De'Longhi ‎ECAM370.85.SB Espresso Machine - Review 🏆

The De'Longhi Dinamica Plus is an automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine that delivers cafe-quality coffee drinks with little effort. This mid-range model sits between entry-level super-automatics and high-end professional machines, offering an ideal balance of convenience, customization and performance.

With a sleek design and stainless steel finish, the Dinamica Plus makes an attractive addition to any kitchen. It has a compact footprint but doesn't compromise on features, with a built-in burr grinder, adjustable spouts, and a manual milk frothing wand. The intuitive interface allows you to easily select from a variety of coffee menu options.

This machine takes care of the entire coffee-making process for you, while still giving control over grind size, brew strength, milk texture and more. Keep reading to see how the Dinamica Plus combines automation with flexibility to create delicious espresso-based drinks.

Design and Build Quality

The De'Longhi Dinamica Plus ECAM370.85.SB is a premium espresso machine constructed from high-quality materials for durability and longevity.

The exterior housing is made from brushed stainless steel which gives it a sleek, modern look that will fit into any kitchen decor. The metal construction also makes it sturdy and stable on the countertop.

Inside, the boiler and other internal components are made from commercial-grade stainless steel and brass. The portafilter is chromed brass with a commercial style 58mm basket.

Overall, the fit and finish is excellent with tight tolerances and sturdy hinges on the service doors. The materials used in both the exterior and interior indicate this is built to last for many years of daily use.

Attention has also been paid to small details like the rubber tray on top to keep cups in place while extracting espresso. The materials and sturdy metal construction give the impression of a commercial-grade espresso machine rather than a low-cost consumer appliance.

Another excellent option is the Sage The Barista Touch, which offers a user-friendly touchscreen interface for intuitive operation. With its built-in grinder and automatic milk texturing, this machine caters to coffee enthusiasts who appreciate both convenience and quality. It also features an elegant design that complements modern kitchens, making it a stylish addition. The Sage The Barista Touch helps you craft café-quality beverages at home, ensuring each cup is brewed to perfection.

Features and Controls

The ECAM370.85.SB has an intuitive control panel with a large LCD display that makes it easy to navigate the machine's many features and customization options. The main control dial allows you to scroll through the menus and make selections. There are also dedicated buttons for common functions like turning the machine on and off, starting and stopping coffee brewing, and activating the milk frothing wand.

Some of the settings that can be adjusted via the control panel include:

• Coffee strength - Adjust between mild, medium, and strong.
• Coffee volume - Program how much coffee is dispensed per cup.
• Milk frothing temperature - Choose between cold, warm, or hot milk.
• Espresso temperature - Set the brewing temperature between normal, high, and maximum.
• Pre-infusion - Control the pre-brewing soak time.
• Descale alert - Set a reminder for when descaling is recommended.

The ECAM370.85.SB makes it simple to customize your coffee drinks with just a few button presses. But the machine also allows for more advanced programming and setting adjustments for coffee enthusiasts who want more control over every aspect of the brewing process.

Another excellent option is the De'Longhi ECAM610.75.mb, which offers a sleek design and advanced features such as a touch screen display, a wider variety of coffee brewing options, and personalized profiles for different users. It elevates home brewing with bean-to-cup capabilities, allowing for a perfectly tailored espresso or cappuccino experience for any coffee lover.

Customization Options

The ECAM370.85.SB offers a high degree of customization options to allow you to brew espresso and milk drinks exactly to your preferences. The customizable settings include:

• Espresso strength - Adjust the strength of your espresso shots from extra mild to extra strong using the strength selector knob. This will adjust the pre-infusion and brewing time to extract more or less coffee flavor.

• Espresso volume - Program how much espresso is dispensed per shot, from 0.5 oz up to 2 oz. This allows you to pull ristretto, standard, or lungo shots.

• Coffee temperature - Select your ideal coffee temperature from low, medium, or maximum. The higher the temperature, the more flavor will be extracted.

• Milk temperature - Customize the temperature of steamed milk from 113°F up to 167°F. This allows you to achieve the perfect temperature for cappuccinos or lattes.

• Milk foam level - Change the foam level when steaming milk from minimum foam to maximum froth. Select more foam for cappuccinos or less for lattes.

With this wide range of adjustable settings, you can truly customize each drink to suit your tastes and preferences. The De'Longhi makes it easy to get your perfect coffee drink every time.

Ease of Use

The De'Longhi Dinamica Plus is designed to be very user-friendly, with intuitive controls and programming options. The learning curve is quite minimal for an automatic machine. Within a few uses, most owners will have the basics down and be able to brew, steam, and froth with ease.

The machine has a simple 2 line LCD display with push buttons below to navigate the menus and program settings. The buttons are clearly labeled to switch between espresso, coffee, steam, and hot water. There are also dedicated buttons for single and double shots.

Programming the grind size, brew temperature, brew volume, etc can all be done through the display menu. The process is straightforward with the buttons and display screen. The manual provides clear instructions too if needed.

Overall, the Dinamica Plus offers a simple interactive experience for an automatic super-automatic espresso machine. Novices should have no issues learning to use the machine competently with a little practice. Even experts will appreciate the well-designed interface.

Espresso Quality

The De'Longhi Dinamica Plus produces espresso with an excellent, balanced flavor. The espresso shots have a rich, dark crema on top that is persistent and lasts through the entire drink.

The consistency of the espresso is always on point, with no watery or bitter tasting shots. Each espresso pull has a nice syrupy texture that is smooth and silky on the palate.

The machine is able to extract the subtle notes and aromas from different coffee beans and blends. It brings out the inherent flavors from light, fruity beans as well as the chocolate and nutty notes in darker roasts.

The pressure of the 19 bar pump, precise temperature control, and low-pressure pre-infusion combine to extract maximum flavor from the coffee grounds. This results in espresso with complex tastes that make your tastebuds sing.

The ECAM370.85 is very consistent and repeatable with its espresso quality. No matter what beans are used, the espresso always has superb crema and a balanced, nuanced flavor that makes this machine a joy to use everyday.

Milk Frothing

The De'Longhi Dinamica Plus comes with a manual frothing wand that makes it easy to froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes. The steam wand has a special design that allows you to adjust the position to get the right angle into your milk pitcher or cup.

I found the steam wand to produce hot, velvety milk foam consistently. The key is to position the tip of the wand near the surface of the cold milk and turn on the steam. As the milk heats up and expands, you can plunge the tip further down to incorporate air and generate that rich, creamy froth. It only takes about a minute to get perfectly frothed milk every time.

The steam output is strong enough to froth any amount of milk rapidly. I was able to froth enough milk for multiple drinks back-to-back without any loss of steam pressure. The steam automatically shuts off when the milk reaches the ideal temperature, so you don't have to worry about overheating it.

Overall, the manual frothing wand on the Dinamica Plus performs excellently for frothing milk to create creamy, smooth foam for topping espresso drinks. It's easy to use and consistently delivers high-quality frothed milk.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The De'Longhi Dinamica Plus makes cleaning and maintenance relatively straightforward. It has an automatic cleaning cycle that can be activated after a certain number of coffees have been made. This rinses the internal coffee circuits to keep things hygienic.

Descaling is also automated via a descaling cycle that can be initiated when needed. The machine alerts you when descaling is recommended based on usage and water hardness. Simply fill the water tank with descaling solution and initiate the cycle. The Dinamica Plus walks you through the multi-step descaling process automatically.

Disassembling the milk frothing system for cleaning is easy thanks to the quick connect/disconnect milk carafe. The stainless steel milk frothing chamber can be removed and cleaned in the dishwasher or by hand in just a minute or two. The drip tray is also dishwasher safe.

Overall, the automation of cleaning and descaling makes maintenance simple on the Dinamica Plus. The user manual provides clear step-by-step instructions if you need guidance. But the machine does most of the work for you with minimal effort required.

Pros and Cons

The De'Longhi Dinamica Plus ECAM370.85.SB has many excellent features, but there are also some downsides to consider.

Pros

• Produces high-quality espresso with thick, rich crema
• Lots of customization options for espresso strength, temperature, etc.
• Easy to use control panel with rotating knob and digital display
• Adjustable spout to accommodate different cup sizes
• Automatic milk frothing wand makes cappuccinos and lattes
• Easy maintenance with removable brewing unit and descaling alerts
• Sleek, compact design takes up minimal counter space

Cons

• Expensive initial investment
• Frothing wand can be tricky to clean thoroughly
• Noisy grinding and brewing sounds
• Water tank capacity is relatively small at 1.8 liters
• Descaling process can be tedious

Overall, the De'Longhi Dinamica Plus performs very well and produces café-quality espresso drinks at home. But the high price tag and some minor inconveniences keep it from being perfect. Consider your budget and needs to decide if the pros outweigh the cons for you.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the De'Longhi Dinamica Plus ECAM370.85.SB is an excellent choice for someone looking for a high-quality, fully-automatic espresso machine. Its sleek and compact design will look great on any kitchen counter, and it's packed with features to help you customize your coffee drinks.

The built-in grinder and adjustable settings give you control over the grind size and allow you to optimize flavor extraction. With the touch screen interface, you can easily select your preferred coffee drink and adjust the strength, temperature, and milk frothing options. The machine is very easy to operate, even for beginners.

The espresso quality is excellent, with thick crema and robust flavor. The milk frother performs well to produce creamy, frothy milk for cappuccinos and lattes. Keeping the machine clean is straightforward with the automatic rinse and descaling functions.

Overall, the De'Longhi Dinamica Plus is a smart investment for anyone who wants delicious espresso and milk-based drinks at home with minimal effort. It's a reliable, well-built machine that makes brewing espresso an enjoyable experience. If you don't mind the higher price tag, it's easy to recommend for personal use or as a gift for the coffee lover in your life.