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Ideal Home reviewer Lindsey Davis tested De’Longhi’s Rivelia Start automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine for a month in September 2026. She reported that it made her usual flat white in a couple of minutes, while noting that setup took about 40 minutes and the top-mounted controls may affect placement and access.
Ideal Home reviewer Lindsey Davis tested the De’Longhi Rivelia Start, a lower-priced automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine, for a month in September 2026. She said it made her usual flat white in a couple of minutes, much faster than the up-to-15-minute routine on her manual machine, while offering a range of hot and cold drinks.
Davis had been using a manual De’Longhi Scultura and wanted to see whether an automatic machine could still make her preferred double-shot oat flat white with enough control. In her review, she said she had been unsure whether the machine would meet her customization preferences, but reported no complaints about the taste of the resulting coffee. These are the reviewer’s findings from her home test, not a controlled comparison of brewing performance.
The Rivelia Start is a 15-bar automatic bean-to-cup machine with a 1.4-litre water tank. The review lists espresso, Americano, filter-style coffee, cappuccino, latte, flat white, cold brew and iced coffee among the available options; the machine can also dispense hot water or steamed milk. It comes with a milk-frothing carafe and two 250-gram bean hoppers that can be swapped out.
According to the source, the machine’s UK recommended retail price is £599.99. It is listed at 38.5 centimetres high, 24.5 centimetres wide and 43 centimetres deep, and comes in five colour options. Davis said unpacking and assembly took under 10 minutes, but the initial configuration and cleaning procedures took about 40 minutes before she could make a drink.
Faster Coffee, With Setup Trade-Offs
The review focuses on a practical change for people making coffee at home: handing grinding and brewing over to an automatic machine can cut preparation time, according to Davis’s experience. She contrasted a flat white made in a couple of minutes with work-from-home coffee sessions that could take up to 15 minutes on her manual machine. That comparison reflects her own routine, rather than a timed test across different users or machines.
For prospective buyers, the findings also point to trade-offs beyond speed. The machine supports a broad menu and interchangeable hoppers, but requires an initial setup process involving water testing and cleaning. Its controls sit on top, which Davis said could affect visibility or ease of use for shorter people and wheelchair users. The review offers an individual assessment; it does not establish how the machine performs over longer-term ownership or for all users.
automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine
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How the Start Differs From Rivelia
Ideal Home describes the Rivelia Start as a cheaper alternative to De’Longhi’s Rivelia. The review says the Start leaves out the touch-screen display and smart bean-adaptation technology found on the more expensive model. It does not give a direct price comparison with the Rivelia in the supplied material, so the size of the saving cannot be stated here.
Davis, who has worked on Ideal Home’s shopping coverage for nearly 10 years, said she had used a manual De’Longhi espresso machine for more than five years and had tested bean-to-cup machines before. The Start was her first review of a fully automatic model. She tested it during September 2026, when the weather allowed her to try both hot and cold coffee options.
Initial setup includes checking water hardness with a test strip and setting the machine accordingly. The review says this test informs the machine’s settings and descaling schedule. Davis also consulted De’Longhi’s instructional videos while following the guide. The supplied source excerpt ends during its description of setup, so it does not provide further detail about the full maintenance routine.
“The De’Longhi Rivelia Start has not only impressed me for convenience, making my flat white in just a couple of minutes, but the taste leaves no complaints.”
— Lindsey Davis, Ideal Home reviewer
De’Longhi Rivelia Start coffee maker
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Long-Term Results Remain Untested
The source describes one reviewer’s one-month test, not independent laboratory testing or long-term ownership. It does not report a measured comparison of drink quality, operating costs, energy use, reliability or cleaning effort against the standard Rivelia or other machines. Davis’s positive assessment of taste and convenience should be read as her experience, not a guarantee for every coffee preference or household.
The supplied material gives a UK recommended retail price but does not establish the machine’s current sale price or availability. It also does not specify the exact date the review was published. The review excerpt is incomplete: it ends while describing the water-hardness test, leaving some setup and maintenance details outside the available source.
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Check Price and Access Before Buying
Readers considering the Rivelia Start can compare its current UK price with the standard Rivelia and check which drink settings suit their needs. The reported £599.99 RRP is the listed recommended price, not confirmation of what retailers currently charge. Buyers should also account for counter space and the clearance needed above the machine for the hopper.
Before purchase, it may help to review the full manufacturer instructions and assess whether the top-mounted controls are easy to see and reach in the intended location. The source provides no further testing milestones or announced follow-up from De’Longhi; any longer-term assessment of durability and maintenance remains outstanding.
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Key Questions
How quickly did the Rivelia Start make a flat white in the review?
Davis reported that it made her flat white in a couple of minutes. She compared that with work-from-home coffee sessions on her manual machine that could take up to 15 minutes; this was her own experience, not a standardized timing test.
What drinks can the De’Longhi Rivelia Start make?
The review lists espresso, Americano, filter-style coffee, cappuccino, latte, flat white, cold brew and iced coffee. It also says the machine can dispense hot water or steamed milk.
What is the Rivelia Start’s listed price?
The review gives a UK recommended retail price of £599.99. It does not confirm current retailer prices or discounts.
How long does setup take?
Davis said unpacking and assembly took under 10 minutes, while initial configuration and cleaning took about 40 minutes. The setup included a water-hardness test and following the machine’s instructions.
What should buyers know about the machine’s controls?
The controls are on top of the machine. Davis said this could affect visibility or access for shorter users and wheelchair users, so placement and reach are worth checking before purchase.
Source: rss
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