If I have one single flaw (my family and friends just rolled their eyes to heaven), it’s that I’m a caffeine flip-flopper.
You know those people who walk into their local café, nod to their hipster barista, and say those fateful words: “The usual, thanks”? I’ve always longed for that kind of coolness. But it could never be me.
My coffee changes hour to hour, day to day. First thing in the morning, I need a double-shot espresso, downed in seconds. When I arrive at my desk, it’s an Americano with a dash of milk or cream, drunk at my desk for a slower, more soothing buzz. Around lunchtime, I crave a silky, creamy flat white made from a mid-strength bean: enough to get me through the afternoon without jolting me upright. On the weekend, I might make an iced latte to performatively carry to yoga, or steam hot milk for the slow ritual of whisking a matcha.
And, in a mission not to consume caffeine after 2pm (help), I’ve made the reluctant switch to decaf in the afternoons, which I’m miserable to admit has resulted in better sleep, fewer energy spikes, and waking more rested. Boo.
See what I mean? No consistency. No “usual.” The barista at our neighbourhood café can’t keep up with me. I’m an enigma.
A coffee machine for my household, then, needs to be adaptable. The steadfastness of a pod machine or moka pot might be fine for those “the usual” types, but I need something more dynamic, ready to flow through my day with me. Enter the De’Longhi Rivelia, designed for flip-floppers like me. This is a coffee machine made for change. I’ve been putting it through its paces over the last few weeks, and here are my thoughts.
The key features of DeLonghi’s Revelia machine
- Two interchangeable hoppers for easy bean switching
- Automatic grind and brew setting adjustments per bean
- 3.5″ colourful, animated touch interface
- Up to 16 recipes, 4 user profiles
- Automatic cleaning cycles, dishwasher-safe parts
What’s so special about the De’Longhi Rivelia?
If there’s one thing (okay, one of many things) De’Longhi coffee machines absolutely slay at, it’s automation. You don’t need to be an experienced barista to make excellent coffee.
If watching friends grind, tamp, and obsess over heating their stovetop pot to an exact 91 degrees has put you off the world of home coffee machines, don’t worry. Like the Magnifica Evo Next, which we recently trialled, this fully automated machine has four profiles, so each member of the house can easily customise their ideal coffee routine.
Then it’s just a matter of a few simple taps of the 3.5” full-colour screen (ooh la la) to select your favourite drink and brew it at the touch of a button. If you can work your iPhone, you can work the Rivelia.
How to set up the De’Longhi Rivelia?
I felt confident putting the Rivelia together. Its compact, all-in-one system makes it a fairly seamless setup. Just put aside a little time for the hard-water test to make sure your coffee brews optimally.
Hot tip: if you can’t find the hot water spout, it’s probably hidden in the secret compartment at the top of the machine. Rather embarrassingly, I emailed De’Longhi support asking for a replacement because I thought it was missing from the box, only to be kindly sent a photo showing where it was tucked away. We soldier on!
Once it’s plugged in and switched on:
- Fill the tank with fresh, cold water up to the Max line.
- Soak and install the water filter, which improves taste and reduces limescale. The machine will guide you through setup.
- The machine will run a first rinse cycle.
- Place a large cup under the coffee spouts and the hot water spout.
- Follow the on-screen instructions until water runs smoothly.
Then you’re ready to create a profile, name it and set your preferred coffee strength!
Results from our test
The magic of the Rivelia lies in its interchangeable 250g hoppers, allowing for ‘the old bean and switch’, as we call it in our household. Basically, all-day coffee consumers can enjoy the luxury of switching between beans by the hour. As a fan of local roasters Supreme (no, not sponsored—but dear God I’d be willing), I change up between Brazil and Boxer for my morning brews. In the afternoon and evening, I swap over to my decaf blend.
The great thing about the Rivelia is how much you can customise your coffee. My morning espresso? Punchy and large. I crank the size to L and the bean intensity to 5.
At lunchtime, the machine recalls I want a slightly lower-fi flat white. I lower the bean intensity, click in the milk carafe, and it automatically dispenses my preferred amount of milk. Medium, if you were wondering. And yes, whole milk. My blood-sugar spiking oat mylk days are far behind me.
In the afternoon and evening, I simply remove the caffeinated hopper and click in the decaf hopper to brew a cup that won’t disrupt my REM cycle. Usually, that’s a long black to enjoy with a few squares of chocolate. Occasionally, it’s a decaf espresso martini. Life is for living! But also for sleeping.
A Saturday morning isn’t complete without a girliepop iced coffee. I brew a nice big espresso, pour it over ice, and top with milk—but I’m seriously considering investing in the LatteCrema Cool Upgrade Set to add some cold-foam goodness to my summer lattes. Stay tuned.
Any cons?
To switch beans, the Rivelia needs to “dump” the grinds still inside. It kindly offers to brew them into a drink, but that somewhat defeats the purpose of switching. If you’re organised, you could line this up with your routine. Instead, I just had an internal cringe every time I heard about 50c worth of beans go into the bin.
Still, it’s a small price to pay to avoid caffeine jitters at 8pm.
Overall, is the De’Longhi Rivelia worth it?
Absolutely, whether you’re a one-and-done kind of coffee consumer or, like me, you’re a flip-flopper. The personalisation and interchangeable bean hoppers mean this machine is as close as you’re going to get to a personal at-home barista, ready to whip up whichever hot or iced beverage takes your fancy at that hour of the day. And it won’t raise its eyebrows at you when you decide to experiment with, say, a piccolo and immediately dump it out in favour of a caramel iced latte. We’re all just living our truth.
Where to buy the De’Longhi Rivelia
The De’Longhi Rivelia usually retails for $1,899, but you can snap it up on sale now for $1,499. Head to the De’Longhi website for more info.
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