Eletta Explore Hot and Cold Milk Carafes: Which One to Use?
Which Eletta Explore milk jug goes with which drink, researched from De'Longhi product pages, a De'Longhi guide to LatteCrema Cool, a retailer product guide and published reviews.
Quick Answer
The Eletta Explore ships with two milk carafes. Use the LatteCrema Hot carafe for hot milk drinks like cappuccino and latte, and the LatteCrema Cool carafe (the white-lid jug) for cold foam and iced milk drinks like iced cappuccino and iced latte. Eletta Explore cold brew without milk needs no carafe at all.
Setting up the grinder first? Start with the DeLonghi Eletta Explore grind settings guide.
The Two Eletta Explore Milk Carafes: LatteCrema Hot and LatteCrema Cool
De'Longhi's Eletta Explore product page describes two milk systems. The LatteCrema Hot system textures dairy milk or milk alternatives for hot espresso drinks. The LatteCrema Cool system delivers cold milk foam at a temperature suited to iced drinks.
The Eletta Explore ships with two separate milk carafes. Coffeeness's Eletta Explore review lists them as separate accessories: a hot milk jug and a cool milk jug.
How to Tell the Eletta Explore Hot and Cold Carafes Apart
The Eletta Explore cold carafe has a white lid. Coffeeness says to attach the cold carafe with the white lid before brewing a cold drink, so the other jug is the LatteCrema Hot carafe.
Attach the correct Eletta Explore carafe before selecting the recipe. Seattle Coffee Gear's Eletta Explore product guide notes that the machine dispenses and froths the right milk volume for the selected drink once a carafe is connected.
Which Eletta Explore Carafe to Use for Each Drink
The Eletta Explore drink list splits cleanly by temperature. Drink names below come from De'Longhi and the Seattle Coffee Gear product guide.
| Eletta Explore drink | Carafe to attach |
|---|---|
| Cappuccino, latte, latte macchiato, flat white | LatteCrema Hot |
| Iced cappuccino, iced latte, cold latte macchiato, cold flat white | LatteCrema Cool (white lid) |
| Espresso, coffee, plain cold brew | No carafe |
For cold Eletta Explore drinks, Coffeeness reports that the machine tells you how many ice cubes from its silicone mold to put in the glass. De'Longhi says Eletta Explore cold brew takes under 3 minutes.
Choosing Milk for Each Eletta Explore Carafe
De'Longhi's LatteCrema Cool guide says lower-fat dairy milk works better for cold foam, the opposite of hot foam, where whole milk is preferred. The same De'Longhi guide says soy, oat and almond milk work in the LatteCrema Cool carafe and can foam as creamily as dairy.
Whichever Eletta Explore carafe you use, fill it with fridge-cold milk; the Seattle Coffee Gear guide says cold, fresh milk froths best. Coffeeness suggests filtering oat milk before use to avoid clogging the LatteCrema system. More on plant milks is in the oat milk frothing guide.
Why Eletta Explore Cold Foam Looks Smaller Than Hot Foam
Eletta Explore cold foam from the LatteCrema Cool carafe is naturally less lofty than hot foam. Coffeeness attributes the smaller, less stable cold foam cap to the lack of heat to break down milk proteins. De'Longhi's cold foam article frames LatteCrema Cool as the fix for foam that seeps into the drink instead of floating. If homemade cold foam keeps sinking, see why cold foam sinks into iced coffee.
Cleaning Both Eletta Explore Milk Carafes
Both Eletta Explore carafes follow the same cleaning routine, per the Seattle Coffee Gear product guide:
- Run the Eletta Explore milk clean cycle after each milk session, following the on-screen prompt.
- Disassemble the carafe daily: carafe, lid, tube and valve.
- Wash the parts in warm soapy water or on the dishwasher top rack, then rinse thoroughly.
Milk buildup in the tube restricts flow, so a carafe that stops frothing usually needs cleaning or reconnecting. For other Eletta Explore faults, use the De'Longhi troubleshooting guide by model.
Eletta Explore Hot and Cold Milk Carafes FAQ
What is the difference between the Eletta Explore hot and cold milk carafes?
The Eletta Explore LatteCrema Hot carafe textures milk for hot drinks such as cappuccino and latte, while the LatteCrema Cool carafe whips milk at a low temperature into cold foam for iced drinks, according to De'Longhi.
Which Eletta Explore carafe is the cold one?
The Eletta Explore cold carafe is the one with the white lid, according to Coffeeness's Eletta Explore review, which says to attach the cold carafe before brewing cold drinks.
Can I use the Eletta Explore hot carafe for iced drinks?
No. De'Longhi assigns iced cappuccino and iced latte to the LatteCrema Cool system on the Eletta Explore; the hot carafe heats milk and is meant for hot recipes.
Do I need a milk carafe for Eletta Explore cold brew?
No. Eletta Explore cold brew is a coffee extraction that De'Longhi says takes under 3 minutes; a carafe is only needed when the chosen cold recipe includes milk or cold foam.
Can the Eletta Explore cold carafe foam oat or almond milk?
Yes. De'Longhi says soy, oat and almond milk work with LatteCrema Cool and can produce cold foam as creamy as dairy milk.
Are the Eletta Explore milk carafes dishwasher safe?
Yes. Seattle Coffee Gear's Eletta Explore product guide lists all milk-contact carafe parts as dishwasher safe on the top rack.