Hi Lance, it's great that you're covering the Dedica. I am sure a lot of people will benefit from that, especially if you cover it in modified configuration. Oh, and thanks for the shout out - I do appreciate it! - Blooming: I always learn something from your videos. I hadn't thought about stopping the Dedica to let the puck bloom before. Will have to give that a shot. - Dual walled baskets: Delonghi used to make their pressurized baskets as welded dual walled, but since have switched to the gasket models, since their welded double walls were clogging, and people couldn't clean them. Now they can. - Smeg: I see the Smeg at a lot of boutique shops in Europe. You're right, it's just an expensive Dedica, but some people love the look. - Solis: I like the Solis. I took it apart, and it uses much more robust brass parts than does the Delonghi or Sage. I am not really sure why it is not more internationally known, but I think they are doing a marketing push, and I see them recently having entered the North American market. Maybe they'll get more popular now.

@alinaqirizvi1441

8 ай бұрын

Hi Tom!

@hugotendam5349

6 ай бұрын

Love that he gave you a shout out. Love your channel Tom. Helped me a lot with figuring out the dedica given to me! Tom you are the best! 🎉

@SunriseLAW

6 ай бұрын

Good that DeLonghi changed it, I took mine apart and put it back together with just the screen and gasket so I have open basket. Pack the puck hard, step up to real flavor. The pressurized portafilters ruin the flavor imho.

@michaelflanders2876

6 ай бұрын

Love yah Tom! Keep the videos coming!

@NoZenith

5 ай бұрын

We love you Tom!

Dedica user here. The fact that you got to steam milk with the stock wand means I can't bitch about steaming milk with a less powered machine LOL

@arkadiyyaslynsky9294

8 ай бұрын

You’re a sinner by using curse words. If you choose to continue to sin you’re also choosing to spend eternity in a bottomless pit filled with fire and sulfur and other souls that chose to not believe in the only person who can save souls. he saved my physical life. after a Sever brain injury and my severe physical and mental disability. you’re choosing to be a sinner as is Putin and the leaders of the Belarusians Chinese North Koreans Iranians Syrians Hungarians, Rapists. God helped save me after my brain was swelling up and there at the first hospital out of three in coma they removed the top front part of my skull for a few months

@alexradu1921

6 ай бұрын

i was shocked during that part... man i really suck then

Tom is amazing for us budget conscious people. I have used his videos to help friends who had a smaller budget than myself and I'm back helping another friend shop now so I'm checking out all your new videos and he's a bit overwhelmed with how many I've shared with him 😂

I started not more than a few months ago with a Dedica. Very quickly realised I wanted to have more to play with and get deeper into coffee and espresso. I then moved on to a second hand 2007 Rancilio Silvia which I PID'd not long after, added a Niche Zero and have never looked back. The Dedica still lives in my work place office and is a great starter. I converted it's portafilter to a bottomless with a dremel. Tom was a huge help with everything Dedica. Small footprint too.

I’ve had the Solis Perfetta Plus for less than a week and am happy with its quality. This is my first espresso machine so there’s a bit of a learning curve. I did, however, pull a sublime shot this morning, and was delighted. Still haven’t nailed the steamed milk, but did use the “half then a quarter” method that Lance taught in another video. I’ll have to revisit that vid - I know my trouble has to do with where I’m placing the tip. I’m really looking forward to the next video about retrofitting these devices. I’m already thinking of getting a bottomless portafilter, an IMS basket, and a puck screen, but I’m not sure if a standard 54mm portafilter will work - how do I which ones are interchangeable? Finding Lance’s channel has been a gift, and just at the right time. I’ve gobbled up his reviews on espresso grinders and am considering the Baratza Sette 30. I’d prefer the 270, but the price point of the 30 is more in my range. Right now I’m using a Timemore C3 hand grinder, and I’m pretty sure neither of the two espresso settings is doing me any favors. I need more range. When it’s said that espresso at home is a hobby, they ain’t kiddin’. I can’t believe how challenging it is and how obsessed I am with my quest for a delicious shot, not to mention collecting all the gear necessary for meeting that quest.😮

I have to say, you've got an amusing taste in music to pair with coffee! I have a Dedica EC685, bought secondhand for $50 Australian Dollars, which came with a knock-out box and jug. It was a great deal. After a week, I stumbled upon a Gaggia Classic Pro 2019, so I bought it as well. Now, I have both the Dedica and the Gaggia, along with a strong desire to enhance my coffee skills. Great video, by the way! I also follow Tom; he's fantastic! Thanks for sharing with us.

I like my Dedica so much I now buy used ones to clean up and sell. Almost always have at least six. Most people that get rid of them do so because they use heavy mineral water with no filter and freak out when the light for descaling comes on. Switching to bottomless portafilter and single walled baskets make a huge difference. A good grinder makes a huge difference.

For 25€ I bought a used "broken" Dedica and I have just fixed it changing 5€ ptfe hose. Now it's time to start with mods and my journey in the espresso world! Looking forward to watching your follow-up video :)

loved the info and the topic. I wasn't big on having music clips randomly and replying the same section but thats really just a personal taste thing. Thanks for the useful and informative video boss

Love your attitude. Thanks again.

Thanks for the video. I have used a Dedica for about 4 years. It is way better than Nespresso and coffee is cheaper. Now, a few weeks ago I was able to upgrade to the Gaggia Classic Pro. After the 4th espresso I made I had had the best espresso I have ever had. No kidding. So the Gaggia is the next step in my coffee journey. My end will be a Cremina. Can’t wait to discover my next machine.

@neosaber4

2 ай бұрын

Do you need other equipment for dedica and gaggia or is the machine enough ?

@scottscottsdale7868

2 ай бұрын

You must get a proper tamper. You need a decent grinder which truly does make a huge difference. What they say about the pressurized baskets is true. Not great. But they do come in handy if you have older coffee beans or can’t quite grind fine enough for some reason. But spend some money on a grinder. My Dedica had its pump go bad right after warranty ended. Luckily Cerrini in the Bronx fixed it for $100. The Gaggia is great actually but you need a good tamper and good grinder. Another thing is to get good coffee beans. Illy whole beans are really good to start. But try a roaster for some good arabica. Beans are really important. I caution you that this is a hobby like any other and it is easy to get caught up. But it is a lot cheaper than being an audiophile. 😂

I’m poor and I really can’t afford to buy a new machine. I inherited my dad’s dedica, and I’m amazed at the shots I’m pulling from that thing. Five years old and doesn’t seem to be stopping. Also, mine came with pressurized and unpressurized baskets (as well as a couple water filters).

Immediately hype to learn more about the Solis!

This video couldn't have come at a better time. My brother is looking for a budget espresso machine cause he wants to get rid of his Nespresso pods. He's a smart dude. It feels like every time I'm looking to buy something your video, that's relative to exactly what I'm looking for, appears on my feed. It happens so often that I refuse to believe it's a coincidence.

Great video Lance. I have had Solis for 2 years now and been very happy with performance after switching to IMS filler and IMS shower screen. Can't wait for your Dimmer mod video as I have been wanting to do that to Solis for a while but have not been able to find a good guide online.

@bbd1254

7 ай бұрын

Does it steam the milk well? I have been struggling with mine…I always end up with too much foam or not enough because I just can’t figure out the timing. I just want to make a latte with a basic heart but I can’t get it 😢. Do you mind letting me know exactly how you do it? Like how much milk, how long you froth for before dipping the steam wand deeper into the milk to whirlpool, what angle do you hold the milk jug while whirlpooling, etc?! I just can’t get it 😢

The DeLonghi Dedica has never disappointed me. I believe this machine is the definition of value for money 🙂

@sequenzchen3839

8 ай бұрын

I completely agree! I bought a bottomless portafilter, a real basket and a tamper for my Dedica, and i love it! 🙂

@petervansan1054

8 ай бұрын

its garbage

@sahilsvision

7 ай бұрын

@@petervansan1054 real helpful comment for someone trying to buy one of these. Care to explain why it's garbage?

Thanks for the video and I'm looking forward to your modification series for these machines :) What I like about Dedica and Delonghi in general, that it's easy to modify and you can mix and match different parts from different models. haha My first mod was better steam wand (it was not from other Delonghi machine, but seems like it's possible to install their no-burn wand from some of their high-class machines with some modifications). Then I've installed 3-ways coffee outlet from their Specialista model, it fits perfectly, but I was needed to stretch the spring a little bit 😅 But that was the easiest way for me to add pressure sensor that I'm going to connect to my Arduino.

DeLonghi machines are nice! I picked one up to use while I was modding my Gaggia, and was pleasantly surprised! I don’t use steamed milk anyway, so that’s not an issue for me 💕

For one of my "mods" of Dedica, I have used LEGO bricks and double tape and added a simple scale instead of a drip tray, and it looks like it was always there. For 50 bucks you can conveniently measure both time and weight of your shot and have a slick design upgrade. In my opinion, with IMS 51mm basket, changed steam wound and this Black Mirror scale our Dedica can easily execute a recipe giving a delicious drink with silky milk. BTW (Installing a scale takes 5 minutes and no tools, and it is always detachable if you need a drip tray or a toler drink;-)

As a Delonghi owner, my experience went from this: 1. Didn't know a thing, just wanted espresso 2. Learnt more, regrettet my purchase, but persisted 3. Learnt more, actually loving the machine It has its quirks, but with a naked portafilter and WDT (sprinkle some paper filters in there), and you can get some pretty great shots. Removing the panarello to reveal the silicone spout gives you a (albeit short) proper steam wand; unfortunately no steam control besides ON/OFF. In my honest opinion, the Delonghi Dedica is a fantastic starter, and if you're a tinkerer, it actually has some pretty decent modding capabilities. I've seen people do something like the Gagguino, some install a dimmer mod, and so on. Personally, I'm more attracted to more manual machines, and I have this idea that I could probably replace the logic board with an arduino, and make a basically fully custom Delonghi Dedica with full manual control. Just need a few more tools for that to happen, though. Some mods are: - Adjustable OPV - Rancilio Steam wand - Manometer - Dimmer mod (there are two types, one that controls how much electricity [?] the pump gets, and one that adjusts the on/off-ness of the pump) And a whole world of 3D printable tools. Edit: Heard IMS. There are IMS shower screens and baskets for the Delonghi, so those are a nice edition too. ;)

@icarusandante

8 ай бұрын

Identical experience. Came to say that I modded it with Rancilio wand, Saeco adjustable OPV valve, an additional diaphragm valve to try to even the output pressure (I'm not entirely sure its really worth it), a pressure gauge and a needle valve to try to mimic flow "profiling" (it's just ok, probably the dimmer mod is easier and as much convenient and useful if not more). And yes indeed, recently IMS showed some love for dedica. A metal mesh filter to put on top of the puck is a cheap and nice addition for a bit of better water distribution and cleanliness of the shower screen (especially since it doesn't have a solenoid valve)

@camjkerman

8 ай бұрын

How do you get the silicone wand to work without the panerello? Whenever I've tried to remove the panaerello the silicone wand always shot off into my milk. That aside, I've been loving my Dedica, it performs well, looks good, and the size means it fits in a student studio flat's kitchenette without issue.

@Anonymous-mf8ii

8 ай бұрын

@@camjkermanlock it in place with a small cable tie. You can see this in one of the Tom’s Coffee Corner Videos

@icarusandante

8 ай бұрын

As another user said, I just followed these instrucions: kzread.info/dash/bejne/k4Wlx6trm63Aepc.htmlsi=tvXmccREGyPXniEn

@trenzterra

8 ай бұрын

@@camjkerman I got an aftermarket steam wand where you basically replace the stock wand cover with another cover. No need to disassemble or anything.

Lance, I heavily modified my Dedica, I achieved stable 9 bar pressure using a voltage regulator, also, I use a bottomless portafilter, ims basket and shower screen, a membrane regulator to make the pump quieter, aaannnd, installed a steam pipe from a dedica arte. Now I'm way into adding a pid temperature control over the thermocoil.

@whoami724y

8 ай бұрын

What does the voltage regulator do?

8 ай бұрын

Isn't the thermocoil already pid regulated?

@Oneirophrenian

8 ай бұрын

@ as a matter of a fact, no. The thermocoil in the Dedica as far as I know doesn't even have a thermocouple

thx a lot - a great and comprehensive comparison!

Lance, great video! Like always. I'm two years into my espresso (well, honestly cappuccino) journey and although I'm not buying something new in the near future, I'm kind of lost WHAT to buy and WHERE to go. My setup is a Baratza Encore ESP Grinder and a Sage Barista Pro (with IMS shower and basket). Your "no buyer's remorse" video made me think. My wife and I do enjoy medium to lighter medium roasts and Arabica waaaay more than Robusta, as far as the coffees go we tried over the two years. I can't really complain either, since my coffee at home is indeed close to the ones we get at the roastery. So, I don't know. I heard a lot of negative comments on Sage/Breville machines and since it's now two years old, I expect it to fail every second :D But I'm really lost, when it comes to the question "what to buy", if I want to taste a real and big difference. The Lelit Mara X, for example, is a really pretty machine, but misses some features, my Barista Pro has, but costs nearly double. I guess a better grinder would benefit me the most. In short. I would really love to see a video from you (or if that's already out there, please send the link) or just a good conversation here in the comments, about upgrading. Like: "Your setup looks like this, here are good options, what to buy, to really taste a difference." A guide to help us take our equipment from beginner to intermediate or enthusiast. Thanks for reading this. Keep up the awesome work

Great video . Have used previously Bambino+ and now a Solis perfetta owner. I absolutely love my machine . I would rate it better than bambino coz steaming performance is much better and the pressure gauge helps a lot with dialing in. I haven’t done any mod other than naked filter and IMS baskets. I get very consistent results very happy with my Solis.

@camaperture8116

8 ай бұрын

And the accessories are way better quality. Bambino feels consumer to me and the Solis feels prosumer.

@ajlongshanks

8 ай бұрын

And yeah Lance missed that Solis ALSO is PiD controlled and has three settings , Low Med High . I get very consistent temp after the first shot . First shot needed to warm up the internals

I am a user of the Solis Barista Perfetta Plus for the past year and I stand by it. I have also been in close collaboration with Solis and I applaud their efforts in working with IMS, Eureka and even Brita!

@bbd1254

7 ай бұрын

Does it steam the milk well? I have been struggling with mine…I always end up with too much foam or not enough because I just can’t figure out the timing. I just want to make a latte with a basic heart but I can’t get it 😢. Do you mind letting me know exactly how you do it? Like how much milk, how long you froth for before dipping the steam wand deeper into the milk to whirlpool, what angle do you hold the milk jug while whirlpooling, etc?! I just can’t get it 😢

@iconindexsymbol

7 ай бұрын

@@bbd1254 150ml milk in a 12 oz pitcher (flat top only, angled tops don’t fit), steam wand pushed down a little bit (not fully pulled out), add air for ~6 thumps of thermoblock, then raise pitcher and incorporate foam until hot (140-150F). Rest your right hand on the counter to hold up the pitcher and control its height.

@bbd1254

6 ай бұрын

@@iconindexsymbol thank you so much for this info!!!

Ooooh nice! Just in time for Christmas 😁

Gr9 stuff! thanks for all the education!

In the UK we can get the Delonghi with a real steam wand (from the La Specialista) and it comes with a metal tamper. Bottomless portafilter, IMS basket, 1Zpresso J-Max hand grinder, and WDT, great, reliable shots. Being able to adjust temperature and the benefit of an, admittedly fixed, pre infusion makes the Dedica a great buy.

I have the Solis, and it really does just what I want from my occasional espresso draws. I got mine from Ebay, so I didn't get all the accessories, but I was happy with what I got. Allowed me to select my own accessories. Gotta say, I'm very happy with it.

@bbd1254

7 ай бұрын

Does it steam the milk well? I have been struggling with mine…I always end up with too much foam or not enough because I just can’t figure out the timing. I just want to make a latte with a basic heart but I can’t get it 😢. Do you mind letting me know exactly how you do it? Like how much milk, how long you froth for before dipping the steam wand deeper into the milk to whirlpool, what angle do you hold the milk jug while whirlpooling, etc?! I just can’t get it 😢

@DonP_is_lostagain

7 ай бұрын

@@bbd1254 I don't actually use milk, preferring heavy whipping cream. And it does do a tolerable job of it, but it's probably going to be close to yours in that you have to time it right. Have you tried heating up the milk first? Like a minute or so in the microwave? Seems to help when I do use milk instead of cream.

Thanks for the video Lance! I might try a blooming shot on my DeLonghi EC155, seeing as you mention the lack of solenoid allows for that. I've been having very little luck with the 'fake' pre-infusion (turning on the steam then pump), so maybe this'll be better.

love the videos lance.

I picked up a delongi ECP3630 for $50 on Facebook marketplace for my super budget set up. Great video Lance!!!

I've got the e series delonghi it like a couple steps up from that one. It was really nice after a steamwand upgrade. I've upgraded to a gaggia evo now, and PiD moded it. I'm really happy with it

I have been using the dedica for 3 years now, 2 years with grinder and bottomless portafilter. New tamper, WDT-tool and the shots turn out pretty decent. I think it is a great way to start once upgraded a bit. Small footprint and fast heat-up. Only problem is that even with an upgraded basket 15g of coffee is the max. it can hold, but maybe some people like the smaller 30ml shots. Great video!

@matz4k

8 ай бұрын

Also a dosing Ring is helpfull bc of the small diameter. And if you are a bit handy you can cut the bottom of the portafiler and add a basket from Greaf. -> Graef 145722

@ShinSuperSaiyajin

8 ай бұрын

My solution for the basket problem is getting an aftermarket bottomless portafilter

@matz4k

8 ай бұрын

are there deeper 51mm ones? How much does yours hold? @@ShinSuperSaiyajin

@ShinSuperSaiyajin

8 ай бұрын

@@matz4k 18g-20g

@inuitviking

8 ай бұрын

@@matz4k I have an 18g basket in a bottomless portafilter; there are larger ones from IMS. If you're in Europe, Barista-Essentials sell bottomless portafilters (18g basket included) for the dedica, among other tools.

I started with a Dedica and now am the proud owner of a Silvia Pro X. But I gifted the Dedica to a friend who now is very happy with it.

Nice vid Lance, always love more content on beginner machines, I think you forgot to tag Tom's Coffee Corner in the description though

@LanceHedrick

8 ай бұрын

Good call!

Great video! Thanks!! By the way, any review for kitchenaid espresso machine?

Solis Barista Perfetta owner here, thanks for reviewing this machine! I've had it for almost a year now and made quite a few mods. Really surprised there were pretty much no info or honest reviews online on this machine. Some of my thoughts: 1. The grouphead is badly designed, under the shower screen there is only one hole for water to come out, and the jet makes a dent in the puck. I added a plastic triangle to fight that and also I use a puck screen; 2. The machine does have an over pressure valve, that's what the second hole in the tank is connected to. But it is set at factory to maximum pressure and never actuates. You can dial it, the screw is under output hose inside the tube; 3. I've made a dimmer mod for this machine thanks to your old video 🤗. Inline dimmers designed for desk lamps are much more handy than wall dimmers; 4. Despite having a decent grinder (DF64), doing WDT, having freshly roasted coffee, IMS basket, using scales and good water I still (a whole year into the hobby!) usually get unpleasant kind of astringent espresso 🤔, which is a sign of channeling I guess. Or maybe something wrong with temperature stability (I use highest temperature setting). Anyway, thanks for the video, looking forward for the followup one with the mods! Your expertise will greatly help entry users like me!

@bbd1254

7 ай бұрын

Does it steam the milk well? I have been struggling with mine…I always end up with too much foam or not enough because I just can’t figure out the timing. I just want to make a latte with a basic heart but I can’t get it 😢. Do you mind letting me know exactly how you do it? Like how much milk, how long you froth for before dipping the steam wand deeper into the milk to whirlpool, what angle do you hold the milk jug while whirlpooling, etc?! I just can’t get it 😢

@iconindexsymbol

3 ай бұрын

The “dent” in the puck is made by the solenoid sucking out water at the end of the shot. There’s no hole while you’re pulling a shot, and you don’t need a puck screen.

Love it. Nice music!

I must say. Early in your KZread career, you broke no rules. Now, you are just having fun breaking them and I love to see it

Finally a legit review of the Solis! Thanks for putting it out there. I tried the dimmer mod on it a while back but didn't quite get it right so I'm looking forward to your follow up video, "Dimmer Mod for the Solis for Dummies" video. Also interested in knowing what you would consider the next step up from the Solis. My Solis does everything I want it to but am curious what the upgrade path would be if I wanted to step up my game.

@FunkyLoiso

8 ай бұрын

Hi! I've successfully made a dimmer mod for Solis Barista Perfetta, so maybe I could help you figure it out

@camaperture8116

8 ай бұрын

@@FunkyLoiso I'd be interested in seeing how you did that. Is there a way you can post it somewhere or tell me on this thread how you did it? Also interested in your feedback on the mod. Totally worth it and you use it all the time or not so much?

@freedy503

8 ай бұрын

@@FunkyLoisoI would love to know as well.Just got the Solis and would love to make this mod

using the dedica with an 25€ after-marked open basket (think its the same you used) and mesh screen works surprisingly well. combined with an ~100€ grinder it gets me better espresso than most average cafes here in germany, guess thats a "good enough" for the investment :D

I just saw a review of the Miicoffee Apex on the Coffee Chronicler. Amazing for the price, but not available when I started looking. Good to see the industry moving things like PID, solenoids, 58mm portafilters, and more down the price scale. Reviews like this that help newbies get started are a public service. Thanks!

@neosaber4

2 ай бұрын

I’m looking for my first espresso coffee machine , 200 € dollars maximum, what would you suggest ?

10:08: manometer. Huge. Add a cheap electronic thermometer with a remote sensor that you stick on the brew thermoblock, and then add a dimmer for flow control, and you’re in better shape than you’d be with a Gaggia Classic. That is, until you count the overall build quality.

Thanks! Great videos! about those plastic inners (11:52) I believe it's whenever the portafilter is made of aluminum rather then stainless-steel they have to put the plastic from healthy reasons

@garyn7067

8 ай бұрын

The Solis has a stainless steel portafilter, but it has that plastic insert.

Just got a Dedica and I‘m already amazed with it. I did get a naked portafilter and precision basket and that improved things hugely, never got anywhere with the pressurised basket. I do find the steam wand to be totally OK for cappucinos, when I am actually patient enough to make one 😅. Fun fact: I get the best espresso out of here with decaf beans, it‘s seriously lovely 😂

Hey Lance. Happy Thanksgiving my friend.

As a Perfetta owner, I'm looking forward to the next video!

For years I used the krups XP 40 or something, now that I know a bit more about coffee I can tell it was pretty good for what it was, self tamping, left a dry puck, no option for unpressurized basket , which was a bummer

Awesome review, Lance!❤ My Debica is now a Frankenstein with a dimmer, manometer, steam wand, shower screen, bottomless portafilter and an IMS competition basket. Overall, Im getting awesome results and my only complaint is steam pressure and the fact that after steaming milk you need to cool off the machine a bit. Oh yes, and of course, its only 51mm but Aliexpress have plenty of acceptable accessories! P.S. my grinder is decent, its a Eureka Mignon, so that massively helps getting good coffee from my Debica!

@whoami724y

8 ай бұрын

Is the filter upgrade worth it? I have only used cheap unbranded 51mm filter and they get distorted / bent outwards everytime

@ffsolutions9442

8 ай бұрын

@@whoami724y You need to lower your dose based on grind size and coffee roast level if you want to use something like a puck screen. I used to dose 16g and moved to 15.5 after adding 1mm puck screen on top of the coffee puck. Make sure to warm it as well before brewing so it does not lower your temps. As for the shower screen of the machine, I would also say it’s worth upgrading, as it helps (alongside the puck screen below) distributing water better over your coffee, and improves extraction.

@whoami724y

8 ай бұрын

@@ffsolutions9442 Oops my bad, what i meant is if the IMS basket upgrade worth it or not, because i use a bottomless portafilter with an unbranded 51mm basket, and it bent outwards. I think its because my machine pressure is high or my grind size is too fine causing too much restriction. I wonder if using IMS basket can help me fix that problem because i feel like the unbranded 51mm basket is too thin on the bottom part Edit: If you wanna test it out, try laying the basket on a flat surface. I had tested mine new vs old, the new one lays flat and the old one has this curve on the bottom that is visible

@whoami724y

8 ай бұрын

@@ffsolutions9442 also i recommend you check out MHW 3Bomber puck screen, its really thin and doesn't distort!

@ffsolutions9442

8 ай бұрын

@@whoami724y keep in mind most baskets bend under pressure. Even if you buy a $200 one. Lance Hendrick has a great video on this matter too. My machine is dimmed so I control pressure, and I preinfuse at 4 bar and extract at 8-9 bar, mostly sticking to 8 bars on the manometer (pressure gauge). So the IMS basket might help extraction, but it will still bend if you push 14 bar at it (they do that even at 9 bar), but that’s normal. Again, check Lance’s video on the subject. :)

The numerous filter basket sizes is hilarious. I wonder what the history and lack of an industry standard (besides the 58mm) is?

The Perfetta has a 3 setting PID control & an OPV buried deep in the machine (not easily adjustable)

@mrogulja

8 ай бұрын

correct - so it has same feature as Bambino +; but you need to dig out the info in the manual :)

Nice video, thanks! I am very curious about the Kitchenaid espresso machine, it has a 58mm portafilter and a proper steam wand. And it is even cheaper then some of these in the video.

Love the scrubby brush moment

Right now there's a sell for the SOlis Barista Perfetta Plus at 199$ which is a pretty hard offer to beat!

Had a Dedica for the last 8 years, great machine, just sold it because recently acquired a Barista impress, I was a bit sad though to see the Dedica leave... But I guess someone else is happy pulling some good shots from it.

Great video! Most probably the portafilter on the SMEG is heavier compared to the Dedica because it's based on / reused from another Delonghi model - I had an old model with same functionality but double the width and the baskets and portafilter were the same as these you show on the SMEG. When I got the new one - the Dedica, I initially thought it's a downgrade as the portafilter was perceived as 3x lighter and aluminium like feeling than heavier metal. As with everything, you get used to it and it's working just fine.

10:12 they don't have solenoid valves, but they most definitely have opv valves. They're set to about 14-16 bar. Recently I just modified (cut) the spring in the opv of my Dedica and now I get around 9-10 bar.

The Dedica can make surprisingly good espresso if you use a proper portafilter..I use naked portafilter, cheap WDT proper 51 mm tamper and shower screen..and the espresso is actually good

Thanks for the video. I new around here and i am searching for Delonghi and Smeg espresso machines , I guess I prefer the Delonghi with my purchase. ☺️

I was really lucky getting a Sage Bambino for super cheap (180 euros) during a deal to start experimenting with espressos / lattes. Still can't do proper latte art though 🤣Lance makes it look so easy it's crazy.

I took the plunge this morning and ordered the Dedica Arte EC885M for $250. A friend has it and loves it. I did my research though. The Bambino lost out for it's cheaper conponents, but the Bambino Plus was of interest. It's $500 though.

This is the perfect time of the year to buy a Smeg, you know, for your Ma.

The Solis does have an OPV and a solenoid. The OPV static pressure can be modified by turning a screw to change the spring tension and get to the desired pressure. I’ve done it on mine and it works very well.

@LanceHedrick

8 ай бұрын

I said it has a solenoid. The OPV if there doesn't kick in on mine.

@BensCoffeeRants

8 ай бұрын

@@LanceHedrick Maybe it just comes set to 15 bar!

@garyn7067

8 ай бұрын

There is some discussion that the 15 bar setting is for the pressurized baskets. What is the pressure on your reduced pressure machine with a pressurized basket? My stock machine shows max of 6 bars.

@BensCoffeeRants

8 ай бұрын

​@@garyn7067the OPV just limits the max pressure basically if yours is only hitting 6 bar it could be due to not grinding fine enough. I don't think the machine is smart enough to detect if your using a pressurized or regular basket.

@garyn7067

8 ай бұрын

@@BensCoffeeRants Thanks for the tip. I will try it with a finer grind. I did not think a pressurized basket was sensitive to grind level. But it makes sense, to go finer to get the pressure up to 9 bars. I thought I had it dialed in, but maybe not. Yes there is nothing to tell the machine what kind of basket is in the portafilter.

Smeg have brought out a coffee machine with built in grinder that seems like their answer to the sage barista pro, would love to see a comparison!

Noice. I often get asked by friends with cheaper machines how to make them work, so this is handy! I’d be interested to know which grinder you used for theses shots, as that probably makes the biggest difference right?

A video about pressure would be really nice. Currently have my opv set at 7bar are there any benfits going back to 9?

I’m a big fan of DeLonghi, but I don’t use the Dedica. I actually use the EC155 and I have it modded with a Rancillio Steam wand and a different portafilter with an IMS basket. Really great setup for cheaper than any of these. Plus, a real boiler! That’s the main reason I love it so much! I’m not a big fan of the Thermoblocks, even though they have a lot to offer in terms of usability and features.

I thought I was fancy drinking French press coffee. Now I feel like a peasant watching this.

Such a Rebel 🖖🏻

Another great video Lance! I've already got a Gaggia Classic Pro, but if I was to get another machine it would definitely have built in PID (like the Breville) as that modification was a b* IME (the thermocouple was very fidgety and I ended up having to slot it into the steam boiler which is less than ideal)... people buy machines with PID's! 😂

@BensCoffeeRants

8 ай бұрын

I had an E61 HX machine with a PID that at least was probably the only case where the PID is just a marketing feature and wasn't really that useful. On Single or dual boiler machines the PID is great to have.

Great seeing the comparison! Looking forward to the mod follow-ups. Also great hearing the shout out to @TomsCoffeeCorner who really does make great videos for budget minded people, but you forgot referencing his channel in the description ;)

I'm gonna get a Dedica soon, but got nice bottomless portafilter for it already. And looking into it, turns out that it is also compatible with the SMEG, so it all makes sense now. The SMEG is literally a Dedica with new clothes, and I can't believe it is THAT expensive in comparison.

Weird to include the expensive Solis, but not the Arte which comes with a better tamper, and has a few other minor upgrades over the OG Dedica.

Oh my jesus... What is that scale??? Looks soooo good :)

Open box Perfettas are 199 at SCG so that might help with value calculation for folks on a budget

@In_MT

8 ай бұрын

That's how I got mine. It had a small dent on the drip tray, but functioned flawlessly!

Did that “second part” video with the upgrades on this machines ever came out?

Love this video! Can you do a video on "How to dial in decaf espresso". I figured it behaves differently than normal beans.. cant find out where the issue is :(

@mikesrandomchannel

2 ай бұрын

Second that on a decaf beans vid! FWIW, I‘m no expert but I‘ve been using Lavazza (blue packaging) decaf beans ground on a K6 set to 40, plus bottomless portafilter with 51 mm precision basket and am getting great shots out of the Dedica. The decaf beans actually seem more consistent in quality than the real beans tbh. I wonder if it‘s because these Lavazza beans are a pretty dark roast.

I have a 100€ silvercrest machine and with a few aftermarket things, such as non-presurised baskets, a good tamper and the 51mm umikot by elmoserafa, I can make really nice espresso. The only thing that would make me upgrade is if some machine could pull more consistent shots

Would you consider the KitchenAid semi automatic machine in the same category as this 3 or more in line with the bambino?

I picked up a Casabrew which I think is identical to the Dedica but with some a Solis features, for cheaper than both. Very happy with the results so far, but a naked Portafilter is def required.

There's the Dedica EC885 which has a narrow steam wand that's similar to many espresso machines you'd see today

Hi! May I ask if you have modified the smeg settings?

Thanks for this comparison! It's hard to see which wand is better when I swear you coukd get good milk texture with a super soaker 😂 Appreciate the entry level stuff as well as the high end videos. Great vid as always

Hi Lance, thanks for the video. It’s interesting that you mentioned Tom’s coffee corner. In one of the videos he made with the Delonghi Dedica, he compares it to the ECP 3420 (ECP 35.31 in Europe) also from Delonghi. In his opinion, this one achieves better results than the Dedica. Both machines are in the same price range. I find it strange than no one among the youtube big names in the coffee word, besides Tom, has taken note of this machine! I personally would love to know (the opportunity presenting it self) what are you thoughts and sincere opinion about the Delonghi ECP 3420. (Tom’s coffee corner video title: Delonghi's Best Budget Home Espresso Machines: Stilosa vs Dedica vs ECP 3420) 🇵🇹

@kitcraft9516

8 ай бұрын

I'd love to see Lance do a video on that model.

@daylight31415

8 ай бұрын

I have no comparison to the dedica, but I have that ECP 35.31 and I am really happy with the coffee! New tamper, new portafilter and a good hand grinder make some wonderfil espresso in my opinion. With the silicone steam wand (the outer tubing removed) you can easily get great milk foam and I prefer my Cappuccino to pretty much every coffee shop's. I especially like that the group head is heated

Hi Lance so quick question, I am new to expresso machines. I got an ariete moderna MOD.1381 which is under delonghi group. So my question been seeing alot of videos on pressurized baskets and the way you mentioned to use a bottomless portafilter how would one know the size of their portafilter before proceeding to replace it? Also is there a way to make coffee with pre-ground coffee?

I'm looking for the cheapest "real and good espresso" package to recommend to friends when asked. Right now I's recommend the Dedica 885 (better steam wand) but with the addition of a new handle and basket(s). Combined with a Timemore hand grinder, you might stay under €350. After a year or two. upgrading to an electric grinder will up your game. And finally - if you stay enthusiastic about coffee - treat yourself with a nice machine. There seems to be a new combo machine from Breville (not on the Sage site yet), the "Siganture". With build in grinder (yikes), that comes with a digital grind size display (say whaaat?). If Breville has improved their game, as they usually do, this might be the perfect entry package…

Thanks for the vid, it's very appreciated. I'm interested in checking out the casabrews 3700 but don't really trust the videos I saw when I searched. Is there any recommendations that you have? I added a portafilter, basket, puck screen, tamper, scale, and wdt. With the machine it's more money that I want to spend on something that I don't know is worth it, so any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks for everything.

Took me seven months of leaving a Stilosa on 24/7 and abusing it to burn it up. Still steams fine, use it for a second boiler. Easy to mod, heated group. Should be durable with anything approaching reasonable care.

What’s the size of that blue ceramic mug? I want to get a couple of those - looks great and a perfect size with a cappuccino.

DeLonghi greatly improves the experience with the La Specialista line.

Can you make a video with sage bambino for lighter roasts?

Hi Lance! Love your videos !! A bit of topic here but what are your thoughts of the quick mill pippa? I don’t see many reviews on this machine but the specs and the looks of the machine I believe are good ! Please give me your opinion if you have tried it. Cheers!

I love the fact that you refused to clean your mustache going into the summary at the end 😂

Oh finally)I am owner of dedica and wait for you video lance )

The Dedica already has a never version, the 885 which comes with a proper stamper and has an improved steamer.

Lance, really need your input. I'm torn between two Breville's. The Barista Express Impress or the Barista Touch. Please help. Or do you have an alternative? Thanks, James

I believe the smeg portafilter is plated brass and the dedica is aluminum

How about the Mii Coffee Apex? I don't own one, but saw it on Coffee Chronicler, $600 for dedicated brew boiler, thermoblock for steaming, PID, wannabe preinfusion. seems like alot of features for the price.

Hello Lance! Its not related to this video, but I consider you THE coffee expert, the depth you dive in your selected topics is unmatched, I would love your input on coffee machine maintenance, descale or not to descale, I'm going in 2.5 years on my Bianca and I'm at cross road not knowing which road to choose. Best wishes!

@garyn7067

8 ай бұрын

There are several/many videos on maintenance. My take is: water: I use a FILTERED water, to filter out "stuff" that is in the city water pipes, from going into the boiler. Stuff like sand, and dirt. Take off and look at your faucet aerator, and you can see what kind of stuff is in your city water. More so if your machine does NOT have a filter. I use a Britta filtered pitcher. descaling: if you have lime deposits on your faucet, you DO need to descale, and more often, so you don't get lime buildup inside the boiler. If you do not have lime on your faucet, I don't know what time increment to use. Luckily, I don't have lime deposits, so I descale about 4-6 months. As I descale, I watch the water coming out of the machine, to look for pieces of lime. If I see any lime, I would do another descale cycle, until I don't see any coming out. Then maybe reduce the time to the next descale. If I see no lime, I might increase the time to the next descale. group head: You should clean the top of the shower screen and the group head. Taste from that coffee residue will affect your coffee. I would start with once a month; then see how dirty the top of the shower screen is, to increase or decrease the cleaning interval. Example: - If you do light roast, and only one single shot a day, you may clean on a 4 month interval. - If you do dark roast and 4 double shots a day, you may have to clean on 1 month interval. So YOU have to see how dirty the top of YOUR shower screen gets, then adjust your cleaning interval to match. > After 2.5 years, I would guess that you NEED to clean your shower screen. > The Solis has a 3-way solenoid and can do a back-flush, so you don't have to remove the screen. And better that you don't remove the screen anyway, as the group head of the Solis is made of plastic, NOT metal. IOW you can strip the plastic group head, if you over tighten the screw. It was a bummer to discover that the Solis group head was made of plastic. Group head gasket: If the gasket is damaged enough it will leak and have to be replaced. - I wipe the top of my portafilter before mounting, to prevent grinding coffee grounds into the group head gasket and damaging it. - Clean the group head gasket daily, to prevent accumulated coffee grounds from damaging the gasket when you lock down the portafilter. Just give it a quick brush with the head brush. And maybe weekly check it visually to see if it needs more cleaning. Water tank: Check your tank. Depending on where your machine is and how much sunlight hits it, you could get algae growing in the tank. YUK So you have to clean accordingly. Shield the tank with an opaque material, to reduce the sunlight hitting the water tank. Grinder: Like the group head. Amount and darkness of the coffee affects how fast the burrs will get clogged. On my timed grinder, if the weight of the output drops significantly, that tells me the burrs are getting clogged and needs to be cleaned.

@audriusa7005

8 ай бұрын

@@garyn7067 Hello Gary, first of all, thank you very much, for your devoted time and detailed tips and techniques you are using to maintain your machine, I believe they will be usefull not only to me. Before getting in to coffee I watched many videos, I knew in what I'm getting in to, and I take care of my machine, I filter water with Brita filter + my machine has water softener in the tank. I check brew screen regularly, use caffize when needed. But there are conflicting opinions about descaling, there's a video on "Wired Gourmet" channel, talking about possible damage to stainless steel boiler and need for re-pasivation. On some descaling videos you can see blueish colored water coming out and some point out that copper is now exposed etc. So I'm trully confused what to do. I dont have any problems at the moment, heat up time is fast, though steamed milk sometimes leaves dried taste in the mouth. How long you've been using your machine? Did you noticed anything bad or side effects from descaling?

@garyn7067

8 ай бұрын

@@audriusa7005 Used my first machine (Saeco/Starbucks) for over 8 years. I never noticed a color in the water when I descaled. Colored water might be due to minerals in the water that crystalized with the lime. That is just a guess, since I don't have highly mineralized water.

@audriusa7005

8 ай бұрын

@@garyn7067 wow, thats a long time, maybe I'm worrying about nothing

@garyn7067

8 ай бұрын

@@audriusa7005 Well at least on my machine, I had no visible negative effects in that time. Unless someone actually disassembles their machine and OPENS the boiler to inspect the inside of the boiler, I would treat what they say with a grain of salt.