DeLonghi Dinamica Plus Review: Best Automatic for Aussies?
The DeLonghi Dinamica Plus has quickly become a standout choice for Australian coffee lovers who want café-quality drinks at home without breaking the bank. At $1,299 AUD, this Italian-made machine delivers consistently excellent espresso and has one of the best automatic milk systems I’ve tested. After putting it through its paces in Melbourne’s notoriously picky coffee scene, I can say it holds its own against machines that cost significantly more.
If you’re tired of spending $5+ on your daily coffee run and want something that actually makes good coffee (not just convenient coffee), the Dinamica Plus hits that sweet spot between quality and convenience. The built-in grinder and automatic milk system mean you can have a proper flat white ready in under two minutes, which is exactly what busy Australian families need.
Quick Comparison: Top Automatic Coffee Machines Australia 2024
| Model | Price (AUD) | Grinder | Milk System | Drinks | Available At |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeLonghi Dinamica Plus | $1,299 | Burr | Automatic | 6 | Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi |
| Breville Barista Touch | $1,499 | Burr | Manual Steam | 8 | The Good Guys, Myer |
| Jura E8 | $2,199 | Burr | Automatic | 12 | Amazon AU, Specialty stores |
| Sage Oracle Touch | $2,699 | Burr | Automatic Steam | 10 | Harvey Norman, The Good Guys |
DeLonghi Dinamica Plus: Detailed Review
Design and Build Quality
The DeLonghi Dinamica Plus looks the part on any kitchen bench. The black and silver finish feels premium without being flashy, and at 23.6cm wide, it’s not going to dominate your counter space. I’ve been using it daily for three months now, and the build quality feels rock-solid – no creaks or wobbles, even when the grinder’s running.
The 1.8-litre water tank sits at the back and pulls out easily for refilling. I love that the 400g bean hopper holds enough beans for about a week of heavy coffee drinking, so you’re not constantly topping it up. The drip tray slides out smoothly and has a handy water level indicator – trust me, you’ll appreciate this after your first near-overflow incident.
Pros:
- Perfect size for most Australian kitchens
- Feels substantial and well-made
- Controls are exactly where you’d expect them
- Easy to wipe down and keep clean
Cons:
- Only comes in black/silver (would love a white option)
- Bean hopper could be bigger if you’re using it in an office
Coffee Quality and Performance
This is where the Dinamica Plus really shines. The built-in burr grinder has 13 settings, and I’ve found that setting 4 or 5 works perfectly with most Australian roasters. I’ve tested it with beans from Single Origin, Five Senses, and several local Melbourne roasters, and the extraction consistency has been impressive.
The machine pulls shots at 19 bars of pressure with a pre-infusion stage that gently wets the coffee before full extraction. This isn’t just marketing fluff – you can actually taste the difference in the cup. The temperature stays rock-steady even when making multiple drinks back-to-back, which was crucial during a recent dinner party.
Shot timing is spot-on at around 25-30 seconds for a double, and the crema production consistently delivers that golden layer every Australian coffee snob expects. The coffee genuinely tastes like what you’d get from a decent café – maybe not quite as good as your favourite specialty roaster, but better than 90% of the chain stores.
Milk Frothing System
The automatic milk system is honestly the star of this machine. The LatteCrema system creates beautifully smooth microfoam that rivals what you’d get from a skilled barista. You just attach your milk container (any container works – I use a 600ml jug), select your drink, and watch the magic happen.
I’ve tested it with regular milk, oat milk, and almond milk. Full cream dairy obviously works best, but the oat milk results were surprisingly good – thick, creamy foam with a velvety texture. Almond milk was more hit-and-miss depending on the brand. After each milk drink, you just run the cleaning cycle with water, which takes about 30 seconds.
Drink Options and Customisation
Built-in Drink Menu
The Dinamica Plus covers all the Australian café classics:
- Espresso: Perfect short black every time
- Coffee: A solid long black equivalent
- Cappuccino: Spot-on milk-to-coffee ratio
- Latte Macchiato: Beautiful layered presentation
- Caffè Latte: Smooth and coffee-forward
- Flat White: The best automated flat white I’ve tried
Each drink can be tweaked for strength, temperature, and volume. The machine remembers settings for up to four users, which is brilliant for families where everyone likes their coffee differently. My partner prefers weak, hot coffee while I like mine strong and lukewarm – no more morning arguments!
My Menu Personalisation
The My Menu feature lets you create custom drinks beyond the presets. I’ve set up a “morning long black” that’s stronger and slightly larger than the standard coffee option, plus an “afternoon cappuccino” that’s milder than my usual morning preference. The three temperature settings mean you can dial in exactly how hot you want your coffee.
User Experience and Interface
Daily Operation
Using this machine has become second nature. It heats up in about 40 seconds from cold, which is perfect for those groggy morning moments when you can barely function. One button press and your drink starts brewing immediately – no fiddling with dials or waiting for complicated startup sequences.
The LCD display shows exactly what’s happening and any maintenance alerts in plain English. When something goes wrong (which is rare), the error messages actually make sense instead of cryptic codes that require digging through the manual.
Maintenance and Cleaning
This was my biggest worry before buying, but the maintenance is surprisingly straightforward. The automatic cleaning cycle runs whenever you ask it to, using DeLonghi’s descaling solution. The brewing unit completely removes for a proper clean under the tap – something you don’t get with all automatic machines in this price range.
Living in Melbourne with our notoriously hard water, I was concerned about mineral buildup. The adjustable water hardness setting calculates descaling intervals based on your local water quality. I descale roughly every two months, and the machine tells me exactly when it’s needed.
Comparison with Key Competitors
vs Breville Barista Touch
The Breville Barista Touch has a flashy colour touchscreen and more drink options, but you need to learn how to steam milk properly. If you want convenience above all else, the Dinamica Plus wins. If you enjoy the process and want more control, the Breville might suit you better.
vs Jura E8
The Jura E8 is Swiss-made precision engineering with more drink varieties, but it costs nearly twice as much. Both make excellent coffee – the question is whether those extra features are worth an additional $900.
vs Sage Oracle Touch
The Sage Oracle Touch is the premium option with professional-grade features and automation. At $2,699, it’s over double the price of the Dinamica Plus. Unless you’re a serious coffee enthusiast with deep pockets, the DeLonghi offers better value.
Availability and Pricing in Australia
Where to Buy
You can find the DeLonghi Dinamica Plus at most major Australian retailers:
- Harvey Norman: $1,299 with regular sales bringing it down to $1,099
- JB Hi-Fi: Competitive pricing plus extended warranty options
- The Good Guys: Price matching and decent delivery service
- Amazon AU: Convenient online ordering, sometimes with Prime delivery
- Myer: In-store demonstrations if you want to try before buying
The pricing in Australia is actually pretty reasonable compared to overseas markets, and having local warranty support gives me peace of mind for such a significant purchase.
Buying Guide: Is the Dinamica Plus Right for You?
Best For:
- Busy families who want great coffee without the fuss
- Anyone sick of manual milk frothing
- Households where multiple people drink different types of coffee
- People who want low-maintenance automatic brewing
- Those stepping up from pod machines
Consider Alternatives If:
- You love manually controlling every aspect of brewing
- Budget is tight and you need something cheaper
- You have very limited counter space
- You only drink black coffee and never use milk
Key Decision Factors
Budget Consideration: At $1,299 AUD, this sits between basic automatics and premium Jura machines. If you’re currently spending $5+ daily on café coffee, the payback period is around eight months. That calculation convinced me to buy mine.
Kitchen Space: Measure your bench space first. The machine itself fits most kitchens, but you need clearance behind for the water tank and above for the bean hopper lid.
Coffee Consumption: If you’re making 4+ cups daily, the large water tank and bean hopper capacity really matter. For lighter use, you might get away with something smaller.
Long-term Ownership Experience
Reliability and Durability
Three months in, and I haven’t had a single problem. The machine handles Melbourne’s hard water better than I expected, probably thanks to the robust internal components and effective descaling system. A friend who’s had his for over a year reports the same consistent performance.
The removable brewing unit is a game-changer for longevity. Being able to properly clean all the coffee contact points means the machine should last much longer than sealed systems you can’t maintain properly.
Running Costs
Beyond buying the machine, here’s what you’ll spend:
- Coffee beans: $40-60/kg for good Australian roasters
- Descaling solution: About $20 every 2-3 months
- Water filters: Optional but recommended in hard water areas
- Cleaning tablets: Maybe $30 per year
My total running costs are around $350 annually for moderate use – still way less than my previous café habit.
Final Verdict
The DeLonghi Dinamica Plus has earned its place on my kitchen bench. It consistently makes excellent coffee with minimal effort, the automatic milk system actually works properly (unlike some I’ve tried), and the build quality suggests it’ll keep doing this for years to come.
For Australian families who want café-quality coffee but don’t want to become amateur baristas, this machine delivers. The flat whites taste like flat whites, the cappuccinos have proper microfoam, and the espresso has genuine crema. What more do you want?
While the Sage Oracle Touch has more bells and whistles and the Breville Barista Express gives you more hands-on control, the Dinamica Plus offers the best balance of quality, convenience, and value for most Australian coffee drinkers. It’s become an essential part of my morning routine, and I can’t imagine going back to instant coffee or daily café runs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the DeLonghi Dinamica Plus compare to Nespresso machines?
The DeLonghi Dinamica Plus uses fresh beans instead of pods, which means better coffee and much lower per-cup costs. Nespresso machines are more convenient to use, but the Dinamica Plus delivers proper espresso taste with way more customisation. The upfront cost is higher, but if you drink coffee daily, you’ll save money within a year.
What’s the best coffee bean to use with this machine?
Medium to medium-dark roasts work brilliantly. I’ve had great results with Single Origin, Five Senses, and local Melbourne roasters. Avoid very light roasts (they can under-extract) and super dark roasts (they can overwhelm the automatic system). Single-origin beans really showcase what this machine can do.
How often does the machine need descaling in Australian water conditions?
It depends on your water hardness. Here in Melbourne, I descale every 2 months because our water is pretty hard. Sydney and Brisbane folks might get away with 3-4 months. The machine calculates this automatically based on your water hardness setting and tells you when descaling is due.
Can I use plant-based milk alternatives?
Absolutely. Oat milk works best – it creates thick, creamy foam that’s almost identical to dairy. Soy milk is pretty good too. Almond milk is hit-and-miss depending on the brand, but the barista versions usually work fine. Avoid really thin or low-protein alternatives that just won’t foam properly.
What warranty coverage is available in Australia?
The DeLonghi Dinamica Plus comes with 2 years manufacturer warranty. Most big retailers like Harvey Norman and