You might have seen De'Longhi's combination drip coffee and espresso machine and wondered if it's a multitasking champ — or just a machine that does two things poorly. I was curious myself. I'm a product tester who lives in a small apartment, so the lure of a two-in-one machine was strong. I've been using it for more than a year now, so pour yourself a cup of coffee and read on for my thoughts.
Pros
- Makes drip coffee and espresso drinks
- 24-hour timer so coffee can be ready when you are
- Built-in steaming wand and cup warmer
- Front-loading design for water and drip coffee grounds
- Reusable filter for drip coffee
Cons
- No grinder
- Not automated on espresso side
- Recommended to prime the espresso side before pulling shot
| Functions | Drip coffee, espresso maker, steaming, cup warmer |
|---|---|
| Carafe volume | 10 cups |
| Reservoir volume | About 6 cups |
| Dimensions | 11 x 14.5 x 12.7 |
| Steamer | Yes |
| Grinder | No |
What does the De'Longhi do?
This combo machine has a drip coffee maker on one side and an espresso machine on the other. It includes a 10-cup glass carafe for brewing drip coffee and a roughly 6-cup removable water reservoir for the espresso side.
The espresso machine includes a cup-warmer function on the top, and it has a built-in steaming wand, like a latte machine, so you can make a cappuccino at home. The drip coffee maker includes a button labeled "1 – 4" that you can choose to push when you're making four or fewer cups of coffee. De'Longhi says that this function "activates a unique brewing process, slowly releasing water into the filter basket; saturating coffee grounds a little at a time extracting the best flavor and aroma from your coffee." It's effectively allowing the drip side to function like an automatic pour-over machine.
How we tested the De'Longhi
The Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab has tested more than 100 coffee makers and espresso machines, making over 1,000 cups of coffee and espresso shots. We regularly test the latest models, including coffee makers with built-in grinders, Nespresso machines and other single-cup brewers and French presses.
We test all coffee makers for performance and ease of use, noting the time it takes to brew, the temperature of the coffee during brewing and while being kept warm (as applicable) and whether the controls are easy to read and access. We also have our experts taste each drink. We make pots of coffee and pull shots of espresso, and for machines that include a steaming wand, we make a cappuccino.
A previous De'Longhi combo machine was our top pick for the best coffee and espresso makers. I used that model for about a year. I have now been using the latest model for this story.
Pros: What I like
I have a small kitchen, so the selling point for me is that this machine offers drip coffee, espresso and milk frothing within a compact footprint. I've also been pleased with the quality of the coffee. It's hot and tastes good. The machine has two different heating mechanisms, so you can prepare both kinds of coffee at the same time.
Drip coffee:
- Auto-brew function: I love the timer. Simply set the time you'd like the machine to turn on to brew, add the water and coffee grounds and push the Auto button. It's a gift that Evening Me gives to Morning Me almost every weekend.
- Reusable coffee filter: I like that this machine has a reusable filter that's easy to remove and clean. I don't have to stock (or tediously separate!) paper filters.
- Quick brew time: A pot with six cups of water takes less than 5 minutes to brew, so it's a reasonably short time to your first cup even if you don't use the timer. In our Lab test, the brew time for a whole pot scored a four out of five, meaning it brewed under 75 seconds per cup versus under 60 seconds per cup.
- Programmable Keep Warm function: It will keep your carafe of coffee warm for two hours as the default, but you can set the length of time to anything from 1 minute to 11 hours and 59 minutes.
- Front-loading design: The front of the machine above the carafe swings out, making it quick and easy to add water and coffee grounds — this earned it a perfect Lab score for basket accessibility. The water level indicator is also on the front, so you can see whether water was added.
- Replaceable water filter: The drip side features a holder for a replaceable water filter. The company states that it is an anti-cholorine filter, but we have not tested that claim. But I still use it (and replace it) to help improve the water that brews my coffee.
Espresso:
- Two portafilter inserts: It's nice that — like most espresso machines — the De'Longhi All-in-One comes with a single- and double-shot insert for the portafilter. The portafilter also has a little lever you can flip up to hold the insert in place when you're emptying the spent grounds.
- Cup warmer and priming function: The top of the espresso side includes a cup warming tray where you can choose to place your cups while you prepare your espresso. This warms the cups to help preserve the heat of your espresso shot. The De'Longhi also requires you to prime the espresso side before pulling a shot. You do this by placing a cup on the drip tray before adding the portafiler with grounds; then you press the button to run a dose of hot water. If you use the cup you're going to drink from (and then toss the water), it's another chance to warm your cup.
- Removable water reservoir: It's convenient to be able to fully remove the espresso water reservoir. It makes it easy to clean and to fill. But the lid flips up and stays up, so I find it's also easy to fill without removing. Though I have not tested it, the reservoir also includes a spot to add an optional water filter.
Hearst - Built-in steam wand: I like that I can froth milk with this machine. The steam wand is basic — you just turn a lever toward you and steam until you have your desired texture — but it works well so you can have cappuccinos and lattes. It also dispenses water, if you like to make Americanos.
- Prime, brew and steam indicator: A green light tells you when the machine is ready to prime and to pull a shot, making the process user-friendly. The green light will shut off when a serving of espresso has been created, but it will continue to express liquid until you press the button.
- Coffee scoop and tamper: The set-up includes a dual-use plastic coffee scoop and tamper that helps you fill and pack your portafilter. (The scoop can obviously be used to fill the drip coffee side as well.) The portafilter also accepts ESE-compliant espresso pods if you prefer not to tamp grounds.
- Removable drip tray: I love that the drip tray has a red tab that will float through the top to tell you that it's time to empty it so there's no overflow. And because it's removable, you can clean it thoroughly — no mildew.
Cons: What to take note of
While there's a lot to like about this machine, there are always tradeoffs. Here's what we think might be worth knowing if you're considering this combo machine.
For both:
- No grinder: There is no built-in coffee grinder, so you'll have to use preground coffee, whether purchased or from your own grinder.
Drip coffee:
- Reservoir window: The window that allows you to view how much water is in the reservoir for the coffee maker is a bit set back and tinted, so it can be hard to read.
- Brew temp: In our Lab tests of the previous machine, we found that this machine brewed at a lower temperature than some other drip machines but that it was kept warm effectively in the carafe for a nicely hot cup.
Espresso:
- Long heat-up time: The On button for the espresso machine is located on the side of the machine; the one on the front of the machine is for the drip maker only, which can take a few uses to get used to. Once you push that On button, it is a bit slow to heat up. It can take up to two and a half minutes.
- Not an automated machine: While the drip coffee side includes a hand-off brewing option with the use of the timer, the espresso side is fully manual. There is no automation in terms of choosing your drink at the touch of a button, and the steam wand — while offering some nuance from low to high — requires manual frothing.
- Must prime before pulling a shot: Priming the espresso side will help you clear any water standing the machine and purge any lingering coffee grounds — as well as warm your cup, if you choose to use the same one to make your drink. But because the machine is not automated, priming does require an extra step.
The takeaway: Is the De'Longhi worth it?
After my long-term use, I believe that this combo machine is worth it for many households. It produces good drip coffee and good espresso, and it provides the option to froth milk. It also offers a means of making smaller batches of pour-over-style coffee, providing three functions for the coffee drinkers in your life.
One caveat is that it does not include a grinder, so if you prefer to use whole beans and don't have space for a freestanding grinder, you might prefer a coffee maker with an integrated grinder. It's also not fully automated, so you will have to work with a portafilter for espresso shots.
But for the footprint, quality, price and versatility, I think it's a great pick. If you generally buy ground coffee or don't mind a separate grinder (which is what I use), it will suit your habits and offer the ability to make several kinds of drinks. I'm glad to have a compact machine that allows me to have a "coffee nook" in my small kitchen without having multiple machines.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Sarah Gregory Wharton has been testing products for the Good Housekeeping Institute since 2021. She uses this combo coffee maker nearly daily, and she has also led the testing for coffee accessories like heated mugs and milk frothers. She has written about how to make a great cappuccino and latte at home.
Ready to get brewing? Check out our guide to the top coffee subscription boxes.
Sarah (she/her) is a deputy editor in the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she tests products and covers the best picks across kitchen, tech, health and food. She has been cooking professionally since 2017 and has tested kitchen appliances and gear for Family Circle as well as developed recipes and food content for Simply Recipes, Martha Stewart Omnimedia, Oxo and Food52. She holds a certificate in professional culinary arts from the International Culinary Center (now the Institute of Culinary Education).
