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De'Longhi La Specialista Touch vs Gaggia Classic Evo Pro (E24)
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
De'Longhi La Specialista Touch ranks higher (#1 vs #4 of 11) and scores better on milk frothing, ease of use, cleaning & upkeep. Gaggia Classic Evo Pro (E24) wins on espresso quality, durability.
The biggest complaint about the De'Longhi La Specialista Touch is fiddly hand-steaming; for the Gaggia Classic Evo Pro (E24) it's no pid: inconsistent temperature and shots. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Good for: Beginners who want a guided grinder-and-brewer
Its catch: fiddly hand-steaming
Check price on AmazonGood for: Learning to pull café-quality shots
Its catch: no PID: inconsistent temperature and shots
Check price on AmazonPaid links. We don't list prices — they change daily. Neither one feels right?
Side by side
| De'Longhi La Specialista Touch | Gaggia Classic Evo Pro (E24) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in espresso machines | #1 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $$ |
| Type | With built-in grinder | Espresso machine (no grinder) |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 13% | 13% |
| Overall score | 3.9 | 3.6 |
| Espresso quality | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Milk frothing | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Ease of use | 4.5 | 3.0 |
| Cleaning & upkeep | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Durability | 3.0 | 4.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $300 · $$ $300–800 · $$$ over $800. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
De'Longhi La Specialista Touch
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Gaggia Classic Evo Pro (E24)
- No PID: inconsistent temperature and shots
Wirecutter says shot consistency is harder to sustain back to back without PID control, and Tom's Guide says temperatures still aren't properly stable. Consistency is a negative aspect on Amazon.
- Leaks and spitting from the steam wand
Leakage is a negative aspect on Amazon, with owners reporting water spitting and dripping from the steam wand. Amazon's summary also says some report it breaking down after 1.5 years.
- Flimsy tamper, few accessories, awkward tank
Wirecutter and Tom's Guide both say the plastic tamper needs replacing, and there's no milk pitcher. Wirecutter found reinserting the under-boiler water tank and its tubes tricky.
Source: Wirecutter, Tom's Guide review
Who should pick which
Pick the De'Longhi La Specialista Touch if
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
Pick the Gaggia Classic Evo Pro (E24) if
Learning to pull café-quality shots
People who already own a good grinder
Long-term ownership with routine maintenance
Skip it if: You want push-button milk drinks; You want accessories in the box; You want consistent temperature without technique
We don't list prices — they change daily. Paid links.
Neither one feels right?
If both catches are deal-breakers, start here.
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 mixedA third option · #3Breville Bambino PlusThe 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 monthsAll 11 comparedSee every espresso machine, rankedEach one's biggest complaint at a glance, with the full ranking.
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