Review · Espresso machines
De'Longhi La Specialista Arte review: a grinder espresso machine under £400
The La Specialista Arte is De'Longhi's most affordable espresso machine with a built-in grinder. Here's what it costs today, what you get, what owners say and who should skip it.
This De’Longhi La Specialista review covers the La Specialista Arte (EC9155), the cheapest and most compact machine in De’Longhi’s La Specialista range, which pairs a built-in grinder with a manual steam wand. It’s £385.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026 (prices can change). We haven’t tested this in person. Our verdict is based on De’Longhi UK’s published specs, Currys’ listing, UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026, TechRadar’s review and Currys owner reviews, all linked below. Read how we compare.
If you’re weighing it against Sage’s Barista Express, we cover that head to head in La Specialista vs Sage Barista Express. This page sticks to the Arte itself: what you get, the Arte Evo and Maestro above it, and the downsides. Sage Barista Express BES875UK: Check price at Amazon for Sage Barista Express BES875UK (opens in a new tab)
De’Longhi La Specialista review: the short answer
Buy the La Specialista Arte if you want espresso from fresh beans and proper steamed milk, but don’t want to buy and fit a separate grinder. The dosing guide and tamping mat make the messy bit tidier, and the price sits well below most grind-and-brew rivals.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants to press one button and walk away. You still dose, tamp, brew and steam by hand.
Choose the Arte Evo if you’d use a quick cold coffee option. It adds a Cold Brew preset and costs £499.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026 (prices can change).
Who it isn’t for: anyone who only drinks hot coffee. The core grinder and wand are the same as on the Arte.
Skip both if you want the widest grind range and a bigger tank. The Sage Barista Express offers both, at £629.95 at Sage UK, checked 3 Oct 2026.
Who it isn’t for: anyone on a firm budget under £400.
What it costs right now
- Currys (EC9155.MB, stainless steel and black): £385.00, checked 3 Oct 2026, with no “was” price shown; prices can change. See the La Specialista Arte at Currys
- De’Longhi UK (EC9155.MB): Check price at De’Longhi UK. The white version (EC9155.W) was the same price on the same date. See the La Specialista Arte at De’Longhi UK
De’Longhi UK also lists grey and yellow versions. We didn’t check John Lewis, Argos or AO, so compare those yourself before you buy.
The grinder, dosing and tamping
De’Longhi UK lists a built-in grinder with 15 settings, and you set the dose with a dial on the front. The machine grinds straight into the portafilter through a dosing and tamping guide, a collar that sits on top of the basket to catch stray grounds. Currys lists a metal tamper and a tamping mat in the box, which holds the portafilter level while you press.
One thing worth knowing: TechRadar’s December 2021 review described eight grind levels, a larger tank and a bigger hopper than De’Longhi UK lists today. We’ve used the current De’Longhi UK figures and flag the difference so you’re not caught out by older reviews.
TechRadar found the guide and mat did their job of keeping mess down, and timed single and double shots at 24 seconds, with a thick crema.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants to fine-tune grind size in tiny steps for light-roast specialty beans. Fifteen settings is fewer than Sage’s 16, and far fewer than a dedicated grinder.
Brewing, temperature and presets
De’Longhi UK lists a 15-bar pump, a Thermoblock heater with Active Temperature Control, and three brew temperatures. Currys’ listing says 19-bar pressure instead, so the sources disagree; we’ve gone with the manufacturer’s figure.
The front dial gives three presets: espresso, Americano and hot water. TechRadar notes the shot volumes can be adjusted, as can the coffee-to-water ratio in the Americano. The maximum cup height is 120mm, according to De’Longhi UK, which rules out most tall travel mugs.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who mostly drinks large mugs of long coffee straight from the machine. You’ll be pouring from a smaller cup.
Steaming milk
The Arte has a manual steam wand, which Currys calls the MyLatte Art wand, plus a stainless steel milk jug in the box. TechRadar found it textured a jug of milk in 45 seconds and worked just as well with oat milk. If you’re new to steaming, a good jug makes a difference.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants milk done automatically. There’s no auto-froth setting on the Arte.
Arte vs Arte Evo vs Maestro
De’Longhi UK lists five La Specialista machines: Arte, Arte Evo, Touch, Opera and Maestro.
- Arte (EC9155): £385.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026 (prices can change). Grinder, manual wand, three presets.
- Arte Evo (EC9255): Check price at Currys; £549.99 at De’Longhi UK, checked 3 Oct 2026. De’Longhi lists the same 15 grind settings and three temperatures, and swaps hot water for a Cold Brew preset among the three drinks. It weighs 11.7kg against 9.76kg.
- Maestro (EC9885): £1,299.99 at De’Longhi UK, checked 3 Oct 2026. A much bigger outlay, aimed at a different buyer.
For most people choosing between the first two, the question is simply whether you’d use cold brew.
Who it isn’t for: anyone tempted to jump to the Maestro without a clear reason. The price gap is large.
Size and what’s in the box
De’Longhi UK lists the Arte at 28.5cm wide, 36.5cm deep and 40cm high, weighing 9.76kg, with a 1.7-litre tank and 1,400W of power. Currys lists the box contents as the machine, dosing and tamping guide, metal tamper and mat, stainless steel milk jug, cleaning brush and steam wand needle. Both list a two-year guarantee.
Who it isn’t for: anyone with a very narrow worktop gap. The slim Dedica EC685 takes far less room, though it has no grinder. De’Longhi Dedica Style EC685: See it at Currys for De’Longhi Dedica Style EC685 (opens in a new tab)
What owners say
In the Currys owner reviews on Feefo (checked 3 Oct 2026), several owners say it was tricky to set up and dial in at first but worked well once sorted. One says the machine asks to be descaled every two weeks and won’t let them skip it. Another says tall cups and flasks don’t fit. One owner couldn’t find instructions or register the machine, and one complained that it didn’t reach enough pressure.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a machine that works perfectly on day one with no trial and error.
Downsides
- Learning curve: owners report a fiddly first few days of dialling in.
- Narrower grind range: 15 settings, per De’Longhi UK.
- Cup height: 120mm maximum.
- Cleaning: TechRadar notes the tank, portafilter and baskets aren’t dishwasher safe, and found some dripping after shots.
- No pods: it’s beans or pre-ground only.
- Conflicting specs: De’Longhi and Currys disagree on pump pressure, and older reviews describe different grinder and tank figures.
Where to go next
- Head to head with Sage: La Specialista vs Sage Barista Express
- The rival in depth: Sage Barista Express vs Barista Pro Sage Barista Pro: See it at Sage for Sage Barista Pro (opens in a new tab)
- Everything in the category: espresso machines
FAQ
Which De’Longhi La Specialista is best for beginners? The Arte is the simplest and cheapest, at £385.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026 (prices can change). The Arte Evo adds cold brew.
Can the La Specialista Arte use pre-ground coffee? Currys lists it as working with whole beans and ground coffee.
Is the La Specialista Arte a bean-to-cup machine? Currys files it under bean-to-cup, but you still tamp, brew and steam by hand, so it behaves like an espresso machine with a grinder.
Does it come with a tamper? Yes. Currys lists a metal tamper and tamping mat in the box.
Verdict
De'Longhi La Specialista Arte (EC9155.MB)
A sensible first grind-and-brew espresso machine: compact, with a dosing guide and tamping mat that keep mess down and a steam wand that TechRadar found quick with both dairy and oat milk. At today's prices it's well under the Sage Barista Express, but the grinder range is narrower and some owners find the first few days of dialling in fiddly.
Pros
- Pro: Built-in grinder with 15 settings, according to De'Longhi UK
- Pro: Dosing and tamping guide, metal tamper and tamping mat in the box, as Currys lists it
- Pro: Three brew temperatures and three presets: espresso, Americano and hot water
- Pro: £385.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change
Cons
- Con: Fewer grind settings than the Sage Barista Express (16, per Sage)
- Con: Maximum cup height of 120mm, per De'Longhi UK, so tall mugs won't fit
- Con: TechRadar found some dripping after shots, and the tank, portafilter and baskets aren't dishwasher safe
- Con: No pod compatibility
- Best for
- Beginners who want fresh-ground espresso and milk drinks without buying a separate grinder, on a budget under £400.
- Who it isn't for
- Anyone who wants one-touch drinks, or keen home baristas who want fine grind control.
See it on the maker's site: De'Longhi's UK page for the La Specialista ArteLink: De'Longhi's UK page for the La Specialista Arte. Not an affiliate link.
Sources
- See the La Specialista Arte at Currys (currys.co.uk)
- See the La Specialista Arte at De'Longhi UK (delonghi.com)
- TechRadar's December 2021 review (techradar.com)
- Currys owner reviews on Feefo (feefo.com)
Related
- De'Longhi La Specialista vs Sage Barista Express: which to buy?
- La Specialista Opera review: De'Longhi grinder espresso with cold extraction
- La Specialista Touch review: De'Longhi's touchscreen grinder espresso
- Dedica Arte review: De'Longhi's latte-art Dedica (EC885)