When I unboxed the new-ish De'Longhi Linea Classic, I was a little stumped. "Huh," I thought to myself as I pinched the wide steam wand between my fingers. "Well, I'll be."
This type of steam wand is called a Pannarello wand. These wands are aimed at beginners. As you might be able to tell by looking at it, Pannarello wands are thicker and wider. These styles of wands force air into the milk continuously, so you don't have to do any fancy-schmancy vortex-making or aeration.
While this may be good for some types of home baristas, a Pannarello wand is my worst enemy. As a former barista turned coffee snob, I'm a sucker for the thinner, commercial-style steam wands. For an espresso machine to be crowned one of the best espresso machines, it needs to be usable for beginners and semi-pros alike. As easy to use and attractive as the Linea Classic is, it's just not for me. If you're a bit of a coffee snob yourself, I'll tell you exactly what you should get instead.
What's wrong with the De'Longhi Linea Classic?
As I said earlier, the Linea Classic isn't an inherently awful machine. Actually, if you value a sleek, modern appearance and usability over fancy coffee, then it might be perfect for you.
As per my coffee snob status, I need an espresso machine that can help me relive my coffeehouse days. A powerful steam wand, single-walled portafilters (or compatible third-party accessories) and premium features like pre-infusion and PID controllers are my non-negotiables.
Unfortunately, the Linea Classic just isn't for me. It falls at the first hurdle: its steam wand.
Take a look at these two images below. The first image shows the steam wand on the Breville Bambino (just $70 more than the Linea Classic): the second shows the steam wand of the Linea Classic.
the De'Longhi Linea Classic can only froth the milk violently.
As you can see, the steam wands look completely different. You might think this is just a superficial aberration, but you'd be wrong. The Bambino has a powerful jet of steam that aerates milk delicately. However, the De'Longhi Linea Classic can only froth the milk violently.
If you're a cappuccino addict, you might not even notice the difference. Historically, cappuccinos are made with drier (frothier) milk, so I know that's what the Linea Classic's steam wand is designed for. However, it's not for me. It's just not versatile enough.
When I'm at home, I don't just make flat whites on my Breville Bambino Plus. I make chai lattes, matcha lattes, and hot chocolates using my Bambino Plus' steam wand. If I had the Linea Classic instead, I wouldn't be able to do this.
So what do I recommend instead?
Thankfully, there are loads of other espresso machines available. I've reviewed every single one of these, so you know my recommendations are genuine. Personally, I'd go for the Bambino if you can spend a little more but want a barista-worthy machine, or you could splurge on the $499 Bambino Plus or La Specialista Arte Evo.
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