Head-to-head review
De’Longhi La Specialista Arte vs Breville Bambino Plus
The De’Longhi La Specialista Arte and Breville Bambino Plus both promise great espresso under $1,000 — but they serve different espresso drinkers entirely.
One is a grinder-optional machine; the other is a puck-polishing assistant. Both have genuine reasons to be your only espresso machine.
Quick verdict
Buy the Bambino Plus for near-instant shots and auto-steam for milk lovers; buy the La Specialista Arte if you want an all-in-one with a built-in grinder that keeps it simple.
A grinder-equipped espresso machine with active tamping.
Pros
- ✓Built-in grinder for all-in-one workflow
- ✓Guided tamping assists beginners
- ✓Milk frother included
Cons
- ✕Guided tamping assists beginners
- ✕Milk frother included
- ✕Wider footprint
Research-based evaluation
Cheap, tiny, superb — the best budget espresso with auto-steam.
Pros
- ✓Near-instant heat-up
- ✓Better steam performance
- ✓Compact footprint
Cons
- ✕Better steam performance
- ✕Compact footprint
- ✕No grinder included
Research-based evaluation
Side-by-side
| Category | De’Longhi La Specialista Arte | Breville Bambino Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grinder | Built-in conical grinder | A wins | No grinder |
| Steam wand | Frother / manual steam | B wins | Auto steam |
| Ease of use | Guided grind & tamp assist | A wins | Simple + presets |
| Espresso quality | Good | B wins | Better in capable hands |
| Footprint | Wider (has grinder) | B wins | Compact |
| Price | Higher (grinder included) | B wins | Lower |
Notes: La Specialista grinds for you; Bambino needs a separate grinder. · Bambino auto-steams with a real wand that froths properly. · La Specialista guides the dose and tamp. · Bambino + good grinder extracts cleaner shots. · Bambino wins counters. · Bambino is the cheaper machine alone.
Which to pick, by scenario
All-in-one beginner setup
Grinder, tamper and machine in one box — nothing else to buy or choose.
De’Longhi La Specialista Arte
Espresso quality with a real grinder
Bambino Plus with a good grinder pulls cleaner espresso.
Breville Bambino Plus
Milk-forward lattes and cappuccinos
Auto-steam texture beats the La Specialista frother.
Breville Bambino Plus
Tiny counter
The Bambino is meaningfully smaller.
Breville Bambino Plus
Our recommendation
If you want espresso with the least setup friction in one box, the La Specialista Arte is hard to beat — grinder, tamper, machine and frother all in the kit.
But if you already own a grinder (or plan to buy one), the Bambino Plus offers better espresso and better milk at a lower price — the classic "bring your own grinder" value.
FAQs
Does the La Specialista grind fine enough for espresso?
Yes — its built-in conical grinder is espresso-adjacent and the guided tamp keeps beginners on track. Purists may still prefer a separate grinder.
Is the Bambino Plus worth the price without a grinder?
It is a fantastic milk-first machine. Budget a real grinder (Encore ESP, Fellow Opus) and the total still beats most all-in-ones on cup quality.