The Delonghi Dedica espresso machines: The entry into the world of high-quality coffee
The coffee from the pod machine doesn't taste good? At the office, they only serve stale mush from the refrigerator-sized coffee machine? The instant coffee at work always gives me a stomachache. A proper espresso, yes, that would be it. Strong, robust, and not bitter or sour. Or a creamy cappuccino? Just like at my favorite café.
There are countless reasons why more and more people are looking for high-quality coffee. When it comes to espresso and cappuccino, most people come across portafilter machines and are immediately put off. They cost several thousand euros, plus they come with a more expensive grinder. Perhaps a new capsule machine would be better?
The De'Longhi Dedica series promises something different. For just €200 to €250, you're supposed to enjoy a delicious, authentic espresso. Anyone who spends a little time reading about coffee communities will discover that Dedica machines are arguably the most popular entry-level machines. But do they deserve their reputation? Can you really buy a decent espresso machine for so little money? We're also enthusiastic about the Dedica machines, and we'll tell you why!
Focus on the Dedica 685 and 885
There's a whole range of Dedica machines available. In our article, we take a closer look at the current versions, the Dedica 685, for around €200, and the Dedica 885, for around €240.
These are the differences between the two machines:
The steam lance
The Dedica 885 has several new features on board. The most noticeable upgrade is a new and truly useful steam wand on the Dedica 885. The cheaper Dedica 685 features a so-called Pannarello steam wand. With this technology, steam is mixed with air in a stainless steel tube to froth the milk. However, to create fine-pored milk foam suitable for latte art, you have to control the air supply during the pulling and rolling phases of the milk froth. This is almost impossible with a Pannarello steam wand. If you don't want to tinker with your machine and want a suitable steam wand right away, you should go for the Dedica 885.
If you have a Dedica with a Pannarello steam wand, watch our video with tuning tips, where we also replace the steam wand with a Rancilio Silvia steam wand.
The included accessories
The 685 and the 885 also differ in terms of accessories. The cheaper 685 version only comes with a plastic coffee measuring spoon with a tamper function, which is completely useless and can be thrown away immediately. The 885, on the other hand, comes with a proper, high-quality tamper that sits flush with the portafilter. You also get a small, sturdy milk jug for frothing milk.
In summary, the additional cost of the Dedica 885 is definitely justified, as you would have to pay significantly more for a proper tamper, a milk jug, and the conversion of the Pannarello steam wand, and even have to do some manual work.
What makes the Delonghi Dedica machines the perfect entry-level machines?
The price
The price. As simple as it may sound, the price is what makes this machine truly appealing. For around €200, often significantly cheaper used, you get a good introduction to the world of espresso.
The thermoblock
Dedica machines are thermoblock machines. In these machines, the water from the water tank flows through a heated block during espresso brewing, similar to a continuous flow water heater. The water is heated and brought to the correct brewing temperature. This is much faster than with espresso machines with boilers, where the entire boiler must first be brought up to operating temperature. This can take a good half hour.
Thermoblock machines are different. The Dedica is ready to use in just 20 seconds. This is ideal for beginners who don't want to spend a lot of time planning when to make an espresso. Fancy an espresso? Turn it on and get started.
Last but not least, thermoblock machines consume much less electricity. Not bad either!
Built-in volumetrics
To brew a perfect espresso, you need a good brewing recipe. We often recommend a ratio of 1 to 2.5, so, for example, 18 grams of ground coffee in the portafilter will result in 45 milliliters of espresso in the cup.
With the Dedicas, the water volume for single and double extractions is easily adjustable. You can place a scale under your cup and hold down the extraction button until you reach the desired level. The machine saves this value, and you don't need a scale for subsequent extractions. This volumetric feature is extremely practical, ideal for beginners, and isn't built into even many expensive machines.
Adjustable brewing temperature
Another unique feature of an entry-level machine is the adjustable brewing temperature. Not only the often-advertised pressure of an espresso machine is crucial for the taste, but also the correct brewing temperature.
The Dedicas offer three temperature settings to choose from. For most medium to dark roasts, we recommend setting 2 at 92°-93°C.
Not all machines offer the luxury of an adjustable brewing temperature, especially not in the lower price segment.
As you can see, both the Dedica 685 and the Dedica 885 have some very useful features that are truly remarkable for this price segment. This makes them truly interesting entry-level machines, especially given their low price.
The truth is, however, that Dedicas don't offer a straightforward entry into the world of espresso. To do so, you'll need to make a few upgrades, which we'll briefly explain below.
Upgrades for the Dedica machines
New sieves
The Dedica machines come with so-called double-walled sieves. Instead of many holes, these have only one tiny hole through which the coffee is pressed with enormous pressure.
It's now common knowledge that crema on espresso is a sign of quality. The extreme pressure created by the double-walled sieve produces crema in almost any coffee, no matter how old or improperly ground, no matter how awful the espresso tastes. Even worse is that a little bit of old coffee always remains under the rubber ring in the double-walled sieve. This is unhygienic and certainly doesn't contribute to a delicious drink.
True espresso, as we understand it, is created by the natural resistance generated by the fineness of the coffee grounds. For this, you absolutely need the right single-walled sieves . In our shop, you can purchase a portafilter with a double spout or a bottomless portafilter . These come with high-quality sieves included. An absolutely essential upgrade!
A mill
Ground coffee loses much of its aroma after just a few minutes. For this reason alone, it makes sense to buy coffee beans and grind them fresh.
The second reason is that the grind size determines how quickly the water flows through the coffee grounds. The coarser the grind, the faster the water flows through, and vice versa. Just think of fine and coarse sand in a sandbox. The best flavor, the so-called "sweet spot," for a coffee, is roughly achieved with an extraction time of 25-35 seconds. So, you need to choose a coffee grinder that can grind to espresso fineness and then adjust it accordingly.
A good electric grinder can easily cost another €230. If you don't want to invest that much, you should buy a good hand grinder .
A real tamper
If you purchased the Dedica 685, you should replace the included coffee measuring spoon tamper (the word itself sounds awful) with a high-quality tamper. This tamper compacts the coffee grounds and creates a flat surface for even extraction. Dedica machines fit 51-millimeter tampers, such as this one in our shop.
Further upgrade options for your Dedica
In addition to the three important upgrades described above, there are also a few gimmicks that can be practical and helpful, but no longer directly influence the quality of the espresso.
Since the Dedica's drip tray is somewhat impractical, we recommend purchasing a drip grid or printing one using a 3D printer in our shop.
Since the space under the Dedica machines is quite small and two cappuccino cups won't fit underneath at the same time, there's another extension available. You can print or purchase a space extension. Even though these two upgrades don't directly affect the taste, they still enhance the machine immensely.
If you have a Dedica 685, you can upgrade the Pannarello vapor wand without any technical know-how. First, you can simply remove the outer metal tube and foam it with the silicone hose. This works better than with the Pannarello tube. We recommend securing the silicone hose with cable ties to prevent it from slipping off. If that's too makeshift for you, you can also simply pull the hose onto the inner tube and secure it with a clamp. Detailed instructions can be found in our video .
As you can see, the Delonghi Dedica machines are truly unbeatable for their price. With the right upgrades and a little practice, you can make delicious, barista-quality espressos and milk drinks at home.
Here you can find an overview of accessory options for your Dedica in our shop.
We're curious to hear what you think about your Dedica. Feel free to leave us a comment or send us an email.
See you soon and happy brewing!
