Machine · 4 min read
De'Longhi Dedica
Real espresso from 51 mm
Slim, quiet and everywhere. Out of the box the Dedica makes coffee with foam. With a few changes it makes espresso.
What you actually have
The Dedica has a thermoblock that reaches extraction temperature in about 40 seconds. Accessory makers state a 51 mm portafilter for it, the same size as for the La Specialista and the Smeg ECF01 and ECF02. Accessories for 58 and 54 mm do not fit.
1. Non-pressurised basket
The baskets in the box are dual-wall (for one cup, two cups and pods), so they make foam even with poorly ground coffee. A 51 mm non-pressurised basket asks for fresh, finely ground coffee, which means a proper grinder too.
2. A 51 mm tamper
A non-pressurised basket asks for a level tamp, with a tamper of the exact size.
3. Scales instead of buttons
The buttons dose by volume and can be programmed, but they do not know how your shot is flowing. Put the cup on scales and stop by hand when you reach your target yield. De'Longhi's manual states about 14 g of coffee for two cups.
4. Warm the cups and set the temperature
De'Longhi's manual advises rinsing the cups with hot water for hotter coffee. The water temperature has three levels: low, medium and high.
5. Milk
The frother has a ring with positions for cappuccino and for hot milk. For less foam, switch it to the hot milk position.
Maintenance
The Dedica tells you with a light when it is time to descale. The procedure is described on De'Longhi's support pages.
Try it in the LabTimer and ratio