De'Longhi Dedica Arte EC885

As someone who knew nothing about espresso, the Dedica was a great starting point. It taught me the basics — tamping, dosing, timing shots. The espresso isn't barista-quality, but it's far better than a Nespresso. After a year, I'm ready to upgrade to something with better temperature stability, but I don't regret this purchase at all. It's beautiful, slim, and does the job for beginners.

I bought this as a secondary machine for my office. Coming from a Breville Barista Express, the espresso quality is noticeably worse. Temperature swings between shots, the pressurized basket creates fake crema, and the overall extraction is inconsistent. If you're a beginner, you might not notice these issues. But if you've tasted real espresso, this will disappoint you.