Review: The De'Longhi La Specialista Arte coffee machine cures your caffeine cravings, but is it affordable?

Aucklanders have been suffering through almost five weeks of level 4 lockdown without something they love the most: Cafe quality barista-made coffee.

If you've been fiending for a flat white, the newest member of the De'Longhi La Specialista family has got you covered. 

The stylish, compact Arte is user-friendly and efficient - as well as being the most affordable machine in De'Longhi's La Specialista range. 

But is it worth giving up your daily cafe coffee fix? I've been using the Arte for the last week and here are my thoughts. 

The La Specialista Arte is stylish and compact.
The La Specialista Arte is stylish and compact. Photo credit: Supplied

The good 

One thing I love straight off the bat about the Arte is how quickly it heats up. Coffee machines I've had in the past take at least ten minutes to think about what they're doing before they deliver the goods,  but with the Arte you simply push the 'On' button and you're good to go. 

The Arte also has a built-in coffee bean grinder, with multiple settings to suit your preferred consistency of coffee. The easy-to-follow instructions explain what sort of consistency you should be aiming for, depending on the type of beans you're using, and the strength of coffee you prefer. 

The tampering guide allows the beans to grind neatly and smoothly straight into your shot, making sure you don't waste a granule of those desperately-needed coffee beans. 

The espresso shot and 'Latte Art' makes for one delicious drop.
The espresso shot and 'Latte Art' makes for one delicious drop. Photo credit: Supplied

La Specialiste's tagline is 'coffee styled to any occasion', and appropriately enough, the Arte has different settings for whatever type of coffee you're craving: One button for a simple espresso shot, and one for a long black. 

The 'LatteArt' milk wand is also a favourite addition of mine, and although I have frothed quite a few coffees in my time, this wand creates delicious latte-style steamed milk quickly and efficiently. The small size of the milk jug also ensures you don't over-pour the amount of milk needed, and end up crying over wasted milk.

The bad

To be perfectly honest, it was hard to fault this machine. Having said that, my need for a proper coffee during Auckland lockdown may be creating just a little bit of bias. 

One issue that that can't be overlooked is the price. Although the Arte is coined as the La Specialista's "most affordable machine",  it still comes with the hefty price tag of $899.99. 

The coffee bean grinder has multiple settings for suit your preferences.
The coffee bean grinder has multiple settings for suit your preferences. Photo credit: Supplied

If you currently spend around $5 a day on a coffee, you need to buy about 170 coffees before it works out as the cheaper option - although many of us could easily do that in less than half a year. 

However, there are some cheaper models on the market that do the trick when you're simply wanting a caffeine fix without the bells and whistles. 

The verdict 

The Arte is a coffee machine ideal for Kiwis who take coffee seriously but don't have a lot of time on their hands. 

All of the options you can make with the La Specialista Arte.
All of the options you can make with the La Specialista Arte. Photo credit: Supplied

If you're looking for a machine that extracts the best flavours from your preferred coffee beans, to make a strong cup of jo, this machine is definitely for you. 

But if you only need your coffee to be hot, basic and cheap, the Arte may be a bit out of your range.

Newshub was supplied a De'Longhi La Speciaista Arte for this review.