De'Longhi Dedica Style (EC685M)

If you want café-style espresso but have tiny counter space, the Dedica solves that problem: it squeezes a 15‑bar pump, steam wand and a 1.1‑litre removable tank into a 15cm‑wide stainless‑steel body so you can pull espresso and froth milk at home without a bulging appliance. ## What makes it worth it The Dedica delivers bona fide espresso pressure (15 bar) and a thermoblock heater that reaches brew temperature in roughly 40 seconds, so you get shots fast. Its slim 15cm footprint and 35oz (≈1.1L) removable water tank make it one of the best compact choices for apartments or office kitchens. The Adjustable Cappuccino System with Panarello attachment makes frothing forgiving for beginners and the flow‑stop function lets you program single or double volumes without babysitting the pour. ## Where it falls short It ships with pressurised baskets and lacks a 3‑way solenoid valve, so the portafilter can drip after extraction and puck removal is messier than on machines with commercial‑style plumbing; experienced baristas will notice limits in extraction control. If you value a tiny footprint and quick, repeatable espresso with simple milk frothing, buy this; if you want pro‑level steam control, a built‑in grinder, or easy puck ejection, look at larger semi‑automatic machines instead.

£149