De'Longhi Dedica EC680M Espresso coffee machine: Full Review

The De'Longhi Dedica EC680M is a semi-automatic espresso machine designed for home use. It features a compact and sleek stainless steel design that will look great on any kitchen counter.

This espresso maker uses De'Longhi's patented manual cappuccino system to allow you to swivel the milk container out and prepare creamy cappuccinos and lattes. It can brew single and double shots of espresso using 15-bar pressure and has a rapid heating system that is ready in just 40 seconds.

The De'Longhi Dedica EC680M includes a manual milk frother, a drip tray, and a cup tray along with several accessories like a tamper and measuring scoop. It has intuitive controls with adjustable coffee strength and volume. Overall, this espresso machine offers an affordable option for brewing restaurant-quality espresso drinks at home.

Design and Build Quality

The De'Longhi Dedica EC680M has an attractive stainless steel body that looks great on any kitchen countertop. The metal construction gives it a sturdy, durable feel that should hold up well over time.

Despite the metal body, the machine still manages to stay relatively lightweight at only 7.5 pounds. The compact footprint takes up minimal counter space but is still large enough to accommodate standard-sized espresso cups.

The steam wand can swivel 180 degrees to allow for easier milk frothing. The buttons have a soft touch and premium feel when pressed. Overall, the machine looks and feels well-made with attention to ergonomic design.

While made mostly of metal, the water reservoir and drip tray are plastic. The reservoir holds up to 35 ounces of water, which is ample for home use. The drip tray can likewise hold a decent amount of spills before needing to be emptied.

In summary, the use of stainless steel for the housing and premium-feeling buttons give the De'Longhi Dedica an attractive, durable, and portable design suitable for most home kitchens. The mix of metal and plastic components help keep the overall weight manageable without compromising sturdiness.

In addition to the De'Longhi, the amzchef U-LL-1666SV offers a sleek and modern design that complements any kitchen decor. With advanced brewing technology and customizable settings, it allows users to craft their perfect espresso. Its intuitive interface makes it user-friendly, while the compact size ensures it fits easily on your countertop. The robust build quality ensures longevity, making it a fantastic choice for espresso enthusiasts looking for both style and performance.

Ease of Use

The De'Longhi Dedica EC680M espresso machine is designed for easy, intuitive use. The control panel features just a few buttons and knobs that are simple to operate.

The main brewing button starts and stops the flow of espresso at a touch. There are also buttons for steam and hot water dispensing. The two dials allow you to adjust the steam and coffee volume.

The portafilter securely locks into place with a click and twist motion. The water tank and drip tray are easy to access, remove, and refill as needed. The steam wand moves up and down and pivots for flexibility in frothing.

There are no complicated settings or programming options on this model. Just set the grind size, dose the portafilter, lock it in place, and brew. The 3-in-1 filter holder includes a single shot, double shot, and ESE pod adapter for convenience.

Overall, the De'Longhi Dedica EC680M is designed for simplicity. With its tactile buttons and knobs plus intuitive brewing process, this espresso machine offers a manual, user-friendly experience. Both beginners and experienced baristas will appreciate how the straightforward interface enables easy brewing.

In comparison, the Nespresso ENV135S espresso machine is also built for user convenience, featuring one-touch operation and automatic coffee preparation. It uses Nespresso pods, making it incredibly easy to brew consistently great coffee without the mess of ground coffee. The sleek design and compact size make it ideal for small kitchens, while the variety of pod flavors available allows users to explore different coffee tastes with ease. Both machines cater to different preferences, offering an excellent experience for coffee lovers.

Espresso Performance

The De'Longhi Dedica EC680M delivers excellent espresso with great pressure, temperature consistency, and crema foam quality.

The 15-bar pump provides professional pressure levels to properly extract espresso and develop the aromatic oils and flavors. Tests show the pump maintains a steady 9-10 bars during the extraction for optimal flavor.

The thermoblock heating system heats water to the ideal 195-205°F temperature for espresso brewing. The temperature remains consistent throughout the process with little fluctuation. This ensures the grounds are brewed at the optimal temperature for full extraction.

The machine produces espresso with a rich, thick crema foam thanks to the pressurized portafilter basket. The crema has a creamy tan texture with tiny bubbles, indicating good extraction and freshness. The crema also helps bring out the espresso's aromas and sweetness.

In the cup, the espresso has a smooth, balanced flavor with notes of dark chocolate and caramel. The brew is rich without any harsh bitterness, highlighting the natural sweetness of the coffee. The espresso has a syrupy body with no watery or under-extracted notes. Overall an authentic, restaurant-quality shot.

Milk Frothing

The De'Longhi Dedica EC680M has a panarello wand that makes frothing milk easy. The metal wand creates a whirlpool effect in the milk that allows you to quickly achieve the microfoam texture required for cappuccinos and lattes.

While some machines come with larger milk jugs, the 0.6L stainless steel jug that's included with the Dedica is a good size for home use. It has a handle and spout for easy pouring. The jug is also dishwasher safe which is convenient for cleaning up after use.

You can get smooth, creamy foam with just the right amount of micro bubbles using the panarello wand. The foam is thick enough to float on top of the coffee crema nicely. With a bit of practice you'll be able to texture milk perfectly for making cappuccinos and lattes.

Overall, the Dedica delivers excellent milk frothing capabilities for an entry-level home espresso machine. The combination of the panarello wand and stainless steel jug makes it easy to achieve cafe-quality foam that will elevate your espresso drinks.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The De'Longhi Dedica EC680M has a self-cleaning function that helps reduce mineral buildup from water. After brewing espresso, simply run hot water through the machine to rinse out remaining coffee oils and particles. The parts that come into contact with coffee and milk are removable and dishwasher safe, making cleaning easy.

Descaling is an important part of maintaining any espresso machine.scale buildup from hard water can clog hoses and negatively impact performance and taste over time. De'Longhi recommends descaling every 2-3 months depending on water hardness. The machine alerts you when it's time to descale. To descale, fill the water tank with descaling solution instead of water. Place a large container under both the steam wand and portafilter. Turn on the machine, allow solution to flow through both spouts, then turn it off and let it sit for 15 minutes before completing the rinse process. Always use De'Longhi's descaling solution specifically formulated for their machines.

The stainless steel boiler should also be cleaned periodically by an authorized service technician to remove any mineral deposits. Overall, the De'Longhi Dedica has relatively low maintenance needs if descaling is done regularly. Wiping down exterior surfaces and rinsing/cleaning parts after each use will also help longevity.

Noise Level

The Dedica EC680M is relatively quiet for an espresso machine, especially considering its compact size. During the brewing process, it produces minimal noise that is unlikely to be disruptive. There is some noise when the pump activates to push water through the portafilter, but it is much quieter than a commercial machine.

When steaming and frothing milk, the steam wand does emit an audible hissing sound. However, it is not excessively loud. The noise level is comparable to other home espresso machines in this price range. Some users may find the steam wand to be louder than expected, but it will not overpower a normal conversation.

Overall, the noise produced by the Dedica is reasonable for daily home use. It allows you to brew espresso and make milk drinks without disturbing others. The brewing process itself generates very little noise that fades into the background. The main noise comes from the steam wand, which is typical for an affordable home espresso machine.

Accessories

The De'Longhi Dedica EC680M comes with a few handy accessories to help you get started making espresso drinks at home.

In the box, you'll find a stainless steel tamper with a built-in magnet that allows it to attach to the machine for convenient storage. The tamper helps you evenly compress the coffee grounds before brewing for optimal espresso extraction.

Also included is a plastic milk frothing pitcher which makes it easy to steam and froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes. The pitcher has ounce and milliliter markings on the side to help you froth the right amount of milk.

The portafilter has two filter baskets - a single shot filter and a double shot filter. This allows you to brew either one or two shots of espresso at a time.

The machine utilizes De'Longhi's patented dual filter holder which works with ground coffee as well as easy-serving espresso (ESE) pods. No need to buy special filters or accessories to use either type of coffee.

Other accessories include a water hardness test strip to help you configure the machine properly for your local water supply. There's also a cleaning brush and cleaning pins to help keep the group head clean for optimal flavor extraction.

Warranty and Support

The De'Longhi Dedica EC680M espresso machine comes with a 1-year warranty that covers defects in materials and workmanship. This is pretty standard for espresso machines in this price range.

De'Longhi provides customer support via email and phone. You can submit support requests on their website or call their toll-free number. Many customers report De'Longhi's customer service team is very responsive and helpful in troubleshooting issues or providing guidance on using the machine.

The warranty covers repairing or replacing defective parts. However, damage from improper use, lack of maintenance, normal wear and tear may not be covered. You'll need to work with De'Longhi support to diagnose issues and determine if they are covered under warranty.

Overall, the warranty coverage is decent and on par with competitors. Having access to De'Longhi's customer support team gives peace of mind, especially for first-time espresso machine owners.

Pros and Cons

The De'Longhi Dedica EC680M has several pros that make it a compelling home espresso machine for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Key advantages include:

• Compact, slim design saves counter space
• Fast heat-up time of just 40 seconds
• Easy to use control panel with programmable settings
• Built-in stainless steel conical burr grinder grinds beans right before brewing
• Manual milk frothing wand produces creamy, rich froth
• Removable water tank for easy filling
• Self-priming operation helps prevent errors

Some downsides to consider with the EC680M:

• Smaller water tank capacity at 35 oz
• Single boiler can't steam and brew simultaneously
• Need to wait between brewing each shot
• No hot water spout for Americanos or tea
• Parts are not as durable or serviceable as prosumer models
• Grinder struggles with very fine espresso grind

Overall, the De'Longhi Dedica provides very good espresso and milk frothing for a home espresso machine at this price point. The compact size and easy operation make it ideal for beginners. More advanced users may want more power, control and durability in the long run.