Comparison · Espresso machines
De'Longhi La Specialista vs Sage Barista Express: which to buy?
The La Specialista Arte costs well under the Barista Express at UK retailers. Here's what the extra money buys you on the Sage, and who's better off with the De'Longhi.
If you’re weighing up De’Longhi La Specialista vs Sage Barista Express, you’re comparing two manual espresso machines with a grinder built in. Both grind, dose and pull shots in one box, and both leave the milk to you. The big differences are price, the baskets you get and how tamping works. We haven’t tested this in person. This comparison is based on De’Longhi UK’s and Sage UK’s published specs, Currys’ listings and UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
Which La Specialista can you buy in the UK?
De’Longhi has made several La Specialista models, so it’s worth knowing which one you’d actually be buying. On 3 Oct 2026, De’Longhi UK’s La Specialista range listed the Arte (EC9155, in several colours), the Arte Evo (EC9255), the Touch, the Opera and the Maestro. We couldn’t find the older Prestigio listed at De’Longhi UK or Currys that day.
The Arte is the model most people comparing with the Barista Express will look at, because it’s the cheapest and closest in spec, so that’s the one we compare here. We cover the Arte Evo, its step-up sibling, further down. The Touch, Opera and Maestro are pricier machines aimed at a different budget.
De’Longhi La Specialista vs Sage Barista Express: the short answer
Get the La Specialista Arte if you want a built-in grinder and a manual steam wand for a lot less money. It’s £385.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026; check price at De’Longhi UK. De’Longhi lists 15 grind settings, 3 temperature settings and a 1.7-litre tank.
Who it isn’t for: complete beginners who want forgiving pressurised baskets for pre-ground coffee. Currys lists single-wall baskets only in the box, which reward a good grind and consistent technique.
Get the Sage Barista Express if you want more help while you learn and a bigger tank. It’s £629.95 at Sage UK and £629.99 at Currys, both checked 3 Oct 2026. Sage includes both single- and dual-wall baskets, a 2-litre tank and PID temperature control set to 93°C.
Who it isn’t for: anyone with a firm budget around £400. On the prices we saw, the Sage costs about £245 more than the Arte at Currys.
Skip both if you’d rather not dose, tamp or steam at all. A bean-to-cup machine does it for you, and our guide to bean-to-cup machines under £500 covers the options.
Prices on 3 Oct 2026
De’Longhi La Specialista Arte (EC9155)
- £385.00 at Currys, in stock, checked 3 Oct 2026, with no was-price shown. See the La Specialista Arte at Currys
- Check price at De’Longhi UK. See the La Specialista Arte at De’Longhi UK
Sage the Barista Express (BES875)
- £629.95 at Sage UK, in stock, checked 3 Oct 2026. See the Barista Express at Sage UK
- £629.99 at Currys, in stock, checked 3 Oct 2026. See the Barista Express at Currys
At these prices the Arte is roughly £245 cheaper than the Barista Express at Currys. That gap is big enough to pay for a decent milk jug, scales and a few bags of beans, so it’s worth deciding whether the Sage’s extras matter to you.
Grinders: 15 vs 16 settings
On paper the grinders are close. De’Longhi lists 15 grind settings for the Arte, with a single or double dose. Sage lists 16 settings for the Barista Express, with dose control that grinds a set amount on demand and an ideal dose of 18g.
Bean hoppers differ a little: Currys lists 200g for the Arte, and Sage lists 250g for the Barista Express. Neither grinder can be upgraded on its own, so if you outgrow it, you’d add a separate grinder or replace the machine. Our guide to burr grinders under £100 explains why grind quality matters so much for espresso.
Who it isn’t for: neither built-in grinder is ideal if you already plan to buy a high-end standalone grinder.
Baskets and tamping: where beginners should look closely
This is the difference we’d weigh most if you’re new to espresso.
The Barista Express comes with single- and dual-wall baskets, according to Sage. Dual-wall (pressurised) baskets are more forgiving of an uneven grind or tamp, so they’re a gentler way to start before you move to single-wall baskets. Sage also lists a removable magnetic tamper built into the machine and a Dosing Funnel attachment to cut down on mess.
The La Specialista Arte comes with single-wall 1- and 2-shot baskets, according to Currys’ box list. Single-wall baskets give you more control over the shot, but they’re less forgiving while you learn. In place of a built-in tamper, Currys lists a metal tamper, a tamping mat and a dosing and tamping guide to keep grounds off the worktop.
Who it isn’t for: the Arte’s setup isn’t for anyone who wants an easy start with pre-ground supermarket coffee. The Barista Express’s built-in tamper isn’t for anyone who prefers a separate tamper they can upgrade.
Temperature, pump and milk
De’Longhi lists a 15-bar pump, Thermoblock heating and Active Temperature Control with 3 temperature settings for the Arte. Sage lists low-pressure pre-infusion followed by 9-bar extraction from a 15-bar pump, with Thermocoil heating and PID temperature control at 93°C for the Barista Express. Sage gives more detail on how its shot is delivered, while De’Longhi lets you pick between three brew temperatures.
Both have a manual steam wand, so you texture milk yourself. If you want to practise latte art, a jug with a good spout helps.
The Arte also has preset buttons for espresso, americano and hot water, according to De’Longhi UK.
Who it isn’t for: neither machine suits anyone who wants hands-free milk.
Size and tank
De’Longhi lists the Arte with a 1.7-litre tank, a weight of 9.76kg and a maximum cup height of 120mm. Currys gives its dimensions as 40cm high, 27.5cm wide and 36.5cm deep. Sage lists the Barista Express with a 2-litre tank at 31.8cm wide, 35.1cm deep and 40.4cm high, and Currys lists it at 10.6kg. The Arte is the narrower machine, which may help on a busy worktop.
Who it isn’t for: if cupboard height is tight, measure first; both are listed at around 40cm tall.
What about the La Specialista Arte Evo?
The Arte Evo (EC9255) adds what De’Longhi calls Cold Extraction Technology for cold brew, alongside espresso, americano and hot water. De’Longhi UK lists the same 15 grind settings, 3 temperature settings and 1.7-litre tank (Currys lists 1.5 litres for the tank, so check before you buy). It was £499.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change. De’Longhi UK listed it at £549.99 the same day. See the Arte Evo at Currys
It’s worth it only if you’d actually use the cold brew function. Currys’ box list for the Evo includes unpressurised baskets too, so the beginner point above still applies.
Downsides of both
- Single-wall baskets only on the Arte. Less forgiving while you learn.
- The Sage costs much more. About £245 more than the Arte at Currys on 3 Oct 2026.
- Neither grinder can be upgraded.
- Manual milk on both. Expect some wasted milk while you learn.
- Prices move. De’Longhi UK and Currys prices change often, so check on the day.
Where to go next
- Our Sage Barista Express vs Barista Pro comparison covers the Sage in more depth.
- Thinking about the Sage’s Impress version? See Sage Barista Express vs Impress.
- Browse all our espresso machine guides.
FAQ
Is the La Specialista Arte cheaper than the Barista Express? Yes, on 3 Oct 2026. It was £385.00 at Currys, against £629.99 for the Barista Express at the same retailer.
Which is better for beginners? On specs, the Barista Express, because it comes with dual-wall baskets that are more forgiving. The Arte comes with single-wall baskets only, according to Currys.
Can you use pre-ground coffee in the La Specialista Arte? Currys lists ground coffee as well as whole beans for the Arte, but with single-wall baskets the grind needs to suit espresso.
Is the La Specialista Prestigio still sold in the UK? We couldn’t find it at De’Longhi UK or Currys on 3 Oct 2026. The Arte and Arte Evo are the current entry models.