Customer Ratings & Reviews

One of the best reviewed machines in 2024. It's a bit pricey, but if you get it on discount it's well worth it.

Makes really good drinks. If you dont stay on top of the cleaning it will clog fast. Also i haven't figured out how to remove hoppy for cleaning.

This espresso machine was a little difficult to operate so returned for another model.

Love the item, still working on finding the best brew

Love this espresso machine but it’s been slightly difficult to dial it in for a perfect espresso.

I am an espresso lover, have been ever since the initial lockdown during COVID in 2020. Before espresso, I would punish myself with some Keurig coffee daily.... until I learned about the decadance of espresso. I have gone through a few espresso machines since I started this journey, and this machine is the latest in it. This machine is incredibly sleek and sexy, yeah, seriously it is. The metal chrome all around the body of the machine and the high quality materials and parts used just make this machine look like a million bucks on your kitchen counter. Everything is well built, thoughtfully designed and thought out such as the little tray that extends back when you want to pull shots with a smaller espresso cup, the steam wand which is the perfect angle to dip into your steam cup, the all in one portafilter system (game changing). Even the coffee bean grinder is extremely durable and well made, while other brands tend to cheap out on this and use bad plastic parts that can break, not the case with this De'longhi machine. Now let's get into the nitty gritty about this machine! First and foremost, how does it work and what are the results? So after setting up the machine initially, I read their manual and quick start guide and this is the first mistake I made, I followed their recommended dosing guide for the color of bean. While the general rule of thumb is lighter roasts = less grind, darker = more grind, they give you some numbered values which I tried and it failed to produce a good espresso pull. So they have this feature called the perfect line which is a line in the portafilter that tells you if you pulled enough grounds after tamping. I found myself spending an hour trying to fine tune the dosage to fill up enough grounds after being tamped, which resulted in many lost lattes. This is probably the most cumbersome and annoying part, it is not for the feint of heart, but if you dial it in correctly, the results are incredible. As far as their cold extraction technology, I have used it for both cool espresso and tried to make cold brew. The cold brew was actually quite good, incredibly smooth with the right amount of coffee bitterness and rich flavor, great with some oatmilk. The cold espresso... not a fan. It really reduces the quality of the pull and makes it more crema based and very light. Was not a fan of this and will just use a regular espresso pull and put ice after.... My favorite feature of this machine is the all in one tamping system. Wow I can not tell you how nice this feature is, because now gone are the days of coffee grounds spewing everywhere, having to smash the counter with a portafilter to get your grounds even and then pushing down a manual tamper and getting more coffee everywhere. This machine will grind the beans directly into the portafilter, and with the pull of the lever, tamp it to the perfect consistency. I recommend tamping it twice, take it off after the first, put it back in, re tamp for best results. Overall, this is quite the beast of an espresso machine with so much customizability, from the temperature, from the grind size, the dosing, the water hardness and more. If you are new to making espresso, I would probably steer away from this as it would be pretty overwhelming. Even with years of experience, this machine gave me a run for my money, but once you master it, it will pay you dividends in rich, great tasting espresso.

Only had for a few weeks and everything works as expected. Americano and expresso's are great.

The coffee it makes is watery, no crema. I have an okder DeLonghi coffee maker that makes better coffee than this machine. Definitely not worth a $1000 bucks.

This was a nice machine but also very complex. Looked pretty but so hard to get a cup of coffee/espresso.

I had this machine for three days and it quit working would not turn on I had to take it back and get a refund

not yet happy considering the price for this machine.

Mine broke and I have only had it less than 6 months the automatic tamper broke the beans no longer grind properly and the espresso does not brew properly any longer very very dissatisfied for the cost!!!

The De’Longhi La Specialista Opera is second to none. To be completely honest, I was not a fan of brewing my own espresso drinks at home. I make coffee at home, and that is my go to every morning. When I want an espresso drink, I like the experience of going out and having it made for me. The purchase is part of the experience for me. I have always been like that. In the past, I have had espresso machines at home, but not long after the fun wears off, I go back to the same habits. Plus, it is not as easy of an art as you would think it is. Most machines require you to grind the beans, and you need to know the grind to match the bean you are using, to unlock all the flavors. So that is a separate device. You need a tool to pack the ground esspresso into the portafilter before you lock it into the machine to start brewing the espresso. Then you need to know the correct water temperature to again, unlock the flavors of your beans. Then, are you going to add any special syrups? Steam up some milk? Honestly, the barista at the local coffee shop makes it look simple, but it really isn't. Then we have La Specialista Opera, the one that changes the game. This machine gives you the ability to get that handcrafted experience at home, and it does most of the thinking and work for you. First, you have a built in grinder. You can grind your beans based on the included instructions and the machined does it directly into the portafilter that locks into the machine on the left side. On the left side of the machine is a handle, and when you pull it down it evenly tamps the freshly ground espresso into the portafilter. Step one complete. But here is the catch, there are different filters you can add to the portafilter, based on the drink you want to build. You can do it for one or two shots of espresso (different filter for each) and then there are two filters to be used for cold brew. You read it correctly, cold brew. Personally, I am not a fan but I know a lot of people are. So you can effortlessly make cold brew drinks with this machine. On the first side of the machine, there is a turn dial for you to select a cold brew option, americano, esspresso or coffee. Place the cup and push the OK button. It does the rest of the work. While that is going, there is a steam wand on the right side. It heats up fast and you can froth up your milk while your beverage brews. Add what you want to the drink. For those of you that like to drink a candy bar, do it. I just add honey usually (local honey is good for allergies) and I am good. There are a lot of other things that come with the machine to make sure you are getting the best results you possibly can. For instance, it comes with tests to see the quality of the water you are using. Good water makes great beverages. Also, I would think that if you have hard water, it increases the risk of damaging your machine over time. So make sure and test your water before using your machine. The machine itself is a piece of art. It will be a conversation piece in the kitchen, and a go too machine for a variety of coffee needs. If I had to choose the things I like the most about it, there are two things that immediately come to mind. First is the ease of use. I am making perfect tasting hand crafted drinks with ease. It is simple, fast and the results speak for themselves. The second thing for me would be the option I have on the machine. By that I mean the grind options, the water temp options and of course the ability to make a variety of drinks. To include cold brew if that meets your fancy. Again, the options help take the thinking out of the process, allowing you to have success with even no experience. For me, there was only one small disappointment. It has nothing to do with the machine or how it works. It simply has to do with the height of the machine. When I tried to put it on the counter in the kitchen, it will not fit under the upper cabinets. It is about an inch or so too tall, and it hits to top of the bean hopper on top of the machine. Maybe less than that even, but it does not fit. So for me, I ended up buying a cart and making a coffee station in the house. I love it now, but I didn't want to have to do that. I am a coffee snob. I like quality coffee beans and I don't like most commercial coffee shops. The beans often taste over roasted and I would just rather buy quality beans or go somewhere I know they use quality products. Now it is a win win for me. I am getting the handcrafted coffee experience I love, but instead of the interaction and atmosphere, I get the satisfaction of knowing I made the drink myself and it is darn good. So yes, I expect this will not change and I will be doing a lot more homebrewing. I seem to have unlocked a new thing for myself. At the end of the day, I would definitely recommend this machine to anyone that wants to make quality handcrafted drinks with ease at home. If I can do it, you can do it too. And like me, I am sure if you give it a shot you will be happy you did.

The new De'Longhi La Specialista Opera is my first true espresso machine. Yes, I have other espresso machines of the fully automatic variety, but the Opera is the first fully manual, multi-step espresso machine I have used. Let's get it out of the way up front, the Opera is much more of an event to use than say my Jura or Kitchen Aid fully automatic. What I mean by that is using the Opera makes you feel like a real barista in that you have to dial in the grind, and tamp the grind, and then move the grind to make the espresso. You don't just hit a button and go. Some might find this tedious and it can be if you are in a hurry, but the final product is where it counts. I have made some of the best tasting espresso and coffee of my life with this machine. Spending the time to dial in the machine to match your beans is well worth the effort and the manual is very good about laying out the steps and recommendations to maximize the machine. If you want an excellent cup of coffee or espresso or cappuccino or just about any other coffee based drink the Opera can make it happen. Just be prepared to take the time to do it right. The Opera is very well built and feels luxurious to use. Of course there are far more expensive and exotic machines out there, but for the 'masses' this is it. I have only two quibbles with the machine. One, the water tank in the back is difficult to deal with. Yes, it is removal, but they don't make it easy to hold and fill. I had as much water all over my kitchen trying to get it from the sink to the machine as was left in the tank after sloshing it everywhere. So, I fill a cup and then fill the tank fixed in place. Not ideal, but it works. My other machines have handles to make filling and moving the tank easy. Also, of note, the machine does not come with a water filter. So keep that in mind if your water quality is less than ideal. De'longhi does offer one though for purchase. My second issue is the grind control. The grind is controlled by a dial/collar around the bean hopper. It is pretty sloppy and very difficult to adjust in any kind of precise manner. There are graduations on the dial, but getting them to line up is difficult and the manual is very clear that lining them up is important. So, after some real trial and error I finally got my beans dialed in, but I don't look forward to changing beans as it was a pain to deal with. Fortunately, if you are settled with a favorite bean and get it where you want it you shouldn't need to deal with it much beyond the initial setup. Overall, the De'Longhi La Specialista Opera makes a stellar cup of coffee (or whatever is you are trying to make with beans). I have truly enjoyed using it and my spouse enjoys the coffee I make for her too. An easy recommend if you want to take Starbucks out of your daily equation.

In my experience, producing a truly good shot of espresso is an art. I have had and used several espresso machines but this De'Longhi was the first automatic machine I’ve had the opportunity (and pleasure) to use. It starts with the coffee bean itself. Don’t skimp, get quality. Then grind it right (which the De'Longhi does for you. For espresso, you want a finer grind so that the water doesn’t filter through it too quickly. But too fine and you end up with something too bitter and strong to enjoy (even in a latte or other mixed drink). My point here is that if your espresso machine isn’t automatic, you have to manually fine tune every little aspect to get the perfect espresso…like I said an art. This De'Longhi takes away so much of that guess work. Yes, you still will need to make some adjustments to fit your personal taste but it really takes away the guess work, particularly for beginners. Follow the settings, watch a few of De'Longhi’s YouTube videos and you’ll be well on your way. I had actually stopped trying to make my own espresso because I felt like I just couldn’t get it where I wanted and didn’t have the patience to get it right. This De'Longhi has changed that. I was so happy with the final results both for just straight espresso (so smooth, just the right amount of froth). Plus, setup was just as smooth as the espresso. This thing is big but once you’ve got it in place, there’s relatively little to do to be up and running. And Oh. My. God. The Espresso Cool and Cold Brew options are life changing for someone like me who lives on iced coffee and cold brew. Don’t be scared by the price. This is actually an amazing price for an automatic espresso machine. You could easily spend thousands on others. Amazing functionality that gets you that coffee house expertise at home.

I will start off by saying that I love De'Longhi and have been a customer and user for years My last De'Longhi was getting a little tired looking, and I decided to step it up a bit with this one - flashier My last one was a super automatic and made wonderful espresso and cappuccino, but it lacked the "cold" drinks that are trendy now Unboxing was uneventful, but I will warn you that the box is huge. Don't let it scare you, it is just protecting the product perfectly The unit itself is a work of art. Not only does it look like a smaller version of what you will find at premium coffee houses, but it fits perfectly into any kitchen or coffee bar in your home The instructions are excellent, but just bypass the quick set-up guide. Pictures and diagrams don't really tell you much Opt for the full manual, and you will be running in minutes. There is a set-up required before you brew your first batch, so be sure to follow it How does it brew? I have yet to venture into the cold drinks, but I can say that the the espresso is superior to anything else I ever brewed at home I used the decent "S" brand and nothing special, and was expecting a good double espresso. What I got instead is one of the smoothest cups that I ever tried The manual explains clearly the grind for the roast, how to properly tamp, and with a twist of the dial, it adjusted itself for a double espresso. Temperature included Prefect crema and a taste that is missing any harshness Cleanup was also a breeze with a quick rinse of the handle Overall this is not only beautiful, but an espresso machine that will rival or in my opinion beat anything that you can buy from the local barista

This version of the La Specialista has been upgraded to include extra features to meet the different drinking preferences of coffee drinkers. The features includes cold brew, espresso cool, and water temperature control. This cool extraction feature helps the machine from using too much excessive heat, unnecessary for making cold drinks. The cold brew settings adjust automatically when selected and takes around 4 to 5 minutes to extract versus the quicker hot extraction option. The automatic bean burr grinder has 15 level settings from coarse to find coffee ground, with a dial that allows your preferred dosage. The tamp lever is to the side and give the perfect amount of pressure to tamp before bringing it over to be extracted. There is a pressure gauge that indicates whether water is passing through the coffee filter correctly. The steam wand froths the milk to a nice creamy texture an shuts off automatically after activation. The coffee maker also has a water spout for dispensing hot water tea and/or hot chocolate. Cleaning and refilling is very easy with warning indicator lights letting you know when something is off with the machine. Hands down one of if not the best investment for avid coffee drinkers!

There is so much that this espresso machine can do that it is impossible to know where to begin. I’ll just cut to the chase and say BUY THIS THING. It is easy to set up, and it is great fun to use. The possible settings are practically infinite, and you could take half a lifetime trying them all. We got this a few days before a planned weekend get together with about a dozen friends, and we had great fun making everyone their own coffee. Espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, americanos, both iced and hot, as well as cold brews were coming out of the machine. We had on hand several coffee flavoring syrups, and we made several flavored cappuccinos and lattes. The ability to make small adjustments in pretty much every aspect of the brew process and monitor the process as it goes along is really what makes this machine so much fun to use. You’ll likely never need to head out to a coffee shop for your favorite with this on your kitchen counter. And speaking of the kitchen counter, another nice feature of this machine is that it is not all that large. It certainly does take up some counter space, but not that much altogether, and that makes just that much more convenient to use on a regular basis. Really, this machine checks all the boxes you knew about and a few you didn’t know existed. Get one. You won’t regret it.

We enjoy the flavorful americanos and cappuccinos!

This item has been a little Difficult to use and hard to make an optimal shot of espresso.