De'Longhi La Specialista Upgrades: The Accessories Worth Getting

The La Specialista is one of the best mid-range espresso machines you can buy - built-in grinder, sensor dosing, active temperature control, and on most models a genuinely good steam wand. It does a lot for you out of the box. But there's a clear ceiling on the stock setup, and a few well-chosen 51mm upgrades lift it from good to genuinely dialled in.

Here's what's actually worth adding, in order of impact - plus which upgrades matter for your La Specialista, because they're not all the same machine.

First: which La Specialista do you have?

The upgrades that help you depend on which model you own, so it's worth knowing where you sit:

• La Specialista Arte (EC9155, EC9255) - the entry model. You dose and tamp yourself using the included guide, so puck-prep upgrades matter most here.
• La Specialista (EC9335) and Prestigio (EC9355) - these add the Smart Tamping Station, which tamps for you at the pull of a lever. That changes which tools are worth buying (see the tamper section).
• La Specialista Maestro (EC9665, EC9865) / Opera / Touch - the top of the range, with sensor grinding and smart tamping.

Every one of them uses a 51mm portafilter, so all the accessories below are 51mm - but a couple of the recommendations shift depending on whether your machine tamps for you. We'll flag those as we go. (Not sure what size or fitting you need? See our De'Longhi portafilter size guide.)

1. Bottomless portafilter - see what your machine is actually doing

This is the single highest-impact upgrade, and it's where everyone should start.

The stock spouted portafilter hides your extraction behind two chrome spouts. A bottomless (naked) portafilter strips those away so you can watch the shot pour straight off the basket — and suddenly every flaw is visible in real time. Channelling, uneven distribution, a dose that's off: they all show up as spraying, squirting or a lopsided flow instead of a smooth, even stream. It's the fastest way to actually understand and improve your espresso, and it looks superb doing it.

The La Specialista range uses its own 51mm portafilter (not the same as the Dedica's, despite the shared diameter), and we stock two:

• La Specialista 51mm Bottomless Portafilter - Almond Solid Wood - warm timber handle, classic barista look
• La Specialista 51mm Bottomless Portafilter - Ergonomic Timber Handle - contoured for comfort and daily use

Both fit the La Specialista range (EC9155 / EC9255 / EC9335 / EC9355 / EC9665) and the EC950M Dedica Maestro, and both include a basket. If you're unsure about your exact model, get in touch and we'll confirm before you order.

2. A single-wall (non-pressurised) basket - the taste unlock

A bottomless portafilter shows you your extraction; a single-wall basket actually improves it.

Many machines ship with a pressurised (dual-wall) basket that forces crema through a single pinhole. It's forgiving of a rough grind, but it artificially throttles the shot and masks what your coffee is really doing. Switching to a single-wall (non-pressurised) basket lets water pass through the puck naturally - which, paired with the La Specialista's built-in grinder and a bit of dialling in, produces a noticeably cleaner, more flavourful shot. It's also the basket you need for a bottomless portafilter to tell you anything useful.

One model note: the Arte already ships with non-pressurised baskets, so you may be set - but a precision, laser-cut single-wall basket still improves evenness over the stock one. On the smart-tamping models, check whether yours came pressurised. Either way, non-pressurised is the direction you want to head.

3. 51mm puck screen - cleaner shots, cleaner machine

A 51mm puck screen sits on top of your tamped puck before you lock in the portafilter. It does two jobs: it spreads the incoming water more evenly across the whole puck surface (less channelling, better extraction), and it keeps coffee grounds and oils off your group head, so there's far less to clean between backflushes. On a machine you use every morning, that second benefit alone earns its place. Low cost, genuinely useful, easy to live with.

4. Dosing ring - tame the grind-into-portafilter mess

The La Specialista grinds directly into the portafilter, and on a small 51mm basket that's a recipe for grounds over the rim and onto the bench. A 51mm dosing ring snaps onto the basket and adds a taller collar to catch every gram, so you keep your full dose and your workflow stays clean. It's a small thing that makes daily use noticeably tidier and your dose more consistent.

5. Precision scales - the La Specialista's missing sense

The La Specialista grinds by time and sensor, not by weight - which means it doesn't actually know how much coffee ended up in your basket. That's the biggest hidden variable in your shots. A small set of precision espresso scales lets you check your real dose in and yield out (a 1:2 ratio - say 18g in, 36g out - is a reliable starting point), so you can repeat your best shots instead of guessing. For the price, it's one of the most useful things you can add.

6. A proper tamper - but only if your model needs one

Here's where the La Specialista differs from most machines, so read before you buy:

• If you have a Smart Tamping Station (the EC9335, Prestigio, Maestro and up), your machine tamps for you - a manual tamper is largely redundant, however if you want more control and to prevent channelling that commonly occurs with self tamping machine, we'd recommend trying our 51mm self-levelling tamp.
• If you have an Arte (or otherwise tamp by hand), the included tamper is lightweight and undersized for the basket. A proper 51mm barista-grade tamper gives you an even, consistent tamp across the full puck — which directly reduces channelling.

Knowing which camp you're in saves you buying a tool your machine already replaces.

7. A better milk jug - because this steam wand deserves it

Unlike the Dedica's Panarello frother, most La Specialista models have a genuinely capable steam wand (the Arte's My LatteArt wand included). That means the ceiling on your microfoam is high - and the stock experience is held back mostly by the jug. A well-shaped stainless milk jug with a defined spout gives you the control to texture proper microfoam and actually pour latte art. If you make milk drinks daily, it's a cheap upgrade that punches above its price.

Where to start

If you're new to upgrading, do it in this order:

1. Bottomless portafilter - it changes how you see your espresso
2. Single-wall basket - it changes how it tastes
3. Puck screen and dosing ring - cleaner shots, cleaner machine, tidier workflow
4. Scales - the data to repeat your best results
5. Tamper (Arte owners) or milk jug (everyone who does milk drinks)

Work through those and you'll have a genuinely dialled-in 51mm setup - getting the most out of a machine that already had a lot to give.

FAQ

What size accessories does the La Specialista use? 51mm - across the whole range, including the Arte, Prestigio, Maestro, Opera and Touch. Any tamper, puck screen, basket or bottomless portafilter needs to be 51mm.

Will a Dedica portafilter fit my La Specialista? No. They're both 51mm but use different fittings, so choose the portafilter listed specifically for the La Specialista.

Do I need a tamper if my machine has the Smart Tamping Station? Not really - if your model tamps for you (EC9335, Prestigio, Maestro and up), a manual tamper is optional. Arte owners who tamp by hand will benefit from a proper 51mm tamper.

Does my La Specialista come with a pressurised or non-pressurised basket? It varies by model - the Arte ships with non-pressurised baskets, while some others come pressurised. If you want to see and improve your extraction with a bottomless portafilter, you'll want a single-wall (non-pressurised) basket.

What's the best first upgrade? A bottomless portafilter. It makes your extraction visible, which is the fastest way to actually improve your shots.

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Not sure which accessories suit your exact La Specialista? Send us your model number and we'll confirm the right fit. Browse the full La Specialista range here. Fast dispatch daily from NSW.