De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine review

When you're starting your day with coffee, it's always nice to have options. Sometimes, a carafe of piping hot coffee will fuel you through the day, while other days a decadent espresso is calling your name. 

The De'Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker and Espresso machine lets you have both, in one compact machine. The most recent iteration adds the functions of a digital touchscreen, a bold setting for stronger coffee, a spill-proof carafe, and pod compatibility. We're all about versatility so, of course, we had to put this dual-function machine to the test. De'longhi is well known for making some of the best espresso machines around, and after extensive use, we're here to tell you we think it's worth it, and to help you determine if it's the perfect setup for you, too. 

Who is the De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker for?

The De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker is ideal for people who like variety in their coffee routine, as it can make four different beverages. This also makes it suitable for households with individuals who may have differing tastes. It’s also a good choice for people who want a moderately priced machine by a company known for quality products – and it is certainly less expensive (and space-saving) than purchasing both a coffee maker and an espresso machine.

De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker: specs

• Model Number: COM530M 
• Dimensions: 11.02” W x 14.52” L x 12.79” H
• Weight:  6.2 pounds 
• Pump Pressure: 15-Bar Pump Pressure
• Plate Warmer: yes
• Programmable timer: yes
• Built-in grinder: No
• Descale alert: No
• Warranty: 1 year

De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker: first impressions 

The De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker arrived in good shape. It was packed very securely in recyclable cardboard and also plastic bags, and the trays and other movable parts were taped down. The accessories were also packed in cardboard and covered in plastic.

The left side of the machine houses everything needed to make espresso, cappuccino, and latte. The water tank for espresso drinks is on the back left side.  In the photo above, you can also see the steam dial on the top, the frother and steam connection nozzle, and the portafilter.  

 The right side of the machine contains the drip coffee components. At the top is water fill compartment and filter holder. Note that the water compartment and filter holder are combined in one section, which swings out and this makes it easy to fill. It also saves vertical space since it doesn’t butt up against the bottom of your top cabinets. In the back of the machine (next to the espresso water tank) is the anti-chlorine filter holder. 

The other accessories in the box include the 10-cup spill-proof drip glass carafe, one cup espresso filter, two cup espresso filter, filter for espresso pods, coffee measure/presser, anti-chlorine filter, descaler solution, and instructions.

The anti-chlorine filter is designed to eliminate the taste of chlorine in the water when making drip coffee. De’Longhi recommends replacing the anti-chlorine filter after 80 cycles or 6 months, whichever comes first.

What is the De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker like to use?

The De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine has a digital display and pretty simple controls. The three buttons on the far-left side are as follows: the top button is the espresso on/off button, the middle button is the espresso coffee/hot water button, and the bottom button is the steam button.

The black display panel houses the touch display functions, there’s a coffee on/off button, clock, and four buttons at the bottom: bold (for more flavorful coffee), along with the buttons for auto, hours, and minutes, which are used to set the clock and program the coffee maker to start automatically.

Making a pot of coffee was as simple as pouring coffee grounds into the basket, filling the water tank, and pressing the on/off button to start the brewing process. You can see the final result in the photo above.

To make espresso, the machine needs to be preheated. I turned the appliance on, inserted the filter holder (without coffee), and placed one of the De’Longhi double-walled glasses (sold separately at Amazon)  underneath. Then, I turned the espresso maker on to deliver hot water into the glass, which I  then emptied. Then I repeated the process again, this time with coffee beans that I ground (but not too finely) in one of my own coffee bean grinders.  (When I make espresso-based beverages, I prefer to grind beans, and the De'Longhi does not have one built-in.)

To make a Latte, I prepared the espresso as described above, and then pressed the steam button (waiting for it to reach the right temperature), put a cup of 2% milk underneath, turned the steam dial to On, and moved the cup in slow upward motions. When it reached the desired consistency, I poured over the espresso. 

De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker: maintenance and cleaning

De’Longhi recommends cleaning the frother after each use. It can be easily removed and washed with warm water. The drip tray contains a red level indicator, which helps you see when it’s at risk of overflowing (although I emptied it after every use). When the red level indicator starts poking up from the tray, it’s time to empty and clean the tray. In the photo above, I slid the drip tray partially to the right so you can see the red level indicator.

The filters should be cleaned weekly under running water. The coffee maker itself can be cleaned with a damp cloth. After 300 coffees, De’Longhi recommends cleaning the boiler outlet, and the manual provides instructions on how to remove it – which will require a screwdriver.

The appliance should be descaled every 200 coffees. The company includes a descaling solution and provides instructions for the descaling process.

How does the De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker rate online?

The De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker has 4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon, based on 734 ratings. At Best Buy, the coffee maker has 4.0 out of 5 stars, based on 265 customer reviews. The complaints were spotty. For example, one customer complained that the coffee maker only makes 10 cups of coffee instead of 12 cups. Another customer complained that the audible beep when the coffee is done was too low. Yet another complaint was about the absence of a frother cup.

How does the De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker compare to other coffee and espresso makers

The De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker makes both coffee and espresso-based beverages, which puts it in a class by itself. In fact, it's part of our Best Espresso Machines and  Best Drip Coffee Makers lists because of this feature. There are only a handful of appliances that can do both, and the Ninja Specialty Brewer is the only competitor in this price range that we’ve tried and can vouch for. 

We would give Ninja a slight edge because it has 6 brew sizes and is at least $100 cheaper – but it doesn’t have a 15-bar pump system, and the manual frother doesn’t feel as sturdy. While the De’Longhi has a lot of plastic on the top, the rest of the unit is on par with the level of quality we’ve come to expect from this company.

De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker: final thoughts

Most of the De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker’s features can be summed up in its title. A machine that does everything – and does it well – can’t be overstated.  The few things I would change are personal quirks. For example, I prefer a stainless-steel carafe to one made of glass.  Also, it seems tedious to have to put a cup under the filter holder every time to preheat the coffee unit.

However, the ability to make 4 drinks in one machine may be worth the extra work. Aside from those issues, it’s a very good machine.  

De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker: where to buy

About the reviewer 

Terri drinks (decaf) coffee every day – and can drink it with or in place of breakfast, lunch, or dinner. She has tested dozens of coffee makers – and can always find time to test more. 

All our reviews, as in the case of the De’Longhi All-In-One Combination Coffee, Espresso, and Cappuccino Machine, are based on the real-life experience of using these products at home.