Breville Oracle Touch vs Delonghi La Specialista: On the fence about which is better? Well, when directly compared to the Oracle Touch, the DeLonghi La Specialista is notably less impressive.
The Breville Oracle Touch is the semi-automatic machine that most closely approaches the super-automatic category. Why? It automates key processes like grinding, dosing, tamping, frothing, and cleaning the wand. All you need to do is add beans, choose your drink, press start, and the machine will take care of the rest.
However, the Delonghi La Specialista also has certain advantages that warrant consideration. For example, it heats up faster, boasts a generous cup clearance, and on top of that, it’s significantly more affordable than the Oracle Touch.
Breville Oracle Touch Vs Delonghi La Specialista: Specs & Features Comparison Chart
Last update on 2024-04-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Breville Oracle Touch Vs Delonghi La Specialista: Differences
The Oracle Touch outperformed the La Specialista with a decisive 5-1 score. Now, without delay, continue reading for an in-depth comparison between these two machines!
Coffee Flavor & Brewing System
Winner: Breville Oracle Touch
Built-in Grinder
These machines are equipped with built-in conical burr grinders, so you can forget about the hassle of using pre-ground beans or the tedious search for a separate grinder. They can automatically crush the beans themselves when the portafilter is placed in place!
And speaking of adjusting the grind size, the La Specialista is quite limited to only 6 grind settings. Meanwhile, the Oracle Touch takes it up a notch with a staggering 45 grinder settings, allowing you to dial in your espresso shots with an incredible degree of precision.
Absolutely, if we’re handing out titles like “The King of Grind Customization,” I don’t think there’s another one that deserves it more than the Oracle Touch. How surprising!
Dosing & Tamping
Both the Oracle Touch and La Specialista fall into the semi-automatic espresso machine category, but you’ll notice something odd – neither of them comes with a tamper. Now, you might wonder if the manufacturers just forgot to include one. But no, there’s a clever reason behind it!
The Oracle Touch has an automatic tamping station, while the La Specialista features a smart tamping system. What’s great about these features is how they manage to keep the grinding, dosing, and tamping processes enclosed, meaning less mess to deal with.
If you go with the Oracle Touch, all you need to do is click the portafilter into the grinding station, and from there, the machine takes over. As with the La Specialista, you have to press a lever located on the left side of the machine to tamp.
I’m all for manual tamping. There’s something satisfying about being hands-on in the espresso-making process. But if I can get that perfectly compressed puck without having to do the manual work, I’m not complaining.
While we’re talking about tamping, I’d like to point out that the Oracle Touch uses a 58mm commercial-grade portafilter, larger than the La Specialista’s 51mm portafilter.
Both also come with two single-wall baskets instead of amateurish dual-wall baskets. So you’re using the same filter basket a professional barista would deal with at work. That’s good for a more “authentic” experience, but manufacturers should include dual-wall baskets in the package to give a nod to beginners.
Heating System
They both have two boilers, one dedicated to steaming milk and one to brewing espresso. This is not common in most home espresso machines, which typically have just one boiler juggling both tasks.
With these two-boiler systems, you can steam your milk at the exact same time your espresso is being poured. It also results in better thermal stability.
But the La Specialista takes the lead with thermoblock technology, allowing it to heat up faster than the Oracle Touch. To compare, the La Specialista only takes around 40 seconds for the first shot, while the Oracle Touch has you waiting about 15 minutes. For chaotic mornings, this time difference is huge.
Brewing System
One shared feature of these two machines that I want, and always want, to discuss is pre-infusion, which is vital for a more even and full extraction of flavors.
During this short, low-pressure step, the machine dampens the coffee grounds with hot water for a few seconds. Pre-infusion is automatic on these machines, so you can’t adjust the duration. I personally like playing with pre-infusion times since it’s quite fun.
They are also equipped with mighty 15-bar pumps for proper espresso extraction. If you’re wondering, a cafe-quality shot requires a minimum pressure of 9 bars!
Design & Convenience
Winner: Tie
Dimensions & User Interface
| Breville Oracle Touch | Delonghi La Specialista | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 14.7 x 15.4 x 17.9 inches | 15 x 14.5 x 17.5 inches |
| Weight | 37 lbs | 29.7 lbs |
These machines are really cumbersome, so their bean hoppers can be difficult to access if you fit them under cabinets or shelves in your kitchen. The Oracle Touch is the heavier option, but Breville makes up for this with a wheel system, which can be accessed by removing its drip tray.
The Oracle Touch is available in two finishes, including brushed stainless steel and “black truffle,” and the stainless steel version is more visually appealing to my mind. The La Specialista is also good-looking, with a stainless steel housing encasing a black control panel.
And speaking of the control panel, the La Specialista features a couple of knobs and a big pressure gauge, which tells you the exact pressure built up inside the machine and helps you dial in your shot.
Meanwhile, the Oracle Touch leans more towards modern tech with an eye-catching touchscreen. Via the screen, you can effortlessly navigate through a variety of barista-style drinks, select your favorite, and then dive into customization.
Spout Type & Cup Clearance
| Breville Oracle Touch | Delonghi La Specialista | |
|---|---|---|
| Spout Type | Dual | Dual |
| Cup Clearance | 4 inches | 5 inches |
The La Specialista offers spacious cup clearance, enough to comfortably fit a latte macchiato. It also has a drop-down tray that brings your small espresso cups closer to the portafilter to preserve the delicate crema on top of your espresso. As for the Oracle Touch, you always have the option of removing its drip tray to create extra space for larger cups when needed.
Water Reservoir & Bean Hopper
| Breville Oracle Touch | Delonghi La Specialista | |
|---|---|---|
| Water Reservoir | 2.5 liter | 2 liter |
| Bean Hopper | 0.3 kilogram | 0.25 kilogram |
The Oracle Touch’s tank is half a liter larger than the one on the La Specialista, allowing you to brew a few more cups of caffeinated drinks before calling for a refill.
You can also fill the Oracle Touch’s tank from the top of the machine instead of completely removing it. On top of that, you have the option of installing a water filter to enhance the quality of the coffee and also help in maintaining the machine by reducing scale buildup.
Milk Frothing System
Winner: Breville Oracle Touch
Now let’s talk about one of the main selling points of these machines – the steam wand. They are equipped with automatic wands to make frothing much easier.
The La Specialista uses a Pannarello wand with a regulator to switch back and forth between “flat” and “foam.” The wand has enough power to create the sumptuous microfoam we all want for beautiful and intricate latte art. No ifs, ands, or buts, just my perfect 10.
As for the Oracle Touch, you can pre-select the temperature (104-167°F) and texture (9 levels) desired for the milk foam, then just put the milk jug on the drip tray, set the wand inside, and then you can just walk away. The wand has a tiny sensor at the tip that continuously monitors the milk’s temperature, stopping the frothing process once it hits your desired temperature.
Would you really love to get hands-on and show off your barista skills? The Oracle Touch does allow you to froth manually with its wand, but it is not ideal. The wand only moves in two directions since it isn’t attached to a ball-shaped joint like many other Brevilles. No problem! The automatic mode does the job well enough.
Drink Options & Programmability
Winner: Breville Oracle Touch
Drink Options
| Breville Oracle Touch | Delonghi La Specialista |
|---|---|
| Espresso Americano Long Black Latte Flat White Cappuccino Hot Milk Hot Water | Espresso Coffee Americano Hot Water |
The Oracle Touch is engineered to offer a more automatic experience, which is why you find a list of several one-touch drinks on its touchscreen. So to truly leverage its capabilities, you select a drink directly from its touchscreen and let the machine handle the rest.
Incidentally, both have a separate outlet near the brew head for hot water to make Americano without having to move the cup. Make some tea with this function? Why not?
Programmability
| Adjustable Settings | Breville Oracle Touch | Delonghi La Specialista |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee Strength | No | Yes |
| Coffee Temperature | Yes | Yes |
| Milk Foam Temperature | Yes | No |
| Milk Foam Texture | Yes | Yes |
These machines allow you to play with some settings if desired. The thing is, you can’t modify the dosage directly through the control panel of the Oracle Touch. Instead, you need to delve into its auto-tamping station, removing the tamping fan and altering the screw, which is significantly more intricate than it should be.
Other Features
Winner: Breville Oracle Touch
User Profile
The Oracle Touch allows you to save up to eight personalized beverages. That way, you can relish the variety or avoid disagreements with family members who prefer their drinks slightly different from yours.
Auto On
The Oracle Touch can turn on by itself after setting up your desired daily schedule. That way, you can skip the initial warm-up period of up to 15 minutes and proceed directly to brewing your coffee.
Quick Rundown Of Breville Oracle Touch
- Earn up to $200 cashback with a Beanz coffee subscription when you purchase a selected Breville espresso machine. Valid Aug 1, 2023 until Jun 30, 2024
- The Breville Oracle Touch with touch screen delivers third wave specialty coffee at home using the 4 keys formula; It has a professional Dual Boiler construction that delivers unparalleled temperature control and simultaneous extraction and steaming
- DOSE CONTROL GRINDING: The integrated precision conical burr grinder automatically grinds, doses and tamps 22 grams of freshly ground coffee, for maximum flavor
- OPTIMAL WATER PRESSURE: The Over Pressure Valve limits the maximum pump pressure throughout extraction, helping prevent bitter flavors; Low pressure pre infusion gradually increases water pressure to gently expand grinds for an even extraction
- PRECISE ESPRESSO EXTRACTION: Achieve balanced tasting espresso with the Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine complete with digital temperature control (PID), delivers water at precisely the right temperature ensuring optimal espresso extraction
Last update on 2024-04-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown Of Delonghi La Specialista
- Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use
Last update on 2024-04-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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References
- Breville Oracle Touch: https://www.breville.com/au/en/products/espresso/bes990.html
- Delonghi La Specialista: https://www.delonghi.com/en-us/la-specialista-espresso-machine-with-sensor-grinder-and-dual-heating-system-stainless-steel-ec9335m/p/EC9335M
Felix Hendricks is a skilled barista with over 12 years of experience. He excels in crafting coffee and has a strong foundation in coffee machine mechanics. Felix holds a Coffee Machine Maintenance Certification from the Coffee Equipment Technical Institute, showcasing his ability to diagnose and repair coffee machines. He’s also worked as a quality control specialist, selecting premium coffee beans for optimal flavor. Felix has a diverse work history, including stints at renowned coffee spots like Café Euphoria & Starbucks. His expertise in both brewing and machine maintenance makes him a respected figure in the coffee industry.