Product · De'Longhi
De'Longhi La Specialista Arte: smart tamping station
Note: This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
The white La Specialista Arte (EC9155.W) is the same tidy-workflow espresso machine as its black sibling, with one useful extra detail in this listing: De'Longhi states that the sensor grinder has eight grind settings. It suits a beginner who wants a portafilter machine with dosing and tamping kept simple and mess-free.
- Grind settings
- 8
- Dosing and tamping
- Sensor dosing, lever tamping station
- Heating
- Thermoblock
- Milk
- Frother with Flat and Foam
- Water tank
- 2 L
In its favour
- Sensor Grinding Technology uses two sensors for a consistent dose.
- The Smart Tamping Station tamps with a lever, without mess, inside the machine.
- The Latte System offers Flat for hot milk or Foam for froth, and the tank holds 2 L.
Good to know
- Eight grind settings is the fewest in this guide.
- The listing does not state the portafilter size.
Our take
Eight settings and two sensors
The grinder carries two sensors to deliver a consistent coffee dose, and eight settings let you adapt to different beans. Eight is a modest range compared with the 25 on the Sage Barista Express Impress or the Ninja Luxe Premier, but it covers the typical span of supermarket and café blends.
The machine is listed for whole beans.
Fewer steps also make it easier to find a good setting quickly: you can move one notch at a time and taste the difference, rather than wandering through dozens of options.
The tamping lever
Instead of tamping by hand, you pull a lever on the Smart Tamping Station. The tamp happens inside the machine, which De'Longhi says avoids mistakes and mess. For a first portafilter machine, that removes one of the main sources of inconsistent shots and coffee on the counter.
Thermoblock and temperature profiles
A high-performance Thermoblock heats the water, and temperature profiles are designed to suit different beans. Heat-up time is not stated.
Milk with Flat or Foam
For milk, choose Flat for hot milk or Foam for frothed milk, then wait. The item description calls it a MyLatte Art frothing wand. The listing does not say whether it is fully automatic or requires you to hold the jug.
Either way, the two clear choices cover the main drinks: Flat for a latte or flat white style, Foam for a cappuccino.
Size and comparisons
The water tank holds 2 litres. The machine is 36.5 cm deep, 27.5 cm wide and 40 cm high and weighs 8.8 kg. The listing gives both 1450 and 1550 watts in different places.
The Sage Barista Express Impress has 25 grind settings, intelligent dosing and assisted tamping. The Ninja Luxe Premier adds a built-in scale and cold froth. The Arte focuses on simple lever tamping and a large tank.
Verdict
Buy the white La Specialista Arte if you want a built-in grinder with simple lever tamping, a 2 litre tank and a light-coloured finish. If you want a wider grind range, the Sage Barista Express Impress is the better tool, and if built-in weighing and cold froth matter, consider the Ninja Luxe Premier.
Compared with alternatives in: Best espresso machines with a built-in grinder
Amazon listing title: De'Longhi La Specialista Arte - Espresso Machine 3 Preset Drinks White