Brewing system
Manual pump espresso machine with a 15-bar pump, thermoblock heating and 1450 W input power; it takes ground coffee or ESE pods and has no grinder.
Espresso machines · EC685
EC685
The De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 is a compact manual pump espresso machine: 15-bar pump, thermoblock heating, a manual steam wand, and ground coffee or ESE pods, in a body only 15 cm wide.
15 bar1450 W220-240 V
17 original reviews to read 4 video summaries Good to know
Start your decision here
The De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 is a compact manual pump espresso machine: 15-bar pump, thermoblock heating, a manual steam wand, and ground coffee or ESE pods, in a body only 15 cm wide. Owners like its espresso, quick heat-up, simple controls and small footprint, and many treat it as an affordable step up from pod machines. The trade-offs are a stiff portafilter, pressurised single-hole baskets that choke with very fine grinds, a learning curve over grind and tamp, low clearance over the drip tray, and basic accessories. A minority report steam or frothing problems within months. It suits beginners and small kitchens better than enthusiasts chasing café-level shots. Independent UK reliability data is not publicly available.
Before you buy
What the features mean in everyday use.
Manual pump espresso machine with a 15-bar pump, thermoblock heating and 1450 W input power; it takes ground coffee or ESE pods and has no grinder.
The body is 149 mm wide, 330 mm deep and 305 mm high, weighing about 4.2 kg.
Manual steam wand (Adjustable Cappuccino System) with a hot-milk or cappuccino froth setting; it also dispenses hot water. There is no milk temperature setting.
Button controls with no display, auto power-off, descaling programme, water level indicator and a removable drip tray; the maximum cup height is 120 mm.
Most reviewers on Amazon.co.uk and John Lewis praise the espresso and crema, often compared favourably with pod machines and coffee shops.
Reviewers repeatedly mention the slim footprint, quick heat-up and simple operation once set up.
Several reviewers find the steam wand good for frothing and hot milk. A minority report weak or failing frothing within months, and a noisy steamer.
A recurring complaint is that the portafilter is stiff to lock in or remove, or won't fit if overfilled; some say it eases with use.
Some reviewers say the supplied single-hole pressurised filters choke or drip slowly with fine grinds and need the right grind and tamp. One Amazon reviewer calls the pump too weak for a double shot. Forum users describe it as an entry-level machine with limited temperature stability.
Several reviewers report years of daily use (4-5 years on Amazon.co.uk; one John Lewis reviewer kept a previous unit for about 15 years). Australian owner Q&A reports steam wand leaks, steam failure and pumping faults after months of use.
Reviewers mention a standby quirk where the machine must be switched off and on before brewing again, noise during brewing or steaming, and thin instructions or support for programming settings such as water temperature and hardness.
The included plastic tamper and scoop are described as flimsy, and some buyers bought extras (better tamper, bottomless portafilter, ESE pod filter) separately.
On the check date Amazon.co.uk and Currys sold the metal and black versions at the same price, and De'Longhi UK charged slightly more. John Lewis listed the model as no longer available online, and Argos and AO.com had no live listing.
Which? has tested the EC685.BK (first reviewed April 2022), but its score and verdict are only visible to members.
This is a low-cost, compact entry point to manual espresso for pod-machine upgraders who accept a learning curve. Enthusiasts wanting fine-grind, unpressurised shots may outgrow it; reviewers mention moving to a Sage Bambino or modifying baskets.
Manual steam wand (Adjustable Cappuccino System) with a hot-milk or cappuccino froth setting; it also dispenses hot water. There is no milk temperature setting.
Button controls with no display, auto power-off, descaling programme, water level indicator and a removable drip tray; the maximum cup height is 120 mm.
Most reviewers on Amazon.co.uk and John Lewis praise the espresso and crema, often compared favourably with pod machines and coffee shops.
Reviewers repeatedly mention the slim footprint, quick heat-up and simple operation once set up.
Several reviewers find the steam wand good for frothing and hot milk. A minority report weak or failing frothing within months, and a noisy steamer.
A recurring complaint is that the portafilter is stiff to lock in or remove, or won't fit if overfilled; some say it eases with use.
Some reviewers say the supplied single-hole pressurised filters choke or drip slowly with fine grinds and need the right grind and tamp. One Amazon reviewer calls the pump too weak for a double shot. Forum users describe it as an entry-level machine with limited temperature stability.
Several reviewers report years of daily use (4-5 years on Amazon.co.uk; one John Lewis reviewer kept a previous unit for about 15 years). Australian owner Q&A reports steam wand leaks, steam failure and pumping faults after months of use.
Reviewers mention a standby quirk where the machine must be switched off and on before brewing again, noise during brewing or steaming, and thin instructions or support for programming settings such as water temperature and hardness.
The included plastic tamper and scoop are described as flimsy, and some buyers bought extras (better tamper, bottomless portafilter, ESE pod filter) separately.
On the check date Amazon.co.uk and Currys sold the metal and black versions at the same price, and De'Longhi UK charged slightly more. John Lewis listed the model as no longer available online, and Argos and AO.com had no live listing.
Which? has tested the EC685.BK (first reviewed April 2022), but its score and verdict are only visible to members.
This is a low-cost, compact entry point to manual espresso for pod-machine upgraders who accept a learning curve. Enthusiasts wanting fine-grind, unpressurised shots may outgrow it; reviewers mention moving to a Sage Bambino or modifying baskets.
User experience
See the common points first, then read the original reviews yourself.
Summarised from the 40 reviews we read. A review can mention several points, so the theme counts can add up to more than 40.
Owners mostly like the espresso it makes, its very slim footprint, quick heat-up and simple button operation, and many see it as a clear step up from pod machines. The steam wand is often praised for frothing and hot milk. The most common complaints are a stiff portafilter, and shots that choke or drip slowly with finely ground coffee in the supplied pressurised baskets, so getting good results takes practice with grind and tamping. A few owners report frothing that weakens or fails within months, noise while steaming, a standby quirk that needs a power cycle, flimsy plastic tamper and scoop, and sparse instructions. Some owners report years of reliable daily use, while others question its longevity.
Summarised from 40 reviews; 1 reviews about delivery, packaging or the seller were left out. The summary is drawn from opinions that recur in the reviews read; each theme shows how many reviews mention it. These counts are not a rate and do not apply to every unit.
40 unique review texts: 13 from Amazon.co.uk product pages (top reviews; metal and black pages identical, deduplicated by author, date and text) and 27 from the John Lewis reviews API (2 pages). One Amazon review about plug and seller service was excluded. No rating-only entries. Amazon's AI summary flags durability and reliability complaints that are under-represented in the visible top reviews.
17 original reviews can be listed on this page. The number of reviews analysed may differ.
H*** o*** t*** H*** 5/5 22 October 2026 Amazon Colour: Black
It’s time to do a review of positives and negatives of this amazing coffee maker. … But the coffee from the De Longhi is superior. … OK. One negative. If you leave the machine on too long it goes to standby and when it kicks back in, it won’t make coffee so you need to switch it if and on. … All in all, this is the best coffee machine I’ve ever had and after 5 years, it’s still going strong.
S*** M*** 1/5 2 September 2026 Amazon Colour: Black
I've been using this machine for 6 months or so. My overall impression is that the pump is not strong enough to force through a double espresso to the point where a decent amount of crema is created. … Otherwise, when you remove the portafilter to clean out the basket of coffee grinds, the basket get's stuck in the machine. This means you have to remove it with your hands and you get into a terrible mess. Apart from that the milk wand is good.
M*** 4/5 27 August 2026 Amazon Colour: Black
Really pleased with this machine. It was easy to set up and produces a really good espresso once you get used to using it. … One thing I noticed is that if you overfill the portafilter with coffee, it won’t slot into the machine properly. … The included plastic tamper and scoop could definitely be better quality, but they do the job when you’re first starting out.
A*** C*** 3/5 27 July 2026 Amazon Colour: Metal
This is a nice looking machine which has a nice sleek design and is compact enough to fit into my small kitchen. Basic operation is simple with a quick warm-up and brewing times, easily accessible controls and relatively quiet brewing. Some features such as water temperature can be customised but I had to do some internet searching to find out how to do these since the De’Longhi online support was pretty woeful.
A*** C*** 5/5 8 January 2026 Amazon Colour: Black
I love this coffee machine, it is so easy to use and heats up quickly. It makes lovely coffee and the steam wand is impressive, there are two options to choose from - hot milk or cappuccino milk. I have tried several coffee machines now, this one definitely has the best steam wand and the wand is easier to keep clean as the hot milk doesn’t seem to stick to it so much.
S*** J*** 5/5 18 July 2024 Amazon Colour: Black
Some reviews say that the coffee isn't hot enough. Well, you can change the temperature of the water. … However, I need to mention my next issue, I really really struggled to twist the handle to lock the holder into place. I found myself wrestling with the machine for several minutes. Having used it for a few days now, it does get easier and it locks into position without the wrestling.
s*** 5/5 13 August 2023 Amazon Colour: Metal
The filters are pressurised and use a small point in the middle. I changed them over for a more open basket. … The drip tray is pretty useless unless you are only using tiny mugs. It gives you very little clearance. … Noise. This is not quiet but it is a serious machine. … Space. This has a fantastic narrow profile so it takes up the same width of counter or desk space as a kettle…
J*** K*** 5/5 8 October 2026 Amazon Reviewed in Australia; colour: Black
Works well and makes a nice cup. Time will tell how long it lasts.
C*** 5/5 28 September 2025 John Lewis
..so I got this one. It looks quite attractive and it makes pretty good espresso
P*** 3/5 28 September 2025 John Lewis
The expresso ground coffee I purchased was too fine for this machine, when I grind beans myself, coarsely the coffee flows quicker. … Hopefully its user error and will improve with practise
D*** W*** 4/5 20 September 2025 John Lewis
This is the second one of these machines I have owned, having the first one for about 15years! (It was still working just wanted a new one). I like the fact that you can make a coffee easily and get the coffee shop result. It's very good VFM when compare to other ground coffee makers.
A*** 1/5 12 May 2025 John Lewis
The pressure needed to heat the milk is not sufficient to do the job and the noise is ridiculous. We sent it off to De'Longhi to be repaired, but same problem exists. …
L*** 2/5 8 April 2025 John Lewis
We had this machine for less than three months before the milk frothing function started to malfunction, the milk is no longer frothy for a cappuccino style coffee. Also the coffee is tepid with the milk also cool on an ordinary setting. The descale light appeared only on a month of use and remains on after descaling! The machine is now being returned for a refund. …
N*** 4/5 8 March 2025 John Lewis
This makes great coffee but it definitely takes practice. If you don't get correct grind size, overfill basket, tamp a little too hard, the machine will choke and not deliver any coffee. Took me a while but i got there.
T*** 3/5 3 December 2024 John Lewis
The machine is too weak to pull a proper shot, which is a big negative for me, but it's fine if you're happy with coarser grinds. The machine's slim-line body was a selling point as I have limited counter space, but it makes removing/attaching the portafilter tricky. To be honest, avoid this if you want a decent at-home espresso option
N*** H*** 1/5 20 May 2024 John Lewis
I thought I couldn't go wrong with a De'Longhi, especially as I'd had other coffee machines made by them before. Unfortunately this is so badly designed that the 'cup' you put the ground coffee in to make the coffee blocks almost instantly as it has one small hole that the coffee is meant to drip through. …
K*** 2/5 26 October 2023 John Lewis
Looks good, however there are a few significant design flaws that led me to promptly return this machine. The programming function is quite confusing and despite multiple efforts, didn't work as described for me. The arm that you have to put on and remove(with the coffee in it) is incredibly stiff - the whole machine …
No reviews match this choice.
See it in use
Read the summaries; tap a moment to watch the video from that second.
4 videos · Timestamped summary
YouTube · Review
The De'Longhi Dedica Deluxe EC685 is an affordable, remarkably compact espresso machine that heats up in just 10 seconds and has proven reliable over five years of use. However, its single-boiler system cannot steam milk and brew simultaneously, and its stock steam wand is relatively weak and slow. Enthusiasts can significantly elevate the quality of their espresso and latte art by upgrading to an unpressurised portafilter and replacing the steam wand.
YouTube · Review
The reviewer highly rates the De'Longhi Dedica EC 685 coffee machine, giving it a 9/10 after three and a half years of continuous, reliable use. It delivers consistently great espresso and cappuccino with programmable shot times, though the warming plate on top is relatively ineffective.
YouTube · Comparison
The De'Longhi Dedica EC685 is a compact domestic espresso machine that features pressurised baskets and a dual-mode Panarello steam wand for easy milk frothing. It reliably produces good espresso for beginners, though its 8 cm cup clearance makes fitting scales underneath tricky. It also lacks a three-way solenoid valve to cut off pressure instantly and requires manual cooling of the thermoblock after steaming.
YouTube · In use
The DeLonghi Dedica EC685 is an affordable, compact, and stylish manual espresso machine ideal for beginners looking to learn basic barista skills. While its lower temperature and power make it struggle with extracting light-roasted specialty beans, it can produce enjoyable coffee with fresh grounds. Simple upgrades, such as using an unpressurised bottomless portafilter and removing the steam wand sleeve, noticeably enhance both espresso flavour and milk texture.
Video summaries and timestamps were taken from the videos with AI (Gemini); the video itself is the source.
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What it has
Technical information with its source.
Where to buy
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Amazon.co.uk
£149
Go to storeCurrys
£149
Go to storeDe'Longhi UK
£149.99
Go to storePrices may have changed.
Where the information comes from, by type; each finding also links its own source.
This page is compiled from manufacturer, store, review and video sources; every piece of information links to the source it was read from. Technical values are as stated by the manufacturer or store; user experiences are summarised from the reviews read and do not apply to every unit. We do not test products ourselves.