TL;DR
- The De’Longhi La Specialista Prestigio has single wall baskets for better control over espresso shots, eight grind sizes, and three temperature settings.
- The machine features a powerful steam wand for microfoam and latte art, a two-liter water tank, and pre-programmed settings for espresso, Americano, and coffee, as well as a dedicated hot water spout.
- Brewing and steaming are balanced on this machine, though it’s not a dual boiler machine.
- The De’Longhi La Specialista Prestigio is user-friendly and easy to customize, with a mess-free tamping handle and a “My Coffee” option for personalized drinks.
- The machine is easy to clean and maintain with a drop-down tray and removable drip tray.
- The De’Longhi La Specialista Prestigio is more expensive than the regular La Specialista but offers better shot quality and customization options.
- Pros include better control over espresso extraction, powerful steam wand, and easy cleaning.
- Cons include less mobile steam wand, not a dual boiler machine, and limited pre-programmed settings compared to competitors.
Welcome, home baristas! Discover the ultimate coffee indulgence as we delve into our De’Longhi La Specialista Prestigio review and expert tips. Upgrade your coffee game and impress those taste buds. Your better coffee experience awaits!
Design and Features
Among coffee lovers, the De’Longhi La Specialista Prestigio is catching on. One key feature is the single wall baskets, which beat the old dual wall baskets. These new baskets give us more control over espresso shots.
With eight grind sizes, we found our ideal setting for perfect espresso. The machine also offers three temperature settings (low, medium, high), enough to meet our brewing preferences. The traditional steam wand, while not very mobile, is powerful with three holes to create microfoam for latte art.
The two-liter water tank ensures we don’t have to refill too often, and the heating tray stays nice and hot. This espresso machine isn’t a dual boiler machine, so brewing and steaming can’t be done at the same time. But the fast heating puts steamed milk in our cups quickly.
The De’Longhi La Specialista Prestigio comes with pre-programmed settings for espresso, Americano, and coffee. Plus, it has a dedicated hot water spout. The tamping handle is a great feature; it keeps our counters clean and ensures consistent pressure. Our shots are always evenly sized and well-extracted, no matter the beans.
There are three programmed drinks and a customizable “My Coffee” option. The drop-down tray and removable drip tray make cleaning quick and easy. Even though the temperature settings aren’t specific degrees, we love having the option to adjust them.
Although pricier than the regular La Specialista, the added features and better shot quality make up for it. We did have to make some adjustments when switching beans, though.
With better control over espresso, the powerful steam wand for microfoam and latte art, and a range of pre-programmed settings, this machine checks all the boxes. Its design and features make it stand out in the world of espresso machines.
Brewing and Steaming Performance
Our De’Longhi La Specialista Prestigio serves us espresso, Americano, and coffee using pre-programmed settings. We appreciate the designated hot water spout for those non-coffee moments. The powerful steam wand, with three holes, creates a smooth microfoam for our lattes. Thanks to the quick heating feature, we can enjoy steamed milk in no time.
Though it’s not a dual heating system, this machine brews and steams fairly well. It heats up rapidly for steaming milk, letting us create tasty cappuccinos. With single wall baskets, we have better control over our espresso shots, and the results are consistently satisfying. Unfortunately, the steam wand isn’t very mobile, making it a bit tricky to use. Despite this, the wand is powerful enough to create velvety microfoam and impressive latte art.
Our Prestigio ensures optimal coffee extraction with its consistent pressure, tamping handle, and mess-free design. The machine boasts three program drinks and a “My Coffee” option to customize our drinks easily. Plus, the three temperature settings give us further control over our brewing. We don’t mind that the machine is pricier than regular La Specialista models. The enhanced shot quality and added features make it a worthwhile investment.
One caveat is we must make adjustments when changing coffee beans. However, we believe that it’s worth doing to enjoy our personalized coffee experience. Overall, our De’Longhi La Specialista Prestigio delivers top-grade espresso, Americano, and coffee. The powerful steam wand and consistent brewing performance make it a standout machine in our kitchen.
Ease of Use and Customization
Our De’Longhi La Specialista Prestigio review found this machine user-friendly and simple to personalize. The tamping handle ensures even pressure and keeps the countertop mess-free. The Prestigio offers a “My Coffee” option to adjust settings to our taste.
The three program drinks add convenience, and adjustable grind size and temperature settings help us experiment with flavors. The 51 millimeter portafilter, single wall basket, and 2-liter water tank make brewing and cleaning a smooth process.
While the Prestigio isn’t a dual boiler machine, it heats up fast for brewing and steaming. The steam wand isn’t very mobile but boasts power with three holes to make a microfoam for latte art. The machine has eight grind sizes, and the temperature can be set to low, medium, or high.
Changing beans requires some tweaks, but the machine scores high on ease of use and customization. We recommend the Prestigio to coffee lovers who want an upgrade from the regular La Specialista while still enjoying the familiar features. It’s worth the extra investment, as it delivers better shot quality and unique characteristics, such as the smart tamping station.
To sum up, we enjoy the ease of use and the customized options the Prestigio offers. It empowers us to explore our coffee preferences and create the perfect cup to kickstart our day or unwind after a long one. In the end, we have an espresso machine engineered to cater to our tastes, bringing coffee satisfaction right in our home.
Cleaning and Maintenance
A standout feature of the De’Longhi La Specialista Prestigio is its ease of cleaning and maintenance. Our experience with this machine showed that the drop-down tray and removable drip tray help ensure a fuss-free and tidy process.
The drop-down tray keeps coffee grounds away from the countertop. It also keeps ground coffee fresh and ready for brewing when we need it. We can clean the tray quickly, without any mess.
The removable drip tray adds to the convenience. With just a simple lift, we can take it out for effortless cleaning. Once cleaned, we can replace it without any hassle.
The easy cleaning and maintenance of this DeLonghi espresso machine let us spend more time enjoying our espresso and less time cleaning up. It was a joy to use during our review process, and we believe it will be the same for anyone looking for a reliable and hassle-free espresso maker.
With such features, the De’Longhi La Specialista Prestigio is an excellent choice for those who want a clean and well-maintained espresso machine. It makes the process of making espresso, Americano, or coffee enjoyable and straightforward, leaving us more time for savoring delicious cups of our favorite brews.
Comparisons and Pricing
The De’Longhi La Specialista Prestigio has a higher price tag than its older sibling, the regular La Specialista. We noticed an improved shot quality and added features with this upgrade. However, it has limited pre-programmed settings compared to other machines like the Breville Barista Express, Barista Pro, and Barista Touch. To help you decide if it’s worth the investment, let’s explore its strengths and weaknesses.
The Prestigio’s single wall baskets offer better control over our espresso, resulting in a better shot quality than the regular La Specialista. Its steam wand is powerful and can produce a nice microfoam, allowing us to create beautiful latte art. The machine also features pre-programmed settings for espresso, Americano, and coffee, along with a designated hot water spout for tea or Americano.
One drawback is the steam wand’s limited mobility, which may be more challenging to use for some milk-based drinks. The machine is not a dual boiler, meaning we can’t brew espresso and steam milk at the same time. Adjustments are needed when changing beans, but that’s common with any grinder and coffee machine combination.
When comparing this semi-automatic espresso machine with other similar models, it’s essential to weigh the features against the price. The Prestigio comes with a built-in grinder, which eliminates the need for a separate coffee grinder. While it may be more expensive than the regular La Specialista, the improved performance and additional features may justify the increased cost for some people.
In conclusion, the De’Longhi La Specialista Prestigio is a great upgrade from the regular La Specialista for those who want better shot quality and more control. However, if you’re looking for a machine with more pre-programmed settings or a dual boiler, you may want to consider alternatives like the Breville Barista Pro or Barista Touch.
Pros and Cons Summary
- Pros:
- Better control over espresso with single wall baskets
- Powerful steam wand for microfoam and latte art
- Variety of pre-programmed settings
- Designated hot water spout
- Quick heating
- Improved shot quality and customization options
- Mess-free tamping handle
- Easy cleaning with drop-down tray and removable drip tray
- Cons:
- Less mobile steam wand
- Not a dual boiler machine
- Limited pre-programmed settings compared to competitors
- Adjustments required when changing beans
- Higher price compared to regular La Specialista
The De’Longhi La Specialista Prestigio stands out in the espresso machine market for many reasons. We love the improved control over espresso extraction thanks to the single wall baskets. The powerful steam wand helps us create stunning microfoam and latte art, adding a touch of elegance to our coffee.
With a variety of pre-programmed settings, we can easily brew espresso, Americano, and regular coffee. The designated hot water spout is a handy feature for making hot beverages other than coffee. The quick heating of the machine saves us time and ensures a great coffee experience.
The mess-free tamping handle and easy-to-clean drop-down tray and removable drip tray make this machine low-maintenance and user-friendly. However, there are a few drawbacks to consider. The steam wand has limited mobility, making milk texturing a bit more challenging.
Since it’s not a dual boiler machine, we can’t brew and steam simultaneously, which may be a downside for some users. The limited pre-programmed settings, compared to other premium machines, might feel restrictive for some coffee enthusiasts. Also, this machine requires adjustments when changing beans, which might be a learning curve for some users.
Finally, the Prestigio model comes at a higher price compared to the regular La Specialista, which could be a downside if you’re on a tight budget. Despite these cons, we believe the De’Longhi La Specialista Prestigio offers excellent value overall, providing various features and improvements over its predecessor. By carefully considering the pros and cons, you can decide if this espresso machine is the right fit for your coffee journey.
P.S.
So, there you have it, your guide to the De’Longhi La Specialista 3. It’s packed with features that enable you to create great coffee at the comfort of your own home. With eight grind sizes, three temperature settings, and a variety of pre-programmed options, it’s easy to see why this machine is a worthy investment. So, take the plunge and follow our advice on making the most of your La Specialista 3. Impress your friends with your coffee-making skills, without having to leave home. Start improving your coffee experience today!
