While premium espresso machines from De'Longhi and Breville both promise cafe-quality drinks at home, they cater to different coffee lovers. De'Longhi models lean on classic Italian craftsmanship, durability, and user-friendly design at a more accessible price point. Breville's Impress series, in contrast, focuses on a modern look, precision control, and advanced technology that justifies a higher price for enthusiasts who love to fine-tune their brew.
Here's everything you need to know about these two brands to choose the right espresso machine for your kitchen.
About De'Longhi Premium Espresso Machines
De'Longhi is a storied Italian brand known for creating high-quality, reliable, and stylish small appliances. Their espresso machines are praised for blending innovative brewing technology with straightforward controls and a sleek aesthetic. From the advanced La Specialista series to the versatile Dinamica line, De'Longhi's machines are built for performance and longevity, making them a favorite among home baristas who value both form and function.
- What it is: A range of Italian-designed espresso machines catering to coffee enthusiasts seeking high performance and durability at home.
- Key features: Superior brewing technology, Thermoblock heating systems for fast startup, intuitive user interfaces, and stylish designs with stainless steel accents.
- Price: Mid-range to premium, with popular models ranging from $300 to over $1,200.
- Style: Sleek and timeless Italian modernity. Designs often feature rounded edges, polished metal finishes, and an elegant but professional look.
- Materials/Construction: Known for durable stainless steel construction, a solid build quality, and reliable internal components that are made to last.
- Pros: Excellent value for the price, renowned Italian craftsmanship, designed for durability and longevity, easy-to-use interfaces, and elegant styling.
- Cons: High-end models have fewer customization features than comparable Breville machines, entry-level models are fairly basic.
A premium De'Longhi machine is ideal for those who want a reliable, stylish espresso maker rooted in classic design without needing exhaustive technical customization.
Shop this brand: delonghi.com/en-us/c/coffee-espresso
About the Breville Barista Express Impress
As part of its popular Barista series, the Breville Barista Express Impress exemplifies the brand's focus on bridging professional quality with home use. Breville is an Australian brand celebrated for packing advanced, cutting-edge technology into sleek, user-friendly appliances. The Impress series machinery simplifies the process with features like assisted tamping and intelligent dosing while still delivering the high level of control that serious coffee aficionados demand.
- What it is: A modern espresso machine line for home use, equipped with innovative technology to achieve precise, repeatable results.
- Key features: Precise PID temperature control, Thermocoil heating system, dose control grinding, integrated low-pressure pre-infusion, and high-pressure steam for microfoam.
- Price: Mid-range to premium, with the Barista Express Impress model typically priced near $900.
- Style: Contemporary and minimalist. The design features clean lines, a brushed stainless steel finish, and clear digital interfaces.
- Materials/Construction: Emphasizes high-end materials, with die-cast metal bodies, premium stainless steel, and high-grade internal brewing components.
- Pros: Highly granular customization options, innovative tech-forward features, sleek modern aesthetic, builds designed for consistency and precision.
- Cons: Carries a higher price tag than many competitors, the vast number of features can present a steeper learning curve for beginners.
The Breville Impress series is for the tech-savvy coffee lover who craves total control over the brewing process and wants a modern, premium appliance to match their kitchen.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes876.html
De'Longhi vs. Breville Comparison
Price & Value
De'Longhi generally positions itself as the more accessible option, offering excellent machines in the $700-$1,200 range that provide fantastic value. You get Italian design heritage and durable construction without having to pay top dollar. Breville tends to be more expensive, with Impress models starting around $900 and going up from there. The brand justifies this with advanced technology and premium materials, appealing to users who see the added cost as an investment in precision and control.
If budget is a primary concern, De'Longhi often provides better value. If specific advanced features are a must-have, Breville's premium price is warranted.
Materials & Construction
Both brands produce well-built machines, but with slightly different focuses. De'Longhi's reputation is built on solid, reliable construction using durable stainless steel and time-tested internal parts. Users often describe them as robust workhorses.
Breville emphasizes a more premium material feel, often using die-cast metal bodies and high-grade engineered components. Technologies like PID temperature control require more sophisticated internal parts, adding to Breville's feeling of a high-end, advanced device.
Technology & Customization
This is where the two brands differ most. Breville is the clear leader for home baristas who love to experiment. With features like precise gram control for grinding, PID temperature stabilization, and adjustable settings for nearly every part of the brew process, Breville caters to control enthusiasts.
De'Longhi takes a different approach, prioritizing user-friendliness and reliability. While their high-end machines also feature robust technology, the focus is on achieving a great result through more automated or straightforward controls. You still get quality brewing, but with less of a manual learning curve.
Ease of Use
Despite Breville's many features, the Barista Express Impress is designed to simplify the most difficult parts of making espresso – the dosing and tamping. This feature makes it quite approachable to beginners eager to leapfrog skills and get to great-tasting coffee, faster.
De'Longhi, on the other hand, specializes in more traditional machines at various skill levels - all the way up to "superautomatic" models. Most users find these models as an attractive entryway for budding baristas.
Style & Aesthetic
Your kitchen's style will play a big part in your decision. De'Longhi machines have a classic Italian aesthetic - sleek, often with rounded edges and polished chrome that looks timeless and elegant. They fit well in both modern and more traditional settings.
Breville's design is unapologetically modern and minimalist. With clean, sharp lines, brushed stainless steel, and digital displays, their machines look almost like professional lab equipment for a contemporary kitchen.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both brands produce excellent espresso machines, but they shine for different types of users.
Choose a premium De'Longhi machine if:
- You appreciate a timeless, elegant Italian design that complements a wide range of kitchen styles.
- Your priority is getting a reliable, durable workhorse machine at a great value.
- You prefer straightforward controls and a user-friendly experience right out of the box.
- Proven brewing technology matters more to you than minute, hands-on customizations.
Choose a Breville Impress series machine if:
- A sleek, minimalist, and tech-forward aesthetic is a must for your countertop.
- You are a coffee enthusiast eager to control every variable, from grind dose to temperature.
- You value assistive technologies like the Impress's dosing and tamping system to ensure consistent results every time.
What's the main difference between De'Longhi and Breville?
The simplest distinction is philosophy: De'Longhi embodies traditional Italian design focused on robust, user-friendly performance. Breville represents modern Australian innovation, prioritizing technology, user control, and precision.
Which brand is better for beginners?
Both brands offer good entry points. A basic De'Longhi machine is often simpler and very intuitive for a complete novice. However, the Breville Barista Express Impress is specifically designed to help beginners overcome the hardest parts of espresso making - dosing and tamping - making it an excellent, albeit more expensive, starting point.
Are De'Longhi machines made in Italy?
While De'Longhi is an Italian company renowned for its Italian design heritage, not all of its products are manufactured in Italy. However, the design, engineering standards, and quality control are all managed through its Italian headquarters, ensuring every product reflects the brand's core values.
Why is Breville often more expensive?
Breville's higher prices reflect its investment in research and development for proprietary technologies. Features like PID temperature control for thermal stability, sophisticated dose-control grinders, and advanced user interfaces require custom, high-grade components that increase manufacturing costs.
Which brand is more durable?
Both brands are known for making reliable machines, and durability often comes down to the specific model. De'Longhi has built a long-standing reputation for sturdy workhorses that ensure quality. Breville often features more premium external and internal building materials in higher-end models.
Do I really need precise PID temperature control?
For most casual coffee drinkers, no. However, for enthusiasts who buy specialty single-origin beans, precise temperature is very important. Slight temperature changes can dramatically alter a coffee's flavor profile, bringing out bright, acidic notes or deeper, chocolatey ones. PID control, a staple in Breville's machines, offers the consistency needed for this level of nuanced brewing.
Can I use pre-ground coffee in these machines?
Yes, most models from both brands include both pressurized and non-pressurized filter baskets. The pressurized baskets are designed specifically to create good back pressure when using pre-ground coffee, helping you achieve a good extraction even without a high-end grinder.
What's the warranty policy for these brands?
Typically, both De'Longhi and Breville offer standard one-to-two-year warranties on their espresso machines. However, Breville is sometimes noted for having a more responsive and comprehensive customer support system, which can be a valuable asset for a premium, tech-heavy appliance.
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