DeLonghi EC 685 Review – Portafilter Machine for Beginners

Lesezeit: 5 Minuten

With a price of around 200 US-$ the DeLonghi EC 685 is one of the most affordable espresso machines with a portafilter on the market. Here you can read what the machine can do, where its quirks are annoying, and why I still recommend it to beginners.

Overview: DeLonghi EC 685

DeLonghi delivers a “all-round feel-good package”. Everything you need to get started is in the box, but of course, you can’t expect high-end equipment for this price. Included in the box:

• Single basket (1 cup)
• Double basket (2 cups)
• Pod basket (for E.S.E. pads)
• Coffee spoon with tamper (made of plastic)

The machine is available in Black (EC 685.BK – which looks more like anthracite), Red (EC 685.R), Silver (EC 685.M), and White (EC 685.W).

Is the Espresso good?

First things first: The machine can dispense good-tasting espresso with decent crema.

If you don’t have your own grinder yet, I recommend a pre-ground coffee further down with which you can get good results almost immediately without changing many settings.

Otherwise, you will probably have to experiment a bit to find the perfect result. You can adjust the temperature (in three steps) and the water quantity at the push of a button. Independent of the machine, you can also change the following parameters: amount of coffee powder, tamping pressure, and of course, the type of coffee.

Frothing Milk with the DeLonghi EC 685

Do you want to make Cappuccino or Latte Macchiato? No problem, you can froth milk too.

Basically, you can even froth milk for latte art with the DeLonghi EC 685. However, with a small restriction: The milk is frothed with a Panarello. Through this small tube, it is easier for beginners to draw air into the milk because it practically doesn’t matter how deep the tube is in the milk. But this also means that you have no control over the air intake. You won’t get really fine-pored milk foam this way.

It’s enough for a latte art heart, but for really fine latte art, the milk foam is too coarse-pored.

Tip: Frothing works better if you pull the Panarello (the outer tube on the steam wand) downwards with a bit of force. If you simply work with the nozzle underneath, you get more control over the steam supply.

What’s annoying about the EC 685

Can you compare the DeLonghi EC 685 with a “real” portafilter machine that is almost ten times as expensive? One thing is clear: the devices play in completely different leagues. Normally I use a Profitec Pro 300 at home, and in practice, serious differences quickly become apparent. No question: The DeLonghi has a good price-performance ratio, but a few things annoy me.

• Temperature / Single Circuit: My Profitec is a dual boiler machine (separate circuits for steam and coffee). The DeLonghi can only do one at a time and needs time to reach the necessary temperature. If you want to pull an espresso immediately after frothing milk, you have to wait. The machine blinks until the temperature has dropped enough.

• Build Quality & Weight: A real portafilter machine is heavy and stable. The DeLonghi slides back and forth depending on the surface (it only weighs 4 kg). Many parts are made of plastic.
• Power: The data sheet says 15 bar, but that seems to be a maximum value.
• Baskets (Filters): A real portafilter has a basket with many holes. The DeLonghi has baskets with a double floor (pressurized baskets). They only have a single hole at the bottom. This makes it relatively easy to get espresso with crema (fake crema), but it is harder to push finely ground coffee through. The basket can clog easily.

What is better about the EC 685 than a big portafilter machine?

Yes, the EC 685 also has advantages over the big machines.

• Heat-up time: It heats up in under a minute. That is sensational.
• Portability: It fits in a backpack.
• Beginner-friendly: Beginners get good results more easily. The double-walled baskets ensure crema, and the Panarello makes milk foam easy.

Espresso Recommendation for DeLonghi EC 685 – with Success Guarantee

If you don’t have a grinder, here is a “recipe”:

• Coffee: Get “Pellini Espresso Superiore No. 42” pre-ground. (Available in Italian supermarkets or Amazon).
• Settings: Set the temperature to the highest level (see manual page 2, point 4.1).
• Flush: Run a shot without coffee to heat up the group head and portafilter.
• Dose: Fill the 1-cup basket with exactly one level DeLonghi scoop and tamp lightly with the plastic tamper.
• Extraction: Insert portafilter, start the shot. You should aim for about 25-30g of espresso in your glass.

Descaling the DeLonghi EC 685

The machine reminds you to descale regularly if you program your local water hardness. This is a useful function.

Accessories for DeLonghi EC 685

Recommended accessories, sorted by importance:

1. A decent Tamper: The 51mm tamper (e.g., from Vicloon) is much better than the included plastic one.
2. Milk Pitcher: A specialized barista pitcher (300-360ml), e.g., from Motta.
3. Knock Box: To knock out the coffee puck (e.g., from Dreamfarm).

Conclusion

The DeLonghi EC 685 has a good price-performance ratio. You can produce tasty espresso, cappuccino, and latte macchiato.

I recommend the DeLonghi EC 685 to everyone who doesn’t want to spend too much money and isn’t sure yet if they really want to get into the hobby of “real” portafilter machines. Thanks to the double-floor baskets and Panarello nozzle, it has two “aids” that lead you to good results faster.

I would not recommend the machine if you already have experience with larger machines (e.g., from a barista course) and want to deepen that experience. You won’t be happy because you lack the control you have with a big machine. It is also not well suited for serious latte art.

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