DeLonghi Dedica Arte EC885 Review: A Perfect Fusion of Essentials?

Last updated on April 23rd, 2023 by Jules Winnfield

De'Longhi Dedica Arte EC885

In a world of super fancy stuff, and lots of excess luxuries, where society is screaming MORE MORE MORE in your face constantly, I personally find it refreshing to step away and enjoy the simple life.

DeLonghi Dedica Arte EC885
Overall
8.6/10
8.6/10
  • Build & Quality - 8.5/10
    8.5/10
  • Performance - 8.9/10
    8.9/10
  • Ease of Use/Maintenance - 9/10
    9/10
  • Design & Features - 8/10
    8/10
  • User Satisfaction - 8.5/10
    8.5/10

Final Verdict

The DeLonghi Dedica Arte is a “dedicated” fusion of the best parts of espresso making into a no fluff, minimalist design. We love its stainless steel durable compact build. You can practically place it or take it wherever you want in your kitchen or on travels.

Plus, you get a semi-automatic espresso machine that brews excellent tasting shots using consistent pressure with temperature control that is easy to use and effortless to maintain.

Personally, the real standout feature is the automatic flow stop, which gives it an automatic espresso machine twist If you’re looking for just the essentials done almost to perfection, and you’re a solo drinker or beginner, the Dedica Arte is for you.

And if a simple espresso machine that takes up minimum space but produces quality shots is all you want in your life, then the DeLonghi Dedica Arte may be an excellent choice to consider. 

De'Longhi EC885M Dedica Arte Espresso Machine,35 Fluid Ounces

But is it right for you?

In this quick straight to the gist DeLonghi Dedica Arte EC885 review, we answer the question and give our overall rating to help you decide.

Sale
DeLonghi Dedica Arte EC885
This 15 bar, compact, semi-automatic with commercial steam wand brews delicious shots with just the essentials and none of the frills.

Last update on 2024-03-28


DeLonghi Dedica Arte Review and Rating

Build/Quality (8.5/10)

What is it made of? Plastic, Stainless steel?Stainless steel finish.
Looks sleek, modern without hogging a lot of space.
How durable is it?Even after repeated use, the Dedica Arte generally works well and lasts a long time. But there are some concerns of lemons out there.
Similar to other Delonghi machines, if you put in the proper care and maintenance, it can last for years. 

Performance (8.9/10)

What brew modes does it have?Espresso
Pressure?15 bars
Strength control?Not automatic;
you will have to control strength manually by adjusting grind, dose, and extraction time. 
Temperature control?Yes, you can adjust the infusion temperature to low, medium or high
How fast does it brew one cup or batch? Heat up time?Quick heat up time.
Can brew a shot in less than a few minutes from brewing to frothing. 
Total time may be longer if you account for grinding, and tamping. 
How many cups does it make?Pressurize double wall filter takes 18g of coffee at a time.
You can then make:
Single shot espresso: 15-90 ml (0.5-3 oz.)
Double shot espresso: 30-180 ml (1-6.1 oz.)
Steam wand for frothing?Yes, the MyLatteArt; commercial steam wand for frothing microfoam or creating sophisticated latte art.
How quiet is it?Makes about the same amount of noise you would expect from any other espresso machine
How is the taste and flavor? Whether it’s a plain espresso or milk textured cappuccino or latte, almost everyone agrees the full bodied flavor and color is really good for how simple the Dedica Arte is. 

Ease of use/maintenance (9.0/10)

How big is it?At 5.9 in. wide, 12 in. long, and 13 in. high, the Dedica Arte is one of slimmest compact espresso machines you’ll ever find. 
How heavy? Portable?At 4.2 lbs, this machine is light, and very portable. 
LCD display or push buttons or both?Simple push buttons
How easy is it to use? Incredibly easy to use from a functional standpoint.
Just grind your beans, tamp, insert portafilter, pull your shot, steam and foam your milk and voila!
Also includes an automatic flow stop which means you don’t have to time how long to pull your shot.
Maintenance reminders?Yes, but not many including:
Drip tray full
Descaling alert
How easy is it to clean? Cleaning the DeLonghi Dedica Arte is fairly simple and quick.
Just clean out your portafilter and dump out the puck in the filter basket, rinse the coffee filters, empty the drip tray, wipe down the steam wand and use steam for deeper cleaning.
Unfortunately, none of the parts are dishwasher safe. 
Descale as needed.

Design/Features (8.0/10)

Does it use pods or ground coffee or both?We prefer fresh ground coffee, but it will also take ESE pods too. 
Heating mechanismThermoblock heating
Built in grinder?No
Programmable autostart?No
Auto shut off, energy saving mode?Yes, set anywhere between 9 minutes and 3 hours. 
Any other notable tech features?Not really
Removable water reservoir? How big?Yes, 35 oz.
Come with accessories?Yes, you get a portafilter, 2 filter baskets, tamp, scooping tool, water hardness test, descaler solution
Can it dispense hot water?Yes, from the steam wand.
Drip tray removable to accommodate larger mugs?Yes, accommodates espresso mugs up to 4.7 in.
Any other unique features?Nope
Come in different colors?No, just metallic silver 
PricingRetails at 349.95

User Satisfaction (8.5/10)

Warranty?2 years
Specific customer feedback, good AND bad The compact size, elegant look, delicious espresso shots, colorful easy to use manual, and simple cleaning and maintenance are what most people love the most about the DeLonghi Dedica Arte.
Only complaints was a few mentioned the noise level and difficulty twisting the portafilter on.
YouTube video

Pros and Cons 

No surprise DeLonghi makes high quality machines. Pretty basic news at this point. 

But how does the DeLonghi Dedica Arte stand out from the rest of the lineup?

Things I like

  • Slim compact low footprint build; perfect for when you have minimum counter space, or for possibly on the go, traveling or at the office. 
  • Just the essentials boiled down to their simplest most effective terms
    • Powerful heating, consistent pressure, adjustable temperature, rich extractions, solid milk foam texture
  • Solid stainless steel build
  • High quality Rancilio Silivia steam wand
    • But you will need to get a separate milk carafe to steam/foam your milk in
  • Automatic flow stop
    • Typically, with semi-automatic machines, you manually have to time the shot. Fully automatic espresso machines generally have the feature of automatic shot pulls. 
    • So the Dedica Arte is like having the benefit of an automatic machine, just without the larger size and other features like a built in grinder. 

Things I don’t like

  • Water tank is small, which means more refilling. 
  • Have to wait for some time after using the steam wand to allow the boiler to cool before brewing espresso again.

How Does it Compare?

DeLonghi Dedica Arte vs CASABREWS CM5418 Espresso Machine

CASABREWS Espresso Machine 20 Bar, Professional Espresso Maker with Milk Frother Steam Wand, Compact Coffee Machine with 34oz Removable Water Tank for Cappuccino, Latte, Gift for Dad or Mom

To get an idea of what kind of deal the Dedica Arte is, we decided to compare it to a similar caliber semi-automatic espresso machine, such as the Casabrews CM5418.

In terms of similarities, both machines:

  • Are compact, small footprint espressos machines that make quality espressos
  • Come with professional grade steam wands to froth and steam milk for your next latte, cappuccino or macchiato fix
  • Come with a similar size removable water reservoir

But the differences:

  • The Casabrews utilizes 20 bars of pressure vs the Dedica’s 15. 
  • The Casabrews does not have an ESE pod compatible filter like the Dedica.
  • The Casabrews runs at more than half the price of the Dedica at $140.
  • The Casabrews doesn’t have the automatic flowstop built in like the Dedica

The winner?

  • If you want the lowest cost way to get a 20 bar pump semi-automatic that makes pretty rich espressos, then check out the Casabrews. 
  • But if a semi-automatic with a more widely known respected brand, that produces shots with automatic flow stop is important to you, then investing in the Dedica Arte is an easy choice. 

Final Verdict

De'Longhi EC885M Dedica Arte Espresso Machine,35 Fluid Ounces

It’s clear that the DeLonghi Dedica Arte is a “dedicated” fusion of the best parts of espresso making into a no fluff, minimalist design. We love its stainless steel durable compact build. You can practically place it or take it wherever you want in your kitchen or on travels. 

Plus, you get a semi-automatic espresso machine that brews excellent tasting shots using consistent pressure with temperature control that is easy to use and effortless to maintain. 

Personally, the real standout feature is the automatic flow stop. You won’t see that in other semi-automatic machines, which gives it an automatic espresso machine twist. That alone in our opinion makes it worth the higher price tag. 

If you’re looking for just the essentials done almost to perfection, and you’re a solo drinker or beginner, the Dedica Arte is for you. It’s one of the cheapest high quality ways to get barista like espressos from home you can find. 

Sale
DeLonghi Dedica Arte EC885
This 15 bar, compact, semi-automatic with commercial steam wand brews delicious shots with just the essentials and none of the frills.

Last update on 2024-03-28

But you may consider something with a larger capacity if there’s a lot of coffee drinkers in your household or if you drink multiple cups per day. 

For more basic, but quality machines, check out other favorite options in the Dedica or ECP series:

For a more next level semi-automatic feel that gives you involvement in the brewing process, but also automates grinding and tamping, consider the La Specialista series.

If fully automatics that provide a hands-off bean to cup experience and give you the delicious coffee house aroma and taste you can’t live without at an affordable price is your thing, then you may consider the Dinamica and Magnifica series:

For next level super automatic espresso machines, look no further than the Eletta series.

FAQs

What is the difference between DeLonghi EC 885 and 785?

Both the DeLonghi 885 and 785 are solid machines. The only real difference between the two is the 785 comes with a panarello steam wand, while the 885 has a higher end Rancilio Silivia steam wand for better frothing. 

Is DeLonghi Dedica good for beginners?

The DeLonghi Dedica has enough of what you need to make consistently delicious espresso drinks but not too much to overwhelm you. For beginner espresso baristas, having a well built, compact, 15 bar pump, temp control machine with a steam wand is exactly what you need to learn if you like manual espresso pulling or not. You could go cheaper, but at around $350 this machine really is a great deal.

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