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De'Longhi

De'Longhi La Specialista Touch problems & complaints

Is it worth it? The downsides first: what owners report, and who should skip it.

Compiled by the ConsFirst editor · Updated · 3 sources · How we research

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#1 of 11
$$$With built-in grinderScore 3.9/5
13%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-14)Small sample (255 ratings).

Tom's Guide's best espresso machine overall: a compact all-in-one whose Bean Adapt guidance, smart tamper and touchscreen make good shots easy, with manual or automatic milk. Hand-steaming is fiddly around the temperature probe, tamping is guided rather than built in, and Amazon's sample is still small.

Common De'Longhi La Specialista Touch problems

  • Fiddly hand-steaming

    Tom's Guide says the wand design, including the temperature gauge, gets in the way when steaming by hand; it got used to it, but found it annoying at first.

    Source: Tom's Guide (best espresso machines), Tom's Guide review
  • Guided, not built-in, tamping

    Tom's Guide says the guided tamping is good, but in-built tamping would be better. It also notes the cold-brew function doesn't make cold espresso.

    Source: Tom's Guide (best espresso machines)
  • Some units arrive faulty

    Amazon's summary says owners find it easy to clean and reliable, though some report units that don't work properly.

    Source: Amazon.com product page (Customers say)

What owners like

Good for
  • Beginners who want a guided grinder-and-brewer
  • Small kitchens
  • Switching between saved bean settings

Scores (tap for why)

What experts say

  • Tom's Guide: Best overall (updated 2026-08-06): well-priced, user-friendly and tasty, but hand-steaming is a little fiddly and tamping is only guided.
  • Tom's Guide review: 'Small but mighty' and an 'instant classic', $999 in the US, which it calls competitive for an assisted machine.
Check price on AmazonWe don't list prices — they change daily. Paid link.

Is the De'Longhi La Specialista Touch worth it?

Tom's Guide's best espresso machine overall: a compact all-in-one whose Bean Adapt guidance, smart tamper and touchscreen make good shots easy, with manual or automatic milk. Hand-steaming is fiddly around the temperature probe, tamping is guided rather than built in, and Amazon's sample is still small. It ranks #1 of the 11 espresso machines we compared.

The deciding question: is “Fiddly hand-steaming” a deal-breaker for you? If not, it is worth a look. If it is, see the alternatives below.

If that catch is a deal-breaker

Highly ranked espresso machines whose biggest complaint is a different kind of problem.

#2 in espresso machinesBreville Barista Touch

Wirecutter's runner-up: a touchscreen all-in-one with a Baratza-burr grinder and a strong auto-frothing wand that beginners can learn fast. Its narrow, deep portafilter makes shots harder to dial in and less nuanced, and about 1 in 6 Amazon ratings are 1 or 2 stars, with some owners reporting failures within months.

Its catch: durability is mixed#3 in espresso machinesBreville Bambino Plus

The easiest machine here for café-style milk drinks, with a tiny footprint and automatic steaming that actually works. But Amazon owners often report units failing within months, and Wirecutter found shots harder to dial in than on its top picks.

Its catch: stops working within months#4 in espresso machinesGaggia Classic Evo Pro (E24)

The budget enthusiast's pick, and it pulls more nuanced shots than pricier Brevilles. You'll need a separate grinder and a better tamper, plus practice: it has no PID, and testers disagree on how good the steam wand is.

Its catch: no PID: inconsistent temperature and shots

Head-to-head

De'Longhi La Specialista Touch: questions people ask

Is the De'Longhi La Specialista Touch worth it?

It ranks #1 of the 11 espresso machines we compared. Good for: beginners who want a guided grinder-and-brewer · small kitchens · switching between saved bean settings. Skip it if: you want built-in automatic tamping · you mostly steam milk by hand · you want a long owner track record.

What is a good alternative to the De'Longhi La Specialista Touch?

If “Fiddly hand-steaming” is a deal-breaker for you, consider the Breville Barista Touch (#2 in espresso machines). Its main complaint is a different one: durability is mixed.

See all 11 espresso machines ranked →