Breville vs De’Longhi Espresso Machines: Which Brand Fits Your Kitchen

Our top pickBreville Barista ExpressBest for an Integrated Grinder and a GaugeSee why ↓

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Check price on Amazon

More picks

1. Breville BambinoBest for Tight Counters
2. Breville Barista TouchBest for Touchscreen Guidance
3. De'Longhi StilosaLowest Power Draw of the Seven
4. De'Longhi Classic SignatureBest for Taller Glasses Among the Manual Models
5. De'Longhi Magnifica EvoBest for One-Touch Coffee With Manual Frothing
6. De'Longhi RiveliaBest for Two People Who Want Different Beans

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through a link here, Cup and Crema may earn a commission at no added cost to you. That commission plays no part in what we recommend. Our full disclosure.

Short answer: Pick Breville if you want a semi-automatic with published PID or ThermoJet details and a 54 mm portafilter, and you will learn the workflow. Pick De’Longhi if you want a small entry machine or one-touch super-automatic operation. Neither brand is better across every use, so choose the model first and the logo second.

Brand comparisons tend to hide the real decision, because each brand sells several very different machines. Below we line up seven specific models using what each maker publishes. We did not brew on any of them. Where a maker does not list a figure, we say so. Method: How We Review. Criteria: How We Rank.

Safety note: every machine here uses hot water, steam and pressure. Keep hands away from group heads, steam wands and hot water outlets, let parts cool before removing them, and follow your manual for descaling. Watts and amperage below are from maker documents; check your circuit and the manual’s cord guidance before plugging in a high-wattage machine. Check each brand at cpsc.gov/Recalls before buying. We make no health claims about coffee.

How the Two Brands Differ

• Published detail. Breville’s U.S. pages and instruction books name heating systems and include manual-control features. De’Longhi’s U.S. pages give fuller physical data (tank, weight, watts) but sometimes omit units on dimensions.
• Portafilter and workflow. The three Brevilles here use 54 mm portafilters and a manual shot workflow. Across the De’Longhi models the range runs from a small manual machine to one-touch super-automatics with no portafilter at all.
• Milk. Breville’s Barista Touch has automatic milk with adjustable temperature. De’Longhi’s Rivelia has a LatteCrema auto system, and its Classic Signature and Stilosa use manual steam wands or frothers.
• Warranty disclosure. De’Longhi’s U.S. pages state terms for several models here; Breville’s product pages link to a warranty page without stating a length, and that page refers you back to the product page. Check before you buy.

Breville Models Side by Side

De’Longhi Models Side by Side

De’Longhi’s U.S. pages give these dimensions without units; we read them as inches. Treat the Rivelia’s 19 bar with some care, since a rated pump figure is not the pressure at the coffee, and we saw conflicting figures elsewhere for this family. Height, tank size and weight are the numbers that decide whether a machine works in your kitchen.

The Calculation That Matters: Size, Water, Power

Approximate counter area, width times depth from the listed figures:

The narrow Bambino and Stilosa fit where a Barista Express will not. The Express and Touch draw the most current, so plan your outlet and avoid running them alongside another high-draw appliance on the same circuit.

The Seven Machines, One by One

Labels below describe a specific documented fact about each machine in this group of seven. They are not an overall ranking across brands.

1. Breville Barista Express: Best for an Integrated Grinder and a Gauge

• Heating: Thermocoil with PID, 200°F water (per Breville)
• Rated pump: 15 bar, 9 bar extraction (per Breville)
• Grinder: integrated conical burr, 16 settings
• Portafilter: 54 mm stainless steel
• Water tank: 67 fl oz (2 L), removable (per the instruction book)
• Hopper: ½ lb (per the instruction book)
• Power: 120 V, 60 Hz, 1750 W (per the instruction book)
• Dimensions: 15.9 x 13.1 x 12.4 in (W x D x H)
• Warranty: length not stated on Breville’s product page

Check price on Amazon

The label rests on a combination no other machine here has: a built-in grinder together with an analog pressure gauge you can read during the shot. That pairing suits someone learning how grind and dose change an extraction, without shopping for a grinder separately.

The cost is space and current. At about 208 square inches of counter it is the largest machine in this comparison, and 1750 W works out to about 14.6 amps at 120 V, the highest draw here. Coffee Chronicler’s 2024 review calls the grinder the machine’s “Achilles heel” and says you cannot brew and steam at once. Our Breville Barista Express review covers the manual in more detail.

Pros

• Grinder and machine in one body
• Pressure gauge visible during extraction
• PID temperature control stated by Breville

Cons

• Largest counter area in this group
• Highest current draw in this group
• Grinder may be outgrown, per Coffee Chronicler

Good fit if

• You want one purchase that covers grinding and brewing
• You are learning extraction and want a gauge in view

Skip if

• You plan to buy a separate espresso grinder
• You need to steam immediately after every shot

Verdict: A coherent all-in-one for learners who accept its grinder.

2. Breville Bambino: Best for Tight Counters

• Heating: ThermoJet, 3 second stated heat-up (per Breville)
• Rated pump: 15 bar, 9 bar extraction (per Breville)
• Grinder: none
• Portafilter: 54 mm aluminum (per the instruction book)
• Water tank: 47 fl oz (1.4 L), removable (per the instruction book)
• Milk: manual steam wand
• Power: 120 V, 60 Hz, 1560 W (per the instruction book)
• Dimensions: 11.9 x 6.1 x 13.5 in (W x D x H, as Breville labels it)
• Warranty: length not stated on Breville’s product page

Check price on Amazon

The label comes from the arithmetic: about 73 square inches of counter is roughly a third of the Barista Express’s 208, and one side is only 6.1 in. Breville also states a 3 second heat-up, a figure it does not publish for the Express.

The savings come with conditions. The tank holds 70% of the Express’s (47 divided by 67), and there is no grinder, so a separate espresso-capable grinder has to be part of the plan from the first day.

Pros

• Smallest counter area of the seven
• 3 second heat-up stated by Breville
• 54 mm portafilter shared with the other Brevilles here

Cons

• No grinder included
• Smaller tank than the Express
• Manual steaming only

Good fit if

• Counter space decides the purchase
• You already own a capable espresso grinder

Skip if

• You want a single appliance that grinds too
• You want automatic milk

Verdict: The space-first Breville, provided the grinder is already sorted.

3. Breville Barista Touch: Best for Touchscreen Guidance

• Heating: ThermoJet, 3 second stated heat-up (per Breville)
• Rated pump: 15 bar, 9 bar extraction (per Breville)
• Grinder: integrated conical burr, 30 settings
• Portafilter: 54 mm stainless steel
• Milk: Auto MilQ, 104°F to 167°F, 8 texture levels, manual option (per Breville)
• Water tank: 68 fl oz (2 L), removable (per the instruction book)
• Hopper: 8.8 oz (250 g) (per the instruction book)
• Power: 120 V, 60 Hz, 1680 W (per the instruction book)
• Dimensions: 15.7 x 12.6 x 12.4 in (W x D x H)
• Warranty: length not stated on Breville’s product page

Check price on Amazon

It earns the label as the only Breville in this group with a touchscreen menu, and automatic milk with an adjustable temperature range of 104°F to 167°F. That removes a large part of the learning curve that the Express leaves in your hands.

It also keeps a portafilter workflow and a built-in grinder, on a footprint of about 198 square inches, slightly under the Express. See how it ranks against other all-in-one machines in our guide to espresso machines with a built-in grinder.

Pros

• Automatic and manual milk options
• Touchscreen coffee menu
• 30 grind settings and a 68 fl oz tank

Cons

• Grinder tied to the machine
• Second-highest current draw here, about 14.0 amps
• Warranty term not stated on the product page

Good fit if

• Milk drinks are most of what you make
• You want guidance and still want a portafilter

Skip if

• You want to learn manual steaming only
• You already own a separate grinder

Verdict: The convenience Breville in this group, at the cost of more electronics.

4. De’Longhi Stilosa: Lowest Power Draw of the Seven

• Type: manual
• Rated pump: 15 bar
• Boiler: stainless steel
• Grinder: none
• Water tank: 33.81 oz
• Cup clearance: 4.29 in maximum
• Power: 1100 W
• Weight: 8.61 lb
• Dimensions: 13.5 x 8.07 x 11.22 (unit not stated on the page; read as inches)
• Warranty: 1 year, plus 1 year with registration

Check price on Amazon

At 1100 W the Stilosa draws about 9.2 amps at 120 V, the lowest here, and that is the reason for the label. It is also the lightest machine with a published weight at 8.61 lb.

The compromises are clear from the same page. The tank is about half the Barista Express’s (33.81 divided by 67), and cups taller than 4.29 in will not fit. De’Longhi does not list a portafilter size on this page.

Pros

• Lowest wattage and current draw here
• Published weight and warranty term
• About 109 square inches of counter

Cons

• Smallest tank of the seven
• Short maximum cup height
• No grinder included

Good fit if

• You make one or two drinks at a time
• You want a light machine that is easy to move

Skip if

• You use tall mugs or latte glasses
• A large household shares the machine

Verdict: A compact entry machine with clearly documented limits.

5. De’Longhi Classic Signature: Best for Taller Glasses Among the Manual Models

• Type: manual
• Rated pump: 15 bar, 9 bar extraction claim (per De’Longhi)
• Heating: Thermoblock
• Grinder: none
• Water tank: 57 oz, removable, rear
• Steam: two-setting wand
• Drip tray: adjustable, double height
• Dimensions, weight, power, portafilter size: not listed on De’Longhi’s U.S. page
• Warranty: term not stated on the product page

Check price on Amazon

The label comes from De’Longhi’s description of an adjustable, double-height drip tray that takes anything from espresso cups to larger latte glasses, which the shorter Stilosa cannot do. The 57 oz tank is 85% of the Barista Express’s (57 divided by 67).

The weakness is the record. We could not open a page listing this machine’s dimensions, weight or wattage, so measure against the Amazon listing before assuming it fits.

Pros

• Adjustable drip tray for larger glasses
• Thermoblock heating named by De’Longhi
• Larger tank than the Stilosa

Cons

• Dimensions and weight not published on the page we opened
• Wattage not published on the page we opened
• Warranty term not stated

Good fit if

• You want a manual machine that takes taller glasses
• You will confirm the size on the listing first

Skip if

• You need exact fit data before buying
• You want a built-in grinder

Verdict: Reasonable, once the listing confirms its size.

6. De’Longhi Magnifica Evo: Best for One-Touch Coffee With Manual Frothing

• Type: super-automatic
• Rated pump: 15 bar
• Grinder: built-in conical burr, 13 settings
• Drinks: 6 one-touch recipes
• Milk: manual frother on this variant
• Water tank: 60.87 oz; hopper 8.82 oz; grounds container 14 oz
• Power: 120 V, 1250 W
• Weight: 20.82 lb
• Dimensions: 9.4 x 17.3 x 14.2 (unit not stated on the page; read as inches)
• Warranty: 2 years, plus 1 year with registration

Check price on Amazon

This machine sits in a different class from the Brevilles above: there is no portafilter to load, and six recipes run from one touch. The label reflects that combination with a manual frother, which is the variant linked here. If you want automatic milk, a different Magnifica Evo variant or the Rivelia is the comparison to make.

Its tank is 91% of the Barista Express’s (60.87 divided by 67), and at about 10.4 amps it draws far less than the Brevilles with grinders.

Pros

• One-touch coffee drinks
• Published warranty term and full spec list
• Lower current draw than the grinder-equipped Brevilles

Cons

• Manual milk on this variant
• Less control over the shot than a portafilter machine
• 17.3 in on its long side

Good fit if

• You want coffee drinks without tamping
• You are happy to froth milk by hand

Skip if

• You want to adjust and learn espresso yourself
• You want one-touch milk drinks

Verdict: The straightforward super-automatic here for black coffee and espresso drinkers.

7. De’Longhi Rivelia: Best for Two People Who Want Different Beans

• Type: super-automatic
• Rated pump: 19 bar on De’Longhi’s U.S. page
• Grinder: integrated burr, 13 settings
• Hoppers: two interchangeable, 8.82 oz each
• Milk: LatteCrema Hot, automatic
• Drinks: over 18 preset recipes; 4 user profiles
• Water tank: 47.34 oz; maximum cup height 5.46 in
• Power: 120 V, 1450 W
• Weight: 21.39 lb
• Dimensions: 17 x 9.75 x 14.75 (unit not stated on the page; read as inches)
• Warranty: up to 3 years

Check price on Amazon

Two interchangeable hoppers and four user profiles are the reason for the label: a household with two people can keep two beans ready and save settings separately. The 5.46 in cup height is also taller than the Stilosa’s.

Note the numbers that cut the other way. The 47.34 oz tank is 71% of the Barista Express’s and smaller than the Magnifica Evo’s, and an automatic milk system adds parts to clean. Treat the 19 bar figure as a pump rating, which does not tell you pressure at the coffee.

Pros

• Two interchangeable bean hoppers
• Automatic milk with over 18 recipes
• Warranty up to 3 years listed by De’Longhi

Cons

• Smaller tank than the Magnifica Evo
• Milk system adds cleaning work
• Less control than a portafilter machine

Good fit if

• Two people want different drinks or beans
• You want one-touch milk drinks

Skip if

• You want manual control of the shot
• You want the largest tank in this group

Verdict: The De’Longhi for shared households that want milk handled for them.

Who Should Not Buy From Either Lineup Here

• If you want a 58 mm portafilter for accessories, none of these Brevilles use one, and De’Longhi does not list a portafilter size for its manual models here. See our mid-range espresso machine guide.
• If you expect to open and repair a machine yourself, look elsewhere. Repairs belong with the maker or an authorized service center.
• If you want an independently measured pressure at the coffee, these makers’ stated figures are claims, not measurements.

Quick Verdict by Need

• Learning espresso with a grinder included: Barista Express. See also Barista Pro vs Barista Express.
• Smallest counter space with a separate grinder: Bambino.
• Most convenience, least technique: Magnifica Evo or Rivelia.
• Lowest power draw: Stilosa.

More comparisons: Ninja vs Breville, Breville vs Gaggia. For a shortlist, see our mid-range espresso machine guide. More guides are in our Espresso Machines section.

More guides in this section: Espresso Machine Comparisons.

Where the Numbers Come From

Breville pages and U.S. instruction books: BES870, BES450 and BES880. De’Longhi U.S. pages: Stilosa, Classic Signature, Magnifica Evo, Rivelia. Grinder note: Coffee Chronicler. Articles are drafted with AI tools, key specifications are checked against their sources, and the site owner is responsible for what is published.

About the author