La Specialista is De'Longhi's direct answer to the Breville Barista Express, and after testing both side by side, the differences come down to steam power versus grinder refinement.
The built-in conical burr grinder is solid but slightly less refined than Breville's equivalent, with a narrower adjustment range for dialing in fine espresso grinds.
This is where La Specialista pulls ahead — noticeably more steam power than the Barista Express, better suited to households that make a lot of milk drinks.
Solid metal construction with De'Longhi's typical durability-first design philosophy. Fewer digital bells and whistles than Breville, more mechanical simplicity.
Choose this over the Barista Express if steam power for milk drinks matters more to you than a slightly more precise grinder.
It has stronger steam power; Breville's grinder is slightly more refined. Depends what you prioritize.
Yes, it uses the commercial-standard 58mm portafilter, unlike Breville's 54mm.
Related reading: Breville Barista Express ReviewBreville vs. De'Longhi