Please enter a search term.
Please enter a search term.
by: Jeff Harper, BestReviews Staff
by: Jeff Harper, BestReviews Staff
Breville and De’Longhi are prominent espresso machine manufacturers that make innovative, high-quality products for espresso lovers all over the world.
Breville is known for high-quality home espresso machines, generally tailored toward experienced users looking for a high-end product with more manual control over the final brew quality. De’Longhi offers a wide choice of affordable coffee makers, many with preset programs to make the morning routine easier when pulling a rich, creamy shot of espresso.
Both brands produce great-tasting espresso, and both companies offer similar machines at comparable prices. But some variations could influence your choice.
An Australian company founded in 1932, Breville once manufactured radios but as the company grew it expanded into kitchen appliances. In the early 2000s, Breville gained attention for its home espresso makers, and today most coffee experts consider them to be among the best in the world.
Breville produces a complete line of espresso machines, from manual ones to fully automatic and even pod-based machines for Nespresso. They include ways to regulate grinding, pressure, temperature, milk foaming and more to create a delicious espresso with a silky crema layer on top. High-end models include digital temperature control and touchscreen displays that make programing easier.
Breville machines vary widely in price, with the Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker at about $250, the mid-priced Barista Express at $700 and the fully automatic Oracle Touch selling for just over $2,600.
This attractive semiautomatic machine with brushed stainless steel dials offers the barista control over the water temperature and a pre-infusion system for a rich, creamy extraction. A built-in conical burr grinder, programmable settings, thermocoil heating system and manual steam wand all contribute to the ideal espresso or cappuccino.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Wayfair
The affordable semiautomatic machine includes Breville’s pre-infusion technology and features temperature control, a manual steam wand, and volumetric control. The absence of a built-in grinder saves space, resulting in a small footprint great for countertops, but it requires grinding the beans in a separate device.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Breville Oracle Touch Fully Automatic Espresso Machine
The super automatic Oracle Touch is the ideal machine for espresso lovers who demand the highest quality extractions but prefer to merely select one of five pre-programmed drink options. Users can change settings for coffee temperature, strength and milk texture and a conical burr grinder automatically doses and tamps the grinds for maximum flavor.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
De’Longhi is an Italian company founded in 1902 as a manufacturer of small industrial parts. Over the years it gained a reputation as a reliable producer of portable heaters, air conditioners, and domestic cooking and food preparation appliances. By 2008, the company became well known for its espresso machines.
Today, De’Longhi makes a variety of coffee makers and espresso machines including manual, semiautomatic and fully automatic models. Like Breville, the company has also partnered with Nespresso to manufacture capsule-based espresso machines.
De’Longhi offers more low-end espresso machine models than Breville. Prices vary from the basic Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine at just under $100, the small-footprint semiautomatic Dedica Espresso Machine at about $335 and the high-end La Specialista, selling for about $790.
This stainless-steel machine features a built-in conical burr grinder with five grind size settings and a sensor to ensure consistent doses. The intelligent tamping system applies the same pressure for every dose and a consistent brew. An active temperature control system delivers ideal stability for three temperature profiles.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
De’Longhi Dedica Espresso Machine
A compact espresso machine that can be operated manually or in semiautomatic mode, the Dedica provides Thermoblock heating and adjustable controls, ensuring quality results for every shot of espresso. Ideal for kitchens with limited space, the machine takes up a mere six inches of counter space.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Wayfair
De’Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine
For the budget-minded barista, the Stilosa offers an easy-to-operate entry-level espresso machine with durable construction and a stainless-steel boiler built for years of trouble-free service. The contemporary design features a pump providing 15 bars of pressure, ideal for extracting a rich espresso, latte or cappuccino.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Wayfair, Kohl’s and Home Depot
Breville and De’Longhi are well-known brands with proven track records for making quality products using state-of-the-art technology. Breville’s machines are ideal for the coffee enthusiast who likes to fine-tune an extraction, but they’re more expensive and difficult to use. De’Longhi’s machines are slightly less expensive and require less user input, but sacrifice some customizability.
Your best choice will depend mostly on how much time you want to spend preparing a delicious espresso.
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Jeff Harper writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.