De Longhi EC9665M La Specialista Espresso User Guide

De Longhi EC9665M La Specialista Espresso

Product Information

The La Specialista is a coffee machine designed for home use. It features a built-in grinder and steam arm for frothing milk. The machine allows you to adjust the grind settings and dose according to your personal taste and the type of coffee beans you are using. It also has a drip tray, cup tray, and water tank for easy maintenance.

Product Usage Instructions

Preparing Your Machine

1. Wash and dry all accessories, including the drip tray and cup tray.
2. Insert the drip tray with the cup tray.
3. Fill the water tank.
4. Place a container under the water spout.
5. Press OK to rinse.
6. Insert the filter basket into the portafilter.
7. Plug in the machine and switch on the main power.

Setting La Specialista for First Use

4. Attach the portafilter.
5. Press OK to rinse.
6. Push the STEAM button and let the steam flow out for a few seconds. Then push the button again. Repeat this action 3 or 4 times to purge the steam arm before frothing or steaming your milk.

Grinding

1. Add beans to the hopper. Fill in just the quantity you need and store the remainder of your beans in a vacuum container for freshness.
2. Adjust the grind level according to your personal taste and the type of coffee beans. The factory default is 5, but you can adjust it while grinding.
3. Select the single or double dose filter and place it in the portafilter. If using the double filter, press the button until the X2 light comes on. Please note that the X2 selection will double the volume of the espresso shot.
4. Insert the Dosing&Tamping Guide to avoid coffee spillage while grinding.
5. Push the portafilter until you hear a single click, then release. Grinding will start and stop automatically.

Barista Tips

When preparing Cold Brew, a grinding level between 4 and 6 is recommended. Refer to the “Focus on perfect dose” section for more suggestions on adjusting the dose based on different roasting levels of coffee beans.

Focus on Perfect Dose

Each variety of coffee beans can behave differently during grinding, so setting the dose may require extra care. Follow these steps to regulate the dose:

1. Set the dose starting from the minimum position to reach the mark inside the filter basket (see image for perfect dose). The numbers on the dial are a setting reference once the perfect dose is reached. They do not correspond to grinder settings or measurement units.
2. Based on the roasting level of your coffee, slowly turn the knob while referencing the suggested grinding setting ranges.

Please note that these suggested setting ranges are a good starting point but may vary depending on the specific composition of your coffee beans.

PREPARING YOUR MACHINE

1. Wash and dry accessories; including water tank.
2. Insert the drip tray with cup tray.
3. Fill water tank.
4. Plug in machine and switch on the main power.
   • For more details on setting up your La Specialista please check out the De’Longhi How To Channel

SETTING LA SPECIALISTA FOR FIRST USE

1. Place a container under the water spout.
2. Press OK to rinse.
3. Insert filter basket into the portafilter.
4. Attach the portafilter.
5. Press OK to rinse.
6. Push the STEAM button and let the steam flow out for a few seconds. Then push the button again. For optimal steam performance we recommend you repeat this action 3 or 4 times. This is to purge the steam arm before frothing or steaming your milk.

Using Instructions

Step 1: grinding

1. Add beans to hopper. Fresh is best; fill in just with the quantity you need. Store the remainder of your beans in a vacuum container.
2. The ideal setting depends on your coffee bean type. The factory default is 5. If you are not satisfied, adjust the level according to your personal taste and the type of coffee (do it while grinding).
3. Select single or double dose filter and place in the portafilter. If you are using the double filter, press the button until the X2 light comes on. Please note: the x 2 selection will double the volume of the espresso shot as well.
4. Insert the Dosing&Tamping Guide to the portafilter: 1 push and 2 turn until it locks.
5. Insert the portafilter
6. Push the portafilter until you hear a single “Click”, then release: grinding starts and stops automatically.

DOSING & TAMPING GUIDE

• The Dosing&Tamping Guide is used to avoid coffee from spilling while grinding, ensuring mess free operation and more consistent dosing.

RECOMMENDED GRINDING SETTINGS

• A grinding level between 3 and 6 is recommended for most coffees. A grinding level of 1 or 2 is very fine and should be used with special coffees only (light roasted)

BARISTA TIPS

• When preparing Cold Brew, a grinding level between 4 and 6 is recommended.

Focus on perfect dose

Adjust dose

Each variety of coffee beans can behave differently during grinding and this is the reason why setting the dose at the beginning might require extra care. With this illustration we give you some indications on how to regulate the dose. Please note these suggested setting ranges, based on the roasting level, are certainly a good starting point, but they might slightly vary depending on specific composition of your coffee beans.

1. Set the dose (to reach the mark inside of the filter basket, see image for perfect dose) starting from the minimum position. The numbers of the dial are a setting reference once the perfect dose in the filter is reached. They do not correpond to grinder settings or to measurement units (gr/oz) or to grinding time
2. Look at which roasting level your coffee is and based on that, turn the knob slowly, referencing the ranges.

Adjust dose Perfect dose

• The coffee filters have a mark inside to identify the level for perfect dose.
• The perfect quantity corresponds to the line in relief.

Step 2:  tamping

1. Extract the portafilter.
2. Tap gently the Dosing & Tamping Guide to level the grounded coffee inside.
3. Put the portafilter in the dedicated seat on the tamping mat
4. Tamp the coffee.
5. Remove the Dosing & Tamping Guide and check the coffee dose.
6. Attach the portafilter to the brewing unit.

BARISTA TIP

• Ensure the coffee is at the recommended dosage level after tamping. You may need to adjust the dosage dial more times before reaching the perfect dose.

Tamping Mat

• Using the tamping mat provides ideal stability while tamping ensuring a more even extraction.

BARISTA TIP

• For polished finish of coffee, rotate the tamper when tamping the coffee dose.
• Coffee left on the edges of the filter after pressing does not in any way compromise the quality of the brewing and therefore the end result.

Step 3:  brewing hot coffee drinks

1. Select the temperature
2. Select your drink.
3. Press OK to start brewing (preinfusion and infusion).

INFUSION TEMPERATURE PROFILES

• The water temperature is precisely controlled throughout the entire brewing process to ensure the ideal temperature stability for the extraction. La Specialista Arte offers up to 3 infusion temperature* profiles to select, corresponding to a range of temperatures between ≃92° and ≃96°C.
• Coffee bean varieties as well as roasting colours require their own specific temperature setting for the best extraction: Robusta coffee beans prefer lower temperature; Arabica prefers higher temperature. The same is applicable to beans with a darker roasting colour or to freshly-roasted beans than those degassed over time.

LIGHT to MEDIUM

• This temperature refers to the water inside the thermoblock. This differs from the temperature of the drink in the cup or the temperature measured when the drink comes out from the portafilter spouts.

ESPRESSO-BASED DRINKS MENU

DO YOU WANT TO MAKE AN AMERICANO?

• Step 1: make an Espresso using a large cup.
• Step 2: once delivered the espresso, select and push OK to delivery hot water.

Achieve Espresso perfection

Extracting the perfect espresso is an art and might take a couple of tries. Be ready to adjust the coarseness of the grind and always make sure to have the tamped ground coffee at the indicator line in the filter to be able to reach perfect extraction.

Perfect espresso

Under extracted

Over extracted

Step 3:  brewing Cold Brew

• Cold Extraction Technology is a method of brewing coffee with the use of room temperature or cold water.
• Cold Brew uses a longer infusion time instead of heat to extract the properties of the coffee beans, since the low temperature decreases the solvent power of the water.

1. Select Cold Brew
2. The OK light is blue to indicate that Cold Brew is selected. Press the OK button to make a cold rinse: after a few seconds press OK again to stop the rinse.
3. Attach the portafilter with the perfect dose.
4. Prepare the glass adding 2 or 3 ice cubes and put it under the spouts.
5. Press OK to start brewing Cold Brew. As no pressure is produced to brew this drink, the manometer will not turn to a higher position. Brewing automatically stops.

BARISTA TIPS

• When preparing Cold Brew, a grinding level between 4 and 6 is recommended.
• Fresh water is best: be sure the water in the tank is fresh. If the water is a couple of days old, empty and rinse the water tank thoroughly. Always keep the water tank clean.

Cold Brew

My LatteArt

• Find out more in our dedicated video series for how to use your La Specialista Arte.

1. Fill the milk jug with fresh cold milk. Milk will up to triple in volume. Using a cold milk jug is advisable.
2. Push the steam button. After few seconds steam will be delivered.
3. To make the froth, put the nozzle on the surface of the milk and air will catch by the mixing of milk and steam.
4. Keep the steam nozzle just on the surface, careful not to make big bubbles by letting too much air in.
5. Insert the steam nozzle just under the milk: this create a vortex. Once the desired temperature is reached turn the steam knob off and wait till steam stops completely before removing jug.

CLEANING TIP

• Always clean the steam nozzle with a clean damp cloth and release a short burst of steam to remove milk residue.

BARISTA TIP

• _ Fresh is best: _Be sure to use fresh cold milk every time. Whole milk is recommended for best results. Dairy and Non-Dairy alternatives will vary in ease of texturing depending on type.
• After foaming milk, eliminate unwanted bubbles by swirling the pitcher.

Take Care of your Coffee Machine

(optional in some models)

• Innovative patented system that prevents limescale formation. Extends the life of the coffee machine without altering the sensory properties of the water, guaranteeing consistently creamy and aromatic coffee.

• Keep your coffee maker clean and free from milk residue. Our Eco MultiClean removes milk residue and effectively cleans external and removable parts of your coffee maker.

• Its top quality ingredients make EcoDecalk a highly effective and natural limescale remover.

• When the light comes on, follow the steps illustrated in the user manual to descale correctly the machine.

• Water hardness test
• Cleaning needle for steam wand

Optional Cleaning Tools

• Visit “Delonghi.com” for more information

www.delonghi.com

57132C8206_00_1022

References

• De'Longhi | Espresso Machines, Kitchen & Home Appliances
• De'Longhi | Espresso Machines, Kitchen & Home Appliances

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)  >>

Download This Manual (PDF format)

Download this manual  >>