I had high hopes for this machine but my pressure gauge never worked from the start. I like foamy cappuccino and the lattecrema just didn't do the job. My old $89 Gevi made better espresso. It was beautiful but I exchanged it for the Breville Oracle. Your videos are great though! Very helpful!
The more research I do the more confused I am. Given the price, if you were a bit more advanced and has to choose between this one and Breville barista pro, which one would you choose?
Thank you for your insights! I am switching back and forth between the Maestro and the Sage Oracle Touch. I am aware that the Oracle in theory is the superior machine. However, from all the horror stories I've read online about Oracles dying every half a year or sth., then being replaced 3-4x within warranty, to then eventually die right after warranty with repair costs and service quality being horrible, I cannot really consider the Oracle a proper option. Do you have any further insights or experiences with the Oracle touch regarding longevity?
Definitely the Oracle Touch if you have the money. More grind sizes, larger portafilter/basket, better milk texturing, and a dual boiler for milk frothing and coffee brewing which can be done at the same time. But... the oracle is more than 2x the price here in Canada so it's a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison
It's a home machine, not commercial. Probably tested for 4-8 beverages/day under its 3-year warranty. If you're making 50 a day, I'd look into a commercial semi automatic or something like the Jura X8
Hi liam, thanks for your video, it is great and informative. Can you use the steam wand and have it filtering the coffee through the puck at the same time? or do you have to do one after the other?
Correct! Only one at a time. It's a dual thermoblock system which can only have one activated at a time. It's design for speed in transition, not simultaneous use.
Good question! We're pretty sure it's a design decision to reduce channeling and making the tamping process more consistent. We're seeing extremely consistent & balanced shots on the newer La Specialista machines, even with non-pressurized baskets. While I personally wouldn't mind larger baskets and portafilters, high-end machines like those from La Spaziale have 53mm, so smaller baskets aren't unheard of in high-end and professional categories. It's also more accommodating for single shot baskets, where 58mm can have some serious channeling and consistency issues with the smaller basket size. Cheers. Liam
It's a good choice for mixed-use households, for sure! It's an odd machine but seems to be a big solution to your age-old problem. The basket size is a small 51mm. We're pretty sure it's a design decision to reduce channeling and making the tamping process more consistent, especially with the non-pressurized baskets.
The video is cca 2 years old. Is there a newer version of Maestro? Would you eventually suggest Breville (Sage) Touch Impress instead? Breville Oracle is almost 2 times the price of Maestro here. Thanks a lot .....
There is a newer version of the Maestro with cold brew function. However, the grinder is still not very good, and there are still only 8 steps of grind size (most Breville machines at this price have 20-30). The 51mm uniquely-tapered basket and the plastic piece inside the portafilter of the Prestigio and Maestro help create additional (fake) crema at the cost of destroying the real little crema. The single wall basket is pseudo pressurized - the whole thing acts as if it is a pressurized systen. Even though Delonghi advertises the Specialista series as professional barista standard, it is actually not.
Water volume - that's all. The other adjustment needs to be made manually with the grinder. Espresso is a shorter amount that should be used with a fine grind size Coffee is a longer brew designed to be used with more coarse coffee grounds
Hi there. I'm considering this machine but also I'd like to know what you think about La Pavoni Professional Lusso. What I'm looking for is to achieve the best coffee..I know that with La Pavoni we need to improve our ability to actually make the perfect coffee, but which one would you recommend? From a coffee real passionate point of view, which one is the best?
Tooooootttaaaallly different machines. If you have the time to learn the craft and the everyday patience to go through the process - I would definitely recommend La Pavoni.
Your review on the Maestro has been the most thorough I have come across. Great job! I am highly considering this machine and the Breville Touch… leaning towards the Maestro. I am specifically looking for a semi automatic so that my 11 year old can also use (yes she is allowed to drink coffee 🤪). Can this machine be programmed to turn on automatically? And in your opinion are the drinks hot. I love very HOT coffee. Thank you!
Thanks for the feedback! If you can afford the extra funds, I would personally recommend the Oracle over the Maestro for both milk frothing and better grind settings. That, and the oracle is a dual boiler which can brew coffee and steam at the same time. Machine can't be turned on automatically Temp settings can go up pretty high on most delonghi machines, but have a cap around 205 (if I remember correctly), to prevent burning.
Will consider it, thanks! I'd recommend the Barista Pro if you want to dive into the craft - the extra grinder adjustments helps dial in light roast coffee and other difficult-to-handle roasts.
I purchased this machine second hand and it arrived with pressurised filters baskets which Delonghi has told me are incorrect, so my question, is the portafilter correct? It fits ok, I grind and brew with it, but when I replace the baskets for the unpressurised ones is the channeling in the portafilter different?
Hmmmmm.... Weird! The machine normally comes with non pressurised baskets. I would reach out to Delonghi and get the OEM baskets as they are designed for the machine Non pressurised can get a more complex flavoured shot
Great video! Quick question…is there an easy way to switch beans daily with this machine? I drink full caff espresso beans and my wife drinks decaf. I love the look of this machine but I’m afraid switching beans everyday will be a pain. Thanks.
Hey Blaine. Good question - wouldn't recommend this machine if you have to switch beans a lot. The hopper isn't designed well to switch often, and single dosing doesn't work well either. As an alternative I would look into a semi-auto espresso machine with a single dose grinder.
Some fully automatic ones allow you to keep the original bean but allow you to put in already ground beans in a little chute that bypass the big bean hopper.
Thanks for the video. I recently purchased this machine and when a basket is in the portafilter, even without coffee, it takes a LOT of muscle to get it on the brew head. It's this normal? If I take the basket off it twists right on.
Ah! Age-old problem with new espresso machines. This is likely due to a stiff gasket inside the grouphead. It's the little rubber ring that the portafilter presses against for a tight seal. It will most definitely wear down over time, but if you find it abnormally tight, you can unscrew the shower screen and pull out the rubber ring and try to reseat it. Either way - it'll fix itself over time as you use it. Hope this helps and best of luck!
Thanks for the review, Accessibly Question: When you turn the machine on, Does the drink/Milk selection always start in the same place, When you turn the nob is there a discernable click? (i.e. is this useable by someone who is blind?)
To answer your questions: Yes the selection remains the same after turning back on, and yes there is a noticeable feel when rotating the knob however there isn't any sound.
what would the difference or rather the fundamental difference between the La Specialista Maestro EC9655M and the ELETTA TOP VERSION if one was to choose the La Specialista over the Eletta
Thanks for the question. Both are great machines and around a similar price point. They make most of the same beverages and have both steam wands and automated milk systems. The Maestro will make better coffee and can make better microfoam with the latte art steam wand, but requires more work in every beverage preparation - however the Meastro is still very easy, especially for a semi-automatic espresso machine.. With the Maestro, there's about 20-30 seconds extra preparation time required per shot. You'll need to insert the portafilter into the grinder, pull the tamping level, insert it into the brew group, and then knock out the coffee grinds when done. WIth the Eletta, you can simply push a button and it will grind, tamp, and brew the beverage automatically. Note, with the Eletta, you will also need to remove and clean both the brew group and coffee ground containers once or twice a week. So although the fully automatic is a bit easier while making beverages, there is extra maintenance required. Unless you are prioritizing utmost convenience, the Maestro would be a better option. Good luck looking for your machine! Liam
@@HomeCoffeeSolutionstaking factors of time crunch and ofcourse convenience ,yet at the same time not compromising on quality of my brew i would definitely go with the Eletta.Thanks of the reply and giving me a greater clarity to choose between the two machines.
I am looking to start a small chocolate shop and will want to offer coffee. I do not expect to have a lot of demand for coffee in the beginning. Would this hold up well?
The warranty is only valid for households and non-commercial use, so we wouldn't recommend it. That being said, you could probably get a Saeco Lirika, Jura WE8, or Saeco Aulika Evo which are commercial fully automatics in a similar price range. Having a more traditional espresso machine for commercial can easily be over $10,000.
How do you empty the spent grounds? That has always been the one thing that all systems seem to forget. Do /i have to scoop them out with a spoon over the trash can and then rinse it out? Or is there a separate, dedicated receptical for evacuating the wet grounds?
Good question - if you're looking at semi-automatics for the first time, it'd be my pleasure to introduce you to the handy 'knock box'. It's basically a countertop coffee garbage can with a metal bar to whack all your spent grinds and frustrations away as a part of your morning ritual. :) Here's one - but note you can find cheaper ones if too expensive: www.homecoffeesolutions.com/products/delonghi-espresso-knock-box-coffee-container-dlsc059?_pos=2&_sid=6f79c194f&_ss=r Liam
Does anyone that own this machine have any issues with the Lattecrema system? I just got this and the automatic froth system only seems to work intermittently. For example, if you’re making a cappuccino, does the milk container have to be full (not just above the minimum fill line), and does the froth setting knob have to be set to the highest setting? When you first turn the machine on, do you typically have to wait a bit for the machine (boilers?) to heat up before immediately making a milk product? Or maybe it helps to run the clean cycle first on the Lattecream before trying to use it?
I got the similar issues. I cannot make any coffee with the LatteCrema in one go. Every time when it finishes brewing the coffee, it doesn’t continue to froth. I have to clean it again (already cleaned once before last use) and then press the “OK” button again to pretend brewing the coffee again. Then the system would froth.
@@cpegkwun I guess it’s just a design thing then. I’m still in the same situation but I find leaving the machine on for a few extra minutes before brewing, and (sometimes) the froth will work the first time. I’ve tried different milks but that didn’t seem to solve it. Oh well.
@@paolodenapoli7823 I thought it was a defect. I eventually asked for a replacement and new one works perfectly. I guess the QC of the machine is not that good.
51mm. We're pretty sure it's a design decision to reduce channeling and making the tamping process more consistent, especially with the non-pressurized baskets. While I personally would rather larger baskets, high-end machines like those from La Spaziale have 53mm, so the smaller basket size isn't unheard of. It's also more accommodating for single shot baskets, where 58mm can have some serious channeling and consistency issues with the smaller basket size. 58mm is most important for larger doses, double and triple shots. That's especially important in coffee shops where time efficiency becomes crucial, serving multiple people. Cheers. Liam
Great video. What is the temperature like between the 1 and 5 setting? I enjoy w really hot coffee and struggle with most machines and not many give you the degrees temp (1-5 for example is that around 60deg - 90deg)? Thanks
Around 85 to 93 Celsius in 2 degree increments. (185 to 199.5 Fahrenheit). This is the standard range for dark to light roast coffee in Italian style preparation. Liam
The Breville Oracle machines are better if you have the extra money. More grind sizes, larger 58mm portafilter/basket, better milk texturing, and a dual boiler for milk frothing and coffee brewing which can be done at the same time. But... the oracle is more than 2x the price here in Canada so it's a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison
If I was debating between something similar to this and a fully automatic machine, I would choose the La Specialista Prestigio. It has the same grade coffee as the Maestro at a cheaper price point, minus a few bells and whistles. You sacrifice the automatic frother, but I personally prefer the micro-foam from a traditional steam arm. You can learn more about it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jIs-OgXBl0M.html
The Maestro has two dedicated heating elements - one for making coffee and the other for steaming milk. Because they are independent, the machine has a much quicker transition time between brewing and steaming than most machines. This saves time with every drink, and helps substantially when making beverages back-to-back. This also helps with temperature accuracy to ensure you're getting the best tasting coffee. Note, this machine cannot do both simultaneously but is designed for speed in transition.
@@ThorMaxx Totally right. The heating systems are thermoblocks which would blow a power circuit if they both were on at the same time. Dual Boiler and heat exchange machines generally have a smarter approach to handling power and heat dispersion under a lighter power load.
Hi, unfortunately I tried to buy this machine, but it weighs 17 kilos, which cost the shipping price, the cheapest thing is 200 dollars to my region of Saudi Arabia. Is there another solution for the lack of the product in the Gulf
Bah... I kind of agree. It's a 'double walled' feature in their design to prevent the steam arm from getting too hot and caking on the milk. Not the best if you have an aversion to plastic
this coffee machine simply does not make foam. I have had several other coffee machines, but this one is by far the weakest. I do not recommend it to anyone.
