Coffee from your pod machine tastes terrible? At the office, there's only stale slop from a fridge-sized coffee vending machine? Corporate instant coffee always gives you a stomach ache? A real espresso—now that would be something. Rich, strong, and yet neither bitter nor sour. Or a creamy cappuccino? Just like at your favorite café.
There are countless reasons why more and more people are looking for high-quality coffee. But when it comes to espresso and cappuccino, most stumble across portafilter espresso machines and are immediately scared off. They cost several thousand euros, and on top of that, you need an expensive grinder. Maybe another capsule machine after all?
The De'Longhi Dedica series promises something different. For just 200 to 250 euros, it aims to let you enjoy a delicious, authentic espresso. If you read around coffee communities a bit, you will quickly notice that the Dedica machines are arguably the most frequently purchased entry-level machines. But have they earned their good reputation? Can you really buy a usable espresso machine for so little money? We are also enthusiastic about the Dedica machines, and we'll tell you why!
Focus on the Dedica 685 and 885
There is a whole lineup of Dedica machines. In this article, we take a closer look at the current versions: the Dedica 685 for around 200 euros, and the Dedica 885 for around 240 euros.
Here are the key differences between the two machines:
The Steam Wand
The Dedica 885 comes with a few new features on board. The most striking upgrade is a new and genuinely usable steam wand on the Dedica 885. The more affordable Dedica 685 features a so-called Pannarello steam wand. With this technology, steam is mixed with air inside a stainless steel tube to froth the milk. However, to create fine-pored milk foam suitable for latte art, you need to control the air intake during the stretching and rolling phases yourself. That is virtually impossible with a Pannarello steam wand. So, if you don't want to modify your machine and want a suitable steam wand straight out of the box, you should go for the Dedica 885.
If you own a Dedica with a Pannarello steam wand, check out our video featuring tuning tips, where we also swap the steam wand for a Rancilio Silvia steam wand.
Included Accessories
The 685 and 885 also differ when it comes to accessories. With the cheaper 685 version, you only get a plastic coffee scoop with an integrated tamper function, which is completely useless and can be disposed of immediately. The accessories of the 885, on the other hand, include a proper, high-quality tamper that fits very flush with the portafilter basket. In addition, you also get a small, sturdy milk pitcher for frothing milk.
In summary, the higher price of the Dedica 885 is thoroughly justified, as buying a proper tamper, a milk pitcher, and retrofitting the Pannarello steam wand separately would cost significantly more—and require manual tinkering.
What Makes the De'Longhi Dedica Machines the Perfect Entry-Level Choice?
The Price
The price. As simple as it sounds, the price makes the machine truly compelling. For roughly 200 euros—often significantly less on the secondhand market—you get a solid entry into the world of espresso.
The Thermoblock
Dedica machines are thermoblock machines. During extraction, water from the reservoir flows through a heated metal block, functioning much like a tankless water heater. The water is heated instantly to the correct brewing temperature. This is much faster than espresso machines with a boiler, where the entire boiler must first be brought up to operating temperature—which can easily take half an hour.
Not so with thermoblock machines. The Dedica is ready to use after just 20 seconds. That is great for beginners who don't want to plan ahead just to make an espresso. Feel like an espresso? Turn it on and get started.
Last but not least, thermoblock machines consume far less electricity. Another great advantage!
Built-In Volumetric Dosing
To brew a great espresso, you need a good brew ratio. We often recommend 1:2.5—meaning 18 grams of ground coffee in the portafilter yields 45 grams/milliliters of espresso in the cup.
On the Dedicas, setting the water yield for single and double shots is incredibly easy. You can place a scale under your cup and hold down the shot button until you reach your desired yield in the cup. The machine saves this value, and you won't need a scale for subsequent shots. This volumetric programming is extremely practical, ideal for beginners, and isn't even built into many expensive machines.
Adjustable Brewing Temperature
Another special feature for an entry-level machine is the adjustable brewing temperature. It's not just the heavily advertised pump pressure that dictates taste, but also the correct brewing temperature.
The Dedicas offer three temperature settings to choose from. For the vast majority of medium to dark roasts, we recommend the 2nd setting at 92°–93°C (197°–199°F).
The luxury of an adjustable brewing temperature is by no means offered by all machines, especially not in the lower price segment.
As you can see, both the Dedica 685 and the Dedica 885 offer several genuinely useful features that are remarkable for this price range. This makes them—especially given their low price—truly interesting entry-level machines.
However, the whole truth includes acknowledging that Dedica machines don't unlock the world of true espresso "out of the box." To achieve that, you'll need to make a few upgrades, which we briefly explain below.
Upgrades for Dedica Machines
New Filter Baskets
Dedica machines ship with so-called pressurized (double-walled) filter baskets. Instead of many tiny holes, these have only a single pinhole through which the coffee is forced under immense pressure.
It's common knowledge by now that crema on an espresso is a mark of quality. However, the extreme artificial pressure created by pressurized baskets forces crema onto almost any coffee—no matter how old or incorrectly ground—regardless of how terrible the espresso tastes underneath. Even worse, stale coffee residue always gets trapped beneath the rubber gasket in pressurized baskets. That is unhygienic and certainly doesn't contribute to a delicious drink.
Real espresso, as we define it, is created through natural resistance provided by the grind size of the coffee bed. For this, you absolutely need matching non-pressurized (single-walled) filter baskets. In our shop, you can purchase a portafilter with a double spout or a bottomless portafilter. These come directly with high-quality non-pressurized baskets. An absolute must-have upgrade!
A Coffee Grinder
Pre-ground coffee loses most of its aromas within minutes of grinding. For that reason alone, buying whole bean coffee and grinding it fresh makes a world of difference.
The second reason: you control the flow rate of water through the coffee bed via the grind size. The coarser the powder, the faster the water flows through, and vice versa. Think of fine versus coarse sand in a sandbox. Roughly speaking, the best flavor—the "sweet spot" of a coffee—is hit with an extraction time of 25–35 seconds. You must therefore choose a coffee grinder capable of grinding fine enough for espresso and dial it in accordingly.
A good electric espresso grinder can easily cost another 230 euros. If you don't want to invest that much, consider buying a good manual hand grinder.
A Proper Tamper
If you purchased the Dedica 685, you should replace the included plastic scoop-tamper hybrid (even the word sounds terrible) with a proper, high-quality tamper. Tamping compresses the coffee grounds and creates a flat surface for even water extraction. Dedica machines use 51 mm tampers, such as this one in our shop.
Further Upgrade Options for Your Dedica
In addition to the three essential upgrades described above, there are a few extra modifications that can be practical and helpful, even if they don't directly impact the extraction quality of the espresso.
Since the drip tray of the Dedica is somewhat impractical for larger cups, we recommend buying a replacement low-profile drip grate or 3D printing one.
Because the clearance underneath Dedica machines is fairly small and two cappuccino cups won't fit side by side, another popular modification exists. You can 3D print or buy a drip tray extension. Even though these two upgrades don't directly affect flavor, they greatly improve usability.
If you have a Dedica 685, you can upgrade the Pannarello steam wand without any technical know-how. First, you can simply pull off the outer metal tube and froth using the inner silicone hose. That works much better than with the Pannarello sheath. We recommend securing the silicone hose with zip ties so it doesn't slip off under pressure. If that feels too makeshift, you can also slide a replacement steam wand over the inner pipe and secure it with a hose clamp. A detailed step-by-step guide is available in our video.
Conclusion
The De'Longhi Dedica machines are truly unbeatable for their price. With the right upgrades—non-pressurized filter baskets, a suitable grinder, and a proper tamper—plus a little practice, you can prepare delicious espressos and milk drinks at barista quality right at home.
Here you will find an overview of accessory options for your Dedica in our shop.
We are curious to hear what you think of your Dedica! Feel free to leave us a comment or send us an email.
See you soon and happy brewing!
