Breville vs DeLonghi: Which Espresso Machine Brand Is Right for You?

Our top picks

1. 1Best compact BrevilleBreville the Bambino PlusFast ThermoJet heat-up and an automatic milk wand in a small body.See on brand site
2. 2Best compact De'LonghiDe'Longhi Dedica Arte (EC885)Only 15 cm wide with a latte-art wand at a lower price band.See on brand site
3. 3Best all-in-one valueBreville the Barista ExpressBuilt-in grinder, PID and a huge owner community.See on brand site
4. 4Best De'Longhi all-in-oneDe'Longhi La Specialista Opera (EC9555M)Smart Tamping Station, three infusion temperatures and quick cold brew.See on brand site
5. 5Best push-button machineDe'Longhi Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema (ECAM29084SB)One-touch lattes and cappuccinos from a 13-setting grinder and milk carafe.See on brand site
6. 6Best automated portafilter machineBreville the Oracle JetGrinds, doses and tamps for you into a 58 mm portafilter.See on brand site

How we compared

We lined up Breville and De'Longhi machines at the same price points and compared them on their official spec sheets, the data in our product catalog and what review sites and owners consistently report. We did not test these machines hands-on for this comparison. Where De'Longhi or Breville do not publish a spec (heating type, portafilter size), we say so instead of guessing.

Breville vs DeLonghi: the quick verdict

• Choose Breville if you want a guided, hands-on espresso experience with clever helpers: fast ThermoJet heating, built-in grinders, PID and automatic milk wands. Breville focuses on semi-automatic machines with a real portafilter.
• Choose De'Longhi if you want push-button convenience or a compact, budget-friendly machine. De'Longhi is a giant in super-automatic (bean-to-cup) machines and also makes the slim Dedica and La Specialista semi-automatics.

Both are excellent brands. The best choice depends on whether you want to make espresso or press a button for espresso.

Machine MatchmakerAnswer 6 quick questions and get the machine type and models that fit your drinks, budget and patience, with a 3-year cost-per-cup comparison.→

Two brands, two personalities

Breville (Sage in Europe)

Breville is an Australian company whose espresso machines are sold as Sage in much of Europe, through the same affiliate and retail network ¹. Its range climbs in clear steps: the compact Bambino Plus, the Barista Express family with built-in grinders, the Barista Pro and Touch with ThermoJet heating, the Dual Boiler, and the Oracle Jet, which automates grinding, dosing and tamping ². Breville also owns Baratza, the grinder brand, which is why machines like the Barista Pro use Baratza burrs ³.

De'Longhi

De'Longhi is an Italian group and one of the largest names in coffee machines worldwide: a 2025 market report gives it more than 18% of the global market and says fully automatic machines make up 48% of the coffee-machine sector ⁴. Its strength is bean-to-cup machines such as the Magnifica Evo, Dinamica Plus, Rivelia and Eletta Explore. For portafilter fans, it offers the slim Dedica Arte and the La Specialista series.

Fun fact: both companies build Nespresso machines under license. Several Vertuo and Original models are made by Breville, De'Longhi or both, so you may already own one of each without knowing it.

Head to head: compact espresso machines

Breville Bambino Plus

The Bambino Plus lists at $499.95 and pairs ThermoJet heating and a fast start-up with an automatic milk texturing wand ⁵. It is one of the easiest ways to get silky lattes from a small semi-automatic. There is no grinder, and the 54 mm portafilter has a smaller accessory range than 58 mm.

De'Longhi Dedica Arte

The Dedica Arte is just 15 cm (about 6 in) wide, uses thermoblock heating and a 15 bar pump, and adds the My LatteArt steam wand ⁶. It sits in a lower price band than the Bambino Plus, which leaves room for a grinder. The milk wand is manual, so it rewards practice.

Winner for compact: Breville for effortless milk, De'Longhi for the smallest footprint and lower price.

Head to head: all-in-one machines with a grinder

Breville Barista Express

The Barista Express is the classic all-in-one: an integrated conical burr grinder with 16 settings, PID temperature control and a 15 bar Italian pump ⁷. It lists at $699.95 and is frequently discounted, and review sites describe it as the best-selling semi-automatic on Amazon US ^{7, 8}. Its thermocoil brews and steams one after the other.

De'Longhi La Specialista Arte and Opera

The La Specialista Arte offers a built-in grinder with 15 settings, Active Temperature Control and the My LatteArt wand ⁹. The step-up La Specialista Opera lists at $799.95 and adds a Smart Tamping Station, three infusion temperatures and Cold Extraction Technology for quick cold brew ¹⁰. De'Longhi describes the Opera's pump as 19 bar, with about 9 bar at extraction ¹⁰. It does not specify the heating system on its US page, so we can't compare that part directly.

Winner for all-in-one: Breville for PID, grinder range on newer models and a huge owner community; De'Longhi Opera for built-in tamping help and cold brew.

If you are deciding inside the Breville family, our Breville Barista Express vs Pro comparison goes deeper.

Head to head: push-button convenience

De'Longhi Magnifica Evo

This is De'Longhi's home turf. The Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema grinds, doses, brews and froths at the press of a button, with a 13-setting conical burr grinder, a LatteCrema milk carafe, seven one-touch drinks and a 1.8 L tank ¹¹. It lists at $899.95 and is often discounted, and its sibling, the Magnifica Evo Next, was Stiftung Warentest's value pick in its 12/2025 issue ^{11, 12}.

Breville Oracle Jet

Breville does not chase De'Longhi with a classic super-automatic. Its answer is the Oracle Jet, which automatically grinds, doses and tamps into a 58 mm portafilter, with 45 grind settings and adjustable group temperature, while you still lock in a real portafilter ². It lists at $1,999.95, so it is a premium choice for people who want cafe-style espresso with fewer steps.

Winner for convenience: De'Longhi, clearly, for true one-touch drinks at a lower price. Breville's Oracle Jet is the pick if you want automation and portafilter espresso together.

Which brand fits your coffee personality?

The weekend tinkerer. You love trying new beans and dialing them in. Breville's Barista Express or Barista Pro gives you a grinder, real portafilter espresso and plenty of room to learn.

The latte lover in a hurry. You want a silky flat white before the school run. The Breville Bambino Plus textures milk automatically while you prepare the shot, and the whole drink takes a few minutes.

The busy household. Several people, different drinks, no patience for tamping. A De'Longhi super-automatic like the Magnifica Evo makes cappuccinos and long coffees at a tap, one after another.

The small-kitchen dweller. Every centimeter counts. The De'Longhi Dedica Arte is one of the slimmest pump espresso machines around and still has a capable steam wand.

The cold coffee fan. De'Longhi's cold extraction (La Specialista Opera, Eletta Explore) makes cold brew style drinks in minutes, a fun bonus for warm summers.

Still unsure? Our free Machine Matchmaker asks a few quick questions and points you to the right type of machine.

Breville vs DeLonghi: what really differs

Learning curve

Breville machines expect you to learn grinding and tamping, then make it easier with features like assisted tamping. De'Longhi super-automatics ask nothing of you beyond filling beans and water. If you want to become a home barista, Breville is the friendlier teacher. If you never want to think about extraction, De'Longhi wins.

Milk drinks

Breville's automatic steam wands make latte-ready microfoam with almost no skill. De'Longhi's LatteCrema carafes make fluffy cappuccino milk at a button press but less latte-art-friendly texture. Read more in our best latte machine guide.

Maintenance

Semi-automatics need daily portafilter rinsing and steam wand wiping; super-automatics need regular brew-group rinsing and milk-system cleaning. Both need descaling.

The price ladder, side by side

US list prices from the makers' own sites, as checked in November 2026 (sales are frequent, so treat these as a guide):

• Entry ($100 to $299 band): De'Longhi Dedica Arte.
• Around $500 to $900: Breville Bambino Plus ($499.95), Barista Express ($699.95), Barista Express Impress ($799.95), Barista Pro ($849.95); De'Longhi La Specialista Opera ($799.95) and Magnifica Evo ($899.95). The La Specialista Arte sits in our $300 to $799 band.
• Above $1,000: De'Longhi Rivelia ($1,299.95), Breville Barista Touch Impress ($1,499.95), Dual Boiler ($1,599.95) and Oracle Jet ($1,999.95).

At almost every rung, there is a Breville and a De'Longhi answer. The real choice is the experience you want.

Who should skip both

• You want the simplest pods. A Nespresso machine is quicker still, and may be built by one of these two brands anyway.
• You want a Swiss super-automatic. Compare our Jura vs DeLonghi guide.
• You want a 58 mm prosumer machine. Look at Gaggia, Rancilio or Lelit in our best espresso machine roundup.

Not sure yet? Try the free tool

Machine MatchmakerAnswer 6 quick questions and get the machine type and models that fit your drinks, budget and patience, with a 3-year cost-per-cup comparison.→

Price bands: $ under $100 · $$ $100–299 · $$$ $300–799 · $$$$ $800–1,999 · $$$$$ $2,000+. Prices change, so check the retailer.

Frequently asked questions

Is Breville or DeLonghi more reliable?

Both are large, established brands with wide service networks, and we have no hands-on reliability data to rank one above the other. Reliability depends more on the machine type and on care: regular descaling, filtered water and daily cleaning matter a lot. Check the warranty and local service options in your country before you buy.

Is Breville the same as Sage?

Yes. Breville sells its appliances under the Sage brand in much of Europe, including the UK and Germany. The machines, such as the Barista Express and Bambino Plus, are the same family with local plugs and voltages. Model names usually stay the same, so a Sage Barista Express matches the Breville Barista Express.

Which is better for beginners, Breville or DeLonghi?

If a beginner wants to learn espresso, Breville is usually friendlier thanks to features like assisted tamping, built-in grinders and automatic milk wands. If a beginner wants great coffee without learning anything, a De'Longhi super-automatic such as the Magnifica Evo is simpler. Decide whether the ritual is part of the joy for you.

Does DeLonghi make semi-automatic espresso machines?

Yes. De'Longhi makes semi-automatic machines such as the slim Dedica Arte and the La Specialista series with built-in grinders. The La Specialista Opera adds a Smart Tamping Station and cold extraction. However, the brand is best known worldwide for its fully automatic bean-to-cup machines.

Do Breville and DeLonghi make Nespresso machines?

Yes. Nespresso machines are built under license by partner manufacturers, and Breville and De'Longhi both produce several Vertuo and Original models. The Lattissima One is made by De'Longhi, while the Creatista Pro is made by Breville. The capsule system is the same whichever partner built your machine.

Sources

We link to the original studies and official pages so you can check every claim.

1. Sage Appliances (2026). Sage Affiliate Program (EU). Official page.
2. Breville (2026). the Oracle Jet (BES985) product page. Official product page.
3. Baratza (2026). Baratza Affiliates Program. Official page.
4. Global Market Insights (2025). Coffee machines market report. Market report.
5. Breville (2026). the Bambino Plus (BES500) product page. Official product page.
6. De'Longhi (2026). Dedica Arte EC885 product page. Official product page.
7. Breville (2026). the Barista Express (BES870) product page. Official product page.
8. EspressoPulse (2026). Breville Barista Express review (best-seller claim, prices). Review site.
9. De'Longhi (2026). La Specialista Arte EC9155M product page. Official product page.
10. De'Longhi (2026). La Specialista Opera EC9555M product page. Official product page.
11. De'Longhi (2026). Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema ECAM29084SB product page. Official product page.
12. Stiftung Warentest (2025). Kaffeevollautomaten im Test. test.de.