Breville Barista vs Delonghi La Specialista – Which Machine Makes Better Coffee 365/24/7?

So you’re in the market for a new espresso machine. But which one should you buy? In this article, we compare the Breville Barista vs DeLonghi La Specialista to help you make your decision.

Both are great machines, but they have some key differences that you should be aware of before making a purchase.

Are you in the market for a new espresso coffee machine? If so, you may be wondering whether to buy a Breville Barista or a Delonghi La Specialista. 

Both machines are popular options, but they have their own unique features and benefits. In this blog post, we’ll compare the two machines and help you decide which is the best fit for your needs. 

So, if you’re ready to learn more about these two coffee makers, keep reading!

Breville Barista vs Delonghi La Specialista

• The Breville Barista is a semi-automatic espresso machine while the Delonghi La Specialista is a super-automatic espresso machine.
• The Breville Barista has a 15 bar Italian pump while the Delonghi La Specialista has a 19 bar Italian pump.
• The Breville Barista has a Thermo coil heating system while the Delonghi La Specialista has a dual boiler heating system.
• The Breville Barista comes with a built in steam wand for frothing milk while the Delonghi La Specialista comes with a built in milk frother.
• Both machines are designed for home use and make great espresso, lattes, and cappuccinos.

Breville Barista vs Delonghi La Specialista – 4 Key Differences

Breville and DeLonghi are two of the most popular coffee machine brands on the market. Both offer high-quality espresso machines that can make great coffee. But what are the key differences between the Breville Barista and the DeLonghi La Specialista?

Grinding Levels

The most crucial difference lies in the grinding level options. La Specialista only has 6 options. However, Breville’s Barista Express gives you an incredible 16 levels to play with. 

This wide selection can really allow you to vary the taste of your espresso to your desired preferences.

Heating System

The Delonghi La Specialista also has a dual independent heating system. This means that one element heats up the water for brewing while another heats up milk for steaming. 

Breville’s Barista Express only has one heating element. So, if you want to steam your milk, you have to wait until the Breville machine has finished brewing your espresso shot first.

Milk Texturing (For All You Coffee Artists)

For all you budding Baristas out there, Breville’s Barista Express gives you greater control over milk texturing. DeLonghi’s La Specialista does the milk texturing automatically for you. 

But in Breville’s Barista Express, you would have to have some experience to texture your milk to an acceptable quality. 

However, if you are serious about gaining Barista skills, Breville’s Barista Express can give you the freedom to texture milk to your preferred texture.

Smart Tamping

To make a great espresso you need to know how to tamp. Tamping is the process of compressing the coffee grounds in the portafilter before brewing. 

This is important because if you don’t tamp with the right pressure, it can affect the water flow and result in a less than ideal espresso shot. 

The Delonghi smart tamping station

DeLonghi’s Smart Tampering System works so easily and produces a great cup everytime. Simply fill the chamber with your ground coffee, and pull the lever to tamp it. The right pressure is automatically applied for perfect results, and there’s no need to remove the portafilter so you can enjoy a mess-free experience. Make great coffee at home with ease using the Smart Tamping Station!

DeLonghi’s La Specialista takes the guesswork out of tamping with its Smart Tamping system which automatically applies the perfect amount of pressure for a great tamp. 

Breville’s Barista Express does not have this feature, so it will be up to your skills as a Barista to get the perfect tamp.

So, there are key differences between Breville’s Barista Express and DeLonghi’s La Specialista. If you are looking for more control over your espresso, Breville’s Barista Express may be the better choice. 

However, if you want a machine that does some of the work for you, DeLonghi’s La Specialista might be the better option. Whichever machine you choose, you’ll be sure to enjoy great tasting espresso!

Breville Barista vs Delonghi La Specialista – 6 Similarities

Ok, let’s take a quick look at some of the similar features of both the Breville Barista and the Delonghi La Specialista shall we.

Superior Quality Integrated Grinder

Breville Barista Express and Delonghi La Specialista are two of the best espresso machines on the market, and they both come with an integrated grinder. This means that you’ll get the freshest possible coffee beans for your espresso, and the best flavor. If you’re looking for a great espresso machine, either of these is a great option.

Breville Barista vs Delonghi La Specialista Brewing Technology

Both the Breville Barista and Delonghi La Specialista espresso machines come equipped with pre-infusion and temperature control technology. 

Pre-infusion allows for uniform water saturation of the coffee grounds, resulting in a more balanced flavor extraction. Additionally, temperature control ensures that the brew temperature remains at an optimal level, preventing an unbalanced extraction that can result in an ashy espresso taste. 

Overall, these features work together to produce a delicious cup of espresso. So whether you’re a Breville or Delonghi fan, you can rest assured knowing that you’re getting a top-quality cup of coffee.

Hot Water Dispenser

Unless you are drinking cold brew iced coffee no one likes a coffee that has been sitting around and gotten cold. 

Breville and Delonghi espresso makers both have a hot water dispenser so you can make Americanos, tea, or other hot beverages without having to wait for the entire pot of coffee to brew.

Breville’s machine has a 1.8 liter tank while Delonghi’s has a 2.2 liter tank. Breville also offers the option of using filtered water in their machines whereas Delonghi does not have that option.

If you are looking for an espresso maker with a hot water dispenser Breville and Delonghi offer great options that will fit your needs.

Coffee Art Milk Frother

Who doesn’t love great coffee art? Breville Barista and Delonghi La Specialista come with milk steam wand for frothing milk. Now you can make your own latte art at home with great ease. 

Breville Barista vs Delonghi La Specialista Water & Bean Capacity

Not enough beans & not enough water are two things you dont need to worry about with the Breville Barista and the Delonghi La Specialista. 

Both have the same huge water tank capacity of 67 ounces, and 500gram bean hoppers. So go ahead and make all the espresso drinks you want without having to stop and refill all the time.

Breville Barista vs Delonghi La Specialista – The User Interface

Both the Breville Barista and Delonghi La Specialista espresso machines have a pressure gauge that lets you know how much pressure is being applied during the brewing process. They also both have dial knobs and buttons for operation, making them easy to use. 

Delonghi La Specialista

The Delonghi La Specialista is a great machine for those who want to enjoy super-automatic espresso at home without all of the hassle.

It features a 19 bar Italian pump and a dual boiler heating system that work together to produce rich and flavorful espresso. The Delonghi La Specialista also comes with a built-in milk frother, which allows you to make lattes and cappuccinos.

If you’re looking for an easy to use machine that produces great results, the Delonghi La Specialista is a great option.

Breville Barista Express

The Breville Barista is a great machine for those who want to enjoy semi-automatic espresso at home without all of the hassle. 

It features a 15 bar Italian pump and a Thermo coil heating system that work together to produce rich and flavorful espresso. 

The Breville Barista also comes with a built in steam wand, which allows you to froth milk for lattes and cappuccinos. 

If you’re looking for an easy to use machine that produces great results, the Breville Barista is a great option.

Breville Barista vs Delonghi La Specialista Side By Side

Product	Breville Barista	DeLonghi La Specialista
Summary	Our #1 Choice - Better build, better price & a superior grinder.	Easy to use - Great milk frothing.
Dimensions	12.5 x 12.6 x 13.1 In	14.5 x 15 x 17.5 In
Time To Froth Milk	65 Seconds	50 Seconds
Heating System	Thermocoil - 30 Second Heat Up Time	Dual Heating System - 1 Second Heat Up Time
Grinder	Built In Grinder 16 Settings	Built In Grinder 6 Settings
Value	Less Expensive Without Dropping In Quality	More Expensive
Purchase From	Check Price On Amazon	Check Price On Amazon

related article in justAnotherCuppaCoffee.com (breville barista)

You can check out our full review on my #1 pick here:

“breville barista review – a coffee machine that can turn anyone into a top barista”

related article in justAnotherCuppaCoffee.com (Delonghi)

You can check out our full review on the DeLonghi La Specialista here:

“The Acclaimed Delonghi Coffee and Espresso Maker is Taking the Coffee World by Storm!”

What’s My Final Verdict

So, what is the best espresso machine? Breville’s Barista Express or DeLonghi’s La Specialista? 

Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. If you want more control over your espresso shot and enjoy playing around with different grind settings, then Breville’s Barista Express is a great choice. 

But if you prefer a more hands-off approach and want a machine that will do the milk texturing for you, then DeLonghi’s La Specialista could be the better option.

Having owned both I would recommend the Breville Barista.

For all of the great features and the price, for me, it can’t be beat.

I’ve had my Breville for about 5 months now and I’ve been extremely happy with it. It’s easy to use and produces great results. The steamer is also very powerful, making it quick and easy to froth milk for lattes and cappuccinos.

The only downside is that the tamper that comes with it is a bit flimsy, but other than that I couldn’t be happier with my purchase. So if you’re wondering which espresso machine to buy, in my opinion the Breville Barista Express is the way to go.

Thats not saying that the DeLonghi La Specialista isnt a great machine, because it is. Its just that for me, the Breville is the better option.

For the price you are paying for the DeLonghi La Specialista I would have thought that it would have beaten the Breville hands down. The steamer is also not as powerful as the Breville’s, which can be a bit of a pain if you like your coffee art!

So there you have it, my thoughts on the two machines. In my opinion the Breville Barista Express is the better machine, but both are great machines that will produce great results.

Breville Barista vs Delonghi La Specialista FAQ’s

Is DeLonghi the same as Breville?

There are a few key differences between the DeLonghi La Specialista and the Breville Barista. The DeLonghi has a ceramic burr grinder, while the Breville has a metal one. Additionally, the DeLonghi has a water tank that can be removed for easy filling, while the Breville’s tank is built in. Finally, the DeLonghi has two boilers (one for espresso and one for steam), while the Breville has only one. This means that the DeLonghi can produce two drinks at once – an espresso and a latte or cappuccino – while the Breville can only produce one drink at a time.

Can You Use a Non Pressurized Basket in DeLonghi La Specialista?

In theory, you can use a non pressurized basket in DeLonghi La Specialista. However, I would not recommend it because the coffee may not be as rich and flavorful, especially if you aren’t an experienced Barista.
The DeLonghi La Specialista uses pressurized baskets to create rich and flavorful coffee. If you use a non pressurized basket, the coffee may not be as rich or flavorful.

Which Is Better Breville vs DeLonghi?

There is no clear answer when it comes to deciding between the Breville Barista and the DeLonghi La Specialista. Both machines offer features that appeal to coffee lovers and make excellent espresso. However, there are a few key differences that may sway your decision.
The Breville Barista has more grind size options than the DeLonghi, giving you more control over your espresso. The DeLonghi does have its patented sensor Grinder technology which adjusts the grind for you based on the bean variety and desired drink strength – so if you’re looking for a hands-off approach, this may be the machine for you.
In terms of price, the Breville is typically cheaper than the DeLonghi.

Breville Barista vs Delonghi La Specialista Summary

If you’re in the market for a high-quality espresso machine, we highly recommend the Breville Barista. 

It has all of the features you need to make delicious espressos at home, and it’s relatively affordable compared to other machines on the market. 

We were also impressed with the DeLonghi La Specialista, but it falls short of the Breville in terms of features. 

The built in tamper on the Delonghi is a great addition, so if you’re considering this machine, be sure to keep that in mind. 

Have you used either of these machines? Let us know what you think in the comments!