De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro EC9885M vs Rancilio Silvia Pro X

Hands-on espresso with a grinder, assisted tamping and both an automatic and a manual milk system, plus cold brew in minutes

Scores higher on ease of use & learning curve, maintenance & cleaning, value for money.

The Silvia grown up: two boilers, two PIDs and soft infusion in a 25 cm wide body

Scores higher on shot quality & extraction, build quality & durability, steam power & milk texturing.

• +Two milk systems: one-touch LatteCrema Hot and a manual steam wand.
• +Built-in 15-setting grinder with Sensor Grinding and lever-operated Smart Tamping.
• +Cold brew and iced espresso in under five minutes.
• +Five brew temperatures, 8 presets, and a 2.5 litre tank.

• −Heavy at 35.28 lb and large at 14 x 16.5 x 18.5 in.
• −De'Longhi does not publish the portafilter size.
• −More automation means less room for fine manual control than a separate grinder and machine.

• +Two boilers with a PID controller each, so brew and steam temperatures are both set exactly.
• +Variable Soft Infusion, an adjustable low pressure pre-infusion.
• +A brass group and chrome-plated brass portafilter, built like a commercial machine.
• +Only 250 mm wide, narrow for a dual boiler.
• +A pressure gauge and a display that doubles as a shot timer.

• −$2,195, and no grinder.
• −Rancilio's two sites disagree on basket size: 8/16 g on one, 8/18 g on the other.
• −No published pump type, warranty or warm-up time.
• −20 kg, which is a machine you place once and leave.