Breville vs De'Longhi Espresso Machines: Which to Buy (2026)

Breville and De'Longhi are the two brands almost every first-time buyer ends up choosing between, and the honest answer is that both make good entry machines — but they are aimed at slightly different people. Breville (the Bambino) leans toward fast, forgiving, enthusiast-friendly espresso with strong steam and a clear upgrade path. De'Longhi (the Dedica) leans toward slim, simple, budget-friendly convenience. We put the two most cross-shopped models side by side below.

We are comparing the Breville Bambino and the De'Longhi Dedica Deluxe because they sit at the same price and target the same buyer. If you want the wider field, both appear in our beginner roundup, and the how to choose a machine guide covers the underlying specs.

The short answer

Quick picks

#	Product	Best for	Score	Price
01	Breville Bambino (BES450) The better machine for anyone who wants to make great espresso and grow into the hobby. Faster, more stable temperature, a much stronger steam wand, and a 54mm basket with a real upgrade path — at a modest premium over the Dedica.	Best for shot quality & steam	8.4	$299.95Amazon
02	De'Longhi Dedica Deluxe (EC685) The better machine if space and price are your priorities. At under six inches wide and about $50 less, it makes good espresso in the smallest footprint here. You give up steam power and the best upgrade path, but you save money and counter space.	Best for space & budget	7.2	$249.00Amazon

#ad · Live prices from the Amazon Product API, as of Jul 19, 2026. Where we have no verified live price, we show none — a gap beats a number that has rotted.

In detail

The picks, in full

Best for shot quality & steam

Breville Bambino (BES450)

ThermoJet 3s heat-upPID temperature54mm portafilterStrong steam wand

8.4/10

The better machine for anyone who wants to make great espresso and grow into the hobby. Faster, more stable temperature, a much stronger steam wand, and a 54mm basket with a real upgrade path — at a modest premium over the Dedica.

Shot quality: 8
Temp control: 8
Steam power: 8
Ease of use: 9
Value: 9

Pros

Near-instant, PID-controlled temperature — more forgiving to learn on
Noticeably more powerful steam wand for latte art
54mm ecosystem and non-pressurized baskets to grow into
Auto shot-volume settings

Cons

Costs a little more than the Dedica
Slightly larger footprint
Single boiler (a brief brew-to-steam wait)

Don't buy this if…

…your top priority is the smallest possible footprint or the lowest price — the Dedica wins on both.

$299.95View on Amazon

Price as of Jul 19, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's at checkout is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to Breville Bambino (BES450)

Best for space & budget

De'Longhi Dedica Deluxe (EC685)

6-inch wide51mm portafilterFast heat-upLower price

7.2/10

The better machine if space and price are your priorities. At under six inches wide and about $50 less, it makes good espresso in the smallest footprint here. You give up steam power and the best upgrade path, but you save money and counter space.

Shot quality: 7
Temp control: 7
Steam power: 6
Ease of use: 8
Value: 8

Pros

Extremely slim — the easiest machine to fit anywhere
Cheaper than the Bambino
Fast heat-up and simple operation

Cons

Weaker steam wand — milk texturing is harder
Pressurized baskets and a 51mm size limit upgrades
More plastic in the build

Don't buy this if…

…you care about latte art or want to progress to non-pressurized baskets — the Bambino is the better long-term machine.

$249.00View on Amazon

Price as of Jul 19, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's at checkout is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to De'Longhi Dedica Deluxe (EC685)

The head-to-head, spec by spec

Temperature control:Breville's ThermoJet heater reaches a stable brew temperature in about three seconds and holds it with a PID; the Dedica heats fast too but is less precise. Advantage Breville. Steam power:this is the clearest gap — the Bambino's wand textures milk properly for latte art, while the Dedica's is noticeably weaker. Advantage Breville. Size and price:the Dedica is under six inches wide and costs roughly $50 less, so if your counter or budget is tight, advantage De'Longhi. Upgrade path:the Bambino's 54mm basket and non-pressurized options grow with you; the Dedica's 51mm pressurized setup is more of a fixed destination. Advantage Breville.

Which brand is right for you

Buy the Breville Bambino if you want the best shot quality and steam, plan to make milk drinks, and want a machine you can grow into. It is the better machine for most people, and our overall beginner pick.
Buy the De'Longhi Dedica if counter space or budget is your hard constraint, you mostly drink straight espresso or simple milk drinks, and you want the slimmest, cheapest way into real espresso.

Whichever you choose, the same truth applies: pair it with a real burr grinder and fresh beans, or neither machine will show you what it can do. If you want a firm budget view of the whole field, see best espresso machines under $500.

How we picked

We did not lab-test this gear

Everyone in this category says they tested twenty machines. We have not pulled shots on every product here, and we say so. What we did instead: compiled the published specifications, cross-checked the manufacturer manuals, computed the running cost (wattage to energy, grams-per-shot to cost-per-cup), weighed aggregated owner reports, and scored each product against a published rubric. The scores are judgments from documented research — not measurements we took, because we do not have a test lab and we will not pretend we do. Where hands-on time would tell you more than a spec sheet, we flag it. Where a number came from someone else's work, we name them in Sources.

Questions

Frequently asked

Is Breville or De'Longhi better for espresso?

For shot quality, steam power and long-term upgrade potential, Breville (the Bambino) is the better machine for most home users. De'Longhi (the Dedica) wins on price and footprint. Neither is 'bad' — they're aimed at slightly different priorities.

Is the Breville Bambino worth more than the De'Longhi Dedica?

For most people, yes. The extra roughly $50 buys a much stronger steam wand, more precise temperature, and a better upgrade path (54mm non-pressurized baskets). If you want latte art or plan to keep improving, the Bambino is worth it. If space and price rule, the Dedica is the sensible pick.

Do both Breville and De'Longhi need a separate grinder?

Yes. The Bambino and the Dedica are both espresso machines without a built-in grinder, so both need a separate burr grinder for good results. If you want a machine that grinds for you, look at a bean-to-cup super-automatic like the De'Longhi Magnifica in our beginner roundup.

Keep reading

Receipts

Sources

We do not run a testing lab, and we do not pretend to. Where a measured number came from someone else's work, we name them and link them. Where we could not verify something, we say so on the page rather than quietly leaving it out. Read our full method.