De'Longhi La Specialista Upgrades: The Accessories Worth Getting

The La Specialista is one of the best mid-range espresso machines on the market - built-in grinder, sensor grinding, active temperature control. But a few smart accessory upgrades can take it from great to genuinely excellent.

Here's what's worth adding.

1. Bottomless Portafilter - Unlock What the Machine Can Actually Do

The stock spouted portafilter hides your extraction. A bottomless portafilter shows you exactly what's happening - channelling, uneven flow, distribution issues all become visible in real time. It's the fastest way to actually improve your technique.

The La Specialista uses a 51mm grouphead, and we have two options:

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

Browse the full 51mm portafilter range.

2. Proper Tamper — The Stock One Isn't Doing You Favours

The La Specialista ships with a basic tamper that's undersized for the basket. A proper 51mm barista-grade tamper gives you more even, consistent pressure across the full puck surface — which directly reduces channelling and improves extraction consistency.

• 51mm Coffee Tamper — Almond Solid Wood - solid, well-weighted, great everyday tamper
• Adjustable 2-in-1 51mm Tamper & Distributor - distributes and tamps in one step, ideal if you want to streamline your workflow
• Self-levelling Tamper - removes the guess work and helps create an even tamp everytime

3. Puck Screen - Small Addition, Noticeable Result

A 51mm puck screen sits on top of the coffee puck before you lock in the portafilter. It distributes water more evenly across the puck surface, reduces channelling, and keeps the grouphead significantly cleaner between backflushes.

→ Shop Coffee Puck Screens

Where to Start

If you're new to upgrading, the bottomless portafilter first - it changes how you see and understand your espresso. Add a proper tamper next, then the puck screen, and you'll have a genuinely dialled-in 51mm setup.

Any questions about compatibility with your specific La Specialista model? Get in touch - we're happy to help.

→ Browse all La Specialista accessories