De'Longhi Eletta Explore vs Miele CM 6160 MilkPerfection
Same class, different tax brackets.
About CA$227 apart — the split below is what the gap buys.
De'Longhi
US$1,499–1,799 · CA$1,745–2,000
A well-engineered bean-to-cup machine that earns its counter space for households that split their coffee habit equally between hot milk drinks and iced recipes. You must accept that craft-l…
Full record & live prices →
Miele
CA$2,099 · US$2,299–2,699
The CM 6160 is a well-engineered German super-automatic that trades craft for total convenience: grind, brew, and froth at one button press with minimal mess. Accept that the shot quality ce…
Full record & live prices →The split
Where they actually differ
On 9 of 11 measures these two tie. The 2 rows below are the entire argument.
Eletta Explore
CM 6160 MilkPerfection
Built to last
CM 6160 MilkPerfection leads, clearly
Value per dollar
Eletta Explore leads, clearly
The price
Eletta Explore costs less, clearly
CA$1,745–2,000· CA$2,099
weakerstronger
The counter’s vote
Looks barely figure in either machine’s record — the counter can sit this one out.
CM 6160 MilkPerfection: Signature Miele boxy minimalist design; appeal to kitchen-integration buyers (Scandinavian market strength); glossy black finish requires frequent wiping, polarizing for countertop aesthetics.
Only the CM 6160 MilkPerfection: brewing and steaming at once.
Only the CM 6160 MilkPerfection: no accessory lock-in.
Where they tie: milk & steam · shot ceiling · back-to-back drinks · ready when you are · reliability record — don’t let a spec sheet invent a difference.
On the counter
The size difference, to scale
So — which one?
Take the Eletta Explore if —
- Every dollar has to earn its place
- The difference stays in your pocket — or goes into beans
Take the CM 6160 MilkPerfection if —
- You are buying once
- Mornings run on a clock
- Upgrades should never strand your kit
Both columns reading true? Take the Eletta Explore and put the difference into fresh, roast-dated beans — they move the cup more than this choice will.
Known weak points
CM 6160 MilkPerfection
Water reservoir brittleness reported; isolated milk dispensing failures after service; requires frequent descaling
For the row-by-row readers
The whole sheet, side by side
Matching rows fade back — the ink is where they differ.
Eletta Explore
CM 6160 MilkPerfection
Type
Super-automatic (bean-to-cup)
Super-automatic (bean-to-cup)
Heat-up time
45 seconds
~1 min
Steam power
3/5
3/5
Brew + steam at once
No
Yes
Guest recovery
3.5/5
3/5
Shot quality ceiling
2.5/5
2.5/5
PID temperature control
No
No
Milk system
Integrated carafe (one-touch)
Auto frother
One-touch drinks
50
19
Removable brew group
Yes
Yes
Hot-water tap
Yes
Yes
Cup clearance
18 cm
14 cm
Workflow demand
0.5/5
0/5
Maintenance
2.5/5
3/5
Noise
3.5/5
3/5
Build longevity
2.5/5
4/5
Dimensions
26 × 45 × 38.5 cm
25.1 × 42.7 × 35.8 cm
One owner each
“The addition of cold brew technology and cold milk foaming sets it apart from the vast majority of its competitors.”
“A great product which produces consistent coffee beverages, practical functionality and performances really well.”
Wrong match-up? Change one side → — any two on file compare.
Still torn?
This page weighs them against each other. The finder weighs them against your mornings.
Two minutes of questions — milk, noise, budget, space — scored across everything on file. It’s honest when the answer is neither of these.
Take the two-minute finder →