Skip to main content Tom's Guide Tom's Guide Search Tom's Guide View Profile Newsletters Best Picks Entertainment Prime Day Deals Switch 2 Restock Galaxy Z Fold 7 Wordle Today Best Mattress Best laptops Recommended reading Coffee Makers I tested the YouTube-famous ‘jet engine’ espresso machine — here’s why it’s worth the $700 price tag Coffee Makers I spent a month testing the De'Longhi La Specialista Touch, and it's an instant classic Coffee Makers I like my coffee with milk, sugar, and… AI? I tested out De’Longhi’s new superautomatic espresso machine, and it literally has a personality Coffee Makers I just tried out the Fellow Espresso Series 1, and now I need to make space in my kitchen Home Appliances Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro Manual Espresso Machine review: Professional quality at home Home Appliances I just tested the iconic Breville Bambino Plus — and it's the perfect espresso machine for small spaces Coffee Makers Ninja Luxe Café Pro review — here’s my honest verdict Home Appliances Coffee Makers I'm a barista who swapped an $899 espresso machine for a $149 budget one — here's why Erin Bashford 19 June 2025 Spoiler alert: I am shooketh When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) I'm an ex-barista, so I've spent enough time making coffee for a lifetime. I cut my teeth at an independent artisanal cafe (so independent and artisanal that it was one of the many small business Covid casualties) and then suffered through some long, hard years at Starbucks (during lockdown, cry) as punishment. You think that would stop me. But I cannot be stopped. I am as unstoppable as the endless march of time. Now as a journalist, it's my mission to find the best espresso machines so I can continue drinking way too much coffee. The $149 De'Longhi Stilosa has everything I hate in an espresso machine: a flimsy plastic tamper, a flimsy plastic construction, and a flimsy plastic drip tray. I really thought I'd hate this machine. No, tell a lie, I wanted to hate it, because it was so ugly. However, when I ditched my $900 De'Longhi La Specialista Opera for the $149 De'Longhi Stilosa, I was absolutely shocked. You may like I tested the YouTube-famous ‘jet engine’ espresso machine — here’s why it’s worth the $700 price tag I spent a month testing the De'Longhi La Specialista Touch, and it's an instant classic I like my coffee with milk, sugar, and… AI? I tested out De’Longhi’s new superautomatic espresso machine, and it literally has a personality I tested the U.K. version of the De'Longhi Stilosa. A reader pointed out recently that the U.S. model of the Stilosa comes with dual-walled portafilters. In this case, I'd recommend getting third-party single-walled portafilters to achieve the same results as me. May I introduce the coffee competitors... De'Longhi La Specialista Opera: $899 at Amazon This is the machine I use every day. I love it with all my heart, but something just doesn't feel right anymore. Maybe because it's taking up a quarter of my kitchen, and that's grown into resentment? Either way, I don't know what's next for me and my beloved La Specialista Opera. It might be the most tear-jerking goodbye of 2025. De'Longhi Stilosa: $149 at Amazon This is the Opera's contender: smaller, cheaper, and a hell of a lot uglier. I really had my doubts about the Stilosa. For starters, it feels flimsy AF and looks like someone vomited up a pile of plastic. But oh boy, can it pull a delicious espresso shot. Color me surprised. How I got perfect espresso with the De'Longhi Stilosa Repeat after me: I will not use pre-ground coffee... I will not use pre-ground coffee... I will not use pre-ground coffee. Now, I've said it before and I'll say it again. You have to work for good espresso on the De'Longhi Stilosa. If you just take it out of the box and get to work, you'll think I've lost my marbles. Espresso is an art as much as it's a science. And perfect espresso needs two things: a good grinder, and an even better barista. I used both the Eureka Mignon Specialita ($649) and the Comandante C40 MK4 (from ~$282) with the De'Longhi Stilosa. If budget's a concern, you might be able to grab the Baratza Encore ESP or the 1ZPresso J-Ultra — both $199 — instead. However, a good grinder is a non-negotiable. The only reason why the Stilosa managed to match the La Specialista Opera is because of the brilliant grinders I used. If you buy pre-ground beans or have a blade grinder, you will never be able to achieve these results. Repeat after me: I will not use pre-ground coffee... I will not use pre-ground coffee... I will not use pre-ground coffee. Okay, great! This is a picture of the best espresso shot I pulled on the Stilosa, using artisanal, locally-roasted specialty beans and the Comandante C40 MK4 grinder. (Image credit: Erin Bashford) As I'm sure you're aware by now, achieving an espresso shot like this is only possible because of a premium grinder and specialty beans. With this extra effort, there's no need to spend $$$ on an espresso machine. You'll need to look for the following specs: Minimum 9-bar pressure Single-walled portafilters Good-quality shower screen PID (if you can spend $499 rather than $149 for the Breville Bambino Plus) While the De'Longhi Stilosa doesn't have a PID (which is a temperature controller built-in to the machine to prevent burning and weak espresso), it is literally $149. At this price point, you can't really ask for much more. It's worth noting that other home baristas have successfully modded the Stilosa with PID controllers, so not all is lost. As the De'Longhi Stilosa I tested has both 9-bar pressure and single-walled portafilters, I was able to pull technically perfect espresso. If you follow my advice, there's no reason why you wouldn't be able to achieve this too. In terms of espresso brewing? I couldn't believe my luck. The Stilosa is $759 cheaper than my La Specialista Opera, but pulls very similar shots. That's a monumental saving. I've changed my mind on cheap espresso machines (Image credit: Tom's Guide) I won't lie to you, when I first picked up the De'Longhi Stilosa, I physically grimaced. I thought there's no way this flimsy plastic hunk of junk can ever be good. But oh boy, did it prove me wrong. I already chatted about all the reasons why the De'Longhi Stilosa proved me wrong in a different article, but I'll go through them again briefly here. Good espresso machines need some weight to them. Even compact machines have boilers crammed inside their tiny size, so when I picked up the Stilosa, I was immediately suspicious. I doubted its ability to heat water, let alone pull espresso. But I was wrong. The Stilosa crams an impressive 9-bar pressure system and a steel boiler inside its 8-inch size. The sacrifices come in its all-plastic (ugly) construction, flimsy group handle, and pathetic tamper. These are all fixable problems though. The inherent espresso-making ability of the machine? Off-the-charts good. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) I'll be the first person to admit that a lot of budget espresso machines are very questionable. But not the De'Longhi Stilosa. With the extra work I discussed earlier, I was able to make $500-machine worthy espresso on the $149 Stilosa. However, without the effort, the espresso will most definitely taste like it was made on a cheap machine. So, if the cheap espresso machine has the following things: 9-bar pressure, single-walled portafilter baskets, a shower screen with even water distribution, and (maybe) a PID controller, then there's nothing stopping it performing like a premium model. With the right tools, coffee, and barista, of course. I'll admit the De'Longhi Stilosa isn't the right espresso machine for everyone, though Although I was really impressed by the Stilosa for the price, I'm not really ready to give up my La Specialista Opera yet. (I actually kind of regret getting the Opera and really want a Breville Bambino Plus, but that's another story.) Steaming milk on the Stilosa requires a little more effort than other machines, because the steam wand can be a little overexcited. Take a look at the latte I made with the Stilosa. (Image credit: Erin Bashford) This is after 3 1/2 years as a barista, bear in mind. My latte art could still do with some work (I'm yet to master the tulip), but I think a more inexperienced barista might need a little more time to get adjusted to the Stilosa's overexcited steam wand. On top of that, if you're a barista who just wants coffee and doesn't want to spend lots of time and mental effort making that coffee? Then I think the Stilosa might not be for you. I'd recommend something like the De'Longhi Rivelia in that case, but it'll cost you — $1,499. What did I learn when I swapped my premium machine for a cheap one? I knew this already, but swapping my La Specialista Opera for the Stilosa reaffirmed my belief that good coffee needs one thing: a good barista who knows what they're doing. Yes, you can spend $$$ (more like $$$$$$...) on a Bianca Lelit ($2,999) or a La Marzocco Linea Mini ($6,300), but if you don't have the knowledge? Your coffee won't taste great. I recommend spending time learning about coffee — what types of beans you like, why you need a great grinder, how to set up a shot — before spending a month's wages on a machine. Instead, I'd recommend getting the Stilosa and learning on a cheap machine. Then, once you've got the skill? By all means, dig into a pricier machine — or just keep your money and continue slaying on the Stilosa. More from Tom's Guide I'm an ex barista and I tested a $150 De'Longhi espresso machine and a $500 Breville — here's what I learned 3 tips for making the perfect coffee at home — from an ex-barista ChatGPT vs. barista — who makes the best latte? Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Erin Bashford Social Links Navigation Staff Writer, Reviews Erin Bashford is a staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering reviews. She has a Masters in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from the University of East Anglia. As an ex-barista and avid home cook, she's got a soft spot for coffee and home tech; as a proud music nerd, she's always on the hunt for the best headphones, speakers, and earbuds. In her spare time you can find her reading, practising yoga, writing, or stressing over today’s NYT Games. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. I tested the YouTube-famous ‘jet engine’ espresso machine — here’s why it’s worth the $700 price tag I spent a month testing the De'Longhi La Specialista Touch, and it's an instant classic I like my coffee with milk, sugar, and… AI? I tested out De’Longhi’s new superautomatic espresso machine, and it literally has a personality I just tried out the Fellow Espresso Series 1, and now I need to make space in my kitchen Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro Manual Espresso Machine review: Professional quality at home I just tested the iconic Breville Bambino Plus — and it's the perfect espresso machine for small spaces Latest in Coffee Makers This $25 gadget makes any coffee iced in under a minute, and it couldn't be easier to use I tested the YouTube-famous ‘jet engine’ espresso machine — here’s why it’s worth the $700 price tag I finally tried Nespresso's iced coffee cup, and TikTok is right — it's a summer must-have I'm in caffeine overload after pitting OXO's Rapid Brewer vs AeroPress — here's what happened I fell for the bean-to-cup hype — here's the espresso machine I wish I'd bought, and why ChatGPT vs. barista — who makes the best latte? Latest in Opinion This $25 gadget makes any coffee iced in under a minute, and it couldn't be easier to use If I could only keep 1 weight to build muscle at home, I'd pick a kettlebell — here's why '28 Years Later' review: A brilliant new entry that infects the franchise with fresh terror and rage I just streamed Netflix’s new crime drama series — and I’m shocked how much I want to binge-watch the rest I'm a tough critic when it comes to audio gear, but these $199 headphones still have me hooked I tried this trippy-looking Xbox controller from PowerA and it takes RGB lighting to a whole different level LATEST ARTICLES Over 60? Try these 5 expert-approved bodyweight exercises to build muscle and prevent pain I track mattress sales for a living and this is the best deal I've ever seen on the Casper Cloud One I tried out this audio personalization engine, and now I don't think I can live without it PlayStation’s epic new sale has some of my favorite PS5 games from $5 — here’s 11 deals I’m adding to my cart I wore wool socks to bed in the middle of a heatwave — now I swear by this summer sleep hack Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. Terms and conditions Contact Future's experts Privacy policy Cookies policy Accessibility Statement Advertise with us Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Please login or signup to comment Please wait...