Coffee Machine Showdown: Breville or DeLonghi - Which is the Right Fit for You?
In the world of home espresso machines, two brands stand out: Breville and DeLonghi. Both offer a range of manual and semi-automatic machines, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
Breville, known for its high-end Barista series, boasts precise temperature control and manual milk steaming features. The Breville The Barista Express, for instance, comes with a built-in burr grinder, 16 grind settings, programmable coffee quantity, and a thermoblock heating system. The machine is compact, with dimensions of 41 x 33 x 31 cm, and offers on-board storage for the tamper, ensuring even coffee temperature when making consecutive cups of coffee. However, some Breville models, such as the Duo-Temp Pro BES810BSS, have received lower expert ratings and poor taste scores, suggesting inconsistency in reliability and coffee quality.
On the other hand, DeLonghi is renowned for its durability and longevity. DeLonghi La Specialista models, like the Arte, are noted for their good automatic and manual steaming capabilities. The Arte, priced under $800, has dimensions of 40 x 28.5 x 36 cm, a built-in burr grinder with 8 grind settings, programmable coffee quantity, pre-set coffee recipes, thermoblock heating system, and a MyLatte Art Steam Wand. While the Arte's taste test score is only OK, it is a solid choice for those prioritising reliability and longevity.
When comparing these brands, it's essential to consider the features that matter most to you. If you're a coffee enthusiast seeking experimentation and manual control, Breville might be the way to go. However, if reliability and longevity are your top priorities, DeLonghi might be the more dependable choice, especially in the semi-automatic range.
CHOICE, an Australian consumer advocacy group, regularly tests dozens of semi-automatic and manual home espresso machines. Their detailed reviews, based on taste, ease of use, milk frothing, and coffee temperature consistency, are available exclusively to CHOICE members.
In summary, both Breville and DeLonghi offer a range of quality espresso machines, each with its unique strengths. If you're after a cafe-like experience at home, these machines can be expensive but offer greater control over coffee-making. Remember, regardless of brand, accurate and consistent pressure and water temperature are crucial for a good espresso.
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- When choosing between Breville and DeLonghi for home espresso machines, review the product reviews provided by CHOICE, an Australian consumer advocacy group, to make an informed decision based on taste, ease of use, milk frothing, and coffee temperature consistency.
- If you prioritize experimentation and manual control, consider Breville's range of machines, which offer features like precise temperature control and manual milk steaming.
- For those who value reliability and longevity, DeLonghi's semi-automatic models might be a more dependable choice, with good automatic and manual steaming capabilities.
- As you compare these brands, remember to consider the features that matter most to your lifestyle and preferences, especially in terms of food-and-drink, such as coffee making and cooking recipes, and home-and-garden, such as the appliances' design and dimensions.
