Our verdict: The De'Longhi La Specialista Arte EC9155.MB ranks 10th of the 10 espresso machines we compare, with 8.0 out of 10.
De'Longhi La Specialista Arte EC9155.MB
8.0/10
The La Specialista Arte EC9155.MB is a manual espresso machine with a built-in burr grinder and a tamping station. It suits people who want help getting a consistent shot and are happy to do the milk by hand.
Built-in burr grinder with 8 settings and sensors that help dose consistently
Built-in tamping station with a lever gives consistent puck pressure
Choice of brew temperatures
Manual steam wand with a milk-texture guide
Keep in mind
Grind range is limited for fine tuning
Plastic parts around the grinder
Takes up more space than a pump-only machine
Why the De'Longhi EC9155.MB scores 8.0
Each bar shows where it places among the 10 espresso machines in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
How happy owners are10th of 10
How many rated it3rd of 10
How new it is4th of 10
Why it sits behind the Sage the Bambino SES450
The Sage the Bambino SES450 (8.1) edges the De'Longhi La Specialista Arte EC9155.MB (8.0) on the balance of all three parts.
About the De'Longhi EC9155.MB
The Arte is a manual machine, not a bean-to-cup. You grind into the portafilter, tamp with the lever station on the side, lock it in and brew. The grinder is built in, with 15 grind settings and a choice of single or double dose. A 15 bar pump and a thermoblock heater do the brewing, and the machine holds the water temperature steady during the shot. There are three temperature settings, and the John Lewis listing gives them as 92°C, 94°C and 96°C.
Controls are a few buttons and a dial, with no screen. Three preset recipes cover espresso, Americano (long black) and hot water. Milk is textured by hand on the steam wand, which the brand calls My LatteArt. There are no milk temperature or texture settings, so you judge it yourself. Maximum cup height is 120 mm.
The body is metal and plastic, in Metal Black. The water tank holds 1.7 litres. The brand's page lists a tamper as included and does not give a full contents list, so check the box contents with your retailer. The manual and quick-start guide are on the brand's support pages.
What owners report about the De'Longhi EC9155.MB
We found little feedback from UK owners of this exact model that we could open. The most detailed owner reviews we read are on an Australian review site for the same model code, so treat them as a guide to patterns and not as a UK verdict.
Owners there say the grinder and steam wand work well, the coffee is good once the settings are dialled in, and beginners find it easy to use. The small milk jug is a common gripe for big mugs. Several say shots vary even on the same settings, and some needed a good number of cups to get it right.
The complaints that matter most are about durability. Some owners report leaks, a pressure gauge that stopped working, frequent descale alerts, and plastic grinder mounting parts that broke or a chute that clogged. Some machines failed within months. Owners also say warranty repairs were slow. Others report few problems, so it is not every machine.
Who the De'Longhi EC9155.MB suits
It suits someone new to espresso who wants the grinder, tamping and dosing handled in one machine and is ready to learn milk texturing on a manual wand. The tamping station and dose control cut down the guesswork of a separate grinder.
Look elsewhere if you want a small footprint: the De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 is far slimmer. If you want a similar all-in-one with more of an enthusiast following, the Sage the Barista Express BES875 is the one to compare. The Gaggia Classic Evo Pro is a better fit if you plan to pair it with a separate grinder. Given the owner reports of failures, keep your receipt and register the machine.
Questions about the De'Longhi EC9155.MB
Is the De'Longhi La Specialista Arte EC9155.MB a bean-to-cup machine?
No. It is a manual espresso machine with a built-in grinder. You tamp the coffee, lock in the portafilter and texture milk by hand on the steam wand.
How many grind settings does the De'Longhi EC9155.MB have?
15, according to the brand's page. You can choose a single or double dose.
What brew temperatures does the De'Longhi La Specialista Arte EC9155.MB offer?
It has three temperature settings. John Lewis lists them as 92°C, 94°C and 96°C.
Does the De'Longhi EC9155.MB come with a tamper?
Yes. The brand's page lists a coffee tamper as included. It does not list a milk jug.
What size cup fits under the De'Longhi La Specialista Arte EC9155.MB?
Cups up to 120 mm tall. The water tank holds 1.7 litres.
Other espresso machine picks
The other badge winners in our espresso machines ranking.
Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. Too few review sites cover espresso machines for their verdicts to lead, so this ranking is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 22 models for this guide before settling on these ten.
Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in October 2026.
