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Ideal Home reviewer Lindsey Davis tested the De’Longhi Rivelia Start automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine for a month in September 2026. She reported that it made her flat white in a couple of minutes and offered a wide range of hot and cold drinks, while initial setup took about 40 minutes.
Ideal Home reviewer Lindsey Davis says the De’Longhi Rivelia Start made her usual oat flat white in a couple of minutes, after a month of testing the automatic bean-to-cup machine in September 2026. The review describes it as a lower-priced alternative to the original Rivelia, with multiple hot and cold drink choices, but reports that getting it ready for its first coffee took around 40 minutes.
Davis tested the machine at home as an alternative to her manual De’Longhi Scultura espresso machine, which she had used for more than five years. She wrote that making coffee with the manual machine could take as long as 15 minutes, particularly during work-from-home breaks. The Rivelia Start reduced that routine to a few minutes for her flat white, and she said the drink’s taste did not disappoint.
The machine prepares espresso, Americano, filter-style coffee, flat white, latte and cappuccino, as well as cold brew and iced coffee, according to the review. It can also dispense hot water or steamed milk. The package includes two 250-gram bean hoppers, a milk-frothing carafe, a water filter and cleaning accessories. The reported UK recommended retail price is £599.99.
Its listed specifications include a 1.4-litre water tank, 15-bar pump pressure and dimensions of 38.5 centimetres high, 24.5 centimetres wide and 43 centimetres deep. Davis praised the compact footprint and hidden storage, but noted that the controls sit on the top of the machine. She said that placement could make them harder to see or reach for shorter users and people who use wheelchairs.
Speed Without Manual Brewing
The review addresses a practical trade-off for home coffee drinkers: less time spent preparing each drink in exchange for handing more of the process to an automatic machine. Davis approached the test with concerns about whether she could retain enough control over her preferred double-shot oat flat white. Her account suggests the machine met her needs for that drink, while offering options for other household preferences, including iced coffee and steamed milk.
The price and feature set may interest buyers comparing bean-to-cup machines with manual espresso makers. But this is one reviewer’s month-long assessment, not a controlled comparison of brewing performance or a guarantee that every user will get the same results. The machine’s top-mounted controls and the time required for setup are practical factors buyers may want to weigh alongside its speed.
automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine
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A Lower-Cost Rivelia Option
Ideal Home says De’Longhi introduced the Rivelia Start as a more affordable alternative to its Rivelia model, which the publication had previously given five stars. The review attributes the lower price in part to omitted features: the Start does not have a touchscreen display or the original model’s smart bean-adaptation technology. It retains two interchangeable bean hoppers and a range of drink selections.
Davis is a long-time home coffee maker and appliance tester, but described this as her first review of a fully automatic machine. She used it through September, a period when she could try both hot and cold drinks. Her report covers unboxing, setup, everyday convenience and accessibility observations; it does not provide a direct side-by-side test against the original Rivelia.
“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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Setup and Access Questions
The review does not report a long-term reliability test, a measured comparison of coffee quality against the original Rivelia, or how the machine performs for a range of users. Davis’s experience with a single preferred drink should not be read as a guarantee of equivalent results for every recipe or taste preference.
It is also unclear from the supplied review material how much day-to-day cleaning and maintenance is required after the initial setup, or how the machine’s price compares with current retailer offers. Davis warns that the top-facing controls may be difficult for some users to access; the review does not provide accessibility testing or a solution to that issue.
espresso and latte machine with milk frother
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Check Fit Before Buying
The reported test period is complete, and the review does not identify a forthcoming product launch or scheduled follow-up. People considering the Rivelia Start can compare its current price with the listed £599.99 recommended retail price, check the machine’s measurements and leave enough room above it for the bean hopper and controls.
Buyers should also account for the initial water-hardness test, cleaning and configuration steps described by Davis. Anyone who needs controls positioned at the front or a different level of reach may want to inspect the machine in person or check its layout before purchasing.
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Key Questions
How quickly did the Rivelia Start make a coffee?
Davis said her flat white took a couple of minutes to make, compared with as long as 15 minutes for her usual manual-machine routine.
What drinks can the machine make?
The review lists espresso, Americano, filter-style coffee, flat white, latte, cappuccino, cold brew and iced coffee. The machine can also dispense hot water and steamed milk.
What is the Rivelia Start’s listed price?
Ideal Home gives a UK recommended retail price of £599.99. The review does not state what retailers may currently charge.
How long did setup take?
Davis said unpacking and assembly took under 10 minutes, but configuration and cleaning took about 40 minutes before she could make a drinkable coffee.
What usability issue did the review identify?
The controls are on top of the machine. Davis said this position could affect visibility or reach for shorter users and people who use wheelchairs.
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