De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo Espresso Machine with Cold Brew

I bought this very expensive coffee machine hoping to have good quality coffee. I’m Italian, I love the taste of a good coffee in the morning.
I spent over $600 for this awful machine which makes the worst coffee I ever tried in my life. It gave me heartburn and despite trying different settings to achieve the perfect espresso by following the instructions, It got worse.
I contacted Amazon to get a refund since I no longer have the original package – I can only hope at some point to get my $600 back!!!
Do not buy this machine. It’s literally awful.

Quick update. My experience with Amazon has been just awful. I haven’t got a refund and every time I contact their customer service I get different reasons why I didn’t receive my money back.
Will never buy anything expensive from Amazon ever again. I lost $600.

This espresso machine makes excellent coffee. It’s beautiful on the counter and comes with everything to begin your coffee journey. We sprung for this on a sale and so far have no complaints.

We watched a 20 minute YouTube video of a barista running through all the settings and on the first espresso pull we had an excellent shot with a nice crema.

The only gripe I have is the espresso buttons, they aren’t automatic. Which for us is nbd because we have been baristas before so we have an eye for it. If you’re new to the espresso world, it may take a couple trys to learn. The other thing is learning the tamping pressure, so to speak. If you don’t tamp it, or press the grounds down enough or even too much, your shot will be inconsistent.

Those are my only two complaints which I think justifies for 4 stars.

One huge perk is the steaming wand gives out great pressure making the creamy foam we all love!

Thanks for reading 🙂 enjoy your coffee adventure!

I spent over a decade in restaurant management including bakery and coffee houses. This De’Longhi La Specialista is amazing and provides just as good of a pull of espresso as many industrial machines.

I have officially retired my coffee pot thanks to the several settings. Sometimes we just want a nice hot mug of chai tea and other times we want a cold brew. Most of the time I want a shot of espresso (or 2) and this has made it so much easier and convenient.

The built in grinder is probably one of my favorite pieces keeping my favorite beans fresh until I use them and trust me, they don’t last long in this house. This was a surprise Christmas gift my husband got me and it’s a gift that keeps on giving, I have so much good to say about everything from the hopper to the steam wand that I’m getting myself all sorts of confused. To sum it all up, if you want an espresso machine at home that is consistent in its pull, easy to use, and has really great features you have to pick this one!

Bye bye Starbucks! Hellloooooo espresso at home

I love every aspect of this machine! It is super easy to use and comes with almost everything you need to get started, which makes it very beginner friendly. The built-in pressure gauge and the multiple grind size and dose level options make it very easy to dial in your shot to match your preferences. The cold-brew function exceeds my expectation and is very impressive! This is probably the best machine you can get within its price range. I would have given it a 10-star if that’s an option.

Unlike more manual machines, frothing milk is a dream. When you turn off the steam, it depressurizes itself. You don’t need to run the steam out in a mug of cold water until the pressure drops. Also, no steam comes off the machine, so you can actually operate it under a cabinet without having to move it forward on your counter. My only complaint is the piece of plastic inside the portafilter. Completely unnecessary. I don’t believe plastic should ever come into contact with something hot that you’re going to consume. I will be calling the manufacturer about this.

While on a trip to Italy, I fell in love with espresso drinks. When I got home, I had to have my own machine so I could continue enjoying these coffee drinks without paying $6 – 8 for each one. (In Italy, they were usually only 1 or 2 Euros!)
When it arrived, it was easy to set up with clear instructions in the included booklet. Getting a good cup of espresso takes a little experimentation, along with good quality coffee beans and filtered water. Clean up is easy enough – and it is very important to keep up with this!
There are espresso machines that are less costly, but after reading many reviews on Amazon and other sites, this De’Longhi La Specialista is worth every penny.

So far so good for this De’Longhi Espresso Machine. I’ve been using it for about a week now and have tried a few different brews it has to offer, including the new Cold Brew feature. I’ll admit, it took some trial and error to get everything dialed in the right way, if you’re new to espresso machines, this may take a while, but once you get it, you’ll be all set.

I’m not usually one to comment on the boxing/unboxing of products, personally I don’t understand the obsession, but this time I will note, the boxing was kinda strange. If you’re one to just rip the cardboard up and not care, this will be easy, but if you’re like me and try to save the packaging in case you need to return it, you may struggle a little. It doesn’t open like a normal box, it’s more like open the two sides and push the product out. It’s kinda hard to explain, but I did notice a bit of a struggle to get the machine out of the box safe and clean. Not much, but hey, it’s something.
Packaging aside, once I got the product out, it was pretty easy moving forward. I got all the accessories out and cleaned them and while they dried, I read through both the quick guide and the full manual. They mostly say the same thing, just more details and less color in the manual, but one big thing to note is they both say the drip tray is dishwasher safe, (as does the Best Buy listing.) HOWEVER there is a sticker on the metal cover that says do NOT put in dishwasher. This is obviously misleading and I apologize I didn’t take a picture of it before the sticker was balled up and unable to read. In the end, I don’t think it’s a huge deal and it’s just a chunk of metal (probably gets too hot in the dishwasher potentially) but honestly, a quick rinse in the sink and maybe some soap and your drip tray will be clean. Seems like a waste of dishwasher space, but maybe every couple cleanings you run it through the dishwasher. Honestly, I think the “dishwasher safe parts” is more of a selling gimmick than practical.

MAKING ESPRESSO
The main point of this machine is to make a delicious espresso right? So how did it do? Well I was very happy with the results after some trial and error. First I used pre ground espresso beans, which I THOUGHT were ready to go, but the espresso was way too bland, 0 pressure used and took about 2 seconds to finish. Luckily the quick guide tells you how and what to adjust based on the results and I realized it was way too coarse of a grind. I made adjustments, tried again and the pressure needle almost went into the red and it was thick and dark coffee; too fine, make adjustments. Then just like Goldielocks, I got it just right for my specific beans and made a decent little espresso shot…unfortunately I ran out of water at that point and it didn’t completely finish. The amount of espresso I had drank at this point meant testing had to be over or I’d never sleep again, so I waited for the next day to try again.
This time I had much better results out the gate and had everything dialed in pretty much perfect. The included tools for tamping and grinding help make the process more smooth and quick. I just wish it came with more filters but of course, you can buy those for more money if you need them. This is great for a person who lives alone but as soon as you need to start making drinks for everyone, it can be a bit tedious. But the drinks you get are worth the work.
The attached steam wand worked really well for me as well. It takes maybe 1 second to get warm and fires right up. This is another learning curve for those not used to using it, you may have a wee bit of cleanup to do after if you shot milk everywhere, but with practice you can get the perfect steamed milk to add to your drink. With the included tools, you can clean the wand of any gunk as well which will come in handy I’m sure.
Like the steam wand, the attached coffee grinder is a must have add on to make this machine worth it. I love that it has a thick rubber seal to keep your beans fresh (even if the instructions tell you to only use the amount of beans you need and not store beans in the hopper.) But hey, if they didn’t want us to, they wouldn’t make it able to hold so many beans or add a rubber seal. So I like that they know we’re all gonna do it and they take steps to make it stay fresh. Same goes for the water tank. It’s quite large when you consider how small an espresso shot is. Again, the instructions say only use fresh water and don’t leave it sitting in the tank, yet the tank holds more than my K-cup machine. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a complaint, I’m happy I don’t need to keep adding water each time, but if you want the “best and freshest coffee” I guess you’re supposed to add water as you need it.
Speaking of adding water, the only time I might stick to using new fresh water is with the added new Cold Brew setting. Using cold water vs room temp water might make a difference, although for my testing, I used the room temp water from the tank and I STILL got a great cold brew coffee. It takes about 5 minutes but somehow they make a cold brew coffee with no pressure (according to the gage) and it still tastes great. I do like the convenience of a quick cold brew vs making it in the fridge overnight, but again, if you live with someone else and THEY want a cold brew too, now you have to clean out the filter (or buy more) and make two, vs grabbing the pitcher from the fridge and pouring out more. BUT obviously not everyone has a cold brew pitcher or maybe you’re between pitchers right now so this option is definitely a welcomed setting to have.

OVERALL
Overall we’re really happy with this machine. It works like a pro level machine, the parts are all robust where they need to be and everything seems to work as advertised. The Cold Brew option is really handy to have and so quick to make, it’ll definitely come in handy on hot summer days. Options to have espresso, doubles, or americano (also as a double) is fantastic. There’s so many options, you can get just about whatever drink you want. This morning I made a double americano and some frothed milk added and had a full mug (about 10 oz) of beverage from an espresso machine you’d typically expect just a shot from. The versatility of this machine means less clutter in the kitchen and more caffeine pumping through the body, what’s not to like?!

The De’Longhi – La Specialista Arte Evo Espresso Machine with Cold Brew is a state-of-the-art Coffee Expresso machine that will make you feel like you stepped into a Star Bucks in your own home.

Opening the box is very easy. Pull the tabs on either side of the outer box and you will be able to slide out the machine from either side. Once out of the box, you will then pull off the two carboard holders on either side of the machine and remove the plastic shipping bag. In the middle is a small box containing the Barista Tools to make your Expresso adventures more fun and mess free. Included are the Tamping Mat, Steel Base Tamper, Cleaning Brush and Steamer Cleaning Pin.

Setup is straight forward. Set the machine on a flat surface and plug into the outlet. The water reservoir is very conveniently placed at the rear of the machine. Lift up and fill with cold water to the water level mark.

Next fill the top bean grinder container with your favorite coffee beans. (Note – Medium Roast Beans are the recommended strength, as Dark Roast Beans will leave an oil film residue coating on the internals)

Power on the machine with the power button located at the lower left-hand side. Once powered on, you can start your adventure with a perfect cup of Espresso, Latte or Cold Brew. At the bottom of the coffee bean grinder container is the 8-point grinding lever. This allows you to fine tune the coffee bean ground ratio.

On the Front Panel you will find the Dosage (flavor strength) dial on the left-hand side. To start with, set the dial at 20 for the best results. By default, the water temperature will be set to Level 3 which is best for Espresso. The second button on the front panel is for a 1 or 2 shot setting. Next grab the ground holder and place the funnel (Black Circle) on it. Place this in the left side holders and push it in to start the grinding.

Once the grinding has stopped, remove the ground holder from the machine and remove the funnel. Place the ground holder on the tamping mat and press down on the coffee grounds with the tamping tool until a nice firm puck is formed underneath the inner rim of the steel base cup. Next, place the ground holder in place on the right side of machine and pull-on hand to the right to lock in place.

Place the included mini drip catch base in the two holes in the main drip base. Place your espresso cup on the mini base underneath the two nozzle holes on the ground’s holder. Press the Ok button and your espresso will start to brew. This will take a few times and practice to perfect to your liking, however you will soon be enjoying a hot refreshing and flavorful espresso.

Be patient with yourself and don’t be afraid to make a mistake. That is the beauty of a manual espresso machine, you get to try all sorts of ways to make that perfect brew.

Be sure to register your machine for the extended warranty and take advantage of the live demonstration video chat with a De’Longhi Representative. They will walk you through on how to operate your new Espresso machine and prepare you for your next adventures in being your very own Barista in no time!

De’Longhi – La Specialista Arte Evo Espresso Machine with Cold Brew – Stainless Steel

Summary: Svelte and Svunctionally delicious!

Pros:
* Svelte. The design and form factor of this unit are top notch. Not solid metal, but it is crafted exquisitely.
* Functional. This unit has everything you need to make espresso or a cold brew – minus the water and beans.
* Controls. Thoughtfully placed and just the right amount of controls. May seem overwhelming, but every button and knob is used.
* Reservoir. The unit’s water reservoir is surprisingly large.
* Easy. I’ve owned other espresso makers including another De’Longhi combination coffee maker. The precision of control and the fresh grind truly make a difference. La Specialista truly makes a more authentic coffee-shop espresso accessible.
* Cold Brew. Generally, multi-function devices fall into a mediocre rating for whatever they do. This unit does cold brew a little different. I have a dedicated cold brew machine. But it is noisy, it is leaky, and its a lot of work. This unit uses the same physics as other machines, except it uses the same equipment to extract coffee deliciousness from beans using room-temperature water.
* Delicious. I know the beans are what make the coffee. But this unit truly makes a delicious beverage. I never cared to use the other espresso (combo) machines, or my cold brew so I gave it all up. I’ve now made several of each since getting this unit. It’s fun, easy, and delicious.
* Accessories. The accessories are all useful and look and feel premium. My other combo espresso/coffee maker came with a cheap-o tamper and scoop. This unit features a nice stainless steel press and a rubber fitted mat to hold it and the portafilter while tamping down the grind. The portafilter even has an attachment collar that allows you to ensure no grind spillage.
* Automated Grinder. The collar for the portafilter allows you to insert the portafilter into the grind cubby. Pushing the portafilter inwards firmly once kicks off an automatic grind of the beans – and just enough for the cups selected. You can add/stop it manually by pressing the portafilter inwards multiple times. But just pushing it once will grind precisely enough coffee. It’s lovely and results in minimal mess and cleanup of coffee grind dust.
* Value. A premium appliance with a great value and well known brand.

Cons:
* Reservoir. The reservoir is in the back. Thankfully it is slim, so it allows for relative ease in removing/replacing it in between water refills. But, depending on your upper cabinet depth, it might be annoying. It also makes the unit take up more counter depth. I’ll be placing this on a sliding tray designed for heavy small appliances like coffee makers, and stand mixers. I think a side reservoir would probably have been a more welcome feature.
* No-hard-plumbing. Given the heft of this appliance (it isn’t light and isn’t easily moved), I truly feel these sort of appliances should offer an option for connectivity to hard plumbing. I can retrofit the unit with one, that isn’t a concern, but it would have been awesome built-in and for such a small cost/impact to design.

Use:
Simple. We make morning espressos and lunch cold brews. We enjoy every sip, too!

I recommend buying a counter sliding tray for small appliances. That will allow you to push the unit as far back as possible while allowing easy access to the unit if accessing the reservoir is too tight of a fit for your kitchen.

Super excited to update my present espresso/coffee machine which I have been using for years.

If you are one of the consumers that treks down to your local store for your coffee fix you are in for a pleasant surprise. This is a modern looking appliance that compared to my other espresso machines has an amazingly small countertop footprint and does so much more! Convenience in every way possible.

This is a world class espresso machine that grinds my favorite coffee bean brand to the texture of my choice, froths milk super quickly, and allows for the customization of my drink choices.

I personally grind my coffee beans at the middle setting which surprisingly turns out to be pretty fine. Both my wife and I love the awesome taste of the espresso and coffee this machine makes!

One feature which I love is the adjustable temperature setting. My household loves super hot beverages and this product does not disappoint as it has three temperature settings!!

The frothing process is very quick. In about a minutes worth of time, your milk is “super” hot and frothy (the way I like it). Note: Do not remove the steam wand from the milk before the frothing process is complete.

So far I’m very happy with this awesome product. It is beautifully made, makes awesome tasting espresso/coffee, grinds my favorite brand of beans and ultimately saves me money not going down to my local coffee shop. Also being able to customize your espresso with just the right grind, brew time and water level is quite pleasing. This is a great product. A WINNER! Highly recommended!!!!!