Australians love their coffee, and more than ever, we’re looking for café-quality results without leaving home. From silky flat whites to bold espressos, the modern home coffee machine has evolved to meet that daily ritual with ease and style. One brand that consistently leads the way in this space is De’Longhi, combining Italian craftsmanship with smart technology to bring barista-level coffee into the kitchen.

Enter the De’Longhi Rivelia — a fully automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine designed for convenience, consistency, and personalisation. With its sleek design, intuitive touch display, and innovative features like the Bean Switch System and Bean Adapt Technology, the Rivelia promises to deliver café-style coffee at the touch of a button. But how does it perform in real-world use, and who is it best suited for?

In this review, we’ll take a closer look at De’Longhi as a company, explore the Rivelia’s key specifications, identify the type of coffee drinker it’s designed for, and weigh up its pros and cons to help you decide whether it’s the right fit for your home.

About De’Longhi

Founded in Treviso, Italy, in 1902, De’Longhi has grown from a small family workshop into one of the world’s most recognised names in home coffee machines and kitchen appliances. Renowned for its blend of Italian design and cutting-edge technology, the brand has built a reputation for reliability, innovation, and style — qualities that have made it a favourite among Australian households.

In Australia, De’Longhi is best known for its range of fully automatic and manual espresso machines, from compact models for small kitchens to high-end systems designed for true coffee enthusiasts. The company’s focus on user experience and long-lasting performance has made its machines a common sight in homes, offices, and cafés alike.

What sets De’Longhi apart is its commitment to making professional-quality coffee simple. Whether it’s a manual espresso machine for hands-on brewing or a fully automatic model like the Rivelia, De’Longhi’s goal remains the same — to capture the essence of the Italian coffee tradition and make it accessible to everyone.

Overview of the De’Longhi Rivelia & Key Features

Here we’ll dive into what the Rivelia brings to the table — from its main features through to detailed specifications — so you can see exactly how it fits in your home coffee setup.

What the Rivelia is

The Rivelia is a fully-automatic bean-to-cup machine from De’Longhi, designed to deliver café-style drinks at home, with minimal fuss. You load beans (or two types of beans, more on that shortly), press a drink button, and the machine grinds, doses, brews and froths automatically. According to De’Longhi, it’s built to “explore the sensational flavours of fresh coffee beans … and enjoy creating your coffee, your way.”

Key features:

• The Bean Switch System: two interchangeable bean hoppers letting you switch between bean types (e.g., regular and decaf, or two roasts) quite easily.
  
  
• Bean Adapt Technology: automatically adapts grind, dose and temperature settings depending on the bean type in use — a plus for maintaining flavour consistency.
  
  
• Large colour touchscreen: a 3.5″ full-colour wide display with an intuitive swipe interface allowing selection of drinks and customisation.
  
  
• One-touch drink selection: The machine offers a variety of built-in recipes (espresso, flat white, latte, cappuccino, etc) and plenty of customisation.
  
  
• Built-in milk system: Using De’Longhi’s LatteCrema (Hot) system to provide café-style steamed/frothed milk for lattes, flat whites, and cappuccinos.
  
  
• Sleek and compact design: Despite its feature set, it aims to fit nicely on a home kitchen bench without dominating space.
  
  

Key Specifications of the Delonghi Rivelia

Here are the main technical specs for the coffee machine

These specs show that the Rivelia is positioned as a premium home machine with high-end features, customisation, and convenience built in.

Summary: If you’re after a high-quality machine that bridges the gap between “simple capsule machine” and “full manual barista setup”, the Rivelia is very compelling. Its dual-bean hopper, smart adaptation to beans (Bean Adapt), touchscreen interface and one-touch drinks all point to convenience and quality.

Who is the De’Longhi Rivelia for?

The De’Longhi Rivelia is designed for anyone who wants café-quality coffee at home without the fuss of a manual espresso setup. It’s perfect for coffee drinkers who value consistency, convenience, and variety — all wrapped in a sleek, modern package.

This machine suits:

• Busy households where everyone has different tastes. With four user profiles, each person can save their favourite drink settings, from a strong morning espresso to a creamy flat white.
  
  
• Coffee lovers who enjoy experimenting with beans. The Rivelia’s dual bean hopper system lets you switch between two different blends or roasts effortlessly — ideal if you like to alternate between a decaf in the evening and a bolder roast in the morning.
  
  
• Australians who love milk-based coffee. Thanks to De’Longhi’s LatteCrema system, it produces silky, textured milk for flat whites, cappuccinos, and lattes with minimal effort.
  
  
• Anyone upgrading from a capsule or pod machine. It’s a logical next step for those seeking fresher, more flavourful coffee while maintaining ease of use.
  
  
• Design-conscious buyers. Its compact size and minimalist styling make it an attractive addition to modern Australian kitchens.
  
  

However, the Rivelia isn’t necessarily for everyone. Traditionalists who enjoy manually grinding, tamping, and steaming may find it a little too automated. Likewise, those who make large volumes of coffee each day might prefer a machine with a bigger water tank or bean capacity.

Pros and Cons of the Delonghi Rivelia

Pros 

• Effortless operation: One-touch coffee brewing, grinding, and milk frothing — ideal for busy mornings.
  
  
• Dual bean system: The interchangeable hoppers are a standout, letting you easily switch between blends or roasts.
  
  
• Bean Adapt Technology: Automatically adjusts settings to suit your beans, helping you get consistent flavour.
  
  
• User personalisation: Up to four user profiles mean everyone in the household can have their own coffee setup.
  
  
• Wide drink selection: Sixteen customisable drinks, including espresso, long black, cappuccino, and flat white.
  
  
• Sleek and compact: A premium look that doesn’t take up much bench space.
  
  
• Easy cleaning: Automatic rinsing and descaling programs, plus dishwasher-safe parts.
  
  
• Trusted brand: De’Longhi’s strong service network and reputation for durability in Australia.
  
  

Cons 

• Smallish water tank (1.4 L): May require frequent refilling if used heavily.
  
  
• Limited manual control: Coffee enthusiasts who like adjusting grind and frothing manually may find it restrictive.
  
  
• Price point: Premium pricing reflects its technology, which may be overkill for casual drinkers.
  
  
• Bench depth: At 430 mm, it extends further than some smaller models — worth checking your available space.
  
  
• Learning curve: Despite being user-friendly, it can take a few tries to fine-tune settings for your preferred taste.

Table Top Considerations & Setup Tips for the Delonghi Rivelia

Before you get excited about brewing your first latte, it’s worth paying a little attention to where you place the machine and how you set it up — a good setup makes a big difference to ease of use and long-term satisfaction.

• Bench depth & clearance: The Rivelia has a depth of around 430 mm (about 17″) so make sure your countertop has enough room — you don’t want the machine hanging over the edge or blocking cupboards.
  
  
• Water tank accessibility: With a 1.4 L water reservoir (removable) it will need regular refilling in moderate use. Position it so the tank is easily reachable, without having to move the machine or pull it away from the wall each time.
  
  
• Bean hopper fill: One of the key features is the dual bean hopper system (for instance you might load a light roast in one hopper and decaf in the other). Make sure you have clearance above the machine so you can open the bean hopper lids easily and pour beans in without knocking into overhead cabinets.
  
  
• Machine flush to wall: While you want access to the back for power, water tank etc., try to keep it reasonably flush to the wall so there’s less chance of accidentally bumping it or the bean hopper lid hitting a wall, yet allow for ventilation and cable/power space.
  
  
• Power outlet & dedicated plug: The machine runs at ~1450 W and should be plugged into a grounded power outlet — avoid using extension leads if possible, or ensure they’re rated appropriately.
  
  
• Drain/tray access: Make sure the drip tray and grounds container are easy to pull out and reinsert — if the machine is tucked too tight under a cabinet or beside a tall appliance, it can make those regular maintenance tasks awkward.
  
  
• Lighting & height: Because the machine has a colour touchscreen mounted on the front/ top, ensure you can clearly see the display without shadows from cupboards or poor lighting above.
  
  
• First-time bean run-in: When you first load beans, it’s a good idea to run a couple of coffee cycles (espresso only) to settle the grinder and beans before relying on perfect results. Many reviewers recommend this.
  
  

By giving just a little thought to bench placement, access for refilling and maintaining the machine, you’ll set yourself up for a smoother everyday experience.

Maintenance & Longevity

Part of getting good value and life out of a premium machine like the De’Longhi Rivelia is staying on top of maintenance. Here’s what you should plan for.

• Daily/regular cleaning: After each milk-based drink, the machine runs a milk carafe rinse cycle; you should still empty the drip tray and grounds container regularly (every few days) to avoid overflow, stale grinds or mould risk.
  
  
• Descaling & water filter: The Rivelia has a descaling reminder function, and you’ll need to descale periodically depending on your water hardness and usage. Using a water filter (if applicable) can reduce scale buildup and extend longevity. Reviewers note this is important for reliability.
  
  
• Bean hopper & grinder cleaning: Occasionally, remove old beans, clean the hopper lids and wipe out any bean dust or spillage. Bean oils can build up over time and impact flavour.
  
  
• Milk carafe & tubing: The automatic milk frothing system uses a detachable carafe and tubing — it’s important to clean these components as directed in the manual (some users report issues when tubing is neglected).
  
  
• Grounds container & brew group access: Underneath the machine, there may be a serviceable brew group (depending on model) and certainly a grounds container. Cleaning these per the manufacturer's instructions will keep things hygienic and reduce wear.
  
  
• Service & parts in Australia: As an Australian buyer, check that you have local service support (for example, via De’Longhi’s service network) and understand warranty conditions. Keep receipts and know where to get parts (milk carafe, tubing, filters) — some user reviews mention delays or difficulties in getting replacement tubes.
  
  
• Usage habits & longevity: Heavier usage (multiple drinks per day, many milk-based drinks) means more frequent servicing. Moderation and good cleaning habits will make your machine last many years.
  
  
• Expected lifespan: For a premium home bean-to-cup machine, 5-10 years of good service is realistic if maintained properly. Neglect can shorten this significantly.
  
  

In short, the Rivelia gives plenty of convenience, but you’ll still get the best out of it with modest effort in maintenance. Skipping maintenance is a common source of faults, according to user feedback.

Comparisons with Alternatives

To contextualise the value of the Rivelia, here are comparisons with other machines in the market — both within its brand and among competitors.

• Versus other De’Longhi models:
  
  
• Compared to the older De’Longhi Magnifica series, the Rivelia adds features such as the dual bean hopper, full-colour touchscreen, and more customisation. Some owners of Magnifica note similar brew groups but fewer convenience features
  
  
• Compared to the higher-end De’Longhi Eletta Explore, the Rivelia offers a strong middle ground: fewer drink presets and possibly less advanced milk system, but still a premium build and features. “Rivelia … bridges the gap between entry-level and high-end” is a phrasing seen in reviews.
  
  
• Versus competitor brands:
  
  
• For example, machines from Jura (often at a higher price point) offer luxury finishes, very quiet operation and refined extraction, but at increased cost. One comparison says: “If I were going purely for flavour and money was no object, I’d buy Jura… but De’Longhi delivers excellent everyday coffee for less.”
  
  
• Machines like the Philips 5400/5500 are other bean-to-cup alternatives — user comments suggest the Rivelia’s built-in bean hopper and brew group have an edge over some Philips models, though maintenance, milk system or interface may differ.
  
  
• Value context: The Rivelia is positioned as a premium end of the “home automatic coffee machine” spectrum, but not quite ultra-luxury. For buyers who want significant convenience, multiple bean options, good milk performance and a modern interface, it offers strong value compared to simply buying a capsule machine or a manual espresso setup. The trade-off is price, maintenance and space.
  
  
• Which type of buyer might choose a different machine?
  
  
• If the budget is very tight and you only drink black coffee, a simpler machine (perhaps a more basic bean-to-cup or manual espresso machine) could suffice.
  
  
• If you really prioritise manual control (grind size, tamp pressure, wand steaming) then a semi-automatic machine might serve you better.
  
  
• If you drink very large volumes of milk-based drinks or have many users daily (small office) you might prefer a machine with even larger capacity or a commercial-grade coffee machine build.
  
  

The Rivelia delivers that sweet-spot of modern convenience, solid feature-set and stylish design for home use — and when compared with both cheaper and more expensive alternatives, it holds up very well if its size, features, and price align with your usage habits.

See Our Full Range of Delonghi Coffee Machines

Should You Buy the De’Longhi Rivelia?

After taking a close look at the De’Longhi Rivelia, it’s clear why this model has built such a strong following among home coffee lovers. It blends user-friendly automation with a sleek design and thoughtful features that make it stand out in a crowded field of bean-to-cup machines.

Its dual bean hopper system is genuinely useful — especially for households that switch between blends or need a decaf option — and the touchscreen interface makes daily use intuitive. Performance-wise, it delivers consistently good coffee with excellent milk texture, and the customisation options let you dial in strength, temperature and volume to suit personal taste.

Of course, it’s not without caveats. The Rivelia takes up a fair amount of bench space, and like all fully automatic machines, it needs regular maintenance to stay at its best. Our price point — around $800 AUD — also places it firmly in the premium home range, meaning it won’t be the right fit for casual users or those on a tight budget.

However, for coffee drinkers who value quality, convenience and versatility, and are willing to maintain their machine properly, the Rivelia represents excellent long-term value.

 Buy a Delonghi Rivelia Today

Key Take-aways

• Best for: Home users who want café-quality coffee at the touch of a button.
  
  
• Strengths: Dual bean hopper, sleek touchscreen, excellent milk performance, custom drink profiles.
  
  
• Things to note: Needs bench space, regular cleaning, and a reasonable upfront investment.
  
  
• Verdict: One of the most balanced and feature-rich bean-to-cup machines available in Australia right now — a solid choice for those ready to invest in better daily coffee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the De’Longhi Rivelia worth it?

Yes — the De’Longhi Rivelia offers exceptional value for coffee lovers who want quality and convenience in one machine. Its dual bean hopper system, automatic milk frothing, and smart personalisation features set it apart from many competitors. While it comes at a premium price, the long-term performance, reliability, and café-quality results make it a worthwhile investment for most Australian households.

Does the De’Longhi Rivelia use coffee pods or capsules?

No. The Rivelia is a bean-to-cup coffee machine, meaning it grinds fresh coffee beans for every cup. This ensures a richer flavour and fresher aroma compared to pod-based systems, while also reducing waste.

How often do you need to descale the Rivelia?

The frequency depends on your water hardness and usage. Generally, you’ll need to descale the machine every 2–3 months, or when prompted by the machine’s automatic alert. Using a De’Longhi water filter can reduce the need for descaling and extend the life of the internal components.

Is the Rivelia easy to clean?

Yes. The Rivelia is designed for low-maintenance ownership. It has automatic rinse and cleaning cycles, a removable drip tray, and dishwasher-safe parts. Regularly cleaning the milk system and emptying the internal coffee grounds container will keep it running smoothly.

Can you use two types of beans in the Rivelia?

Absolutely. One of the Rivelia’s standout features is its Bean Switch System, which lets you load two different hoppers and switch between them easily. This is perfect if you like to alternate between a strong morning roast and a lighter afternoon blend, or keep decaf on hand.

Where can I get the Rivelia serviced in Australia?

De’Longhi has a well-established service network across Australia, including authorised repair centres and specialist retailers such as Service Sphere, which provide expert servicing, parts, and support for De’Longhi machines. Regular servicing ensures your machine maintains pressure consistency and optimal performance over time.

How does the Rivelia compare to other De’Longhi models?

Compared to the Magnifica Evo, the Rivelia is more advanced, offering dual bean hoppers and better personalisation options. It’s also more compact than the Maestosa, which is larger and more expensive. Overall, the Rivelia sits neatly in the middle — premium features without the ultra-high-end price tag.

Buy a Delonghi Rivelia Today