Breville Oracle vs Delonghi La Specialista: 2 Products Of Different Price Ranges – Which One To Choose

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My review for the debate Breville Oracle vs Delonghi La Specialista has arrived! And after putting them to the test, it is obvious that Breville Oracle outperforms Delonghi La Specialista.

Breville Oracle‘s price may not be for the faint of heart, but its features and capabilities make it well worth the money if you want to invest in a truly good-valued model. A triple heat system, PID, customizable espresso shots, and other amazing features set this super-automatic espresso machine apart from the competition.

However, the second-place Delonghi La Specialista is also a respectable option. The machine includes dual heating, integrated smart tamping, and sensor grinding. Beginners who want a stylish semi-automatic espresso machine should really consider it. The biggest reason why it loses to Breville Oracle is that the device doesn’t have such great control over temperature as the one above.

Breville Oracle vs Delonghi La Specialista: Comparison Chart

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THE WINNER (#1)
Breville BES980XL Oracle Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
De'Longhi La Specialista Espresso Machine with Sensor Grinder, Dual Heating System, Advanced Latte System & Hot Water Spout for Americano Coffee or Tea, Stainless Steel, EC9335M, 1.3 liters
Model
Breville Oracle
Delonghi La Specialista
Dimensions (WxDxH)
14.7" x 14.5" x 17.6"
14.5 x 17.5 x 15 inches
Color/ Material
Silver/ Stainless Steel
Silver/ Stainless steel
Weight
34.5 Pounds
29.7 Pounds
Voltage
120 V
110–120V
Wattage
1800 W
1450W
Bean Hopper Capacity
8 oz
17.6 oz
Water Tank Capacity
84 oz
84.5 oz
Pre-infusion
Heating System
Dual Boilers
Dual Thermoblock
Grinder
Stainless steel conical burr
Steel conical burr grinder
Milk Preparation System
Steam Wand
Steam wand
PID Temperature Control
Adjustable Grinding Settings
45 selections
6 settings
Adjustable Coffee Strength
Adjustable milk system
What I Like
Price
$2,199.95
$849.00
THE WINNER (#1)
Image
Breville BES980XL Oracle Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel
Model
Breville Oracle
Dimensions (WxDxH)
14.7" x 14.5" x 17.6"
Color/ Material
Silver/ Stainless Steel
Weight
34.5 Pounds
Voltage
120 V
Wattage
1800 W
Bean Hopper Capacity
8 oz
Water Tank Capacity
84 oz
Pre-infusion
Heating System
Dual Boilers
Grinder
Stainless steel conical burr
Milk Preparation System
Steam Wand
PID Temperature Control
Adjustable Grinding Settings
45 selections
Adjustable Coffee Strength
Adjustable milk system
What I Like
Price
$2,199.95
More Info
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Image
De'Longhi La Specialista Espresso Machine with Sensor Grinder, Dual Heating System, Advanced Latte System & Hot Water Spout for Americano Coffee or Tea, Stainless Steel, EC9335M, 1.3 liters
Model
Delonghi La Specialista
Dimensions (WxDxH)
14.5 x 17.5 x 15 inches
Color/ Material
Silver/ Stainless steel
Weight
29.7 Pounds
Voltage
110–120V
Wattage
1450W
Bean Hopper Capacity
17.6 oz
Water Tank Capacity
84.5 oz
Pre-infusion
Heating System
Dual Thermoblock
Grinder
Steel conical burr grinder
Milk Preparation System
Steam wand
PID Temperature Control
Adjustable Grinding Settings
6 settings
Adjustable Coffee Strength
Adjustable milk system
What I Like
Price
$849.00
More Info

Last update on 2023-05-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Breville Oracle vs Delonghi La Specialista: Differences

Breville Oracle wins 2-1 and ties twice against Delonghi La Specialista. With a noticeably higher price, Breville Oracle boasts functions that only higher-caliber espresso machines have: commercial style portafilter, PID technology, adjustable milk texture and temperature, and microfoam quality.

Grinder

Winner:  Delonghi La Specialista

Choosing an integrated grinder is a must-have if you want a machine that brews from beans to cup. The presence of an integrated grinder is a standard feature in the majority of espresso machines today. However, not every grinder is the same.

A grind, dose, and tamp procedure is all automatically performed by the Breville Oracle. It boasts a fully automated system that grinds, doses, and tamps 22 grams of coffee mechanically and into the 58mm portafilter thanks to an incorporated conical burr grinder. With the coffee beans volume that the machine use and the consistency of its even grind, users are guaranteed to enjoy some bold cups of espresso.

Breville Oracle comes with 58mm portafilter
Breville Oracle comes with 58mm portafilter

DeLonghi’s La Specialista also comes with an inbuilt grinder. However, the finest aspect is its exclusive sensor technology, ensuring consistent dosing and flavor. The sensor will measure the optimum amount of coffee beans, thus delivering the correct dose according to the preset recipes and allowing consistently delicious cups.

Coffee Extraction

Winner: Breville Oracle

With Breville Oracle, users can enjoy a rich, creamy, caramel-colored espresso with the low-pressure pre-infusion technique that lets water to run through the coffee grounds uniformly, eliminating uneven extraction and channeling.

The La Specialista will automatically pre-infuse the coffee before it starts brewing. This machine guarantees that the temperature stays steady so that proper extraction and milk texturing may be accomplished thanks to the “Active Temperature Control” function. But a PID system is not a part of it. A nice cup of espresso may be had at a pump pressure of 19 bars.

Breville Oracle’s 15 bar pump pressure is still sufficient to remove flawless cups. True low-pressure pre-infusion is another feature. In addition, the Oracle controls the temperature of the espresso extraction process using cutting-edge PID technology, just like high-end commercial machines.

The PID ensures that the extraction temperature is always within +/- 1°C of the required temperature, providing consistently excellent results.

Milk frother

Tie

The Breville Oracle’s PID temperature control offers precise temperature and milk texturing management. You may adjust the ideal steaming temperature for the milk with the manual steam wand that is included. This eliminates the need to wait for the steam wand to heat up enough for texturing.

Breville Oracle's PID temperature control offers precise temperature
Breville Oracle’s PID temperature control offers precise temperature

The Oracle’s steam wand control features both manual and automatic operation. Users can program the milk froth’s temperature and texture with the intuitive system. I have frothed milk many times with this model, and it easily reaches 150°F after I finish frothing, which is very hot and ideal for cappuccino and latte. And the texture is amazing! It’s not a difficult task to get dry and airy foam with this device.

As for La Specialista, it can also froth dry milk for latte or cappuccino art. But it can’t reach the temperature the milk foam I get with Barista Pro reaches. This is one of the major reasons why I prefer the Barista Pro. Everything about an espresso machine links back to its heating element and temperature control technology, and Breville Oracle does better.

Heating System

Winner: Breville Oracle

The Oracle is equipped with a potent dual boiler that allows users to make a cap of latte or cappuccino in under the 90s only.

The system consists of an espresso boiler driven by PID technology that ensures the optimal water temperature for brewing, a dedicated steam boiler with integrated heat exchange, and an embedded heated group head controlled by PID to guarantee thermal stability during the brewing process.

Delonghi La Specialista comes with a dual Thermoblock. One thermoblock is used to extract coffee, while a separate system is used to steam or froth milk. So, there won’t be temperature loss or long waiting time between frothing and brewing. This is a very important feature because it directly affects efficiency. So if you tend to brew various cups consecutively, keep in mind this detail about Delonghi La Specialista.

Delonghi La Specialista boasts dual Thermoblock
Delonghi La Specialista boasts dual Thermoblock

Of course, La Specialista still offers certain adjustments to the milk texture. On the steam wand, you can find 2 modes: flat or foam. Always put the wand in foam mode if you prefer dry froth, and choose the flat if you want milk with a denser texture than usual.

Cleaning

Tie

Both machines feature a self-purgin function that cleanse the brew path and the steam wand before and after each use when we turn the machine on or off. In addition, both can get into the descale mode easily with a touch of a button or a dial of the knob.

Overall, the cleaning aspect of these machines is quite standard. You must wipe and rinse the steam wand after each use to get the milk out of the path. And it’s nice to deep clean every week or every 2 weeks.

Quick Rundown of Breville Oracle 

Breville BES980XL Oracle Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel
  • Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted

Last update on 2023-05-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Dual boiler for efficient brewing and frothing
  • Has a manual settings switch
  • You can modify your espresso thanks to advanced programmability
  • Mechanically measures, dispenses, and tamps coffee
  • Single, double, and specialized espresso shots can be made
Cons
  • Mid-range machine with higher price, not for the faint of heart

Quick Rundown of Delonghi La Specialista

Sale

Last update on 2023-05-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Rapid start
  • Fantastic, fuss-free milk froth
  • Simple to use and clean
  • Barely makes noise when brewing espresso or frothing milk
  • Sleek and modern looking device
  • Low price with good operation
Cons
  • No temperature control technology
  • Less potent espresso flavor

Product Videos

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References

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