DeLonghi Maestosa coffee machine may well be the best yet (EPAM960.75.GLM review)

DeLonghi Maestosa
9.4

The DeLonghi Maestosa is an imposing, fully automatic coffee machine and at $4999 it should be.

The DeLonghi Maestosa has two grinders, makes two coffees at the same time, and two thermoblock boilers – one for hot water and the other milk streaming. So, it’s a twofer as it should be for the price!

We keep referring to DeLonghi Maestosa price and sorry – we don’t mean to put all you el-cheapo capsule and faux coffee drinkers off (you can stop reading now). We want to make it clear as the mud that comes out of your capsule that you get what you pay for.

You wanna good Italian espresso? You wanna DeLonghi Maestosa (or youse can sleep with da fishes)

Big Tony

DeLonghi Maestosa (EPAM960.75.GLM) Released July 2019

Website here

Price: $4999 from DeLonghi online or major retailers but look online – you may get a bargain.

DeLonghi Maestosa

The DeLonghi Maestosa is its most expensive fully automatic coffee machine yet. It slots in above the PrimaDonna series that starts from $1698 and go to $3199.

We reviewed the Delonghi PrimaDonna Elite (the $3K one – not the cheapie) in 2016 and gave it 4.7-out-of-5 stars. Since then we have developed even better paradigms – if anything a little more scientific than just ‘it makes great coffee’. We now know about the different milk systems (frother or steamer) and that almost any coffee machine can make a reasonable cup of black joe – Espresso, American, long and regular.

But it takes something special to make cappuccino, latte macchiato, café latte, flat white and espresso macchiato – let alone two cups at a time. The secret is dual thermoblocks as well as a fair bit of computing power and a few accessories.

Those accessories include (of all things) an ice cube tray, automatic milk container, a Mix Carafe and the all-important steam/hot water wand.

Accessories

Tech – Pass and you don’t need to use the app

There is a Coffee Link app for Android and iOS that connects via Bluetooth – to one device. While that is good, we suggest that you may want to use a tablet initially to share the tech. BTW – you don’t need to use the app to setup or use the machine. It has a 5” touch screen.

I can’t help but feel this is V1.0 of the app. Its good but could be easier. And being BT, not Wi-Fi that means no voice assistance and not likely to be.

By the end of this review we had made (stats from the app includes caffeine and calories for white)

  • 51 Espresso 714mg
  • 9 Black (coffee) 576mg
  • 2 Long black 1112mg
  • 16 Doppio+ 672mg
  • 26 Cappuccino 591.5mg and 1,011.3cal
  • 2 Latte macchiatos 42mg and 132.7cal
  • 20 flat white 591.5mg and 900cal
  • 2 Espresso macchiato 21mg and 18.3cal
  • 8 Steamed milk 1,482.6cal (skim is 411.9cal)
  • 3 cold milk
  • 10 Tea
  • 3 hot chocolate
  • 2 coffee pots

That is a good test, and the app allows you to create new drinks and alter existing ones for up to six profiles.

Setup is easy – Exceed

GadgetGuy has a great guide to water, beans, milk and cups – The Tech behind good coffee and anyone looking at buying any coffee maker needs to read it first.

Despite the DeLonghi Maestosa’s heavy and imposing stature, it is easy to set up – but we do recommend you read the manual first. It will also point you to a range of instructional videos if you need them.

You will soon see the differences. Two grinders (each 290g capacity) mean you can put a darker, stronger roasted bean for black coffee in one and a lighter roast bean (or blend) for white coffee in the other – or leave one empty. You can independently adjust the grind (coarseness). Water capacity is 2.1L for heavy use.

DeLonghi Maestosa grinders

Add water, turn on and let it go through the pre-heat/rinse cycle. Initially, it plays a little animated demo video on the screen – cute.

Maintenance is easy – Exceed

Like all good coffee machines, it has a rinse cycle on power on. From time to time it will tell you to descale (duration depends on water hardness and if you use a water filter).

Coffee grinds

The most important thing is to keep the milk system scrupulously clean. Milk can ‘go off’ in scant hours – keep the container in the fridge between uses. The milk clean system is effective, but over four weeks, we found occasional sterilisation (use a sterilisation tab) of the container and lines ensures good milk.

Users – lots of options (and x2 at a time) – Exceed

DeLonghi Maestosa screen

Favourites – Exceed

  • Black – Espresso, Coffee, Doppio+, Long, Americano
  • White: Cappuccino/+/Mix, Latte macchiato, Caffe Latte, Flat White, Espresso macchiato and hot milk.
  • Cold milk and drinks
  • And a manual bypass on top for other coffee grinds

You can adjust/save these for cup size/number, froth, aroma (heat/extraction pressure), coffee type (grinder 1, 2 or manual by-pass) and temperature – or just hit OK.

We found the black coffee was very hot and milk coffee was just right – Goldilocks could not have done better, but you can also adjust temperatures if you wish. And the crema was amazing.

We were impressed with the ‘carafe’ (jug) function where you can make up to 750ml at a time (machine grinds and ejects the spent coffee according to volume).

Warm-up time is about 1.5 minutes. Thereafter you can make coffees in one to two minutes (Espresso to Long Flat White).

Milk Coffee – Exceed

As coffee drinkers know, skim or low-fat milk makes denser froth, and full fat makes lighter froth. So, if you have a variety of users with different milk types you can adjust the froth before you make a cup.

Milk

We did not experiment with Soy, Almond or other faux milk but the froth adjustment should cater to these.

We were impressed with the customisable settings to produce perfect milk coffees. Caffe Latte had no froth, flat white just a touch, macchiato in between and Cappuccino was nice and heady.

Oh, and it makes great hot chocolate with the Choco Stirrer and the Mix Carafe.

Mix Carafe

And you can make ‘cold’ drinks too – but the temperature is only room temperature water and refrigerated milk (3-5°) in the Carafe. Ah, that is where the ice cube tray comes in!

DeLonghi Maestosa

BTW: The milk container has a manual feed lid as well in case it runs out mid-cup – attention to detail.

The steam wand – Exceed

I love steam wands and have learnt the hard way (from a barister) to make milk coffee with it – but I still need a milk thermometer. In part, that is why for lower-cost machines, we look at the effectiveness of the grinder and the steam wand above all else.

Steam comes from boiling water (100°) hence you need a second boiler to achieve good steam volumes. But you want to use it to heat milk to 60-65°, not water it down so much that it ruins the coffee or burns the milk.

The first trick is using a container that is about 50% larger than the milk you need to steam and steam only one cup at a time. The nozzle needs to start at the bottom with both a gentle swirl and lift/descending mode. Then add it to the coffee.

Second is never to top up already steamed milk in the container for a second cup – it makes it too watery.

Tea – bags – Exceed

Depending on the tea bag type, you may want from 70 to 100° water (not steam). Green tea, for example, must use a lower temperature and black tea can stand boiling with no effect on taste.

It guides you for white, green, oolong or black – easy.

Cup sizes – flexible – Exceed

Beverage Standard quantity Programmable quantity
ESPRESSO 40 ml 20-180 ml
COFFEE 180 ml 100-240 ml
LONG 160 ml 115-250 ml
DOPPIO+ 120 ml 80-180 ml
AMERICANO 150 ml 70-480 ml
TEA 150 ml 20-420 ml
HOT WATER 250 ml 20-420 m

You can set up to six different profiles for people’s preferences.

Is it easy – PASS

You are going to have to get to know the ins and outs of everything before you venture too far from the menu screen. In a home, this is easy – at the office make sure someone becomes the in-house barista and looks after it.

Build quality – Exceed

It is a keeper. We understand that you can get service almost everywhere and a good range of accessories and spare parts.

All major areas are accessible for cleaning or replacement.

It is big – 405 (H) x 290 (W) x 468 (D) mm x 16.1kg in stainless steel and black. The 5” screen is perfect.

Noise is nil at idle, 55dB during extraction and 65dB while grinding.

Power use – Pass

This is a big machine and draws 240V/1A – 2400W in full steam. Typically, (using our EmberIQ meter) it uses 1550W and in idle 2 to 3W.

GadgetGuy’s take – DeLonghi Maestosa makes terrific coffee

As we say in the good coffee guide – don’t blame the machine. There is a lot of tech behind good coffee. DeLonghi has nailed it with this machine – almost anyone can make a great coffee – bean to cup as it was meant to be!

We played with temperatures, grinds and every user accessible setting and frankly, the defaults are best – DeLonghi knows coffee. It makes the best coffee of any machine we have tested to date.

But that is not to say it can’t do even better. Get to know it, experiment (more coffee to drink) and work out just what you like. It is flexible enough to handle almost anything.

We have to rate is as a luxury coffee experience – it is for those that can afford $5K. Although I am going to put a price watch on this item – I love a bargain.

Features
10
Value for money
8
Performance
10
Ease of Use
9
Design
10
Positives
Quality build and finish - it is a keeper
2 grinders
2 thermoblock boilers (one for milk/steam)
Makes two cups at a time
18 programmed recipes and hugely customisable
No more maintenance than any other brand
Negatives
If you ask the price, you can’t afford it
9.4