The Best Espresso Machine Under £500

For more information on each of the machines:
Lelit Anna*: geni.us/lelitanna
Delonghi Dedica*: geni.us/dedica
Rancilio Silvia: geni.us/silvia
Sage Bambino Plus*: geni.us/bambinoplus
Gaggia Classic Pro: geni.us/gaggiaclassicpro
* Some of the above are affiliate links that support the channel.
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[@theshonen8899]

Me in my teens: Modding my PC. Me in my twenties: Modding my car. Me in my thirties: mOdDiNG mY cOFfeE MAcHinE.

[@dave_s_vids]

Yes - this is me! :D

[@AbuSalem2099]

eh, what is this spot light on me, go away... :D

[@marcusbrown188]

Me at 22: need coffee machine, college and life is demanding more work for no rewards

[@Deatarus51]

Damn, literally me...

[@nommchompsky]

WEIRDLY ACCURATE

[@EdwardScape]

James "I am a fancy man" Hoffmann

[@savitbharadwaj4023]

Edvardas "Mr. Obvious" Baravykas

[@nothing.945]

Savit Bharadwaj 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@TheOriginal_BigMac]

There is a merch opportunity just sitting there

[@samrjw8693]

A fancy man with his fancy fancy. Auntie Donna fan by any chance?

[@nate6862]

Jimothy Hoffmann

[@oliviapearce2437]

I don’t have the kind of money spare to buy a £500 coffee machine but here I am listening intently to all of their pros and cons how does James make me care so much

[@kellermeyer14]

The cool thing is that you can find Sylvias in good condition, used for half that price. At least in the States. Also, here, anyway, you can find Sylvias with a PID for not much more than book price. I learned my lesson the hard way and bought a Baby Twin, which I would consider closer to the Sage in build quality, and when it died 3 years after purchase found out that it was made to be discarded. What James doesn't tell you is that you will inevitably want to upgrade your machine and when you do, having a Sylvia is the only way you'll get a return on investment.

[@batousan_]

@@kellermeyer14 He did mention this, at the end of the video he talks about the need to mod (upgrade) and clearly points out the GCP and Silvia will hold their value better than the others.

[@cyberpope2137]

Just get a Dedica then, it’s not far off and much cheaper

[@free-flight]

"If I was teaching someone to steam milk for the first time..." - very kind of you to offer. I'm free next Tuesday, James. Let me know.

[@ImAnEmergency]

Dibs on Wednesday

[@HomeDistiller]

PLEASE do a video on baskets! what makes a good basket? what changes with the differences in baskets (hole size, hole number metal thickness etc)

[@on2a]

Seconded. I hear a lot about baskets referred to but a good break down of importance would be much valued!

[@pgmoore21]

Yes, please do this! I would watch that video in a heartbeat!

[@markaochoa2017]

I 4th this notion.

[@coffeeiskey2176]

Somehow everybody accept vst to own this topic and no one even thinks about making it different. Always wondered about that.

[@pvman2]

Also, an overview on sizes, what's common, what's unusual (maybe from a particular manufacturer), adaptors, converters, etc. Also, terms: basket vs. filter vs. portafilter, etc. Basically the names of the thing with the handle vs. the thing with the holes vs. the part on the machine that receives the cleats that are on the thing with the handle, etc. A good video for a novice and a refresher for the prosumer/expert.

[@HauntedSheppard]

Since I was coming back to rewatch just some of the machines. I thought I'd put in the work for others: Build, Shot 2:13, 7:42 Lelit 3:22, 8:47 Delonghi 4:07, 10:31 Rancilio 5:03, 11:43 Sage / Breville 6:05, 13:10 Gaggia 15:42 steaming.

[@Oly55x]

Honorable!

[@AwesoemIan]

Get this mans some up doots

[@Stan_sprinkle]

god's work... god's work

[@its_justJohn]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@rycliffmc]

Love you

[@dallavita7]

I just really want to think you for putting this series of espresso machine comparisons together. While it ultimately helped me decide that I am *not* ready for my own machine, all these videos helped me 'dial in' what I will be looking for when I am ready :)

[@1zulmita]

Having binge watched about 20 videos it is only now dawning on me the man has taken at least 5 shots and sure the delivery gets a little faster but the hand is brain surgeon steady. Thoroughly impressed.

[@peterzimmerman9251]

I have owned a Rancilio Silvia for 10 years and estimate I’ve made about 7,000 espresso shots in this time. With the exception of having to replace the gasket in the brew head, it’s operated flawlessly without servicing for this entire time. I feel this was a great investment and would recommend this machine to anyone tired of the endless cycle of disposable household technology.

[@lukedgos]

I dread the cost, but if it can outlast three Dedicas and makes twice better coffee, then it has every right to cost six time as much, figuratively speaking (and is going to cost less anyway).

[@conannanoc8768]

while i understand where you are coming from, i have had a delonghi nespresso for over 10 years, pulled over 10.000 shots with it, and they day it died, i didn´t even bother to replace it and bought another one for 1/5th the cost of the Rancilio. I don´t intend to imply that the nespresso is better, or that the delonghi is a better machine than the Rancilio. Only, that people trying to send you these machines turn the most common attributes (durability) into unique selling points...

[@Floor7586]

Thank you Peter, I want something really worth spending money on so that was usefull. Question: what kind of bean grinder do you use with the machine? I am new to making coffee and am not really sure what works together.

[@imdeadinside792]

Yea I’ve got one as well and I love it

[@KAIJUCHOMPS]

I have the very same machine, gifted to me by my grandfather after he graduated to a commercial machine and I've been having trouble lately with the portafilter no longer fully twisting into place. Is that the gasket that's gone? I know this is an old comment but I hope you see it!

[@simontrusler5748]

Once again, sense and sensibility. You've relieved the 9 bars on pressure being in lockdown for 7 weeks now (Melbourne). You're such a breath of fresh air. Thanks :-)

[@maxl178]

We've still gotta wait till the end of the month :(

[@simontrusler5748]

Max L yeah, bummer that. Just me and my Aeropress to keep me company (oh and my wife and son...but my Aeropress, my Aeropress!!!)

[@gabrielsinclair5941]

Only 7 weeks? It's felt like an age. We'll make it though.

[@kainewhiteway2346]

Simon Trusler as a fellow Melbournian I was hoping James would do this. I have also been using an areopress for around 8 years but have just changed to the V60 (based off this channel) and I must say it’s a superior experience. What is do miss is the ability to make a decent coffee milk drink at home.

[@simontrusler5748]

Kaine Whiteway thanks for the advice. I’ve been pondering whether to get a V60 so it’s good to hear that it’s a superior experience. I’ll starting checking them out 👍

[@TheExpeditionUK]

Quick DeLonghi Dedeica tips: 1) the drip try can be removed for taller cups, 2) keep single or double button pressed until desired water dispensed, it remembers it for next time, 3) hold the steam button for 10 seconds to enter settings mode, press single cup button, now choose temperature, single = cool, double = warm, steam = hot.

[@rainbowevil]

The third tip on temperature - is that the temperature for the steam wand or for the espresso water?

[@TheExpeditionUK]

@@rainbowevil it's the temperature of the espresso water, I have mine on "hot" (3rd button). i haven't seen anywhere that mentions the steam wand temperature.

[@rainbowevil]

@@TheExpeditionUK great, thanks for the reply! Was just wondering since you had to hold the steam button to set it.

[@TheExpeditionUK]

I made a list of ALL the settings and posted to one of the delonghi vids, here it is again though, might be useful: For Settings Menu Press and Hold Steam Button for 10 Seconds:- =============== Button 1 - Temperature (low / med / high) Button 2 - Water Hardness (soft / med / hard) Button 3 - Stand By (9m / 30m / 3h) Steam Dial + Button 1 - Reset Steam Dial + Button 2 - no function? Steam Dial + Button 3 - Descale Normal Functions =============== Press and Hold Button 1 to set water amount delivered on Single Cup Press and Hold Button 2 to set water amount delivered on Double Cup Press Button 3 for Steam

[@tuboe777]

The Renaissance Dedica is all respects the same as my recent purchase of the Calphalon Espresso Machine I purchased from Amazon. I’ve wanted an Espresso machine for years and this is the first time I was able to get one. As a novice 71 year old coffee drinker, I really do enjoy my first machine and it does taste good to my untrained taste buds. Thank you for your videos I’m enjoying them and learning a lot about coffee.

[@capinkyky]

At 12 minutes when he throws the filter, my jaw dropped. So much drama. So perfectly timed. Beautiful James moment.

[@MohanKumar-xn9vr]

I honestly would have liked to hear the filter clatter and him just stare at the camera

[@BillPeschel]

@@MohanKumar-xn9vr It needed the sound of a window breaking :)

[@Stan_sprinkle]

you oversold that a little bit. It wasn't very dramatic. At all.

[@autisticguitar666]

In coffee I only trust people who keep their spoons in a case

[@2731TomveS]

i own the Rancilio Silvia V3 for almost ten years. just changed the group head seal and shower net, the VST filter baket, installed an Auber PID to it, set the temp at 104C and the espresso shots are now very consistant. now i am a avery happy man. learning a lot from your channel. thank you.

[@tsuntsu]

For anyone looking at the Dedica I think it is worth noting that there is now an upgraded version of it (ec885) which comes with a normal steam wand and a normal tamper. As other people have already mentioned, Dedica has programmable buttons, where we can adjust the brewing temp and the amount of liquid coming from the single and double espresso. Also, the machine is highly moddable (replacing the portafilter, adding the pressure gauge, changing the spring to mod the pressure) which makes it quite versatile for the money. With all that, it still remains fairly cheap so if you break something the loss won't be as big as with more expensive machines.

[@lukedgos]

Yeah. I thought about buying an exhibition unit without a porta. That already saves some money and goes a long way toward helping you get in the 'if it breaks, it breaks' mood. Does the OPV mod improve the taste? What about light roasts after you reduce the pressure?

[@siruspan]

Older/lower model ec685 can be had for half the price of the new model on sales at the moment.

[@mangolollipop_]

I randomly found this video and I bought my parents a Dedica as a random present. I didn't like the tamper that it came with. I would've love some more added weight. I like the touch of the weighty tamp but it's the barista part of me coming out. I like it fits the tiny part of their kitchen but I myself will buy the more expensive Breville machine for myself as I'm more of a coffee geek. It takes me so long to make coffee. I spent about good 10 mins doing it 3 coffees, which annoys me because I'm used to the quicker espresso machine. It's good to know that dedica is a moddable brand.

[@cmcguire7901]

Do you find that the high temperature setting on the EC885 gets hot enough for a quality light roast? I got it as a gift and upgrade from a cheaper/older delonghi that didn’t have any temperature adjustment so even with bottomless PF the light roast shots weren’t the best. But either way the new dedica’s steam wand is a pretty big upgrade and the new drip tray has a lot more clearance

[@kwccoin3115]

Not that model but have at least 5 times the portafiller came out.

[@sambarker2285]

Hey James , could we please turn auto-captions on? As a deaf person I find it very difficult to watch videos without captions, even if they are slightly off/inaccurate.

[@spasecookee]

Yes, please! It doesn't usually take this long to get the captions available.

[@Mr-lw7gy]

Same here!

[@ts-tj9fi]

Exactly! There is hardly ever any video on youtube without captions, even automatic. Big minus for not having it.

[@clxma]

I feel you guys, but I personally hate it when it's automatically turned on. KZbin should have this an option for each user.

[@sambarker2285]

@@clxma Little confused by this comment. Are you referring to hating automatically transcribed captions? That I can understand, as they're often inaccurate - but they provide an extremely helpful guide for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences. Or are you saying that you hate captions automatically showing up on videos when you don't want to see them? Because that is a user-adjustable feature. You can set your youtube settings to not show captions. But, and this is kind of an important but, if you are not a Deaf or Hard of Hearing person and the captions annoy you, you can easily turn them off. Deaf and Hard of Hearing people cannot simply turn their hearing back on when a video doesn't have captions.

[@GyZsiga]

James, your channel has fundamentally changed my life. I am a confirmed tea-consumer, eastern style, high-quality teas only... now, however, I am an occasional coffe-taster, because you've helped me to find a new hobby. We've purchased a Lelit Anna with a PID, I learned A LOT from your videos, and now every morning I make delicious espresso for my wife, who is very satisfied with the result. And she is a barista! You, sir, made that happen. Thank you!

[@kathleenmacdougall3399]

I inherited a Sylvia from my uncle, which he bought at least 15 years ago. It’s an incredible machine and still brews great coffee (even after being transported across the country multiple times)! I’ve always been frustrated w the temp control, so this was affirming. You’ve inspired me to finally take the plunge and modify!

[@lonestarr1490]

Go on then. You definitely won't void your warranty :D

[@timor64]

Dramatically improved the whole experience. A PID on Ebay with full instructions was pretty easy to install - took about an hour.

[@carlodaniele2280]

I have had the Bambino plus for around 1.5 year. I have been always using a naked portfilter. I confirm that it is great for making cappuccino: you really need to be very good at making the foam to beat the automated settings. Now I am buying a Dedica for a kitchen where space is a key selection criterion.

[@satiic]

literally waited years for this. well done

[@vaughanchapman2930]

You reminded me just how much I’d love to have an espresso machine and also just how much I don’t want to have an espresso machine. Great review.

[@CycleWatts]

My Sage Bambino Plus is a great balance between price, speed, ease of use, and high quality shots. They got it right! I did upgrade to a bottomless portafilter, IMS baskets and a crema adjustable tamper. Paired with the Sette 270 grinder and a scale, I’m making some delicious coffee. Your channel is hilarious and full of great information… thank you!

[@ashkanpower]

Yes, you can get very close to very delicious shots, but in lighter roast coffees, I still get a little more sourness that I like.

[@Ashhong1]

What is a crema adjustable tamper?

[@momoisstrange]

@@Ashhong1An adjustable tamper/wedge distributor by the brand Crema, a useful all in one tamping product

[@samjohns3227]

Thanks for those tips, I'll upgrade like you did though I only make lattes so not sure if I'd notice a difference? I used to have an Alessi with built in grinder years ago, loved it...but I love even more the fact with the bambino it has the automated milk function so I'm lazy but satisfied now! Really need to get a grinder and scale though...

[@anamcgugan6165]

What IMS basket did you find fit

[@DavidslvPT]

I just had to comment, the quality of your video and the level of detail you have added here, is amazing! Thank you! I was looking into buying the Gaggia Classic, so this has been very helpful, I didn't think people actually do modifications on their coffee machines, this is very interesting. Thank you again!

[@baguskurnianto3842]

My thoughts whenever a reviewer says "hey I'm biased" is.... no you're far from biased -- and that's why I, although I'm not yet a coffee hobbyist, am so interested in watching your vidoes!

[@Mentocthemindtaker]

To be fair, everyone is biased. Good reviewers are the ones who acknowledge and are transparent about their bias and why.

[@fstjeanm]

The Reddit r/espresso and home-barista communities will probably thank you for providing them with a link to provide 100 times a day to answer this very question. In terms of the review itself - you are absolutely spot on and really provided a comprehensive assessment of the pros and cons of each machine. I really like that you covered the modding vs out-of-the-box features, given the hobbyist nature of espresso-making. As usual, fantastic work!

[@c.j.c350]

Let's be honest, they'll link a Hoffman video even if it's completely irrelevant

[@fstjeanm]

@@c.j.c350 Hoffman videos are never irrelevant ;-)

[@Wolfy428]

Yep lol, I'm here because of r/espresso

[@tomcooper9061]

My frustrations with my DeLonghi brought me to the channel. I’m now in the process of upgrading, this guide is extremely helpful 👍

[@gluffoful]

Got my Rancilio in 2008 and has used it daily without problems, so the build quality is indeed very good. Everything from case to boiler and wiring is heavy duty. The older model has slightly different buttons and portafilter handle, but is otherwise identical to the current design as far as I can tell.

[@AndreaMitrani]

I bought a Lelit Anita with a PID and I’m absolutely in love with it. It was the most cost effective way to get a PID machine and it has been a workhorse so far. Hugely recommended.

[@William_Saint-Agne]

I've had my Lelit PL41TEM (with PID) for 4 and a half years now (~8/10 cups a week, half of them being cappuccinos, around 2 cups at a time) and it still runs great : no leaking, no pressure loss, no gasket change. It's pretty sturdy.

[@AndreaMitrani]

William Saint-Agne fantastic machines.

[@Poraqui]

Yes, Lelit are very good and underated. Interesting price. Incredible temperature stability. Hopefully soon a MaraX will be on my counter.

[@RiskyGambit]

Totally agree with this. Got a 41TEM for my birthday this year and it has really been a great little machine for me to finally get really into coffee as a hobby.

[@faballard]

I think I have the same : 57mm / PID and pressure gauge. I hesited between a 58mm or a PID (more or less the same price) and I choose the PID. I'm also very happy with it, even if I have the feeling not to master it very well. Probably because I drink mainly single espresso shots ? (I've read it was a bit more difficult to make...)

[@funder1994]

Absolutely loving my Bambino. Mine came with a non-pressurized basket included. And it's worth to note that the machine heats up and it's ready to use in 3 seconds!

[@MrPhilgriffiths]

Same here. Keen to know though if James used the Sage unpressurised basket or something from another company? Also useful to know if he took out the plastic insert in the portafilter - I did on mine.

[@jameshoffmann]

It was a Sage standard 54mm

[@TheNotEvilPenguin]

@@Abbrahan Another vote for loving my Bambino. What James said matches my experience - I've had more labour-intensive machines that were capable of making better espresso, but now I get consistently good coffee every morning with minimal fuss. I'd definitely get unpressureized baskets immediately though.

[@GameDevSPS]

@@TheNotEvilPenguin where from?

[@thomasmayer9511]

@@TheNotEvilPenguin where did you get the non-pressurized baskets? I can't find them anywhere..

[@christopherpowell3539]

James, I have a tiny kitchen and brought the delonghi 2-3 years ago. There are some temperature increase settings which I found important. I now have brought a bottomless portafilter and swapped the steam wand for a small rancillio wand. Very valid comment about the “coffee as a hobby”. Lockdown has taken this “hobby” to new levels. I now have the rokGC grinder and dialling that in. I would love a “prosumer” machine review as I guess that’s my next step in the journey...

[@elr8691]

I'm still rocking a Silvia v2. Had nothing but great performance from it. Simple, built like a tank, and easy to use.

[@farhannaushad2775]

James "big ol' hands" Hoffman

[@jedi2254409]

Not a bad trait 😏

[@Georgios_Rex]

@@jedi2254409 The Hoffman Hog

[@animeshjain4539]

James "Fancy Man" Hoffman

[@bradleydowis1324]

@@Georgios_Rex Let's pretend this comment never happened.

[@tolga1cool]

Never realised but you're right... His hands are really big

[@mattf1434]

Gaggia you've got to temp-surf the steaming, too. After I've pulled a shot I switch to steam then turn the wand on as the temperature builds. Once it's giving out a good amount of steam BUT the light (indicating it's 100 degs, and heating element turns off) hasn't come on yet, I start steaming and finish the milk ideally before that light comes on. That way you start at a good steaming temperature but the heating element remains on throughout the steam and your pressure doesn't nosedive halfway through.

[@purpleworm4725]

After watching this video got myself Sage Bambino Plus for making cappuccinos and I'm very happy about it. I was contemplating buying an espresso machine for a while now and pandemic was the final push to finally get one. And I must say - Sage Bambino is beginner friendly indeed. As a beginner I struggle with frothing milk manually, but with Sage Bambino I can get perfectly silky foam half-automatically. I begin on auto frothing (jug placed on the machine) and then lift the jug at the end of frothing to roll the milk. Works super well with whole milk. Also if you don't have a grinder yet, the pressurized portafilter enables you making enjoyable espresso for milk drinks even when using cheap pre-ground coffee (Bambino comes both with pressurized and non-pressurized portafilters). The overall coffee making process is also surprisingly fast (but this is coming from a person who typically drinks pour-overs). Now I'm ready for the next step - good manual grinder and quality beans :)

[@docOld55]

I've had a DeLonghi Dedica for around 6 years, and obviously I am happy with it (or I wouldn't have had it for 6 years:). I recall it took some fiddling to get the brew I wanted, and I ended up with a fairly fine grind using a rich, dark bean. The only real problem I had was finding a frothing jug small enough to be able to submerge the end of the frothing wand into the milk. I normally have a latte, but from time to time I'll make an espresso or Americano, or even a Cappuccino. I bought it when I wasn't exactly flush with money, and since I can afford something better, I've been looking around (which is how I ended up here). But every time I look at a 'better' espresso machine, I realize that I'm happy with what I have. And that's the whole point, isn't it?

[@80goal]

I'm interested in the dedica. How hot the coffee shot you get? (No milk).

[@AriKolbeinsson]

@@80goal I haven't measured the temp, but it has 3 settings for temperature (by some interesting button presses)

[@TeodorAngelov]

@@80goal Around 70-75 C. Tried all the temp settings but got the same result.

[@MultiBugggs]

@@80goal you can temperature surf by pressing the steam button, wait a few seconds and press either of the brew buttons before the steam button stop flashing. The thermoblock will heat up for steaming milk but since you kind of force it back to pulling a shot, the temperature of the water out of the group head will be higher than default settings.

[@PhotoAndersHald]

Also it seems james missed the fact that you can remove/lower the drip tray for a bigger cup.

[@jtlawton]

Thank you James. I have a ridiculous spring lever but on the weekends I use a Bambino Plus with unpressurised basket. It produces consistently good coffee and milk. A huge bonus with it is the fast warm up time for it (a matter of 5 seconds), so I can make a quick latte in less than 5 mins (and not wait 45mins for the spring lever to warm up).

[@noahwofford2433]

12:08 is probably the manliest portafilter slap I've ever experienced.

[@SuperOCHomes]

Lock and loaded, "make my day"

[@kevinfomiatti3279]

I have had the Dedica for about 3 years and am very happy with it. The coffee is much better than I get from the local cafe's. It's got a small footprint so is great if space is limited. Yes you do have to hold the machine across the top when fitting the basket which means you can't store anything on the top platform but I have never accidentally pressed any of the buttons. It can also take larger cups. When the drip tray is removed you have a flat base with a stainless steel insert. It would mean the base would have to be wiped clean each time you use it. If like me you only have one or two coffees in the morning that wouldn't be an issue. I never use the milk thingy (apologies James) so I can't comment on that.

[@antonsrandomstuff]

Have the same machine, but the sides are painted metal instead of plastic. Love the small footprint. The milk thingy works fine, but you have to pull it apart and rinse after each use.

[@TheAngelOfDecember]

I have the delonghi dedica since 2 years back. I am a former barista but had a limited budget when buying it. I modified it by switching the steamwand (to the rancillo) which was a little bit tricky but the end result is great! The delonghi has the perk of being a cheap machine, which makes modifying it not as scary as for example modifying the rancillo och gaggia🤷‍♀️ so far I have to say I am very satisfied with my delonghi ✨

[@lukedgos]

I took the French-press route myself. Or rather what I have is a dedicated frothing jug that's modelled on a French press. It cost me less than fifteen euros, and I can get a full jug of yoghurt-silky micro-foam in no time, and I'm certified co-ordination impaired. A former barista I'm sure could do some amazing things with this little piece of equipment.

[@VansteigerJr]

hello ! found your commnent very useful, I want to enter to the coffee world, and im comparing the delonghui with the krups virtuoso, have found better comments about the delonghi, is it too dificult to change the steamwand?

[@laowai2000]

With the fast warm up with the Dedica and the nice shots I can pull now with a great grinder, find it tough to justify upgrading this machine. Love how I can get out of bed in morning and have a shot or two ready very quickly.

[@laowai2000]

There are now clip-on steam wands available if you want to avoid pulling machine down. Not that tough a job and there are youtube tutorials.@@VansteigerJr

[@laowai2000]

Good to hear. I find it hard to justify upgrading this machine. With a good grinder, replacement wand really happy with the open basket shots getting from this machine.

[@robotokotoko]

The video is made to its perfection, the editing was perfect, the way James expresses his thoughts is incredible and takes of the machines were impressive. I've seen many videos on youtube, this is the first one that i can tell that is perfect on the production

[@gaggiauk]

Great review as always. I am so proud to have been an influence on your career. Wishing you all the very best.

[@FireForEffect1533]

I've had the Delonghi Dedica for 5 years now, it performs and holds up very well. It's also extremely simple to use and clean.

[@lukedgos]

Have you been especially careful with it, like meticulous cleaning, never exceeding the prescribed dose or too fine grind, etc.? I'm kind of scared of DeLonghis due to how fragile they seem and how often they leak, judging by Amazon reviews. I bought an Icon several years ago but had to return it right away due to some massive problems.

[@thekupus1]

@@lukedgos We are 3 years in with our Dedica, and we haven't been especially careful with it, but it has been working like a swiss watch so far. No leaks, nothing breaking yet. It has paid off several times over.

[@mabid6713]

did you have to replace any of the parts? like to get good frothing or espresso shot?

[@jasonfaj4221]

There should definitely be a merch T-shirt that says “I’m a fancy man”

[@SteveDave29]

No slight... does that mean a ponce??

[@aoi_mizma]

I own a Gaggia Classic and have used my friends Racilio Silvia. They were both great machines to start learning how to pull espresso shots. They were definitely fussy when it came to controlling the temperature and required guestimating the best timing to pull the shots by i.e. listening to the boilers instead of relying on the indicator lights. But they were both really capable of pulling great shots at times and were enjoyable to use. I did find that cleaning the Gaggia Classic was a bit of a fuss since the group head often required to be taken apart to do some good cleaning to get rid of all the old coffee grinds. I think the two are great entry machines for espresso for anyone looking to start the path of espresso as a hobby. It definitely takes time to learn the skill, finding your favorite beans, as well as for all the maintenance, but if you are looking to get the reward of getting great coffee at home by paying that extra time, those two are a great way to go. Also, I had the same exact experience with the steam on those two machines. I was not very happy with the steam on the Gaggia classic, but was impressed by the silvia, and this was back in the early 2000s, so I guess those two machines have not changed very much since then.

[@donaldtiffany7313]

I own the Bambino Plus and it has been pretty good to me. Yes, this machine does not allow for modifications other than the size of the shot you can pull but I do like the option of the automatic milk-steaming system. I do enjoy using it manually and perfecting my milk steaming but the option of it being there for my wife to use who could really care less is great. Great starter machine that has built my confidence in hopes of one day pulling the trigger on a more "legit" home brewing setup. Thanks for the great and honest video, James.

[@infringinator]

I wanted a bambino or plus but there were so many bad reviews and I had to go with gaggia I just had to do it.

[@pulsing1982]

A tremendously helpful video that I've watched several times, thank you. I'm moved from the Dedica equivalent (Smeg), to a Rancilio Silvia (V6). I'm loving the solid build, getting better extraction and power. I bought this knowing that temperature surfing is something I'll have to put up with until I install a PID. Shot-to-shot consistency is a challenge due to temperature. Steaming power is amazing - something like the two group Wega I learned on nearly 20 years ago - improving the flat whites my wife enjoys. So far it's exceeded my expectations, and seems a great place to learn and explore on my way to an e61 machine.

[@anastasiawortham8833]

I commend your beautiful speaking voice. This video relaxed my fussy toddler to sleep in the first 5 minutes. Thank you for giving my sing voice a break.

[@PrimalMoan]

I've had a dedica for about 3 years and really like it, only paid £72 though, you can adjust temperature, think there's 3 settings. and the drip tray is removable for taller cups (or scales). You soon get use to avoiding the buttons when holding it still but it is an issue when you first start using it

[@AlanW]

I got the Rancilio a few years ago. I chose it because it looks like it hasn't been changed in years, which is a good indicator of long term support and longevity in general. I just want to say thank you for talking about it's drawbacks, I have noticed some brews don't come out as well, and I'm definitely going to try the temp purge thing before pulling my shots! Also, now I'm thinking about a new basket for it. Pretty sure 1200 comments in, no one's going to be reading this. 🤣 But just in case, thanks!

[@mariobortoli1457]

I’ve read it. Thanks for your input, even though I can’t even buy one in my country lol

[@PMTcommenter]

I read it and appreciate your input!

[@kwccoin3115]

I read it as well. Do you do in the future any mod?

[@AlanW]

@@kwccoin3115 I haven't. Thinking about getting the Eagle One, despite the drawbacks of price and electronics.

[@x69WINNING69x]

I had a really basic pressurized basket machine a long time ago and it worked for me for a bit, when I was 16 I got the Silvia and it was such a big step up. I did have an issue where I burnt out the heating coil and you wouldn’t believe how simple the Silvia is on the inside. It’s no wonder people have come up with PID controllers with how simple the electronics are.

[@ssnd001]

Gaggia Classic user here for 9 years. I got used to it. Haven't tried (even though I was tempted) any other machine. I changed all sort of parts in it - gaskets, boiler, steam wand (I bought the Classic with that weird steam wand), solenoid, switch buttons, new portafilter - I love the fact that I can do that by myself, big plus for the machine. It is indeed frustrating frothing milk, sometimes it comes out just fine, sometimes it is just warmed-up milk. But we don't drink coffee with milk too much, anyways. All in all we just love it as it became part of the family.

[@Mr_Mrs_2012]

Owned the dedica for a number of years and has pulled decent shots most of the times. So good value for the money

[@sleepfilledsim]

The rancilio was the brand of espresso machine we used at the coffee shop I worked at and after getting the hang of stretching and frothing milk it was always great!! It made really nice foam for cappuccinos too which I would always make on my breaks haha

[@pphaneuf]

I got the Sage recently, and I got it specifically as a "learner machine"! I'm focusing on the shot itself at the moment, not having to worry about things like temperature surfing. Once I'm more confident with the shot, I'm hoping to switch over to frothing technique, and while I have no doubt that I might want to upgrade to a nicer setup in the future, it really helps making this hobby feel more approachable?

[@zonkex]

Having a PID, i guess you won't need the temperature surfing for this one. Enjoy your sage!

[@thomasquine5593]

Have been using the Bambino Plus since January 2020. Absolutely love it! I can really play with my shots and milk when I want to, using my Sage Smart Grinder, OR I can almost set and forget, the auto milk texture is more than adequate when I'm in a rush and want something milky and it pulls great shots with some adjusted pre-infusion! Got it on sale £199, if you can get it at a similar price or lower HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

[@justthatcreator]

Hi, is the bambino plus still ever £199?

[@onepieceandy7557]

What a wonderful video! Shared on my FB. Couldn't wait to see the £1000 and 2000 groups. Thank you very much!

[@PeterOlin]

I only drink a handful of cups of coffee in a week, but I still watch all these videos. I just love the attention too detail, love and integrity that is put into them and comes out. Beautiful and inspiring.

[@Lyndalewinder]

Really?

[@Sircnait1377]

I have a Lelit Victoria. It has a 58 portafilter and a PID. Pretty happy with it. The water tank is even more annoying than for the one you have, but, pretty good machine. I had a Silvia, the drip tray is way to shallow and the machine tends to rust from the water coming out during back-flush. However, I owned one for 10 years, didn't change a thing and then sold it to someone who wanted to put a PID on it.

[@anblesduke6360]

“I’m a fancy man.” love you, James!

[@philliptrzcinski5243]

Had a dedica for about 3 years now, I definitely didn't know what I was doing when I got it (I probably still don't now), I'm now all too aware of its shortfalls but £400-500 was a very intimidating price at that point for me, have to say its done me really well, I'm looking forward to an upgrade down the line but I'll look back on it with fondness. Having had it in a small kitchen, I definitely think the small form factor is a selling point for a lot of people.

[@TMDub88]

This 100%. The Dedica was a budget decision for me. With a good grinder, it can make decent espresso shots. I’m also eventually going to upgrade but for now the dedica will do just fine.

[@Trumpetblast92]

I used one for quite a while before moving to a Breville Barista Express and it was exactly what I wanted and needed at the time! I learned to make my drinks, I enjoyed espressos/lattes at home, and saved enough money vs. the cafe that I could afford the nicer machine down the line!

[@01banksjon]

Any pointers on replacement baskets for the Dedica? I'm using the pressurised porter filter ATM and interested to try the difference between pressurised Vs non pressurised - (I have a decent hand grinder so should be ok from that end... I think..)

[@TMDub88]

Jonathan Banks I don’t think they have “fancy” unpressurized that come in 51mm (someone correct me) as they do in commercial sizes (58mm). I bought one off eBay and it works just fine. Maybe $10. One hitch is the black plastic piece that James mentioned he broke. It leaves a screw hole open that espresso comes out of when you pull as shot. Fix this by keeping the screw from the black plastic piece and getting a washer and nut to seal that screw hole. Easy fix and much nicer presentation.

[@philliptrzcinski5243]

@@01banksjon www.amazon.co.uk/MagiDeal-Coffee-Pressurized-Breville-Delonghi/dp/B01JRH3DMS I don't know enough to know if this is a "good" basket, but it's doing the job for me, taking out the plastic bit is easy enough. I've found with a hario hand grinder, the steps in grind size are big enough that it's a very delicate balance between proper extraction and choking the machine, but still finding it's an improvement over the pressurised baskets and I'm learning how to do things "properly". Good luck!

[@bark28]

James: "i'l be stirring with the fancy teaspoons, because i'm a fancy man" me: "mhmm, yes i am also fancy" i think to myself as i stir my iced coffee with a straw

[@leopoldbloom4835]

Metal, glass or bamboo straw? For the plastic ones are a no-go for fancy men. 😉

[@bark28]

@@leopoldbloom4835 Metal, always metal for fancy men.

[@leopoldbloom4835]

BarkFu Agreed, though with a glass straw real men can see what they are sucking on.

[@tallalexander]

😂

[@evilforhire]

It is now September of 2023. The pandemic is over, and I work in an office 2x a week. I sit here drinking awful office coffee while I slowly convince myself to buy a 1Zpresso Q2 S hand grinder and an Aeropress so that I can have actual good coffee while at work.

[@mufcoasis1610]

Just discovered this channel after getting really into speciality coffees over the last 12 months, Love this guy 🤜🤛👍

[@AndreRoop]

Delonghi Owner for 1,5 years opinion: I think the Delonghi is worth the money and what it delivers! Think of your average consumption per day, and now justify it with the price of the machine ;-) If you are like me, drinking 2-3 doulbe-espressos a day, then your price point is around that machine (or lets say around ~400€) "Prosumers" or "Hobby-Baristas" usually buy machines above 1000€ because as you said, the machines between 500-1000 require tinkering, expansions and awkward installments in order to bring "maybe" the results you are expecting (now question yourself to what you are comparing). This awkward price category 500-1000 ist just inconvenient imho

[@christopherpike9061]

keeping eye contact while drinking the shots... feels a touch intimate and aggressive at the same time. I think I like it

[@georgesnow5041]

I was thinking the same thing haha

[@mrspoonandfork]

We have had a DeLonghi Dedica (E680R) as our daily office machine since October 2015, makes between 6 - 10 coffee's a day and has never missed a beat and is still working fantastically! Used approx 260 days per year x 7 cups x 5.5 Years = 10,010 cups of coffee!! Awesome machine!!

[@mabid6713]

did you have to change any of its parts? like to get better results of espresso short or frothing? because I'm low on budget and I'm 80% convinced into buying this espresso machine without experimenting to replace its wand or basket with something new. cuz I want a simple machine, reliable machine

[@dspiffy]

I really like the reviews that have a scorecard with categories and points. Those are extremely helpful.

[@dachhu]

I have the Delonghi and she's hurt by your words, she treats me well every morning. yeah we're from the cheap side of town, but she looks good in red and we don't drink milk any hoo. x

[@TheCelia777]

Would you recommend the dedica one? I will love to have that one, because it will be me first espresso machine and is slim perfect for my counter space

[@kirstynunez8061]

Celia Náter hello, go for it! I love my dedica so much

[@dachhu]

@@TheCelia777 drinking some espresso from it now tastes good to me. It's reasonably priced, works well and is very stylish.

[@TheCelia777]

Kirsty Barlisan thank you! I hope I can learn how to used it right 😅 how to get the perfect grounds and how to pressed, I have so much to learn

[@Zulualfadelta]

@@TheCelia777 I've used the Sage and the Dedica, I would 100% get the Bambino Plus. It's outstanding and the auto-milk capability makes life, so so much easier.

[@thomasowen280]

I can absolutely recommend the De Longhi Dedica. I bought one just before lockdown and because if it I've discovered the world of espresso. It's the perfect machine to make one realise that a) they enjoy espresso and b) they need a better machine...

[@fxhood2114]

Hello James, got the De Longhi 685 (?) last year before I upgraded to a Dual Boiler machine. You are right with your estimation in my eyes - but: you can adjust brewing temp by using the menue. Combined with a bit temp surfing and your portafilter mod there is an "ok" espresso possible. For normal purposes steaming is good enough. Latte Art is not intended ;-) Build quality is also ok for this money. Starting time is vety fast, so you can also use it for making hot chocolate. The milk steamer isnt very easy to clean, due to the plastic parts. Cheers and thx for your excellent professional and understandable vids! Greets from Germany, Fx

[@gavrillourie3759]

I have had a Silvia for 7 years now with a PID on it, I think you are correct, without the PID it would be tough to get a consistent shot. but with a PID it is a rock star, great quality, and built to give years of service.

[@RickLilShore]

Finally! I've been waiting for this almost as much as 'Ultimate Aeropress Technique'

[@rjeary]

James Hoffman, alway reminding us that you do indeed get what you pay for.

[@AdastraRecordings]

Here in Canada the Silvia is almost twice the price of the Gaggia so it's a no brainer, and there's a really simple workaround to get more pressure out of the wand, you just start 10 seconds before the light comes on. I also upgraded to a VST basket and the IMS screen which instantly improved the quality of my shots, I'll upgrade the portafilter at some point as I agree the handle feels cheap. I think I'm ready to get the OPV mod, it looks easy enough to install. It's a great little machine, I'm very happy with it.

[@bradleymorehouse7462]

After viewing this outstanding review, I've made my decision... I'll stick with my Moka Pots for the time being and see what comes out down the road. Your MP tutorials have me producing excellent not-quite-espressos, so there's no great rush. Thanks James.

[@Andrei-zo5bg]

No matter what James uploads: first like - then watch

[@EdwardScape]

Exactly.

[@JSpradley123]

It’s not like we need to see it to know it’s good...😂

[@delend456]

I hit like just 'cause of the title of the video.

[@flatulenzio]

True, *lol*

[@gedog77]

Lol

[@mickreynolds3065]

Great review, James! 15 year Rancilio Silvia owner (same machine), that I've modded over the years, adding the better stream wand and PID temperature control. Replaced the boiler last year, and it's running strong again. Built strong, relatively easy to mod/repair, and it makes delightful espresso and steams milk really well for milk based drinks.

[@explorerjlc1743]

how long does it take to heat up for use?

[@mickreynolds3065]

@@explorerjlc1743 15-20 minutes, I'm guessing. I have it on a timer, so it turns on automatically in the morning. When I wake up, I run a short flush cycle, then let it come back up to temp before I brew.

[@explorerjlc1743]

@@mickreynolds3065 thanks for your response. I think I will pass and go for slightly worse coffee with the dedica. The convenience of being ready within a minute is just too much of a win for me personally.

[@languagelover747]

Exactly the video I was looking for! Thank you! I used to have an older Lelit that I ordered from New Jersey (before PID and pressure gauge were included), and I agree with your assessment. It took me a lot of dialing in of the grind and timing to get a decent espresso using the stock portafilter. I never really achieved the flavour I was seeking, but it wasn't bad either...

[@briandelany7018]

Love your videos James. I've owned the Gaggia and Rancilio (still in a holiday cottage). Agree with all points. My issue with the Rancilio is very high brew pressure which means I've to grind Super fine. This means more money on a reasonable grinder.

[@randallino3364]

I have had my Miss Sylvia for five years love it, temperature surfing and got used to it and it works well. Probably going to install a PID.

[@nbougeard]

I did (a meCoffee) - I recommend taking the plunge.

[@DPSmith63]

I've had a Rancilio Silvia for over 8 years now and very happy with it. Consistent shots of espresso all day long. the temperature does vary a bit, but not enough to make a bad pull. Best of all you can purchase replacement parts and gaskets for repair and when they wear out. I feel the water tank comment is a bit of a quibble - who takes the tank out to fill? Just pour water in from a carafe or jug. At least it is easily accessible. Checking the tray is easy enough - it's right in front of you.

[@eddieparker2623]

Thank you! I was a bit disappointed initially that you "modded" the DeLonghi, as I currently use it with the default basket. But it sent me down a rabbit hole of learning why pressurized vs non pressurized baskets exist and what they do. About to order a non-pressurized basket since I have a pretty good grinder (Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD). Tempted to go 'bottomless' as I learned that's a thing for pulling great shots too... Thanks again!

[@watchnutz4322]

Hey James, love the channel however I’m no barista! I have 2 Gaggia classics both from early 2000’s. Only mods are brass group heads. Best thing is parts availability and relative ease of maintenance. As to coffee, we’ll you can produce just about anything from measuring weight in pro baskets to just using a pressure basket, they really aren’t too bad in this machine. The results are in the zone but as you say variable because of water temp etc. milk frothing has always been slow but manageable. I always steam milk first whilst boiler is at it hottest/quickest then run off excess steam through the group before pulling the shot at the right temp! Works for me!!

[@Jaroslav.]

The Silvia is an absolute beast. I'm glad to see the V6 in your video! Once you spend some time and have patience to get to know your Silvia and learn how to manage the temperature, the shots are delicious.

[@littlewarriorellis]

The one we’ve all been waiting for... though no surprise at the overall winner still a great insight into the benefits of each machine

[@aviphysics]

Seemed like there were three winners for three different types of people.

[@coltonhinderliter9148]

I've used a Delonghi Dedica that I was given for free for about a year now, and yes the milk wand only does bubbly frothed milk and would turn over half my jug into non liquid by the end. However, to get around this I accidentally lost the silver tip cover one day and used the simple rubber tip underneath and it made very silky milk. Now the opposite is true and you cannot froth milk with the tip so if you need both for your recipe then you have switch between the two.

[@JedoDre]

Had the Gaggia Classic and it was one of the worst experiences of my life with a product. I wanted it primarily for the latte art. The foam was terrible. I tried replacing the wand for a better one, which was a headache to do, but it made no difference anyway. My bartender gf kept telling me that my lack of skill was to blame and asked to let her try it. After she tried it, she too concluded that my steam wand was cr*p. The coffee itself would come out barely warm. Apparently you have to coast the temp and warm up the cups just to get a good coffee. Someone pointed out that this machine was once good, but then version 2 came out and...yeah, that's what I had. This machine is still often recommended in consumer guides, so I thought I would write this public service warning, even though this is an old video.

[@jasonburden7999]

Which year gaggia classic did you have?

[@evansisgreat]

I've recently bought a Delonghi Dedica and noticed the machine I have is an updated version which has addressed several of the issues you mentioned. As a beginner machine I'm very happy with the amount of programmability it has allowing me to tune the machine to the coffee I like.

[@malcolmsutton6740]

Evansisgreat. What improvements have Delonghi made? I realise it is difficult if you don’t have the old version.

[@evansisgreat]

@@malcolmsutton6740 this is a review of the new one. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKm4p6GBfNaKiZI For a start I can get big cups in! I'm not sure he was paying proper attention to the Dedica if I'm honest.

[@PhilStracchino]

I've used two different Gaggia Classics, only one of them mine, and they're the only machines (of the few I've used) on which the portafilter holders *broke*. They lack what a knifemaker would call a full tang, and the handles on both eventually broke where the plastic handle meets the metal basket holder. I devised a way to repair the handles that was utterly bombproof - you could probably beat someone to death with it without damaging it. I also often found myself running out of steam on the Gaggia Classic, especially if making two lattes or cappuccinos. I replaced my Gaggia when, after thirteen years, it needed another rebuild and the cost of the required parts exceeded the cost of a new machine. Currently I'm using a Silvia 3, and while it works well, it has its shortcomings, including (as you note) its awkward water tank. I have often wished there were a simple way to replace the needle-type steam valve with a ball valve. I am not a fan of needle valves for this kind of application. I'd much prefer a positive short-throw lever to the usual game of winding, winding, winding on a wobbling plastic knob.

[@precisionsoundworksstudio]

Enjoyed every bit of this! You have convinced me that I need to spend more than 500 on an espresso machine. I truly appreciate all this information.

[@CyclingLifePT]

Informing the public that you care about the products being widely available or not just won my upvote. Thanks a lot!

[@juliankochanowicz5626]

I love it when james uploads the moment i make myself a coffee

[@dragossion]

I have a LELIT PL41TEM. for about 500$ I got a PID, a preasure gauge and a beautiful machine. Yes it is 57mm but rocking it for 2 years and love the machine. The company definetly rocks in this price range.

[@johnsaxontube]

Me too. It was a big step up from my previous Gaggia machine, for not much more money.

[@andrewhorwell924]

It's been great to watch James expert reviews on various price point machines, as well as reading some of the readers own opinions too. Like some, in reality I cannot afford one of the expensive machines and would just like something that I can make a decent quality espresso for an Americano, reliable and occasionally make the odd latte for the Mrs. This is where I get confused a little in what exactly should I go for.

[@3lapsed]

Beyond just this video, I ordered a Ranchillio Silvia with PID. I'm looking forward to learning how to do milk with it and not the cheat wand that was on my DeLonghi EC702. And I'm glad I have the PID so I don't have to fuss with temp surfing as much. Thanks for the inspiration James to step up my game from a $200 machine. Now to find an affordable grinder that wont disappoint

[@Jonathan11666]

Here I am watching James again, tearing up over my instant cofffee. And saving up to buy a Dedica someday

[@stefane2692]

Thanks James, very good comparison. I would love to see the Lelit Glenda or even Victoria as well as the Quickmill Orione in comparison to the Rancilio and Gaggia. I think the price range would be much closer then .

[@joeymccallion]

Just randomly stumbled on this video and I want to commend your delivery, knowledge and structure of video. Really well done and I've subscribed

[@monat_son]

I started to love coffee, when the company where I worked installed a new fancy machine with touch display that made excellent coffee. Those machines are out of my budget tho. Iam glad that I found you as my youtube coffee guru. Have a good one!