In brief: how we read the data
Based on spec sheets, not on measurements of our own.
Start with ground coffee or pods
De'Longhi Pump Espresso Coffee Machine Dedica EC685.M
Entry-level bracket, ESE pod compatible, 14.9 cm wide, with a thermoblock and a cup warmer. No grinder needed on day one.
- Pump pressure
- 15 bar
- Heating system
- Thermoblock
- Water tank
- 1.1 l
- Width
- 14.9 cm
Price at Amazon:£149.00Including VAT; delivery may be extra. The price is checked once a day and may have changed since. The price shown on Amazon at the time of purchase is the one that applies.
Regular price on the manufacturer’s website:£229.99
Start with fresh beans
Sage the Bambino (SES450)
Dual-wall baskets for pre-ground coffee and single-wall baskets for freshly ground: you can begin with either. 54 mm portafilter, PID control, 1.4 l tank.
- Pump pressure
- 15 bar
- Heating system
- ThermoJet
- Portafilter diameter
- 54 mm
- Water tank
- 1.4 l
Regular price on the manufacturer’s website:£329.95Price stated by the manufacturer, excluding promotions. The retailer’s current price may differ.
One box, grinder included
De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Manual espresso maker EC9155.MB
A built-in conical grinder with 15 settings, single-wall baskets, a pressure gauge and a 1.7 l tank, in the mid-range bracket.
- Pump pressure
- 15 bar
- Heating system
- Thermoblock
- Water tank
- 1.7 l
- Width
- 28.5 cm
Price at Amazon:£349.00Including VAT; delivery may be extra. The price is checked once a day and may have changed since. The price shown on Amazon at the time of purchase is the one that applies.
Regular price on the manufacturer’s website:£529.99
Milk frothed for you
Sage the Bambino Plus (SES500)
The Bambino with an automatic steam wand and a 1.9 l tank, one price bracket higher. The wand can also be used by hand.
- Pump pressure
- 15 bar
- Heating system
- ThermoJet
- Portafilter diameter
- 54 mm
- Water tank
- 1.9 l
Regular price on the manufacturer’s website:£399.95Price stated by the manufacturer, excluding promotions. The retailer’s current price may differ.
The models compared on the data
Table scrolls sideways →
| Model | Offer | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 De'Longhi Stilosa Manual espresso maker EC230.BK / EC260 | Yes | not stated | not stated | Steam wand | not stated | 1 l | 21 cm | Entry level | £89.00 | £105.99 | Check price on Amazon |
 De'Longhi Pump Espresso Coffee Machine Dedica EC685.M | Yes | not stated | not stated | Steam wand | Thermoblock | 1.1 l | 14.9 cm | Entry level | £149.00 | £229.99 | Check price on Amazon |
 Krups Virtuoso XP442C40 Pump Espresso Coffee Machine | Yes | not stated | not stated | Steam wand | Thermoblock | 1 l | not stated | Entry level | not stated | not stated | Check price on Amazon |
 De'Longhi Dedica Duo manual coffee maker EC890.M | not stated | not stated | not stated | Steam wand | Thermoblock | 1.1 l | 14.9 cm | Mid-range | not stated | £279.99 | Check price on Amazon |
 Sage the Bambino (SES450) | not stated | Pressurised and single-wall | 54 mm | Steam wand | ThermoJet | 1.4 l | not stated | Mid-range | not stated | £329.95 | Check price on Amazon |
 De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Manual espresso maker EC9155.MB | No | No | not stated | Steam wand | Thermoblock | 1.7 l | 28.5 cm | Mid-range | £349.00 | £529.99 | Check price on Amazon |
 Sage the Bambino Plus (SES500) | not stated | Pressurised and single-wall | 54 mm | Automatic frother | ThermoJet | 1.9 l | not stated | Upper mid-range | not stated | £399.95 | Check price on Amazon |
No model matches this selection.
Sources: manufacturer spec sheets and product pages. “not stated” means not stated by the manufacturer or not yet verified by us. Prices at Amazon: as of 10 Nov 2026, 10:31, checked once a day. They may have changed since; the price shown on Amazon at the time of purchase applies. Price stated by the manufacturer, excluding promotions. The retailer’s current price may differ. Photos: the respective manufacturers. Offer: Paid link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The short answer: three ways to begin
- If you want to spend as little as possible and start today, choose an entry-level machine and feed it pre-ground coffee or ESE pods: the De’Longhi Dedica EC685, the Stilosa or the Krups Virtuoso.
- If you intend to learn with fresh beans, choose a machine whose baskets are documented and add a grinder: the Sage Bambino, or the Bambino Plus if you want the milk frothed for you.
- If you want one appliance on the worktop, La Specialista Arte has the grinder built in.
The Dedica Duo sits between the first two routes: the Dedica’s narrow body, with touch controls and a cold brew recipe, in the mid-range bracket.
The real first decision: what goes in the basket
A beginner’s choice is less about the machine than about the coffee.
Pre-ground coffee and ESE pods need no grinder. ESE pods are the simplest: a measured, pressed dose in paper. Compatibility is stated for the Dedica EC685, the Krups Virtuoso and the Stilosa EC260. On the Stilosa, mind the model: the EC230 is sold under the same name, and pod compatibility is not stated for it. For the Dedica Duo, De’Longhi’s manual mentions a pod filter on certain models only, so the cell is empty.
Freshly ground coffee needs a grinder that goes fine enough for espresso, and a basket made for it. This is where the spec sheets matter:
- Sage supplies both kinds of basket with the Bambino and Bambino Plus. Its manual assigns dual-wall (pressurised) baskets to pre-ground or older coffee, and single-wall baskets to freshly ground coffee. You can start with the first and move to the second.
- De’Longhi states single-wall baskets for La Specialista Arte, which makes sense for a machine that grinds its own coffee.
- For the Dedica, the Dedica Duo, the Stilosa and the Krups, the basket type is not named. We do not fill the gap.
In the table, “Pressurised and single-wall” on the Sage machines says exactly that: both kinds are in the box.
Five things to check on the spec sheet
1. Width, if the kitchen is small
The two Dedicas are 14.9 cm wide; the Stilosa is 21 cm and La Specialista Arte 28.5 cm. We publish no width for the Bambino, the Bambino Plus or the Krups: the manufacturers’ figures are contradictory or given without saying which dimension is which. Remember that a separate grinder needs its own patch of worktop.
2. Water tank
From 1 l on the Stilosa and the Krups to 1.9 l on the Bambino Plus. An espresso uses little water, but steaming milk and rinsing add to it.
3. Portafilter diameter
Sage states 54 mm for both Bambinos. De’Longhi and Krups state none. You will want the figure the day you buy a better tamper or a spare basket, because both are sold by diameter.
4. Heating and temperature control
A thermoblock is stated for the Dedica EC685, the Dedica Duo, the Krups Virtuoso and La Specialista Arte. The two Bambinos have Sage’s ThermoJet system, PID temperature control and a heat-up time of 3 s by the manufacturer’s account. De’Longhi does not specify the Stilosa’s heating system.
5. Milk
Six of the seven have a manual steam wand: you hold the jug and judge the foam yourself. The Bambino Plus automates it, with adjustable milk temperature and texture. If cappuccino is the reason you are buying, that difference may be worth a bracket; if you drink espresso, it is not.
What a first set-up involves
A portafilter machine is one part of a kit. Besides the machine, you will handle a tamper to press the coffee, a jug for milk and, with fresh beans, a grinder. What is supplied varies: Sage includes a tamper with both Bambinos and adds a levelling tool with the Plus; Krups includes a combined spoon and tamper; La Specialista Arte comes with a dosing and tamping kit.
The grinder is the piece people forget to budget for. The machine and grinder pairings page puts both halves in the same sum, and the grinder comparison explains what to look for. Once you have one, the grind size guide shows how to adjust it.
The seven models, one by one
Entry level, the basics
De'Longhi Stilosa Manual espresso maker EC230.BK / EC260
De’Longhi’s simplest portafilter machine: a manual steam wand and room for cups up to 11 cm tall. The spec sheet is thin: no heating system, no basket type, no portafilter diameter.
- Pump pressure
- 15 bar
- Water tank
- 1 l
- ESE pod compatible
- Yes
- Maximum cup height
- 11 cm
- Width
- 21 cm
Price at Amazon:£89.00Including VAT; delivery may be extra. The price is checked once a day and may have changed since. The price shown on Amazon at the time of purchase is the one that applies.
Regular price on the manufacturer’s website:£105.99
Entry level, narrow
De'Longhi Pump Espresso Coffee Machine Dedica EC685.M
The best-documented machine in the entry-level bracket: thermoblock, cup warmer, ESE pods, manual steam wand. To use beans, add a grinder. See how it compares with the Sage in Dedica EC685 vs Sage Bambino.
- Width
- 14.9 cm
- Heating system
- Thermoblock
- Water tank
- 1.1 l
- ESE pod compatible
- Yes
- Cup warmer
- Yes
Price at Amazon:£149.00Including VAT; delivery may be extra. The price is checked once a day and may have changed since. The price shown on Amazon at the time of purchase is the one that applies.
Regular price on the manufacturer’s website:£229.99
Entry level, with ESE filter
Krups Virtuoso XP442C40 Pump Espresso Coffee Machine
Thermoblock, removable tank, cup warmer, manual steam wand, and filters for one cup, two cups and ESE pods. Dimensions and weight are not in our database.
- Pump pressure
- 15 bar
- Heating system
- Thermoblock
- Water tank
- 1 l
- ESE pod compatible
- Yes
- Cup warmer
- Yes
Mid-range, touch controls
De'Longhi Dedica Duo manual coffee maker EC890.M
The Dedica’s footprint with three preset recipes: espresso, double espresso and cold brew. It weighs 4.2 kg. Basket type is not specified.
- Width
- 14.9 cm
- Weight
- 4.2 kg
- Drinks advertised by the manufacturer
- 3
- Cold brew function
- Yes
- Water tank
- 1.1 l
Regular price on the manufacturer’s website:£279.99Price stated by the manufacturer, excluding promotions. The retailer’s current price may differ.
Mid-range, both basket types
Sage the Bambino (SES450)
The machine to grow into: start on dual-wall baskets and pre-ground coffee, move to single-wall baskets when the grinder arrives. Manual steam wand, hot water function.
- Portafilter diameter
- 54 mm
- Pressurised baskets
- Pressurised and single-wall
- PID temperature control
- Yes
- Water tank
- 1.4 l
- Hot water function
- Yes
Regular price on the manufacturer’s website:£329.95Price stated by the manufacturer, excluding promotions. The retailer’s current price may differ.
Mid-range, grinder built in
De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Manual espresso maker EC9155.MB
No second appliance to buy. The pressure gauge gives you feedback on each shot, and brew temperature is adjustable. It does not take ESE pods. De’Longhi’s list price is a bracket above the selling prices on which our bracket is based.
- Grind settings
- 15
- Pressurised baskets
- No
- Pressure gauge
- Yes
- Water tank
- 1.7 l
- Width
- 28.5 cm
Price at Amazon:£349.00Including VAT; delivery may be extra. The price is checked once a day and may have changed since. The price shown on Amazon at the time of purchase is the one that applies.
Regular price on the manufacturer’s website:£529.99
Upper mid-range, automatic milk
Sage the Bambino Plus (SES500)
The Bambino’s espresso side with an automatic steam wand, a stainless steel portafilter and a larger tank. Still no grinder.
- Milk system
- Automatic frother
- Portafilter diameter
- 54 mm
- PID temperature control
- Yes
- Water tank
- 1.9 l
- Heat-up time (manufacturer figure)
- 3 s
Regular price on the manufacturer’s website:£399.95Price stated by the manufacturer, excluding promotions. The retailer’s current price may differ.
What a beginner will not learn from these specs
The order of this page rests on manufacturer data. We have not yet pulled a shot on any of these machines, so we cannot tell you how forgiving each one is, how the espresso tastes or how loud the pump is; our own measurements will start with an entry-level espresso machine and a grinder, and will be published as such.
The data also has holes that matter to a beginner: basket type is unnamed on four of the seven machines, and portafilter diameter is published by Sage alone.
Go further
- All nine espresso machines, including the Barista Express and the Ninja Luxe Café: the full espresso comparison.
- Portafilter, tamper, basket, thermoblock: the glossary.
- Not sure a portafilter machine is for you? Beans, pods or espresso machine compares the three systems.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best espresso machine for a beginner?
It depends on the coffee you intend to use. With pre-ground coffee or ESE pods, the De'Longhi Dedica EC685 is the entry-level machine with the most data behind it: thermoblock, 1.1 litre tank, 14.9 cm wide. With fresh beans and a grinder, the Sage Bambino states a 54 mm portafilter and supplies both pressurised and non-pressurised baskets. If you want the grinder built in, De'Longhi La Specialista Arte has one with 15 settings.
Can I use pre-ground supermarket coffee in an espresso machine?
The six machines without a grinder all take ground coffee. Sage's manual directs pre-ground coffee to the dual-wall baskets supplied with the Bambino and Bambino Plus. The Dedica EC685, the Stilosa EC260 and the Krups Virtuoso also accept ESE pods. La Specialista Arte grinds its own beans and comes with single-wall baskets.
Do I need to buy a grinder straight away?
Not necessarily. Six of the seven machines have no grinder, and all six can be started on pre-ground coffee. A grinder becomes necessary when you want to use fresh beans, and in particular the single-wall baskets of the Sage machines, for which Sage's manual specifies freshly ground coffee. Budget for it from the start even if you buy it later.
What comes in the box, and what will I still need?
It varies. Sage supplies a tamper with the Bambino and Bambino Plus, and a levelling tool with the Plus. Krups supplies a combined spoon and tamper. La Specialista Arte comes with a dosing and tamping kit. Beyond that, a milk jug if none is supplied, and, sooner or later, a grinder for every machine except La Specialista Arte.
Would a bean-to-cup machine be easier for a beginner?
It asks less of you: a bean-to-cup machine grinds, doses and brews at the press of a button, while a portafilter machine leaves those steps to you. If the routine does not appeal, compare bean-to-cup machines instead. If it does, the seven machines on this page are the starting points in our database.