Core specification
The EC9555.M is a metal manual espresso machine with a 19 bar pump, 1550 W Thermoblock heating, a 2 l removable tank, a 15-setting stainless steel burr grinder and 3 temperature settings.
Espresso machines · EC9555.M
EC9555.M
The La Specialista Opera is De'Longhi's most capable La Specialista: a metal, 19-bar manual espresso machine with a built-in 15-setting burr grinder, assisted tamping, a manual steam wand, three brew temperatures and Cold Brew / Espresso…
19 bar1550 W220-240 V
23 original reviews to read 4 video summaries Good to know
Start your decision here
The La Specialista Opera is De'Longhi's most capable La Specialista: a metal, 19-bar manual espresso machine with a built-in 15-setting burr grinder, assisted tamping, a manual steam wand, three brew temperatures and Cold Brew / Espresso Cool presets. UK owners mostly praise the coffee and milk quality and its solid build, and many find it easy once dialled in. Expect a learning curve with grind and dose. The rear, opaque water tank and tall hopper can be awkward under wall cabinets, and a few owners found the coffee not hot enough. It suits people stepping up from pods or a basic espresso machine who want hands-on café-style drinks and cold coffee. Anyone wanting one-touch milk drinks should look at a bean-to-cup machine. Long-term reliability is unproven: two early-failure reports exist, and no independent durability data was found.
Before you buy
What the features mean in everyday use.
The EC9555.M is a metal manual espresso machine with a 19 bar pump, 1550 W Thermoblock heating, a 2 l removable tank, a 15-setting stainless steel burr grinder and 3 temperature settings.
Five presets include Cold Brew and Espresso Cool; De'Longhi claims single-dose cold brew in under 5 minutes.
A built-in Smart Tamping Station (up to 20 kg pressure, per De'Longhi) tamps the dose in the portafilter; reviewers say it means less mess and more consistent extraction.
Milk is textured with a manual cool-touch steam wand; there is no automatic milk system.
Most UK reviewers praise the espresso and milk drinks as coffee-shop quality with good crema.
Many reviewers find it easy to use once set up, helped by the QR-code video instructions and presets.
Several reviewers describe an initial learning curve with grind and dose: the quick guide is pictorial only, and some needed videos or the online manual. One reviewer found results inconsistent and the machine overpriced.
Reviewers like the steam wand's power and the velvety milk texture it produces.
Reviewers describe it as solid, well built, metal rather than plastic, and good-looking.
Several John Lewis reviewers say the water tank is at the back and not see-through, and that the hopper height makes it a tight fit under wall cabinets.
Two reviewers felt dispensed coffee was not hot enough, even on the highest setting.
Two UK buyers reported failures: one machine died after 9 days, and another broke after 6 months and was away for repair for over 5 weeks. The sample is too small to judge failure rates.
The machine measures 380 x 370 x 445 mm with the bean container and weighs 12.75 kg according to De'Longhi (13.2-13.3 kg at retailers).
John Lewis, Argos and Currys sell the HomeCafe Kit bundle: the same EC9555.M machine plus a knock box, hot and cold glasses and a vacuum bean canister. Reviewers appreciate the extras.
Applies to one variant
De'Longhi, John Lewis and Currys state a 2-year guarantee; the Argos and AO pages state a 1-year manufacturer guarantee.
Which? has tested the Opera (first reviewed December 2024; released May 2024), but its score and verdict are behind a paywall.
UK retailers list it at about £799-£800. AO offers a lower member price, and De'Longhi's own store showed it out of stock.
Because grinding, dosing and steaming stay manual but tamping is assisted, it suits buyers moving up from pods or basic espresso machines who want hands-on espresso; buyers wanting one-touch milk drinks would be better served by a bean-to-cup machine.
De'Longhi lists a hot water dispenser function and AO lists hot water as yes, but an Argos Q&A answer and spec line say there is no separate hot water option.
One UK reviewer found the drip tray shallow, needing emptying after two drinks.
A built-in Smart Tamping Station (up to 20 kg pressure, per De'Longhi) tamps the dose in the portafilter; reviewers say it means less mess and more consistent extraction.
Milk is textured with a manual cool-touch steam wand; there is no automatic milk system.
Most UK reviewers praise the espresso and milk drinks as coffee-shop quality with good crema.
Many reviewers find it easy to use once set up, helped by the QR-code video instructions and presets.
Several reviewers describe an initial learning curve with grind and dose: the quick guide is pictorial only, and some needed videos or the online manual. One reviewer found results inconsistent and the machine overpriced.
Reviewers like the steam wand's power and the velvety milk texture it produces.
Reviewers describe it as solid, well built, metal rather than plastic, and good-looking.
Several John Lewis reviewers say the water tank is at the back and not see-through, and that the hopper height makes it a tight fit under wall cabinets.
Two reviewers felt dispensed coffee was not hot enough, even on the highest setting.
Two UK buyers reported failures: one machine died after 9 days, and another broke after 6 months and was away for repair for over 5 weeks. The sample is too small to judge failure rates.
The machine measures 380 x 370 x 445 mm with the bean container and weighs 12.75 kg according to De'Longhi (13.2-13.3 kg at retailers).
John Lewis, Argos and Currys sell the HomeCafe Kit bundle: the same EC9555.M machine plus a knock box, hot and cold glasses and a vacuum bean canister. Reviewers appreciate the extras.
Applies to one variant
De'Longhi, John Lewis and Currys state a 2-year guarantee; the Argos and AO pages state a 1-year manufacturer guarantee.
Which? has tested the Opera (first reviewed December 2024; released May 2024), but its score and verdict are behind a paywall.
UK retailers list it at about £799-£800. AO offers a lower member price, and De'Longhi's own store showed it out of stock.
Because grinding, dosing and steaming stay manual but tamping is assisted, it suits buyers moving up from pods or basic espresso machines who want hands-on espresso; buyers wanting one-touch milk drinks would be better served by a bean-to-cup machine.
De'Longhi lists a hot water dispenser function and AO lists hot water as yes, but an Argos Q&A answer and spec line say there is no separate hot water option.
One UK reviewer found the drip tray shallow, needing emptying after two drinks.
User experience
See the common points first, then read the original reviews yourself.
Summarised from the 34 reviews we read. A review can mention several points, so the theme counts can add up to more than 34.
UK owners mostly praise the coffee itself: rich espresso with good crema and silky milk from a strong steam wand, plus the novelty of cold brew and Espresso Cool. Many say it becomes easy once set up, and the assisted tamping and solid metal build are liked. The common complaints are practical. The water tank sits at the back and is opaque, the hopper makes it tall for under-cabinet use, and there is a learning curve with grind and dose that the picture-only quick guide doesn't help. A few found the coffee not hot enough or results inconsistent. Two buyers reported early failures (one after 9 days, one after 6 months with a slow repair).
Summarised from 34 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.
Counted unique texts by author+date+text: John Lewis 15 (all), Argos 4 (all), AO 5 (embedded JSON-LD), Amazon UK 4 (product page), Currys/Feefo page 1 6 extra De'Longhi UK English texts = 34. Rating-only Feefo entries and non-UK texts excluded. ratings_total adds store counts; the AO and Currys Feefo pools may overlap.
23 original reviews can be listed on this page. The number of reviews analysed may differ.
T*** 1/5 18 June 2026 John Lewis HomeCafe Kit
I've had this coffee machine for 9 days and had 4 cups of coffee from it. I went to turn it on this morning and all the lights flashed 4 times then the machine is seemingly dead. … They were 4 very expensive cups of coffee! Returning
A*** 4/5 14 May 2026 John Lewis HomeCafe Kit
I would say the best Bean to cup machine i have had yet makes really good coffee and steams the milk very well
C*** 5/5 4 January 2026 John Lewis HomeCafe Kit
A very good upgrade to my old coffee machine, seems such a step-up with a more powerful steamer, the machine seems to make better coffee than my older machine another great purchase from john lewis
S*** 5/5 5 July 2025 John Lewis HomeCafe Kit
I have previously owned a smaller espresso machine and wanted something a bit more sophisticated that included a grinder. … The Espresso Cool and Cold Brew options are amazing! Especially as someone who really enjoys an iced coffee in the summer.
R*** 4/5 20 June 2025 John Lewis HomeCafe Kit
This coffee machine is ideal for someone stepping up from a basic pod or manual espresso machines. … Only downside is that water tank is at the back, meaning if the machine sits under cabinets you must pull it forward to fill it but is all depends setting of the kitchen.
S*** 4/5 No date John Lewis HomeCafe Kit
There are only two things I find slightly awkward. One is getting the filter cup out of the portafilter, but I think there must be a knack to this. The other is that the water container is at the back and is not particularly accessible.
R*** 5/5 21 December 2024 John Lewis HomeCafe Kit
I opened the box and wondered what I had done as it looked so much more complicated than it did in the shop! However, after watching the video all became clear and i can honestly say it's so easy to use. … The frother is fabulous and the coffee tastes amazing. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
J*** e*** 4/5 No date John Lewis HomeCafe Kit
I have tried this machine twice and I am not sure it is correctly setup. The machine is metal and fairly heavy to move about. … The coffee is not as hot when it drips out.
C*** 5/5 No date John Lewis HomeCafe Kit
This is an excellent modern looking machine which delivers a great cup of coffee every time. … It is however important to consider its height as the hopper may make it a tight fit under wall cabinets.
A*** 5/5 29 March 2026 Argos HomeCafe Kit; received free product
Great machine to get coffee shop style coffee at home. It took a while to fully understand the instructions as they are just pictures with no written instructions. I watched a few YouTube videos to fully get the hang of it and once I did it has become a doddle. … I especially love the steamer to do my milk as it gives it the lovely creamy/velvety texture
M*** F*** 5/5 9 March 2026 Argos HomeCafe Kit
I’m really impressed with this coffee maker. The design is beautiful and modern, and it’s incredibly easy to use. The quality of the coffee it produces is excellent, and it makes the whole process quick and enjoyable.
M*** 5/5 11 January 2026 Argos HomeCafe Kit
Great device. Stopped drinking coffee elsewhere.
I*** 2/5 1 November 2026 AO
I’m not very impressed with the product. The settings are difficult to use, and the coffee quality is inconsistent: one cup turns out well, while the next does not. The machine is overpriced. In my opinion, you can find a less expensive machine on the market that makes coffee of comparable quality.
K*** 5/5 27 October 2026 AO
Still getting to grips with it, but very pleased with the results so far. Great looking machine, and fun to use. Well built, solid construction.
B*** 5/5 21 July 2026 AO
La Specialista Opera makes excellent coffee: both espresso and with milk. I would call it a semi-automatic coffee maker because the user has control of a lot of the processes while the machine simplifies and speeds up production with some features found in all-in-one makers. …
T*** C*** 5/5 21 July 2026 AO
Fantastic machine, very easy to use, easy to set up, consistent great coffee.
A*** 2/5 6 July 2026 Amazon
Coffee machine broke after 6 months. Sent to the manufacturer and after 5 weeks still not received it back. Very poor communication, had to chase after any information, and still don't know when the machine will be sent back. I'm disappointed with the service and machine itself.
R*** 3/5 9 October 2026 Amazon Style: 5 Preset Drinks
Purchased this to replace a Siemens E6 as this appears to have less "internal" plastic parts. It works alright, took off a star as temperature isn't that hot even when set to highest. …
S*** F*** 5/5 9 August 2026 Amazon Style: 5 Preset Drinks
Fantastic machine.
R*** 5/5 13 May 2026 Currys
This our second delonghi bean to cup coffee machine. It’s easy to use and produces great drinks.
S*** 5/5 15 April 2026 Currys
Makes stunning coffee, particularly if you put in a little effort. … Highly recommended.
Customer No rating No date Currys
We ordered this La Specialista Opera machine after the two buttons on our Prestigio machine fell off !! However, the coffee taste and texture is still excellent and we now have a cold brew function as well. Expensive but gives us perfect brews every day.
Customer No rating No date Currys
The downside is the depth of the drip tray... have to empty it after 2 drinks apart from that we love it !
No reviews match this choice.
See it in use
Read the summaries; tap a moment to watch the video from that second.
4 videos · Timestamped summary
YouTube · Review
The De'Longhi La Specialista Opera EC9555 is an impressive, quiet espresso machine offering excellent value for money and stylish all-stainless steel construction. It produces high-quality espresso, silky steamed milk, and cold coffee drinks with ease, though the non-removable bean hopper makes cleaning more challenging.
YouTube · Review
The De'Longhi La Specialista Opera EC9555 is a versatile semi-automatic espresso machine that produces well-balanced espresso, cold brew, and coffee crema. It features an integrated lever tamper, 15 grind settings, and a cool-touch steam wand capable of fine latte art microfoam. However, the water tank level cannot be viewed from the front, and the bean hopper cannot be detached for cleaning the burrs.
YouTube · Review
The De'Longhi La Specialista Opera is an attractive, solid machine that includes a generous bundle of accessories and a powerful cool-touch steam wand. However, the grinder has a limited range for dialling in speciality beans, the bean hopper cannot be removed, and there is no genuine automated dosing sensor despite marketing claims. It is best suited to buyers using darker roasts or pressurised baskets rather than home baristas seeking precise espresso dialling.
YouTube · Review
The De'Longhi La Specialista Opera is a versatile semi-automatic espresso machine equipped with an upgraded 15-setting grinder, an insulated steam wand, and assisted tamping. It stands out for its remarkably quiet operation and cold extraction capabilities, including cold brew and espresso cool modes. While the cold brew process takes up to five minutes to extract, it delivers consistently delicious, balanced drinks across hot and cold recipes.
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.
AO.com
£799
Go to storeJohn Lewis
£799
Go to storeAmazon.co.uk
May not be for the colour you chose
Go to storeCurrys
£799.99
Go to storeArgos
£800
Go to storeDe'Longhi UK
Out of stock
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.