De’Longhi La Specialista (Tom’s Review)

  

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I have had the pleasure of taking the De’Longhi La Specialista for a spin and it has ticked quite a few of the home espresso machine boxes.

It’s an all in one semi automatic espresso machine with a built in grinder. The Sensor grinding technology ensures a precise grind, adapting to a variety of beans.

The smart tamping station, has been a fans favourite, leaving minimal mess and a nice addition.

The machine’s charm lies in its flexible Latte System, allowing me to froth milk just the way I like. With its chic design, it sits comfortably in my kitchen, ready to deliver quality espresso based coffees.

Tom+using+the+Delonghi+La+Specialista De'Longhi La Specialista

My Opinion

Unboxing the De’Longhi La Specialista I immediately noticed that it was slightly thinner than many of the other home espresso machines that I have tested before although I’d say what it lacks in width it makes up for in length and the water tank does add a few cm on the back of the machine so make sure you’ve measured up your countertop before purchasing.

Overall I loved using the De’longhi La Specialista, I was apprehensive at first about a couple of the more unusual elements that came along with the machine such as the ‘Smart Tamping station’ which is a sort of extra basket that is locked into the portafilter basket when grinding the coffee (see below) but I was eventually won over.

The setup was super simple and I was pouring my first latte art tulip in minutes.

Dialling in the coffee grinds take a bit of getting used to but by simply adjusting the grind size underneath the hopper and then carefully adjusting the dose by changing the timing dial it was pretty straight forward.

The pressure gauge is a great indication of the optimal dose/grind size that letrs you observe as the shot is extracted.

I found that there are some really cute add ons that kind of make the La Specialista well quite special – alongside the tamping station, there was also a raised platform to pull espresso into smaller cups and I really liked the storage compartment on top of the machine.

Pros ✅

  • User-Friendly

  • Quality Coffee

  • Aesthetic Design

  • Tamping Station

  • Value

Cons ❌

  • Steam Wand Takes a While

  • Few Grind Settings

4 De'Longhi La Specialista

Making+a+Latte+with+the+Delonghi+La+Specialista De'Longhi La Specialista

Ratings

Coffee Quality ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8/10
Control ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8/10
Build Quality ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8/10
Ease of Use ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10
Value For Money ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10



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Details

  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 365mm x 275mm x 400mm

  • Price Range: £450 – £600

  • Colours/Styles: Black, Green, Titanium, White, Yellow

  • Features: Grinder, Cup warmer, Removable water tank, Removable drip tray,

  • Accessories: Milk Jug, Coffee Tamper

Design

The De’Longhi La Specialista Arte dazzled me with its sleek and modern look. Its finish adds a stylish touch to any kitchen, complementing various decor styles depending on the colour.

The machine itself feels robust and well-built, which boosts my confidence in its durability.

The layout is intuitive, making it easy for me to navigate through the controls and settings.

Delonghi+La+Specialista+Functions De'Longhi La Specialista