De'Longhi Rivelia vs Philips 5500 vs Eletta Explore: 2026 Super-Automatic Comparison
Our picks at a glance
Super-automatic machines grind, dose, brew, and froth at the push of a button, and three are cross-shopped most in the $1,200–2,500 range: the Philips 5500 LatteGo, the De'Longhi Rivelia, and the De'Longhi Eletta Explore. All three make espresso and milk drinks automatically — the differences are the milk system, bean handling, drink range, and price.
The short answer:
- Philips 5500 LatteGo — pick it for the easiest milk system to clean and the best price.
- De'Longhi Rivelia — pick it for two interchangeable bean hoppers and a sleek, compact touchscreen machine.
- De'Longhi Eletta Explore — pick it for the widest drink range, including cold brew and cold foam.
| Feature | Philips 5500 LatteGo | De'Longhi Rivelia | De'Longhi Eletta Explore |
| Milk system | LatteGo (2-part, no tubes) | LatteCrema carafe (auto) | LatteCrema hot + cold carafe |
| Bean handling | Single hopper, ceramic burrs | Two interchangeable hoppers | Single hopper, 13-setting burr |
| Cold drinks | No | Limited | Yes (cold brew + cold foam) |
| Display | TFT | 3.5" colour touchscreen + app | 3.5" TFT touch + app |
| Drink presets | ~20 | ~16 | 50+ hot and cold |
Specs current as of June 2026.
1. Philips 5500 LatteGo
- Milk: LatteGo — two parts, no tubes
- Burrs: Ceramic, 12 settings
- Best for: Easy cleaning and value
- Highlight: The simplest milk system to clean in this group
Why it shines
The 5500's standout is the LatteGo milk system: just two interlocking parts with no hidden tubes to clog, and you can pop the milk container in the fridge between drinks. It uses long-lasting ceramic burrs, pours around twenty drink varieties, and costs the least of the three. For someone who wants café drinks with the least cleanup, it is the easy pick.
Who it's for
You want one-touch milk drinks with minimal cleaning and the best price, and you do not need cold or iced options.
What owners say
Owners love how quick the LatteGo is to clean — two parts, rinse, done — and the value. The common notes are that the foam is good but not as rich as a manual steam wand, and the body feels more plastic than premium.
Worth noting
It does not do cold brew or cold foam, and it has a single bean hopper, so switching between, say, decaf and regular means emptying it.
2. De'Longhi Rivelia
- Milk: LatteCrema auto carafe
- Bean handling: Two interchangeable hoppers
- Best for: Switching between two coffees
- Highlight: Swap whole bean containers without emptying the hopper
Why it shines
The Rivelia's signature feature is a pair of interchangeable bean containers, so you can keep two coffees on hand — say a morning espresso bean and a decaf — and swap them in seconds without emptying a hopper. It pairs that with a clean 3.5-inch colour touchscreen, an automatic LatteCrema milk carafe, app control, and a compact, modern body.
Who it's for
You want to run two different beans, you like a sleek touchscreen machine, and you value a tidy footprint.
What owners say
Owners love the two-bean flexibility and the clean touchscreen interface in a compact machine. The common notes are that the milk carafe needs fridge storage and regular cleaning, and that it is priced above some similarly specced machines.
Worth noting
Its cold-drink options are limited compared with the Eletta Explore, and the carafe milk system is more to clean than the Philips LatteGo.
3. De'Longhi Eletta Explore
- Milk: LatteCrema hot and cold foam
- Burrs: Conical, 13 settings
- Best for: The widest drink range, hot and cold
- Highlight: Cold brew and cold foam built in, with 50+ recipes
Why it shines
The Eletta Explore is the do-everything machine of the three. It textures both hot and cold milk foam, has a cold-extraction mode for cold brew, and offers more than fifty hot and cold recipes through a 3.5-inch touch display and an app. If iced and cold drinks matter to you, it is the only one here that covers them properly.
Who it's for
You want the most variety, including iced lattes and cold brew, and you do not mind paying the most or giving up some counter space.
What owners say
Owners love the cold-brew and cold-foam options and the sheer range of drinks. The common notes are that it is the priciest, it is larger on the counter, and the many menus take some learning.
Worth noting
It has a single bean hopper, so it lacks the Rivelia's two-bean swap, and it costs the most of the three.
Frequently asked questions
Which super-automatic is easiest to clean?
The Philips 5500 LatteGo. Its milk system is just two parts with no tubes, and the container goes in the fridge between drinks, which is the least daily cleanup of the three.
Which one can make cold brew and iced drinks?
The De'Longhi Eletta Explore. It has a cold-extraction mode and cold-foam milk, plus a long list of cold recipes. The Philips 5500 and Rivelia focus on hot drinks.
Which lets me use two different beans?
The De'Longhi Rivelia, with two interchangeable bean containers you can swap without emptying a hopper — handy for keeping decaf and regular on hand.
Do super-automatic machines make espresso as good as a manual machine?
They make very consistent, convenient espresso at the push of a button, but a manual machine with a good grinder still has a higher ceiling for shot quality. Super-automatics trade some peak quality for speed and ease.
Comparing super-automatic brands? See Which De'Longhi Espresso Machine Is Right for You? and Which Jura Coffee Machine Is Right for You?. For the wider field, see our guide to the best espresso machine for your home.
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Compare every pick
| Model | Price | Type | Milk | Drinks | Bean hopper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips 5500 LatteGo Buy from AmazonBuy from Amazon | $1,500.00 $1,299.99 | Super-automatic | Automatic milk container (LatteGo) | 20 one-touch drinks | One, 275 g |
| De'Longhi Rivelia | $1,699.99 — | Super-automatic | Automatic milk carafe, hot | 18 one-touch drinks | Two, 250 g each |
| De'Longhi Eletta Explore | $2,499.99 — | Super-automatic | Automatic milk carafe, hot and cold | More than 50 one-touch drinks | One, 300 g |
The picks in full
Easiest milk system to clean
Philips 5500 LatteGo
What's good
- Milk container is two parts, both dishwasher safe
- Twelve grind settings on ceramic burrs
- Eight of the twenty drinks are iced
What to know
- Milk container holds 0.26 litres
- Housing is plastic rather than metal
Where to buy
Buy from AmazonWhere to buy
Buy from Amazon
Two interchangeable bean hoppers
De'Longhi Rivelia
What's good
- Two bean hoppers that swap in seconds
- 18 one-touch drinks, milk drinks from a carafe
- Saves grind, dose and temperature per bean, De'Longhi says
What to know
- Spare bean containers cost extra
- Touchscreen menus take some learning
Widest drink range
De'Longhi Eletta Explore
What's good
- Brews cold coffee in under three minutes
- Froths milk hot or cold for iced drinks
- 13 grind settings on a conical burr grinder
What to know
- One bean hopper, so switching beans means emptying it
- More than 50 recipes to work through on the screen