Review: DeLonghi Dedica Entry Level Espresso Machine
Sleek and stylish machine designed for home espresso brewing and milk frothing.
4/5 Stars
Overview:
The Delonghi Dedica is a popular choice for home baristas who want to start making espresso at home. With a low price point of under £150, you can start making great coffee without breaking the bank. However, this entry level machine can have a hard time competing with higher spec models.
Con’s
Only pressurised portafilter basket
Milk steamer isn't very powerful
Fairly low water capacity
Pro’s
Looks smart and modern
Compact size free's up counter top space
Easy to use
Requires very little maintenance
Heats up in seconds
Built in cup warmer
Ground coffee or ESE pods
Ease Of Use
One of the great things about this machine is how easy it is to use. It starts warming up as soon as you turn it on and after around 30 seconds it is ready to go. Once you've prepared the coffee and portafilter, it's a simple one button operation. If you want to steam milk for your drink, this is also pretty straightforward. Just press the steam button and wait for a steady white light meaning the steam wand is ready. On the steam wand you can choose between steaming for 'hot milk' or 'cappuccino' which is a nice touch. If you want to adjust the machine's settings, you can configure the temperature, brew time and water hardness by using the front 3 buttons. This can be a little fiddly but as long as you abide by the manual, you can't go far wrong.
PRO TIP: Many users (including myself) remove the casing around the steam wand and just use the rubber end to steam the milk. Although you loose the function of switching between modes, I find it allows you to foam the milk better which is ideal for practising your latte art!
Drink Quality
The 15-bar brewer is powerful enough to produce a decent espresso with a nice crema (although it could be thicker). As it uses a pressurised basket, this makes it a little easier to get a good tasting coffee without too many grind size or brew time adjustments, however it won't give you as good as an espresso as a non-pressurised basket would. With that said, it's a great choice for beginners who want a good tasting espresso without having to make too many adjustments.
Having a milk steamer is a very nice feature for a machine at this price. You can create hot and frothy milk with ease. If you are wanting to create latte art, the Dedica can make a nice micro-foam which will just about let you create some designs however it's incomparable to what you would get from a commercial grade machine.
PRO TIP: I found that you need a slightly coarser grind than standard espresso machines take. It's easy to grind too fine and subsequently clog up your machine!
Design
The aesthetics of this machine is the thing that makes it really stand out for me. A lot of home espresso machines tend to look very clunky and bulky however the Dedica boasts a stylish, modern and sleek design. It is perfect for having on your kitchen counter as it doesn't take up too much space and wont create an eye sore. It's available in black, red or silver so you can choose which one will look best on your coffee prep area!
Value for Money
At under £150, the Dedica is a really great choice for those not wanting to spend too much money on an espresso machine. If you are looking for a step up from this machine, you could be looking at spending £400+ which makes this a great value option. Considering the high quality espresso, overall aesthetics and easy of use, you can't really get much better than this for the money.
Specification
Brewer Pressure: 15 Bar
External dimensions (mm): W149 x D330 x H303
Maximum Cup Height (cm): 12
Removable Drip Tray: Yes
Removable Water Tank: Yes
Water Tank Capacity (l): 1.1
Coffee Type: Ground beans, ESE pods
Number of Filters: 3
Weight (kg): 4.2
Rated voltage/Frequency (V~Hz): 220-240 V / 50-60Hz