Espresso machines · owner-verdict comparison

Breville Barista Express vs De'Longhi Dedica EC685: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Breville Barista Express: 54% of 602 owners recommend it, vs 48% of 139 for the De'Longhi Dedica EC685.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Breville Barista Express

54%of 602 owners recommend
54% recommend · 19% neutral · 27% don't
Owners praise
  • Great value for the price
  • Durable, lasts many years of daily use
  • Excellent beginner/starter machine
Owners complain about
  • Mediocre, inconsistent built-in grinder
  • Won't auto-stop extracting / flow-meter failure
  • Struggles with lighter roasts
Full owner report →

De'Longhi Dedica EC685

48%of 139 owners recommend
48% recommend · 17% neutral · 35% don't
Owners praise
  • Great espresso once dialed in, especially with mods like a bottomless portafilter or better basket
  • Durable and long-lasting with daily use, many owners report 4-10 years of service
  • Excellent value for the price
Owners complain about
  • Inconsistent shots, very sensitive to grind size and tamping
  • Coffee comes out sour or overly bitter
  • Portafilter slips, pops, or unlocks itself under pressure
Full owner report →

What Breville Barista Express owners say

“He saw this video and got the machine and he's been really happy with the purchase!”
— @1ucky1ux on YouTube
“it works like new !”
— @hadrianopolis1968 on YouTube
“So currently following this review my decision is NOT to buy the machine, I don't have the time in the morning to wait 10 minutes until my cup of coffee is ready”
— @imamezalefet on YouTube

What De'Longhi Dedica EC685 owners say

“Bought it back in 2018 not a single issue and still as the first day despite being used daily. Beautiful machine that looks great in the kitchen and prepares really good coffees”
— @Maximiliano.Montero on YouTube
“I got the dedica from a friend as my first espresso machine when he upgraded”
— @andrei0525 on YouTube
“Long story short: my dedica never delivered hot enough water and I could't brew any coffee other than oily dark roasts in a consistent way.”
— epegar on Reddit