Delonghi La Specialista 1 Group Review - All You Need To Know
If you regularly have espresso, you are bound to want to pull a shot with as much expertise as a pro-Barista. For that reason, it is natural that you might find yourself in the market for a semi-automatic espresso machine rather than a super-automatic machine.
The semi-automatic espresso machines require a bit more involvement and control than what would be involved with an automatic coffee machine but If you're interested in buying a top-quality, mid-range semi-automatic coffee maker that’s both simple to get grips with and use, then this review is for you.
The Delonghi La Specialista machine is the right machine for new espresso machine users that would like to have fun making beautiful espressos without a steep learning curve.
Let’s take an in-depth look at the Delonghi La Specialista espresso machine.
Design and Build quality
The Delonghi La Specialista is a sustainable steel-bodied semi-automatic espresso machine resistant to impact damage, rust, and corrosion. Despite its lavish appearance, the machine is designed with the new user in mind.
It has a straightforward design and also has both a bean and hopper along with a pressure gauge. There’s also a steam wand, built from stainless steel that has a rubber-padded elbow and provides 2 foam choices. What’s most immediately apparent about the machine, though, is its elegant and professional design.
It is both compact and study (measuring in mm 315 W x D 369 x H 445), with a solid-looking rectangular form, smoothed out by its elegant rounded edges.
Built-In Grinder
This is an espresso machine with a sensor coffee grinder, which means that you would not incur the extra expense of needing a separate espresso grinder to get started.
So, if you are taking tentative steps with espresso making and are not yet certain you will fully embrace it, a machine such as Delonghi La Specialista which is both a grinder and brew maker is a fine one to start with.
The grinder houses an advanced bean sensor that’ll let you know when you are running short of beans. It also has additional smarts built in to alter the dose when you adjust the coarseness.
Whether dialled to a setting of a 5 or 6 to make a milder espresso or 1 or 2 for a strong cup, the grinding time will automatically adjust to suit the grinder.
Brewing Performance
The Delonghi La Specialista is equipped with 2 independent heating systems. One thermo block for extracting coffee while an independent heating system especially for streaming milk or frothing provides the coffee’s immediate preparation!
On the official website, it has highlighted the 1-second quick start, and it is not merely a marketing gimmick. Once you have turned on the coffee machine, grind and then tamp the dose, then you can brew without the heat-up time you’d need to factor in with several other machines.
The thermo block makes sure the rapid heating of water and delivers more stream and warm water than the boiler. The coffee maker also has an advanced Latte system and together with 2 independent heating systems, allows you to make a bunch of cappuccinos, one after the other.
After pulling a shot, you can start streaming milk almost immediately and start brewing another cup straight away. Though, you would not be able to steam and brew simultaneously.
Quality of the Espresso
The use of pressurised baskets is a good choice because they take away the requirement to dial in a shot ideally by altering both the grind amount and settings.
The Delonghi La Specialista has a 51mm filter basket. This helps build up pressure and makes crema by pushing the espresso via a little hole.
Though, if you have a reserved palate when it comes to espressos, you might find the outcome a bit thin and lacking the body of top-quality espresso.
Pressurised portafilters are normally a feature of cheaper espresso makers, and the Delonghi La Specialista does not contain unpressurized baskets. Though, rival Breville Barista Express has both pressurized and unpressurized portafilters.
The Delonghi La Specialista will pre-infuse the espresso automatically before it starts brewing. A little amount of water goes into the coffee puck before brewing. So, the grounds will be soaked thoroughly and extended, which decreases uneven extraction and channelling.
Thanks to the Active Temperature Control (ATC) that guarantees the temp stability for optimal espresso extraction and milk texturing. Though, it does not feature PID control. With 19 bars of pump pressure, you’ll get a beautiful cup of espresso.
Milk Frothing
The Delonghi La Specialista comes equipped with a 360-degree rotational stream wand. Thanks to the Advanced Latte System you can pick your froth style – either rich foam for a cappuccino or latte art or micro-foam frothing.
Simply position the cup below the spout, then move the ring to pick flat or foam, depending on your requirements.
As we discussed earlier, the dual heating system for milk frothing makes sure immediate beverage preparation that lets you make the transition almost instantly, and this coffee machine steams more quickly than rival models, including the Breville Barista Express.
This hands-free way to froth milk is one of the features of the machine that you will find most satisfying. You can enjoy café-quality espresso effortlessly.
Additional Features
The Delonghi La Specialista comes with a separate warm water spout. There’s a tube positioned right above the cup close to the portafilters. Picking the Americano recipe will add the needed warm water to the espresso and make a genuine Americano without moving the cup. You will find how convenient it’s to use a coffee machine with a warm water dispenser.
One of the machine’s disadvantages is the cost, which is quite high when considering what it provides. For instance, the Breville Barista Express is the same price, but it provides high-end features and produces better brew quality, we are offering factory seconds of this machine however for the very reasonable price of $545.45, see more details about the Delonghi Specialista here.
Though, despite this reservation, the huge selling point of the Delonghi La Specialista is the ease of use, which makes it a fine option for the new espresso enthusiast.
That is because of the features it provides, including sensor grinding, integrated smart temping, and a double heating system.
So, while your budget will take a hit for a new model, an investment in the Delonghi La Specialista will take the hassle out of coffee making and lead to fewer mistakes and less frustration.
What I Like
- Top quality, super-automatic, and combo espresso machine
- Fuss-free, wonderful milk forth
- Intuitive setting functions and options
- Very quiet
- Easy cleaning and operation
- A lot of work to fine-tune settings
What I don’t like
Wrapping up…
The Delonghi La Specialista coffee maker’s main selling point is its convenient features, making pulling a shot simple enough for new users and taking out the frustration and several failures.
It is so intuitive that there is very little chance of making a mistake whether you are grinding, tamping, or pulling a shot. One negative to this is that it’ll restrict your opportunity to enhance your brewing techniques.
So, if you want to enhance continually, you are not going to be able to do so with the Delonghi La Specialista and will need to look for a more authentic and professional model.
Having said that, if you are not too interested in reaching, the skill level of a professional barista but would like a few into the procedure of brewing authentic espresso that you would not find with an automatic machine, the Delonghi La Specialista espresso maker is a wonderful option.
Get your very own Delonghi La Specialista here
If you need to get your Delonghi coffee machine repairs or Delonghi coffee machine service then click through the links above
