De’Longhi vs. Melitta – Coffee machines with Italian essence, but different

The “coffee moment” is one of my favorites of the whole day. Starting the day with the kitchen smelling of freshly brewed coffee and enjoying a super intense and aromatic drink is priceless. At least for us. For this reason, we are always looking for and comparing the best coffee makers on the market to recommend the best one. In this article, we talk about two brands that are characterized by their quality: De’Longhi vs Melitta.

The essence of Italian coffee is present in both, so unlike other comparisons, in this case it is not a differentiating element. However, this does not mean that there are not enough elements that allow us to compare both brands of coffee and choose the coffee maker that best suits our preferences. In general, Melitta’s coffee makers are somewhat simpler than De’Longhi’s; at least, as far as automatic coffee machines are concerned, which is the central theme of our article.

However, there are certain aspects in which Melitta coffee machines are more precise, such as the choice of intensity level, for example. Although, to be honest, De’Longhi is a step ahead when it comes to variety, since he has more models of coffee makers in which the frother can be used. But, as we know that speaking generically is not enough, we are going to focus not only on the comparison between brands, but also between two of his most iconic automatic coffee machines. Specifically, the De’Longhi Magnifica S and the Melitta Caffeo Solo E950. Discover all their differences!

De’Longhi vs Melitta – Comparison Table

In this table we gather the main specifications and characteristics of two of the most representative automatic coffee machines of each brand. Thus, it will be easier for you to identify their differences:

Two very recognizable designs

Aesthetically, the only thing in which the De’Longhi and Melitta coffee makers are similar is that they have two coffee outlet tubes, and that they are available in black. For the rest, we are facing two designs that do not have much to do with each other. In general, Melitta coffee machines are flatter and more functional, reducing the size of the screen to a simple display area, but less interactive. What we like about Melitta is that she designs the coffee makers in various colors, and the silver tone she uses gives them a very sophisticated air.

On the other hand, De’Longhi coffee makers give more presence to the screen, as well as to the button control panel, which is located in the center of the coffee maker, while those of Melitta have a smaller size. On the other hand, they have a more three-dimensional design, something that also contributes to the fact that the coffee bean container protrudes from above.

That said, it’s fair to say that the dimensions and weight are pretty close, so you won’t have to find extra space for either coffee maker.

Power and pressure are maintained

Once we have looked at the aesthetics of each coffee maker, two of the next aspects on which we usually focus attention are power and pressure. And, in this sense, the two brands are within the usual average, with a power of around 1400-1450 watts, and a pressure of 15 bars. Actually, most automatic coffee machines have this level of pressure, and as long as it is greater than 9 bars, it will be interesting.

On the other hand, it is interesting to see that both coffee machines have a double output system through which they can make two espressos at the same time, or a longer coffee.

Grinding: same characteristics and system

The most relevant strength of the De’Longhi and Melitta automatic coffee machines is that they grind the coffee beans at the moment, and for this, they use a conical steel grinder in both cases. This makes the grind system the same for both, although there is a slight change when it comes to levels.

De’Longhi coffee machines have up to 7 degrees of grind, while Melitta’s usually stay at 5. Although, to be honest, once we find the perfect level of fineness, we rarely change it, and in both coffee machines it is easy find him.

Eye! In the De’Longhi coffee maker we can also use already ground coffee, but not in the Melitta coffee maker. Not that we usually do it, but if you happen to have some coffee left over that you bought already ground, De’Longhi prevents you from wasting it.

How is the capacity of the deposits?

Different for each brand. In general, the water tank tends to have the same capacity in the various automatic coffee machines of each brand, and in this regard, the victory goes to De’Longhi. In his coffee machines we find deposits of up to 1.8 liters, while those of Melitta are reduced to 1.2 liters. If there are two of you at home, this volume will be more than enough for you, but for larger families, it may be interesting to have a larger tank.

The same happens with the containers where the coffee beans are kept, whose size is twice as large in the De’Longhi as in the Melitta. It is not uncommon, since the size of this deposit is usually in proportion to that of the water, since automatic coffee machines calculate how much water they will need for each size of coffee.

The milk system, another aspect to take into account

We come to another of the characteristics that most often serve as a turning point for users to decide which one to keep: the possibility of creating milk foam. It’s fair to say that both De’Longhi and Melitta make coffee makers that include a super complete milk frother. However, if we focus on the two coffee machines that we have chosen, we only see it in the De’Longhi Magnifica S.

The tube located on the left side allows you to create milk foam thanks to the Cappuccino system with which it is designed, although you should know that in no case is coffee and milk poured. The procedure is more manual; You must fill a jug with milk and use the steamer to create the foam and heat it. That is, the coffee with milk does not come out as such from the coffee maker itself.

What varieties of coffee does each coffee maker make?

The previous difference means that the De’Longhi Magnifica S can make up to 4 different varieties of drinks: espresso, long, cappuccino and infusions. For their part, they are reduced to 3 in the case of the Melitta Caffeo Solo, with which we can only make 3. Of course, in all cases we can play with the size of the coffee, choosing it in short or long mode, as well as with its intensity.

Now, the intensity adjustment is not done in the same way in the De’Longhi and Melitta coffee machines. In the former, we can adjust it manually through a selector wheel, while the intensity adjustment in Melitta coffee machines is chosen between 3 levels. In particular, we prefer to choose an already predetermined level because it is easier for us, but if you are one of those who prefers to test manually, De’Longhi has that option.

Automatic functions on both coffee makers

Given the wide variety of coffee machines that we can find today, we have become accustomed to demanding, almost without realizing it, some automatic functions that we see in both De’Longhi and Melitta coffee machines. We are talking about the inclusion of automatic cleaning and descaling programs, essential to keep the coffee maker in good condition and extend its useful life. And, also, the possibility of automatically turning off the coffee maker. In addition, in both brands we can modify the inactivity time that we want to establish the automatic shutdown.

De’Longhi vs. Melitta: Which coffee maker do we prefer?

Having reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of De’Longhi and Melitta automatic coffee machines, we recognize that it is not an easy decision. Comparing automatic coffee machines with similar features, De’Longhi’s are somewhat more expensive, although it is logical considering that they have more features than Melitta’s. And, based on the fact that the quality of the coffees they make is the highest in both, the decision comes down, mainly, to the degree of sophistication you are looking for.

If you prefer to opt for a more advanced and versatile automatic coffee maker, De’Longhi’s have multiple additional advantages. For us, the main one is that they have a milk frother, but they also have more degrees of grinding. In case this is not important to you, Melitta coffee makers make it easier for you to enjoy high-quality coffee.

Particularly, it seems to us that, if we buy an automatic coffee maker, it is to enjoy it to the fullest. Therefore, we lean slightly more towards De’Longhi for his greater versatility. However, the decision will be correct in any case, since both brands are clear hallmarks of the most precious Italian coffee.