Metadata
- seoTitle: DeLonghi Dedica EC685 Review — Budget Espresso Platform
- seoDescription: Hands-on DeLonghi Dedica Style EC685 review with AU pricing, costed upgrade roadmap (IMS basket, bottomless portafilter, steam wand mod), and grinder pairings.
- slug: delonghi-dedica-ec685-review
- excerpt: The DeLonghi Dedica EC685 is a compact, mod-friendly espresso machine that rewards incremental upgrades. We review stock performance, map the full upgrade path with AU pricing, and explain the 51 mm ecosystem.
- category: espresso
- image: /images/equipment/delonghi-dedica-ec685-hero.jpg
- imageAlt: DeLonghi Dedica Style EC685 espresso machine on a kitchen bench beside a bottomless portafilter and IMS basket
DeLonghi Dedica Style EC685 Review: The Mod-Friendly Budget Espresso Platform
Most reviews of the DeLonghi Dedica Style EC685 treat it as a sealed box — rate the stock experience, slap a score on it, and move on. That misses the point. The EC685 is less a finished product and more a $200 espresso platform that rewards incremental upgrades. For anyone stepping up from a pod machine and willing to tinker, it offers a genuine path to quality espresso without a four-figure outlay. Here is what it does well out of the box, where it falls short, and exactly how much it costs to fix each weakness — with Australian pricing at every step.
Who It's For
The Dedica is built for the enthusiast on a budget — someone who has outgrown Nespresso capsules, wants to learn to pull real espresso, and does not have $800+ for a Breville Barista Express or Lelit Anna. If you are comfortable watching a five-minute YouTube tutorial on swapping a basket and you have 15 cm of bench space, the EC685 is made for you.
It is not for anyone who wants a grind-to-cup workflow in one appliance (there is no built-in grinder), or for a working cafe environment where back-to-back milk drinks matter — the single thermoblock means you cannot steam immediately after pulling a shot without a brief pause.
Specs at a Glance
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 150 mm x 330 mm x 330 mm (W x D x H) |
| Weight | 4.2 kg |
| Boiler type | Thermoblock |
| Pump | 15-bar vibration pump |
| Water tank | 1 L (removable) |
| Portafilter size | 51 mm |
| Heat-up time | ~40 seconds |
| Wattage | 1,300 W |
| Voltage | 240 V (AU model) |
The standout number is the width: 150 mm. That is narrower than most kettles and makes the Dedica one of the slimmest espresso machines on the market — ideal for tight apartment kitchens (DeLonghi AU).
What We Like
- Genuinely compact. At 15 cm wide, the Dedica fits where almost no other pump machine can. If bench space is a dealbreaker, this machine removes that excuse (Tom's Coffee Corner).
- Fast heat-up. Forty seconds from cold to ready. That matters on a Monday morning when you are already running late (Caffeine Advisor).
- Three temperature settings. Low, medium, and high brew temperatures give you basic dial-in control without stepping up to a PID machine (TechRadar).
- Excellent price-to-entry ratio. Street prices in Australia sit between AUD 189 and AUD 249 depending on retailer and sales — regularly appearing under AUD 200 at The Good Guys and Harvey Norman (Coffeeness).
- Active mod community. The 51 mm ecosystem is smaller than 58 mm, but IMS makes precision baskets for it, bottomless portafilters are readily available, and the Rancilio Silvia steam wand swap is a well-documented upgrade.
Where It Falls Short
- No back-to-back steam + shot workflow. The single thermoblock needs time to drop back to brew temperature after steaming. Workaround: pull your shot first, then steam. Experienced users run a "temperature hack" — flush water through the group after steaming to cool the thermoblock faster (TechRadar).
- 51 mm portafilter is non-standard. Most commercial and prosumer machines use 58 mm. The 51 mm basket is smaller, which limits your dose to around 14-16 g and narrows your aftermarket options. That said, IMS does make 51 mm baskets, and they meaningfully improve extraction over stock — see the upgrade roadmap below.
- Stock baskets are pressurised. Fine for pre-ground coffee, but they mask grind quality and limit crema. Swapping to an unpressurised IMS basket is step one of any serious upgrade path (see pressurised vs unpressurised baskets).
- Plastic internals. Some internal components feel less durable than all-metal competitors at twice the price. For a machine under $250, this is expected — but worth knowing if longevity is a priority (Tom's Coffee Corner).
- No grinder included. You need a separate grinder, and it needs to grind fine enough for espresso. A blade grinder will not work. Budget a minimum of AUD 80-150 for a capable hand grinder.
The Upgrade Roadmap
This is where the Dedica separates itself from the competition. Each mod is optional, each improves the cup, and the total cost of all three still keeps you well under AUD 400 all-in.
Step 1: IMS Precision Basket (~AUD 25-35)
Swap the stock pressurised basket for an IMS 51 mm competition basket. This single change transforms extraction quality — you get a true unpressurised shot, real crema, and the ability to actually taste the difference between grind settings. If you are new to dialling in espresso with a naked basket, our how to dial in espresso guide walks through the full workflow. Available from most Australian specialty retailers.
Step 2: Bottomless Portafilter (~AUD 40-60)
A 51 mm bottomless ("naked") portafilter lets you visually diagnose channelling, improves cup clearance, and — honestly — just looks better. Check Amazon AU or local espresso parts vendors.
Step 3: Steam Wand Mod (Free / DIY)
The stock panarello wand froths milk but cannot produce microfoam for latte art. The classic mod replaces it with a Rancilio Silvia wand tip or a generic single-hole tip — both fit with minor adjustment. Plenty of step-by-step YouTube guides exist. Cost: AUD 0 if you have a spare tip, or AUD 15-25 for a new one.
Total upgrade investment: AUD 80-120 on top of the machine price. At a total outlay of roughly AUD 300-370, you have a setup that punches well above its price class.
Grinder Pairing Recommendations
Since the EC685 has no built-in grinder, here are pairings that match the budget philosophy:
- Hand grinder (AUD 80-150): The 1Zpresso JX or Timemore Chestnut C3 are popular at this tier. Both grind fine enough for espresso and pair well with the Dedica's 14-16 g dose. Browse options on our grinder category page.
- Electric grinder (AUD 150-300): The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is the most common pairing in the AU market. It has a 51 mm-friendly dose range and stepless adjustment.
The 51 mm Ecosystem: What You Need to Know
The Dedica uses a 51 mm portafilter — smaller than the 58 mm standard found on most prosumer machines. This means:
- Baskets: Only 51 mm baskets fit. IMS is the go-to for precision options. Standard 58 mm VST baskets will not work.
- Tamper: You need a 51 mm tamper. Stock plastic tamper is functional but a flat stainless steel replacement (AUD 15-25) improves consistency.
- Portafilter accessories: Bottomless portafilters, dosing funnels, and WDT tools are all available in 51 mm — just double-check sizing before ordering.
The ecosystem is smaller than 58 mm but it exists, and Australian availability is good through Amazon AU and specialty retailers.
How It Compares
DeLonghi Dedica EC685 vs Breville Bambino (AUD 299-349): The Bambino is the Dedica's closest competitor. It uses a 54 mm portafilter (closer to standard), has automatic steam, and heats up in three seconds. But it costs AUD 100-150 more and its mod community is smaller. If you want plug-and-play milk drinks, the Bambino wins. If you want the lowest entry price and enjoy the upgrade journey, the Dedica is the better starting point. Both are strong choices for pod-machine upgraders — see our espresso machine category page for the full comparison.
DeLonghi Dedica EC685 vs Flair Neo (AUD 150-180): The Flair Neo is a manual lever machine — no pump, no steam, no electricity. It produces excellent espresso for the price but offers zero milk capability and requires more technique. The Dedica is the pick if you want milk drinks or a more conventional workflow.
Verdict
The DeLonghi Dedica EC685 is the best entry point into real espresso for anyone in Australia spending under AUD 300. Out of the box it is competent; with AUD 80-120 in mods it becomes genuinely impressive. The 51 mm portafilter is a legitimate limitation, but the active mod community and available upgrades mean you will not outgrow this machine as fast as you might expect. If you are stepping up from a pod machine and you pair it with a decent grinder, the Dedica will teach you more about espresso than any capsule system ever could. It earns a confident recommendation for the enthusiast-tier audience.
Rating
4 / 5 — Exceptional value as a mod-friendly platform; the 51 mm constraint and single-thermoblock steam workflow keep it from a perfect score.
Where to Buy
| Stockist | Price (AUD) | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon AU | ~$249 | Buy on Amazon AU |
| The Good Guys | ~$199 | Buy at The Good Guys |
| Harvey Norman | ~$199 | Buy at Harvey Norman |
| Myer | ~$189-249 | Buy at Myer |
Prices checked 17 April 2026. Prices vary — check OzBargain for current deals; sale prices have been spotted as low as AUD 159.
Sources
What works
- Ultra-compact 15 cm width fits tight spaces
- Fast 40-second heat-up time
- Strong mod community with well-documented upgrade path
- Entry price regularly under AUD 200
- Three temperature settings for basic dial-in control
What doesn’t
- Single thermoblock prevents back-to-back shot and steam
- 51 mm portafilter limits aftermarket accessory options
- Stock pressurised baskets mask grind quality
- Requires separate grinder purchase
The verdict.
Best entry point into real espresso under AUD 300, especially for tinkerers willing to invest AUD 80-120 in mods. The 51 mm constraint and single thermoblock keep it from perfection, but paired with a decent grinder it teaches espresso fundamentals no pod system can match.