Best Coffee Beans for DeLonghi Machines: Complete Guide 2025

Looking for the perfect coffee bean for your DeLonghi machine? Then you’ve come to the right place. Whether you own a Magnifica, Dinamica, Eletta or PrimaDonna, this guide will help you choose the ideal beans to enhance your daily coffee.

Have you just invested in a DeLonghi coffee machine and are wondering which coffee bean to choose? After testing dozens of references on my own DeLonghi Magnifica, I’d like to share with you my expertise in turning every cup into an exceptional moment.

About the author

Maxime Duhamel

Coffee Expert and Consultant

15 years of expertise

A coffee enthusiast for over 15 years, I’m dedicated to sharing my in-depth knowledge of the art and science of coffee. From bean selection to roasting and preparation techniques, I explore every aspect of this fascinating beverage to help you discover the best of coffee.

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15 years of experience

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200+ articles published

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Why the choice of grain is crucial for your DeLonghi

DeLonghi machines are designed to extract the very best from freshly ground coffee beans. But beware: not all coffees are created equal. The wrong choice can not only disappoint your taste buds, but also clog your grinder and shorten the life of your machine.

With over 66% of the French espresso grinder market, DeLonghi has optimised its machines to work with certain types of beans. My experience has taught me that you need beans that are neither too oily nor too dry, with a medium to dark roast for intense espressos.

Full comparison: The best DeLonghi coffee beans

Here is my comparison table after testing these coffees for several months on my DeLonghi Magnifica:

Table legend :

• DeLonghi grind: Recommended setting on DeLonghi machines scale 1-13
• Crema quality: Thickness and persistence of foam
• Price/kg: Range recorded online (November 2025)

How do you read this table?

For a strong, intense espresso: choose Kimbo Napoletano or L’Or Espresso (strength 8-10).

For a controlled budget: Lavazza Crema & Aroma offers the best value for money at €14-16/kg.

For milky drinks: Illy Classico or Cafés Lugat with their mild aromatic profile

Getting started: DeLonghi Selezione is specially designed for DeLonghi machines.

The 5 best beans for DeLonghi in 2025 (detailed analysis)

1. L’Or Espresso – Best value for money (€16-18/kg)

My verdict after 3 months’ use: This long-roasted 100% Arabica develops an intensity of 8/10 that literally explodes in my DeLonghi. The crema is generous and the aromas linger in the mouth for several minutes.

Aromatic profile :

• Dominant notes: caramel, dark chocolate
• Body: powerful and velvety
• Acidity: low
• Origin: Central America

Why does it work with DeLonghi? Long roasting allows the DeLonghi grinder to obtain an even grind without heating the beans. The result is a well-balanced espresso with a beautiful golden crema.

Average price : Pack of 6x500g at around €50 (420 cups)

2. Lavazza Crema & Aroma – The Italian classic (€14-16/kg)

My experience: It’s impossible to talk about Italian coffee without mentioning Lavazza. This Arabica-Robusta blend (70/30) has become my daily go-to when I’m in a hurry.

Aromatic profile :

• Notes: sweet spices, dried fruit, woody notes
• Body: balanced and smooth
• Intensity: 6/10
• Origin: South America and Asia

Highlights for DeLonghi :

• Regular grinding without clogging the grinder
• Abundant crema thanks to Robusta
• Affordable price for everyday use

My advice: Set your grinder to finesse 3-4 for a perfect espresso in 25 seconds.

3. Illy Classico – Top of the range (€24-28/kg)

Why I love it: It’s the coffee I serve to my guests. Its pressure conservation system (patented by Illy) guarantees incomparable freshness for months.

Aromatic profile :

• Notes: caramel, chocolate, toast, floral notes
• Body: soft and refined
• 100% Arabica premium selection
• Origin: 9 different origins

Special features:

• Stored in metal cans under nitrogen
• Perfect medium roast for automatic machines
• Absolute consistency of taste from one pack to the next

Average price: 250g at around €7 (35 cups)

4. Kimbo Espresso Napoletano – The most intense (15-17€/kg)

My feedback: Be careful, this coffee is unforgiving! It’s the strongest of my selection, a real wake-up call. I had to adjust my dosage to 7g per cup instead of the usual 9g.

Aromatic profile :

• Notes: dark chocolate, liquorice, spices
• Body: very powerful and creamy
• Intensity: 10/12
• Composition: 80% Arabica, 20% Robusta

Special features:

• Traditional Neapolitan dark roast
• Thick, long-lasting crema
• Ideal for Robusta lovers

My tip: Start with a slightly coarser grind (level 5) to avoid excessive bitterness.

5. Cafés Lugat Blend Maison – The French roaster (20-24€/kg)

My favourite artisanal roaster: After testing the big industrial companies, I discovered this French roaster. Artisanal roasting in France, perfect traceability, and a taste that’s a change from the classics.

Aromatic profile :

• Notes: citrus, almonds, fruity
• Body: generous
• 100% Arabica grands crus
• Origin: Africa, Central and South America

Advantages :

• Freshness guaranteed (recently roasted)
• Regenerative and organic agriculture
• Support from a French company

Average price: 250g at around €6

Arabica vs Robusta: Which to choose for your DeLonghi?

After testing hundreds of cups, here’s what I’ve learned:

100% Arabica: finesse

Advantages :

• Complex aromas (fruit, flowers, chocolate)
• Delicate acidity
• Less caffeine (0.8-1.3%)
• Optimum digestibility

Disadvantages:

• Higher prices
• Thinner crema
• Fewer bodies

Ideal for : Cappuccinos, lattes, and milky drinks where subtle flavours can come to the fore.

My DeLonghi tip: Set the grind to 2-3 to compensate for the natural lack of body.

Blend Arabica-Robusta: the balance

Advantages :

• Generous, long-lasting crema
• Powerful body
• More affordable prices
• High caffeine content (guaranteed to wake you up!)

Disadvantages:

• More pronounced bitterness
• Less subtle aromas
• May be too intense for some

Ideal for : Tight espressos, ristrettos, and for those who love traditional full-bodied Italian coffee.

My DeLonghi tip: 70/30 or 60/40 blends (Arabica/Robusta) are perfect for Magnifica and Dinamica.

How do you optimise extraction on your DeLonghi?

Grinder adjustment: the key to perfect coffee

After months of adjustments, here are my optimum settings:

For an espresso (25-30ml) :

• Pure Arabica: grind 2-3/13
• Balanced blend: 3-4/13 grind
• Dominant Robusta: grind 4-5/13

For a long coffee (110-120ml) :

• 5-6/13 grind for all types of grain

Pro tip: Change the fineness of grind gradually (one notch at a time) and test 2-3 cups before judging the result.

Freshness: my obsession

Golden rules that I apply :

1. Buy small quantities: 250-500g maximum if you drink less than 3 coffees a day
2. Check the roasting date: never older than 2 months
3. Airtight storage: opaque tin, room temperature
4. Avoid the fridge: humidity is the enemy of aromas

My experience: A freshly roasted coffee (less than 3 weeks old) produces 30% more crema than a 2-month-old coffee.

Temperature and dosage: precise adjustment

My DeLonghi Magnifica settings:

Temperature :

• Light Arabica: medium temperature
• Balanced blend: medium/high temperature
• Robusta intense: high temperature

Dosage :

• Tight espresso: 7-9g
• Standard espresso: 9-11g
• Long coffee: 11-13g

Tip: The DeLonghi lets you memorise your favourite settings. I’ve programmed 3 profiles: “Intense wake-up”, “Classic midday” and “Gentle afternoon”.

Grains to avoid

My DeLonghi shredder suffered with these errors:

1. Coffee too oily (very dark roast)

Problem: After 2 weeks with a very dark roast coffee, my grinder became clogged. The beans were sticking between the grindstones.

Consequence: Irregular extraction, bitter taste, forced cleaning every 3 days.

2. Artificially flavoured coffees

Disastrous experience: I tested a vanilla-caramel flavoured coffee. The sugary residues blocked the coffee group in 1 week.

Cost of repair: €80 for professional descaling.

3. Grains too old or oxidised

Symptoms: No crema, flat taste, no aroma.

Solution: Always check the hermetically sealed packaging and the date.

Maintenance: extend the life of your machine

My weekly maintenance routine:

Daily :

• Emptying the grounds container
• Rinsing the coffee unit
• Nozzle wiping

Weekly (Sunday evening) :

• Complete cleaning of the coffee unit (hot water)
• Brushing the shredder (without water!)
• Descale if necessary (light on)

Monthly :

• Cleaning tablet in the group
• Checking the water filter
• Suction of residues in the shredder

My secret: A clean grinder = 30% longer life + optimum coffee every time.

FAQ : Your questions, my expert answers

Can I use ground coffee with a DeLonghi?

Yes, but that would be a shame! Most models have a ground coffee function, but you lose 80% of the advantage of having a built-in grinder. I only use this function for the occasional decaffeinated coffee.

How much coffee should you buy to start with?

I recommend 3 x 250g packs of different brands (Lavazza, L’Or, Illy for example). Test each one for 1 week and note down your preferences. Total cost: around €20 for 3 weeks of discovery.

Is organic coffee better for my machine?

The organic label concerns pesticides, not machine compatibility. I regularly use organic coffee (Cafés Lugat, Mokxa) without any problems. What’s important is the freshness and quality of the roasting.

How much does daily coffee cost with a DeLonghi?

My calculation based on 2 coffees/day:

• With Lavazza (€15/kg): €0.21 per cup = €12.60/month
• With Illy (€26/kg): €0.37 per cup = €22.20/month
• With Kimbo (€16/kg): €0.23 per cup = €13.80/month

Compared with capsules (€0.40-0.60/cup): savings of at least 50%.

Do you have to change your coffee according to the season?

What an excellent question! Personally, I vary:

Autumn-Winter: full-bodied coffees (Kimbo, Robusta blends) for chilly mornings Spring-Summer: lighter Arabicas (Illy, Cafés Lugat) for refreshing espressos

My coffee is bitter, what can I do?

I have identified 3 main causes:

1. Grind too fine → increase by one notch
2. Temperature too high → lower by one level
3. Excessive dosage → reduce by 1g

Quick test: If extraction takes longer than 30 seconds, it’s too thin.

How long do the grains last once the packet has been opened?

My experience:

• Weeks 1-2: optimal aromas
• Weeks 3-4: slight but acceptable decline
• After 4 weeks: significant loss

Solution: Buy 250-500g formats maximum.

My final verdict after 2 years of use

After testing over 30 different references on my DeLonghi Magnifica, here are my final recommendations:

For everyday use: Lavazza Crema & Aroma (best compromise between quality, price and taste)

To impress: Illy Classico (reliability and refinement)

For those who love intensity: Kimbo Napoletano (the real Neapolitan espresso)

To support local products: Cafés Lugat (traditional French roasting)

To discover : L’Or Espresso (an excellent starting point)

Summary: Which coffee should you choose for your DeLonghi machine?

For DeLonghi Magnifica S / Start / Smart

Tight budget: Lavazza Crema & Aroma (€14-16/kg) Premium recommendation: L’Or Espresso (€16-18/kg) Organic alternative: Pellini Bio Arabica (€22-26/kg)

For DeLonghi Dinamica / Dinamica Plus

Versatile: DeLonghi Selezione (€18-22/kg) – specially designed for the brand Intense: Kimbo Napoletano (€15-17/kg) Soft: Illy Classico (€24-28/kg)

For DeLonghi Eletta / PrimaDonna

Dairy drinks: Illy Classico or Cafés Lugat (mild profiles) Pure espresso: L’Or Espresso or Kimbo Top of the range: Lavazza Qualità Oro (€26-30/kg)

Monthly budget based on your consumption

2 coffees/day (60 coffees/month) :

• With Lavazza (€15/kg): €12.60/month
• With L’Or (€17/kg): €14.28/month
• With Illy (€26/kg): €21.84/month

4 coffees/day (120 coffees/month) :

• With Lavazza: €25.20/month
• With L’Or: €28.56/month
• With Illy: €43.68/month

Savings vs capsules: Up to 60% savings (capsules = €0.40-0.60/unit)

The tip I wish I’d known at the beginning

Here’s the tip that transformed my experience: keep a tasting notebook. Make a note of each coffee:

• Package opening date
• Settings used (grinding, temperature, dosage)
• Cream quality
• Tasting notes
• Price per kilo

After 3 months, you will have identified YOUR perfect beans, the ones that correspond exactly to your tastes AND your machine.

My personal tracking table :

Conclusion: The perfect coffee exists, you just have to find it

Choosing the best coffee bean for your DeLonghi machine is not an exact science, it’s a personal exploration. The recommendations in this article are based on my real-life experience with a DeLonghi Magnifica that I’ve been using daily for 2 years.

My 3 golden rules :

1. Choose freshness over quantity
2. Test several origins before settling on one
3. Make a note of your settings to reproduce the perfect cup

With the right beans and the right settings, your DeLonghi machine can rival the best coffee shops. All for less than €0.25 a cup.

What’s your favourite coffee for your DeLonghi? Share your experience in the comments!