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Ideal Home’s Lindsey Davis tested the De’Longhi Rivelia Start automatic bean-to-cup machine for a month. She reported that it made her oat flat white in a couple of minutes and offered hot and cold drinks, while setup and cleaning required time and attention.
Ideal Home reviewer Lindsey Davis says De’Longhi’s Rivelia Start, a lower-cost automatic alternative to the Rivelia, made her usual flat white in a couple of minutes during a month of testing. Her report describes a machine designed to simplify home coffee-making while retaining a range of hot and cold drink options.
Davis tested the machine in September 2026 after using a manual De’Longhi espresso maker for more than five years. She wanted to see whether an automatic machine could make her preferred double-shot oat flat white with less effort. She says coffees in her previous routine could take as long as 15 minutes, while the Rivelia Start prepared her flat white in a couple of minutes. That timing is her experience, not a stated independent benchmark.
The machine is an automatic bean-to-cup model, like those featured in this guide to super automatic espresso machines, with a 1.4-litre water tank and a 15-bar pump, according to the product specifications in the review. Its listed UK recommended retail price is £599.99. It comes with a milk-frothing carafe, two 250-gram bean hoppers, a water filter and cleaning accessories. The review lists five colour options: Sand Beige, Umber Brown, Jade Green, Onyx Black and Arctic White.
Available selections include espresso, cappuccino, latte, flat white, Americano, filter-style coffee, cold brew and iced coffee, alongside hot water and steamed milk. Davis says the machine makes drinks with a few button presses and that she was satisfied with the taste. De’Longhi’s lower price compared with the Rivelia is linked in the report to omitting features such as a touchscreen and technology that adapts to different beans.
A Faster Route to Everyday Coffee
The review speaks to a practical decision for people choosing between a manual espresso setup and an automatic machine: how much control they are willing to trade for speed and convenience. Davis began the test unsure whether automation would meet her expectations as a particular coffee drinker. Her account suggests the Start worked for her everyday flat white, while reducing the time spent preparing it.
Its £599.99 listed price also places the machine in a substantial purchase category, even as it is positioned as a more affordable alternative to the Rivelia. The inclusion of multiple drink choices and two interchangeable hoppers may appeal to households with different preferences. But the report is one reviewer’s month-long assessment; it does not establish how the machine will perform for every user or how its cost compares with other models across the market.
automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine
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How the Start Differs From Rivelia
De’Longhi released the Rivelia Start as a less expensive alternative to its Rivelia model, which Ideal Home had previously rated five stars. The review says the Start reduces cost by leaving out a touchscreen and smart bean-adaptation technology. It does not provide a like-for-like price comparison in the supplied material, so the size of the saving cannot be stated here.
The testing account also records practical considerations beyond drink quality. Davis says unpacking and assembling the machine took under 10 minutes, but first-use configuration and cleaning procedures took about 40 minutes. That included checking the instructions and watching De’Longhi videos. Users need to test water hardness and set the machine accordingly before brewing; the result also informs how often descaling is needed. The reviewer notes the control panel sits on top, which may affect visibility and access depending on the user and placement.
“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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Questions Beyond One Home Test
The supplied review covers one machine tested by one reviewer for a month. It does not report controlled comparisons of brewing time, temperature or flavour against the Rivelia or competing machines. Davis’s positive taste assessment is personal, and the report does not establish long-term reliability, repair costs or how the machine holds up beyond the test period.
The source gives a UK recommended retail price, but does not state the price available from retailers at the time of publication or whether the machine is on sale. It also does not quantify the savings from the omitted features. The review describes the machine as lower-cost than the Rivelia, but no exact price difference is supplied in the material.
espresso machine with milk frother
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Check Price and Setup Details
Readers considering the machine can compare current retailer prices with the stated £599.99 RRP and check whether its dimensions, top-mounted controls and milk-carafe arrangement suit their kitchen. The review advises following the setup instructions, including the water-hardness test and initial machine functions, before making drinks.
No further testing results or company response are included in the supplied source. Longer-term performance, maintenance demands and the Start’s value against other automatic machines remain open questions until additional testing or ownership reports are available.
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Key Questions
What did the Ideal Home reviewer find?
Lindsey Davis reported that the machine made her oat flat white in a couple of minutes and that she was satisfied with its taste. This reflects her own month-long test, not a guarantee of results for every user.
How much does the De’Longhi Rivelia Start cost?
The review lists a UK recommended retail price of £599.99. It does not give a current retailer price or a precise saving against the Rivelia.
What drinks can the machine make?
The review lists espresso, cappuccino, latte, flat white, Americano, filter-style coffee, cold brew and iced coffee. It can also dispense hot water and steamed milk.
How long does setup take?
Davis says unpacking and assembly took under 10 minutes, but the first configuration and cleaning process took about 40 minutes. The process included testing water hardness and setting the machine accordingly.
What is not established by the review?
The report does not establish long-term reliability, controlled performance against other machines or the exact price difference from the Rivelia. Its findings are based on one reviewer’s test over one month.
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