Breville vs. Delonghi: Specs, Price, Review

DeLonghi and Breville are two of the most popular brands that make regular coffee and espresso machines and each has several models in the market.

True coffee aficionados that have been brewing coffee from the comfort of their homes for long already have a preference when it comes to the two brands, but the same cannot be said for many other coffee drinkers.

What makes things confusing is that both Breville and DeLonghi have some top-notch models in the market and they make similar categories of coffee makers. Also, the price range for their products is quite similar.

But, there are still a few elements that set products from the two companies apart that should help you pick between them, and below we highlight some of them.

Comparison Chart

Breville vs. DeLonghi

Both Breville and DeLonghi have been in business for many decades now and have a presence in dozens of countries across the world.

And while both companies did not start off as coffee equipment manufacturers, they have been making more and more coffee makers over the years which now make up a huge chunk of business for both.

As you try to figure out which brand to go for, the most important thing is to understand how they differ, but it is also worth knowing where each comes from.

1. Brand Origins

There are many good coffee maker brands out there, but Breville and DeLonghi are two of the oldest ones, and this should explain why you can find them in almost every country in the western world. But, the two companies come from two different parts of the world.

Breville

Breville is credited for making the original sandwich toaster which was a huge success when it was launched in 1974. And they later went on to make several other home appliances like the vacuum cleaners.

But, it was not until the early 2000s that Breville made an impact in the home espresso makers market with their line of products.

Now they make everything from manual espresso makers to automatic espresso machines and capsule-based coffee makers like Nespresso and they are based in several countries such as Canada, USA, and New Zealand.

DeLonghi

Like Breville, DeLonghi was originally a manufacturer of small household appliances and small industrial parts when they started the business.

DeLonghi is a family owned business and the older of the two brands given that it started operation in 1902 and incorporated in 1950.

From its inception to date, DeLonghi has been making various types of household appliances and their catalog of products is always expanding as they venture into new markets.

Although they had been making coffee makers for quite some time, the company started getting noticed in 2008 as more and more coffee drinkers started buying their espresso machines.

The company now makes almost all kinds of coffee and espresso makers from the manual types to the semi-automatic and fully automatic models. And they have also partnered with other companies like Nespresso to manufacturer capsule-based espresso machines.

2. Water Reservoir Size

Water reservoir size for both Breville and DeLonghi coffee makers will depend on the particular model you are buying given that both companies have different capacity coffee makers.

But, for the sake of comparison, we will use the capacity that you get on two of the most popular coffee maker from the two brands which are also within the same price range.

The two coffee makers are DeLonghi ESAM3300 with a water reservoir capacity of 60 oz and Breville BES870XL with 67 oz reservoir capacity. For many other semi-automatics and fully automatic coffee makers from the two companies, the reservoir will be very close to what you get on these two coffee makers.

On average, Breville coffee makers will typically have slightly larger water tanks than DeLonghi to allow you to make a few extra cups of coffee before refilling.

3. Style Statement

The aesthetic appeal or style statement of a coffee maker is more subjective given that coffee drinkers have varying tastes and preferences.

However, Breville coffee makers are famous for their signature state of the art design with a sleek finish that will complement any kitchen decor.

While still at the sleekness, DeLonghi coffee makers are some of the thinnest in the market and this means that they not only look better but will also save more counter space. Also, their coffee makers boast of a statement-making stainless steel case.

4. Milk Frothing System

Milk frothing system is a vital feature to consider when choosing a coffee maker brand given that many coffee drinkers prefer milk-based beverages like lattes and cappuccinos.

Most coffee makers from Breville and DeLonghi will use conventional steam wands to help you make frothed milk for your milk-based beverages.

With Breville, you will often get a longer and more articulated wand from models like the popular BES870XL which will always deliver superior milk foam for your beverages.

On the opposite hand, popular DeLonghi coffee makers will often include a pannarello wand which uses a more mechanical process to froth the milk. And while some users might not like these DeLonghi steam wands, they are excellent for coffee lovers that are into latte art.

5. Boiler System

When it comes to the boiler system, DeLonghi coffee makers will often beat Breville models hands down given that they have double boilers.

Double boilers come with several advantages key among them being that it offers speed and convenience to allow you to make cup after cup.

However, the presence of double boilers in the DeLonghi coffee makers also makes them a little bulkier and hence harder to move around.

Another important thing to note is that there are still DeLonghi coffee makers with a single boiler and many Breville machines with double boilers. Hence, when using the boiler system to compare them, you should look at the specific models from the two companies you are thinking of buying

6.  Ease of Use and Cleaning

Ease of use and cleaning are always one of the selling points for most coffee makers. Although it is hard to generalize which between Breville and DeLonghi has the easiest coffee makers to use, there are certain things that you can use to try and weigh the two.

Key among these things is the user interface. If you buy super automatic coffee makers from either of the companies, you are likely to get a machine with a color touch display that should be super easy to use.

However, with the less automated models, DeLonghi seems to have a slight edge given that it comes with programmable user-interface to allow you to program the machine and leave it to do the rest for you. But, even Breville machines are quite easy to use given that they have simple and self-explanatory button controls.

For both brands, models with self-cleaning options like the full and super-automatic types and removable reservoir will often give you an easier time when cleaning. But, generally many people will find DeLonghi coffee makers a little easier to clean given their less complicated design.

7. Average Coffee Maker Prices

It is possible to get a DeLonghi coffee maker for even under $100 like the EC155 15-bar pump espresso maker, but this is hardly the case with Breville.

When buying a Breville coffee maker, the least you can spend to get a good quality coffee maker is a little under $200 which will get you the BES250BSS with a 15-bar Italian pump.

The average price ranges for products from the two brands are almost the same, but for most coffee maker types, Breville products seem to be a little pricier than what you get from DeLonghi.

Which One Should You Buy?

Whether you go for a Breville or DeLonghi coffee maker, you can be sure that you will have a high-quality machine that will help you make some amazing coffee.

Both brands also have a wide variety of products, and most of their coffee makers are also designed to be highly versatile and easy to use and maintain.

But, if you have a larger budget and are a more experienced coffee maker that can easily figure out a more complicated coffee maker, you will be better off with Breville.

For the beginners and inexperienced coffee lovers that are shopping for a coffee maker on a more modest budget, DeLonghi will work for you.