There are kitchen appliances that blend in, and there are those that assert themselves.
The De’Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic belongs to the latter camp – a confident slab of stainless steel and touchscreen that takes up space unapologetically and promises café-grade coffee with a single prod of your index finger.
De’Longhi is not new to this. The Italian brand has spent the past two decades refining its automatic and semi-automatic bean-to-cup ambitions, with a steady stream of machines that edge ever closer to barista-level precision without the accompanying faff. From the earlier Magnifica line to the milk-centric Eletta, and most recently the Rivelia (a favourite of mine which I reviewed not long ago), the company has been plotting a course that leads, more or less, to this model: the PrimaDonna Aromatic.
A new PrimaDonna? Aren’t there already a few? Yes, yes, there are. Let me talk you through them:
- PrimaDonna Elite / Elite Experience: 15+ hot drinks on offer, the ability to froth milk manually, a cup warmer, twin-shot espresso, a thermal milk jug, aroma function and app connectivity. The Elite Experience has a more personalised user interface with multiple profile options and drink customisations available.
- PrimaDonna S Evo: A slightly bulkier machine with a narrower touchscreen interface. 15+ hot drinks and the ability to customise length and create your own drinks. Connectivity via app and manual frothing is also available.
- PrimaDonna Soul: Up to 21 beverages, including cold coffee options. Advanced personalisation with up to five user profiles and drink customisation. Powered by Bean Adapt and Adaptive Grinding technology, which automatically sets grinding size and brewing parameters to elevate the aroma of your favourite beans. Large 4.3” colour touch display and app connectivity.
- PrimaDonna Class: Up to 12 drinks. Designed to add “class and style” to your kitchen, arguably the best-looking option in the PrimaDonna range, but not equipped with as many additional features. Integrated grinding technology, temperature control and easy cleaning. 3.5” colour touch display and app connectivity.
So, what’s new?
Not a huge amount if I’m honest. However, the PrimaDonna Aromatic does appear to blend the best features of the bustling range in one brand new, catch-all model. Perhaps this means they’ll retire the old fleet and offer the Aromatic exclusively, even though it’s priced at an eye-watering £1,549.99. Key features include:
- Over 35 hot and cold drink options (the most yet), including pot options if you’re making filter-style hot and cold brew for larger groups
- Bean Adapt, Adaptive Grinding and Cold Extraction technology
- LatteCrema Hot and LatteCrema Cool carafes included
- Programmable water hardness and the ability to use pre-ground coffee
- A huge 5” colour touch display
- The very same ultra-personalised user interface as the Rivelia, with up to four customisable profiles
This machine isn’t just built to look premium. It’s engineered to make an argument for staying in rather than venturing out to your local café. With more drink options than one knows what to do with (what’s a Verlängerter?!), a detachable milk carafe, and a built-in cleaning system that doesn’t require spiritual patience to operate, it appears, on paper, to be a complete offering.
Of course, paper specifications don’t always translate to countertop satisfaction. Plus, anyone who’s wrestled with a super-automatic machine that costs more than their monthly rent knows that good intentions don’t always result in good espresso. So, how does the PrimaDonna Aromatic compare to its newer sibling, the Rivelia, and other PrimaDonna models? Is it a leap forward or simply a more metallic detour?
Let’s get into it.
Key specifications
- Dimensions: 262x463x407 mm
- Weight: 13kg
- Pump pressure: 19 bar
- Beans container capacity: 500g
- Water container capacity: 2.2L
- Grounds container capacity 14 servings
- Energy class: A
- Max cup height: 140mm
- Input power: 450W
- Rated voltage/Frequency: 220-240 V / 50-60 Hz
Design
I love my space-friendly Rivelia and appreciate the myriad of colours it comes in, but there’s an undeniable chicness to the fully metallic finish of the PrimaDonna Aromatic, and it’s absolutely massive touch-screen interface. Think of it as a slightly more refined, professional-looking device for the modern household. I particularly enjoy how the water tank slots out horizontally rather than vertically, making refills easy and splash-free.
The drip-tray feels larger and sturdier than ever before, with ample space for your mug and LatteCrema carafe of choice. While there are more than enough drink options and customisation capabilities, the Aromatic lacks the same playfulness of the Rivelia, which is mainly achieved through those fabulous interchangeable hoppers which allow bean-lovers to change up their roast of choice on the daily. Both, however, have the same uber-personalised user interface, which greets you with fun messages and learns your coffee preferences with almost disconcerting ease.
User-friendliness
It’s safe to say that De’Longhi has mastered the art of creating a user-friendly interface. The touchscreen is satisfying and easy to use – reactive but never overly so. The ultra-personalised aspect afforded by the user profile system is frankly adorable. Like the Rivelia, the machine greets you with fun messages, has a colour scheme depending on who’s using the device (pink for me, of course) and makes choosing custom settings like an extra shot or creamier foam an absolute breeze.
Functionality
Unbeatably quick to set up, the machine practically works straight out of the box. If you’re a true coffee connoisseur, you can fiddle around with Bean Adapt and grind technology to really extract some magic. If, like me, you’re more of a throw the Blank Street beans in and go kind of person, that’s also incredibly easy to do. The grinder is quite loud, though, so just make sure the rest of your house is awake before use.
My one, and biggest, qualm with the machine is that it only really functions with plant-based milks. I attempted a flat white with lactose-free milk, and the result was a sour disaster. Once replaced with Oatly Barista, the result was as expected – tasty and almost café-worthy, minus the ultra-smooth microfoam art.
Verdict
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De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic bean to cup coffee machine
Best automatic bean-to-cup coffee maker
If you don’t already have a PrimaDonna machine from De’Longhi, this is the model to get. It combines all the best and most innovative features of the range in one sleek, metallic shell with a marvellous five-inch touchscreen interface. It’s incredibly user-friendly, has more drinks on offer than ever before (over 35, to be exact), including hot and cold coffees, as well as batch brews of each.
It’s also got a coffee ground feature which holds up to 14 servings – perfect if you’re craving a classic filter-style cuppa. The Aromatic is essentially a fully automatic dream with drip-machine capabilities. If you’re looking for a slightly smaller model with similar features and a more colourful finish, opt for the Rivelia.
Buy now £1549.99, De'Longhi
