Start with a prepared buying decision or build your own. We compare the machine, required grinder, checked price evidence, ownership costs, lifecycle and UK repair support—and keep unknowns visible.
9 structured comparisons, each with dated evidence and an explicit limit on what the available information can prove.
The Bambino is the lower-cost manual-milk route; the Bambino Plus adds hands-free Auto MilQ temperature and texture control, a larger 1.9-litre tank and a stainless-steel portafilter.
Open the full comparison →These Magnifica Start variants share the basic bean-to-cup platform, but ECAM220.22.GB uses a manual steam frother while ECAM220.61.GB adds the automatic LatteCrema Hot carafe and one-touch latte macchiato.
Open the full comparison →Both use Philips' two-part LatteGo milk carafe and share the recorded 24.6 × 43.3 × 37.1cm footprint; the 5500 expands the menu to 20 hot and iced recipes and adds four user profiles, while the 3300 offers five coffee recipes plus hot water with no profiles.
Open the full comparison →Both use Vertuo capsules, barcode-led one-button brewing and connected updates. The Pop is the lower-cost, shorter route with a 560ml tank and drinks up to 355ml; the Next adds a 1.1-litre tank and the larger carafe format.
Open the full comparison →Rivelia EXAM440.35.B is the eight-drink manual-frother version; EXAM440.55 adds the automatic LatteCrema Hot carafe and expands the advertised menu to sixteen drinks.
Open the full comparison →Both are hands-on 54mm espresso machines with an integrated 250g grinder and manual milk wand; the Barista Pro adds ThermoJet heating, an LCD workflow display and 30 external grind settings versus the Express record’s 16.
Open the full comparison →Both combine a grinder with a portafilter workflow. The Sage keeps manual dosing decisions and manual milk with a fast LCD-led process; the Ninja adds a built-in scale, Barista Assist recommendations, longer coffee and cold-brew formats, and hands-free milk.
Open the full comparison →Both combine a grinder and portafilter in one body. Sage uses button-and-LCD guidance with manual steam; De’Longhi uses 3.5-inch touchscreen guidance, automatic or manual milk, and cold-brew recipes.
Open the full comparison →Both are approachable automatic-milk bean-to-cup routes with 1.8-litre tanks and removable brew units. Philips lists five coffee recipes plus hot water, a 275g ceramic grinder and two-part LatteGo; De’Longhi lists three coffee drinks plus hot water, a 250g grinder and LatteCrema carafe.
Open the full comparison →Select up to three records, then change the priority lens and ownership assumptions.
Choose one priority to surface the strongest evidenced fit. This changes the explanation, never the underlying data or table order.
Lowest known starting basket at £299.00. A connected grinder is included where required.
This is a single-priority signal, not an overall winner or CoffeeScore.| Compare | De'LonghiEletta ExploreRecord 93% complete | De'LonghiMagnifica Start LatteCremaRecord 88% complete |
|---|---|---|
| Model identity | ECAM450.86.T EX:4 · SKU 0132250172 | ECAM220.61.GB |
| Product lifecycle | Current model | Current model |
| Known starting basket | Machine: De'Longhi Eletta Explore (£899) | Machine: De'Longhi Magnifica Start LatteCrema (£299) |
| Current retailer context | £899 · Currys · verified delivered · exact model verified | £299 · Currys · verified delivered · exact model verified |
| Known starting equipment | £899 | £299 |
| Machine type | Bean-to-cup | Bean-to-cup |
| Capsule ecosystem | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Checked pod-cost example | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Daily effort | Low | Low |
| Milk workflow | Separate automatic LatteCrema Hot and Cool carafes | Automatic LatteCrema Hot carafe |
| Built-in grinder | Yes · Bean Adapt settings via machine and app | Yes · 250g hopper |
| Best for | Households wanting a broad one-touch menu that includes hot milk, cold foam and travel-mug drinks | One-touch latte macchiato without learning to grind, dose or steam milk |
| Main trade-off | This is a large, deep and maintenance-heavy convenience machine: allow for its 45cm depth, access to the 1.8-litre tank and storage for two milk carafes. The under-five-minute Cold Brew figure and café-quality language are manufacturer claims, not independent testing. Run the carafe CLEAN function after milk sessions, dismantle and wash the carafes regularly, hand-rinse the removable infuser at least monthly and allow roughly 40 minutes plus rinses for descaling. The separate ECAM452.67.G is not the same model. Independent taste, temperature, noise, energy and reliability testing is pending, so no CoffeeScore is published. | Only three of the four buttons are drinks involving coffee—Espresso, Coffee and Latte Macchiato; the fourth is hot water. There is no dedicated one-touch cappuccino, flat white or americano programme. Automatic milk rinsing is not automatic ownership: run CLEAN after the last milk drink, dismantle the carafe within two days, and hand-rinse the infuser monthly. The optional £8.99 DLSC002 filter can model at about £54.69 a year if replaced every two months. Independent taste, milk-temperature, noise, energy and reliability testing is pending, so no CoffeeScore is published. |
| Width | 26 cm | 24 cm |
| Depth | 45 cm | 44 cm · allow access space for the removable tank and infuser |
| Water capacity | 1.8 L | 1.8 L |
| Warranty field | 2 years minimum | 2 years minimum |
| UK support provider | De'Longhi UK | De'Longhi UK |
| Unresolved evidence gaps | 6 fields | 5 fields |
| CoffeeScore | Awaiting test | Awaiting test |
Check Currys · £899 →Direct retailer link · no commission enabled · checked 22/07/2026Open full evidence record → | Check Currys · £299 →Direct retailer link · no commission enabled · checked 22/07/2026Open full evidence record → |
Change the assumptions to match your household. Pod machines use the same editable capsule figure for a like-for-like scenario; the table above shows when an exact checked system example exists. Other machines use bean cost and dose. A connected grinder is included where the machine needs one.
Planning estimate only. It includes only maintenance with priced, model-specific cadence. It excludes milk, water, electricity, repairs, optional accessories and delivery. Recorded equipment prices can change; always check the retailer’s final price.