The DeLonghi La Specialista and Breville Barista Express are two of the most popular all-in-one espresso machines, but they cater to different philosophies. The La Specialista from DeLonghi offers an assisted, streamlined experience with features like a smart tamping station, while the Barista Express from Breville provides more granular control over grind size and dose, appealing to home baristas who want to fine-tune their shots.
Here’s a detailed guide to help you decide which semi-automatic espresso machine is right for your kitchen counter.
DeLonghi La Specialista Espresso Machine
The La Specialista combines Italian design with user-friendly technology to simplify the espresso-making process. It’s built for those who want authentic, high-quality espresso without a steep learning curve, thanks to its integrated sensor grinder and smart tamping station that ensure consistency shot after shot.
- What it is: A semi-automatic espresso machine that takes a "from bean to cup" approach with an integrated grinder, assisted tamping, and dual heating system.
- Key features: Sensor Grinding Technology for a consistent dose, a Smart Tamping Station for mess-free, perfect pressure, Active Temperature Control, and an advanced latte system for microfoam or rich froth.
- Price: $800 - $1,000 depending on the specific model and retailer.
- Style: Classic, vintage-inspired Italian design with an industrial feel. Features a prominent pressure gauge, brushed stainless steel finish, and physical knobs.
- Materials/Construction: Mostly stainless steel construction, ensuring durability and a solid feel. It features a dual heating system for immediate brewing and steaming.
- Pros: Very beginner-friendly with its assisted tamping and dosing. Dual heating system allows for making espresso and frothing milk simultaneously. Beautiful, timeless design that looks great on a countertop. Tamping lever system minimizes coffee ground mess.
- Cons: Grinder offers fewer adjustment settings than the Barista Express. Some users find the smart tamping station can be less precise for specialty coffee beans. Less manual control for experienced baristas who want to experiment.
The La Specialista is ideal for the aspiring home barista who values consistency, ease of use, and a classic-looking machine that simplifies the complexities of making great espresso.
Shop this product: delonghi.com/en-us/la-specialista-espresso-machine-ec9335m/
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine
The Breville Barista Express has become a "gold standard" for home espresso, offering a complete set of tools for a hands-on experience. It gives the user full control over the grinding, dosing, and extraction process, making it a favorite for those who enjoy the craft and details of pulling a perfect shot.
- What it is: An all-in-one semi-automatic espresso machine with a built-in conical burr grinder and manual controls for temperature, grind size, and shot volume.
- Key features: Integrated conical burr grinder with dose control (16 precision settings), digital temperature control (PID) for stable water temp, pressure gauge for optimal extraction feedback, and a high-power manual steam wand.
- Price: $700 - $900, often found on sale for less.
- Style: Sleek and modern design with a brushed stainless steel finish and a digital display. It's functional, compact, and fits well in contemporary kitchen spaces.
- Materials/Construction: High-quality stainless steel build with a thermocoil integrated water path that helps control water temperature precisely.
- Pros: Excellent value for the price. Provides fantastic control over key variables like grind size and dose. Precise temperature control (PID) is a high-end feature in this price range. Strong community support and many online tutorials available. Manual steam wand delivers excellent microfoam for latte art.
- Cons: Steeper learning curve compared to the DeLonghi. Single boiler (thermocoil) means you can't brew and steam at the exact same time. The manual tamping process can be messy.
The Barista Express is perfect for the home coffee enthusiast who wants to learn, experiment, and have complete control over their espresso-making process.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes870.html
DeLonghi La Specialista vs. Breville Barista Express Comparison
Controls & Features
The biggest distinction is how these two machines approach the espresso workflow. The DeLonghi La Specialista is designed for assistance and consistency. Its Sensor Grinder delivers a pre-set dose, and the Smart Tamping lever ensures you apply the same pressure every time. This automation minimizes user error and coffee mess, making it incredibly accessible for newcomers.
In contrast, the Breville Barista Express puts control firmly in your hands. You manually control the grind amount with a dial and tamp the coffee grounds yourself with a separate tamper. While this means there is more room for error, it also provides the freedom to experiment and dial in the perfect shot. Its pressure gauge also provides valuable real-time feedback on your extraction, a feature helpful for learning to make better coffee.
Grinder & Brewing Quality
Both machines feature integrated grinders, but the Barista Express offers more flexibility. It has 16 precision settings for its steel conical burr grinder, giving users a wide range to fine-tune for different beans. The La Specialista's "Sensor Grinding" is simpler, offering fewer steps, which is great for ease of use but less ideal for dialing in specialty roasts that may need micro-adjustments.
In brewing, DeLonghi has a dual heating system, a major advantage that allows you to pull a shot and steam milk simultaneously. The Breville uses a single Thermocoil heating element. It heats up very quickly but requires a short waiting period (about 30 seconds) between brewing and steaming.
Style & Dimensions
The La Specialista channels a classic Italian espresso bar aesthetic. Its large, analog pressure gauge and robust knobs give it a commanding presence. It measures roughly 12 x 9 x 14 inches.
The Barista Express has a distinctly modern and compact look. With clean lines and a digital interface alongside physical buttons, it’s designed to fit into a contemporary kitchen without fuss. At around 12 x 12 x 13 inches, its slightly smaller footprint offers a bit more flexibility for crowded countertops.
Price & Value
Both machines operate in a similar price bracket, usually between $700 and $1,000. The Breville Barista Express often presents a slightly lower-cost option and is widely seen as offering incredible value due to its inclusion of advanced features like PID temperature control and a highly adjustable grinder. It gives a near-commercial level of control for a home-machine price.
The DeLonghi La Specialista justifies its price with convenience and build features. The dual boiler system and assisted tamping station are premium functions aimed at making the process faster, cleaner, and more consistent, which can be invaluable for busy users who want great coffee without the fuss.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both of these espresso machines are fantastic choices, but they are built for different types of users.
Choose the DeLonghi La Specialista if:
- You want to minimize the learning curve and get consistent results.
- You value a clean and tidy coffee-making process.
- You love a classic, robust, Italian-inspired design.
- You frequently make milk-based drinks and want to brew and steam at the same time.
Choose the Breville Barista Express if:
- You enjoy the craft of coffee making and want to control every variable.
- You are happy to learn and experiment to pull the perfect shot of espresso.
- You prefer a modern and compact kitchen appliance.
- You are looking for the best performance and control for your money.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the DeLonghi La Specialista and Breville Barista Express?
The main difference is the user experience. The DeLonghi simplifies the process with guided features like automated grinding and a lever-activated tamping station. The Breville offers more manual control over the grind dose, size, and tamping, making it better for those who like to experiment.
Which machine is better for beginners?
The DeLonghi La Specialista is generally more beginner-friendly. Its smart dosing and tamping system removes some of the biggest points of failure for newcomers, helping you make good espresso right out of the box.
How do the built-in grinders compare?
The Breville Barista Express has a more adjustable grinder with 16 settings, offering more precision for dialing in your espresso beans. The La Specialista's grinder has fewer settings and is designed more for ease of use than for fine-tuning.
What is the cleaning and maintenance like for each?
Both machines require regular cleaning, descaling, and backflushing. Both come with cleaning tablets and tools. The Breville has a storage tray for its tools, which is a nice touch. The DeLonghi's enclosed tamping station can make it a little cleaner during daily use.
Is the Breville's pressure gauge useful?
Yes, very. The pressure gauge provides visual feedback to know if your espresso shot is extracting correctly (in the "espresso range"). It helps you troubleshoot issues with your grind size or tamp pressure, which is a fantastic learning tool.
Which machine makes better milk foam?
Both have powerful steam wands capable of creating excellent microfoam for latte art. The Breville's is fully manual, giving you total control. The DeLonghi has an advanced latte system that can be set for "flat" for lattes or "foam" for cappuccinos, offering both manual control and a touch of assistance.
What's the difference between the heating systems?
The La Specialista uses a dual heating system, meaning you can pull espresso shots and froth milk simultaneously, which is faster. The Barista Express uses a single thermocoil heater, so you have to wait a moment between brewing and steaming, though it does heat up and switch functions very quickly.
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