De'Longhi Icona Metallics 4-slice toaster review: “it looks expensive and well made”

Price at time of testing: £115 | Check price at Currys or De’Longhi directly

Our verdict

If you’re already familiar with De’Longhi’s Icona range, you’ll know it leans heavily into retro style. The Icona Metallics toaster is designed to pair with the matching kettle, creating a coordinated kitchen setup that looks far more stylish than your average countertop appliances.

To see how it performs in real homes, we considered both earlier testing by Mumsnet Senior Content Editor Natasha and more recent hands-on testing by Nicola in her family kitchen.

Design is clearly one of the toaster’s biggest strengths. Natasha noted during her original testing that the Icona range appeals particularly to anyone who loves vintage-inspired appliances, writing that “its retro appeal and glossy finish makes it a standout choice for those who want nostalgic style alongside modern functionality.”

Nicola agreed, saying “I love the retro look and the colour. It fits in well with the aesthetic of my kitchen. It's an appliance that you definitely don't mind leaving out and you don't need to hide it in a cupboard.”

The toaster also offers plenty of flexibility with four slots and several useful settings including defrost and bagel modes. However, while the design and features impressed both testers, performance wasn’t always flawless.

Nicola explained that “occasionally, it toasts unevenly,” while Natasha similarly noted during her review that results could sometimes vary depending on what was being toasted.

Still, for households that value style as much as practicality, the Icona Metallics toaster remains an attractive option, particularly if you’re pairing it with the matching kettle for a coordinated kitchen look.

How we’ve tested the De'Longhi Icona Metallics Toaster

The De'Longhi Icona Metallics toaster has been tested by two Mumsnet reviewers in real homes.

Mumsnet Senior Content Editor Natasha first reviewed the toaster as part of our original testing of the Icona range, using it in her kitchen for everyday breakfasts and hot snacks. She assessed its design, usability, browning controls and overall toasting performance.

More recently, home tester Nicola tried the same toaster model in her family kitchen over a three-week period. She used it several times a week to toast a range of foods including sliced bread, seeded bread, bagels and frozen items.

Testing focused on everyday performance, including:

• toasting consistency

• browning control and settings

• ease of use

• slot capacity and versatility

• cleaning and safety

• build quality and durability

Using two testers in different households helps give a broader picture of how the toaster performs in real life.

Thanks to its design, it’s the type of appliance you don’t need to hide away

How well does the De'Longhi Icona Metallics Toaster perform? 

In day-to-day use, the toaster performed reasonably well overall. Nicola described it as “mostly reliable, rare minor issues.”

However, she did notice some inconsistency during testing. She explained that “occasionally, it toasts unevenly.” When using multiple slots at once, she also found that “it is not always consistent when toasting both sides.”

Natasha’s earlier testing revealed similar strengths and weaknesses. While she appreciated the toaster’s ease of use and flexibility, she also found that the results weren’t always perfectly even across slices.

For standard slices of bread the results were acceptable, although not always perfect. Nicola rated the evenness of browning as fair overall.

The toaster handled different bread types reasonably well too. In testing it coped well with thicker slices and seeded bread, and it performed particularly well when toasting bagels and crumpets.

The dedicated bagel function proved particularly useful. Nicola said “the bagel option is great on a weekend for my kids.” She also found the defrost feature handy for frozen foods, explaining “defrost is also a great option for potato waffles!”

Is the De'Longhi Icona Metallics Toaster durable? Built to last? 

In terms of build quality, the toaster made a strong first impression for both testers.

Natasha previously highlighted the overall build and finish as one of the appliance’s strengths, noting the combination of metal bodywork and chrome detailing that gives it a more premium feel than many standard toasters.

Nicola agreed. She said “it looks expensive and well made.”

She also liked the styling details, explaining “I like the four slot option and the knobs on the lever. The chrome detail is a nice touch and adds to the premium quality.”

After several weeks of testing, there were no signs of wear or looseness. Nicola reported “no sign of wear as of yet, after three weeks of use and no loosening.”

The toaster is one half of a kettle and toaster set from De’Longhi

Is the De'Longhi Icona Metallics Toaster easy to use? 

One of the Icona toaster’s strengths is its straightforward controls. Nicola found the toaster quick to set up. She said “the box was super easy to open and get the toaster out. I plugged it straight in.”

There was a slight smell during the first use, which is fairly common with new appliances. As she noted, “there was a plastic type smell when I toasted the first slice of bread, but that disappeared.”

Day-to-day operation proved simple too. Nicola explained that “there is an easy to use dial to select the toast colour option, a cancel button, a defrost button and a bagel button.” Loading bread and removing toast also felt safe and straightforward during testing.

Natasha also found the controls refreshingly straightforward during her earlier testing. Like the matching kettle, the toaster focuses on simple functionality rather than complex settings, making it quick to use during busy mornings.

How easy is De'Longhi Icona Toaster to clean?

Cleaning the Icona toaster is refreshingly simple. During her original testing, Natasha found maintenance minimal, writing: “Very easy. There are two crumb trays at the back, which were a doddle to remove.”

Those trays help catch stray crumbs and slide out easily when they need emptying. The glossy finish is also practical in everyday use. As Natasha noted, “the glossy exterior means it doesn't show any marks or fingerprints easily.”

Nicola had a similarly straightforward experience during testing, rating the crumb tray “good and easy to use.”

Aside from emptying the trays and the occasional wipe with a soft cloth, there’s very little effort required to keep the toaster looking smart on the worktop.

Editor Natasha loved the individual browning dials for both sides of the toaster

Is the De'Longhi Icona Metallics Toaster worth the price? 

At full price, the De'Longhi Icona Metallics toaster sits towards the premium end of the toaster market. Nicola felt it offered decent value in some areas, particularly its design and extra features.

However, she felt the performance could be more consistent given the price. She said, “considering the price, it is disappointing that the toasting is inconsistent.”

When comparing it with other toasters she’s used, Nicola felt the value was “about the same.” She also said she would be “unsure” about buying it at full price.

Final verdict: is the De'Longhi Icona Metallics toaster worth it?

If you’re drawn to the retro look of De’Longhi’s Icona appliances, this toaster will almost certainly appeal. It’s stylish, well made and offers practical features like a bagel mode, defrost setting and four-slot capacity that works well for family households.

Both testers agreed the design is one of its biggest selling points. Nicola summed this up simply when she said the standout feature is “the design.”

However, the occasional inconsistency in toasting means it may not be the best option if perfectly even browning every time is your top priority.

Nicola herself said she “would recommend it for design and features, but maybe not for performance.”

For many buyers though, the combination of good looks and practical features may still make it a worthwhile addition to the kitchen, especially if you’re pairing it with the matching Icona kettle.

About the author

Rebecca Roberts (aka Beccy) is our resident lifestyle expert with a practical focus on sleep, wellness and everyday comfort. She’s equally at home tackling frank, NSFW‑adjacent topics as she is road‑testing kitchen appliances, mattresses and vacuums that work for real parents. A former editor of LJMU’s Looprevil Press, she cut her teeth in journalism in 2010, earned a post‑grad diploma in Journalism and later led editorial at ExpatWoman in Dubai before joining Mumsnet. As a mum of two, she writes with the time‑poor, sleep‑deprived in mind - honest product reviews, realistic routines and products that make parents’ lives easier.

When she’s not at her desk, she’s probably product‑testing with her two helpers, corralling a PTA or walking her two dogs up and down country lanes.

About Mumsnet reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of hands-on testing. We never accept payment for coverage, and our verdicts are independent and honest. We may earn a small commission through affiliate links, which helps fund our work - but it never influences our opinions.

All prices are correct at the time of writing.

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