De'Longhi ECAM650.85.MS Espresso Machine - Review 🏆

De'Longhi is an Italian company that has been manufacturing high-quality coffee machines and small appliances for households and commercial use since 1902. Based in Treviso, Italy, De'Longhi is known for its innovative and stylish product designs that incorporate the latest technology to brew cafe-quality espresso drinks at home.

The company entered the espresso machine market in the 1970s and has grown to become one of the top brands worldwide for both pump and capsule style espresso makers. De'Longhi's range includes everything from entry-level machines for beginners to high-end models designed for coffee enthusiasts and specialty cafes. Some of their most popular lines are the La Specialista, Dinamica, and PrimaDonna espresso machines.

De'Longhi is committed to continuous research and development to create the ultimate home espresso experience. Their machines are crafted in Italy with excellent build quality and materials. Attention to detail in design, coupled with intuitive controls and maintenance features, makes De'Longhi one of the easiest to use and most reliable home espresso brands. With a De'Longhi espresso machine, anyone can pull cafe-style shots and milk-based drinks at home.

Overview

The De'Longhi ECAM650.85.MS PrimaDonna S EVO is a high-end super-automatic espresso machine that aims to bring café-quality coffee drinks into the comfort of your home.

This model sits towards the top of De'Longhi's PrimaDonna line of super-automatic espresso machines, which are designed for ease of use while still giving barista-level control over your coffee. The ECAM650.85.MS has a striking design with stainless steel accents and an interactive TFT display that makes operating the machine simple and intuitive.

Some standout features of the De'Longhi ECAM650.85.MS include a dual stainless steel boiler system, a manual milk frothing wand, a built-in burr grinder with 13 adjustable settings, and customizable drink options. This machine can brew espresso, lungos, cappuccinos, lattes, and more at the touch of a button.

Overall, the ECAM650.85.MS brings excellent coffee customization and convenience to home brewing. Its combination of automation and manual control aims to deliver a high-end coffee shop experience in your kitchen.

Design & Build Quality

The De'Longhi ECAM650.85.MS PrimaDonna S EVO has a sleek and modern design that will look great on any kitchen countertop. It features a stainless steel exterior that gives it a premium high-end look. The machine itself is quite large, measuring 16.9 x 13.4 x 13 inches, so make sure you have enough counter space to accommodate it.

Despite its large size, the build quality feels very solid and durable thanks to the metal exterior. All of the parts fit together tightly with no uneven gaps. The buttons and knobs also have a sturdy tactile feel when pressed or turned.

Overall, the ECAM650.85.MS has an elegant yet durable design constructed from quality materials like brushed stainless steel and die-cast metal. It looks and feels like a high-end espresso machine that will hold up well over years of daily use. The aesthetics are modern and luxurious, perfect for coffee enthusiasts who want both form and function.

Features

The ECAM650.85.MS comes equipped with a wide range of impressive features for an exceptional coffee experience.

• 15-bar pump pressure: The 15 bars of pressure extract maximum flavor and aroma from the coffee beans. This professional-level pressure results in rich, bold espresso with thick crema.

• 60 oz water reservoir: The large 2L water tank allows making numerous coffees before needing a refill. Convenient for entertaining guests or heavy personal use.

• Built-in burr grinder: The stainless steel conical burr grinder with 13 adjustable settings grinds beans instantly before brewing for incredibly fresh and flavorful coffee.

• Automatic milk frothing: The built-in milk carafe automatically froths milk at three temperature levels and three foam densities for customizable cappuccinos and lattes.

• One-touch beverage selection: Choose from espresso, coffee, long coffee, milk froth and hot water at the touch of a button. The intuitive interface makes brewing simple.

• Customizable settings: Adjust brew temperature, coffee strength, milk temperature, and water hardness for your preferred taste. Stores profiles for multiple users.

Ease of Use

The ECAM650.85.MS has an intuitive interface and is easy to operate even for beginners. The buttons are clearly labeled and the icons on the display screen make navigating the menu straightforward.

Cleaning and maintenance are also simple on this model. The drip tray, water tank, and used coffee container are all removable and dishwasher safe. The brew unit is accessible and can be rinsed under running water. Descaling is assisted by an alert on the screen when it's time to perform the cleaning cycle.

Overall, the ECAM650.85.MS is designed to be user-friendly. The controls are simple to understand and routine cleaning is hassle-free, making this a good choice for anyone looking for an easy-to-use super automatic espresso machine.

Coffee Quality

The De'Longhi Primadonna S ECAM650.85.MS produces exceptionally high quality espresso with a rich, full-bodied taste and a beautiful, thick crema on top.

The espresso comes out piping hot, right around the ideal serving temperature of 190-195 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows you to enjoy the coffee's complex flavors at their peak without burning your mouth.

The machine is able to extract espresso with an ideal balance of sweetness, acidity, and bitterness. Many users note the smoothness and lack of bitterness in the cup, even when using darker roasts.

One reason for the great flavor is the ThermoBlock heating system, which rapidly heats the water to the optimal temperature and maintains it with precision throughout the brewing process. This enhances flavor extraction and consistency.

The adjustable grinder grinds beans right before brewing to maximize freshness. You can tweak the fineness to dial in the ideal texture and taste of the crema. When properly dialed in, the crema produced is rich and persistent.

Overall, the Primadonna brews cafe-quality espresso with excellent aroma, texture, temperature, and taste in the comfort of your home. It's easy to customize your preferred flavor profile once you learn how to make adjustments.

Milk Frothing

The De'Longhi Primadonna ECAM650.85.MS espresso machine comes with an adjustable manual steam wand that makes it easy to froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes. The steam wand has two holes that allow you to adjust the steam power. This gives you more control over the milk frothing process.

The steam wand on this model creates a rich, creamy microfoam with velvety smooth texture. It heats and aerates the milk quickly without overheating it. The result is frothed milk that pours beautifully and integrates seamlessly into the coffee. Whether you prefer your milk extra hot or not too hot, the Primadonna allows you to froth the milk to your desired temperature.

Overall, the steam wand delivers exceptional milk frothing capabilities for home use. With some practice, you can create latte art worthy milk foam comparable to high-end coffee shops. The steam wand is easy to clean after use as well.

Noise Level

The De'Longhi Primadonna S ECAM 650.85.MS is impressively quiet for an automatic espresso machine. The noise level hovers around 65 decibels during operation. For comparison, normal conversation is about 60 decibels, so the machine is only slightly louder.

You'll hear some noises when it grinds the beans, tamps the coffee, and steams milk, but these are relatively muted. De'Longhi designed the machine to minimize vibrations and noise. The brewing process itself is very quiet.

The quiet operation makes the Primadonna S well-suited for kitchens and other social spaces. You can carry on a conversation over the machine without needing to raise your voice. The noise won't be disruptive if you make coffee while others are sleeping or working nearby.

Overall, the low noise levels add to the refined and luxurious feeling of the Primadonna S. It has a soothing, high-end coffee house vibe rather than an industrial machine noise. This makes the experience of using it more enjoyable.

Pros & Cons

Overall, the De'Longhi Primadonna S ECAM 650.85.MS has several pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• High-quality stainless steel body with premium look and feel
• Easy to use touchscreen interface and control dial
• Automated cleaning and descaling programs
• Memory function to save customized coffee preferences
• Quiet operation compared to other models
• Excellent espresso extraction and adjustable grind settings
• Effective milk frothing with latte art-capable milk wand
• Produces cafe-quality coffee drinks

Cons

• Expensive price point, over £1000
• Large footprint, takes up substantial counter space
• Complex menu system has learning curve
• Milk carafe requires frequent cleaning
• Beans-to-brew time is slower than some models
• No option to use pre-ground coffee

Conclusion

The De'Longhi ECAM650.85.MS Primadonna S Evo is an exceptional super-automatic espresso machine that produces café-quality beverages with minimal effort. It's thoughtfully designed with convenience and customization in mind, allowing you to brew espresso and milk-based drinks at the touch of a button.

With a sleek stainless steel exterior, intuitive touchscreen display, and extensive programming options, the ECAM650 makes brewing specialty coffee an elegant experience. It delivers consistent results thanks to the dual stainless steel boiler and precision conical burr grinder. The fully automatic operation, including automatic cleaning and descaling programs, takes the hassle out of maintenance.

If you're looking for an espresso machine that can craft complex coffeehouse drinks with ease, the ECAM650 is a superb choice. It's simple enough for beginners but offers advanced users the ability to customize strength, temperature, milk texture and more. The quiet brewing and grinding ensure you can make espresso anytime without disturbing others.

Overall, the De'Longhi Primadonna S Evo is a top-of-the-line super automatic espresso machine ideal for coffee lovers who want the quality and convenience of a café at home. It's a worthwhile investment for those who appreciate freshly ground beans and customized drinks made with the touch of a button.