De’Longhi is one of the biggest names in coffee machines, and for good reason – the Italian company makes consistently great quality appliances, with solid after-sales service (even if your machine is out of warranty).
But, which De’Longhi machine should you choose? There are so many options, it might feel daunting, particularly if you’ve never bought a coffee maker before.
That’s where I come in. I test coffee machines for a living and have had my hands on all of De’Longhi’s latest models, so I’ve put together this handy guide to help you find the right one for you. All the De’Longhi espresso machines below get my seal of approval, and there’s an option for every budget. Read on to find out which one is right for you.
De’Longhi Dedica Duo
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De’Longhi’s latest espresso machine is a little gem that’s a successor to the hugely popular De’Longhi Dedica Style. It’s an excellent option if you have a particularly tiny kitchen, are on a tight budget, or just want to start developing your coffee-making skills.
Despite its small size and wallet-friendly price tag, I’ve found the Dedica Duo very reliable, with a fast-heating boiler and a pump that can maintain the steady pressure needed for consistent results. Some machines in this price range are frustratingly inconsistent, so even if you pull one good shot of espresso, the next one might be under- or over-extracted for no apparent reason. That’s not the case here.
The Dedica Duo doesn’t feel cheap, either. A few of the more affordable espresso machines I’ve tested come with flimsy plastic tampers that make it hard to apply enough pressure to your coffee grounds, or lightweight portafilter handles that are unsatisfying to hold. Not so here – De’Longhi has acknowledged the importance of solid-feeling components and not cutting corners to save cash.
The main difference between this and the Dedica Style is that the Duo can also make cold-extracted espresso. This takes quite a lot longer than traditional hot espresso, but is still much faster than making cold-brew in the fridge overnight and means you can prepare drinks like cocktails without using lots of ice, which would dilute it. You also get a more mellow flavor from cold-extracted espresso, which is very pleasant.
So far, I’ve not encountered many downsides, though it’s worth being aware that the machine tends to drip a bit after the pump has stopped. This is due to the lack of a three-way solenoid valve, but it certainly shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. It’s fairly noisy as well but. again, that’s not the end of the world. I can’t think of a better little espresso machine for the price.
Read my De’Longhi Dedica Duo hands-on
De’Longhi La Specialista Touch
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The De’Longhi La Specialista Touch is a great-looking semi-automatic espresso machine that’s another great option for beginners if you want a little more guidance when making your drinks. Select a beverage from the color touchscreen and the machine will walk you through the process of grinding the coffee, loading the portafilter handle, pulling the shot, and then foaming milk (if required).
There are a few features here that I really like. Firstly, the machine doesn’t assume that you have scales handy. Instead, it helps you get the correct dosage of coffee by suggesting either adding extra or removing a little using the trimming tool supplied. It’ll also help you determine the best grinder setting for your coffee (a process known as ‘dialling in’) by helping you brew a shot of espresso, timing how long it takes to extract, and advising how much to increase or decrease the grind size for a better result. The boiler maintains good consistent pressure, so once you’ve nailed the optimum size, you should get well balanced espresso every time.
The steam wand has manual and automatic settings,and the La Specialista Touch is supplied with pleasingly robust-feeling accessories. including a stainless steel milk jug with a fine spout that works well for latte art once you’re feeling confident.
I also like how compact this machine is. It won’t dominate a small kitchen, while its relatively short height means you’ll still be able to load beans into the hopper if you keep it on the counter underneath a cabinet.
There are a couple of drawbacks. There was no easy way to quickly flush the grouphead and screen with hot water without the portafilter handle in place and I couldn’t see a way to open up the grinder for cleaning. It’s a top-notch espresso machine for the price though, and I’d highly recommend it if you’re new to espresso and want to develop your skills.
Read my full De’Longhi La Specialista Touch review
De’Longhi Primadonna Aromatic
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If your budget can stand it, the De’Longhi Primadonna Aromatic is easily one of the best fully automatic espresso machines I’ve tested this year. It costs a lot more than either of the others listed here, but it’s hard to argue with the results.
There’s a vast menu to choose from, which might feel overwhelming at first, but the Primadonna Aromatic ‘learns’ what you usually like to drink at different times of day and will bump these to the front of the menu when appropriate. It’s a brilliant feature that can save you a lot of unnecessary scrolling.
The Primadonna Aromatic gives you a choice of automatic and manual brew settings. The auto mode uses De’Longhi’s Bean Adapt system: just select the type of coffee you’re using and the roast, and the machine will choose the optimum settings for you. If you’re feeling more confident, manual mode lets you tinker with factors like brew temperature and pre-infusion time for different results. If you’ve got the time to spare, it’s a great way to fine-tune the machine to produce exactly the flavor profile you like.
During my tests, Bean Adapt worked perfectly with my favorite arabica beans, producing a smooth and well-extracted espresso. Milk is textured to perfection as well, while my favorite latte macchiato turned out perfectly.
Like lots of the best espresso machines launched this year, the Primadonna Aromatic can produce authentic-tasting cold-extracted coffee. Unlike most of its rivals, however, the Primadonna Aromatic can also produce cold milk foam on demand. During my tests, it worked brilliantly with both dairy and plant milk, and you can choose thin or thick foam depending on the drink you’re making.
Even maintenance is a piece of cake. Although fully automatic espresso machines save you time making each coffee, often they take so long to clean that they’re ultimately not much faster than brewing coffee manually. However, the Primadonna Aromatic’s regular cleaning cycles are much faster than average, but are still effective for keeping the machine clean and hygienic.
If you want to have fun experimenting with different drinks and your wallet can take the hit, this could be the De’Longhi espresso machine for you.
Read my full De’Longhi Primadonna Aromatic review
