De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo EC9255.M, Espresso Pump Coffee Machine with Cold Brew Function, with Professional Milk Frothing Nozzle, Sensor Grinding Technology, Includes Barista Kit, 1450W, Metal

My Sage Barista Express has been a sturdy work-horse for over 9-years but spares for the original grinder are no longer available so it was time for a new machine.The Sage machine was superb but did have some foibles; the most annoying being how particular it was to any variation in the beans. Even the weather could alter the grind to the extent that I wasted at least 2 espressos to get the settings right again!I decided I'd try something new and the Delonghi appeared to be a bargain, so I placed my order.I've had it around a week now and have almost got used to the slightly different brew process and feel able to review.Probably easiest if I run through the process commenting on the way.1 - Bean Hopper - Not removable (unlike the Sage) so I tend to chuck in enough beans for a couple of cups at a time, incase there is a request for decaf etc.2 - Grinder - Seems to grind well and consistently. Surprised to find that I'm grinding towards the coarse end of the settings 6/8 (Sage was always towards the fine end 3/16). Dosing level has lots of fine adjustment. Included Dosing & Tamping Guide keeps everything tidy. (I bought an aftermarket one for the Sage, which was really messy without it).3 - Grouphead - feels good quality. Portafilters are narrower and deeper than on the Sage. They are shaped nicely to fit the tamper and this stops over compression of the coffee. Also have a lip which allows you to judge whether the dose level is correct. On the downside the extra depth seems to mean more friction on the puck when emptying into a knock-box and a bit of extra force is required. I find it's better to empty straight after making coffee, whereas with the Sage I'd empty before making the next one with no issue. IGNORE WHAT THE DELONGHI SPEC SAYS - THE PORTAFILTERS ARE SINGLE SKIN NON-PRESSURISED! I nearly ordered aftermarket ones after reading the spec but glad I waited until it arrived!4 - Brewing - I always run a shot through the empty Grouphead to pre-heat and wash through before making my double-shot espresso. With the Sage this was easy and foolproof as the Grinder had a Single/Double Shot selection while there are two separate buttons for Single/Double Shot Pour. Basically leave the grinder alone and just pour a single shot through the empty portafilter. On the Delonghi the Single/Double Shot selector works both the Grinder and Pour, so I've now ground a single shot of coffee a number of times after warming the Grouphead. And as usual Two-Singles don't make a Double! Lesson gradually being learnt - warm the portafilter with a double! There are three Temp Settings, I just use the hottest at the moment. I haven't used the Long Black setting yet as I drink espresso and my wife and daughters are flat-white/cappuccino or latte drinkers.5 - Steam Wand - not as articulated as on the Sage BUT insulated so doesn't immediately bake-on milk to the outside of the wand when removed from the jug. Much nicer to keep clean and good pressure.6 - Extras - extra stand to lift espresso cups closer to the Grouphead (nice feature), Rubber Grouphead & Tamper holder (works nicely), little cubby-hole on top of the machine to keep spare portafilter etc. (haven't noticed any cup-warming effect because of this).7 - ON/OFF Switch - a small thing but just slightly annoying! It's hidden at the lower, back corner of the left-hand side of the machine and requires a push in to turn on and a push in to turn off. Compared to the Sage Power Button on the front panel this is a complete faff, and if you don't turn it off and the machine goes to sleep you have to push it in to turn it off and then push it in again to turn it on, and sometimes it makes you repeat the process to punish you for not switching off after making your coffee!OVERALL:Compared to the Barista Express there appear to be bigger steps between each grind setting, but much more scope to fine-tune the dose. So a little bit Swings and Roundabouts.Removable Hopper would have been nice, even better would be two-hoppers like on their Rivela B2C Machine.Seems a lot more consistent in brewing than the Barista Express, haven't had to change the settings much at all since the initial dialing in, even when changing from caff to de-caff beans. Seems a little odd compared to the Sage to be on the coarse side of the middle setting, and dosing at 14/40 on the scale. But I guess it's a bit like clothing, ignore the number, if it fits and looks good, it fits and looks good. Don't put it back because you don't like the size number! The Coffee is Good and Repeatable.Silly On/Off switch won't put me off.Recommended.

I spent ages looking at different coffee machines, and eventually came to purchase this one. Some of the other brands are over complicated and too many fancy options/buttons when at the end of the day it just makes coffee, which this machine does perfectlyMakes such smooth and fresh coffee compared to buying at your Costa or Starbuck. Once you get the grind size and dosage right for how you like it, you'll get consistent barista quality coffee at home, and it takes about 2 minutes.The milk steam wand is a nice touch, as long as you kind of know what you're doing and know the difference between latte & cappuccino milk you'll get great coffee every time. My only gripe with the wand is it doesn't pull out too far from the machine so can be a little awkward depending on what size milk jug you're using. (I bought a 600ML jug compared to the 300ML mug it comes with, as it makes it a lot easier to steam milk without worrying about spilling)The dosage and tamper aids are great, allows you to get your coffee grinds neat and flat every time which is idealy for getting the correct pressure.Overall very happy with the purchase, the colour of the machine looks great and it is very user friendly, with a little trial and error.

I’m absolutely happy with my La Specialista coffee machine! The build quality is impressive, and it feels sturdy and well-made. The user-friendly interface makes it easy to adjust settings, and the coffee it brews is rich, flavorful, and consistent every time. Highly recommend for anyone looking to elevate their coffee experience at home!"

First coffee machine purchase, and this was a solid intro (especially during Amazon sales). Coffee-making is straightforward once you dial in the grind size/quantity for your beans—took some trial and error, but the results are worth it.Tip: Read the manual! Holding the brew button to program water/coffee amounts is a game-changer for consistency. From Cup to CupHaven’t tested the milk frother yet, but the grinder and customization options impress.One quirk: Mine leaks a bit of water from the tank into the drip tray when idle. A friend’s doesn’t, so might be a defect. Still, zero regrets—excited to experiment with new beans. Great entry into home espresso if you’re patient with setup.

The machine makes a very good cup, but the bean is probably the most important thing! It is very easy to use, we are still trying different coffee beans although we have a favourite! I have found the recommended settings work very well, easy to clean and good value.

The machine itself is great—brewing delicious coffee with ease. Setup is a breeze, and operating it feels effortless. However, the product description claims it includes a Metal Tamper. In reality? That so-called “metal” is flimsy plastic. And worse, by the time I made my third cup of coffee, the tamper had already broken. The result? No more coffee until I replace it—because without a functioning tamper, the machine is useless. So unless you’re prepared for an unexpected week-long coffee drought, be ready to buy a real tamper separately.

We have had a Sage machine for a while and when that developed a problem and we couldn't find anyone to repair it, we bought this DeLonghi machine instead. We love it. Just as sturdy as our Sage machine. We were sceptical about the grinder guide, but wow, no mess, so we are hooked. The steamer stops automatically and everything about the machine is great. Cleaning is easy, but can take an hour with all the rinses, but the machine is doing all that. My only criticism is the location of the on/off button on the side, it looks us ages to find it the first time! Otherwise a brilliant machine for the money, and as good as, if not better than, our old Sage machine.

Easy to use and great coffee. Unlike stove top pots, cafetiere or filter there's no mess at all.