Breville vs De'Longhi
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Both brands cover home espresso from about $300 to $2,000, but they lean different ways. Every Breville machine we cover uses a portafilter, from the manual Bambino to the automated Oracle Jet. De'Longhi sells portafilter machines too, but much of its range is fully automatic bean-to-cup machines that grind and brew at the touch of a button.
Prices from Breville's and De'Longhi's US websites, checked Nov 1, 2026; both brands discount often. Points under "Reviewers agree" are made by at least two of the linked reviews. We don't own or test these machines; see how we choose.
The short answer
Lean Breville if
you want a portafilter machine with more control or more guidance at each price, a 54 mm or 58 mm portafilter, and a 2-year warranty on most models.
Lean De'Longhi if
you want push-button drinks from a fully automatic machine, or a manual all-in-one with a strong steam wand and cold brew.
Check the Magnifica Evo price at De'Longhi Check the Arte Evo price at De'Longhi
The two lineups at each price
| Price | Breville | De'Longhi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $500 | Bambino $299.95 Bambino Plus $499.95 | Not compared here |
| $500–$800 | Barista Express $699.95 Barista Express Impress $799.95 | Semi-auto: La Specialista Arte Evo $699.95, La Specialista Opera $799.95, La Specialista Touch $799.95 Fully automatic: Magnifica Start $699.99, Magnifica Evo $749.95 |
| $800–$1,500 | Barista Pro $849.95 Barista Touch $999.95 Barista Touch Impress $1,499.95 | Semi-auto: La Specialista Maestro $1,299.95 Fully automatic: Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema $899.95, Magnifica Duo $999.95, Rivelia $1,299.95 |
| $1,500 and up | Oracle Jet $1,999.95 | Fully automatic: Eletta Explore $1,999.95, PrimaDonna Aromatic $2,499.95 |
Breville models are the ones we cover; Breville sells others. De'Longhi models and prices are from its US espresso and automatic-machine pages. "Fully automatic" means no portafilter: the machine grinds, doses and brews inside.
The most common head-to-head: Barista Express vs La Specialista Arte Evo
Both are manual all-in-one machines with a built-in grinder at about $700. This is the comparison buyers ask about most.
| Breville Barista Express | De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.95 | $699.95 |
| Grinder | Conical burrs, 16 settings | Conical burrs, 15 settings (the earlier EC9255M had 8) |
| Portafilter | 54 mm | 51 mm (not listed by De'Longhi; from a US retailer's listing) |
| Temperature | PID, adjustable | Active Temperature Control, 3 infusion temperatures |
| Steam wand | Manual, one-hole tip | Manual "My LatteArt" wand |
| Extras | Pressure gauge, hot water | Pressure gauge, hot water, cold brew setting, dosing and tamping guide |
| Water tank | 67 oz | 56 oz |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years, plus 1 more if you register it |
Arte Evo details from De'Longhi's US product page, which now lists the machine as EC9250M. The reviews below tested the earlier EC9255M, which De'Longhi listed with an 8-setting grinder; the current US page says 15.
Reviewers agree on the La Specialista Arte Evo
- The steam wand is a highlight: strong, easy to move and good for microfoam. (Tom's Guide, TechRadar, Coffeeness)
- It makes good espresso and is easy to learn. (Tom's Guide, TechRadar, Coffeeness)
- On the EC9255M they tested, the grinder's 8 settings limit fine-tuning. The current model lists 15. (Tom's Guide, Coffeeness)
- The dosing and tamping guide keeps grounds off the counter. (Tom's Guide, TechRadar, Coffeeness)
- The machine can shift on the counter when you lock in or remove the portafilter. (TechRadar, Coffeeness)
- The cold brew setting can taste weak or watery. (TechRadar, Coffeeness)
Reviewers agree on the Barista Express
- It makes good espresso once the grind is dialed in, after a real learning curve. (Tom's Guide, TechGearLab, Coffee Chronicler)
- The steam wand is slow to heat, which gives beginners time but slows milk drinks. (TechGearLab, Coffee Chronicler)
- The built-in grinder is fine to start with but is the weakest part of the machine. (TechGearLab, Coffee Chronicler)
Coffeeness compared the two directly: it found the Breville offers more temperature and pre-infusion control, a finer-stepped grinder (on the earlier 8-setting model) and a larger portafilter, while the De'Longhi has the better steam wand. (Coffeeness) One reviewer also noted that a Breville Bambino Plus plus a $200 grinder costs about the same as the Arte Evo. (Tom's Guide)
Check the Barista Express price at Breville Check the Arte Evo price at De'Longhi
If you want push-button coffee
This is where De'Longhi has the wider choice. The Magnifica Evo ($749.95) grinds, doses and brews with one button and cleans itself; reviewers agree it is easy to use and easy to clean, but takes up a lot of counter space. (TechRadar, Reviewed, T3) On the Breville side, the closest thing is the Oracle Jet ($1,999.95), which automates grinding, dosing and tamping but still uses a portafilter you lock in.
A non-Breville alternative for guided, low-effort drinks is the Ninja Luxe Café Premier ($599.99).
Warranty
Most Breville machines we cover come with 2 years; the Bambino and Barista Express come with 1. De'Longhi's Magnifica Evo and La Specialista Arte Evo come with 2 years plus one more if you register them. Check the warranty for the exact model, since it varies within each brand.