Espresso machines · EC9255.M

De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo

Name: De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo
Brand: De'Longhi

EC9255.M

The La Specialista Arte Evo is a manual espresso machine with a built-in 15-setting burr grinder, a 15 bar pump, three brew temperatures and a manual steam wand.

15 bar220-240 V50-60 Hz

Reviews 28 Videos 4

28 original reviews to read 4 video summaries Good to know

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Overview
Good to know
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Videos
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Specifications
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Start your decision here

At a glance

The La Specialista Arte Evo is a manual espresso machine with a built-in 15-setting burr grinder, a 15 bar pump, three brew temperatures and a manual steam wand. It also has a Cold Brew preset, the feature that sets it apart from the older La Specialista Arte. Owners praise the coffee once it is dialled in, the solid metal build, the compact footprint and the barista kit. The trade-off is a real learning curve with grind and dose, helped little by the picture-only instructions. The steam wand sits low, the bean hopper is not removable, and the cold brew divides opinion. A few early faults are reported, and no independent long-term reliability data is available. It suits people who want to learn hands-on espresso without buying a separate grinder. It is not for anyone who wants push-button drinks or automatic milk.

Strengths

Integrated burr grinder, 15 bar pump and three brew temperatures in one compact metal machine
Owners widely praise espresso and milk-drink quality once the grind and dose are dialled in
Cold Brew preset, uncommon at this level

Show all (6)

Full barista kit in the box: tamper, tamping mat, dosing funnel, milk jug and unpressurised baskets
Steam wand generally produces good milk foam for latte and cappuccino
Well reviewed by TechRadar (5/5)

Things to consider

Learning curve: many owners needed trial and error, and some never got a good shot
Picture-only quick guide; owners rely on YouTube or request a full manual
Cold brew results are mixed (slow, not cold or watery for some)

Show all (6)

Bean hopper is not removable; the steam wand sits low and the filter baskets are tricky to remove
Some reports of early faults (leak, grinder or pump failure, warning light); long-term reliability is unknown
Manual steam wand only, with no milk temperature or texture control and no display

Who is it for, and who is it not for?

Good for

People who want to learn manual espresso with a built-in grinder rather than buy a separate one
Small kitchens wanting a metal espresso machine with a fairly compact footprint
Iced-coffee drinkers curious to try quick cold brew at home

May not suit

Anyone wanting push-button coffee or automatic milk frothing
Buyers unwilling to spend time dialling in grind and dose

See alternatives

Before you buy

Good to know

What the features mean in everyday use.

Core hardware

Manual espresso machine with a 15 bar pump, 1400 W Thermoblock heating, a 1.7 l tank and a built-in burr grinder with 15 settings. Coffee temperature has 3 settings and there are single and double doses.

Technical fact · See source

La Specialista Arte Evo, Metal EC9255.M EX:2 | De'Longhi UK

Cold brew

De'Longhi lists 3 preset drinks (Espresso, Americano and Cold Brew) plus hot water. It says Cold Brew is made 'in under 5 minutes' with Cold Extraction Technology. This is the main difference from the earlier La Specialista Arte EC9155.

Manufacturer's claim · See source

Milk and controls

Milk is frothed with a manual steam wand. There is no automatic frother, no milk temperature or texture setting and no display; control is by buttons and a dial.

Technical fact · See source

La Specialista Arte Evo, Metal EC9255.M EX:2 | De'Longhi UK

Barista kit

The box includes a tamper, tamping mat, dosing funnel, milk jug, cup raiser, unpressurised single and double baskets, a cleaning tool and descaling solution.

Technical fact · See source

Show more (13)

Coffee quality

Reviewers at John Lewis, Argos, Currys/AO and Amazon most often praise the espresso and milk drinks once the grind and dose are dialled in. Many compare it favourably with high-street coffee shops.

User experience · See source

Learning curve

Many owners say getting a good shot takes trial and error with grind, dose and tamping. A minority never got a decent espresso and returned the machine. A UK owner review also says it takes 'quite a bit of practice'.

User experience · See source

Instructions

Several buyers say the picture-based quick guide is not enough, and that they relied on YouTube or asked De'Longhi for a full manual.

User experience · See source

Design and ease of use

Owners like the metal look, the fairly compact footprint and quiet grinder, and that once set up it is easy to use and clean. Dishwasher-safe parts and a removable drip tray are mentioned.

User experience · See source

Steam wand

The steam wand is generally praised for creamy milk. Some say it sits low, moves little and makes a full jug awkward, and it is single-hole. A few found frothing slow or hard to master.

User experience · See source

Cold brew in use

Opinions on cold brew are split. Some buyers like it. Others found it slow, room temperature, watery or bitter. TechRadar found it too diluted until the grind was coarsened, and a UK owner review calls it 'a bit of a gimmick'.

User experience · See source

Faults reported

A small number of reviews report early faults. These include a leaking unit, a grinder that stopped after a few uses, a warning light after three coffees and a replacement, grinder and pump failure, and water-filter beads blocking the system. A small sample of store reviews cannot show a failure rate.

User experience · See source

Bean hopper

The bean hopper cannot be removed, so emptying beans for cleaning or switching is awkward. TechRadar also lists this, and that the filter baskets are tricky to remove.

User experience · See source

Independent reviews

TechRadar rated it 5/5 as easy to master, compact and delivering delicious results. Which? has lab-tested this exact model (first reviewed January 2024), but the score is behind its paywall.

User experience · See source

UK price and availability

When checked, De'Longhi UK and John Lewis listed it at £399.99, Argos at £400.00 and Currys (as EC9255.MB) at £399.00, against a £549.99 original price. Amazon UK had no new offer, only one used unit.

Technical fact · See source

Guarantee

John Lewis and Currys state a 2-year guarantee; Argos lists a manufacturer's 1-year guarantee on its page.

Technical fact · See source

Temperature and dosing niggles

Isolated complaints: coffee not hot enough even on the highest of the three settings, the 2-cup option over-dispensing, and few drink choices.

User experience · See source

Who it suits

Combining the manual workflow, the manual steam wand and the learning-curve reviews: it suits people who want to learn hands-on espresso with a built-in grinder. It does not suit those who want push-button or automatic milk drinks.

Inference from the sources · See source

Show more (15)

Milk and controls

Milk is frothed with a manual steam wand. There is no automatic frother, no milk temperature or texture setting and no display; control is by buttons and a dial.

Technical fact · See source

La Specialista Arte Evo, Metal EC9255.M EX:2 | De'Longhi UK

Barista kit

The box includes a tamper, tamping mat, dosing funnel, milk jug, cup raiser, unpressurised single and double baskets, a cleaning tool and descaling solution.

Technical fact · See source

Coffee quality

Reviewers at John Lewis, Argos, Currys/AO and Amazon most often praise the espresso and milk drinks once the grind and dose are dialled in. Many compare it favourably with high-street coffee shops.

User experience · See source

Learning curve

User experience · See source

Instructions

Several buyers say the picture-based quick guide is not enough, and that they relied on YouTube or asked De'Longhi for a full manual.

User experience · See source

Design and ease of use

Owners like the metal look, the fairly compact footprint and quiet grinder, and that once set up it is easy to use and clean. Dishwasher-safe parts and a removable drip tray are mentioned.

User experience · See source

Steam wand

The steam wand is generally praised for creamy milk. Some say it sits low, moves little and makes a full jug awkward, and it is single-hole. A few found frothing slow or hard to master.

User experience · See source

Cold brew in use

User experience · See source

Faults reported

User experience · See source

Bean hopper

The bean hopper cannot be removed, so emptying beans for cleaning or switching is awkward. TechRadar also lists this, and that the filter baskets are tricky to remove.

User experience · See source

Independent reviews

TechRadar rated it 5/5 as easy to master, compact and delivering delicious results. Which? has lab-tested this exact model (first reviewed January 2024), but the score is behind its paywall.

User experience · See source

UK price and availability

Technical fact · See source

Guarantee

John Lewis and Currys state a 2-year guarantee; Argos lists a manufacturer's 1-year guarantee on its page.

Technical fact · See source

Temperature and dosing niggles

Isolated complaints: coffee not hot enough even on the highest of the three settings, the 2-cup option over-dispensing, and few drink choices.

User experience · See source

Who it suits

Inference from the sources · See source

User experience

What do reviews say?

See the common points first, then read the original reviews yourself.

Summarised from the 83 reviews we read. A review can mention several points, so the theme counts can add up to more than 83.

Store ratings

John Lewis

29 ratings

29 reviews read

4.7 / 5

Argos

16 ratings

10 reviews read

4.56 / 5

Currys

96 ratings

26 reviews read

4.7 / 5

Amazon

47 ratings

18 reviews read

4.1 / 5

Each store’s rating and rating count are its own; ratings are not combined. “Read” is how many of that store’s reviews we read for the summary.

Go to the original reviews

Buyers mostly praise the coffee. Once the grind and dose are dialled in, owners say espresso and milk drinks rival coffee shops. They also like the solid metal look, the fairly compact size, the quiet grinder and easy cleaning. The most common caveat is the learning curve: many needed trial and error and YouTube, and several criticise the picture-only instructions. A few gave up and returned it. The steam wand is generally liked but sits low and can be awkward with a full jug. Opinions on cold brew are split: some enjoy it, others found it slow, not cold or watery. A small number report early faults (a leak, a grinder that stopped, a warning light, pump failure, filter beads getting into the system). Several also dislike that the bean hopper cannot be removed.

What buyers like

Coffee quality is very good once dialled in46 reviews
Easy to set up and use day to day32 reviews
Attractive, sturdy and fairly compact design24 reviews
Steam wand makes good milk foam16 reviews
Cold brew is a welcome extra8 reviews
Quiet grinder and operation6 reviews

Common complaints

Learning curve: grind, dose and tamping need trial and error28 reviews
Instructions are picture-only or incomplete11 reviews
Early faults or failures reported7 reviews
Cold brew disappointing (slow, not cold, watery)3 reviews
Bean hopper is not removable2 reviews

How was this summary made?

Summarised from 83 reviews; 2 reviews about delivery, packaging or the seller were left out. The summary is drawn from opinions that recur in the reviews read; each theme shows how many reviews mention it. These counts are not a rate and do not apply to every unit.

Unique reviews with text, de-duplicated by author+date+text: John Lewis API 29 (s4/s5), Feefo page 1 UK entries 26 (s9; 10 rating-only excluded), Amazon UK 13 (s11) + 5 non-UK (s12), Argos 10 (s6). Two delivery-only Amazon reviews excluded from themes. Many John Lewis and Argos reviews are incentivised; theme counts are summed per-store tallies (approximate).

Show reviews (28 of 83)Read the texts as published by the store

28 original reviews can be listed on this page. The number of reviews analysed may differ.

V*** 5/5 10 October 2026 John Lewis

The only bad thing I can say about this machine is that it has made all other coffee from coffee shops taste bad in comparison. It is almost too good! It was easy to set up and use, and yet you feel very much in control of the process, grinding your own beans and steaming your own milk. It looks great in my kitchen too. Love this machine.
S*** 2/5 17 March 2026 John Lewis

ordered Saturday, arrived monday, made about three cups of great coffee, Tuesday red light on. phoned De'Longhi, needs descaling! not a good starts. hope this sorts problem out!
A*** 5/5 15 November 2025 John Lewis

Looks good and for a beginner i think its a good first machine. Easy to use but would have been good to have instruction booklet as online youtubes are goid but dont explain everything. It is a bit fiddly to clean after use. Like the grinder and steamer wand although its a bit tficky to get jug under and its only a single drink so imagine a larger jug fir 2 wouldnt work well
H*** 5/5 19 April 2025 John Lewis

…with this one you have lot more control over the coffee grind depending on the type of beans you are using, and and the milk steam wand is fab - took three attempts to get it right but have now made a lovely latte… It feels robust and well made…
M*** 4/5 28 February 2025 John Lewis

The only complaint thus far would be that the coffee was not hot enough even on the highest setting (3) Other loved everything about it..
B*** 2/5 1 December 2024 John Lewis

After spending hours on you tube a bag of beans, still couldn't make a decent coffee. Water wouldn't drain through. Spoke to JL and spoke through the steps and I returned. Still waiting for refund !
C*** 5/5 30 August 2023 John Lewis Syndicated from delonghi.com; incentivised

…There are settings for espresso, long black, cold brew and hotwater… I tried the cold brew, which is super simple to use, but I wasn't keen (maybe because I didn't add as much sugar as shop bought versions!) but I will try it again I think. It comes with a few tools for cleaning and a small milk jug…
G*** 5/5 12 March 2026 Argos

Great coffee machine. Very easy to use, and to my surprise it does not take too much space. Now it feels like I have coffee shop at my own home, coffee tastes lovely, cant wait for summer to try cold brew
C*** 4/5 8 March 2026 Argos

Really nice machine instructions could be written and not just picture form. Easy to put beans and water in lights up well.steamer is quick easy to keep clean, the only thing I would like is the on off button not be at the back and the jug had measurements on it oh and a small bag of coffee beans so you can use it straight away.
R*** 5/5 6 March 2026 Argos

… The only criticisms i have of the machine are that it doesnt come the espresso cups even though they are on the box, but using your own mug works well. The other criticism is that the steamer nozzle doesnt move very much so removing the milk jug can be tricky if its quite full. The water tank and the drip tray are very large so it wont need refilling/emptying very often. …
M*** 5/5 5 March 2026 Argos

… There are 8 grind settings, I have dialled in at 3 which gives a beautiful smooth espresso with an even crema layer on top. The grinder is also very quiet … The only negative is the cold brew setting. The brew wasn't cold but rather room temp and it tasted bitter and watery. … Really, I would give 4.5 stars out of five because of this.
L*** 5/5 5 March 2026 Argos

A great coffee machine that delivers really lovely coffee. The cold brew feature is a particular stand out for me personally and the steam wand creates lovely creamy milk. Really stylish looking machine and also nice and compact so doesn't take up loads of space. Took some getting used to but now it's a breeze
S*** 5/5 5 March 2026 Argos

… Instructions: I did not find the easy step instructions very useful, the pictures aren't completely helpful and actual worded instruction on how to set up and use would have been more useful. Coffee making: … I found that making a perfect coffee took some practice (trial and error). When mastered … the machine creates a lovely coffee. The milk frother is amazing, however a temperature gauge is needed to ensure the milk is hot enough (again not included).
J*** 5/5 19 October 2026 Currys Currys review (EC9255.MB listing)

As a coffee loving household, we decided to upgrade our espresso machine to one of these. Coffee is much fresher and the milk steamer on the side is a lot easier to keep clean as opposed to the frother that came with the espresso machine. Very easy to use and maintain.
Customer 2/5 26 July 2026 Currys De'Longhi UK review in the Feefo feed

It looks good but try as I might I cannot get a decent espresso out of it. The liquid amount is tiny and very, very strong so I have to dilute it each time with hot water. I have watched many videos on YouTube (mine did not come with a comprehensive instruction manual) but still cannot get it up to pressure. It looks “pretty” but functionally it is pretty hopeless sadly. It’s not the most expensive but it’s not cheap.
Customer 3/5 21 July 2026 Currys De'Longhi UK review in the Feefo feed

Not many Coffee choices.
Customer 4/5 27 June 2026 Currys AO review in the Feefo feed

Makes cracking coffee, but it is a bit of a faff compared to our old bean to cup machine. Be warned that the 'ice coffee' function is painfully slow so does require forward planning.
M*** 4/5 23 March 2026 Currys De'Longhi UK review in the Feefo feed

A proper manual would have reduced the 3week learning curve
Customer 4/5 25 November 2025 Currys Currys review (EC9255.MB listing)

The machine works very well much better than the breville. Cant give it 5 stars at it doesnt grind coffee perfectly so the espresso shot doesnt come out nice n smooth it takes long. Also the milk frother is not powerful enough so takes a long tjme to froth the milk and sometimes will just start boiling the milk instead of frothing.
N*** 4/5 5 October 2025 Currys De'Longhi UK review in the Feefo feed

1/8 grinder setting. Needs to be fully adjustable
P*** L*** 4/5 8 September 2025 Currys AO Imports review in the Feefo feed

Good solid machine. Takes a bit of practice but easy to use once mastered. Unfortunately the grinder has stopped working after a few uses. The hopper is not removable so difficult to get the beans out for maintenance.
A*** C*** 5/5 21 June 2026 Amazon

After being in my barista weeks, I generally learned how to use it. Still not mastering the milk frothing. Coffee quality is very good, the machine is amazing. Totally recommend it!
H*** 4/5 15 June 2026 Amazon

Great product. However the one feature I find stupid is the 1 or 2 cup option. If you choose the 2 cup option you always get too much coffee dispensed and if you try and proceed the machine will get clogged up. … Otherwise a very good machine
A*** C*** 1/5 19 June 2025 Amazon

Unfortunately I got a faulty machine which leaked. I sent it back and my money has been returned … It was apart from the fault a good coffee machine apart From initially struggling to get the dosage and grind of Expresso correct. Also it was a struggle to achieve the crema at first.
m*** 5/5 2 February 2025 Amazon

Still learning how to get the best from this machine, but it is very nice to use and seems to be well built. Good steam wand. The grinder hopper does not detach for cleaning but this has not been a problem so far. Nice accessories …
A*** 3/5 21 January 2025 Amazon

Compared to Sage it makes very bad coffee and it is difficult to make the settings right, I bought many different coffee beans from different companies and they all do not taste good. It is quiet and the quality is very good
A*** N*** 4/5 17 April 2026 Amazon Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates

The De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo makes genuinely great coffee once you dial everything in. … The soft water filter balls that come with the machine are a poor design in my opinion. … a few of them made their way into the system and ended up reaching the filter. … I had to send the machine in for repair … Just be careful with those filter balls or consider skipping them entirely.
n*** 1/5 19 March 2024 Amazon Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates

Within a short period of ownership, I encountered significant issues with both the grinder and coffee pump ceasing to function. Efforts to resolve these problems through the designated repair service proved frustrating and unsuccessful … I cannot recommend this product based on the quality of customer service and reliability issues I've encountered.

Go to the store's reviews: Argos · Currys · Amazon

See it in use

Video reviews and key moments

Read the summaries; tap a moment to watch the video from that second.

4 videos · Timestamped summary

YouTube · Review

I Tested the DeLonghi Specialista Arte Evo: What They Don't Tell Beginners

The De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo provides a guided, beginner-friendly espresso experience complete with a generous accessory set and an excellent steam wand for milk frothing. However, it is hindered by a grinder with only eight stepped settings and a timer-based dosing system that makes dialling in different beans frustrating without an external scale. It is best suited to beginners who stick to the same coffee beans and regularly make milk-based drinks.

Key moments

More key moments (3)

YouTube · Review

De'Longhi La Specialista Arte EVO Review | Cold Brew & Espresso Tested

The De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo is a compact, feature-packed espresso machine capable of brewing traditional hot espresso beverages as well as single-serve cold brew in minutes. It opts for a manual tamping kit and dosing guide rather than an integrated lever, providing a more hands-on barista experience. However, its non-detachable bean hopper can make clearing grinder blockages difficult, and the eight grind settings may feel limited for lighter roasts.

Key moments

More key moments (3)

YouTube · Review

Crew Review: The DeLonghi La Specialista Arte Evo Espresso Machine! With a COLD BREW Setting!

The De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo is an approachable, compact all-in-one espresso machine offering convenient features such as cold brew extraction and adjustable brewing temperatures. While it includes handy dosing and tamping accessories, advanced users may find its eight grinder settings, lack of a hopper shut-off, and preset water volumes somewhat limiting.

Key moments

More key moments (3)

YouTube · Review

DeLonghi La Specialista Arte Evo Review: Worth It?

The De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo is a user-friendly semi-automatic espresso machine that successfully bridges the gap between convenience and hands-on brewing. It delivers consistent espresso extraction, reliable temperature stability, and useful features like cold brew technology. While it is forgiving and ideal for beginners, advanced enthusiasts may find the grinder adjustments somewhat limiting.

Key moments

More key moments (3)

Video summaries and timestamps were taken from the videos with AI (Gemini); the video itself is the source.

Widen your choice

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All Espresso machines

Named as an alternative in the research

De'Longhi La Specialista Arte

EC9155 · 15 bar · 1400 W

Same grinder and portafilter concept without the Cold Brew preset; widely sold on Amazon UK with many more reviews.

De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo

At a glance

Strengths

Things to consider

Good for

May not suit

Good to know

Core hardware

Cold brew

Milk and controls

Barista kit

Coffee quality

Learning curve

Instructions

Design and ease of use

Steam wand

Cold brew in use

Faults reported

Bean hopper

Independent reviews

UK price and availability

Guarantee

Temperature and dosing niggles

Who it suits

Milk and controls

Barista kit

Coffee quality

Learning curve

Instructions

Design and ease of use

Steam wand

Cold brew in use

Faults reported

Bean hopper

Independent reviews

UK price and availability

Guarantee

Temperature and dosing niggles

Who it suits

What do reviews say?

Store ratings

What buyers like

Common complaints

Video reviews and key moments

I Tested the DeLonghi Specialista Arte Evo: What They Don't Tell Beginners

Key moments

De'Longhi La Specialista Arte EVO Review | Cold Brew & Espresso Tested

Key moments

Crew Review: The DeLonghi La Specialista Arte Evo Espresso Machine! With a COLD BREW Setting!

Key moments

DeLonghi La Specialista Arte Evo Review: Worth It?

Key moments

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