Syed Imran Haider 
A bean-to-cup machine is the perfect option for those who follow a hands-off approach when making coffee. But, anyone who does not know the controls can be a bit baffled. Fortunately, the De’Longhi Rivelia is a tad different because this coffee machine likes to talk.
Boasting a touchscreen, it gives you the option of personalizing your drink, save settings under various profiles and go through maintenance step-by-step. A removable bean hopper and a spare one is one of its most appealing features. You can swap coffee beans this way without having to empty the entire machine.
Design and build
The Rivelia boasts a typical design of a bean-and-cup machine. One side has a generous 1.4-litre tank and a boxy shape that comes with curved corners. On top, there is a 250g bean hopper and it can be twisted off and replaced with a different one. The coffee spouts are adjustable for accommodating cups up to 14cm tall and the front has a flap that connects to a hot water spout, or a removable milk carafe. You can find it in four finishes, which is also refreshing.
The color touchscreen is position on the top instead of the front. It enables you to select from 16 different drinks, personalize how much milk and coffee you prefer, set up 1 to 4 profiles for different users, save your settings, see animations of processes as they brew and run through maintenance. Once you have set up a profile, the Rivelia will take note of your coffee routine. This means it will offer you different drinks in the morning, afternoon and so on.
Performance and features
Since the company has been making coffee machines for years, it is not surprising that the Rivelia can also make an excellent cup. Its choices can cater to both milky and black coffee drinkers and there are cold coffee drinks that can also be made, such as Americano and espresso. They are delivered flawlessly and the height-adjustable spout lets you get some reusable cups.
As for manual, you have to download it because De’Longhi has only added a quick start guide. There are various features that you can learn from the manual like adding more coffee after it has stopped dispensing. Bean Adapt is another feature that allows you to choose the bean you are using. Six bean profiles can be saved. The guided processes are also appealing, such as cleaning, draining and rinsing the machine.
There is a descaling guide included in the Rivelia control panel, which helps you in keeping the machine in excellent condition. A good thing about maintenance is that you can put the milk carafe and drip tray in the dishwasher.
The Verdict
The De’Longhi Rivelia has been designed for those interested in bean-to-cup, but avoid it because of complications and maintenance issues. This one simplifies the process because of the colorful touchscreen and the animations can also show you what is going on. The personalization is also another plus and it can be a good option for people who do not mind a little bit of conversation.
