If you haven’t already watched the review on the Diletta Mio I recommend you do as it’s a pretty intriguing machine. And in that blog, I also give an overview of what exactly this Diletta brand is.
Today we’ll be looking at the second machine in the Diletta lineup, this mean and stylish-looking heat exchanger named the Diletta Bello on paper it’s almost a one-to-one competitor with the rocket appartamento.
But how does it actually stack up as a daily driver? Let’s find out.
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Design : Diletta Bello
Diletta Bello is again offering three finishes all at the same price point. Stainless steel powder-coated white and powder-coated black.
Everyone I’ve shown this machine to thought it looks the absolute business in this matte black color.
And I have to say I completely agree. The contrast between the polished metal of the e61 group head against the black background is just a super cool look.
The drip tray also has this unique modern pattern. Of course, you could go more traditional with a polished metal case.
However, I thought that these matte finishes were just too good to pass up. I liked that this doesn’t always have to be all business.
That was also what drew me to the rocket apartment in the first place.
Brands are starting to notice that you don’t have to take yourself so seriously you can mix in a little personality, and I like that.
Build quality: Diletta Bello Espresso
The Diletta Bello is securely in line with other entry-level E61 machines.
It’s well put together and thanks to the standardized e61 group head You get the same rock-solid locking-in feeling as you would on any stick-to-one machine. Even though it’s costing two or three times as much.
There are some areas where the field is a little bit cheaper than the higher priced machines I’ve used in the past, the most notable being the knob on the brew lever itself, the actuator in behind it, the slightly rough metal rails under the drip tray and the look of these plastic stoppers within the pressure gauge.
However, those are all quite nitpicky observations. Overall it is a very well-put-together machine and you still get that really enjoyable mechanical, tactile brewing experience like I mentioned in the full departmental review.
It is a nice thing to interact with every morning.
Diletta Bello Espresso Machine Features
Quickly running through the features the bellow is 11 inches wide, 14 and a half inches tall, and 17 and three-quarter inches deep.
It comes with both single and double-spouted 58-millimeter porta filters, and just like the mio comes with a solid-feeling wooden tamper.
The heating configuration is a traditional heat exchanger using a 1.8-liter stainless steel boiler.
On the front, there is the typical hot water arm and the steam arm which is a no-burn steamer, an absolute must-have feature is a low water indicator.
The water reservoir itself is impressively large at three liters and it is accessible through this hinged lid
Diletta Bello espresso machine user experience
The lid on the water reservoir does feel more premium than simply having a detachable lid. However, I do worry about people with low overhead cabinets because it hinges at the back which means that the machine has to be slipped completely clear of any overhead obstructions to fill.
If your cabinets are tall completely ignore this. It is a very nice feature.
The water reservoir is also a nice feature coming in at three liters is about a half liter to a full liter larger than most other machines in this size range.
It is impressive and it leads to far less refilling which is good because E 61 machines tend to run through a little bit more water the machine heats up and around 15 minutes is about the power bar for the course of the heat exchanger.
And like other e61 you’re going to want to let it idle even longer to allow all the temperatures to fully normalize.
Using the machine day to day is very nice. And I especially like the interesting dual pressure gauge on this machine.
One-half for boiler pressure and one-half for the pump pressure. Pretty cool looking and very informative when making drinks. Just like on the Mio.
I also noticed that this vibration pump is a little bit quieter than other vibration pumps I have previously used.
They say that it is mounted on rubber mounts to make it quieter. whatever they’re doing, it has worked. Other than that it’s just a smooth, enjoyable e61 experience.
Diletta Bello espresso quality
The bello comes from the factory running at 9 bars which is very nice because it means that you don’t have to strip off any panels and adjust the OPV right when you get it you can start using it right away.
So thank you to Diletta Bello for doing this properly. Other than that, it is a heat exchanger and it is not PID controlled, which means that you will have to do some temperature surfing to get the temperatures consistent, a 10-second purge before brewing goes a long way to a more consistent performance.
Once you get a routine down. It is a very good performer. You can make great espresso on this machine and I do like that they included a single spout portafilter even if you’re making a double shot, this is a convenient option, but I don’t think many people take advantage of it on the Mio we saw some pretty tight clearances.
Notice
However, on the Diletta Bello, I am happy to say that it is better coming in at three and a half inches. This leaves you enough room to fit a scale and a shot glass comfortably.
Diletta Bello’s steaming performance
Diletta Bello espresso machine steaming performance The boat uses a two-hole steam tip and as previously mentioned a no-burn steamer which are both nice to have and are things that I expect to see in a machine of this price range.
steam flow is of course variable through the steam knob and the knobs themselves feel sturdy and high quality with perfect grip from the five-pointed shape. for home use.
I maybe would have preferred something a little bit less commercial-looking. However, I must admit that with wet hands, the grip on these is excellent.
Steaming power was strong and a very clear step up over entry-level machines and the ability to burn steam simultaneously will certainly speed up your workflow even further.
Compared to the rocket the steaming experience and speed on the bello were essentially indistinguishable.
conclusion
So do I recommend the Bello and do I recommend it over the Rocket appartamento based purely on looks alone I think the Bello gives the Rocket a run for its money.
And might even beat it from a purely aesthetic standpoint. Of course, this will come down completely to personal preferences in terms of build quality.
The Bello is a solid e61. machine with good components and an enjoyable user experience.
There are some areas where it lags slightly behind the rocket such as the drip tray finishing and the plastic on the lever but it also beats it in other areas like the metal cup rail. If you’re looking at Build Quality alone, I’d say that the rocket is ahead but only by a minuscule margin.
Overall, the Diletta Bello is a good-looking good performing, and well-priced entry-level e61. Machine. If you’ve always been eyeballing your rocket appartamento but found it just a little bit overpriced for what it offers, then the bellow might just be the machine that you’ve been waiting for.
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