Breville Barista Pro vs De’Longhi La Specialista Espresso Machine

When it comes to creating a perfect cup of espresso at home, having the right machine can make all the difference. Two popular choices in the market are the Breville Barista Pro and the De’Longhi La Specialista. Both of these machines offer premium features and high-quality brewing, but they each cater to slightly different needs and preferences. In this guide, we’ll compare the Breville Barista Pro and the De’Longhi La Specialista espresso machines to help you decide which one is the best fit for your home coffee setup.

1. Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine

The Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine BES878BSS is an impressive option for coffee enthusiasts looking to enjoy specialty coffee at home. With a sleek brushed stainless steel finish, it adds a touch of elegance to any kitchen. The standout feature is the integrated precision conical burr grinder, which provides fresh ground coffee at the perfect dose with a single touch, ensuring maximum flavor. The machine heats up in just 3 seconds, offering a fast and efficient brewing experience, and the digital temperature control ensures a precise extraction for balanced, rich espresso.

The steam wand allows for manual microfoam milk texturing, making it easy to create lattes and cappuccinos with silky milk and even latte art. The intuitive LCD screen provides clear guidance through the grinding and extracting process, making it user-friendly, even for beginners. The included accessories, such as the milk jug and cleaning kit, make maintaining the machine easy.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Integrated grinder for fresh coffee grounds on demand.
2. Fast heat-up time with the ThermoJet system.
3. Precise temperature control for optimal espresso extraction.
4. Manual steam wand for professional milk frothing and latte art.
5. User-friendly LCD interface with progress animations.

Cons:

1. The steam wand requires some skill to master for perfect microfoam.

2. De’Longhi La Specialista Espresso Machine

The De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo Espresso Machine (EC9255M) is a versatile and stylish option for coffee lovers who want to bring the barista experience into their home. Its built-in conical burr grinder delivers precise doses of freshly ground coffee with 8 adjustable grind settings, ensuring the perfect cup every time. The machine also features De’Longhi’s innovative Cold Extraction Technology, which allows for a delicious cold brew in under 5 minutes—a great feature for those who prefer chilled coffee beverages.

The commercial-style steam wand heats quickly and produces smooth microfoam, ideal for creating latte art. With 4 preset recipes (Espresso, Americano, Cold Brew, and Hot Water), the machine offers convenience while still allowing room for customization. The Active Temperature Control ensures that the water temperature is ideal for each type of coffee bean, enhancing extraction quality. Additionally, the machine’s compact design is perfect for modern kitchens, and the included barista kit makes the entire coffee-making process easier and less messy.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Built-in burr grinder with 8 adjustable grind settings.
2. Fast cold brew extraction in under 5 minutes.
3. Commercial-style steam wand for smooth microfoam and latte art.
4. Active Temperature Control for optimal coffee extraction.
5. Compact design and easy clean-up with dishwasher-safe parts.

Cons:

1. Some may find the cold brew process too fast for traditional methods.

Comparison of Breville Barista Pro vs De’Longhi La Specialista

Design and Build Quality

Both the Breville Barista Pro BES878BSS and the De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo EC9255M offer sleek, stainless steel designs that complement any modern kitchen. The Breville model has a compact footprint, measuring 13″D x 14″W x 16″H, while the De’Longhi is slightly larger with dimensions of 14.37″D x 11.22″W x 15.87″H. Although both are well-built and visually appealing, the De’Longhi’s slightly bulkier design may take up more space on the countertop. However, both machines are sturdy and feel premium, fitting in with any high-end kitchen aesthetic.

Coffee Grinding and Brewing Features

The Breville Barista Pro features an integrated conical burr grinder with dose control, allowing for precise grinding with minimal effort. It offers a fast grind-to-brew process, which is perfect for those who want fresh coffee quickly. The De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo also boasts a built-in burr grinder with 8 grind settings, giving users greater flexibility to experiment with different bean varieties. It also allows for both single and double dose preparation. While both machines excel in providing fresh ground coffee, the De’Longhi stands out with its additional cold brew feature, utilizing Cold Extraction Technology to prepare cold brew in under 5 minutes. The Breville Barista Pro, on the other hand, is better suited for those who prefer traditional espresso-based drinks.

Steam Wand and Milk Frothing

When it comes to milk frothing, both machines offer commercial-style steam wands. The Breville Barista Pro’s steam wand allows for manual microfoam texturing, ideal for creating rich, creamy lattes and cappuccinos. The De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo also has a powerful steam wand capable of producing smooth, consistent microfoam, making it suitable for home baristas who want to try their hand at latte art. Both wands heat up quickly, ensuring you can steam milk with ease. However, the De’Longhi’s steam wand might appeal more to those seeking more precision with a smoother froth for detailed latte art, thanks to its faster response time.

Temperature Control and Consistency

The Breville Barista Pro uses Digital Temperature Control (PID) to maintain a consistent water temperature, ensuring optimal espresso extraction with a tolerance of +/- 2°C. This results in a balanced and rich espresso shot. On the other hand, the De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo features Active Temperature Control, which allows users to choose from 3 different infusion temperatures to match the ideal extraction temperature for different coffee bean varieties. Both machines excel in this area, but the De’Longhi offers more customization with its adjustable temperature options, providing more versatility for coffee enthusiasts who prefer to fine-tune their brewing process.

User-Friendliness and Features

The Breville Barista Pro has a user-friendly LCD interface, providing clear progress animations for grinding and extracting, making it easy for beginners to understand the coffee-making process. The intuitive interface is one of its strongest points. In comparison, the De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo offers four preset recipes for quick brewing—Espresso, Americano, Cold Brew, and Hot Water. The Barista Pro has a simpler, one-touch operation for grinding, but it lacks preset recipes, which might be more convenient for beginners who prefer automated options. The De’Longhi’s preset options add a level of ease for those who want to quickly prepare their favorite drinks without manually adjusting each parameter.

Conclusion

Both the Breville Barista Pro and the De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo offer impressive features that can elevate your at-home coffee brewing experience. If you’re looking for a simple, reliable espresso machine that delivers consistent, high-quality espresso with minimal effort, the Breville Barista Pro is a fantastic choice. Its integrated grinder and intuitive interface make it easy to brew delicious coffee quickly. On the other hand, if you’re a coffee enthusiast who enjoys experimenting with different coffee styles, temperatures, and brewing methods, the De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo gives you the flexibility and precision you need to perfect your coffee skills, including the ability to make cold brew in under 5 minutes.

Enjoyed this guide of Breville Barista Pro vs De’Longhi La Specialista? Then be sure to check out our other espresso machine guides and reviews.

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