Best Grinders for DeLonghi Dedica EC685 (2025 Edition)
Your De’Longhi Dedica is Only as Good as Your Grinder
You bought a De’Longhi Dedica EC685 for a reason. It’s sleek, compact, and makes a fantastic home espresso. You’ve probably seen the glowing reviews praising its quality for the price. It’s a gateway machine, a perfect first step into the world of real espresso.
But here’s the harsh truth that no one tells you: the machine itself is only half the battle.
If you’re struggling to get that perfect shot—the one with a beautiful crema and a rich, balanced flavor—the problem isn’t your machine. It’s your grinder. As coffee experts and the enthusiast community agree, a good espresso starts with a great grind.
Ready to Upgrade Your Espresso?
Choosing the right grinder is the single best way to improve your De’Longhi Dedica espresso. Explore our top recommendations below.
Kingrinder K6
This manual grinder offers exceptional grind quality and a wide range of adjustments at a very affordable price. It’s a fantastic value for the espresso enthusiast on a budget.
1Zpresso J-Max
A precision powerhouse among manual grinders. The J-Max provides extremely fine micro-adjustments for dialing in espresso, making it a favorite for those who demand ultimate control over their shots.
Baratza Encore ESP
The ideal entry-level electric grinder for espresso. The Encore ESP provides reliable performance and the micro-adjustments you need to consistently dial in your shots. It’s user-friendly and built to last.
Eureka Mignon Manuale
A classic upgrade for espresso lovers. Known for its quiet operation and precise, stepless grind adjustment, this grinder offers a significant leap in quality and will serve you for years to come.
DF54
A modern and popular option, the DF54 is praised for its exceptional consistency, large flat burrs, and minimal retention. It’s a great value for those seeking high-end performance without the premium price tag.
Why Your $20 Blade Grinder Is Killing Your Espresso
Let’s make this clear: if you’re grinding with a budget blade grinder (the device that looks like a tiny blender), you may as well be brewing instant coffee. Blade grinders chop and shred beans into an irregular mixture of powder and large pieces. This causes two major problems in espresso:
- Choking: When the grind is too fine and uneven, water cannot push through the coffee puck. Your machine chokes, struggling to pull a shot, and you’re left with drips.
- Channeling: When the grind is too coarse, water rushes through the holes, cutting channels, and leaving much of the coffee grounds unexposed. Your espresso tastes weak and sour.
The solution? You need a burr grinder.
A quality burr grinder uses two spinning abrasive surfaces (burrs) to grind the coffee beans to an even, consistent size. This allows water to flow smoothly and a perfectly pulled shot.
The Pressurized Portafilter Dilemma
The De’Longhi Dedica features a pressurized portafilter. It’s a great thing for a beginner because it creates the pressure needed for an acceptable shot even if the grind isn’t great.
But the rub here is, the pressurized portafilter is a crutch. It’s concealing the flaws in your coffee, and it will not permit you to taste truly great espresso. When you finally become serious and upgrade to a non-pressurized basket (a common upgrade), a good grinder is essential. Otherwise, you will never produce a great shot.
Your Go-To Grinder Recommendations
Based on expert reviews and endless user comments, these are the grinders that will unleash your Dedica’s full potential.
- The Manual Grinder Champion: Kingrinder K6 & 1Zpresso J-MaxThese are the highest rated espresso hand grinders. They both have a huge range of grind settings and make beautifully consistent shots, all for a fraction of the cost of a quality electric grinder. The K6 is a cult favorite due to its value, and the J-Max is a precise workhorse.
- The Best Value Electric Grinder: Baratza Encore ESPThe Baratza Encore has been the home brewing gold standard for years, but its ESP model is now espresso dedicated. It gives you the precision micro-adjustments you need to tune your espresso shots without the excess. It’s the perfect entry-level electric grinder for your Dedica.
- The Next-Level Upgrades: Eureka Mignon Manuale & DF54If you’re prepared to take things seriously, these grinders represent price-performance parity. The Eureka Mignon is well-liked for being extremely quiet and providing stepless grind adjustment precision. The DF54 is a good second option, typically well-liked for its consistency and usability. Both will provide you with a gigantic quality jump and will serve you well if you decide to upgrade your espresso machine later.
The Bottom Line: Spend Money On Your Grind
The worst you can do with a De’Longhi Dedica is undervalue the worth of your grinder. Do not waste money on a low-quality grinder that will infuriate you.
It is, however, worth spending money on a good burr grinder. It’s the best improvement you can make on your coffee equipment, and it’s the one that will finally allow you to produce that flawless, café-quality shot you’ve been lusting after.
| Grinder Model | Type | Price Range (USD) | Key Advantages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingrinder K6 / 1Zpresso J-Max |
Manual | ~$60 – $200 |
|
The budget-conscious espresso enthusiast, travelers, or those who value precision over speed. |
| Baratza Encore ESP | Electric | ~$200 |
|
Espresso newcomers who want a reliable and simple electric grinder. |
| Eureka Mignon Manuale / DF54 | Electric | ~$300 – $400 |
|
Serious espresso lovers ready to invest in a long-term, high-performance solution. |
FAQs
What is the De’Longhi Dedica EC685 espresso machine?
It’s a compact and stylish domestic espresso machine, popular among novice and hobbyist baristas. It’s famous for producing decent quality espresso and for being budget-friendly.
Why do I need a grinder for the De’Longhi Dedica EC685?
The quality of the espresso shot is more related to the grind than to the machine itself. A good grinder produces a consistent, even particle size, which is absolutely essential for proper extraction.
What type of grind for a De’Longhi coffee machine?
For espresso, you need a fine grind—one that’s about the consistency of powdered sugar. The particles need to be uniform so that water flows through the coffee evenly and at the right speed.
Are De’Longhi coffee grinders any good?
In general, no. The grinders De’Longhi offers are generally low-quality blade grinders or bottom-of-the-line burr grinders. They lack the precision and consistency to extract a quality shot from your Dedica machine.
Does the De’Longhi Dedica include a grinder?
No, the De’Longhi Dedica EC685 is a standalone espresso machine. It does not have a built-in grinder.
What type of grinder is suitable for espresso?
A burr grinder is the only type that’s appropriate for espresso. In contrast to a blade grinder that chops beans irregularly, a burr grinder grinds them to the same size, which is extremely important for a balanced and flavorful shot.
What are the considerations when choosing a grinder for the De’Longhi Dedica EC685?
The most important consideration is accuracy. Look for a grinder with a high number of grind settings and micro-adjustments. This allows you to dial in the grind to the exact point that gives you the best shot.
What are some recommended grinders for the De’Longhi Dedica EC685?
Some of the top recommendations include manual grinders like the 1Zpresso or Kingrinder K6, and electric grinders like the Baratza Encore ESP, Eureka Mignon Manuale, or DF54.
How to grind coffee for the De’Longhi Dedica EC685?
Start with a fine grind setting on your grinder. If your shot flows too quickly (under 20 seconds), your grind is too coarse. If it flows too slowly or chokes the machine (over 30 seconds), it’s too fine. Adjust your grind accordingly.
How often should I clean and maintain the grinder?
For everyday usage, we suggest cleaning your grinder each 1-2 weeks. This removes stale coffee grounds and oils which make your coffee taste stale and affect grind consistency.
Can I use pre-ground coffee with the De’Longhi Dedica EC685?
You can, but the outcome will be disappointing. Pre-ground coffee is usually too coarse for espresso and stales very rapidly, which will result in a watery, tasteless shot. Freshly ground coffee is the secret to an excellent espresso.