Gaggia E24
Score: 84/100
De'Longhi La Specialista Opera
Score: 84/100Rankings
The Gaggia Classic E24 is a semi-automatic espresso machine with a commercial-grade brass boiler and powerful steam wand for café-quality drinks. Its single-boiler design and heavy weight make it less convenient for quick use. Perfect for experienced home baristas seeking robust build and performance.
The De'Longhi La Specialista Opera is a semi-automatic espresso machine with an integrated conical burr grinder, smart tamping lever and 19-bar pump, delivering barista-level drinks and fast cold-brew. Its size, weight and limited grind settings can be drawbacks for small kitchens and advanced users. Best suited for intermediate home baristas who value convenience and built-in grinding over ultimate customization.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
2,100 mlbest | 2,000 ml | |
15 bar | 19 barbest | |
120 Vbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 1,350 Wbest | 1,550 W |
| ↓ lower better | 9.072 kgbest | 12.8 kg |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Performance(1) | ||
Pump Pressure (bar) | 15 bar | 19 bar |
Power & Energy(2) | ||
Voltage (V) | 120 V | 220-240 V |
Power Consumption (W) | 1350 W | 1550 W |
Capacity & Size(2) | ||
Water Tank Capacity (ml) | 2100 ml | 2000 ml |
Dimensions (HxWxD) | 361x203x241 mm | Width: 380 mm, Depth: 370 mm, Height: 445 mm |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (kg) | 9.07 kg | 12.8 kg |
Body Material | Steel | Stainless steel, Plastic, Aluminum |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Tom's Guide appreciates the large 2.1 L tank and robust build but warns that the lack of PID or adjustable OPV makes temperature management a challenge for newcomers. TechRadar calls the machine a "dream espresso machine" for coffee enthusiasts, emphasizing its solid construction and manual steam wand while noting the extra effort required to juggle brewing and steaming compared with fully automatic alternatives.
Direct consumer reviews are absent from the sources, but product listings suggest users value the reliable espresso pulls, strong steam performance, and solid build quality. The most common inferred complaints revolve around the learning curve for temperature stability and the pause needed between brewing and steaming due to the single‑boiler system.
Professional reviewers commend the La Specialista Opera for its smart tamping lever, rapid cold-brew capability, and precise temperature control, noting that it delivers barista-level espresso with minimal user effort. However, they criticize the limited grind settings and view the 19-bar pump claim as marketing hype, while also pointing out the machine's sizable footprint and weight as potential drawbacks for smaller kitchens.
Everyday users appreciate the machine's ease of use, especially the one-touch presets and quick cold-brew function, and they praise the quality of micro-foam from the steam wand. Recurring complaints focus on the grinder's limited fineness, the bulkiness of the unit, and occasional extraction inconsistencies with non-standard beans.
