Breville Researched
Bambino Plus
The easiest path to genuinely good espresso and hands-free milk in a tiny footprint.
BeginnersSmall kitchens
$500Read review →
DeLonghi Researched
La Specialista Arte EC9155
An affordable all-in-one with a built-in grinder, guided tamping, and a real steam wand.
All-in-one under $500Hands-on beginners
7.8
BrewSift Score
Good
$449
Approximate — verify the latest price
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Should you buy it?
Buy it if
- All-in-one under $500
- Hands-on beginners
- Built-in grinder + guided tamp
- Manual steam wand
Skip it if
- Espresso ceiling below a separate grinder
- Pressurized-leaning baskets
- Bulkier than a Bambino
Not for you? Consider the Breville Bambino Plus — or see all espresso machines .
The verdict
DeLonghi's answer to the Barista Express undercuts it on price: a built-in conical grinder, a guided dosing-and-tamping station, and a manual steam wand in a compact body. The espresso is good rather than exceptional, but as a single-box way to learn with milk drinks it's strong value.
BrewSift Score breakdown
Scored across the dimensions that matter for espresso. The overall is a weighted average — see the formula.
Espresso quality7.8
Milk-drink workflow7.4
Ease of use8.2
Temperature stability7.6
Build quality7.4
Cleaning & maintenance7.2
Value8.4
Pros & cons
What we like
- Built-in grinder + guided tamp
- Manual steam wand
- Under $500 all-in-one
Watch-outs
- Espresso ceiling below a separate grinder
- Pressurized-leaning baskets
- Bulkier than a Bambino
Specifications
- Portafilter
- 51mm
- Grinder
- Built-in conical burr
- Milk
- Manual steam wand
- Tamping
- Guided dosing station
Complete your setup
The gear that pairs with the La Specialista Arte EC9155 to make a complete, working setup.
Add a grinder
Baratza
Encore ESP
Grind consistency does more for the cup than almost any other purchase — a burr grinder is what makes good gear actually taste good.
$200Buy
Add a scale
Hario
V60 Drip Scale (VST-2000B)
Weighing your dose and yield is what makes a good cup repeatable, shot after shot.
$59Buy
Add prep tools
Normcore
58.5mm Spring-Loaded Tamper
A WDT tool and a properly sized tamper kill channeling — the cheapest fix for sour, uneven shots.
$44Buy
Compare it head-to-head
Alternatives to consider
All espresso machines
Breville Researched
Barista Express
The classic all-in-one: built-in grinder, manual wand, everything you need to start in one box.
All-in-one startersValue seekers
$500Read review →
Gaggia Researched
Classic Pro
A 58mm commercial-style machine that teaches real espresso and welcomes modifications.
Learning real espressoTinkerers
$501Read review →