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    Delonghi Dedica EC685 - Test, Erfahrungen und Tipps

    Delonghi Dedica EC685 - Review, Experiences and Tips

    Written by Benjamin Hohlmann (Gründer, CEO, Kaffee-Experte) am 08. November 2021
    We test and write everything ourselves. We buy all equipment independently to ensure neutral, unbiased reviews. Our team of German and Swiss coffee professionals has won multiple national and international coffee championships. We run our own cafés and, through our testing and Home Barista courses, are familiar with the majority of espresso machines and grinders on the market.
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    The DeLonghi Dedica EC685 is considered one of the most popular entry-level espresso machines for home use. It's no wonder why: starting at 150 euros, you get a slim portafilter machine with a quick heat-up time and the promise of "real" espresso – and indeed, the Dedica series is one of the best-sellers in this class. But can such a compact machine really deliver good espresso? In this comprehensive guide, we take a critical yet humorous look at the Dedica 685, give you tips on espresso quality (especially temperature!), show useful upgrades, remind you about cleaning & descaling, compare it with other Dedica models, and answer frequently asked questions in our troubleshooting section. Enjoy, and let's head into the world of the Dedica!

    Further articles and videos on the Delonghi Dedica from us:

    Temperature tips for the Delonghi Dedica EC685

    When used straight out of the box, the Delonghi Dedica has a tendency to overshoot the target brewing temperature. To prevent this, we have developed a temperature surfing profile for you. The desired target temperature for an espresso machine is 93 degrees Celsius. We explain exactly how the profile works in our new video at minute 15:19 as well as below the temperature curve in the text.

    Temperature profile Delonghi Dedica


    First, we advise you to set the temperature of the Delonghi Dedica to the lowest setting. This is the right choice for most coffees. This setting only needs to be made once.

    Setting the temperature

    • Press and hold the steam button for 10 seconds until all buttons flash twice.
    • Press the left button once to activate the temperature setting.
    • Press the left button again to select the lowest temperature. We use this one in the temperature example above.

    Temperature surfing with the Delonghi Dedica EC685

    There are two ways you can use the machine. You can pull the first espresso "too" hot and make your espresso. To do this, use the espresso machine directly without much prep. The excessive temperature rise compensates for the heat loss caused by the cold portafilter. However, the espresso is less balanced and, in many cases, does not taste smooth or pleasant. That is why we recommend the second variant, which is always preferable when pulling several espressos (since the portafilter is already hot then).

    • First, perform an empty run. The portafilter is locked in, but no coffee is inside. This brings it up to temperature.
    • The portafilter is unlocked and set aside.
    • Start the pre-infusion twice. Briefly press the left button until the water starts to run. Then cancel it. Then repeat the same procedure. (Tip: Place the milk pitcher underneath so the water doesn't drip onto the small drip tray.)
    • Now grind the coffee and prepare the portafilter. You have one minute to do this. Then lock it in and start the extraction.

    In this way, we have consistently achieved good temperature curves in the range between 92 and 94 degrees Celsius. This is very good for preparing espresso.

     

    Bottomless portafilter for Delonghi Dedica EC 685 now available from us

    We were asked again and again for a suitable portafilter for the Delonghi Dedica EC 685. Unfortunately, there were many poor versions sold by various manufacturers. That is why we looked for a good model and added it to our range.

    We offer two portafilters that are equipped with a single-walled basket and are compatible with the various Dedica models.

    We recommend this portafilter for getting started. You can use it to pull two espressos at once or to brew into one cup. Furthermore, it never sprays, which can sometimes happen with a bottomless portafilter.

     

    This portafilter is particularly suitable if you want to check whether the espresso is extracting cleanly and running out of the portafilter. For this to succeed, the coffee must be distributed evenly in the basket.

    SiebtraegerhalterDedica5 1920x

    Further accessories for the Delonghi Dedica

    One of the most important tools for making better coffee with the Delonghi Dedica is a single-walled basket. The baskets supplied with the Dedica are so-called double-walled baskets or "pressurized baskets". They create artificial pressure in the portafilter by first letting the espresso run through many small holes and then forcing the entire liquid through one tiny hole. This restriction creates artificial crema, even if a coffee is actually already older or pre-ground. While the extraction might look nice, the coffee won't be any better. Our double portafilter as well as the bottomless portafilter developed for the Dedica series are also equipped with a professional single-walled basket.

    A practical tool is the portafilter hanger. You can attach this to your Dedica and hang a portafilter on it.

    One of the best upgrades for your Dedica is our 51mm tamper. It allows you to tamp straight and comfortably, and above all, it looks very elegant with its stylish wooden handle.

     

     

    What are your experiences with the Delonghi Dedica?

    Help us in the comments to collect everything interesting about the Delonghi Dedica EC685.

    Which upgrades were useful?

    Which coffees do you like best with the Dedica?

    We are collecting your experiences and bundling them, while expanding them with our tips and tricks.

    Thank you for your support!

    Best regards,

    Benjamin

    Our videos on the Delonghi Dedica EC685

    Frequently asked questions about the Delonghi Dedica EC685

    Which portafilter fits the Delonghi Dedica without requiring any modifications?

    We now have a solution for you and have added such a portafilter to our range. It comes with the matching 17.5-gram basket. The portafilter is now available here (while stocks last).

    Is it necessary to modify the steam wand to froth good foam?

    No, absolutely not. Modifying it is only useful if you want to get everything out of the machine. But even with the existing steam wand, you can create good latte art foam.

    What do you think?
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      Coffee knowledge in your inbox
      Sign up for our newsletter and receive monthly updates on new coffees, exciting blog articles, and brewing tips.
      Datenschutz
      Italian Espresso a la Kaffeemacher
      Do you want to try the coffee from our videos? Click here to go directly to the shop.
      Coffee Knowledge
      Auf der Suche nach Kaffee-Themen? Die maximale Übersicht findest du auf dieser Seite.
      Alle Themenbereiche