I use a De’Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic ECAM630.65.TSM at home, and I carry it to the office when I have to serve a bigger group. It’s a fully automatic bean-to-cup machine: it grinds, brews hot or cold coffee, makes Cold Brew, and froths milk, and you run all of it from a color touchscreen.
Automatic coffee brewing is better than manual methods for early mornings, but does it make a difference throughout the day? The problem with manual coffee brewing is the labor involved before you’ve even had your first cup. There are too many variables (beans, grind, temperature, timing) that create a stressful and time-consuming task. Similarly, going to the cafe has many annoyances including, but not limited to, inconvenient opening times, walking, or a barista that has no idea how to make your drink. Automatic coffee makers allow for a better experience at home and at work for the reason that you get what you want, when you want it, with no line. Select what drink you want, the size and strength you prefer, and in a couple of minutes your coffee will be ready for you to enjoy.
This one sits at the premium end. It has a titanium-colored metal body, a long menu of hot and cold drinks, De’Longhi’s LatteCrema Hot & Cool milk system, and Cold Extraction. It’s meant to do more than a standard espresso machine.
A closer look
The machine’s metal shell is colorfully painted and feels very solid compared to plastic models I have worked with in the past. It does attract fingerprints, and weighs approximately 12.6 kg. Thankfully there are grip areas under the base should you ever need to pick it up. The machine is very thin but does require a large footprint in order to support the large water tank and place space in front to put mugs.
The front of the machine features a 5-inch color touchscreen and contains no physical dials or buttons. Selections for beverages, coffee strength, cup size, and temperature, and creating and using user profiles, are all handled via the touchscreen in addition to a few touch buttons to its right. A new user is able to use the machine very quickly thanks to a clear, on-screen tutorial.
The bean hopper on top holds about 500g, and the lid seals tightly, which I like because beans lose their aroma fast in open air. For one or two people at home I only put in about 250g at a time. In an office with four to six coffee drinkers, I fill it up.
The 2.2-liter water tank is on the right. It slides out easily and is transparent, so you can see the level, and there’s a spot inside for a water filter. The machine tells you when it needs a refill. I’d use purified water and not rely only on the built-in filter, and I’d avoid alkaline water.
At the front you have the drip tray and the grounds container. According to the Titanium series specs, the container holds about 14 servings, and the machine alerts you when it’s full. You empty it and rinse it. The metal cup tray fits cups up to about 140mm on this Titanium model, so anything from a small espresso cup to a tall glass works.
The milk system, LatteCrema Hot & Cool, uses two separate containers, one for hot milk foam and one for cold. You attach one to the machine, and it draws the milk and textures it for the drink you chose. The containers detach and go straight into the fridge, which helps when several people drink milk-based coffee. The back and sides have the power input, the wireless module for the app, and a door for removing the brew unit for a deep clean. Beans, water, grounds, and milk are all easy to reach, so routine upkeep doesn’t mean taking the machine apart.
What it makes
The documentation lists roughly 36 to 38 drinks. I didn’t count them myself. You can pin favorites to the home screen or browse by category: hot, cold, or milk-based. It also stores profiles for up to four people.
Pure coffee: Espresso, Espresso Lungo, Coffee, Doppio+, Filter Style / Filter Coffee, Americano, Long Black, Coffee Pot
Hot milk drinks: Cappuccino, Latte Macchiato, Flat White, Cortado, Café au Lait, Caffelatte, Espresso Macchiato, Cappuccino Mix
Cold drinks and Cold Brew: Cold Brew, Cold Brew Pot, Cold Brew to Mix, iced or cold versions of Espresso, Americano, and Coffee, Cold Brew Latte, Cold Brew Cappuccino, Iced Flat White
Other: hot water and a Tea Function for non-coffee drinks
My favorite on the menu is the Cold Brew, and it’s not just espresso poured over ice. The machine uses Cold Extraction, a real cold process that runs at different temperatures and flow rates than espresso. De’Longhi says a Cold Brew is ready in under 3 minutes. Their FAQ says under 5 minutes for a standard medium, original-style serving, and the actual time depends on your beans and grind. Either way, it beats the hours you’d wait for traditional cold steeping, which is handy on a hot afternoon.
What I tried
Besides the usual espresso and Americano, I spent time on the Cold Extraction drinks. Cold brew comes out smooth and refreshing over the amount of ice the machine recommends. I like it better than an Americano chilled with ice. It’s mellow and light, and it tastes cool from the first sip. If you like a little sweetness, a pinch of sugar helps.
The cold milk drinks are easy too. Keep milk in the dedicated carafe in the fridge, and when you want a drink, take it out and attach it. After the drink, the machine asks you to clean the spout. Then the carafe goes back in the fridge. I find that very convenient.
Smart features
Bean Adapt Technology: With older machines I used to have to adjust the grind, temperature and dose between every batch of coffee. I still have to do it, but with Bean Adapt it’s not as much. The machine recognizes the beans and roast and automates those settings. I can switch from roast to roast, from Arabica to Arabica, and even go back and forth between roasts, and the results are almost identical between extractions.
Adaptive Grinding: Machine grinding adjustments take into account changes in the machine, like burrs that are becoming dull or harder beans that have been introduced. Because the system can account for variations in pull times that have developed from the machine or the beans, there won’t be drastic variations from day to day with the grind setting.
LatteCrema Hot and Cool: One of these systems creates heat to help dispense air, which allows for the creation of a thicker foam perfect for cappuccinos and lattes. The second system creates a lighter foam which is best served for iced beverages, and it is capable of being used with oat, almond, soy, and dairy. Each system has a detachable carafe that is convenient and allows for a quicker cleanup than a traditional steam wand.
4 user profiles: Each profile has the user’s name and is assigned a color, which helps distinguish different users or profiles like Home and Work. Each profile stores the user’s favorite coffee beverages and how they like them.
Coffee Moments: The machine recognizes your drink routine and recommends different types of beverages at the right times, for instance iced coffee in the afternoon, or regular/filter coffee in the morning. It’s really convenient and avoids you having to go through long drink lists.
Customization: Before you brew, you can change strength, volume, and temperature for most drinks and save them. After the first week, this is the feature I use most. Once your settings are dialed in, every brew is one touch.
What you still have to do
Automatic doesn’t mean you can plug it in and forget it. You still:
Refill the bean hopper (500g max, but add only what you need)
Fill the 2.2L water tank
Empty the grounds container and drip tray when the machine asks
Add milk to the LatteCrema carafe for milk drinks
The machine takes care of a lot:
It rinses the milk spout after use, which used to be my biggest worry with milk-based machines
It guides you through cleaning cycles on screen and reminds you about descaling
The brew unit comes out for a periodic deep clean
For daily use at home or in a small office, that’s reasonable. Press a button in the morning, empty the grounds or fill the water now and then, and check the water filter and milk carafe on the weekend. You don’t need barista skills, and it doesn’t become a second job.
Conclusion
After using the PrimaDonna Aromatic ECAM630.65.TSM, what I value most is getting coffee exactly how I like it, quickly, hot or cold, from one machine. The upkeep is small next to what you get. Beans, water, grounds, and milk are simple to handle, and the machine rinses the milk system and tells you when a cleaning cycle is due.
It fits a home or an office. It has a wide menu and a lot of customization, and the titanium finish looks good in an office pantry or reception area. If you want to cut back on café trips but still want variety, including real Cold Brew and not just iced espresso, it’s worth a look. It comes close to a café experience and saves time and effort in the long run.
De’Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic Fully Automatic Espresso Machine: Check Availability on Amazon
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