Customer Ratings & Reviews

There was a bit of a learning curve to get up to speed on all the options and controls. After reviewing the full manual, some of my questions were answered. However, the manual includes a lot of coffee lingo that might only make sense to those well-versed in coffee beans, espresso machines, and brewing terminology. But the espresso is phenomenal and very very smooth. If you are serious about coffee this is won’t disappoint you. Pros: User-Friendly: Once you get the hang of it, it's simple to use. Sturdy Quality: The machine is solidly built. Brewing Options: Several programmable options, allowing you to adjust the amount of espresso and/or water per drink. Temperature Control: Adjustable temperature settings for different coffee roasts. Built-In Tamper: Strong and sturdy, providing a tight, clean tamp. Hot Water: Water comes out very hot, unlike other machines. Steam Wand: My favorite part; it's sturdy, provides good pressure, and heats milk faster than any other machine I’ve used. The milk froth turns out creamy and delicious. Simple Cleaning: Haven’t cleaned it yet, but the instructions seem easy. Great Taste: The espresso is smooth and delicious. Automatic Shut-Off: It shuts off after about 30 seconds. Important with my curious grandsons around. Espresso Tray: Smaller fold-down tray for espresso glasses. Cons: Manual Complexity and discrepancies: Both the Quick Start manual and full manual aren’t really beginner friendly. Some picture keycodes don’t match up with the guidance later in the manual. For example, the dial button is labeled "B7" in the picture but mentioned as "B8" later. This inconsistency appears a few times. Grinder is louder than other machines I’ve used. The noise might be a concern in the early morning. An internal grinder might be quieter. Size: It’s big. If buying, I’d recommend measuring first, as it just fits under my cabinets. Water Reservoir Location: Hidden in the back, making it hard to access. If stored under cabinets, you must pull the machine out and turn it to reach the reservoir. Also, the machine kept shutting off when the reservoir was about half full, and I couldn’t find a solution in the manual. Overall, a fabulous machine that produces the best coffee I have ever had.

Introduction De’Longhi has made its name as a premiere espresso machine maker. Their units have brought home the café experience at an affordable price. Going in Having another De’Longhi espresso machine already, I was excited to see what the new Opera could do. What comes in the box? Out of the box you get the unit, a water tank, a portafilter with a single and double dose, a second filter for cold brew, a descaler solution, a water hardness tester, cleaning brushes, a milk pitcher, and start up guides, and other inserts. Minor wins I like the small things like adding a descaler solution for at least one run. Nothing is worse than seeing that descaling light come on and not have it for first time users. Major wins I love the fact that the Opera takes a lot of the messy work out of the equation. There’s no tamping done on the user’s part, the beans are ground automatically and then with a pull of a lever the tamping of the espresso grounds are done. When my unit arrived, the water tank was cracked. I contacted De’Longhi’s customer service, and they had a replacement free of charge on my doorstep in two days. They’ve always had great customer service, and I’m glad to say that the trend continues. Usage Once you place the unit where you want, it’s time to do some initial cleaning for not only the parts that you’ll be using but for the internals of the Opera as well. You’ll need to run water through the system to give it a good cleaning. This will have to be one once and that’s it. The quick start guide has a nice breakdown of the grind setting and temperature based on what type of bean you like to use. Follow the guide and you’ll make delicious tasting espresso. Still, you can change the settings to your liking until you find the preference that you prefer. I love the fact that you don’t need a separate burr grinder and a separate tamping device to compress the coffee. Not having to do these two steps probably only saves you a few minutes, but it’s the simplicity that makes it great. The build quality of the Opera is top notch. It has a beautiful machined finish. I would have liked it if the bean housing was either in the same metal aesthetic or located in the machine. The whole clear plastic isn’t bad, but it just stands out. The control panel may seem overwhelming but once you get familiar with what each button does, or what a specific logo indicates, you’ll feel right at home and making some great espresso. My one piece of advice is to always use filtered water. You can’t expect to make good espresso using tap water. Cold brew is an interesting take. In the old traditional way, you would have to let coffee grounds soak in cold water overnight, or for at least 12 hours on average. The Opera does it in a few minutes. The procedure drips the cold brew out like droplets of coffee. Just get a mug, fill it with some ice, and sit back while it does the job. Just on a critical minor side note, it would have been nice if the control panel was a touch screen. I know that some people may say that the screen can go out, or something to that nature… But mechanical buttons can also break/stick. I think it would have added a nice touch of modernism to an already great machine. Primarily for Espresso lovers, and people who enjoy espresso and espresso drinks without a lot of the hassle. Probably not for People who already have a super expensive espresso machine that they love, and or people who love the simplicity and bad taste of pod coffee makers. All in all De’Longhi continues to make great espresso machines. I like how they’re incorporating different aspects from different machines (Like the cold brew from the Arte Evo), and adding it to a previously very popular design. The Opera is easy to use if you’re familiar with using an espresso machine, and if you’re not, then it’ll probably take about 20 minutes to read through a few pages of the quick start guide, and making a few espresso shots to feel comfortable with how it works. I wouldn’t call this an expensive machine but it certainly isn’t cheap. Once you get into the groove of making your own specialty drinks, you’ll say goodbye to your local café that charges you for overpriced coffee. The machine will pay for itself in about a year depending on how often you go. I would definitely recommend this to all coffee lovers, and potential coffee enthusiasts.

Wow! The DeLonghi La Specialista OPERA is a piece of art… it is beautiful. For all it does, it’s pretty compact. I measured 12” across the front and 13.5” front to back. Advance warning, it is heavy. Determine where you want to locate this beauty before opening the box. It needs a permanent home, too heavy to move around. Read the Quick Start Guide, it is quite detailed in the steps to prepare the coffee machine for use. La Specialista OPERA will grind your coffee beans! Fill the bean container and set the desired level of grind. The recommended starting level is 9 for a medium roast coffee bean. The manual (not the Quick Start Guide) provides plenty of details on the suggested grind level based on the color of the roast, see page 8. Put the portafilter in the coffee grinder outlet and start the grinding process. On the left side of the unit is a tamper lever, use this to tamp the freshly ground beans. Then pop the portafilter into the coffee spout, select your preferences and viola you have expresso. The steam wand heats and froths milk as well as any coffee shop. Unpacking: I was pleasantly surprised after taking the coffee machine out of the box. Very minimal setup was needed. Pop the cup grill in place and take the tape off the smaller cup grill. Give the parts; water tank, portafilter, milk carafe, etc. a quick wash. Run some steam cycles without a milk product to clean the steam wand. And then you are ready to make some fantastic coffee/expresso. Although La Specialista OPERA has many functions, I find it quite handy to make a quick cup of tea. In addition to making expresso, you can make an Americano which I like after lunch. DeLonghi has several “How To” videos available on the internet. They are short (2 – 3 minutes) and informative. I found the video on how to access the setup menu quite helpful.

As I've gotten older, I've slowly developed a much more refined taste for coffee. First it was about getting better coffee beans, then better coffee makers. It wasn't until now though, that I finally got an actual espresso machine in this La Specialista Opera. Sure, I've had more affordable coffee makers that pretend to be espresso machines, but they always fall short. First, let me just say that this is a beautiful piece of machinery. Just sitting on the counter it levels up my kitchen. It's not small either and does take up a good amount of space, but it's all functional and makes sense. That said, if I have one complaint, it's the design of the water tank and bean hopper. I have a pretty standard kitchen setup as far as counters and cabinets go, and it barely fits under the cabinets making it a bit of a hassle to refill the bean hopper. And with the water tank being in the back and having to be raised straight up a bit before it can be pulled out also makes it a bit of a hassle to refill. It makes it so that I'm limited in where to place it as I can't have both sides blocked, otherwise I'd have to move the entire machine every time I needed to fill the water tank. While that may sound a bit nit-picky, it's because I don't have much else negative to say about this machine. Getting started is simple enough, just a quick couple steps and prep cycle and it's ready to go. Then it's a matter of learning the machine and just about coffee itself. Going through the steps, first up is getting the coffee grounds ready. The guide does a pretty good job at giving you a starting point, but it did take me several tries before I figured out the coarseness of the grind and the dose amount. The manual helps a lot here in telling you what steps to take to figure it out. Again, I want to repeat that this is my first ever true espresso machine, so I'm a complete novice to all of this. Then there's the actual brewing process. There doesn't seem to be much to this. Once you've selected your brew, it's just a matter of hitting the 'OK' button. The adjustments are in the grind, but again, the manual does a good job of leading you in the right direction for that based on the results of the brew. After quite a bit of use, I've now tried all of the different brew settings. My favorite, probably because I've been used to larger cups of drip coffee, is the Americano brew. The only setting I'm not as big a fan of is the plain 'Coffee' setting. Now my wife, whose family owned a coffee shop at one point that she worked in, loves the Cold Brew. So how good is the brew? Let's just say that I've never been so spoiled with great coffee. Using the same bean I've been using for a while now in my expensive drip maker, the quality and taste is so much better with this espresso machine, I can hardly believe it was the same bean. Now I'm just having a blast trying out different coffees and drinks that I wouldn't have thought possible outside of ordering from actual coffee shops. Luckily Delonghi has several short videos with basic recipes for me to try. In the short time I've had this La Specialista, I've learned more about coffee than I have in the previous 40+ years of my life. Oh, and there's the steamer too! Other coffee machines have come with "frothers" to try and duplicate what you get with an actual steam wand, but it's just not the same. This La Specialista Opera is an amazing machine, whether you're a novice like me or someone with barista experience like my wife. To those who absolutely love coffee but haven't ventured into real espresso machines, I say make the investment in one like this La Specialista Opera, I promise it'll be worth it.

I have been buying and drinking expensive bottled Cafe Mocha for years. Boy, I didn't know what I was missing. When I saw this De'Longhi La Specialista Opera Espresso Machine, I thought it was time to find out and ordered it. When the La Specialista Opera arrived, I opened the box to many accessories and a beautiful, gleaming brushed stainless steel machine of substantial build quality, size and weight. I set it up on the kitchen counter and then sat down to read the directions. I have no experience even making brewed coffee in a pot, much less the experience of a barista. I found the directions a bit daunting for a novice. But, after reading through the instructions a couple of times and familiarizing myself with the machine description, controls and accessories, I decided to approach this step by step. The very first thing is to lift out the Water Tank from the back of the machine and gently wash it and all the accessories in warm soapy water and then thoroughly rinse them. The next step is to prepare the machine for first time usage. This preparation initially involves ensuring that the Drip Tray, the Cup Grille and the Drip Tray Grille are correctly positioned. Then, fill the newly cleaned Water Tank with cold, clean water up to embossed MAX level line on the tank and carefully slide it into place on the back of the machine. (Do not ever operate the machine without water in the tank or without the tank in the machine.) The rest of the setup (I suggest that you read the instructions carefully and look at the diagrams) consists of plugging the cord into an appropriate wall socket, placing an at least 6.76 fl oz. container under the hot water spout and then pressing the Hot Water Button on the front of the machine. This will turn the hot water on and then shut off. Do this several times to flush out any manufacturing residue that may be left over in the machine. Make sure not to overflow your catch container - stop occasionally and empty it. Then, place a 1 cup filter for Hot brewing into the Portafilter with the handle (yes, you really need to learn the idiomatic terms!) and then align the Portafilter handle to the "INSERT" label on the Coffee Spout, push up and turn the handle to the "CLOSE" position to ensure it is locked in. Place the catch container back on the grille under the Portafilter and then move the Steam Wand from the side of the machine to empty into the catch container. From there, all you have to do is press the "OK" button and hot water will flow through the Portafilter and turn off. Do this a few times to ensure proper flushing. Then, turn the Steam Dial on the right hand side of the machine from "0" to the Steam icon to release a jet of steam and then put back to "0". Do this several times to ensure that the steam circuit is rinsed. Whew! The machine is now ready for use. Well almost... Now, De'Longhi provides a Water Hardness Test Strip with the machine and the suggestion, which I took, is to test your water hardness right away, compare the hardness results to the chart provided in the instructions. Once the rest of the first run preparation is completed, go and set the proper hardness settings into the machine per the instructions. This will be important for how often you need to clean the machine for mineral build-up in the future and the machine will notify you of when it needs to be done. Now, you can grind your coffee beans and make your first Espresso, either Hot or Cold depending on your choice and setup. There is a learning curve and proper setup adjustments before you get very satisfactory results. The manual warns you that it may take 4 to 5 cups of coffee to get the machine dialed in to your particular choice of coffee bean, how it grinds, and what it takes to get to the "perfect dose" or amount that you get with a particular grind coarseness setting, and Dose Level setting and whether it fills the Coffee Filters to the mark on the Filter after Tamping. There is definitely a learning curve. But once you smell that freshly ground coffee and taste that delicious espresso it will all be worth it! The De'Longhi - La Specialista Opera Espresso Machine does an exceptional job at allowing you to be your own Barista! I already have suggested this machine to friends and family.

Unboxing was easy and straightforward. I removed the well packed machine. Also was a box with the other attachements. Setup was somewhat complex. I read the included quick start guide. After cleaning the water reovoir and other attachments it was ready to go. I did process the steam cleaning function 4 times since it was suggested in the manual. Then after filling the water to the max line. I put some espresso beans in the top hopper. Use: I tried the initial settings of 10 (Dose), 2/3 temp, Middle Grinding, 2 shots and espresso. I hit the ok button and some espresso ground. Then I pulled the Tamper down and removed it. I connected it to the espresso side and hit the OK button and the espresso was very little and watery. I proceeded to play with the dose until I finally was able to dial in 20, 2/3 temp, Fine Grinding, 2 shots and espresso. Then the color came out like the manual shows. The taste was good and full. I proceeded to try the same settings for the cool espresso to make and iced Americano. Also used the included cup to froth some milk and while that was nice. I typically like espresso and Americano’s. I typically use other cream for flavor. I like the entire machine and build quality. Pro’s: • 2 shot espresso at home • Cool espresso option • Sealed grinder of fresh beans • Water container holds a lot of water • Build quality good Con’s • The machine was complicated and took a lot of trial and error to dial in settings • Can be a lot of work for a quick shot of espresso • Can vibrate when in operation and seems loud • No included espresso cups In conclusion I highly recommend this machine if you want to make quality espresso drinks at home. So far I am very happy with the machine and feel like it will last a long time. I do wish they had more details to the dialing in of settings. Also wish an set of espresso glasses where included.

De'Longhi La Specialista Opera espresso maker is a great setup that’s super accessible to the novice. How do I know this? Because I had NO clue what I was doing when I started, but made amazing coffee with just a few easy steps - and you can too. De’Longhi’s maker though isn’t just espresso, but also coffee, iced coffee, espresso cold, and just plain hot water for tea making it earn its footprint on your countertop. Now, I’ll preface this review that I’m an enjoyer of coffee, but by no means a snob. I went through my Keurig phase, and honestly I can barely drink it anymore. I’ve been a standard drip coffee person, augmenting my coffee desires w/ occasional coffee shop trips for anything espresso based. So the DeLonghi espresso maker is really my first at home experience with both grinding my own, tamping, brewing under pressure, and frothing milk - and you know what? It wasn’t nearly as intimidating as I thought it might be thanks to De'Longhi excellent engineering. Unboxing was fairly easy, with only a few pieces being secured with tape. A little warm water washing, and I had the machine ready to go. Included with the espresso maker are several stainless steel filters (2 for coffee/espresso, 2 for espresso cool), portafilter, milk pitcher, and some cleaning/descaling tools. Essentially everything you need to get started. You’ll find the water tank on the back. If you’re placing this under cabinets, this might be a deal breaker, as you do need to lift this up, and the machine itself is 17.5” tall. I had to scoot mine out a bit, but it wasn’t too bad. There’s information on setting water hardness, but I like to use purified water from my fridge anyways, so less of a concern. I was intimidated at first, as I’ve never done dosing or tamping. Luckily this machine does all the work for you. Simply feed in the whole coffee beans up top, place the single or double filter into the portafilter and choose the size button (single or double dose based on the filter). There is a dose selector, and the quick start makes suggestions based on the type of roasted beans you have. I put mine on 20 as I was using starbucks espresso dark roast. The grinder will accurately grind up just enough coffee. I’m not sure how hard this is to accomplish without this magical machine, but I liked that I didn't even think about it. The tamper is also convenient - and the quick start guide gives you a heads up on how to use this. Short answer is: pull the handle all the way forward then back, then pull it forward again and remove the portafilter. What comes out is a perfectly level packed amount of ground coffee. From here, you move the portafilter over to the brewing area and select the appropriate type you want to brew. There are 5 things you can brew: coffee, espresso, americano, cold brew, and espresso cool. I tried everything but espresso cool. Coffee I found to be really good for single cup brewing. Coffee is brewed using the standard filter. Americano simply mixes in hot water from the separate spout with the espresso. Espresso is the start of the show for me, allowing me to make cappuccinos like a boss. I found getting the perfect espresso required no special settings, and the machine performed admirably. The steam wand for steaming milk took me a few tries to get right, but overall was pretty easy to use. It starts steaming after about 5-6 seconds after hitting the switch dial and takes about 45 seconds to produce the proper froth for a cappuccino. I’ll be honest I barely know what I’m doing, but what I’m making tastes amazing, so I’m not complaining. In my first few days I went through a half gallon of milk, that’s how good this espresso was. I don’t drink milk, and have poured out spoiled milk every time I buy it, but I went though a half gallon in no time. It’s so fun to brew, froth and the outcome is so tasty - with or without sweetener. Cold brew coffee was surprisingly good. I have made cold brew - and it usually takes about 24 hours to properly infuse and make. I would have a hard time telling the difference between properly brewed, and what this machine makes inside 5 minutes. If you like cold brew, you might be surprised how good the outcome is from this setting that basically makes cold brew on a dime. The instructions, and quick start guide made life easy. I will say I didn’t read everything as completely as I should have, using the espresso cool to make espresso initially (hey it worked and was really good). There are lots of adjustments, from grinding, to water hardness settings (I used purified water, so set to soft), but most defaults are good. The control surfaces feel absolutely professional, and dare I say visceral? Using this machine is a great balance of automatic with knobs, levers, and buttons brought together with a solidly feeling portafilter. Overall you’ll feel like a barista using this thing and impress your friends as you go to work at your station. I am super impressed with this machine. As a beginner, this made so many things easy and making amazing coffee has been easy. Originally I thought this might be a tad overkill for me, but honestly as a single guy, brewing single cups makes more sense than an entire pot. Being able to skip the starbucks when I need my espresso fix is amazing, and this machine makes some delicious espresso drinks. DeLonghi has amazing build quality and made this a super accessible experience. Highly recommended.

This is an espresso machine that has all the features I want: analogue pressure gauge, smart tamping, built-in milk frother and the ability to make cold coffee drinks. The machine itself is beautiful in a silvery steel finish. It has a classic dignified look and attractively modern appearance that’s likely to become a conversation piece for guests coming to your home. Though it requires some space on the countertop, it’s not overly huge for a coffee machine with this many capabilities. I would say that the size is quite normal for a coffee machine at the given price range. The unit comes with almost everything that you would need to get started, though no espresso glass is included. Setting up is easy even when you don’t have any prior experience with an espresso machine. Delonghi gives you a water test strip to test the hardness level of your water and that’s really nice. There are also cleaning tabs and descaling solution included so you would be all good with initial basic maintenance. The initial setup is easy and it basically requires you to press a button so that the machine would be purged with hot water, and you need to use the frother for at least 10 seconds. If you’re not sure what to do, there’s some video resources from Delonghi on YouTube. It will take about 4-5 cups of coffee-making before the machine can give you satisfactory results. The bean container capacity is quite large enough to last a couple of days making espressos. You can manually adjust the grinder setting to coarser or finer grind. Smart tamping is the winner here, it simplifies espresso making and messy tamping is a thing of the past. The default setting is actually pretty good for the coffee beans I used. It just needed some minor dosing adjustment to produce the pressure level on my double espresso just right and this is why analogue pressure gauge reading is important. The integrated frother allows you to make a café grade cappuccino. The star of the show is actually the cold brew and cool espresso drink feature, which I really like. It’s easy to make and it’s instantly a favorite of the house. This coffee machine definitely compels me to make much less visit to coffee shops. Whether you just start having interest in making café grade coffee drinks or a seasoned espresso maker, this machine is for you.

An Amateur Review of the De’Longhi La Specialista Opera First off, let me just say that before receiving this machine, I had never pulled a shot of espresso in my life. I’ve enjoyed numerous espresso drinks and espresso itself, but never actually been the one to pull it. I’ve enjoyed over the past three days trying out all the features of my De’Longhi La Specialista Opera. If you are, like me, new to using an espresso machine, I highly recommend that you look up some videos about ‘Dialing in your Machine’ as well as ‘How to pull espresso shots’. Had I done those two items, I could have gotten my machine set up to work with my beans and learned the science behind how espresso is made (and not wasted half a bag of coffee beans). So, if your first attempts don’t come out like your favorite espresso shop, don’t be discouraged! It took me several attempts and even now, I’m not exactly 100% there yet, but am confident I will be. The De’Longhi La Specialista Opera came packaged very well. It was a box within a box with lots of cushioning and protection. There wasn’t a scratch or a ding on my machine after unpacking. In my opinion, the Opera, in its shining stainless steel, is not just an espresso machine, but a work of art! As I am new to all this and one of those odd guys who actually reads instructions, I first began by fishing them out and reading them. In the package are two instruction manuals. One color quick start guide and then a more detailed black and white instruction manual. I had to refer to both instruction booklets to understand how the filters worked and how to use the machine. It would have been nice if the color quick start book had included some of the basic setup instructions. As noted above, my first attempts at making espresso did not turn out so well. I honestly thought the machine’s pressure valve was malfunctioning. Thankfully, it was just my inexperience, and after watching a few videos, I was able to dial my machine in and get the pressure within the optimal range (as shown on the pressure meter). As with all things, don’t let perfection be the enemy of good, find the method that works best for you and even if it isn’t picture-perfect, award-winning champion barista level, do not be disappointed. There are so many factors to experiment with, you are going to steadily improve with time and experience. One main thing I learned is the freshness and quality of the bean made a much larger than expected, positive difference. Then, you have 15 different coarseness settings for the bean grinder, a dose level from 1 to 40, and 3 temperature settings! Now on to some of the features. This machine has a large water reservoir. My only mild complaint with the water reservoir is that it is difficult to see if you have sufficient water or not since it is on the back of the machine. It would have been nice to have a water level meter on the front. You can make multiple style espresso drinks; cold brew, cool espresso, espresso, americano, and coffee. There is also a hot water button on the front that is quite handy. There is a milk frothing wand which works quite well, all-be-it loudly. You also have a bean burr grinder on top and a sturdy, confidence inspiring tamping lever. The machine comes with single and double shot filters for hot drinks, and single and double shot filters for cool/cold drinks. One you have the machine dialed in, it does an excellent job of making espresso. I was able to get good crema, and expect that, like with all other aspects of the machine, I will improve over time. I also was surprised to find out that it makes very nice cool espresso. I had never had cool espresso previously, and found delicious and sweet. Cold brew, which was my least favorite drink, took about 7 minutes to make. The other drinks were made quickly, even cool espresso. The milk frothing wand is very nice; it puts out good steam and froths up the milk into a thick, silky, luscious froth for lattes and other drinks. The want is insulated and isn’t terribly hot to the touch, but I would still suggest exercising caution as it is NOT cold after use. Now for noise level – Grinding the beans is at about 70 decibels according to a sound decibel app I downloaded. The actual pouring of the espresso is around 60 to 65 decibels. The cold cycles are slightly quieter. The frothing wand was the loudest at around 78 decibels. For reference, 60 to 65 decibels is the noise level you’d hear in your average Dilbert style cubical office space. Normal conversation level is 65 to 70 decibels, and your average vacuum cleaner is 75. So, you may find that if you’re the first one up in the morning and start making an espresso for yourself, others in the house are going to come running and expecting you to make them some, too! Overall, I am very pleased with De’Longhi’s La Specialista Opera home espresso machine and will be enjoying making many more espressos and other drinks with the machine for family and friends alike. The key take-away here is that this is a very advanced machine, and for those new to espresso machines, your patience and practice is going to pay off. I give the De’Longhi La Specialista Opera an enthusiastic, 5 star rating.

The De'Longhi - La Specialista Opera Espresso Machine truly exceeded my expectations of what an all in one espresso machine was able to do. Firstly, I have owned the La Specialista Arte version of this machine and I can tell you that De'Longhi learned from their errors in design with the Arte when creating the Opera. First let's talk about the main thing that is always a key issue that is now fixed in the Opera, the grinder. Having the additional grind settings is a life saver to properly dial in the espresso. I only had to maybe waste 2 or 3 portafilters worth to dial in this espresso. It grinds extremely well. There is no longer a need for a guide either for the grinder. It locks in place and reduces mess which is a nice added benefit. Secondly, the built in tamper I was curious to see how consistent it would be tamp over tamp. To my surprise the tamper creates a consistent tamp every single time. I do admit you need to clean the sides of the tamper after a few uses because you will hear the espresso grounds getting caught in the retraction mechanism but a quick dusting and wipe fixes that problem immediately. The thermoblock unit is much more consistent now as well I have found very little reason to need to preheat the portafilter with a hot water pass. I am able to get the proper 9 bar espresso shot. Granted I will usually steam my milk first which also will prep the block prior to making an espresso shot which may help but I haven't had a terrible tasting shot yet from this machine after using 2 different beans. The newest features such as the Cool Espresso was certainly something new to explore and De'Longhi did really well with it. I was curious how the shot would taste without needing heated water but its a smooth shot over ice and perfect for a warm summer day when a hot espresso is just not what you want. Overall this machine is worth its weight in gold and I truly cannot imagine ever needing to buy another espresso machine. De'Longhi nailed this one and hit it out of the park to a level I would have never expected.

Well, built espresso machine. I anticipate it will last years. Easy to use, if you follow the instructions within the manual, I started on a grind setting of 9 and 20 for the grind time for a double shot. Adjusting the temperature to low for a dark roast espresso bean provided a smooth drink.

The De’Longhi La Specialista Espresso machine was a breeze to unbox and setup. The quick start guide and instruction booklet were easy to follow and after cleaning all of the included accessories, I ran a full cycle as instructed which included using the wand to get the machine ready for frothing and steaming milk. Since I have a water softener, I did not test the water with the included hardness tester but, depending on what type of water you have, you may need to use this. There are additional instructions on changing the machine to brew according to your water hardness level. Once ready to begin making coffee, I put beans in the hopper on top and left the default grind level at nine while I’m getting used to the machine. You can change it from coarse to fine depending on how the espresso comes out. The book does a good job at guiding you on what to adjust based on your results. For my first try, I used a small espresso filter. Setting the machine to do this was relatively easy and after a couple uses, you should be used to getting the right amounts of grounds for the coffee amount and type that you want. Once set, it grinds the correct amount and puts it into the filter. At this point, you use the built-in tamper which gets the grounds ready for brewing. You move the portafilter from the tamping side to the brew side and secure it. Now, it’s time to pick the type of coffee you want. The dial includes espresso cool, cold brew, regular espresso, americano and finally, coffee. Prior to hitting ok to start the cycle, here is where you can also change the temperature based on the amount of coffee you had originally ground and the type of bean you use. Whether you are using light roast, dark roast, or something in between, the booklet does a good job of helping you with these settings. Also, when making a cold or hot drink, when you pick the setting and the machine will default to various presets helping you make the correct type of brew. After brewing various coffee types, I then tried to froth some milk to make a latte. I am no expert at doing this but, the machine and instructions once again make this process simple and it only took a couple minutes to get the milk to the right temperature. At this point, you should be able to try different settings on your own to come up with your preferred brew strength and flavor. It may take some practice and keeping the book nearby is helpful until you get the hang of it. I am incredibly happy with this espresso maker and of the couple I have tried, I feel this is the easiest to use and, makes a great coffee. I am partial to making americano’s and this does not disappoint in any way. I would definitely recommend this if you are looking for a higher end espresso machine that makes the process easy with a very enjoyable end result.

Review: De’Longhi La Specialista Opera – A Sophisticated Symphony of Espresso Engineering The De’Longhi La Specialista Opera is the latest offering from a brand known for delivering thoughtfully engineered coffee appliances that balance Italian craftsmanship with user-friendly design. Marketed as a semi-automatic espresso machine that bridges the gap between convenience and control, the La Specialista Opera is a strong contender for home baristas who want the café experience without a steep learning curve—or barista school tuition. Design & Build Quality: 9/10 Out of the box, the Opera makes a bold first impression. Its brushed stainless steel finish is both modern and timeless, with sturdy knobs and intuitive controls that feel premium in-hand. The tactile response of the buttons and dials gives it a solid, professional feel, and it’s clear that De’Longhi invested care into both the aesthetics and the ergonomics. With its dual heating system (Thermoblock for brewing, independent heating element for steaming), the machine avoids the lag time between espresso extraction and milk frothing—a small but appreciated upgrade over more basic units. Features & Functionality: 8.5/10 Here’s where the Opera hits most of the right notes: • Smart Tamping Station: Consistent tamping is essential for even extraction, and De’Longhi’s built-in tamping lever offers a surprisingly effective solution. It’s a clever addition that reduces mess while encouraging good technique. • Sensor Grinding Technology: The integrated burr grinder adjusts for dose and grind consistency with decent accuracy, and offers enough grind settings (typically 8–10) for most espresso blends. That said, true espresso aficionados may crave a bit more precision here. • Dynamic Pre-Infusion: This feature automatically adjusts to the grind density for even saturation—another smart touch that helps beginners avoid under-extracted shots. • Steam Wand: While not quite as powerful as a commercial-grade wand, it does a solid job for cappuccinos, lattes, and flat whites. Microfoam is achievable with practice. Performance: 8/10 In daily use, the La Specialista Opera delivers consistently good espresso with rich crema, provided your beans are fresh and your grind settings are dialed in. It’s a forgiving machine that rewards good inputs without punishing experimentation. It’s also relatively quiet for a unit with a built-in grinder, which is a plus for early mornings. Where it slightly lags is in ultimate customization—if you’re looking to program pre-infusion times to the second or fine-tune PID temperatures to within a single degree, this isn’t a prosumer machine. But that’s not the target audience, either. Maintenance & Usability: 9/10 De’Longhi’s attention to user experience shines in cleaning and upkeep. Descaling reminders, removable drip trays, and accessible internals make routine maintenance straightforward. The machine heats quickly and maintains stable pressure with minimal babysitting. Value: 8.5/10 At its price point (typically around $800–$1000 depending on market and retailer), the La Specialista Opera competes directly with Breville’s Barista Pro/Touch lineup. It holds its own through build quality, tamping convenience, and its striking design. It’s more than capable of satisfying espresso lovers without pushing into full-on hobbyist territory. ⸻ Final Verdict: 8.6/10 The De’Longhi La Specialista Opera lives up to its name—a carefully orchestrated espresso machine that brings ease, elegance, and just enough control to satisfy a wide range of users. Whether you’re upgrading from a basic espresso machine or starting fresh in the world of home espresso, this machine offers a refined, intuitive experience that looks as good on your countertop as your latte art in the cup. Pros: • Excellent build quality • Built-in grinder and smart tamping • Easy to use for beginners • Fast heat-up and good thermal stability Cons: • Grinder could use finer adjustments • Limited programmability for advanced users • Steam wand power slightly underwhelming for large volumes

Love the improvements of the new DeLonghi Opera. Being a prior owner of the La Specialista Prestigio, I am a big fan of the upgrades to there newest model. First, let’s talk about the look. The 100% stainless steel body gives it a high end feel as well as the improved digital presence adding more options and simplifying your choices with just a few quick steps. Digital layout options are simple and light up based on your selections for brewing and or if something needs attention, like water level, cleaning etc. The second improvement I noticed is the implementation of an upgraded grinder, giving you 15 options instead of the original 8 giving you the ability to really dial in how coarse you want your grind getting you the perfect taste every time. Third, the tamping arm seems to function a lot more smoothly than there past model, making tamping a breeze. An easy pull and press. Now, let’s talk about the new cold brew option. To start they’ve added two new filters to use when filtering your cold brews. The portafilter has also been upgraded with a better engineered drip spout for a smoother and more controlled drip. Please note, although the new Cold Extraction Technology is amazing for making cold brews, it does take some time to dispense, so patience is necessary. Also, they recommend that your water is fresh before brewing even if it’s only been a couple of days. Overall, my experience has been really great. My espressos, americanos, and coffee have been nothing shy of perfection every time. I feel these upgrades cleaned up the look, functionality, and simplified options giving this brewing station a high end brew experience right in your own kitchen. I would highly recommend this product!

After using a Delonghi Dinamica for 18 months with great success we wanted to step-up our barista game with a more self-service espresso machine. After countless reviews between the Opera and Breville machines, we went with Delonghi given our previous positive brand experience and the quality all stainless steel build vs the Breville. Another key decision point was the insulated frother wand. the machine is like a block of steel on the counter and the tamper handle is solid with no play when using it. We were a bit hesitant with the semi manual process, but it's so easy and no mess from self tamping. We use oat milk and the frother does an amazing job providing any level of froth we want. So much better than our previous automatic frother. Another plus is that we are able to use a filter to reduce the bean oils for a clean cup of coffee. The coffee selections are fantastic as my go to is an americano and my wife's is regular coffee. The taste is significantly different in a good way. Don't hesitate to purchase if you are looking for a high quality coffee experience.

The De’Longhi La Specialista Opera espresso machine is the all in one powerhouse for any home. Beautiful design, small footprint and at a price point for the masses. It is important that you read and follow the initial setup instructions to ensure proper operation of your machine. After performing the initial set up I also went into the menu settings to set the hardness of my water prior to making my first cup of espresso, this is not required but I would recommend it. The initial set up is complete within 7 steps and about 5 minutes. The area that you are most likely to spend a majority of time on will be calibrating your Dose amount and Grinder setting for the perfect cup. The instruction manuals are very detailed to help you along, perfect if you’re new to owning an espresso machine and helpful to the seasoned pro. You are not limited to espresso with the De’ Longhi Opera, Tea, Americano, regular Coffee, Cold Brew, Espresso Ice…. These are all an option for your coffee needs or tea desires. The built in smart tamper is wonderful and works extremely well. Clean up is easy. The steamer works great and quickly comes to temperature. The automatic shut off can be set for three different time limits, 5 Minutes, 1.5 hours and 3 hours. Everything you need to maintain the machine is included, cleaning tools, initial descaling solution, initial cleaning tabs. If you do live in an area with hard water, use of treated water would net the best results and help keep the internals free of scale build up.

The De'Longhi La Specialista Opera is an outstanding espresso machine that delivers excellent results with every cup. It makes rich, smooth espresso with perfect crema and is easy to handle, even for beginners. The built-in grinder and tamping system make preparation simple and consistent, while the steam wand creates wonderful, creamy foam for milk-based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. It’s also highly reliable, performing consistently over time without fuss. Overall, it’s a dependable, well-crafted machine that produces delicious, café-quality drinks right at home.

We love this machine. It makes making coffee house coffees at home a snap. Push buttons grinds coffee, Use the built in Tamper to tamp the coffee, move portafilter to brew position and push another button. If you want frothed cream it does that as well. Yes I would recommend this to a friend. If you are not used to espresso machines you will need to do some trial and error to get used to it. The coffee that you make while learning however is still amazing

It's a Cadillac of espresso machines. The machine takes very little to dial it in and the espresso is absolutely amazing. The built in tamping is such a bonus too, very little mess and a super easy clean up. I use mine daily.

Love it. Easy to use, makes great espresso, americano and coffee. Didn't know how much I missed it until i had it