De'Longhi EC685.W Espresso Machine - Review 🏆

The De'Longhi EC685.W Dedica Style Espresso Machine is a compact, pump driven machine designed for home use. It features a 15-bar pressure pump, Thermo block heating system, and stainless steel boiler to deliver quality espresso.

The Dedica has a slim and modern profile, with sleek lines and minimal footprint, making it an attractive addition to any kitchen counter. It comes in three color options - black, red, and silver. The machine has a control panel with three buttons - one for espresso, one for cappuccino, and one for hot water. There are indicator lights that let you know when the machine is ready.

This espresso maker is easy to use with pressurized filters that help optimize the extraction process. It can make single or double shot espressos and has a manual milk frother to prepare cappuccinos and lattes. The Dedica is designed for brewing with ground coffee and includes a built-in tamper and measuring scoop.

Overall, the EC685.W Dedica offers an accessible, user-friendly espresso machine with decent performance at an affordable price point. It's a good option for beginners looking for their first semi-automatic espresso maker or those wanting convenience without breaking the bank.

Design and Build Quality

The De'Longhi EC685.W Dedica Style has an attractive, compact design that looks great on any kitchen countertop. It is made of stainless steel and high-quality plastics that give it a sleek, modern look. Despite its small footprint, it does not feel flimsy or cheap.

The machine is built to last thanks to its stainless steel front panels. The plastic components also appear sturdy and durable. Users mention the machine still looks and functions like new after years of daily use.

There are some great design touches that improve the user experience. For example, the drip tray can be removed from the front, allowing you to place a taller cup under the portafilter. The water tank is also easily accessible from the back.

Overall, the Dedica Style punches above its weight with a premium design and solid build quality. It looks and feels like a much more expensive espresso machine.

Ease of Use

The De'Longhi EC685 has been designed with ease of use in mind. The controls are simple and intuitive, with just two buttons to operate the machine. There is an on/off button, and a button to pull a shot or activate the steam wand. The buttons have indicator lights so you can see when the machine is heating up or ready to brew.

The EC685 has a slim profile, taking up minimal counter space. It's lightweight at just 5.9 pounds, making it easy to move and store when not in use. The water tank is easily accessible from the front and has clear water level indicators so you can see when a refill is needed.

Overall, the machine is very easy to maintain. The drip tray slides out from the front, and the parts that come into contact with coffee are removable for cleaning. Descaling is recommended every 200 cups which is standard for home espresso machines. The machine will alert you when descaling is needed.

The simple interface, minimal footprint, and easy maintenance make the De'Longhi EC685 a user-friendly option for brewing espresso at home. The intuitive controls allow anyone to produce high-quality espresso without much effort.

Espresso Quality

The De'Longhi EC685.W produces espresso with an authentic taste and rich, velvety crema. The 15-bar pressure pump extracts the full flavor from the coffee grounds, resulting in a balanced espresso with notes of caramel and chocolate.

The consistency of the espresso is excellent, with no bitterness or sourness. Each shot has a gorgeous tiger-striped crema that lasts until the end. The crema is a hallmark of a well-extracted espresso, adding texture and locking in the aroma.

The machine's thermoblock heating system maintains a stable temperature for back-to-back shots. This ensures each espresso comes out hot with the same quality. The water temperature is ideal for developing the sugars and acids in the coffee without scalding the grounds.

Overall, the EC685.W makes restaurant-quality espresso with a balanced flavor profile and thick, persistent crema. The consistency between shots is impressive for a home espresso machine in this class.

Milk Frothing

The De'Longhi EC685.W comes with a pannarello wand that makes frothing milk easy. The wand has a sleeve attachment that aerates the milk to create thick, creamy foam.

The milk jug that comes with the machine is small but good quality stainless steel. It has markings up the side to indicate milk levels for 1 or 2 cups. The small size allows you to froth just enough milk without having lots left over.

The steam wand produces excellent microfoam with a rich, creamy texture. It heats the milk quickly without scalding. The foam is very stable and long-lasting, so latte art comes out beautifully. With a little practice, you can create intricate rosetta and heart designs that will impress any coffee lover.

The only downside is the wand can be a bit loud when steaming milk. But it's a worthwhile tradeoff for being able to make cafe-quality foam for your morning cappuccino. Overall, the steam wand and milk frothing abilities are excellent for an affordable home espresso machine.

Customization

The De'Longhi Dedica EC685W allows you to customize your espresso in a few key ways:

Grind Size

The EC685W has a built-in burr grinder with 13 adjustable grind settings, allowing you to fine-tune the grind size for optimal espresso extraction. The grind settings range from extra fine for dark roasts to coarse for lighter roasts. The adjustable grind gives you control over the flavor and body of the shot.

Shot Volume

You can program how much coffee is dispensed for a single or double shot. The manual control allows you to pull just the right amount of espresso for the cup size you want. This customization helps prevent over-extraction or weak shots.

Temperature

The thermoblock heating system maintains optimal water temperature for espresso brewing. While the temperature isn't adjustable, De'Longhi has preset the ideal temperature range between 196-204°F for rich, full-bodied espresso without scalding or burning the coffee.

The grind size, shot volume, and temperature controls allow you to dial in the perfect espresso to suit your tastes. With some experimentation, you can customize your ideal shot on the De'Longhi Dedica.

Capacity and Speed

The De'Longhi EC685 has a decent 35oz water reservoir which is easy to access and fill from the side. This allows you to brew multiple shots before needing a refill.

The thermoblock heating system brings water to ideal espresso temperature in under a minute, so you don't have to wait long between brewing shots. Recovery time between shots is also very quick at around 10 seconds.

The pressure pump provides fast water flow and allows you to pull a shot in under 30 seconds once the machine is heated up. So you can brew shot after shot with minimal downtime.

Overall, the capacity and speed of the De'Longhi EC685 are very good for a home espresso machine in this price range. You won't be constantly refilling the reservoir or waiting for it to reheat between shots.

Value for Money

The De'Longhi EC685.W Dedica Style Espresso Machine offers excellent value for money given its features and performance. At around £150, it sits at the lower end of the market for pump espresso machines yet still produces quality espresso and milk froth.

For the price, the EC685.W comes well equipped. The package includes the main espresso machine, a manual tamper, single and double shot filter baskets, and a dual wall filter holder. The tamper is a nice addition not always found at this price point. The dual wall portafilters help regulate temperature stability for optimal extraction.

While accessories like a milk frothing jug and knock box need to be purchased separately, the EC685.W provides the core components at an affordable price point. Given the compact, slimline design, 15 bar pump pressure, Thermoblock heating, and dedicated frothing wand, it's impressive how much De'Longhi have packed into an espresso machine costing just over £100.

For those looking to buy their first pump espresso machine without breaking the bank, the EC685.W hits a sweet spot of quality, customization, and value. It's a great entry level model that delivers good espresso fundamentals and milk texturing for the price.

Pros and Cons

The De'Longhi EC685.W Dedica Style Espresso Machine has several notable pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• Compact, slim design takes up minimal counter space
• Simple to operate with intuitive controls
• Heats up quickly in under a minute
• Produces high-quality espresso with good crema
• Easy to clean and maintain
• Separate milk frother included
• Affordable price point around £200

Cons

• Small water reservoir capacity at 35 oz
• Requires frequent refilling for multiple drinks
• Single boiler can't steam milk and pull shots simultaneously
• Noisy operation
• Plastic exterior feels less durable than metal machines
• Limited ability to customize espresso parameters
• Steam wand has learning curve to master frothing

Conclusion

Overall, the De'Longhi EC685.W Dedica Style Espresso Machine is an excellent choice for espresso enthusiasts looking for an affordable, compact, and easy-to-use machine.

The sleek, modern design and stainless steel finish give it an elegant look that would fit nicely in any kitchen. It's compact and lightweight body makes it highly portable as well. The intuitive controls and rapid one-touch operation allow you to brew espresso and froth milk with minimal effort.

The 15-bar professional pressure pump extracts rich, aromatic espresso with a nice crema layer. The manual frother makes it easy to foam milk for cappuccinos and lattes. While the frother could be better, it produces decent milk foam for the price.

For a single boiler espresso machine under £200, the EC685.W delivers tremendous value. It's simple to use right out of the box, while still giving you plenty of customization options. The dual thermostats provide good temperature control too.

Overall, the De'Longhi Dedica EC685.W is an excellent entry-level espresso machine that consistently delivers high quality espresso and milk drinks. It's easy to use design and small footprint make it a great choice for home use. If you're looking for an affordable but capable espresso machine that doesn't compromise on quality, the Dedica EC685.W is highly recommended.