Review · Espresso machines
La Specialista Touch review: De'Longhi's touchscreen grinder espresso
Our De'Longhi La Specialista Touch review: a colour touchscreen and auto-texturing steam wand on a grind-and-brew espresso machine, its UK price today, key specs and who should skip it.
This De’Longhi La Specialista Touch review covers the EC9455.M, the version sold in the UK. It’s a manual espresso machine with a built-in grinder, a colour touchscreen and a steam wand that textures milk for you. It’s £680 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 Touch is the La Specialista for people who like the idea of making espresso properly but want a screen to talk them through it. The feature that really sets it apart from its cheaper siblings is the automatic milk wand.
De’Longhi La Specialista Touch review: the short answer
Buy the Touch if you want fresh-ground espresso and silky milk drinks, but don’t want to spend weeks learning to steam milk by ear. You choose a milk temperature and froth level on the screen, and the wand does the rest.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who enjoys the manual side of milk steaming, or who mostly drinks espresso and americanos. In that case you’re paying for a screen and a smart wand you won’t use much.
Comparing it with the rest of the range? Our La Specialista Arte review covers the entry model in detail, and our La Specialista Opera review covers the model with the tamping station and cold espresso. We haven’t repeated those here. De’Longhi La Specialista Opera: See it at Currys for De’Longhi La Specialista Opera (opens in a new tab) · De’Longhi La Specialista Arte: See it at Currys for De’Longhi La Specialista Arte (opens in a new tab)
What it costs right now
We checked Currys’ La Specialista Touch listing and De’Longhi UK’s La Specialista Touch page:
- La Specialista Touch EC9455.M: £680 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, shown as in stock.
- La Specialista Touch EC9455.M: £699.99 at De’Longhi UK, checked 3 Oct 2026, shown as in stock.
- Argos and Amazon UK: Check current price. We didn’t verify a price at either.
So on the day we looked there was only £19.99 between the two, and Currys was the cheaper place to buy it.
Who it isn’t for: anyone with a firm £500 budget. At around £700, it costs noticeably more than the Arte models.
Where the Touch sits in the La Specialista range
Here’s how the range looked at Currys on 3 Oct 2026:
- Arte (EC9155): £385.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026.
- Arte Evo (EC9255): £499.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026.
- Opera (EC9555): £599.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, listed with a HomeCafe Kit.
- Touch (EC9455): £680 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026.
- Maestro (EC9885): £1,299.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026.
The Touch costs £81 more than the Opera at Currys. The big differences, going by De’Longhi’s own descriptions, are the touchscreen and the automatic milk wand. If neither matters to you, the Opera or Arte Evo will save you money.
Touchscreen and drinks
The Touch gets its name from a 3.5-inch colour TFT screen, according to De’Longhi UK’s spec data. Rather than turning dials and remembering settings, you pick a drink and follow the prompts. De’Longhi describes on-screen guidance for grinding, so the screen should help you dial in a new bag of beans.
De’Longhi UK lists the machine as “One Touch, 10 drinks”, and its spec data ticks espresso, flat white, latte, latte macchiato, long black and hot water, plus cold brew. The same data mentions eight customisable recipes, though that line appears in French on the UK page, so treat the exact number with some caution. You can also adjust drink length.
Grinder, dosing and tamping
De’Longhi UK lists a conical burr grinder with 15 settings, a coffee tamper and what it calls a dosing aid. Its spec data also lists Bean Adapt Technology, which De’Longhi says adjusts grind, dose and temperature to suit your beans. You can use pre-ground coffee too, which is handy for an occasional decaf.
The listed baskets are single-wall, in one- and two-cup sizes. Single-wall baskets reward good grinding and even tamping, but they’re less forgiving than the pressurised baskets some beginner machines include. If you later want more control, a separate grinder is an option, but you can’t upgrade the built-in one.
Brewing, temperature and cold brew
De’Longhi UK lists a 15-bar pump, a Thermoblock heating system and PID temperature control, with four brewing temperatures to choose from. Active temperature control is meant to hold the water steady while the shot runs.
There’s also a cold brew preset. De’Longhi says its Cold Extraction Technology makes a single cold brew in under five minutes, rather than the hours a traditional cold brew takes. We can’t say how close it tastes to the real thing, but it’s a useful extra if you drink iced coffee in summer.
The Auto LatteArt steam wand
This is the reason to choose the Touch. De’Longhi calls it the Auto LatteArt steam wand, and its spec data lists four milk temperature settings and five texture settings. De’Longhi says it works with dairy and plant-based milks. You set the temperature and froth level, put the jug under the wand, and it stops when the milk is ready.
De’Longhi also lists the option to froth milk manually, so you can take over once you’re more confident. The wand is described as cool-touch, which should make it safer to handle and easier to wipe clean. Our espresso machines guide covers other home machines with steam wands.
Size, tank and cleaning
- Dimensions: 319 x 367 x 400mm, per De’Longhi UK’s spec data.
- Water tank: 1.8 litres and removable, per De’Longhi UK. Currys lists 1.7 litres, so the exact figure is unclear.
- Cup height: De’Longhi UK’s spec data gives both 114mm and 120mm. If you use tall glasses, measure them first.
- Power: 1,450W.
- Other features: charcoal water filter, programmable water hardness, a water level indicator, a removable drip tray and auto-off.
Downsides
- Price for the milk feature: you pay about £81 more than the Opera at Currys, mainly for the screen and automatic wand.
- Single-wall baskets only: good results depend on your grind and tamp.
- Spec gaps: cup height and tank size differ between sources.
- Manual workflow: you still move the portafilter from grinder to group head yourself. If you want one-button coffee, a bean-to-cup machine suits you better.
Alternatives worth a look
Sage Barista Touch Impress. Sage’s touchscreen rival, with assisted tamping and automatic milk. It costs more, so read our Sage Barista Touch Impress review before you decide. Sage Barista Touch Impress: See it at Sage for Sage Barista Touch Impress (opens in a new tab)
De’Longhi La Specialista Opera. £599.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. It skips the touchscreen and automatic wand but adds a tamping station.
De’Longhi La Specialista Arte. £385.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, and the cheapest way into the range. If you’re also considering Sage, our La Specialista vs Sage Barista Express comparison sets the two side by side. Sage Barista Express BES875UK: Check price at Amazon for Sage Barista Express BES875UK (opens in a new tab)
Independent review: Trusted Reviews has published a review of the La Specialista Touch. We haven’t summarised its findings here.
FAQ
Which La Specialista Touch model is sold in the UK? The EC9455.M, in silver. Both Currys and De’Longhi UK listed that model code on 3 Oct 2026.
Can the La Specialista Touch make cold drinks? Yes. De’Longhi lists a cold brew preset, and says a single cold brew takes under five minutes.
Do I have to steam milk myself? No. The Auto LatteArt wand textures milk to the temperature and froth level you choose. You can also steam manually if you prefer.
Can I use pre-ground coffee? Yes. De’Longhi UK’s spec data says pre-ground coffee can be used.
Verdict
De'Longhi La Specialista Touch (EC9455.M)
The La Specialista Touch is a grind-and-brew espresso machine for people who want help at every step: a colour touchscreen walks you through grinding, tamping and brewing, and a steam wand that textures milk by itself takes the guesswork out of lattes. It's £680 at Currys and £699.99 at De'Longhi UK, checked 3 Oct 2026. That's a fair price if the auto-milk wand is the feature you want, but if you're happy to steam milk yourself, cheaper La Specialista models cover the basics.
Pros
- Pro: £680 at Currys and £699.99 at De'Longhi UK, checked 3 Oct 2026
- Pro: 3.5-inch colour touchscreen with guided steps, per De'Longhi UK
- Pro: Auto LatteArt steam wand with 4 milk temperatures and 5 froth levels, per De'Longhi UK's spec data
- Pro: Conical burr grinder with 15 settings and 4 brewing temperatures
- Pro: Cold brew preset using De'Longhi's Cold Extraction Technology
Cons
- Con: De'Longhi's spec data lists two different maximum cup heights, 114mm and 120mm
- Con: Only single-wall baskets are listed, which are less forgiving for beginners
- Con: Tank size differs between De'Longhi UK (1.8 litres) and Currys (1.7 litres)
- Best for
- People who want real espresso from fresh beans, with on-screen guidance and milk that steams itself to a set temperature and texture.
- Who it isn't for
- Anyone happy to learn milk steaming by hand, or with a budget under £500, where the Arte and Arte Evo make more sense.
See it on the maker's site: De'Longhi's UK page for the La Specialista TouchLink: De'Longhi's UK page for the La Specialista Touch. Not an affiliate link.
Sources
- Currys' La Specialista Touch listing (currys.co.uk)
- De'Longhi UK's La Specialista Touch page (delonghi.com)
- review of the La Specialista Touch (trustedreviews.com)