De'Longhi Dinamica Plus: A versatile fully automatic coffee machine tested

The bulky name De'Longhi Dinamica Plus 370.95.T stands for a fully automatic machine that is supposed to deliver all the coffees a barista can make, from espresso to flat white. After two weeks of testing, it is clear that the machine is theoretically capable of this. But not everything is perfect.

Chic design

Optically, the Dinamica Plus with its chic grey-silver exterior probably fits into any kitchen. It looks classy, even though it is largely made of plastic. The machine is very well made. There are no strange gaps, all parts fit perfectly.

The water tank holds 1.8 litres and is located on the right-hand side. It is long and narrow and can be easily pulled out using the handle. You can install a water filter if required. The coffee spout is height-adjustable so that nothing splashes when preparing espresso in a small cup.

The best thing about the machine is how easy it is to use. You can order your favourite coffee via the 3.5-inch touchscreen as soon as you switch it on and after the first rinse. Whether the default settings suit your taste is another topic, which I'll come back to below. The list of coffees displayed is automatically sorted by frequency so that your favourite coffee is always at the top.

Many functions

The machine is suitable for ground coffee and whole beans. The container holds around 300 grams of coffee beans. This is also where you will find the rotary control for the grinder, which determines how finely the beans are ground. Seven levels are available to you.

After switching on the machine, it automatically rinses itself with water. You should place a cup underneath to collect the water, as the machine uses quite a lot of water to rinse. Now you can order different types of coffee via the touchscreen:

• Cappuccino
• Espresso
• Coffee
• Latte macchiato
• Long (similar to an Americano, but stronger)
• Doppio+ (a double espresso)
• Cappuccino+
• Cappuccino Mix
• Caffelatte (also called milk coffee)
• Flat White
• Hot milk
• Espresso macchiato
• Hot water
• 2x espresso
• Jug of coffee

For the varieties with milk, you use the milk container, which is plugged into the left-hand side of the machine and produces warm milk or milk foam in various stages. The last function prepares an entire coffee pot, which corresponds to six cups. Instead of the milk group, you can also attach a module for hot water and even prepare tea with the Dinamica.

Small changes to the strength or amount of coffee can be made directly on the machine at the touch of a button. If you want to save these variables permanently, the corresponding app comes into play. More on this in a moment.

One negative thing stood out: The machine does not check whether there is enough milk or water to prepare the selected coffee. It only checks the minimum quantities required to operate the machine itself. In the worst case scenario, however, this can lead to the preparation process being cancelled because the tank is empty. The half-finished coffee is gone and you have to start the process again.

Milk container foams any milk

The milk container is very easy to assemble. It only consists of the container itself, a milk tube and a module to attach it to. You fill the container with milk, insert the tube into the module and place it on the container. The whole thing is then attached to the machine and snaps into place without any problems. The design ensures that you can no longer add milk during operation if you realise that you didn't add enough at the beginning.

On the milk container there is a rotary control for the "frothiness" of the milk. In the product photos, a great cap of milk foam forms on the drinks. In practice, I have not been able to reproduce this, even at the highest setting. Nevertheless, the foam is firm, fine-pored and long-lasting on the highest setting, so you can spoon it away easily. The great thing is that the milk preparation works just as well with normal milk as it does with lactose-free or plant-based milks such as almond or soya milk.

After use, you can and should turn the milk froth control all the way to the right to the "Clean" setting. The Dinamica Plus then rinses the module with water. Then remove the milk group and place it completely in the refrigerator. The manufacturer recommends rinsing the milk container at least every two days. To do this, lift the upper module from the container and remove the hose. The spout and the wheel for adjusting the froth are also removable and dishwasher-safe.

Operation via app

Connecting the fully automatic coffee machine with the associated De'Longhi "Coffee Link" app works smoothly via Bluetooth. The app's settings menu describes how to find the code on the Dinamica Plus that you enter on your mobile to connect the two devices. A little warning: the translation of the app into German is not always successful and links usually take you to an English-language website.

In the app, I can adjust my coffee in detail. There are controls for the amount of coffee in millilitres, the coffee temperature in several stages and the amount of milk in seconds. Wait, what? Yes, the manufacturer measures the amount of milk in seconds instead of millilitres. This is just as confusing and meaningless as it sounds. When I tested it, I got the right amount of milk in my latte macchiato for my glass size in 5-second increments. De'Longhi: Please update!

Although I can adjust the temperature of the coffee, I can't change the temperature of the milk. I also like to make cocoa with the machine. Well, I wanted to. But the milk just doesn't get hot. It stays lukewarm, which is far too cold for me for 'hot milk'. You should leave the temperature of the coffee at level 1 or 2. The coffee is still hot, but higher temperatures have an effect on the beans and the coffee becomes much more bitter. But maybe that's exactly the flavour you want.

You can save your favourite recipes according to your preferences in three different profiles. The icons for these are symbolised in a very clichéd way by a man (blue, profile 1), a woman (pink, profile 2) and a man with a full beard (yellow, profile 3). A fourth profile called "Guest" prepares coffee in the standard settings. There is a button on the machine itself to switch profiles, so you don't need your smartphone for every coffee.

The menu redirects you to the De'Longhi website if you need help with cleaning, for example, or want to discover coffee recipes for desserts and cocktails. However, the range of recipes changes when I change the language of the website. It's therefore best to browse in English and German.

Coffee flavour

I have already got to know various fully automatic coffee machines through friends and family. I also own a high-quality model myself. With these machines, I've already had very good coffee in the standard setting. But when I brewed my first one with the standard setting of the Dinamica Plus, I just thought "Oh dear, it's thin". After connecting to the app and trying out different settings, I have now found a combination that makes me a good coffee or cappuccino. Most of my guests and colleagues were also impressed. However, the machine was not able to convince enthusiastic coffee connoisseurs.

And that's also the point: if you just want a quick cup of coffee early in the morning to get your daily energy boost or enjoy the bitter flavour of the brown hot drink with a slice of cake in the afternoon, you'll definitely be very happy with the machine. This is due to its ease of use and the quick and fresh preparation of the different flavours. However, anyone who celebrates coffee will have to spend even more money on another fully automatic coffee machine. For everyone else, the Dinamica Plus is very suitable for everyday use.

Conclusion: Simple operation, customisable taste

The De'Longhi Dinamica Plus is very versatile and offers many options for personalising the individual coffee types thanks to the associated app - even if the app definitely has potential for improvement. The simple operation and cleaning of the machine's individual parts is very positive. In terms of taste, you will find good settings for your favourite coffee after some trial and error, and the milk foam is also firm and long-lasting. Only the lukewarm milk temperature is disappointing. Especially when the programme promises 'hot milk'.

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Automatic coffee makers

De'Longhi Dinamica Plus

336

Automatic coffee makers

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De'Longhi Dinamica Plus

336