The DeLonghi La Specialista and the Breville Barista Touch are two heavyweight competitors in the home espresso machine market, but they cater to very different users. The La Specialista is a semi-automatic machine that emphasizes a hands-on, traditional brewing experience with its innovative tamping station at a more moderate price, whereas the Barista Touch is a premium automated machine that uses a modern touchscreen to deliver café-quality drinks with ultimate convenience.
Here's a detailed comparison to help you choose the right machine from DeLonghi or Breville for your kitchen.
DeLonghi La Specialista
The La Specialista merges traditional espresso-making with smart features designed to simplify the most difficult parts of the process, like grinding and tamping. It's built for the home barista who enjoys the craft of pulling a perfect shot but appreciates clever assistance to ensure consistency without full automation.
- What it is: A semi-automatic espresso machine with a sensor-driven grinder and an assisted "Smart Tamping Station" to create consistent pucks with minimal mess.
- Key features: Integrated conical burr grinder, Smart Tamping Station with a lever for mess-free tamping, active temperature control with a brass boiler, and a manual milk frothing wand.
- Price: Around $700 - $800.
- Style: Classic and robust with its stainless steel finish and pressure gauge, it has a functional, somewhat retro look that recalls commercial espresso machines.
- Materials/Construction: Features a durable stainless steel body and high-quality plastic components with a solid brass boiler for enhanced temperature stability.
- Dimensions: Approximately 12" W x 10" D x 16" H, making it a good fit for most standard countertops.
- Pros: Excellent value for a machine with an integrated grinder and tamping assistance. Manual controls offer a hands-on learning experience. The tamping station is a user-friendly feature that reduces waste. Durable, high-quality build.
- Cons: A steeper learning curve compared to automated machines. Manual milk frothing requires practice to achieve perfect microfoam. Fewer bells and whistles than pricier models.
This machine is for the aspiring barista who wants a more involved brewing experience and precise control, but with helpful features that streamline the workflow.
Shop this product: delonghi.com/en-us/la-specialista-espresso-machine
Breville Barista Touch
The Barista Touch is all about bringing the café experience home with intuitive, modern technology. Its standout feature is the full-color touchscreen that guides you through every step, from grinding and brewing to automatically frothing milk to your chosen texture and temperature - all while allowing you to save your favorite custom drink recipes.
- What it is: A premium, automated espresso machine with a touchscreen interface, integrated grinder, and automatic milk frothing.
- Key features: An intuitive color touchscreen with pre-programmed café drinks, ThermoJet heating system for a 3-second heat-up time, integrated conical burr grinder, and an automatic steam wand for hands-free milk texturing.
- Price: Typically priced between $1,200 - $1,400.
- Style: Sleek and contemporary, with a polished stainless steel finish and a minimalist design highlighted by its large touchscreen display.
- Materials/Construction: A premium brushed stainless steel body with a high-tech feel. Utilizes Breville’s ThermoJet heating system for rapid performance.
- Dimensions: Around 12.5" W x 12" D x 14" H, offering a relatively compact footprint for such a feature-rich appliance.
- Pros: Extremely easy to use thanks to the touchscreen guide. Automatic milk frothing creates perfect microfoam effortlessly. Very fast heat-up time. Allows customization and saving of up to 8 personalized coffee drinks. Stunning modern aesthetic.
- Cons: Significantly higher price point. Offers less hands-on control for espresso purists. Relies heavily on the digital interface for all functions.
This unit is perfect for coffee lovers who crave high-quality, customized beverages with foolproof convenience and are willing to invest in a machine that does most of the work for them.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes880.html
DeLonghi La Specialista vs. Breville Barista Touch Comparison
User Experience & Automation
The primary difference between these two machines lies in the user experience. The DeLonghi La Specialista is designed for interaction. You select your functions with buttons and dials, tamp the coffee yourself using the built-in lever, and manually steam your milk. It feels like a more traditional coffee-making process but with smart guardrails like the tamping station to keep things consistent.
In contrast, the Breville Barista Touch is built around effortless automation. You swipe through a menu of drinks like a latte or flat white, and the machine guides you through the simple steps. The automatic steam wand is the star feature, you just set the milk temperature and texture, and it creates perfect microfoam while the espresso brews, allowing you to walk away.
Brewing Technology & Heat-Up Time
The Barista Touch features Breville's innovative ThermoJet heating system, which gets the machine ready to brew in an impressively fast 3 seconds. The La Specialista uses a more traditional boiler, which takes a bit longer to heat up but provides excellent temperature stability during the shot extraction process.
For someone in a hurry in the morning, Breville's near-instant heat-up is a clear advantage. For those who prioritize shot consistency over speed, DeLonghi’s system is a proven performer.
Design & Dimensions
Stylistically, the machines are worlds apart. The La Specialista boasts a rugged, industrial aesthetic with its prominent pressure gauge and sturdy knobs, appealing to those who love the classic espresso bar vibe. It has a functional, no-nonsense presence on the countertop.
The Barista Touch is the definition of modern kitchen tech. Its clean lines, polished stainless steel finish, and vibrant touchscreen make it a sleek statement piece. It’s slightly more compact than the DeLonghi and has a design that blends seamlessly with other high-end kitchen appliances.
Price & Value
There's a significant price gap here. The DeLonghi La Specialista, at around $700-$800, offers tremendous value. For that price, you get a solid machine with an integrated grinder and a truly useful assisted tamping feature. It gives you the tools to hone your barista skills without a huge initial investment.
The Breville Barista Touch costs nearly double, at $1,200-$1,400. Its value isn't in saving money but in saving time and effort. You're paying for a premium, automated experience with cutting-edge technology that consistently delivers excellent results with minimal user input.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both machines produce fantastic espresso, but they excel for completely different types of users.
Choose the DeLonghi La Specialista if:
- You have a budget under $1000.
- You want to learn the craft of espresso making and enjoy a hands-on process.
- You appreciate the guided tamping system that solves a common beginner pain point.
- A classic, industrial design with manual controls appeals to you more than a touchscreen.
Choose the Breville Barista Touch if:
- Convenience, speed, and automation are your top priorities.
- You love technology and prefer a guided experience via a modern touchscreen.
- You want consistently great results, including perfectly textured milk, without the learning curve.
- You have a larger budget and are willing to invest in a premium, time-saving machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the La Specialista and Barista Touch?
The main difference is the level of automation and interface. The La Specialista is a semi-automatic machine with manual controls and a unique assisted tamping system. The Breville Barista Touch is a fully automated machine controlled by a user-friendly touchscreen that guides you from bean to cup.
Is the Breville Barista Touch worth the extra money?
If you value speed, convenience, and automated perfection, then yes. The extra cost pays for the advanced touchscreen, automatic milk frothing, and incredibly fast heat-up time. If you prefer manual control and are on a smaller budget, the DeLonghi offers better bang for your buck.
Which espresso machine is better for beginners?
The Breville Barista Touch is easier for a true beginner because it automates the most difficult parts - especially milk frothing. However, the DeLonghi La Specialista is excellent for a beginner who wants to learn the craft, as its smart features provide help without removing user control.
How fast do they heat up?
The Breville Barista Touch is much faster, ready in about 3 seconds thanks to its ThermoJet heating system. The DeLonghi La Specialista's boiler system takes a few minutes to come to a stable temperature.
Do both machines have a built-in grinder?
Yes, both machines feature an integrated conical burr grinder, allowing you to use fresh whole beans for every shot.
How is the tamping process different?
The DeLonghi has a unique "Smart Tamping Station," where you pull a lever on the side of the machine to tamp the ground coffee in the portafilter - it's neat, mess-free, and consistent. With the Breville, you follow the traditional method of removing the portafilter and tamping manually with a separate tamper.
Which machine is a better value?
From a pure price-to-features standpoint, the DeLonghi La Specialista offers more value. You get a reliable machine with an integrated grinder and useful assistance features for a moderate price. The Breville's value is in its premium, time-saving convenience.
Which one is easier to clean?
Both are relatively easy to maintain. The Breville Barista Touch has guided cleaning cycles on its touchscreen and the auto-purge function for its steam wand helps keep it clean. The DeLonghi also has descaling indicators and its mess-free tamping station reduces daily coffee ground cleanup.
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