DeLonghi La Specialista Touch Review: Should Breville Be Worried?

It’s kind of hard to keep up with DeLonghi, seeing as the Italian manufacturer keeps releasing espresso machines at a rate of knots. In today’s DeLonghi La Specialista Touch review I’ll be taking a first look at a new machine that’s clearly meant as a Breville challenger.

To be honest, I’m interested to see whether the latest addition to the La Specialista lineup can compete with coffee machines like the Breville Barista Touch. So, I’ll definitely be putting both machines under the microscope.

I haven’t yet had a chance to test out the De’Longhi La Specialista Touch, but I plan on ordering the machine as soon as possible. In the meantime, let’s see what it’s all about.

DeLonghi La Specialista Touch Review Overview

Regular Coffeeness readers will know that I’m a big fan of the La Specialista range of espresso machines. In fact, the DeLonghi La Specialista Arte Evo is currently sitting pretty on my top 10 list of the best home espresso machines.

Still, I do wonder whether another La Specialista model is really necessary. After all, there are already at least five models in the range. Then again, we mustn’t forget that DeLonghi is vying for complete domination of the espresso machine with grinder market. And it must be hard for the Italians to live with the fact that the Breville Barista Express is still one of the best-selling machines out there.

With all that in mind, the release of the DeLonghi La Specialista Touch makes complete sense. And for just $799.95, DeLonghi is positioning this machine as a serious competition for the Breville Barista Touch.

As it happens, the Barista Touch is one of my all-time faves, so the La Specialista Touch had better deliver the goods when I test it out.

On first inspection, things look good. The DeLonghi La Specialista Touch has everything I’d expect, including an automatic steam wand, plenty of adjustable settings and a sleek, streamlined silhouette. What’s more, this compact La Specialista model has a lovely full color touchscreen display.

Finally, this new espresso machine comes with an impressive Barista Kit and an extensive menu of specialty drinks. Needless to say, I’ll discuss all of this in greater detail later in this DeLonghi La Specialista Touch review.

DeLonghi La Specialista Touch Features

Size and Design

The De’Longhi La Specialista Touch has already scooped up a couple of prestigious design awards, and it’s easy to see why. The manufacturer specializes in producing beautiful espresso machines, and this one is very easy on the eyes.

Featuring classic Italian design in combination with modern flair, the La Specialista Touch is sleek and streamlined. What’s more, there’s plenty of durable stainless steel in the machine’s construction.

As with the aforementioned La Specialista Arte Evo, this DeLonghi espresso machine is nice and compact, so it’ll appeal to those with limited kitchen counter space. Plus, you won’t need extra space for a coffee grinder seeing as there’s one built in to the machine.

Another design feature worth mentioning is the 57.5-ounce (1.7-liter) capacity water tank, which sits at the rear of the machine. Sure, this isn’t a huge reservoir, but it’s easy to remove and fill, thanks to a convenient handle.

User Interface

Whereas other machines in the La Specialista lineup feature buttons and dials, the La Specialista Touch is equipped with a 3.5-inch (9-centimeter) color touchscreen display. This marks a significant departure and tells me that the Italians are trying to beat Breville at its own game.

As you might imagine, the touchscreen interface is easy to navigate, allowing you to access various menus where you can adjust drink settings. The machine also offers plenty of guidance along the way, which will appeal to novice baristas.

Specialty Drinks

The DeLonghi La Specialista Touch is similar to machines in the Breville Touch series in that it displays an extensive menu of specialty drinks. Of course, this is a semi-automatic espresso machine, so don’t expect a one-touch latte macchiato or flat white. Rather, you still have to prepare your espresso and add milk to the steaming jug. However, you are able to customize your espresso and milk foam for each drink then save the settings, making it easy to get consistent results.

Incidentally, one of the drinks on offer is cold brew, although you shouldn’t expect much. If the cold brew I experienced during my DeLonghi La Specialista Arte Evo review is anything to go by, you’re better off ignoring it altogether.

Bean Adapt Technology

What’s cool about a machine like the DeLonghi La Specialista Touch is that you’re easily able to customize parameters like pre-infusion time, brewing temperature and grind size. Still, if you’re new to the wonderful world of espresso, you might need guidance. That’s where DeLonghi’s Bean Adapt system comes in.

Essentially, when the Bean Adapt Technology is engaged, the machine chooses what it deems to be the best settings for your coffee beans. Of course, it does this by asking you a few questions, like which beans you’re using and the roast level.

I first encountered this system during my DeLonghi Rivelia review, although the version here isn’t as sophisticated. Still, it’s nice to have the option, especially if you’re still learning the ropes.

Conical Burr Grinder

The La Specialista Touch’s stainless steel conical burr grinder has 15 adjustment settings. Although that doesn’t sound like much, I assume the grinder has been calibrated for espresso. Besides, at least the manufacturer has improved on the La Specialista Arte Evo’s measly eight adjustment settings.

With all that said, I have a substantial bone to pick with DeLonghi seeing as you aren’t able to remove or even access the burrs. To be honest, that seems absolutely crazy to me, especially as DeLonghi is angling this machine as a Breville competitor. Trust me, the Australian manufacturer would never make such an obvious blunder.

I mean, built-in grinders make me nervous enough already, seeing as the machine is basically toasted if the grinder fails. But sometimes grinders automatically shut off to protect the burrs when a small stone gets in there. Ordinarily, that’s no big deal – you simply remove the burrs and clean them off. However, with the La Specialista Touch, you’ll need to take the machine apart to access the burrs.

Barista Kit

This espresso machine doesn’t feature the automatic tamping you’ll find on the DeLonghi La Specialista Maestro, nor is there any kind of dosing sensor. Still, the manufacturer includes a pretty impressive toolkit. What’s more, DeLonghi has attempted to get around the problem of inconsistent dosing and tamping by including a so-called “advanced precision tamper.”

From what I can gather, the tamper is calibrated and features guidelines to let you know when your dose is on point. While this all sounds rather convoluted, it’s supposed to work quite well. However, it isn’t a patch on the weight-based dosing system I tested during my Ninja Luxe Cafe review.

Also included in the Barista Kit are a portafilter dosing collar and a couple of single-wall 51mm filter baskets. Oh, and DeLonghi also throws in a stainless steel milk jug, which is very much appreciated.

Getting back to those filter baskets, the La Specialista Touch coffee maker has the usual 51mm DeLonghi portafilter. And while the double shot basket has a fairly decent 20-gram capacity, I always prefer a wider, shallower basket.

Dynamic Pre-Infusion

DeLonghi’s Dynamic Pre-Infusion sounds very futuristic, but it essentially means you can adjust the duration of this initial brewing stage. I have to say I’d be very surprised if a machine like this didn’t have a pre-infusion function. Still, having the option to adjust pre-infusion settings isn’t always a given.

So, if you buy the La Specialista Touch, you should take advantage of the four pre-infusion settings and experiment!

Thermoblock Heating

Thanks to its powerful thermoblock, the DeLonghi La Specialista Touch will be ready to brew in minutes. With that said, the brew group will still be cold, so I’d recommend flushing it with hot water before brewing espresso.

Incidentally, this machine is equipped with a thermostat rather than a PID controller. And while you are able to select from four temperature settings, the La Specialista Touch won’t be as accurate as a PID machine.

Milk Foam

The La Specialista Touch is equipped with an automatic milk frother that looks very much like what I encountered during my DeLonghi Dedica Maestro Plus review. And when I tested that machine’s Auto LatteArt steam wand I was more than a little disappointed. Still, the manufacturer has upped the ante with this version, which has five milk texture levels rather than three. Plus, you can choose from four milk temperature settings.

All that to say, I hope DeLonghi has improved its automatic milk frothing system! Of course you can also take over for manual steaming, but the wand isn’t mounted on a ball joint, so that could feel kind of awkward.

How to Use the DeLonghi La Specialista Touch

I haven’t had my hands on the La Specialista Touch yet, so I can’t give an in-depth analysis of how the machine performs. Still, for the purposes of this DeLonghi La Specialista Touch review I can give a brief overview of what to expect from the coffee making process.

First things first, rinse the water tank and portafilter before adding water to the reservoir and freshly roasted coffee to the bean hopper. Once that’s done, hit the power button. Once the machine is ready to go, I’d recommend turning on the Bean Adapt Technology.

The La Specialista Touch will give you a quiz before recommending a grind setting. Then it’s simply a case of inserting the portafilter into the grinding cradle and pushing it back to engage the grinder.

You will have to go through some trial and error to get the correct dose of ground coffee. However, the tamper will certainly help, and if you end up with too much coffee you can use the trimming tool.

Once you’re good to go, lock the portafilter into place in the group head and press the brew button. When your double espresso is ready, the machine will give you feedback, suggesting a different grind setting for next time if necessary.

DeLonghi La Specialista Touch Cleaning

I know that coffee maker cleaning and descaling isn’t a very exciting subject, so I’ll keep this brief. You should be prepared to perform a few basic cleaning tasks on a daily basis, but nothing too time consuming. These include rinsing the portafilter after every use and wiping stray coffee grounds off the dispersion screen. I’d also recommend keeping a damp cloth handy to wipe off the steam wand.

Other than that, make sure to empty and rinse the drip tray at the end of each day’s use. As for descaling, the machine will let you know when it’s time to run a cycle. I’ll leave it to the user manual to explain the ins and outs of how to descale the La Specialista Touch.

DeLonghi La Specialista Touch Specifications

DeLonghi La Specialista Touch vs Breville Barista Touch

If you’ve read my Breville Barista Touch test report, you’ll know it’s one of my favorite hybrid espresso machines. Seriously, I was kind of blown away by how well the machine performs.

Costing $799.95, the Barista Touch is more expensive than the La Specialista Touch, but not by much. And to be honest, I’d say the extra hundred bucks or so is worth it for what you get.

For starters, the Breville Barista Touch offers double the grind adjustment settings. Oh, and you can remove the bean hopper and access the burrs for cleaning and maintenance. What’s more, the Breville automatic steaming wand is incredible for whipping up beautifully textured milk foam. And I have to say that there are more customization options available via the Breville’s touchscreen interface.

Listen, I could go on and on about the Breville machine’s superior features. However, not having tested the DeLonghi yet, I’ll wait until I have definitive proof that the Barista Touch is the better machine.

See Also: Breville Barista Touch Review

DeLonghi La Specialista Touch vs Breville Barista Touch Comparison Chart

Verdict: DeLonghi La Specialista Touch Review

I’m very much looking forward to testing the De’Longhi La Specialista Touch. Having reached the end of this initial review, I have loads of questions that need answering.

To be honest, I’m fairly convinced that this espresso machine will be able to produce good results. However, I’m not sure about how well the Bean Adapt Technology is going to work. Plus, I really do hope the automatic frother works well.

Because at the end of the day, Breville already has the market cornered for this type of machine. So, the La Specialista Touch has to perform particularly well to convince folks that they shouldn’t spend a little more for the Breville Barista Touch.

I’ll update this initial DeLonghi La Specialita Touch review once I’ve put the thing through its paces. So, keep checking back in if you want to know what I think!