My 6-Year Journey with the De’Longhi Dedica

I’ve spent six years with the De’Longhi Dedica, and for a long time, it was my go-to companion for morning espressos. It’s a sleek, compact machine that doesn’t take up much space on the kitchen counter—ideal if you’re short on real estate. Over the years, it delivered decent shots, but as I got more serious about espresso, I noticed some limitations that were hard to ignore.

Key Features

• 9 Bar Pressure
  The machine reliably hits about 9 bars of pressure, which is the standard for pulling espresso shots. It’s enough to extract some flavor and produce a basic crema.
• Temperature Around 80°C (176°F)
  Here’s the snag: the machine’s water temperature hovers at around 80°C. True espresso often requires water closer to 92–96°C (197–205°F). That 12–16 degree difference might not sound like much, but it makes a world of difference when it comes to extracting the rich oils and flavors from specialty beans.
• Water Run Time up to 60 Seconds
  You can program the De’Longhi Dedica to run water for up to 60 seconds, giving you control over the volume of water in your shot. This is handy for experimenting with different espresso ratios.

Adjusting Settings

The Dedica does have a few adjustable parameters:

1. Water Flow
   You can extend or shorten the water run to dial in a longer or shorter shot. While this allows for some flexibility, it’s not as precise as a commercial machine.
2. Temperature Presets
   The Dedica offers three factory presets to slightly boost the temperature. While it’s a neat feature, each preset only increases the temperature by a small margin—still not enough to reach the ideal 92–96°C range for a proper espresso extraction.

The Temperature Test

Being a curious coffee enthusiast, I decided to test the actual water temperature coming out of the machine. First, I checked my thermometer’s accuracy by measuring boiling water in a kettle—right at 100°C (212°F), confirming my gear was reliable. Then I measured the water from the Dedica, using two separate thermometers for good measure. Both read around 79.4°C and 79.5°C, which is well below the recommended range for a proper espresso extraction.

101°C

Water in de waterkoker

79.4°C and 79.5°C

De’Longhi Dedica

The Final Verdict

The De’Longhi Dedica served me well for six years, but its 80°C water temperature was a deal-breaker for true espresso. It’s user-friendly and provides decent pressure, making it fine for beginners. However, if you want to explore the full depth of specialty beans, consider a machine with higher temperature control. Ultimately, everyone’s coffee journey is different, but for me, it was time to upgrade.