DeLonghi Eletta Explore Grind Settings: A Starting Guide

How to find, change and use the Eletta Explore grinder, researched from De'Longhi support pages, product specifications and published reviews.

Quick Answer

The DeLonghi Eletta Explore has 13 grind settings, set with a dial inside the bean hopper. Turn the Eletta Explore dial one step only while the grinder is running, then make at least 3 coffees before judging. A published review suggests starting around the 5th finest setting, and Bean Adapt in the Coffee Link app can suggest a grind level for a specific bean.

Own a Magnifica instead? Magnifica machines are covered in the De'Longhi Magnifica grind settings guide. Settings from one De'Longhi family do not carry over to the Eletta Explore.

Eletta Explore Grinder Specs That Affect Grind Settings

De'Longhi's Eletta Explore product page (ECAM45086S) lists the specifications below. These Eletta Explore figures frame what the grind dial works with.

The Eletta Explore grind dial does not change milk drinks. For milk and cup questions, see Eletta Explore hot and cold milk carafes, Eletta Explore milk carafe not frothing after cleaning, and Eletta Explore To-Go drinks: cup fit and drink size.

Where the Eletta Explore Grind Dial Is and When to Turn It

The Eletta Explore grind adjustment dial is located inside the bean hopper, as described in Home Coffee Expert's Eletta Explore review. De'Longhi's Eletta Explore support article sets the key rule: the grinding coarseness regulator must only be turned while the coffee grinder is running, during the initial phase of coffee preparation.

Turning the Eletta Explore dial with the grinder stopped is the mistake to avoid. Start a coffee, wait for the Eletta Explore grinder to spin, and move the dial during that grinding phase.

A Starting Point for Eletta Explore Grind Settings

De'Longhi's support pages do not publish one recommended number for the Eletta Explore, so the practical starting point is the setting the machine already has. Record that Eletta Explore position before changing anything.

For a reference point, Home Coffee Expert suggests starting the Eletta Explore around the 5th finest of its 13 settings. Treat that as a first guess rather than a fixed answer: roast, bean age and drink size all shift where the Eletta Explore performs best.

How to Adjust the Eletta Explore Grinder Step by Step

The Eletta Explore has a built-in grinder tutorial, and De'Longhi's support guidance pairs it with a waiting rule:

  1. Open the Eletta Explore settings menu.
  2. Scroll through the pages until "Adjust grinder" appears, then press "Read more" to open the tutorial.
  3. Start a coffee and, while the grinder is running, move the dial inside the bean hopper one step finer or coarser.
  4. Make at least 3 coffees at the new Eletta Explore setting before adjusting again.
  5. If the problem persists, repeat the adjustment one step at a time.

Move the Eletta Explore finer when coffee runs fast and thin, and coarser when it runs slowly. Keep the beans, drink and strength the same while comparing Eletta Explore settings.

How Bean Adapt Works on the Eletta Explore

Bean Adapt Technology on the Eletta Explore sets several machine parameters based on the beans you use, according to De'Longhi's Bean Adapt FAQ. The Bean Adapt workflow runs through the Coffee Link app:

  1. Create a bean profile in the Coffee Link app.
  2. The Coffee Link app applies machine settings to the Eletta Explore based on your preferences.
  3. The app suggests the optimal grinding level, which you set on the Eletta Explore grind dial while the grinder runs.
  4. Once a profile exists, the Eletta Explore offers Espresso Soul, which De'Longhi describes as an espresso optimized for temperature and intensity/coffee dose.

Eletta Explore Coffee Drips One Drop at a Time

When Eletta Explore coffee comes out one drop at a time, De'Longhi's support article names the likely cause: the grind is too fine, so coffee is delivered too slowly or not at all. Move the Eletta Explore dial coarser while grinding, make at least 3 coffees, and repeat if needed. For faults beyond grind size, start with the De'Longhi troubleshooting guide by model.

Why Magnifica Grind Numbers Do Not Transfer to the Eletta Explore

The Eletta Explore and the Magnifica are separate De'Longhi machine families with their own dials, menus and app features, so a number that works on a Magnifica is not a valid Eletta Explore setting. The Eletta Explore adds Bean Adapt and an on-screen grinder tutorial. For Magnifica machines, read the Magnifica grind settings guide; for the La Specialista, see La Specialista grind settings. Bean choice for any super-automatic is covered in best beans for super-automatic machines.

DeLonghi Eletta Explore Grind Settings FAQ

How many grind settings does the DeLonghi Eletta Explore have?

The DeLonghi Eletta Explore has 13 grind settings, according to De'Longhi's US product page for the ECAM45086S.

Where is the grind adjustment dial on the Eletta Explore?

The Eletta Explore grind adjustment dial sits inside the bean hopper. The Eletta Explore settings menu also has an "Adjust grinder" tutorial under "Read more".

Can I turn the Eletta Explore grinder dial when the machine is idle?

No. De'Longhi says the Eletta Explore grinding coarseness regulator must only be turned while the grinder is running, during the initial phase of coffee preparation.

How long should I wait after changing the Eletta Explore grind setting?

De'Longhi advises making at least 3 coffees on the Eletta Explore before making a further grind adjustment.

Does Bean Adapt set the Eletta Explore grinder automatically?

No. Bean Adapt on the Eletta Explore uses a bean profile created in the Coffee Link app to set machine parameters and suggest an optimal grinding level. The Eletta Explore grind dial is still turned by hand.

Sources for Eletta Explore Grind Settings