DeLonghi Dedica Deluxe EC680 Review

We love DeLonghi espresso machines, and we do a review every time we get the chance to get our hands on one. This is a review of the DeLonghi Dedica Deluxe EC685. This machine is a degree up from the EC155 that we reviewed recently. If you missed it, you can catch that review for a comparison.

The next level implies that it is more expensive, but it also comes with a lot more toys to play with. If you feel like you want to invest a little more time and money into your coffee routine, read on we say!

Specs DeLonghi Dedica Deluxe EC680

Price

As usual, first and foremost, we have the basics. The DeLonghi EC685 sells for around $250. This machine does still have a single boiler system but at this point, we are talking about the perfect degree of domestic single boiler machines.

Dimensions

The DeLonghi Deluxe is roughly 13 inches tall and 7 inches wide. The size of this machine is a major selling point. It is so sleek and slimline it will fit into any little corner you have, if kitchen space is an issue. It likewise weighs just 6 pounds, which makes it very easy to transport. But, this does mean that the machine is not as well-grounded as heavier machines. Let’s just say I had a little bit accident once!

Colors and Materials

The DeLonghi Dedica also comes in a variety of colors and finishings, all of which look really sleek I must say. It comes in black, red or metallic. The red machine has an essence of Iron Man about it. The materials are a combination of plastic and steel.

Like the EC155, the Dedica also has an aluminum version on the market known as the DeLonghi Dedica Deluxe EC685M espresso coffee machine. In this machine, you will find more aluminum detailing and finishings, such as the aluminum portafilter.

3 in 1 Portafilter

Likewise like the EC155, the DeLonghi EC685 comes with the 3 in 1 portafilter. These will give you the ability to pull single shots, double shots or utilize the E.S.E coffee pods.

Water Tank

The removable water tank in this espresso maker has a capacity of 1.1 liters or 37 ounces compared to the EC155 which is 35 ounces. That is an extra espresso, if you were wondering!

Heating Tray

Like the majority of other DeLonghi models, the top of the DeLonghi Deluxe functions as a heating tray so you can pre heat your cups. That’s always a nice plus! I find it really frustrating when I am served espresso in a cold cup. You know what occurs when you pour such a tiny quantity in a cold cup – coffee gets cold in merely seconds!

DeLonghi Dedica Features

Now we are getting into the meat of why the DeLonghi Dedica carries the slightly weightier price tag. A colleague asked me before how it could be worth paying nearly $100 more for the DeLonghi EC685 compared to some other DeLonghi machines.

The fact that this machine is good appreciate at that price tag. It comes with a whole host of features that its competitors don’t have. Likewise, the majority of importantly, it just brews better coffee.

Semi-automatic

A big way in which this machine is different to the cheaper machines is the fact that it is a semi-automatic espresso machine. This suggests it is a hybrid between a manual espresso coffee machine and an automatic espresso machine. It has some of the features of both.

With this machine, you don’t have to stop the shot by yourself. The EC685 is completely programmable by you. This is simply done by holding down the shot button when you are pulling a shot until you reach the volume you want.

Then why is it semi-automatic, not fully automatic, I hear you ask? Well in the same way, this machine functions as a manual espresso coffee machine. If you prefer to pull your shot manually every time for that extra bit of control, you can literally hold down the button whenever in order to get your tailored espresso coffee shot. The shot will stop when you take your hand off the button

The programmable settings don’t stop there. You can program your machine depending on whether your water at home is soft or hard as well as program the standby mode that best suits your routine.

Due to this feature and a few others that I will speak about in a moment, the DeLonghi Dedica Deluxe steeps very good coffee for its price.

Descaling role

One of the main reasons that a machine dies or stops making good coffee is lack of cleaning. This is made easy for you with the DeLonghi EC685. This machine comes with an automatic descaling function that is totally automatic. There is no manual internal cleaning essential. On top of this, a light will come on when your machine requires descaling. You don’t even have to keep track of how often you are descaling, the machine does that for you.

Drip Tray

The Drip tray that comes with the DeLonghi Dedica is extremely clever, I have to say. First off, unlike the EC155, this drip tray is adjustable. This means you can brew coffee directly into your favorite bigger cup, no transferring essential. The EC685 also has an indicator to tell you when it needs emptying. No more gross overflow drip tray puddles. This machine does everything but ingest your coffee for you!

Thermoblock Heating System

In previous articles, we have talked about Thermoblock heating technology so we won’t get into it here, however basically the machine heats pro cup and is quicker to heat up than it’s cheaper counterparts.

The thermoblock is made with aluminum and lined with steel. This suggests that the aluminum never comes in contact with the water it is heating. This is an important truth for those who are concerned about aluminum results on the body.

Steam Wand

The DeLonghi E685, like most the other DeLonghi models, comes with a panarello steam wand. This wand, but, produces very good steam considering. You are able to get a lot closer to professional fundamental micro-foam with this wand.

However, if you are looking for a machine where you can literally make industry standard micro foam and latte art, you are best off going with a more expensive machine with a double boiler system.

Accessories included

The DeLonghi Dedica Deluxe comes with a double function tool that serves as a measuring spoon and a tamper. As I have explained before in other articles, a hand held tamper is much better for tamping than a tamper that is attached to the machine. This is a nice little touch DeLonghi – you have our gratitude!

Takeaway

This machine ticks all of the boxes for an espresso coffee machine in this price point and in this section of the market. It comes with several fun toys and features, it looks great and it steeps delicious coffee.

The next step up for domestic coffee machines is rather a big one. Then we start talking about double boilers, individual group head systems, professional grade steam wands, durability and higher brewing pressure. These espresso machines are at least double the price of the DeLonghi EC685.

If you are a genuine coffee aficionado/nerd, a higher-end espresso machine is a worthy investment. But, if you are a normal person who enjoys a good coffee cup, head out and get yourself among these machines – we think they are ideal!