De'Longhi La Specialista Espresso Machine with Grinder EC9155MB Review (2026)

Who this machine fits

The La Specialista Arte, sold under model EC9155MB, is built for home baristas who want to go from whole beans to a finished espresso drink on one machine without researching and buying a separate grinder. De'Longhi includes a full barista kit in the box, which suggests the machine is aimed at newcomers who want guidance through tamping and dosing rather than developing that technique entirely on their own. It suits anyone short on counter space for two separate appliances, since an integrated grinder means one footprint covers both grinding and brewing. Buyers who already own a grinder they prefer, or who expect to upgrade grinding quality significantly down the road, should think about whether an integrated unit fits their longer term plans before buying.

Key specs explained

The machine uses a conical burr grinder with 8 grind settings, built to work across different bean varieties and to measure either a single or double dose consistently each time it grinds. Extraction runs at 15 bar of pump pressure, which De'Longhi markets as professional level pressure for pulling espresso shots. A thermoblock heating system with 3 selectable infusion temperature levels lets the machine hold a stable brewing temperature through the extraction rather than drifting as water passes through. The barista kit that ships with the machine includes a tamper, a tamping mat, a dosing funnel, a water hardness test kit, a cleaning brush, a 100 milliliter bottle of descaler, single and double coffee filters, a stainless steel milk frothing jug, and a steam nozzle cleaning needle, along with the instruction manual.

Living with it

Day to day, the built in grinder simplifies the morning routine since beans go in one end and a shot comes out the other without moving grounds between a separate grinder and the portafilter, cutting down on spilled grounds and extra cleanup. The included tamping mat and dosing funnel are meant to guide correct technique for anyone new to pulling shots, which shortens the learning curve compared with a fully manual setup and no accessories. The steam wand, paired with the included milk frothing jug, lets home baristas texture milk for lattes and flat whites without a separate frother, rounding out a full espresso and milk drink workflow in one machine. Regular descaling using the included descaler and following the water hardness test result keeps the thermoblock system running at its rated temperature over time.

Trade offs and how it compares

Against the Breville BES870XL Barista Express, which also integrates a grinder into a semi automatic machine, the La Specialista Arte offers a more extensive included barista kit and De'Longhi's own guided dosing approach, while the Breville is a longstanding favorite for its grind and shot workflow. Against the smaller Breville BES500BSS Bambino Plus, which has a much smaller footprint but no integrated grinder, this De'Longhi trades away compactness for the convenience of one machine covering grinding and brewing together, at the cost of a genuinely large counter footprint that needs a deep spot under cabinets. Buyers who anticipate wanting a significantly better standalone grinder later should weigh that against the convenience an integrated unit offers now.

Verdict and who should pick something else

For home baristas who want one machine to handle grinding, dosing, tamping guidance, and steaming without assembling separate components, the La Specialista Arte earns a strong result here, matching our score of 8.4 out of 10 for fit and features, with value scoring a bit lower given the price for a bundled unit. It suits buyers newer to espresso who want built in guidance. Anyone who already owns a grinder they like, wants maximum future upgrade flexibility, or has limited counter depth should consider a non integrated option like the Bambino Plus or Barista Express instead, since those either separate grinding from brewing or offer a smaller footprint.

Frequently asked questions