Product test
Primadonna Soul by De'Longhi: a coffee goddess with an application to be desired
by Martin Jungfer
De'Longhi Dinamica Plus: A versatile fully automatic coffee machine tested
10.3.2020
Translation: machine translated
One coffee machine for all types: The De'Longhi Dinamica Plus is a fully automatic machine and offers a wide range of coffees with and without milk, which are prepared at the touch of a button. It is easy to operate and can be personalised using an app on your smartphone.
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:
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.
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.
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.
Coffee flavour
Conclusion: Simple operation, customisable taste
Most of the time I'm living between bits and bytes, testing alternative Android operating systems and trying to make my life smarter with Open Source technology - always with a focus on privacy and data protection. When I'm not testing cool gadgets, I'm developing video games, writing stories and playing the accordion.
