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
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.
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.
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.
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
- 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
Quick Rundown of Delonghi La Specialista
- Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use
Last update on 2023-05-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Product Videos
Related Articles to Breville Oracle
- Breville Oracle vs Jura Z6: Which 3000$ Espresso Machine Is The Best Buy?
- Gaggia Babila Vs Breville Oracle: Which Is The Better Hybrid Coffee Maker?
- Gaggia Accademia vs Breville Oracle: 5 Major Differences Between 2 Powerful Espresso Machines
- Breville Barista Pro vs Oracle: The Toughest Decision I Have To Make Picking The True Winner Espresso Machine
- Breville Dual Boiler vs Oracle Review: Comparing 2 Barista-quality Espresso Machines To Determine Which One You Should Go For
- Breville Oracle vs Oracle Touch Comparison: Why Oracle Touch Is The Better Option?
- Barista Touch Vs Oracle: Is It A Wise Investment?
- Barista Express Vs Oracle: Exciting Competition Of 2 Espresso Machine
Related Articles to Delonghi La Specialista
- Delonghi La Specialista vs Magnifica: What Is The Best Option For You?
- Delonghi La Specialista vs Dinamica: Comparing 2 Machines With Tasty Americano From Delonghi
- Delonghi Magnifica S Vs Delonghi La Specialista: Which Is The Best Pick?
- Delonghi La Specialista vs Breville Barista Pro: 2 Similarly Priced Machine – Which Brews Better Espresso?
- Breville Oracle Touch Vs Delonghi La Specialista: Which One Is Value For Money?
- Breville Barista Express vs Delonghi La Specialista: Which Is The Better Investment Espresso Machine For Beginners?
- Barista Express Vs La Specialista: A Hot Comparision You Should Not Miss
- Top 6 Best DeLonghi Espresso Machines: Reviews, Buying Guide & FAQs
References
- Breville Breville Oracle: https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes980.html
- Delonghi La Specialista: https://www.delonghi.com/en-us/la-specialista-espresso-machine-with-sensor-grinder-and-dual-heating-system-stainless-steel-ec9335m/p/EC9335M
I am Ralph Mason and I am a passionate coffee drinker. I worked as a barista for a few years and since 2012 I have been trying to convince as many people as possible of good coffee.
I started writing on the barista blog on RepublikCoffeeBar in 2018. It was a pure hobby site and I tested coffee products like coffee machines, beans, mug, and other accessories. After the first year, my blog is becoming a well-known coffee site with about 100 thousand visits per month.
In 2019 I decided to focus on RepublikCoffeeBar only. I became a full-time coffee blogger and was declared crazy by many.