Diletta Bello Review - An Espresso Machine Amidst Tough Rivals

The Diletta Bello is Seattle Coffee Gear's entry into a familiar category of prosumer espresso machines. It's built based on SCG's customer feedback, but did they get right, and is it compelling at $1,700?
Diletta Bello - seattle-coffee-gear.sjv.io/jr...
Seattle Coffee Gear sent this machine out for me to review. No money exchanged hands, and the thoughts and opinions in the review are my own. I do, however, receive a small commission on purchases made through their affiliate program.
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Website - davidlikescoffee.com
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📖 Table of Contents:
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0:00 Introduction
0:36 Aesthetics & User Experience
4:02 Internals & Performance
6:38 What May Hold This Machine Back
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⚙ Gear In This Video (affiliate links):
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Diletta Bello - seattle-coffee-gear.sjv.io/jr...
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☕ Whats on Coffee Bar (affiliate links):
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Pourover:
Fellow Kettle: fellow.sjv.io/VyLx53
Fellow Ode V2: fellow.sjv.io/ZdP6A1
Carter Move Mug: fellow.sjv.io/ZdP6A1
V60 Single Cup (01): amzn.to/3E3ecm2
V60 Two Cup (02): amzn.to/3iWmy76
V60 Paper Filter: amzn.to/3iVMwr4
Hario Insulated Carafe: amzn.to/3iUWKIv
Espresso:
Barista Pro 18g Basket: amzn.to/3GJ0Ay6
Rattleware Pitcher 12oz: amzn.to/3XKOYAU
Rattleware Pitcher 20oz: amzn.to/3gKbQzP
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📸 Camera Gear:
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Panasonic G85: amzn.to/3kmAaJA
Lumix 20mm f1.7: amzn.to/3CTYcSq
Panasonic G7: amzn.to/3XBVwRj
Fluid Head Tripod: amzn.to/3l86sZf

[@LimitedWard]

Any plans to review the Bello+ that just came out?

[@travisallen4718]

This review was stellar. I love the finer details being included from all (user, storage, service, etcetera) perspectives.

[@sohailhines]

Fantastic and informative review. Really appreciate including shortcomings as well as the positives. You mentioned competition at this price point but would be curious to know at least one or two of the main alternatives for this machine at this (or slightly higher) price point. Thank you!

[@eMedtrainVideo]

Great Job!

[@TheBeanMan00]

This may be a dumb question but does the steam wand have a default temp or is it all manual and if so how do you know what’s the right temp?

[@EhsanExplains]

Could you please recommend an espresso machine in which the hot water does not come into contact with any plastic? (~$2000 budget)

[@matcha3257]

After the kettle repair video, it's cool seeing equipment built by a company that does lots of equipment work/repairs. Looks like it was built to be easily customized/worked on. I love my moka pot and get sticker shock from espresso machines... this one looks really cool though!

[@DavidLikesCoffee]

Yes. In the cafe world, I'd never buy any equipment without clearing it with a tech that I trust first. Don't think I mentioned it in the video but having a tech department's seal of approval on a machine is always a major positive.

[@nsjohn130]

I am happy you made this. A few questions as I just got one in the mail:
1. My water lever leaked at first. I tightened slightly the nut, it seems to be OK, but I am not positive it is. Your lever goes to a perfectly horizontal position, mine goes up another 15 degrees. Not sure if this is just variation in the install of the lever or not.
2. My OPV I think is set high. My blind basket reads 11.5-12, and all my shots pulled are 11-12 on the gauge, albeit if my grind was too coarse, then it may drop to 8-9. Thank you for showing me where the OPV is. I am unsure if clockwise or counterclockwise is the direction for bringing down the bar to 9? Do you know?

[@DavidLikesCoffee]

Thanks! I'm not sure about 1, I've never had or seen that issue. Maybe something came unseated in shipping? On my Rocket the lever goes a little beyond horizontal.
For the OPV I believe counter clockwise will get you to lower pressure. It should read a bar higher than what you're actually getting - so if you're after 9 bar set it to 10.

[@vanspeed225]

Were you able to figure out the opv adjustment?

[@brownsugarcoffee1]

You need to do a review on the Bello plus🙂

[@joemccall8991]

Why does this look like a re-skinned Apartamento?

[@DavidLikesCoffee]

I feel like it’s pretty distinct from the Apartamento - but It is based on the Quickmill Rubino design and still very much resembles that machine, especially in stainless steel.

[@LimitedWard]

All E61 machines look quite similar. Specwise it matches the Apartmento while undercutting on price.