Breville Barista Pro (BES878) vs De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro (EC9865M)
Same class, different tax brackets.
The La Specialista Maestro (EC9865M) runs ~24% more (listed in different currencies) — the split below is what the gap buys.
Breville
Strong consensusUS$699–849
The Barista Pro threads a real needle: genuine PID temperature control, a 30-setting conical grinder, and a 3-second heat-up in a single machine at a mid-range price. The ceiling on shot qua…
Full record & live prices →
De'Longhi
US$1,099–1,199 · CA$1,195–1,400
The Maestro bundles grind, dose, tamp, brew, and milk frothing into one stainless-steel chassis and wraps it in enough automation to catch rookie mistakes. Accept that the dual-thermoblock s…
Full record & live prices →The split
Where they actually differ
On 8 of 11 measures these two tie. The 3 rows below are the entire argument.
Barista Pro (BES878)
La Specialista Maestro (EC9865M)
Back-to-back drinks
La Specialista Maestro (EC9865M) leads, clearly
Parts & repair
Barista Pro (BES878) leads, clearly
Value per dollar
Barista Pro (BES878) leads, clearly
The price
Barista Pro (BES878) costs less, clearly
US$699–849· CA$1,195–1,400
weakerstronger
The counter’s vote
Looks barely figure in either machine’s record — the counter can sit this one out.
Barista Pro (BES878): Sleek, minimalist stainless design has broad kitchen approval, but polarizes against heirloom-lever and industrial aesthetics some espresso enthusiasts prefer.
La Specialista Maestro (EC9865M): Compact industrial design reads as kitchen-friendly without polarizing; functionality-first aesthetic does not drive purchases in the record.
Only the La Specialista Maestro (EC9865M): automatic milk texturing.
Where they tie: milk & steam · shot ceiling · ready when you are · reliability record · forgiving to learn on — don’t let a spec sheet invent a difference.
On the counter
The size difference, to scale
So — which one?
Take the Barista Pro (BES878) if —
- You plan to fix, not replace
- Every dollar has to earn its place
- The difference stays in your pocket — or goes into beans
Take the La Specialista Maestro (EC9865M) if —
- You host, and drinks come in rounds
- Milk should happen without you
Both columns reading true? Take the Barista Pro (BES878) and put the difference into fresh, roast-dated beans — they move the cup more than this choice will.
Known weak points
Barista Pro (BES878)
Thermal stability issues under sustained pulling, solenoid wear (steam side), inconsistent pre-infusion calibration over time, non-standard 54mm portafilter locks accessory ecosystem.
La Specialista Maestro (EC9865M)
Thermoblock temperature stability issues under sustained pulls; proprietary portafilter and basket sizes limit upgrade paths and third-party accessory availability.
For the row-by-row readers
The whole sheet, side by side
Matching rows fade back — the ink is where they differ.
Barista Pro (BES878)
La Specialista Maestro (EC9865M)
Type
Thermoblock / thermojet
Thermoblock / thermojet
Heat-up time
3 seconds
40 seconds
Steam power
2.5/5
3/5
Brew + steam at once
No
No
Guest recovery
2/5
3/5
Shot quality ceiling
3.5/5
3/5
PID temperature control
Yes
Yes
Milk system
Manual steam wand
Auto frother
One-touch drinks
2
8
Removable brew group
No
No
Hot-water tap
Yes
Yes
Cup clearance
10.2 cm
12 cm
Workflow demand
3/5
2/5
Maintenance
2.5/5
3/5
Noise
3.5/5
3/5
Build longevity
3/5
3/5
Dimensions
35.6 × 40.6 × 39.4 cm
41.9 × 36.8 × 46.5 cm
Wrong match-up? Change one side → — any two on file compare.
Still torn?
This page weighs them against each other. The finder weighs them against your mornings.
Two minutes of questions — milk, noise, budget, space — scored across everything on file. It’s honest when the answer is neither of these.
Take the two-minute finder →