TL;DR
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The cheapest real espresso machine in the UK, consistently under £200
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Only 15cm wide with a 30-second heat-up, built for small UK kitchens
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Stock setup is decent, but the mod community is where this machine shines
If counter space in your UK kitchen is measured in centimetres, the De’Longhi Dedica Style EC685 is the machine that fits where others won’t. At just 15cm wide and 4.2 kg, it’s the slimmest real espresso machine you can buy, and the 30-second thermoblock heat-up means you’ll have espresso before the kettle finishes boiling. Out of the box with its pressurised baskets, it makes perfectly drinkable espresso. But what makes the Dedica special is the upgrade path: swap to an IMS precision basket, add a bottomless portafilter, and you have a machine that punches well above its price. Owners on CoffeeForums UK describe it as a “slimline starter with real potential.”
Who Should Buy the De’Longhi Dedica EC685
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Your kitchen counter space is tight and every centimetre counts (15cm width)
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You want the cheapest entry into real espresso under £200
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You enjoy tinkering and want a machine with an active modification community
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You’re upgrading from a pod machine and want real espresso without the learning cliff
Who Should Skip It
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You drink milk-heavy drinks daily (the Panarello wand is slow and can’t do proper microfoam without modification)
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You want the best stock espresso without modifications (the Sage Bambino Plus is better out of the box)
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You plan to make back-to-back drinks for guests (single thermoblock needs recovery time between steam and brew)
De’Longhi Dedica EC685 Key Specs
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Pump pressure: 15 bar (rated)
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Boiler type: Thermoblock
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Heat-up time: ~30 seconds
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Water tank: 1.1L (removable)
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Portafilter: 51mm
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Power: 1300W
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Weight: 4.2 kg
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Dimensions: 14.9 x 30.3 x 33 cm (W x D x H)
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Steam wand: Panarello (removable sleeve)
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Baskets: Single, double (pressurised), ESE pod
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Temperature: Adjustable (3 settings)
Espresso Quality
With the stock pressurised baskets, the Dedica produces crema-topped espresso that tastes good enough to convince you that home espresso is worth pursuing. The pressurised system is forgiving of grind inconsistency, which means you can start with a basic grinder and still get reasonable results.
The real improvement comes when you switch to an unpressurised IMS precision basket. Owners on CoffeeForums UK confirm it’s fairly simple to turn this into a home barista espresso machine with aftermarket baskets. The 51mm group head is smaller than the Sage 54mm or industry-standard 58mm, but IMS makes excellent baskets for it and they cost under £20.
The 15-bar pump is the biggest technical limitation. Optimal espresso extraction happens at 9 bar, and the Dedica’s over-pressure can lead to channelling and harsh flavours. The community has documented OPV modifications that bring this down to 9 bar, but it requires opening the machine. The Gaggia Classic Evo Pro ships at 9 bar from the factory.
Steam and Milk Performance
The Panarello wand produces hot, frothy milk suitable for cappuccinos. It’s not microfoam. You won’t be pouring latte art with the stock setup. The Panarello sleeve is removable, and some owners report better results with the sleeve off. But steam power from the single thermoblock is limited. Owners on r/espresso consistently note the Bambino Plus has far superior steam power with a four-hole tip, while the Dedica’s steam is modest by comparison.
For flat whites and lattes, the Dedica requires patience and technique. For cappuccinos with thick foam, it’s fine. If milk drinks are your primary goal, the Bambino Plus is the better machine.
Build Quality and Design
The Dedica is built to be slim. The stainless steel front panel looks more expensive than it is, and the 14.9cm width means it fits in gaps that no other espresso machine can occupy. The removable 1.1L water tank fills from the back.
At 4.2 kg, it’s light. That’s a benefit for storage and portability but a drawback during brewing. Multiple owners report that vibration from the pump can cause the machine to shift on smooth surfaces.
The lack of a 3-way solenoid valve means the portafilter stays pressurised after a shot. You need to wait 10 to 15 seconds or release pressure through the steam wand. The spent puck is wet and soupy, making knock-out messier than machines with solenoid valves like the Gaggia Classic.
The Modification Path
The UK modding community, particularly on CoffeeForums UK, has documented nearly every possible upgrade:
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IMS precision basket (£15 to £20): Replaces the pressurised basket for proper extraction. The single biggest improvement you can make.
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Bottomless portafilter (£20 to £30): Lets you see extraction in real time and diagnose channelling.
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OPV adjustment (free, requires disassembly): Reduces pump pressure from 15 bar to 9 bar for proper extraction pressure.
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Rancilio Silvia wand swap: Replaces the Panarello with a proper steam wand for microfoam and latte art.
No other machine at this price has a comparable modding community.
What’s Actually Bad About It
15-bar pump pressure hurts extraction quality. Optimal espresso extracts at 9 bar. The Dedica’s 15 bar forces water through too aggressively, causing channelling and bitter, thin shots with unpressurised baskets. The OPV mod fixes this but requires opening the machine and voiding the warranty. The Gaggia Classic Evo Pro ships at 9 bar from the factory.
The 51mm portafilter is limiting. The 51mm ecosystem is smaller than the 54mm (Sage) or 58mm (industry standard) options. Fewer tamper choices, fewer basket options. If you upgrade machines later, nothing transfers.
The Panarello wand is poor for milk drinks. It produces bubbly foam, not silky microfoam. The wand swap mod helps, but the thermoblock’s limited steam power remains the bottleneck. The Bambino Plus handles milk in 18 to 22 seconds. The Dedica takes 45 seconds or more.
No 3-way solenoid valve. Every shot ends with a pressurised portafilter and a soggy puck. The Gaggia Classic has one. The Bambino Plus has one.
The thermoblock runs cool. Multiple owners on CoffeeForums UK report brew temperature being too low for optimal extraction. A workaround exists (running a steam cycle before brewing to pre-heat the group), but it adds 30 seconds to your routine.
How the De’Longhi Dedica EC685 Compares
Sage Bambino Plus: The Bambino Plus is better in nearly every way: 54mm portafilter, ThermoJet 3-second heat-up, 9-bar extraction, auto-milk steaming in under 22 seconds, and 3-way solenoid valve. The Dedica wins only on price (roughly £100 cheaper) and width (15cm vs 19.5cm). If your budget stretches to the Bambino Plus, buy that instead.
Gaggia Classic Evo Pro: The Gaggia is better for long-term ownership: 58mm portafilter, 9-bar OPV from factory, professional steam wand, and massive accessories ecosystem. But it weighs 8.6 kg, takes 5 to 10 minutes to heat up, and costs roughly £150 more. The Dedica is for small spaces and tight budgets.
Grinder Pairing
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Baratza Encore ESP: The best budget electric pairing. Use the 58mm adapter on the Encore’s dosing cup and transfer grounds manually. Good enough for unpressurised baskets.
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Sage Dose Control Pro: Works but the portafilter cradle is designed for Sage machines. You’ll need to grind into the container and transfer.
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1Zpresso JX-Pro (hand grinder): The best grind quality you can get at this price point. Pairs well with the Dedica’s unpressurised baskets.
FAQ
Is the De’Longhi Dedica EC685 good for espresso?
The De’Longhi Dedica EC685 makes decent espresso with stock pressurised baskets and noticeably better espresso with aftermarket IMS precision baskets. The 15-bar pump is too high for optimal extraction, but an OPV modification brings it to the ideal 9 bar.
Is the Dedica EC685 good for milk drinks?
The Dedica EC685 has a Panarello steam wand that produces frothy cappuccino-style milk but cannot create silky microfoam for latte art. Swapping to a Rancilio Silvia wand improves milk texture, though the thermoblock’s limited steam power remains a constraint.
How does the Dedica compare to the Sage Bambino Plus?
The Sage Bambino Plus outperforms the Dedica in espresso quality, milk steaming speed, and ease of use. The Dedica wins on price (roughly £100 cheaper) and width (15cm versus 19.5cm). Choose the Dedica for tight budgets or very limited counter space.
What modifications should I do first on the Dedica?
The single best modification for the De’Longhi Dedica EC685 is replacing the stock pressurised basket with an IMS precision basket for approximately £15. This allows traditional espresso extraction and requires a proper grinder capable of espresso-fine grinds.
How wide is the De’Longhi Dedica EC685?
The De’Longhi Dedica EC685 measures 14.9 cm wide, making it the slimmest real espresso machine available in the UK. This narrow profile fits kitchen counter gaps where standard espresso machines at 19 to 22 cm wide cannot fit.
Does the Dedica EC685 have a 3-way solenoid valve?
The De’Longhi Dedica EC685 does not have a 3-way solenoid valve. This means the portafilter remains pressurised after brewing, requiring a 10 to 15 second wait before removal. The spent puck is also wet compared to machines with solenoid valves.
How long does the De’Longhi Dedica take to heat up?
The De’Longhi Dedica EC685 heats up in approximately 30 seconds thanks to its thermoblock heating system. However, the brew group and portafilter remain cold, so running a blank shot first improves extraction temperature and overall shot consistency.
Final Verdict: De’Longhi Dedica Style EC685
The De’Longhi Dedica Style EC685 is the cheapest entry into real espresso in the UK that’s worth your time. At 15cm wide and 4.2 kg, it fits kitchens where nothing else will. The stock setup makes decent espresso, and the decade-old modification community means you can upgrade incrementally as your skills grow: IMS basket first, then a bottomless portafilter, then the OPV mod, then a wand swap. Each upgrade costs under £30 and makes a noticeable difference. If your budget is firmly under £200, this is the machine. If you can stretch to a Bambino Plus, that’s the better buy out of the box. But for tight spaces and tight budgets, the Dedica earns its place as the UK’s bestselling home espresso machine.
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