Comparison

De'Longhi vs Breville: which espresso machine brand?

Brand matters less than machine type. In the testing we cite, Breville leads on semi-automatic (portafilter) machines and De'Longhi leads on push-button super-automatics.

Updated 9 Nov 2026. Based on published specs and named reviews (linked below) — how we rate. Prices change; recheck before you buy.

Want to make espresso yourself? Breville's Bambino Plus and Barista Express Impress are Serious Eats' top two picks.

Want push-button drinks? De'Longhi: the Magnifica Evo is Food & Wine's best value, the Rivelia its runner-up, and the PrimaDonna Aromatic is Serious Eats' best super-automatic.

Budget tier: Stilosa vs Bambino

De'Longhi Stilosa — $149.95

De'Longhi Stilosa in black, front view, with two espresso glasses and a cappuccino — Photo: De'Longhi

Serious Eats' budget pick, with caveats: passable shots, bubbly milk, flimsy build. Single dial; 1 year plus 1 with registration.

Breville Bambino — $299.95

Breville Bambino in brushed stainless steel, three-quarter view, with a stainless milk jug — Photo: Breville

ThermoJet heating ready in about 3 seconds, 54 mm portafilter, pre-infusion (Breville). Not in the cited tests; its sibling, the Bambino Plus, is Serious Eats' overall favorite.

Edge: Breville, if you can spend twice as much and buy a grinder. The Stilosa makes sense when the budget really is under $200.

Around $550–$800: Magnifica Evo vs Barista Express Impress

De'Longhi Magnifica Evo — $549.95 on sale

De'Longhi Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema in black and silver, front view, with milk carafe attached and a latte and two espressos — Photo: De'Longhi

Super-automatic: grinds, doses, and froths. Seven one-touch recipes. Food & Wine's best value.

Breville Barista Express Impress — $799.95

Breville Barista Express Impress in brushed stainless steel, front view, showing the bean hopper and the assisted-tamping lever on the left — Photo: Breville

Semi-automatic with grinder and assisted tamping. Serious Eats' best for beginners.

These aren't really competitors: one makes the drink for you, the other teaches you to make it. Choose the De'Longhi for convenience and multiple people pressing buttons; choose the Breville for better control over the shot and a manual steam wand.

Where each brand stumbled in testing

De'Longhi semi-automatics: Serious Eats does not recommend the La Specialista (signs of uneven extraction), La Specialista Arte (grinder lacked fine settings), or La Specialista Opera (couldn't match rivals at its price). The Dedica Maestro, a former budget pick, appears discontinued.
Breville: Serious Eats stopped recommending the Barista Touch Impress after long-term grinder problems and found the original Barista Express hard to dial in.

At the high end

Breville: Serious Eats recommends the Oracle Jet ($2,000) and Oracle Dual Boiler ($3,000) for automated workflows with a manual option, and the Dual Boiler ($1,600) for frequent milk drinks. De'Longhi: the PrimaDonna Aromatic ($2,500) is Serious Eats' top super-automatic, and Food & Wine likes the Rivelia for multi-person households.

Best espresso machines (hub) · Budget · Beginner · Under $500 · Under $1,000 · With a grinder · Compact · Semi-automatic · Super-automatic · Barista Express review · Breville vs Gaggia · Espresso vs Nespresso · Machine picker · Setup cost calculator

Sources

Pages read 9 Nov 2026. Test findings quoted here are those outlets' own testing, not ours.

Serious Eats — The 16 Best Espresso Machines (updated 17 Sep 2026)
Food & Wine — The 7 Best Super-Automatic Espresso Machines (updated 9 Oct 2026)
Breville Barista Express Impress (BES876): Breville product page
De'Longhi Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema (ECAM29084SB): De'Longhi product page
Breville Bambino (BES450): Breville product page
De'Longhi Stilosa (EC260BK): De'Longhi product page