Breville Oracle Touch Vs Delonghi La Specialista: Which Sem-mi Auto Machine Is Better?

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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

Image
THE WINNER (#1)
Breville the Oracle Touch Automatic Espresso Machine with Grinder & Milk Frother, Espresso Maker with Touchscreen, Cappuccino & Latte Machine for Home, BES990BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
De'Longhi La Specialista Espresso Machine with Sensor Grinder, Dual Heating System, Advanced Latte System & Hot Water Spout for Americano Coffee or Tea, Stainless Steel, EC9335M, 1.3 liters
Model
Breville Oracle Touch
Delonghi La Specialista
Dimensions/Weight
14.7 x 15.4 x 17.9 inches/37 lbs
15 x 14.5 x 17.5 inches/29.7 lbs
Interface
Touch Display
Button-Operated Interface
One Touch Drink Options
8
4
Built-in Grinder
Stainless Steel Conical Burr Grinder
Stainless Steel Conical Burr Grinder
Grinding Settings
45
6
Heating System
Dual Boilers
Dual Thermoblocks
Pump Pressure
15 Bars
15 Bars
Pre-Infusion
Milk Frothing System
Auto-Frothing Wand
Pannarello Steam Wand
Spigot Type/Cup Clearance
Dual/4 inches
Dual/5 inches
Water Reservoir/Bean Hopper
2.5 L/0.3 Kg
2 L/0.25 Kg
Filter
Yes (Optional)
Compatible With Pre-ground Coffee
App Connectivity
User Profile
What I Like
Price
$2,779.99
$849.95
THE WINNER (#1)
Image
Breville the Oracle Touch Automatic Espresso Machine with Grinder & Milk Frother, Espresso Maker with Touchscreen, Cappuccino & Latte Machine for Home, BES990BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
Model
Breville Oracle Touch
Dimensions/Weight
14.7 x 15.4 x 17.9 inches/37 lbs
Interface
Touch Display
One Touch Drink Options
8
Built-in Grinder
Stainless Steel Conical Burr Grinder
Grinding Settings
45
Heating System
Dual Boilers
Pump Pressure
15 Bars
Pre-Infusion
Milk Frothing System
Auto-Frothing Wand
Spigot Type/Cup Clearance
Dual/4 inches
Water Reservoir/Bean Hopper
2.5 L/0.3 Kg
Filter
Yes (Optional)
Compatible With Pre-ground Coffee
App Connectivity
User Profile
What I Like
Price
$2,779.99
More Info
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Image
De'Longhi La Specialista Espresso Machine with Sensor Grinder, Dual Heating System, Advanced Latte System & Hot Water Spout for Americano Coffee or Tea, Stainless Steel, EC9335M, 1.3 liters
Model
Delonghi La Specialista
Dimensions/Weight
15 x 14.5 x 17.5 inches/29.7 lbs
Interface
Button-Operated Interface
One Touch Drink Options
4
Built-in Grinder
Stainless Steel Conical Burr Grinder
Grinding Settings
6
Heating System
Dual Thermoblocks
Pump Pressure
15 Bars
Pre-Infusion
Milk Frothing System
Pannarello Steam Wand
Spigot Type/Cup Clearance
Dual/5 inches
Water Reservoir/Bean Hopper
2 L/0.25 Kg
Filter
Compatible With Pre-ground Coffee
App Connectivity
User Profile
What I Like
Price
$849.95
More Info

Last update on 2024-10-27 / 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.

the la specialista has 6 grind settings
The La Specialista has 6 grind settings

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.

the la oracle touch's tamping station
The Oracle Touch’s automatic tamping station

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.

the la specialista's smart tamping system
The La Specialista’s smart tamping system

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 TouchDelonghi La Specialista
Dimensions14.7 x 15.4 x 17.9 inches15 x 14.5 x 17.5 inches
Weight37 lbs29.7 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.

the la specialista's control panel
The La Specialista’s control panel

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.

the breville oracle touch's touchscreen
The Breville Oracle Touch’s touchscreen

Spout Type & Cup Clearance

Breville Oracle TouchDelonghi La Specialista
Spout TypeDualDual
Cup Clearance4 inches5 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.

the cup raiser on the la specialista
The cup raiser on the La Specialista

Water Reservoir & Bean Hopper

Breville Oracle TouchDelonghi La Specialista
Water Reservoir2.5 liter2 liter
Bean Hopper0.3 kilogram0.25 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's pannarello steam wand
The La Specialista’s Pannarello steam wand

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.

the oracle touch's automatic wand
The Oracle Touch’s automatic wand

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.

the oracle touch allows you to adjust the temperature and level of milk froth
The Oracle Touch allows you to adjust the temperature and level of milk froth

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.

the temperature sensor
The temperature sensor

Drink Options & Programmability

Winner: Breville Oracle Touch 

Drink Options

Breville Oracle TouchDelonghi 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 SettingsBreville Oracle TouchDelonghi La Specialista
Coffee StrengthNoYes
Coffee TemperatureYesYes
Milk Foam TemperatureYesNo
Milk Foam TextureYesYes

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

Breville the Oracle Touch Automatic Espresso Machine with Grinder & Milk Frother, Espresso Maker with Touchscreen, Cappuccino & Latte Machine for Home, BES990BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
  • Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use.Grind Settings : 45 precision grind settings. Portafilter : Commercial grade 58mm portafilter.Portafilter : Commercial grade 58mm portafilter

Last update on 2024-10-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • 45 grind settings
  • A pair of boilers.
  • 58-mm commercial-grade portafilter.
  • Automatic dosing and tamping system.
  • 2-in-1 milk steam wand.
Cons
  • Costly.
  • Bulky.

Quick Rundown Of Delonghi La Specialista

Sale

Last update on 2024-10-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Dual thermoblocks.
  • Automatic tamping.
  • Easy to use and clean.
  • Foldable cup raiser.
  • Upgraded Panarello steam wand.
Cons
  • No single-wall basket.
  • Feel cheap.

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References

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