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DeLonghi La Specialista vs Breville Barista Pro

Both are mid-range all-in-one machines with a built-in grinder. The La Specialista leans on a dual boiler for simultaneous brewing and steaming. The Barista Pro leans on ThermoJet speed and a larger portafilter.

Specs compiled from manufacturer listings and retailer documentation Last checked: Jul 2026
DeLonghi La Specialista espresso machine with built-in grinder, stainless steel, shown with espresso, iced coffee, and latte
DeLonghi La Specialista
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Breville Barista Pro espresso machine, stainless steel, front view
Breville Barista Pro
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"La Specialista" is a product line, not one machine. DeLonghi sells several versions, Arte, Arte Evo, Opera, Prestigio, and Maestro, with different grind settings, tamping features, and in some cases different grinders. This comparison covers the original La Specialista (Arte), which is what's usually meant by the name alone. If you're specifically looking at the Prestigio or another variant, some of the specs below won't match exactly.

Spec Comparison

SpecLa Specialista (Arte)Barista Pro
Heating systemDual Thermoblock, brews and steams simultaneouslyThermoJet, about 3 sec, single system
GrinderBuilt-in conical burrBuilt-in conical burr
Grind settingsVaries by version, not reliably confirmed for this model30
Portafilter51mm54mm
Basket typePressurized and non-pressurized includedPressurized and non-pressurized included
Steam wandPanarello with Advanced Latte SystemManual, ball-jointed
Water tankAbout 1.9 LAbout 2 L
DisplayPhysical controls, temperature indicatorDigital LCD with shot timer
Warranty2 years2 years
If you regularly make milk drinks and want brewing and steaming happening at once, the La Specialista's dual boiler and automated Advanced Latte System are built specifically around that workflow. If grind precision, a bigger portafilter, and a digital interface matter more to you, the Barista Pro's 30 grind settings, 54mm basket, and LCD display are the more capable setup on paper. Several independent comparisons we found leaned toward the Barista Pro on overall shot consistency and ease of use, though the La Specialista's simultaneous brew-and-steam is a genuine workflow advantage the Pro doesn't match.

Common Questions

Which La Specialista model does this comparison cover?

This page covers the original La Specialista (Arte), since that's what's usually meant by the name without a suffix. DeLonghi also sells Arte Evo, Opera, Prestigio, and Maestro versions with different grinders, tamping features, and grind settings, so specs can shift meaningfully if you're looking at one of those instead.

Can the La Specialista brew and steam at the same time?

Yes, its dual Thermoblock system is built specifically to heat water for brewing and steam for milk texturing at the same time. The Barista Pro's single ThermoJet system handles one at a time, though the transition between the two is close to instant.

How many grind settings does each machine have?

The Barista Pro offers 30 grind settings, a figure that shows up consistently across sources. Grind step counts on La Specialista models vary by version, and we didn't find a reliably confirmed number specific to the base Arte model, so we're not stating one here.

Which machine has the larger portafilter?

The Barista Pro uses a 54mm portafilter, while the La Specialista Arte uses 51mm. Both ship with pressurized and non-pressurized baskets.

Specs compiled from DeLonghi and Breville product listings, plus multiple retailer and review sources, cross-checked where possible. Because "La Specialista" spans several distinct models with different specs, we limited this page to the original Arte version and left out figures, like grind step count and a marketed sub-3-second heat-up claim, that we couldn't confirm applied specifically to that model rather than a different variant. Prices and availability change, so confirm current figures on the retail listing before buying. No claim of independent hands-on testing is made on this page.