brewing variables. The plastic body may not feel as premium as all-metal machines. Takes up considerable counter space.
The Eletta Explore is ideal for busy individuals or families who want café-quality coffee and a wide variety of drink options without any of the manual work.
Shop this product: delonghi.com/en-us/eletta-explore-fully-automatic-espresso-machine-with-cold-brew
Breville Touch Impress
The Breville Touch Impress combines the control of a semi-automatic espresso machine with smart, assistive technology. It guides the user through the brewing process with its intuitive touchscreen, offering real-time feedback on grind size, dose, and tamp. This approach bridges the gap between fully manual machines and automatic ones, appealing to those who want to learn the art of espresso making without the steep learning curve.
- What it is: An assisted-manual espresso machine with an integrated grinder and smart touchscreen guidance.
- Key features: Color touchscreen with step-by-step guidance, built-in conical grinder, smart dosing and assisted tamping system, ThermoJet heating system for fast heat-up.
- Price: $1,200 - $1,400
- Style: Sleek brushed stainless steel body with a very minimalist and contemporary aesthetic, dominated by its large touchscreen.
- Materials/Construction: Premium brushed stainless steel construction and high-quality internal components ensure long-term durability and performance.
- Dimensions: Approximately 13" W x 16" D x 15" H.
- Pros: Professional, high-end look and feel. Teaches you how to make great espresso with its guided interface. Offers a high degree of customization over every shot. Smart features ensure consistency once dialed in.
- Cons: Significantly more expensive. Requires more user involvement - you still need to move the portafilter and froth milk manually. The learning curve is still present, though easier than with a fully manual machine.
This machine is perfect for the aspiring home barista who enjoys the process of making coffee and values customization, technology, and a premium aesthetic.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes876
DeLonghi Eletta Explore vs. Breville Touch Impress Comparison
Ease of Use & Brewing Process
This is the most significant difference between the two machines. The DeLonghi Eletta Explore is a "super-automatic" machine. You simply select a drink from its menu, press a button, and the machine does everything else - grinding, tamping, brewing, and even frothing and dispensing milk directly into your cup. There's virtually no learning curve.
The Breville Touch Impress, on the other hand, is an "assisted manual" machine. It requires you to be part of the process. You'll place the portafilter, initiate grinding, use the assisted tamp lever, move it over to the group head, and then start the brew. Milk frothing is also done manually with a steam wand. While its touchscreen provides clear guidance, it's a hands-on process designed for someone who wants to feel like a barista.
Materials & Construction
Breville takes the lead here with its premium brushed stainless steel body, which gives the Touch Impress a heavy, durable, and professional feel. It’s designed to be a centerpiece in a modern kitchen. DeLonghi’s Eletta Explore combines durable plastic with stainless steel accents. While it's very well-built and a solid machine, it doesn't have the same high-end, all-metal aesthetic as the Breville.
Price & Value
The DeLonghi Eletta Explore is typically several hundred dollars cheaper than the Breville Touch Impress. For its price, it offers tremendous value, especially for those who prioritize convenience. It's a do-it-all machine that makes a vast array of specialty drinks automatically. The Breville's higher price is justified by its advanced technology, premium materials, and the a-la-carte control it affords the user. The value is in the brewing experience and quality of the components.
Style & Versatility
In terms of style, the Breville has a sleek, minimalist, and tech-forward appearance that will appeal to anyone with a contemporary kitchen design. DeLonghi's design is more traditional and functional, focused on clarity and ease of use over pure aesthetics.
However, when it comes to drink versatility, the DeLonghi Eletta Explore wins. With its ability to make both hot foamed drinks and cold foamed coffee, plus cold brew style drinks, it offers a wider menu of built-in recipes than any single Breville semi-automatic counterpart.
Who Each One Works Best For
The DeLonghi is for those who ask, "What coffee drink do I want?" and want it made perfectly with no effort. It's for busy families, people who entertain often, or anyone who values convenience and variety above all else. Its broad menu of hot and cold drinks suits households with diverse tastes.
The Breville is for those who ask, "How do I make the perfect coffee?" It is for the hobbyist, the tech lover, and the coffee connoisseur who enjoys tinkering with grind size and shot times. It's more of a sophisticated tool than a simple appliance, offering an engaging weekend ritual rather than a quick morning fix.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both machines deliver excellent coffee, but they are built for entirely different user experiences.
Choose the DeLonghi Eletta Explore if:
- You prioritize convenience and one-touch operation over manual control.
- You want a wide variety of both hot and iced coffee drinks built-in.
- You need a machine that everyone in the family can use easily.
- You prefer the machine to do all the work, from grinding to steaming milk.
Choose the Breville Touch Impress if:
- You enjoy the hands-on process of making espresso and want to feel like a barista.
- You value a premium, all-metal build and a modern, high-tech aesthetic.
- You want precise control over your brew variables but appreciate some guidance.
- You are willing to spend more for an interactive and educational experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the DeLonghi and Breville machines?
The main difference is their core functions and philosophy. DeLonghi is a fully-automatic, "bean-to-cup" machine that does everything with one touch, prioritizing convenience. Breville is an assisted-manual machine where you perform the steps (grinding, tamping, brewing) yourself with guidance from a screen, prioritizing hands-on and precise personalization.
Is the Breville Touch Impress worth the extra money?
For users who want to learn the craft of espresso, value premium build quality, and enjoy being involved in the brewing process, the added cost is often worth it. If your goal is simply a great latte with zero effort, the DeLonghi is a wiser choice and provides more value.
Which machine makes better milk drinks?
The DeLonghi creates perfectly consistent and automatic hot or cold foam every time, which is ideal for lattes and cappuccinos. The Breville's manual steam wand offers more control, allowing you to texture milk to the exact "microfoam" needed for practicing and producing cafe-quality latte art, but this process does require both skills and practice to master.
Is the Breville Touch Impress good for beginners?
Yes, it's one of the best assisted-manual machines for beginners. Its touchscreen guides you through every step, helping you understand how different settings affect your espresso. It eases the user past the intimidating learning curve of fully manual machines.
Which machine is easier to clean?
The DeLonghi features more automated cleaning cycles for its brew unit and milk systems. The Breville requires more manual cleaning, such as cleaning up excess coffee grounds, washing the steam wand after each use, and running through its guided cleaning cycle with detergent pods after about one hundred cappuccinos. Both machines require regular descaling.
Can I use pre-ground coffee in these machines?
Both models are designed to be used with whole beans for the best results and flavor in an included grinder feature in these units. The DeLonghi Eletta Explore does have a bypass doser chute that accepts pre-ground coffee as a secondary option for occasional "decafs." The Breville is strictly designed for whole beans in the grinder above.
Which one is more durable long-term?
Both brands have a reputation for quality. However, the Breville Touch Impress' full stainless steel body gives it a slight edge in perceived and rugged, long-term durability. It feels more like a commercial appliance intended to last longer. Ultimately, the lifecycle of these premium specialty coffee brands should also focus on regular care and maintenance protocols.
How fast do these machines heat up?
The Breville Touch Impress heats up incredibly fast thanks to its ThermoJet heating system, typically ready to brew in under 10 seconds. The DeLonghi also has an efficient Thermoblock Boiler system, but it takes closer to a minute to reach full brew temperature.
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