De'Longhi Eletta Explore Bean-to-Cup vs Nescafé Dolce Gusto Colors Pod 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

Nescafé Dolce Gusto Colors Pod Machine

8.5/10 Great

4.5★ (9,600 owners)

Dolce Gusto pods, 15 bar, manual milk adjustment, 1.4L, colourful design, under £60.

Full Review

At a Glance

	De'Longhi Eletta Explore Bean-to-Cup	Nescafé Dolce Gusto Colors Pod Machine
247Verdict Score	9.0/10	8.5/10
Owner Rating	4.4★ (3,600)	4.5★ (9,600)
Verdict	Excellent	Great
Price	£800+	Under £60

Quick Verdict

Both are strong choices, but the De'Longhi Eletta Explore Bean-to-Cup edges ahead with a 9.0/10 vs 8.5/10. Over Ice mode, cold brew, LatteCrema Cool, 20 drinks, My drinks profile. Cold coffee specialist. That said, the Nescafé Dolce Gusto Colors Pod Machine is worth considering if Dolce Gusto pods, 15 bar, manual milk adjustment, 1.4L, colourful design, under £60. 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

Nescafé Dolce Gusto Colors Pod Machine

Under £60 — the most affordable capsule coffee machine with 15-bar extraction
Dolce Gusto pods include specialty drinks: lattes, cappuccinos, Americanos and hot chocolate
Manual lever controls milk-to-coffee ratio — more customisation than single-button alternatives
Colourful design in multiple colours is playful and kitchen-friendly
9,600 Amazon reviews at 4.5★ — extensively validated entry pod machine

Manual lever is less convenient than one-touch alternatives — requires monitoring
Dolce Gusto pod quality trails Nespresso Vertuo crema technology
Milk capsules are separate from coffee capsules — two pods per milk drink

FAQ

Which is better, De'Longhi Eletta Explore or Nescafé Dolce Gusto?

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 8.5/10.

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 Nescafé Dolce Gusto best suited to?

Dolce Gusto pods, 15 bar, manual milk adjustment, 1.4L, colourful design, under £60.

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. Nescafé Dolce Gusto Colors Pod Machine: Manual lever is less convenient than one-touch alternatives — requires monitoring; Dolce Gusto pod quality trails Nespresso Vertuo crema technology.

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 Nescafé Dolce Gusto Colors Pod Machine at 4.5★ from 9,600.

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