I love my coffee almost as much as I do interior design, and I also happen to live in a small flat, which means finding an espresso machine that ticks all the boxes (high-quality, stylish, and compact) is important to me. So, when I stumbled upon the De'Longhi Dedica Duo espresso machine (available on Amazon), I needed to know for myself whether I'd finally found my unicorn.
De'Longhi is a highly reputable name when it comes to the best espresso machines on the market. It's known for making appliances that are as easy on the eye as they are to use. And of course, for making high-quality brews. I've tested some of the brand's bigger machines (including the new De'Longhi La Specialista Touch), so I was interested to see whether size actually matters when it comes to coffee machines — can the more compact designs make an equally good cup of coffee?
The Dedica Duo definitely impressed me, and it's a solid choice for coffee-loving, small-space dwellers. But does it deserve top marks? Read on for my full review.
The pretty sage green colorway appears to be the most expensive option, but we're hoping to see some serious discounts during the Amazon Prime Day sale period.
First Impressions
As soon as I pulled the De'Longhi Dedica Duo out of the delivery box, I was impressed. The sage green, matte finishing is even better in person and instantly gained a five star rating on style alone. It's slim, it's sleek, and it is the perfect appliance for anyone trying to make the most of a kitchen with less counter space.
Sage green is basically a neutral in the world of interior design, but if green doesn't match the rest of your kitchen finishes, the Dedica Duo also comes in rose, metal, and white.
However, my enthusiasm for this machine quickly faded as soon as I opened the instruction manual, which was all pictures and no clear instructions on how to actually set up or use the machine. My advice? Throw away the manual and open YouTube — De'Longhi has a whole 'How To' channel that is much easier to follow.
Testing the Machine
Now for the main event — testing the machine. Once I watched the videos and felt comfortable trying my hand at starting up the machine, the process was easy. The appliance comes with the basic (yet still quality) equipment you need, but if you want any extra accessories, like a tamping mat (like this one from Amazon that hooks over your counter) or ground brush, you'll have to factor that in as an added expense.
The espresso shot for each setting (double, single, and cold brew), came out perfectly with each test. So far so good...
But, when it came time to steam the milk, this is where things quickly went downhill. Not only was the milk steamer extremely loud, but it was also quite difficult to use. Frothing milk is a hard process in the first place (latte art is an art for a reason), but this is definitely not the machine to use if you are only just getting started on your coffee-making journey.
That being said, after a few attempts, it did get easier and many lovely cups of coffee were enjoyed. It might not have looked cafe-quality, but it still tasted it.
Quality of Coffee
As with all espresso machine, you will need to pull a few shots before getting one that tastes ideal and has the perfect crema top layer. But with this machine getting the perfect espresso was pretty much flawless.
I asked my local coffee supplier to grind the beans to a normal espresso size (usually an eight or nine), and the machine comes with a measure scoop so you know exactly how much to use.
If you want to use the cold brew setting, I recommend replacing the water in the back filter and giving everything a good rinse first, as used grounds can throw off the flavor.
Should You Buy the Dedica Duo?
So, the big question: is the De'Longhi Dedica Duo espresso machine worth the buy? Ultimately, I think the answer is yes. After testing it, I believe this is a well above average starter machine for anyone looking to upgrade their home cafe.
Not only is it one of the best-looking small espresso machines I've seen, but it also allows you to have that cafe-quality in a few easy steps and without all the fuss.
On the other hand, this is not the machine I would recommend if you're already quite experienced with coffee, and are wanted to perfect the art of milk-based brews. While it's great for beginners, the inconsistency of the milk steamer may not produce the seamlessly smooth milk you need for things like latte art.
If you have a larger budget, or more space in your kitchen, I'd go for a machine like the De'Longhi La Specialista Touch or the Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier instead. However, for someone like myself who is looking for their first espresso machine and lives in an apartment, the Dedica Duo is definitely going straight into my shopping cart.
If you're tossing up between a coffee maker and an espresso machine, the De'Longhi Dedica Duo definitely makes the argument for espresso machines.
