Grinder and tamping
The machine has a built-in stainless steel burr grinder with 15 settings and an integrated Smart Tamping station, so the user doses and tamps without a separate grinder.
Espresso machines · EC9885.M
EC9885.M
The La Specialista Maestro EC9885.M is De'Longhi's flagship manual espresso machine.
19 bar220-240 V50-60 Hz
17 original reviews to read 2 video summaries Good to know
Start your decision here
The La Specialista Maestro EC9885.M is De'Longhi's flagship manual espresso machine. It combines a 15-setting burr grinder, a built-in tamping station, a 19 bar pump with five brewing temperatures, an automatic LatteCrema milk carafe, a manual steam wand, and cold brew and Espresso Cool drinks. UK owners consistently praise the espresso quality and the flexibility of automatic or hands-on milk. In return it is big, tall and heavy, takes some practice to dial in, and comes with thin printed instructions. Some find automatic milk drinks not hot enough, and a few report early faults, especially milk carafes failing within weeks. Long-term reliability is not yet established. It suits coffee enthusiasts who enjoy the process and have the worktop space. Anyone wanting fully automatic one-touch coffee, or a compact machine, should look elsewhere.
Before you buy
What the features mean in everyday use.
The machine has a built-in stainless steel burr grinder with 15 settings and an integrated Smart Tamping station, so the user doses and tamps without a separate grinder.
De'Longhi states that Cold Extraction Technology makes cold brew in under 5 minutes for a single dose, and the machine also offers an Espresso Cool recipe.
There are two milk options: a LatteCrema Hot automatic milk carafe for one-touch milk drinks and a manual My LatteArt steam wand.
The machine measures about 41.9 x 36.8 x 46.5 cm (W x D x H) and weighs 16 kg. The water tank sits at the back.
It has a 19 bar pump, 5 brewing temperature settings, dynamic preinfusion and PID active temperature control, with a stated heat-up time of under 20 seconds.
Most UK reviewers praise the espresso as rich, café-standard and consistent once dialled in. Several owners upgrading from pod or entry-level machines describe a large step up.
Many John Lewis reviewers praise the automatic milk carafe for quick milk drinks, and several also say the manual wand gives good results.
Owners and the T3 reviewer say it takes time and experimentation with grind size and dose for each bag of beans. Several owners found the printed instructions scant and turned to online videos.
Reviewers repeatedly warn that the machine is large, tall and heavy. Topping up the bean hopper needs head-room (one Argos reviewer of the EC9865.M listing suggests about 50 cm), and the rear tank is awkward under wall cupboards.
A minority of UK owners report early problems. These include a machine that stopped working after 3 months, a milk carafe that failed after about 2 weeks (two De'Longhi UK reviews describing a warranty exchange), a temperamental low-water sensor, and a pressure gauge that never moved. Long-term reliability data is not available.
Some users and the T3 reviewer found automatic milk drinks or preset coffees not hot enough without pre-warming the cup or using the steam wand.
A few owners found the steam wand short of power for latte art, or that steam runs out quickly.
Most John Lewis reviews of this model are tagged as sampled (product received to review) and were posted in a short period in November 2025, so the John Lewis rating may lean positive.
At the time of checking, the main UK retailers listed it at about £1,299-£1,299.99 (De'Longhi UK, John Lewis, Currys, and Amazon UK via a third-party seller).
T3 rated the La Specialista Maestro 4/5. It praised the espresso quality, the Smart Tamping Station, the drink range including cold brew, and the balance of manual control and automation. It criticised the very high price, the size and weight, the time needed to dial in, and less-than-effective tamping, and noted that milk can get trapped in the tubes.
Applies to the model family
The machine comes with a 2-year manufacturer's guarantee from De'Longhi UK, John Lewis and Currys. One John Lewis owner complained that the warranty is repair rather than replace.
Argos sells only EC9865.M under the La Specialista Maestro name, with the same headline specification (19 bar, 2.5 l, 1450 W, cold brew, LatteCrema carafe, identical dimensions). De'Longhi's review feed treats EC9865 and EC9885 as separate products.
Applies to the model family
Reviewers like the built-in grinder and tamping station for reducing mess. A few found the tamping needed repeating, and some mention a cheap-feeling plastic drip-tray insert.
There are two milk options: a LatteCrema Hot automatic milk carafe for one-touch milk drinks and a manual My LatteArt steam wand.
The machine measures about 41.9 x 36.8 x 46.5 cm (W x D x H) and weighs 16 kg. The water tank sits at the back.
It has a 19 bar pump, 5 brewing temperature settings, dynamic preinfusion and PID active temperature control, with a stated heat-up time of under 20 seconds.
Most UK reviewers praise the espresso as rich, café-standard and consistent once dialled in. Several owners upgrading from pod or entry-level machines describe a large step up.
Many John Lewis reviewers praise the automatic milk carafe for quick milk drinks, and several also say the manual wand gives good results.
Owners and the T3 reviewer say it takes time and experimentation with grind size and dose for each bag of beans. Several owners found the printed instructions scant and turned to online videos.
Reviewers repeatedly warn that the machine is large, tall and heavy. Topping up the bean hopper needs head-room (one Argos reviewer of the EC9865.M listing suggests about 50 cm), and the rear tank is awkward under wall cupboards.
A minority of UK owners report early problems. These include a machine that stopped working after 3 months, a milk carafe that failed after about 2 weeks (two De'Longhi UK reviews describing a warranty exchange), a temperamental low-water sensor, and a pressure gauge that never moved. Long-term reliability data is not available.
Some users and the T3 reviewer found automatic milk drinks or preset coffees not hot enough without pre-warming the cup or using the steam wand.
A few owners found the steam wand short of power for latte art, or that steam runs out quickly.
Most John Lewis reviews of this model are tagged as sampled (product received to review) and were posted in a short period in November 2025, so the John Lewis rating may lean positive.
At the time of checking, the main UK retailers listed it at about £1,299-£1,299.99 (De'Longhi UK, John Lewis, Currys, and Amazon UK via a third-party seller).
T3 rated the La Specialista Maestro 4/5. It praised the espresso quality, the Smart Tamping Station, the drink range including cold brew, and the balance of manual control and automation. It criticised the very high price, the size and weight, the time needed to dial in, and less-than-effective tamping, and noted that milk can get trapped in the tubes.
Applies to the model family
The machine comes with a 2-year manufacturer's guarantee from De'Longhi UK, John Lewis and Currys. One John Lewis owner complained that the warranty is repair rather than replace.
Argos sells only EC9865.M under the La Specialista Maestro name, with the same headline specification (19 bar, 2.5 l, 1450 W, cold brew, LatteCrema carafe, identical dimensions). De'Longhi's review feed treats EC9865 and EC9885 as separate products.
Applies to the model family
Reviewers like the built-in grinder and tamping station for reducing mess. A few found the tamping needed repeating, and some mention a cheap-feeling plastic drip-tray insert.
User experience
See the common points first, then read the original reviews yourself.
Summarised from the 27 reviews we read. A review can mention several points, so the theme counts can add up to more than 27.
UK owners mostly love the espresso: rich, café-standard shots with good crema once grind and dose are dialled in. Owners upgrading from pods or entry-level machines describe a big step up. The automatic milk carafe is a favourite for quick lattes and cappuccinos, the manual wand suits those who want latte art, and the built-in grinder with tamping station keeps things tidy. The main caveats are the size, height and weight, the learning curve (with thin printed instructions), and a rear water tank that is awkward under cupboards. Some found automatic milk drinks or presets not hot enough, or the steam wand short of power. A minority report early faults, notably milk carafes failing within weeks and one machine dying after three months. Several still felt the machine was good value against rival brands.
Summarised from 27 reviews. 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.
27 unique UK text reviews of EC9885.M: John Lewis 17 (all reviews, via API, deduplicated by id/author/date) and De'Longhi UK Feefo 10 (merchant delonghi-uk, SKU EC9885M, feed page 1; 1 more rating-only). Excluded: Amazon UK's single review from Turkey and 10 Argos EC9865.M reviews. 15 of 17 John Lewis reviews are tagged sampled.
17 original reviews can be listed on this page. The number of reviews analysed may differ.
M*** 5/5 11 April 2026 John Lewis
As a manual home barista for many years I have always used Sage machines and this was a big step for me, but on paper the Delonghi had most of what I was looking for at half the Sage price. no regrets, I dont use the auto-milk, am sure it can be setup to deliver a decent flat white but steaming manually gives a great result. Very happy with my new machine - quieter, less vibration, simpler maintenance, larger bean and water holders and quicker in use.
J*** 1/5 24 January 2026 John Lewis
Poor stopped working after 3 months. Expected to take it back to store. Also it's a repair not replace warranty but of course I am expected to be an expert in warranties
V*** 5/5 18 November 2025 John Lewis
I work from home and I use this machine every single day. Overall, it is a beautifully designed, sturdy machine that feels genuinely premium. Once you get the hang of it, it makes consistently great coffee. I love the built-in grinder with its multiple settings and the smart features take a lot of the guesswork out of getting a good shot of coffee. The milk options are amazing, I use the automatic frother if I am short for time or the manual steam wand is great for that coffee shop style foam. It heats up really quickly and the range of drinks satisfies everything I could want. The only draw back is it did take me a while to wrap my head around how to use it…
S*** 5/5 15 November 2025 John Lewis
…I'm very impressed with the quality of espresso shot you can make, and how quick and easy it was to set the correct grind size and volume. … For the price of the machine, I do feel some of the internal plastic parts in the drip tray are poor quality - a cheap shiny black plastic you usually find on low end machines.
T*** 5/5 12 November 2025 John Lewis
…The machine has an inbuilt water tank at the rear, with a minimum level sensor. I found this to be a little temperamental and the machine has indicated low water level despite being full a few times. … Most importantly the machine delivers a very rich espresso shot with substantial crema on top, most likely due to the higher operating pressure than some other machines. It took several shots to dial in the correct grind size and dose, but once set I found the espresso shots were consistent throughout a 1kg bag of fresh beans.
L*** 5/5 11 November 2025 John Lewis
Firstly, this is quite a big machine so make sure you've got the space to have it on your kitchen worktop. Remember as well that the water tank is at the back so if you have wall cupboards like us, you will have to move it out to fill the tank every time and it's also quite heavy! As for the machine itself, it makes excellent coffee and it is our first 'bean to cup' machine so we are not experts! … I like my coffee really hot and find I have to rinse the coffee extractor with hot water a couple of times (using the button provided) and also warm the cup to get it to the temperature I like…
B*** 4/5 7 November 2025 John Lewis
…There were several papers included, but no instructions. There is a pictogram, but this was insufficient. … Everything works except the beautiful needle gage in the center of the machine. It does not activate on any step and the instructions make no reference to it… We love the machine and the coffee it makes, and were it not for the missing instructions, brief comatose state and dead gage, we would give it the full five stars.
B*** 4/5 6 November 2025 John Lewis
It is a stunning, impressive machine, sturdy, large and very tall. It is a top quality, high-end product worthy of a grand kitchen. … I love the built-in tamping system, it's easy to operate, and it eliminates the messiness of the manual method. … The iced coffees are a great feature… I don't like the position of the on/off switch, it's at the base on the back so not really accessible…
G*** G*** 4/5 5 November 2025 John Lewis
…Before buying this machine however I would look carefully at the dimensions of it and assess its suitability for your kitchen. Due to its size, height and weight it is not really portable… It has taken me a little time to get used to the grind and dosage however I have now mastered making an excellent espresso. I think that you have to enjoy the process of making coffee to enjoy this machine to its fullest…
W*** 3/5 12 October 2026 De'Longhi UK
Unfortunately our „big” machine has broken down afrer around 2 weeks of usage. We are waiting for new one after guarantee exchange. The milk carafe stop working correctly. Can’t give 100 % positive feedback for this quite expensive product.
N*** 5/5 5 October 2026 De'Longhi UK
Great coffee, first machine I’ve had that has gives same high quality results as high street shops.
I*** 4/5 3 October 2026 De'Longhi UK
Seems to be great, though the cappuccino on the automatic function using the milk jug is a little too cool for my liking. Also slightly worried about a breakdown (after warranty expires)…
Customer 2/5 3 October 2026 De'Longhi UK
We did enjoy this lovely machine around 2 weeks…. In general everything is ok, but unfortunately after around 2 weeks, carafe milk maker has broken down…
D*** 4/5 15 July 2026 De'Longhi UK
Makes great coffee. Easy to set up and looks good.
B*** 5/5 26 June 2026 De'Longhi UK
Great coffee machine, very pleased with my purchase, makes a lovely coffee.
J*** 5/5 20 March 2026 De'Longhi UK
I've been using the Delonghi La Specialista Maestro for a month now and it's been absolutely phenomenal. I upgraded from the Delonghi Dedica Style, so the difference is substantial. For a home espresso machine, you literally can't go wrong with Delonghi and I would hugely recommend this machine to everyone…
P*** 3/5 21 February 2026 De'Longhi UK
Overall very good but steam seems to run out quickly , inconsistent grind quantity
No reviews match this choice.
Go to the store's reviews: De'Longhi UK · De'Longhi · Currys · Amazon · Argos
See it in use
Read the summaries; tap a moment to watch the video from that second.
2 videos · Timestamped summary
YouTube · Review
The De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro is a feature-packed semi-automatic espresso machine offering innovative cold extraction technology, automatic tamping, and both manual and automatic milk texturing. It delivers impressive beverage quality with detailed user guidance, though its milk volume settings are fixed and the extra features require additional cleaning steps.
YouTube · In use
The De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro offers both an automatic milk carafe and a manual steam wand for texturing milk. The automatic carafe provides multiple texture presets alongside convenient automated cleaning, whilst the manual wand allows barista-style steaming ideal for latte art.
Video summaries and timestamps were taken from the videos with AI (Gemini); the video itself is the source.
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Technical information with its source.
Where to buy
Check the variant and seller together with the price.
De'Longhi UK
£1,299.99
Go to storeJohn Lewis
£1,299
Go to storeCurrys
£1,299.99
Go to storeE.G.S (Amazon Marketplace seller)
£1,299
Go to storePeter Tyson
—
Go to storePrices may have changed.
Where the information comes from, by type; each finding also links its own source.
This page is compiled from manufacturer, store, review and video sources; every piece of information links to the source it was read from. Technical values are as stated by the manufacturer or store; user experiences are summarised from the reviews read and do not apply to every unit. We do not test products ourselves.