De'Longhi Primadonna Soul Automatic coffee maker review

The De'Longhi Primadonna Soul Automatic Coffee Maker is the machine for you if you fancy barista-style, artisan coffee without going to your local coffee shop. It’s a high-end coffee machine with innovative features such as bean-to-cup adapt technology, touch screen operation, and wait for it….wi-fi capabilities.

Yes, you can literally make your favorite cup of Joe at a press of a button, without even leaving your bed! What more would you need in one of the best coffee makers? But while it may be one of the ‘big guys’ of coffee machines, can it produce a great-tasting beverage to rival the coffee shops? I put it to the test to find out if this luxury bean-to-cup coffee maker will make my breaks a breeze!

De'Longhi Primadonna Soul Automatic Coffee Maker review

Testing the De'Longhi Primadonna Soul coffee maker

Cynthia Lawrence

As the home content editor at Tom's Guide, Cynthia Lawrence covers all things homes, interior decorating, and garden-related. She has a wealth of editorial experience testing the latest, ‘must-have’ home appliances, writing buying guides, and the handy ‘how to’ features. Her work has been published in various titles including, T3, Top Ten Reviews, Real Homes, and Livingetc. amongst many. 

De'Longhi Primadonna Soul specifications

• Dimensions (in.): H13.7 x W16.9 x D9.3
• Pump pressure (bar): 19
• Weight (lbs): 23.17 pounds
• Beans container capacity (lbs): 1.1lbs
• Water container capacity (l): 1.2L
• Grounds container capacity (n): 14
• Max cup height (mm): 140
• Input power (watts): 1450 Watts
• Rated voltage/Frequency (V~Hz): 220-240 V / 50-60 Hz
• Color: Silver Black
• Finishing parts: Plastic with metal parts
• Cup holder: Stainless steel
• What's Included: Carbon active filter, measuring Scoop, total hardness test, cleaning brush, descaler 100mL, removable water spout/steam spout, and, milk carafe
• Warranty: 3-year warranty with product registration

Unboxing and setting up the De'Longhi Primadonna Soul

Unboxing and getting the single-serve coffee maker out was a bit of a chore to lift out as it’s rather heavy. It’s also huge so just be sure to have enough worktop space to place it on.  Admittedly, I tend to skim over instruction manuals, but there are different parts and attachments so it’s worthwhile reading, just to find out where everything goes. 

The water reservoir at the side, for example, is camouflaged within the seamless, chrome design, so it wasn’t particularly obvious. Plus it can be a little tricky to slide back in once you’ve removed to fill, so make sure you have it on the correct side. 

Once you’ve filled and inserted the water reservoir, (you can either opt to add the water filter), simply switch on the power button at the back to get started. It takes a little while to power up before the stylish 4.3'' TFT touch color display turns on. 

Setting up is straightforward by simply following the step-by-step instructions on the screen which are all self-explanatory. At the top of the machine is where you pour your coffee beans, and besides that compartment is the slot for granule coffee, should you decide to opt for grounds for ease.

Before using this coffee maker, the machine needs to automatically descale the water, so it’s best to leave a container in the holder to avoid messy spills. It’s also advisable to let the machine flush out with a few ‘test’ coffee runs before making your actual coffee brew.

Using the De'Longhi Primadonna Soul coffee maker

If you’re pressed for time, and just want your favorite coffee in minutes, the Delonghi Primadonna Soul coffee machine is really simple to use. Fully automated, the color touch screen shows you pretty images of the beverage menu. You simply scroll through to choose whichever takes your fancy and tap the screen. It literally has everything including espresso and americano to creamy cappuccino mix, caffe latte, and even a tea function! 

I decided to try the cappuccino + to begin with using my aromatic, lightly-roasted coffee beans. On the screen, you can select your size of cup, and bean ‘aroma’ and it even tells you what levels to adjust your milk frother. Within seconds my beverage was ready without fuss. Not only did it look great but tasted just as delicious as my local coffee shop creation. And with the LatteCrema system, it works well to provide that barista-style frothy top. 

Next up, I downloaded the Coffee Link App (available on Google Play) to connect remotely to the coffee machine. Just how easy was it to make a coffee from the other room? The app offers the same menu of beverages, but with extra specialty recipes if you’re feeling adventurous!

I hit the cafe latte button this time, and with ‘preparation underway’ on my phone, it did prepare the tasty beverage in no time. Impressive! Other drinks worth trying are the espresso macchiato and doppio, where you can really taste the rich, bean-to-cup freshness. 

The only suggestion I’d have is an indicator to let you know when the coffee beans are nearly finished. Instead, it would stop mid-way whilst making a drink, before telling you on the screen to fill the bean hopper container. However, this is a minor grumble in the grand scheme of things and easily resolved by just topping up regularly.

Cleaning the De'Longhi Primadonna Soul

One thing I hate about complicated gadgetry is the maintenance. However, it is surprisingly easy to clean this coffee maker. Perhaps the best feature is the milk container’s integrated clean function. This beats cleaning a standalone milk frother any day!

Simply switch the dial to ‘clean’ after each milk-based drink is made, and it automatically self-cleans all parts using hot water. This will eliminate any horrid milk build-up and is more hygienic, just be sure to keep a cup or container under the wand while it’s cleaning. Generally, all removable parts are easy to clean, and the machine itself just needs a simple wipe-down with a damp microfiber cleaning cloth (you can pick these up on Amazon).  

Is the De'Longhi Primadonna Soul right for you?

Whether you’re a keen coffee aficionado or a fan of milky coffees (like myself!), you’ll simply love the convenience of the Delonghi PrimaDonna Soul coffee machine. The touch display is stylish and very user-friendly, with a huge menu of beverages that you will ever need! The fact that this does bean-to-cup in seconds is impressive, and you can really taste the difference in your espressos. Best of all, it has a handy app that does all the work for you at just a tap of a button!

It does come with an eye-watering price tag at $2,499.95. However, if you’re after a coffee machine with all the bells and whistles, the Delonghi PrimaDonna Soul coffee machine will certainly be a good investment if you make use of all the features. If you're based in the UK, or in Europe, acting head of e-commerce, Christina Chrysostomou and I recently took a trip to De'Longhi's headquarters in Treviso, Italy to review the De'Longhi Rivelia coffee maker.

Do bear in mind that the dimensions of the Delonghi PrimaDonna Soul coffee machine are large. I had trouble fitting it all the way under my cabinetry, so had to place it slightly towards the edge of the worktop to easily get to the coffee bean dispenser located at the top. However, it’s sturdy and looks sleek and modern. 

Because of its size, it may not be ideal for bijou kitchens or ones limited on worktop space. Instead, you might want to buy something in our best small coffee maker guide, like a pod coffee maker perhaps? You could still make white coffee beverages with the Nespresso Vertuo Next with Breville Aeroccinno available on Amazon)

Good to know

While we can't see any offers right now, if you sign up for the De'Longhi newsletter, you can get 10% off of your purchase. And don't forget to register your machine. Not only will this provide a 3-year warranty, but you'll also get product tips, news, special offers, and fast customer support when you need it.

How we test coffee makers

The Delonghi PrimaDonna Soul coffee machine was tested extensively over a period of ten days. This was while my husband and I were working from home which meant it got plenty of use with regular (and much-needed!) coffee breaks. I almost forgot to mention that you can add up to three user profiles, for the ultimate personalized experience. Although my preference is the milky variety such as cappuccino and lattes, I enjoyed treating it as an espresso maker to create short drinks, and those without milk too.

When testing coffee makers, these are some of the things I look at:

Packaging: How well are the machine and accessories protected in transit? Do the parts come wrapped in unnecessary amounts of plastic?

Weight: How easy is it to carry from my front door to the kitchen?

Setup: How easy is it to assemble the machine (if applicable) and make a coffee? How long does this process take? Does it require instructions?

Brew quality and grind: Here, I make each drink and assess the strength, bar pressure, extraction, and time it takes to make each drink.

Noise levels: Is this machine quiet enough to make coffee in the morning, without disturbing co-habitants and neighbors?

Size: Can the machine be used in a small kitchen? How tall is the machine and is there adequate counter clearance for it to sit underneath cupboards?

Features: Are the programmable settings helpful? Does the milk frother foam milk consistently and satisfactorily each time?

Cleaning: How easy is it to maintain this machine? Are coffee stains wipeable? Can the drip tray and waste bin be removed easily? Which parts are hand-washable or dishwasher-safe? How easy is it to descale this coffee maker?