De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine: two-minute review
The De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine might be one of the best espresso machines for new and experienced baristas alike. The reasonable price tag, simplicity of use, and relatively compact size make it an appealing choice for just about anyone.
While it's not completely automated like a capsule system or a high-end machine that includes a coffee bean grinder and touch screen, it's simple enough to use and takes some of the guesswork out of brewing espresso. A totally manual espresso machine requires you to measure and heat your water to just the right temperature and decide the right amount of pressure to use for your brew. The De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine eliminates the need for any of that; just fill the water tank with cold water; the water quantity, temperature, and pressure is decided for you. Just load up the portafilter with enough finely ground coffee for one or two shots of espresso, insert the portafilter, and press a button for either a single or double shot. Within seconds, you have a beautiful espresso (or two.)
It's all pretty straightforward, though it's important to tamp your coffee grounds just right. Tamping too firmly causes the water to brew through too slowly, and the espresso will be too intense and bitter. Tamping too loosely lets the water through too fast, and your brew will be too light and sour. If you don't like the automatic setting for water quantity, you can can change the factory setting to allow more or less water to be used.
The frothing wand froths or steams your milk of choice. A setting on the wand lets you choose between frothing and steaming milk. You can also dispense hot water though the wand, which is perfect for making an Americano (espresso with added hot water.) After using the frothing wand, the machine will be too hot to brew espresso; you'll need to run a cooling cycle or give it time to cool down.
De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine: price and availability
- Available at many online and brick-and-mortar retailers
- Retails for $199.95 (£154 / AU$313)
- Discounted on Amazon
De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine is available directly from De'Longhi as well as most big box retailers both online and in brick-and-mortar stores. The retail price is $199.95 (about £154 / AU$313) but you can find a slight discount on Amazon. At the time of writing it's only available to buy in the US.
De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine: specs
De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine: design
- Small footprint and lightweight design
- Everything you need except coffee and cups included
- Fairly straightforward to use but not foolproof
The De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine is an attractive blend of shiny chrome and plastic. All of the pieces are just heavy enough feel like high quality. It looks nice in my kitchen and would likely look good with just about any decor.
On the front of the machine, you see a pressure gauge and four buttons. On the right side are your power button and frothing wand selection button. On the left are the single espresso and double espresso buttons. The frothing wand control dial is on the right side of the machine and the water tank is at the back.
At just 8.89 x 11.14 x 12 inches (22.6 x 28.3 x 31 cm), the De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine doesn't take up a ton of space in your kitchen. It's lightweight, too, at just nine pounds (4.1 kg), which is handy if you need to store it away and take it out every time you use it. The water tank has a pretty decent capacity, 57.48 fluid ounces (1.7 liters). I was able to brew a lot of espresso before I needed to refill the tank.
The portafilter and two filters (single and double espresso-sized) are included in the box. The portafilter is the device with the handle that holds the filters. The scoop that comes in the box is perfectly-sized for a single espresso brew, just use two scoops to make a double. The other end of the scoop is your tamper, which you will use to press the grounds firmly but gently, forming a puck of coffee in the filter. If you tamp too hard or not hard enough, the espresso won't taste very good.
None of the parts of the De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine are dishwasher-safe, so you'll need to wash all of these by hand after each brew.
If you want to get fancy, you can buy endless accessories, such as a coffee bean grinder, food scale to weigh your coffee, frothing mug, and of course fancy cups and spoons. None of that is included, nor are they necessary to get you started.
On the back of the machine is the water tank, which can easily removed, refilled, and replaced as needed. The wand can be adjusted to dispense hot water, heat your milk, or heat and froth your milk at the same time. It pulls apart for cleaning, which you'll need to do every time you use it.
The drip tray prevents a mess on your counter. It's easy to remove and clean, which you'll only need to do once in a while. Like all of the other parts, it's hand-wash only.
- Design score: 4.5/5
De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine: performance
- Produces beautiful espresso drinks with ease
- Frother is effective
- Getting brew just right takes trial and error
The De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine performs perfectly in the sense that you load up your coffee in the portafilter, press a button, and beautiful espresso brews every time. However, espresso is a little bit more complicated than that. Taste is highly subjective, but some of my brews were definitely better than others. Getting it just right isn't easy.
If you're not a fan of the factory settings, you can change them to brew your espressos with more or less water than standard. I stuck with the factory settings for my testing.
I'm not a trained barista myself, my usual daily espresso comes from my favorite Nespresso machine. So I called upon my middle child, who has taken a class in brewing espresso. He has a fully manual espresso machine at home, so he was excited to try the much easier-to-use De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine. He gave me some tips for brewing better-tasting espresso, such as loosening up the grounds after scooping but before tamping. He was thrilled with the results.
We did a blind taste test with him, my oldest daughter, my husband, and I, comparing espresso from the Linea Classic to a Nespresso capsule. The results were split down the middle. Everyone's tastes are so different, it's hard to say definitively what is a good espresso and what isn't.
There are definitely some quirks with the milk frother. It is quite effective in both steaming and frothing milk, both dairy and non-dairy. It also dispenses hot water, which is handy for making Americano-style (diluted) espresso. However, it doesn't click into place, nor does it click when switching from "hot milk" to "cappuccino" mode. I like to have that confirmation click on devices like this, but you get used to it.
Press the steam button to go into frothing wand mode, and then turn the dial on the side to operate the wand. The biggest quirk about this frothing wand is that once you use it, you can't brew espresso again immediately.
Once you've frothed or steamed some milk, the machine will likely be too hot to brew espresso again right away. Before you can brew again, you'll need to run a cooling cycle by opening the steam dial to dispense steam and hot water until the heating element has cooled. Alternatively, you can wait for the heating element to cool down on its own.
Cleanup is pretty easy. After brewing, you'll need to dump out the used coffee puck, I used a plastic utensil to scrape out most of it and a paper towel to wipe out the rest before washing. You'll want to be careful not to let grounds go down your sink drain, even if you have a disposal. Coffee will clog your pipes like cement, so compost or throw away the used coffee grounds. Then just hand wash all of the parts you used. You'll also need to descale the machine periodically, as per the manufacturer's instructions.
- Performance score: 4/5
Should you buy the De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine?
Buy it if
You want to make authentic espresso drinks with ease
In just a few minutes from start to finish, you can make real espresso and espresso-based beverages like cappuccino. It's quicker and easier to use than similarly-priced fully manual machines.
You want to make real espresso on a budget
At less than $200, the De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine is a solid entry in the home espresso machine market.
You don't have a ton of space
The lightweight and compact De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine fits into just about any kitchen. It's similar in size to a small, no-frills drip coffee machine.
Don't buy it if
You don't want to put in more effort than pressing a button
While brewing espresso with the De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine isn't hard, it's certainly not as easy as just popping in a pod or pressing the button on a fully automatic machine.
You want a super consistent taste
While the factors of water and pressure are taken care of for you, you still need to grind, measure, and tamp your coffee just right to get the best taste.
De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine: also consider
Breville Bambino Plus
This is one of the best espresso machines currently on the market. While pricier, this highly customizable machine makes amazing espresso and espresso-based drinks. In the UK, Breville products are known as Sage.
Read our full Breville Bambino Plus review
De'Longhi La Specialista Touch
This semi-automatic espresso machine has a frothing wand, coffee bean grinder, and a touch screen so you can make nine different custom drinks with the touch of a button.
Read our full De'Longhi La Specialista Touch review
How I tested the De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine
I brewed a bunch of espressos and made a few cappuccinos with the De'Longhi Linea Classic Espresso Machine over the course of several weeks. I carefully cleaned the machine before use and between each use. The coffee I brewed was De'Longhi's own espresso blend. I used filtered water from my refrigerator's water dispenser, refilling the water tank as needed. For the cappuccinos, I tried both low-calorie almond milk and whole dairy milk, cold from the refrigerator.
First reviewed April 2025
