Review · Espresso machines
La Specialista Opera review: De'Longhi grinder espresso with cold extraction
Our De'Longhi La Specialista Opera review: built-in grinder and tamping station plus cold brew and Espresso Cool, its UK price today, key specs and who should skip it.
This De’Longhi La Specialista Opera review covers the EC9555.M, a manual espresso machine with a built-in grinder, a tamping station and a cold brew function. It’s £599.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. We haven’t tested this in person. Our verdict is based on De’Longhi UK’s published specs, Currys’ listing and UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
The short version: the Opera is the La Specialista for people who want the grinder and the manual espresso, but with tidier tamping, steadier temperature control and cold drinks on the side. It makes most sense at the lower Currys price.
De’Longhi La Specialista Opera review: the short answer
Buy the Opera if you want to grind, tamp and pull your own shots, you’d like a tamping station that does the pressing for you, and you’re curious about cold brew made in minutes rather than overnight.
Skip it if you mainly want hot espresso and lattes. The cheaper Arte shares the same number of grind settings, and our De’Longhi La Specialista Arte review covers that machine in detail. We haven’t repeated it here. De’Longhi La Specialista Arte: See it at Currys for De’Longhi La Specialista Arte (opens in a new tab)
Comparing with Sage? Our De’Longhi La Specialista vs Sage Barista Express comparison sets the two ranges side by side. Sage Barista Express BES875UK: Check price at Amazon for Sage Barista Express BES875UK (opens in a new tab)
What it costs right now
We checked the Currys La Specialista Opera listing and De’Longhi UK’s Opera page:
- La Specialista Opera EC9555.M: £599.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. Currys listed it “with HomeCafe Kit”.
- La Specialista Opera EC9555.M: £799.99 at De’Longhi UK, checked 3 Oct 2026.
- Other retailers: Check current price. We haven’t included prices we couldn’t confirm on the day.
That’s a £200.99 gap between the two on the day we looked. Currys’ listing didn’t spell out what the HomeCafe Kit contains, so if the extras matter to you, check the product page before you order. Prices on this range move about, so it’s worth comparing both on the day you buy.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who’d be paying the full £799.99. At that price you’re well into territory where it’s worth looking hard at the alternatives below.
Where the Opera sits in the La Specialista range
De’Longhi sells several La Specialista models, and the names don’t make the order obvious. Here’s how the range looked at Currys on 3 Oct 2026:
- Arte (EC9155): £385.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. The entry model.
- Arte Evo (EC9255): £499.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. Adds cold brew to the Arte.
- Opera (EC9555): £599.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. Adds the tamping station and Espresso Cool.
- Touch (EC9455): £680 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026.
- Maestro (EC9885): £1,299.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026.
So the Opera sits in the middle. On the day we checked, it was only £100 more than the Arte Evo at Currys, which is the comparison most buyers will be weighing up. The main things that extra money gets you, going by De’Longhi’s own descriptions, are the Smart Tamping Station and the Espresso Cool preset.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who’d be happy tamping by hand. That’s the Opera’s biggest practical difference, so if it doesn’t appeal, a cheaper La Specialista makes more sense.
Grinder and tamping
De’Longhi UK lists an integrated grinder with stainless steel burrs and 15 grind settings. That’s the same count it gives the Arte and Arte Evo, so you’re not paying for a finer-stepped grinder here. If you want a wider range of settings to fine-tune shots, it’s worth reading our Sage Barista Pro review, which covers a machine with a different grinder approach. Sage Barista Pro: See it at Sage for Sage Barista Pro (opens in a new tab)
The tamping is where the Opera stands apart. De’Longhi calls it a Smart Tamping Station: rather than pressing the coffee down with a handheld tamper, you use a lever on the machine, which De’Longhi says applies up to 20kg of even pressure. The aim is a more consistent puck with fewer grounds scattered on the worktop. Consistent tamping is one of the trickier skills for newcomers, so this could save some frustration.
De’Longhi UK also lists dynamic pre-infusion, where the machine adjusts the length of the initial soak to the dose, and says you can use pre-ground coffee too. It lists single and double-wall filter baskets for one and two cups. Double-wall baskets are more forgiving while you’re learning, and single-wall baskets give you more control later.
Brewing, temperature and cold drinks
De’Longhi UK lists a 19-bar pump, an Advanced Thermoblock that it says is ready in under 20 seconds, and PID temperature control to keep the water steady through each shot. There are three infusion temperature settings, which lets you adjust for lighter or darker roasts.
The Opera has five pre-set drinks, according to De’Longhi UK: espresso, americano, coffee, Cold Brew and Espresso Cool. De’Longhi’s product title says “6 drinks” and it also lists a hot water function, so the count depends on how you tally it.
The cold drinks are the headline feature. De’Longhi says its Cold Extraction Technology makes a Cold Brew in under five minutes, with a footnote saying that’s for a single-dose recipe. Espresso Cool is De’Longhi’s own chilled espresso-style drink, which it suggests for cocktails. Traditional cold brew steeps for many hours, so a few minutes is a different method, and the results won’t necessarily taste the same as a slow overnight batch. If cold coffee is the reason you’re buying, it’s worth watching De’Longhi’s own setup videos first so you know what’s involved.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who never drinks iced or cold coffee. Without that, you’re paying for a function you won’t use, and the Arte covers the hot drinks.
Steaming milk
Milk is manual. De’Longhi UK lists its My LatteArt steam wand, which it says is designed to create fine microfoam for latte art. The wand is cool-touch, which De’Longhi says makes it safer to handle and easier to wipe clean. De’Longhi also lists a milk jug among the machine’s features.
A manual wand gives you control over texture and temperature, but it takes practice, and you’ll likely waste some milk early on. If you’d rather press a button and walk away, a bean-to-cup machine with automatic milk is the better fit. Our espresso machines guide explains the difference between the two types.
Size, tank and cleaning
De’Longhi UK lists the dimensions as 380 x 370 x 445mm with the bean container fitted, so check the height under your wall cupboards. The tank is removable and holds 2 litres, a figure both De’Longhi UK and Currys list, with a water level indicator.
Cup height needs a closer look. De’Longhi UK’s data gives two figures for the maximum cup height, 105mm and 120mm, and doesn’t explain the difference. Currys lists an adjustable cup stand. If you drink from tall mugs or glasses, measure them and check with the retailer before you buy.
For upkeep, De’Longhi UK lists programmable water hardness, the option of a water filter, a cleaning and descaling alert, a removable drip tray, auto-off and a 1,550W power rating. Currys lists a two-year guarantee, and De’Longhi UK includes a two-year warranty. As with any grinder machine, expect to brush out the grinder and wash the baskets regularly.
Downsides
- Price gap: £599.00 at Currys against £799.99 at De’Longhi UK on 3 Oct 2026.
- Same grinder range as the Arte: 15 settings, so no grinder upgrade for the extra money.
- Unclear cup height: De’Longhi UK lists both 105mm and 120mm.
- Manual milk only: fine for learners, not for one-touch lattes.
- Fast cold brew is a different method: don’t expect it to match a slow, overnight batch.
- Kit contents unclear: Currys didn’t list what its HomeCafe Kit includes.
Alternatives worth a look
De’Longhi La Specialista Arte. The cheapest way into the range at £385.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, with the same number of grind settings but a handheld tamper. See our La Specialista Arte review.
Sage Barista Express Impress. Sage’s assisted-tamping rival, so it’s the closest match for the Opera’s main selling point. Our Sage Barista Express Impress review covers its price and features. Sage Barista Express Impress: See it at Currys for Sage Barista Express Impress (opens in a new tab)
Sage Barista Pro. A grinder espresso machine with a fast heat-up and a different grinder. See our Sage Barista Pro review.
Independent review: Trusted Reviews has published a review of the La Specialista Opera. We haven’t summarised its findings here.
FAQ
What model number is the De’Longhi La Specialista Opera? The version sold at De’Longhi UK and Currys on 3 Oct 2026 was the EC9555.M, in a metal finish.
Does the La Specialista Opera make cold brew? Yes. De’Longhi UK lists Cold Extraction Technology with a Cold Brew preset, which it says takes under five minutes for a single dose, plus an Espresso Cool preset.
Does the Opera have a built-in grinder? Yes. De’Longhi UK lists an integrated grinder with stainless steel burrs and 15 grind settings.
How much is the De’Longhi La Specialista Opera? £599.00 at Currys or £799.99 at De’Longhi UK, both checked 3 Oct 2026. Prices can change.
Verdict
De'Longhi La Specialista Opera (EC9555.M)
A well-equipped grind-and-brew espresso machine that adds a tamping station, a PID-controlled Thermoblock, a cool-touch steam wand and a cold brew function to the La Specialista formula. At £599.00 at Currys it's a fair step up from the Arte if you want less mess and would use the cold drinks. At De'Longhi UK's £799.99 it's harder to justify, so the price you pay matters more than usual here.
Pros
- Pro: £599.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026
- Pro: Built-in grinder with 15 settings and stainless steel burrs, per De'Longhi UK
- Pro: Smart Tamping Station that tamps with up to 20kg of pressure, according to De'Longhi UK
- Pro: Cold Brew and Espresso Cool presets alongside espresso, americano and coffee
- Pro: 2-litre removable water tank, listed by both De'Longhi UK and Currys
Cons
- Con: £799.99 at De'Longhi UK, checked 3 Oct 2026, a big gap to the Currys price
- Con: Same 15 grind settings as the much cheaper Arte
- Con: De'Longhi UK gives two different maximum cup heights, 105mm and 120mm
- Con: Manual steam wand, so milk drinks take practice
- Best for
- Home baristas who want fresh-ground espresso with less mess, and who'd actually use a cold brew function.
- Who it isn't for
- Beginners on a tight budget, anyone who wants one-touch milk drinks, or people who only ever drink hot espresso and lattes.
See it on the maker's site: De'Longhi's UK page for the La Specialista OperaLink: De'Longhi's UK page for the La Specialista Opera. Not an affiliate link.
Sources
- Currys La Specialista Opera listing (currys.co.uk)
- De'Longhi UK's Opera page (delonghi.com)
- review of the La Specialista Opera (trustedreviews.com)