De'Longhi Eletta Explore Bean-to-Cup vs illy X1 iPerEspresso Capsule Machine (2026)

✍️ By the 247Verdict Editorial Team📅 Updated 05 October 2026

Which is better? We compared both on score, owner ratings, pros and cons.

De'Longhi Eletta Explore Bean-to-Cup

9.0/10 Excellent

4.4★ (3,600 owners)

Over Ice mode, cold brew, LatteCrema Cool, 20 drinks, My drinks profile. Cold coffee specialist.

Full Review

illy X1 iPerEspresso Capsule Machine

8.8/10 Great

4.4★ (4,800 owners)

19 bar, illy iPerEspresso capsules, Italian design, 1L tank, Michelin-starred coffee brand.

Full Review

At a Glance

	De'Longhi Eletta Explore Bean-to-Cup	illy X1 iPerEspresso Capsule Machine
247Verdict Score	9.0/10	8.8/10
Owner Rating	4.4★ (3,600)	4.4★ (4,800)
Verdict	Excellent	Great

Quick Verdict

Both are strong choices, but the De'Longhi Eletta Explore Bean-to-Cup edges ahead with a 9.0/10 vs 8.8/10. Over Ice mode, cold brew, LatteCrema Cool, 20 drinks, My drinks profile. Cold coffee specialist. That said, the illy X1 iPerEspresso Capsule Machine is worth considering if 19 bar, illy iPerEspresso capsules, Italian design, 1L tank, Michelin-starred coffee brand. Check the current price on Amazon →

Pros & Cons Side by Side

De'Longhi Eletta Explore Bean-to-Cup

Over Ice mode specifically brews concentrated espresso for iced coffee directly over ice without dilution
LatteCrema Cool chills milk automatically for cold coffee drinks — unique to De'Longhi
20 drink varieties including cold brew and iced options alongside hot drinks
My Drinks personalisation saves up to 4 custom profiles
De'Longhi's engineering applied to the growing iced coffee market

£800+ — premium pricing for the iced coffee specialisation
Cold brew takes 4+ hours — the Over Ice feature is the practical everyday cold option
Less automated than PrimaDonna Soul's 21 hot drink varieties

illy X1 iPerEspresso Capsule Machine

illy is the coffee brand of Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide — the quality benchmark
iPerEspresso two-stage capsule extraction produces espresso with genuine professional crema
19-bar pressure matches professional espresso machine extraction standards
Italian design that sits as a kitchen statement piece
illy's 90-year commitment to espresso quality in the most convenient format

Proprietary illy iPerEspresso capsules only — ecosystem lock-in to a premium pod range
Pod costs are premium vs Nespresso — illy positions pods as premium coffee
Less variety than Nespresso's 30+ Original pod range

FAQ

Which is better, De'Longhi Eletta Explore or illy X1 iPerEspresso?

Is the De'Longhi Eletta Explore worth the extra cost?

Yes — De'Longhi Eletta Explore Bean-to-Cup scores higher at 9.0/10 vs 8.8/10.

Who is the De'Longhi Eletta Explore best suited to?

Over Ice mode, cold brew, LatteCrema Cool, 20 drinks, My drinks profile. Cold coffee specialist.

Who is the illy X1 iPerEspresso best suited to?

19 bar, illy iPerEspresso capsules, Italian design, 1L tank, Michelin-starred coffee brand.

What are the main downsides of each?

De'Longhi Eletta Explore Bean-to-Cup: £800+ — premium pricing for the iced coffee specialisation; Cold brew takes 4+ hours — the Over Ice feature is the practical everyday cold option. illy X1 iPerEspresso Capsule Machine: Proprietary illy iPerEspresso capsules only — ecosystem lock-in to a premium pod range; Pod costs are premium vs Nespresso — illy positions pods as premium coffee.

Do owner ratings agree with our verdict?

Largely, yes — De'Longhi Eletta Explore Bean-to-Cup sits at 4.4★ from 3,600 verified Amazon owners, and illy X1 iPerEspresso Capsule Machine at 4.4★ from 4,800.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.