De'Longhi Eletta Explore Bean-to-Cup vs Sage Bambino Plus Espresso 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

Sage Bambino Plus Espresso Machine

9.1/10 Excellent

4.5★ (8,400 owners)

3-second ThermoJet, auto steam wand, pre-infusion, 54mm portafilter. Entry Sage with auto steam.

Full Review

At a Glance

	De'Longhi Eletta Explore Bean-to-Cup	Sage Bambino Plus Espresso Machine
247Verdict Score	9.0/10	9.1/10
Owner Rating	4.4★ (3,600)	4.5★ (8,400)
Verdict	Excellent	Excellent
Price	£800+	Under £350

Quick Verdict

This is a genuine draw — both score within 0.15 points of each other. De'Longhi Eletta Explore Bean-to-Cup: Over Ice mode, cold brew, LatteCrema Cool, 20 drinks, My drinks profile. Cold coffee specialist. Sage Bambino Plus Espresso Machine: 3-second ThermoJet, auto steam wand, pre-infusion, 54mm portafilter. Entry Sage with auto steam. Choose based on your specific needs. 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

Sage Bambino Plus Espresso Machine

3-second ThermoJet heat-up is near-instant — the fastest at this price tier
Automatic steam wand creates microfoam without manual skill — beginners get barista results immediately
Pre-infusion gently saturates grounds before extraction — improves consistency significantly
54mm portafilter is Sage's standard — large accessory ecosystem
Under £350 — Sage quality with automatic steam at the most accessible Sage price

54mm rather than 58mm commercial standard — less accessory breadth vs Gaggia or Rancilio
Auto steam wand requires rinsing after each use
Single boiler — wait between espresso and steaming (~30 seconds)

FAQ

Which is better, De'Longhi Eletta Explore or Sage Bambino Plus?

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

The Sage Bambino Plus Espresso Machine matches or exceeds it at a potentially lower price point.

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 Sage Bambino Plus best suited to?

3-second ThermoJet, auto steam wand, pre-infusion, 54mm portafilter. Entry Sage with auto steam.

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. Sage Bambino Plus Espresso Machine: 54mm rather than 58mm commercial standard — less accessory breadth vs Gaggia or Rancilio; Auto steam wand requires rinsing after each use.

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 Sage Bambino Plus Espresso Machine at 4.5★ from 8,400.

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