The useful split is manual, guided or fully automatic. Dedica Duo needs a separate grinder; La Specialista Touch keeps a portafilter but assists the routine; Magnifica, Rivelia, Eletta and PrimaDonna automate the cup.
Dataset checked dates appear on every machine · editorial selection, not merchant inventory
A genuinely narrow entry point to ground-coffee espresso, manual milk and fast cold extraction, but the real setup still needs a capable grinder.
A strong current-value guided espresso machine with assisted tamping, touchscreen coaching, automatic milk and cold brew, though the grinder remains tied to the machine.
A strong-value route into fresh bean-to-cup coffee, with one-touch black drinks and a traditional frother that keeps the price and cleaning burden down.
A polished bean-to-cup machine that makes switching beans and sharing profiles genuinely useful rather than gimmicky.
One of the broadest one-touch menus in the database, combining hot milk, cold foam and sub-five-minute cold brew, though its deep body and milk care remain real commitments.
A high-capacity flagship that makes hot, cold and milk drinks unusually easy, with automatic Bean Adapt and a large discount strengthening the value case when available.
| Machine | Type | Ready | Grinder | Milk | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De’Longhi Dedica DuoEC890.M | Compact semi-automatic | Thermoblock | Separate grinder needed | Manual steam | Very small kitchens, first manual setups and drinkers who want both espresso and cold coffee |
| De’Longhi La Specialista TouchEC9455.M EX:2 | Guided all-in-one espresso | Fast heat | Built-in burr grinder, 15 settings | Auto LatteArt | Beginners who want a portafilter experience with step-by-step guidance and automatic milk |
| De’Longhi Magnifica StartECAM220.22.GB | Entry bean-to-cup | 40 sec | Integrated conical burr, 7 settings | Manual frother | Budget-conscious households that mainly drink espresso or americano |
| De’Longhi RiveliaEXAM440.55 | Bean-to-cup | 40 sec | Built-in conical burr | Auto carafe | Busy households that want one-touch milk drinks and multiple bean choices |
| De’Longhi Eletta ExploreECAM450.86.T EX:4 | Hot-and-cold bean-to-cup | One-touch | Built-in conical burr with Bean Adapt | Hot & cold auto | Busy mixed households that regularly switch between hot milk drinks, iced coffee and cold brew |
| De’Longhi PrimaDonna AromaticECAM630.75.TSM | Flagship hot-and-cold bean-to-cup | One-touch | Bean Adapt automatic grinder; 500 g hopper | LatteCrema Hot & Cool | Busy households wanting broad hot-and-cold variety, four profiles and minimal manual adjustment |
Compare four genuine home-machine decisions across eight De’Longhi and Sage models.
Open the comparison →The order is only useful when the machine, grinder, milk routine and counter all fit the same household.
The checked machine range is £279.99–£1099.99. A capable espresso grinder can change the real order when it is not included, so compare the complete setup rather than the machine ticket alone.
Automatic milk usually reduces technique but adds removable parts and cleaning. Manual steam offers more texture control but asks for practice every time.
Width is only the first constraint. Check depth, water-tank access, cup clearance and the space needed for a grinder, knock box or milk carafe.
Selections use broad desk-researched evidence bands, workflow, fit and dated checked-price context. The bands avoid implying laboratory precision. Read the editorial methodology or compare the full machine set.