De’Longhi La Specialista ® Dual Heating System Espresso Machine in Stainless Steel

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The La Specialista is a excellent semi-automatic espresso machine that makes "pulling a shot" quick, easy, and consistent. This is a all-in-one unit that includes a built-in grinder and innovative tamping lever. The grinder produces a very fine espresso level grind. The metal burrs are sharp and precise and the resulting grinds are consistent in size. It is easy to adjust the dose quantity and fineness of grinds with the built in adjustment dials. The tamping lever is something I've never seen before, this easy tamping feature works very well and helps you get a spot on and always consistent tamp. This feature really makes this machine stand out and makes the whole process much more foolproof. The time, effort, and extra step reduced by this feature really adds up! The pressure gauge shows you the pressure during the pull and helps you dial things in to get a good shot. The machine has dual heating elements that lets you pull espresso shots and foam milk with no delay or wait for the temperature to come back up. This is a huge advantage for those that drink milk-based drinks. The frothing wand has an adjustment for more or less foam. It is designed to be easy to use and produces pretty good results, very nice for those new to the process. The espresso shots the machine produces is excellent but of course it also depends on the quality of the coffee beans you use. I primarily use affordable "mid-ranged" beans and the espresso from this machine is much better than what I was getting before. Strong, balanced taste with rich, lingering crema. I will be ordering some fresher, premium beans and look forward to the results. I also like that the machine can easily make Americanos with a simple turn of the settings dial. It produces a cup that is easily superior to regular drip coffee in my opinion. The hot water spout is located conveniently so you don't have to move your cup, it is also good for making other hot drinks. Build quality is very impressive, the body is solid metal and is built to last. This machine has changed my morning and weekend espresso/coffee routines for the better, I would definitely recommend it to those looking for a easy but customizable espresso experience.