In this video, we look a how to install a Vibiemme manometer in the Delonghi Dedica espresso machine. Why would we like to do this? We want to know how much pressure we are extracting with. Join me, as I install this 40mm manomter and T piece in a Dedica EC680. Parts list: T Piece: www.landefeld.de/artikel/en/t-screw-connection-r-18-4x2mm-nickel-plated-brass/TE%20182%20MSV Vibiemme Manometer: www.sf-ersatzteile.de/kaffeemaschinen-ersatzteile/vibiemme/vibiemme-chimaera/chimaera/manometer-pumpe-40mm-fuer-vibiemme Reviews and Pricing of my daily Equipment here (The kit/geni.us links below lead to Amazon) ⬇: DeLonghi Dedica EC685: geni.us/EC685 5 Great Accessories for the Dedica: kit.co/tomscoffeecorner/delonghi-dedica-kit My tools: kit.co/tomscoffeecorner/tool-kit (*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 🦋 TipJar (only if you feel inclined): paypal.me/tomscoffeecorner ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. Affiliate commissions help fund videos like this one.
Hi Tom, Great video with a lot of detail. After watching you put the lid back on I had the light bulb 💡 moment & thought I will do this mod but I am going to see if I can mount it in the lid in this way it would be easier to read on each espresso. Thinking about it now I may try to mount my dimmer where you put the gauge or possibly on the other side if it’s more ergonomic 🤔 I just realised there’s a nice spot just behind the steam valve.
Very nice mod! Can't believe this machine has so much potential! I think it'll be possible to make some kind of pressure profiling with the help of that gauge and the steam knob
Hi, :) One other reaction about the bouncing needle, but I haven't found in comments the idea my uncompetent mind just had... 1- It looks like the manometer is doing just fine and has no erratic behavior until it reaches the sweet spot where it should stabilize. So I assume there's nothing wrong with it, and if it works well then it keeps working perfectly fine by accurately showing how unstable the water flow is. So let's concentrate on that part... 2- Water flow starts with the pump, and there are machines with this exact same pump + a manometer working smoothly. So maybe is it a defective one, but it looks like at that point you already did a good job in a previous video to make it work fine by changing a gasket. So I'll also assume there's nothing wrong with it. 3- Then it hits the OVP, and two things appears to me on that part... A- Manometer gets crazy when pressure precisely hits the max the OVP should allow and it's the only part in the system that is supposed to deal with pressure at that precise phase. B- Delonghi's OVP looks like crap. No high end espresso machine has such a cheaply build quality, and even plasticky OVP's used by other brands (like the Classic Pro) look way more straigth forward in their design, and are way more cleanly build. There are crappy stuffs able to work just fine, but within their range of application, and here no one expects it to work as well as a premium machine... it does what it is designed too : it makes good enough coffee for a cheap price. So I wonder if, just like with the crappy Delonghi's steam wand, solution wouldn't be once again to just replace the whole thing by a better OVP.
Hmm, interesting observation. That might have some merit. The problem is, I have not found an OVP that will attach to Delonghi's piping system. They use a synthetic pipe, with brass fitting on the end, which must be thrust into the female end of a connector (OVP, T connector, heater, etc). Then it's held in place with a clip. If you find a better OPV which is compatible with this piping system, let me know!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Well amusingly enough I passed my night on that question (at least I can say the ECP's coffee is strong enough for that task XD) and found some possible solutions. Through your site I sent you a link about one of them, which is insane... as it is an adjustable OPV with a range going from 6 bars up to 12. There are other options in the same (very little) shop, that is a gem based in Neetherlands by the way. They got a UA-cam channel that is pretty hypnotic even though I don't understand a single word (big up to UA-cam's automatic translation...) : www.youtube.com/@d.r.trading8816 They got pleinty adaptators allowing to imagine whatever solution, and so far my main concern isn't the compatibility but the very tight volume offered by the ECP. Also the OPV going above the Ulka pump is a 1/8 thread, and that's a perfect feat for most solutions. An other trouble though is that their products are so good and their prices so fair that it leaded me to recompose the entire layout. Adding a non-retour valve, a pulsor pump and so on ^^'
Hm "first" shot of the morning came with an other solution... opening a big window on the left part of ECP's back panel hiding the pump, then adding a box made of wood to make the rear space way more comfortable. I got some nice walnut that could do the trick (black + inox + wood sounds nice too). It's a bunch of work but that would salve the space issue, and also it could have a door to reach the OPV to adjust it's pressure way easier than having to dismantle the whole thing each time I want to try a setting... and also facilitate repairs, mods etc. OK... measure, measure, cut, glue... (it's a lot of investment though, I feel good about it because the ECP is a great base thanks to its boiler, but I don't know if it would be worth the effort for the Dedica and its thermoblock)
That was very helpful, thank you. My DeLonghi has a pressure meter, but without numbers. It has also been damped so that you do not see the impulses in pressure produced by the vibratory pump which are clearly visible in your manometer. I wonder if those pressure pulses encourage channeling acting kinda like a jackhammer on concrete.
Hello Tom Thanks a lot for the video and the link for the spare part, I managed to install the manometre and I also upgraded the pump from EP5 to EX4 and replaced the OPV with a Saeco 9079A27 that allows me the control the pressure. I have a big dilemma regarding the extraction pressure, we all agree it should be 9 bar at the group head, when I run the pump with an the porta filter and an empty decompressed basket I get around 3.5 bar at the gauge, I assume that this is the pressure loss due the three way valve spring. My question to you and to the community is: Should we extract at 9 bar reading at the gauge or at 9 bar + 3.5 bar = 12.5 bar ?
Hello there! Well that OPV looks nice in brass, and it seems to be one of the only mechanically compatible with the Dedica. Nevertheless, it was designed for superautomatic coffee machines, which have generally only 3-4 bars of pressure. It says on the description that it's for the Saeco Royale. www.northwestkitchenware.com/products/11024/saeco-pump-release-valve Maybe you can fit it with a different spring?
Hi Tom This OPV is actually adjustable without changing the spring, you just need to turn the hex nut on the top. I am very satisfied with it. I managed to set it up to 9 bars and it is very easy to tune it as you don’t have to dismantle the whole pump module.
yes it is still working quite well, the only thing I changed was the T piece placement, I have it now on the hose between the group head and the steam wand so it does not disturb the water flow during the extraction.
Wow, what an amazing video Tom! I admire and appreciate your work on this machine. If someone will get the Dedica to 90+ degrees and (stable there) on this earth, it will be you:-) Keep up the good work!
Anyone know where you can buy a suitable T piece in the UK? The link is from Germany and they cancelled my order as they are only able to process orders higher than 170 € and only orders from companies who have a valid EORI number (whatever that is). Seen ones on ebay but they don't have the pipe inserts so not sure they will hold pressure when you tighten them.
If anyone can help Mr. Hoggi, that would be nice. I can suggest to go to a local hardware store that deals with pneumatic parts, and ask them. They should be able to help. Cheers!
You are great! But I didn't like two things: how you sawed the edge to insert the pressure gauge and when you placed the copper coil very close to the faston connector of the boiler while it was running... Greetings from Italy..☺☺👍👍
Thanks for the tips! I have since isolated the copper coil better. I wanted to drill a hole big enough to flush mount the manometer, but could not find a 40mm metal bit. Cheers!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thank you! Your explanations have allowed me to fix an anomaly in my coffee machine and to optimize it.. I'm an electronic technician but I can't know everything.. there are several people on UA-cam but no one like you goes into the "technical details" to understand the origin of the fault. Thanks again..
Ich hab noch 2-3 Magnifica, glaube eine Cortina und eine Venezia (Venezia ohne ECO-Boilerabschaltung aber sehen gleich aus) .. Werd mal schauen ob sich da eine dazu eignet um so ein Manometer einzubauen. I still have 2-3 Magnifica, I think a Cortina and a Venezia (Venezia without ECO boiler shutdown but they look the same)... Let's see if one is suitable for installing a pressure gauge like this.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner i thought about putting insulation on the hose from the thermoblock to the group head it cannot be too difficult 🤨 i am curious how much temperature drop actually happens there.
On lighter roasts I just press the steam button until it’s ready to steam then turn the machine off and on then pull my shot. The darker the roast from there I just release some steam accordingly and then pull the shot
Hi tom Thanks for your great video Order the parts and i did the same in the video but my pressure bar is 6 then i change valve and still the pressure bar is 6 can you help me on this 😢
Hmm, it could be that your OPV needs changing. Are there any bubbles coming up into your water tank while extracting? Are you sure there's no leaks anywhere, either?
Hey! Question. So I have all the parts and installed it the exact same as you did. Yet, the Gauge only goes to 2 bar. Tried another dedica, same thing. Wondering whether both have faulty pumps. Can’t imagine that being the case though because I’m getting decent shots with my bottomless portafilter at around 2:1 ratio within 30seconds on both 🤷🏽♂️ Thanks in advance for any suggestions/advice.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Found the issue… it was me being an actual dumbo. I had my portafilter in, but never actually bothered to add ground coffee. So obviously it never was able to build any pressure. Feel like one of those people that complain to IT their keyboard doesn’t work even though it’s simply not plugged in. Fml
Hi there! I am afraid I got the connector and Vibiemme manometer in Germany and Hungary...I am not real sure where to get something similar. BUT, you could see if you can find a Delonghi parts dealer, and get a T connection and a Manometer, from the La Specialista series....
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Fair enough! I installed a flow control on my Bambino and would love to install a gauge like this. Doe you think this same manometer and t piece would work? I guess it comes down to the tubing and if its the same size as the Dedica's.
I'm so sorry but I was crying half of the video. The manometer has a place in the back called a thread at which you can put a nut. With a simple small hole, sized properly, you could have attached it in the front, and it could have been quite securely attached by just tightening the nut on the inside of the machine as the machine is made out of metal. Also there are smaller and teflon three-ways that would allow much lower heat drop. Also there are combined heat/ temperature senders that could transmit wirelessly to an external display.....
Hi, Tom! Thank you for the great video! Will try to do the same thing with my Dedica and then experiment with opv spring if needed :) I heard about a simple dimmer modification, which enables a flow control for machines with ulka pump. Do you want to try this one yourself on Dedica? I believe, Lance Hedrick did a video about it for Bambino Plus
I would do other approach, like Bluetooth battery powered pressure sense, it's compact and doesn't have to do drilling and with phone app, you would get real time reading graph in pressure, on top of that, pair with bluetooth scale, that's more fun approach than this.
Hi. What sense does it make to have a manometer to read the presure out of the boiler if you don't have a way (valve) to modify\adjust it?. Wasn't enough the test one you have already at the shower output?. It was the point to measure a clog at the filter? Love the chanel. Tks for it.
great... I will try it myself ... and I thought: why didn't you drill a whole at the front surface with the round diameter after the square element of th gauge - the copper pipe could have been stretched a bit, so that it could be fiddled through in circular movements etc. ? where there technical aspects I don't know?
The 11 or 15 bar happens at the pressurised portafilter spring or output diameter, non pressurised pressure depend on grind size and basket design from factory
excellent video. I was planning to do the same to my Dedica. My plan is to install a Pressure Transmitter on both lines (brewing and boiler), a temperature sensor and a Display screen that shows all 3 parameters. All sensors will be connected to an Arduino board and the readings will be shown on the screen. As a plus, I will try to create a simple APP for my mobile (just for the fun).
one thought or maybe question. doesn't this mod cause more temperature drop than before executing the mod? if there's a metal t-piece and a copper pipe to the manometer i'd guess that those parts suck away some temperature too? wouldn't it be smart to only insulate the hose and not to perform this mod? thanks to tom's work we know the brew pressure now. so is there any point in executing this mod on anybodies machine at home? i'm curious to here other opinions on this
Manometer's hose and the T adapter come way before the boiler and is kept between silicon tubes that are very bad at temp exchange. I don't see any reason why they would not stay at room temps without making any difference whatsoever to the boiler's heat. Also if you want to put some insulation to optimize temps then you shouldn't care about this section but should put it around the boiler. It can make a massive improvement there, while around mano's system it would make none.
Fun video Tom. Just a suggestion. you need to buy yourself a 3D printer. While you were doing this I designed a housing for the manometer in my head. You can buy an inexpensive Creality Ender 3. 3d printed components are liberally sprinkled around my coffee bar. If you like to mod your stuff a 3D printer is almost mandatory. I Just bought a Ceado E5P off eBay and I've finished a slide that allows my bottomless La Spaz portafilter to be used on the grinder that was designed for only spouted portafilters.
I live in the United States where the tee is not available. Additionally, I was turned off by its nickel plating. It's not certified for potable water. My machine is an EC860 (same group head as Dedica) and my goal was to reduce the system pressure to 100 psi by changing the OPV spring. I ended up using a John Guest PM100422S tee even though it's only rated for 150psi at 150Fahrenheit. Once the goal was achieved, I removed the tee/gauge assembly from the system and replaced the water line. I felt leaving it in there permanently was simply cosmetic, and had an unknown amount of risk since John Guest doesn't specify a max pressure for any temp higher than 150F. If the tee fails in a permanent installation, there may be significant risk of scalding burns or electric shock. I also need to mention that I spliced into the OTHER line coming off the group head to reduce heat-pressure stress on the tee. I wore protective equipment and had a safety kill switch for testing, and let the boiler cool to room temperature after every test/before changing springs. Please don't attempt any of this unless you have a thorough understanding of the principles involved and can do it safely. Please understand I am not advocating this. I am just telling you what I did. I'm a retired engineer and have significant experience with appliances. Just like Tom, I am not responsible for your safety. Any and all attempts to copy me will be at your own peril.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Can I ask what you used to reduce the pressure? Did you keep the original OPV and try different springs in it? 100 psi is about 7 bar - is that right? Cheers! Tom
@@TomsCoffeeCorner The OEM EC860 OPV disassembles quite easily. I've done it a dozen times without breaking any tabs. Make sure to hold it by the cap when popping the last tab and let the ceramic body fall onto a towel to avoid losing components. I used a shorter spring with a reduced wire diameter. I did not want to cut the OEM spring as the spring is sandwiched between plastic parts. If cut, it would place undue pressure on one spot on the plastic, causing it to creep over time. That creep in turn would reduce the system pressure but inconsistent performance is possible as well. To go below 7 bars, there is a second spring inside the group head operating a check valve which must be dealt with. It's purpose is to prevent water flowing though the group head while using the wand so there is a minimum value that must be maintained for safety's sake. The spring is accessed from above by removing the black plastic Y junction (two screws). Its design does allow a full turn to be cut off either end. I don't know if Dedica's have the exact same spring, as the EC860 has a separate steam boiler. The separate steam boiler design means I have almost zero pressure to the group head while using the wand, so the check valve threshold can be low. It appears that would not be the case with the Dedica (coincidentally the primary reason why I don't recommend leaving the plastic tee installed permanently). Can you tell me the max pressure you see on your gauge at any time while in steam mode? I would assume its with the steam valve closed.
@@hshooker5761 Thanks so much for that thorough reply! I didn't know the 860 had 2 heaters...I have never measured the group heat pressure while steaming. I am guessing I wouldn't get a reading, because no water comes out of the group head while steaming. There is another check valve in the brew group, so the pressure has to overcome that threshold, before water will come out. Again, thanks for your insights! Tom
Attention the copper capillary of the pressure gauge is dangerously above the power supply of the boiler resistance which is 220 volts. Attenzione il capillare in rame del manometro è pericolosamente sopra l'alimentazione della resistenza caldaia che è a 220 volt.
Thanks very much for your keen eye, Pippo! I am going to take this apart, and make sure the copper tubing is isolated from anything electrical. Cheers!
Why? What is an added value of this resourceful activity? As an electrical engineer I am always puzzled when people insist to get data they have no use of :)
Usually, these types of fittings are brass - haven't seen much of anything in SS. It's not easy to find compatible parts for these small Delonghi lines. Do you have a link to a different tee? Cheers!
I wish I had the ability to take something like the "Gaggiuino Project" and apply it to my Dedica. At the least, monitoring temp and pressure on a small LCD screen (mounted on the side but wi-fi would be cool. ESP 32? ) would be pretty slick. Not sure what all could be borrowed 😁 from the Gaggiuino, but I'm guessing some of it could be "re-purposed." I really like this idea. I've had my Dedica for more years than I can remember...at least 6-8. It's been a good machine. I have a decent grinder (Eureka Magnon ) and was about to buy a Gaggia Classic Pro to use with the Gaggiuino conversion. But after seeing this, it seems like there might be a bit of "DIY fun" left in the Dedica. A "Dedicuino," perhaps? 🙂
Hi Philip, the Dedica is a nice little machine. I think a dimmer would be an easy enough addition, but adding a PID in my opinion is going to be hard to do, due to lack of space. I also don't know how effective it is to get a proper temp probe on the thermoblock. The ECP3420 would probably lend itself better to a Gagguino type mod. But, I would be happy to be contradicted, if someone does this to the Dedica. It's all about experimenting, having fun, and drinking coffee. Cheers!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Hello, again....🙂 I'm gathering all the parts to build a Gaggiuino. What I'm doing is ordering both 6mm parts (for the Classic Pro that I'll buy within the next few months) along with 4mm parts that will fit the Dedica. I'm sure I can bypass (not use??) the stuff that won't work with the Dedica and see if it will (at least) show me the pressure and temps. I might not be able to control the temp but pressure control seems possible.
@@khoakhoa201 It got tossed when I found a 25 year-old "Gaggia Espresso" for sale. I updated it with the Classic Pro grouphead and pressure release valve. And that was the end of the Dedicuino. 🙂
Bodgit & scarper comes to mind? why didn't you just undo the nut on the back of the gauge, cut the slot for the threaded part out of the gauge to fit, and tighten the nut, the job is done!
So this machine is discharging coffee already at 4 bar where with my ECP3420 i don't even see flow from the shower head below 7 -8 bar ! I wonder if the pressure control spring on the bottom of my boiler is too stiff ? Would b great if someone could give me feedback on that one .....
Do you have a video of it? If anything, the expansion valve under the brew group would be too soft, rather than too stiff, if it's coming out too early.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner No it wasn't coming out to early.... I removed the expansion valve from the bottom of the brew group and removed the pressure spring , i trimmed off the last coil and tweaked and sanded the last coil flat again , this shortened the spring without changing its rate (cutting active coils off a spring makes it stiffer and i didnt want that) , after reinstallation my discharge pressure from the shower head with no portafilter in place is now 4 bar , much closer to what your Dedica is doing @ 11:27 So yeah now i have a much wider pressure range that i can play with in terms of when flow through the coffee grinds actually begins.
Update; so my spring mod didnt keep pressure at 4 bar as it crept up to 5 so i also modded the screw in brass spring/shower screen retainer by filing down the spring seat face. now the machine starts water discharge from boiler at 4 bar consistently, i,m pretty disappointed that i had to that extensively mod this brand new machine that extensively to get a broader more useable discharge pressure range
@@TomsCoffeeCorner I think you are right the soft tubes will only absorb transient pressure changes. Although the length, internal friction and bends will have some effect.
bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce ..... I keep wondering what would happen if you connected TWO vibration pumps in parallel, out of phase? (in those pumps is a diode, so if you swap the wires on one pump, it would just fire opposite the other, just wire them up in parallel, hose them up in parallel after the flowmeter and before the opv). I don't know how you would connect up the outputs because I don't know what parts you would use,, and it would be bulky,,, but maybe it would have a more stable pressure?
Great Work. Im considering doing that also. Have you ever Heard about replace the pv with the Saeco 229452100 which reduces also the Pressure to 9 Bars?
Здравствуйте, а можете такой на алиэкспресс показать есть в продаже или нет? А то через ваш сайт не удобно в свою страну показывать) и тройник тоже ссылку на алиэкспресс) заранее спасибо)
It could look nice to have it embedded on the top part. (Assuming you don't use (all) the space for cups). Maybe one can borrow the drill or bring the top part to a workshop.
Tom...the "T" fittings I needed for my DeLongi "Dedicuino" arrived. $24 (for 2) shipped to me from your side of the ocean. I'm using one for the pressure sensor and the other for the thermocouple. For monitoring, I'm using "Home Assistant" with an ESP32. There's room inside the Dedica to place everything I need to monitor pressure (I'm just following you, except I used a pressure sensor rather than a gauge). The thermocouple being placed on the second "T" (rather than on the boiler) isn't ideal, but this is just for fun until I get a Classic Pro. Total cost so far (I had much of this stuff laying around) is under $40. Anyhow, I can now measure the temperature and pressure (refreshed every half second) using an ESP32 with a MAX6675 and an ADS1115. Next thing will be to add the dimmer and SSR. It'll be a tight fit. 😅 Worst case... I'll only be able to make pretty graphs and charts of the temp and pressure in Home Assistant.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Not a problem. Mine won't be as nice looking as yours, so be forewarned. 😅 Some stuff, like the 3-way valve in the Gaggia, obviously can't be done with the Dedica. But since there's no feedback loop to tell the software otherwise, all I need to do is let it THINK it's operating the 3-way valve. Those "T" fittings you recommended worked wonderfully. Tricky little things to get started, but sealed perfectly.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner I posted a (caution... quality is very crude) video on my UA-cam channel. It's not a serious channel. I use it for ham radio streaming and general goofing off. Anyhow, it's on UA-cam under my ham radio callsign, "K7JBL." I'm waiting for the dimmer and SSR to arrive in the mail. Surprisingly, that whole STM32 enclosure will fit inside and under the top lid! I had to grind down one of the two screws that hold the top metal and plastic together, but it fit. I'm still toying with a few ideas on how to (cleanly) pass the wires up to the LCD display. I really wish the author had used an ESP32 rather than an STM32. It would be so much easier to add into "Home Assistant."
Why did you use a manometer with a capillary tube. It can cause lots of error in readings especially that everything is enclosed. Why not a straight connector? You get beat small t piece connector with small integrated pressure Guage which would have looked pretty cool installed in the front.
In any case great video. Maybe one with an inline temperature gauge? I don't see any videos about that and I think temperature readings while you pull a shot would be very advantages .
Hey Josh, most of these come with capillary tubes, including this one. There is not much space to work with either, so the coiled tube is nice for the flexibility. But thanks for the idea. Cheers!
thanks. I also have the dedica 685 and struggling terribly with sour shots, and have been since I bought it. Also bypass temperature with steam purge, got a non-presssurized basket, good fresh coffee. The lot and still sour. I think it is the temperature that cannot reach or is not stable. I also have a thermoocouple in the basket like you and although I start with very high temp(after steam purge) around 98/99/100 degrees, it soon falls to 85 before the end of the shot.that drop might not be good.I don't know.
@@fouriejosh Are you using medium roasted beans? Those are admittedly really hard to extract well. Darker beans are easier for sure. But, when I did a temp probe over the whole extraction with the steam mode hack, it was a pretty steady 92 degrees in the basket. Cheers!
No, this is the original OVP. You will see in the video that while measuring before mounting, it maxed at 11-12 bars. But with coffee, it reaches 9 bars, as desired. Good thing to know! Cheers ☕️
@@TomsCoffeeCorner wow , just wow, default machine with default settings hits exactly 9 bars? You got so lucky with this machine. I can bet money mine goes way above 9 even without measuring it. Cheers.
@@Gen_66 Hmm, I wouldn't be so sure about that. I just overhauled the pump too, so this should be pretty much like out of the box again. The pump is rated for 15 bar max, but the OPV opens around 11 bar max, and with coffee, it reaches as it seems 8-9 bar. At least these are my findings. Cheers!
Hi Tom new to your videos - excellent mod- I have the same setup as you, the eureka specialita grinder, I went ahead and order the parts here in the US, couldn’t find a all metal T valve, but managed with a polymer one with metal connector to the pressure gauge, i cut the machine with a dremel, was a breeze, I also was tempted to drill the 40mm hole and flush the gauge to the body of the machine… but at the end I think it worked out fine, keep those modification videos coming! I clocked in a 12 bar from my machine with the pressure gauge, the machine was used I bought off eBay a year ago,but I guess it was hardly used by the previous owner
Very cool, Samson! I'd like to see what this would look like flush mounted, but I thought this way is more plausible for most. Do you have a drill bit that large? 12 bar seems high - how long do your shots take? Cheers! Tom
Hi Tom, I am looking into gauge mounting and I can get parts similar to what you propose but a gauge has no "spring" like connection but there is a short tube that connects gauge with t-connector. Do you think it changes anything or it should work fine?
@@TomsCoffeeCorner that is also my only guess but I am going to give it a try since it is the only one available with domestic shipping in 1-2 days - once tested I will post there my feedback :)
Didnt make my test yet but found an article which says that capillary tube is for protecting a gauge from sudden pressure raise which can damage it. I think with vibration pump that Dedica has there is little risk for it since it builds pressure relatively slow. Though for rotation pumps it can be a different story and make much more sense to be kept.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Bonjour Tom''s😇 Je préfère garder la Dedica en forme d'origine 😁 puisque je me suis contenter de voir votre modification et surtout quand vous nous avez fait une démonstration réelle de la pression de service qui n'attend jamais les 15 bars déclaré par DELONGHI 😳
@@fethiam755 I think it is good to keep it stock, in case you ever resell it. Plus, as you mentioned, you can now see what pressure it really operates at. Cheers Fethi!
I would do other approach, like Bluetooth battery powered pressure sense, it's compact and doesn't have to do drilling and with phone app, you would get real time reading graph in pressure, on top of that, pair with bluetooth scale, that's more fun approach than this.
Hi Tom, thanks a lot for your manometer mod video on the Delonghi Dedica. After watching it took some weeks to decide to try it by myself. But I combined it with Lance Hedrik‘s dimmer mod of Gaggia Classic Pro. I improved both mods in a way that both things are fully integrated in the Dedica‘s body. It took me some hours of work and lots of beads of sweat…. but now I can play with the pump pressure, which gives me much better results in taste and fun. If it was possible, I would share some pictures or a video. Thanks again and greetings from Hamburg, Gustav
Hey Gustav! Wow, that is great news! How did you get the manometer flush with the housing, and how did you mount the dimmer? I am thinking of doing the dimmer next. But, there is so little space to fit anything else inside. If you look at my "about me" part of my channel, you will find my email address. Feel free to send a pic if you like. Congratulations on your mods! Tom
Hi Gustav, sehr sehr cooles Projekt. Ich spiele aktuell mit dem gleichen Gedanken und wollte auch ein Manometer plus einen Dimmer einbauen. Welche Teile hast du denn dabei verwendet? Würde mich über Tipps von deiner Seite freuen :)
@@alexanderrabensteiner5207 Moin Alexander, danke! Ich kann dir gerne Infos bzgl der Teile schicken. Allerdings bin ich noch bis Sonntagabend unterwegs. Wenn ich wieder zuhaus am Rechner bin, kann ich es dir raussuchen. Kann dir auch gerne ein zwei Fotos schicken, dann siehst Du, wie ich die Teile eingebaut habe. Kannst mir ja mal deine Mailadresse schicken. Falls ichs vergesse, schreib ruhig nochmal. Viele Grüße, Gustav
I would do other approach, like Bluetooth battery powered pressure sense, it's compact and doesn't have to do drilling and with phone app, you would get real time reading graph in pressure, on top of that, pair with bluetooth scale, that's more fun approach than this.
The dedica case is made from steel so not sure if a sensor inside the machine would communicate with a phone, better to test with any other devise you have before buying a bluetooth sensor
Amazing video Tom! I am wondering whether this 9 bar pressure is achieved with the original spring of dedica? If yes, does that mean no spring modification is requiered for non-pressurized coffee extraction?
Hey Saeed, yes this is my OPV unmodified machine. So it turns out that the max pressure (with the portafilter manometer) is 11 bar, but a coffee puck apparently only provides 9 bar of pressure. Cheers! Tom
@@TomsCoffeeCorner sorry if my questions seems stupid, but i dont understand the fact that you measured 11 bars but the coffeepuck only provides 9bar? I am currently thinking about modifying my Dedica with a Manometer, probably a Dimmer and I would also like to install a temperature meter just to track tge brewing process and to be aware of the numbers. Love your videos btw, really really interesting insights! A big thumbs up!
@@alexanderrabensteiner5207 It maxes out at 11 bar, when the water has no where to escape. But when the coffee puck provides the resistance, you can reach 9 bars instead, since liquid makes it through the barrier (coffee puck). Does that make sense? Cheers!
Can you please tell me if the manometer shows 9 bar we have 9 bar also on the portafilter or less? I want to install one and I am trying to find out how is working
Thank you so much. I installed a manometer and now I know how fine or coarse I have to grind coffee very easy. I hope you find a way to install a PID in Dedica some day so we might have a perfect little machine.
In this video, we look a how to install a Vibiemme manometer in the Delonghi Dedica espresso machine. Why would we like to do this? We want to know how much pressure we are extracting with. Join me, as I install this 40mm manomter and T piece in a Dedica EC680.
Parts list:
T Piece: www.landefeld.de/artikel/en/t-screw-connection-r-18-4x2mm-nickel-plated-brass/TE%20182%20MSV
Vibiemme Manometer: www.sf-ersatzteile.de/kaffeemaschinen-ersatzteile/vibiemme/vibiemme-chimaera/chimaera/manometer-pumpe-40mm-fuer-vibiemme
Reviews and Pricing of my daily Equipment here (The kit/geni.us links below lead to Amazon) ⬇:
DeLonghi Dedica EC685: geni.us/EC685
5 Great Accessories for the Dedica: kit.co/tomscoffeecorner/delonghi-dedica-kit
My tools: kit.co/tomscoffeecorner/tool-kit
(*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
🦋 TipJar (only if you feel inclined): paypal.me/tomscoffeecorner
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. Affiliate commissions help fund videos like this one.
Thanks for the video
Can we install manometer version which has also thermometer on it on delonghi ?!
Hi Tom, Great video with a lot of detail. After watching you put the lid back on I had the light bulb 💡 moment & thought I will do this mod but I am going to see if I can mount it in the lid in this way it would be easier to read on each espresso. Thinking about it now I may try to mount my dimmer where you put the gauge or possibly on the other side if it’s more ergonomic 🤔
I just realised there’s a nice spot just behind the steam valve.
Very nice mod! Can't believe this machine has so much potential! I think it'll be possible to make some kind of pressure profiling with the help of that gauge and the steam knob
11:32 the manometer pointer cheered with you!
Hi, :)
One other reaction about the bouncing needle, but I haven't found in comments the idea my uncompetent mind just had...
1- It looks like the manometer is doing just fine and has no erratic behavior until it reaches the sweet spot where it should stabilize. So I assume there's nothing wrong with it, and if it works well then it keeps working perfectly fine by accurately showing how unstable the water flow is. So let's concentrate on that part...
2- Water flow starts with the pump, and there are machines with this exact same pump + a manometer working smoothly. So maybe is it a defective one, but it looks like at that point you already did a good job in a previous video to make it work fine by changing a gasket. So I'll also assume there's nothing wrong with it.
3- Then it hits the OVP, and two things appears to me on that part...
A- Manometer gets crazy when pressure precisely hits the max the OVP should allow and it's the only part in the system that is supposed to deal with pressure at that precise phase.
B- Delonghi's OVP looks like crap. No high end espresso machine has such a cheaply build quality, and even plasticky OVP's used by other brands (like the Classic Pro) look way more straigth forward in their design, and are way more cleanly build. There are crappy stuffs able to work just fine, but within their range of application, and here no one expects it to work as well as a premium machine... it does what it is designed too : it makes good enough coffee for a cheap price.
So I wonder if, just like with the crappy Delonghi's steam wand, solution wouldn't be once again to just replace the whole thing by a better OVP.
Hmm, interesting observation. That might have some merit. The problem is, I have not found an OVP that will attach to Delonghi's piping system. They use a synthetic pipe, with brass fitting on the end, which must be thrust into the female end of a connector (OVP, T connector, heater, etc). Then it's held in place with a clip. If you find a better OPV which is compatible with this piping system, let me know!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Well amusingly enough I passed my night on that question (at least I can say the ECP's coffee is strong enough for that task XD) and found some possible solutions.
Through your site I sent you a link about one of them, which is insane... as it is an adjustable OPV with a range going from 6 bars up to 12. There are other options in the same (very little) shop, that is a gem based in Neetherlands by the way.
They got a UA-cam channel that is pretty hypnotic even though I don't understand a single word (big up to UA-cam's automatic translation...) : www.youtube.com/@d.r.trading8816
They got pleinty adaptators allowing to imagine whatever solution, and so far my main concern isn't the compatibility but the very tight volume offered by the ECP.
Also the OPV going above the Ulka pump is a 1/8 thread, and that's a perfect feat for most solutions. An other trouble though is that their products are so good and their prices so fair that it leaded me to recompose the entire layout. Adding a non-retour valve, a pulsor pump and so on ^^'
Hm "first" shot of the morning came with an other solution... opening a big window on the left part of ECP's back panel hiding the pump, then adding a box made of wood to make the rear space way more comfortable.
I got some nice walnut that could do the trick (black + inox + wood sounds nice too). It's a bunch of work but that would salve the space issue, and also it could have a door to reach the OPV to adjust it's pressure way easier than having to dismantle the whole thing each time I want to try a setting... and also facilitate repairs, mods etc.
OK... measure, measure, cut, glue...
(it's a lot of investment though, I feel good about it because the ECP is a great base thanks to its boiler, but I don't know if it would be worth the effort for the Dedica and its thermoblock)
That was very helpful, thank you. My DeLonghi has a pressure meter, but without numbers. It has also been damped so that you do not see the impulses in pressure produced by the vibratory pump which are clearly visible in your manometer. I wonder if those pressure pulses encourage channeling acting kinda like a jackhammer on concrete.
No
Certainly short duration pressure changes do not affect the flow rate much. @@Кирилл-я3в9б
Tom, you are really amazing 👏
Well I have to say, I got the idea for execution from reddit, and facebook. So I have to thank those forum members for that. 🤗
Thank you very much! Did it last weekend on my machine and it works pretty well!
Great to hear, Peter Pan! It's cool to have that feedback, isn't it?
Hello Tom
Thanks a lot for the video and the link for the spare part, I managed to install the manometre and I also upgraded the pump from EP5 to EX4 and replaced the OPV with a Saeco 9079A27 that allows me the control the pressure.
I have a big dilemma regarding the extraction pressure, we all agree it should be 9 bar at the group head, when I run the pump with an the porta filter and an empty decompressed basket I get around 3.5 bar at the gauge, I assume that this is the pressure loss due the three way valve spring.
My question to you and to the community is:
Should we extract at 9 bar reading at the gauge or at 9 bar + 3.5 bar = 12.5 bar ?
Hello there! Well that OPV looks nice in brass, and it seems to be one of the only mechanically compatible with the Dedica. Nevertheless, it was designed for superautomatic coffee machines, which have generally only 3-4 bars of pressure. It says on the description that it's for the Saeco Royale. www.northwestkitchenware.com/products/11024/saeco-pump-release-valve
Maybe you can fit it with a different spring?
Hi Tom
This OPV is actually adjustable without changing the spring, you just need to turn the hex nut on the top. I am very satisfied with it.
I managed to set it up to 9 bars and it is very easy to tune it as you don’t have to dismantle the whole pump module.
Oh wow that's awesome news. Where'd you buy it from? Maybe I should get one.@@walidessebaa5947
Is it still going good? I am interested on your setup? Does it worth it?
yes it is still working quite well, the only thing I changed was the T piece placement, I have it now on the hose between the group head and the steam wand so it does not disturb the water flow during the extraction.
Hi Tom,
i'd like to ask you if there is a solution to the rapid bouncing of the manometer needle.
thanks
Maybe just to use teflon tape on the joints...
I think the gauge needs to be liquid filled.
Wow, what an amazing video Tom! I admire and appreciate your work on this machine. If someone will get the Dedica to 90+ degrees and (stable there) on this earth, it will be you:-) Keep up the good work!
Anyone know where you can buy a suitable T piece in the UK? The link is from Germany and they cancelled my order as they are only able to process orders higher than 170 € and only orders from companies who have a valid EORI number (whatever that is). Seen ones on ebay but they don't have the pipe inserts so not sure they will hold pressure when you tighten them.
If anyone can help Mr. Hoggi, that would be nice. I can suggest to go to a local hardware store that deals with pneumatic parts, and ask them. They should be able to help. Cheers!
I find myself in the same situation, shipping is more expensive than materials.
Same here, very confused. None of the parts I find online in the UK seems to have the internal bit that fits the tube. Any news on this?
You are great! But I didn't like two things: how you sawed the edge to insert the pressure gauge and when you placed the copper coil very close to the faston connector of the boiler while it was running... Greetings from Italy..☺☺👍👍
Thanks for the tips! I have since isolated the copper coil better. I wanted to drill a hole big enough to flush mount the manometer, but could not find a 40mm metal bit. Cheers!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thank you! Your explanations have allowed me to fix an anomaly in my coffee machine and to optimize it.. I'm an electronic technician but I can't know everything.. there are several people on UA-cam but no one like you goes into the "technical details" to understand the origin of the fault. Thanks again..
Ich hab noch 2-3 Magnifica, glaube eine Cortina und eine Venezia (Venezia ohne ECO-Boilerabschaltung aber sehen gleich aus) .. Werd mal schauen ob sich da eine dazu eignet um so ein Manometer einzubauen.
I still have 2-3 Magnifica, I think a Cortina and a Venezia (Venezia without ECO boiler shutdown but they look the same)... Let's see if one is suitable for installing a pressure gauge like this.
I wonder if there is a way to make the dedica more temperature stable
I'd like to know, too! But part of the problem is bridging the distance between the thermoblock and grouphead.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Or could we start at a higher temperature so it deckine to 90 degrees at the grouphead?
@@TomsCoffeeCorner i thought about putting insulation on the hose from the thermoblock to the group head it cannot be too difficult 🤨 i am curious how much temperature drop actually happens there.
@@MrFishdrop I would be curious to know if anyone has tried this...
On lighter roasts I just press the steam button until it’s ready to steam then turn the machine off and on then pull my shot. The darker the roast from there I just release some steam accordingly and then pull the shot
Hi tom
Thanks for your great video
Order the parts and i did the same in the video but my pressure bar is 6 then i change valve and still the pressure bar is 6 can you help me on this 😢
Hmm, it could be that your OPV needs changing. Are there any bubbles coming up into your water tank while extracting? Are you sure there's no leaks anywhere, either?
Want to do similar with a Krups Novo 2100. Having trouble taking it apart sufficiently to do that
Hmm, I have never seen one of those. Can you find any other videos about it on YT?
Hey! Question. So I have all the parts and installed it the exact same as you did. Yet, the Gauge only goes to 2 bar. Tried another dedica, same thing. Wondering whether both have faulty pumps. Can’t imagine that being the case though because I’m getting decent shots with my bottomless portafilter at around 2:1 ratio within 30seconds on both 🤷🏽♂️ Thanks in advance for any suggestions/advice.
Hmm, not really sure. I would check all connections, and make sure there are no leaks. Which manometer did you use?
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Found the issue… it was me being an actual dumbo. I had my portafilter in, but never actually bothered to add ground coffee. So obviously it never was able to build any pressure. Feel like one of those people that complain to IT their keyboard doesn’t work even though it’s simply not plugged in. Fml
Tom. I’m in the states and just ordered that exact model. Where can we order that scale and gauge kit?
Hi there! I am afraid I got the connector and Vibiemme manometer in Germany and Hungary...I am not real sure where to get something similar.
BUT, you could see if you can find a Delonghi parts dealer, and get a T connection and a Manometer, from the La Specialista series....
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thank you. I misspoke on the Delonghi model I ordered. It’s the newest one the EC855M
Do you mean EC885?
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Yes.
Can you find us these parts but for USA
Sorry, but these are specialty parts, and I am not sure. Anyone else?
Tom, have you thought of trying this same mod on your Bambino?
No, I haven't. But the Bambino is quite a mess inside, with so many wires, and little space. I am not sure I want to do that. :)
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Fair enough! I installed a flow control on my Bambino and would love to install a gauge like this. Doe you think this same manometer and t piece would work? I guess it comes down to the tubing and if its the same size as the Dedica's.
@@jameswehrfritz7701 I don't recall exactly, but I think the hosing in the Dedica is smaller than the Bambino...
I'm so sorry but I was crying half of the video.
The manometer has a place in the back called a thread at which you can put a nut.
With a simple small hole, sized properly, you could have attached it in the front, and it could have been quite securely attached by just tightening the nut on the inside of the machine as the machine is made out of metal.
Also there are smaller and teflon three-ways that would allow much lower heat drop.
Also there are combined heat/ temperature senders that could transmit wirelessly to an external display.....
I will have to take a look and see what you mean. Thanks for your feedback. Cheers!
Hi, Tom! Thank you for the great video! Will try to do the same thing with my Dedica and then experiment with opv spring if needed :)
I heard about a simple dimmer modification, which enables a flow control for machines with ulka pump. Do you want to try this one yourself on Dedica? I believe, Lance Hedrick did a video about it for Bambino Plus
Hey there Aehnc. I did actually buy a dimmer, but I need a little time to figure out how it needs to be wired. I will look into that soon. Cheers! T
I would do other approach, like Bluetooth battery powered pressure sense, it's compact and doesn't have to do drilling and with phone app, you would get real time reading graph in pressure, on top of that, pair with bluetooth scale, that's more fun approach than this.
I know if I tried this...unit in the trash!
Zbytocnost
???
does that plastic tube resist at 9 bars? i wouldn't have thought so
Do you mean whether it can withstand 9 bar? Yes, even 11 bar actually.
I was about to do it and then I asked myself why... I like the coffee this Dedica makes.
Hi. What sense does it make to have a manometer to read the presure out of the boiler if you don't have a way (valve) to modify\adjust it?. Wasn't enough the test one you have already at the shower output?. It was the point to measure a clog at the filter? Love the chanel. Tks for it.
great... I will try it myself ... and I thought: why didn't you drill a whole at the front surface with the round diameter after the square element of th gauge - the copper pipe could have been stretched a bit, so that it could be fiddled through in circular movements etc. ? where there technical aspects I don't know?
Wow really good job very cool mod💯
Really well done Tom!! Just a doubt Are you using the 9 bar OPV mod or the original one?
I was just about to ask the same thing!!!
This has the original OPV, that tops out at 11 bars with the blind disc.
The 11 or 15 bar happens at the pressurised portafilter spring or output diameter, non pressurised pressure depend on grind size and basket design from factory
This so cool! I might try using a gauge with both pressure and temperature
excellent video. I was planning to do the same to my Dedica. My plan is to install a Pressure Transmitter on both lines (brewing and boiler), a temperature sensor and a Display screen that shows all 3 parameters. All sensors will be connected to an Arduino board and the readings will be shown on the screen. As a plus, I will try to create a simple APP for my mobile (just for the fun).
Wow, that sounds great, go for it! Then please post a video of it (even a short unedited video would be cool to see). 👍
@@TomsCoffeeCorner I will try to do a video of it :). I am just waiting for all the necessary parts to be delivered.
@@IvanSanchezDS I will be waiting!
any update for this mod?
@@IvanSanchezDS
We are waiting anxiously😉
Did the manometer/extra piping impact the pressure or temperature of the water coming out of the portafilter? Did you do a before/after comparison?
one thought or maybe question. doesn't this mod cause more temperature drop than before executing the mod? if there's a metal t-piece and a copper pipe to the manometer i'd guess that those parts suck away some temperature too? wouldn't it be smart to only insulate the hose and not to perform this mod? thanks to tom's work we know the brew pressure now. so is there any point in executing this mod on anybodies machine at home? i'm curious to here other opinions on this
Manometer's hose and the T adapter come way before the boiler and is kept between silicon tubes that are very bad at temp exchange. I don't see any reason why they would not stay at room temps without making any difference whatsoever to the boiler's heat.
Also if you want to put some insulation to optimize temps then you shouldn't care about this section but should put it around the boiler. It can make a massive improvement there, while around mano's system it would make none.
Fun video Tom. Just a suggestion. you need to buy yourself a 3D printer. While you were doing this I designed a housing for the manometer in my head. You can buy an inexpensive Creality Ender 3. 3d printed components are liberally sprinkled around my coffee bar. If you like to mod your stuff a 3D printer is almost mandatory. I Just bought a Ceado E5P off eBay and I've finished a slide that allows my bottomless La Spaz portafilter to be used on the grinder that was designed for only spouted portafilters.
Or you could send your 3d design off to a 3d printing service.
Thanks Paul, surely someday I will get one to experiment with. Cheers! -Tom
I live in the United States where the tee is not available. Additionally, I was turned off by its nickel plating. It's not certified for potable water. My machine is an EC860 (same group head as Dedica) and my goal was to reduce the system pressure to 100 psi by changing the OPV spring. I ended up using a John Guest PM100422S tee even though it's only rated for 150psi at 150Fahrenheit. Once the goal was achieved, I removed the tee/gauge assembly from the system and replaced the water line. I felt leaving it in there permanently was simply cosmetic, and had an unknown amount of risk since John Guest doesn't specify a max pressure for any temp higher than 150F. If the tee fails in a permanent installation, there may be significant risk of scalding burns or electric shock. I also need to mention that I spliced into the OTHER line coming off the group head to reduce heat-pressure stress on the tee. I wore protective equipment and had a safety kill switch for testing, and let the boiler cool to room temperature after every test/before changing springs. Please don't attempt any of this unless you have a thorough understanding of the principles involved and can do it safely. Please understand I am not advocating this. I am just telling you what I did. I'm a retired engineer and have significant experience with appliances. Just like Tom, I am not responsible for your safety. Any and all attempts to copy me will be at your own peril.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Can I ask what you used to reduce the pressure? Did you keep the original OPV and try different springs in it? 100 psi is about 7 bar - is that right? Cheers! Tom
@@TomsCoffeeCorner The OEM EC860 OPV disassembles quite easily. I've done it a dozen times without breaking any tabs. Make sure to hold it by the cap when popping the last tab and let the ceramic body fall onto a towel to avoid losing components. I used a shorter spring with a reduced wire diameter. I did not want to cut the OEM spring as the spring is sandwiched between plastic parts. If cut, it would place undue pressure on one spot on the plastic, causing it to creep over time. That creep in turn would reduce the system pressure but inconsistent performance is possible as well. To go below 7 bars, there is a second spring inside the group head operating a check valve which must be dealt with. It's purpose is to prevent water flowing though the group head while using the wand so there is a minimum value that must be maintained for safety's sake. The spring is accessed from above by removing the black plastic Y junction (two screws). Its design does allow a full turn to be cut off either end. I don't know if Dedica's have the exact same spring, as the EC860 has a separate steam boiler. The separate steam boiler design means I have almost zero pressure to the group head while using the wand, so the check valve threshold can be low. It appears that would not be the case with the Dedica (coincidentally the primary reason why I don't recommend leaving the plastic tee installed permanently). Can you tell me the max pressure you see on your gauge at any time while in steam mode? I would assume its with the steam valve closed.
@@hshooker5761 Thanks so much for that thorough reply! I didn't know the 860 had 2 heaters...I have never measured the group heat pressure while steaming. I am guessing I wouldn't get a reading, because no water comes out of the group head while steaming. There is another check valve in the brew group, so the pressure has to overcome that threshold, before water will come out. Again, thanks for your insights! Tom
So does this mod show a backup or increase in pressure if my grinds are to fine? Or does this simply display what pressure is coming from the pump?
Can it be used for ecp serious and Is it similar to install ?
Do you know how to do it on a breville duo temp pro
Attention the copper capillary of the pressure gauge is dangerously above the power supply of the boiler resistance which is 220 volts.
Attenzione il capillare in rame del manometro è pericolosamente sopra l'alimentazione della resistenza caldaia che è a 220 volt.
Thanks very much for your keen eye, Pippo! I am going to take this apart, and make sure the copper tubing is isolated from anything electrical. Cheers!
Why? What is an added value of this resourceful activity? As an electrical engineer I am always puzzled when people insist to get data they have no use of :)
I would argue that knowing the pressure is important to dialing in your shot, and also to run turbo shots if you like. Cheers!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner How can you adjust your pressure in a controlled way with Dedica?
Thx! I’m new in Delonghi, and trying to watch all your content!
Awesome! Thank you, and welcome!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner the flow control that I’m seeing in the comments, is there any video? 😬😁😁
The tee used here is nickel plated brass, and I don't think it's food safe. Stainless steel tee would be a better choice.
Usually, these types of fittings are brass - haven't seen much of anything in SS. It's not easy to find compatible parts for these small Delonghi lines. Do you have a link to a different tee? Cheers!
I wish I had the ability to take something like the "Gaggiuino Project" and apply it to my Dedica. At the least, monitoring temp and pressure on a small LCD screen (mounted on the side but wi-fi would be cool. ESP 32? ) would be pretty slick. Not sure what all could be borrowed 😁 from the Gaggiuino, but I'm guessing some of it could be "re-purposed."
I really like this idea. I've had my Dedica for more years than I can remember...at least 6-8. It's been a good machine. I have a decent grinder (Eureka Magnon ) and was about to buy a Gaggia Classic Pro to use with the Gaggiuino conversion. But after seeing this, it seems like there might be a bit of "DIY fun" left in the Dedica. A "Dedicuino," perhaps? 🙂
Hi Philip, the Dedica is a nice little machine. I think a dimmer would be an easy enough addition, but adding a PID in my opinion is going to be hard to do, due to lack of space. I also don't know how effective it is to get a proper temp probe on the thermoblock. The ECP3420 would probably lend itself better to a Gagguino type mod. But, I would be happy to be contradicted, if someone does this to the Dedica. It's all about experimenting, having fun, and drinking coffee. Cheers!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Hello, again....🙂 I'm gathering all the parts to build a Gaggiuino. What I'm doing is ordering both 6mm parts (for the Classic Pro that I'll buy within the next few months) along with 4mm parts that will fit the Dedica. I'm sure I can bypass (not use??) the stuff that won't work with the Dedica and see if it will (at least) show me the pressure and temps. I might not be able to control the temp but pressure control seems possible.
hello philips! any update on your Dedicuino mod.
@@khoakhoa201 It got tossed when I found a 25 year-old "Gaggia Espresso" for sale. I updated it with the Classic Pro grouphead and pressure release valve. And that was the end of the Dedicuino. 🙂
@@phillipzx3754 a classic look with new bone! sound great!
What a cool idea, thanks for the inspiration Tom! ☕
Bodgit & scarper comes to mind? why didn't you just undo the nut on the back of the gauge, cut the slot for the threaded part out of the gauge to fit, and tighten the nut, the job is done!
So this machine is discharging coffee already at 4 bar where with my ECP3420 i don't even see flow from the shower head below 7 -8 bar ! I wonder if the pressure control spring on the bottom of my boiler is too stiff ? Would b great if someone could give me feedback on that one .....
Do you have a video of it? If anything, the expansion valve under the brew group would be too soft, rather than too stiff, if it's coming out too early.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner No it wasn't coming out to early.... I removed the expansion valve from the bottom of the brew group and removed the pressure spring , i trimmed off the last coil and tweaked and sanded the last coil flat again , this shortened the spring without changing its rate (cutting active coils off a spring makes it stiffer and i didnt want that) , after reinstallation my discharge pressure from the shower head with no portafilter in place is now 4 bar , much closer to what your Dedica is doing @ 11:27
So yeah now i have a much wider pressure range that i can play with in terms of when flow through the coffee grinds actually begins.
Update; so my spring mod didnt keep pressure at 4 bar as it crept up to 5 so i also modded the screw in brass spring/shower screen retainer by filing down the spring seat face. now the machine starts water discharge from boiler at 4 bar consistently, i,m pretty disappointed that i had to that extensively mod this brand new machine that extensively to get a broader more useable discharge pressure range
If he had left the flap of metal there at a 90* angle he could hav tie-rapped the gauge to it to stabilize it
There’s probably some pressure loss due to the soft tubes
I would think maybe in the connections rather than the tubing, but I don't know for sure.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner I think you are right the soft tubes will only absorb transient pressure changes. Although the length, internal friction and bends will have some effect.
Hi Tom, thank you.
You look as if you've had a rough night.
I will put this into practice. Take care.
bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce ..... I keep wondering what would happen if you connected TWO vibration pumps in parallel, out of phase? (in those pumps is a diode, so if you swap the wires on one pump, it would just fire opposite the other, just wire them up in parallel, hose them up in parallel after the flowmeter and before the opv). I don't know how you would connect up the outputs because I don't know what parts you would use,, and it would be bulky,,, but maybe it would have a more stable pressure?
Hmm, interesting thought. I am guessing that the pressure would increase, and more water would flow through the OPV. But I don’t really know. Cheers!
I also pre ordered the bottomless portafilter and used your link for the larger basket.
Great Work. Im considering doing that also. Have you ever Heard about replace the pv with the Saeco 229452100 which reduces also the Pressure to 9 Bars?
Hmm, I don't know. I just did a google search on it, and it has a sticker that says 16-18 bar. Are you sure it reduces to 9 bar?
Здравствуйте, а можете такой на алиэкспресс показать есть в продаже или нет? А то через ваш сайт не удобно в свою страну показывать) и тройник тоже ссылку на алиэкспресс) заранее спасибо)
These are actually listed on german websites. I do not have an Aliexpress link. Cheers!
Wow, coolest masterclass from guru 👏 thanks
Well so it turns out the Dedica achieves good pressure with a depressurized filter. Spot on 9 bar with the original OPV, is that right?
Yes sir.
It could look nice to have it embedded on the top part. (Assuming you don't use (all) the space for cups).
Maybe one can borrow the drill or bring the top part to a workshop.
That's a great idea! I never thought of bringing it to a workshop. 40mm drill bits are quite uncommon otherwise. Cheers!
Great work! Was a very informative watch!
You can use little pieces of sandpaper to grip the hoses
Not a bad idea, thanks!
Any plans to install a 3 way solenoid?
No...I have the feeling the pucks knock out so nicely due to the lack of one.
He did it!
Tom...the "T" fittings I needed for my DeLongi "Dedicuino" arrived. $24 (for 2) shipped to me from your side of the ocean. I'm using one for the pressure sensor and the other for the thermocouple. For monitoring, I'm using "Home Assistant" with an ESP32. There's room inside the Dedica to place everything I need to monitor pressure (I'm just following you, except I used a pressure sensor rather than a gauge). The thermocouple being placed on the second "T" (rather than on the boiler) isn't ideal, but this is just for fun until I get a Classic Pro. Total cost so far (I had much of this stuff laying around) is under $40.
Anyhow, I can now measure the temperature and pressure (refreshed every half second) using an ESP32 with a MAX6675 and an ADS1115. Next thing will be to add the dimmer and SSR. It'll be a tight fit. 😅
Worst case... I'll only be able to make pretty graphs and charts of the temp and pressure in Home Assistant.
Sounds awesome! Can you make a video for us, when you have it installed?
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Not a problem. Mine won't be as nice looking as yours, so be forewarned. 😅 Some stuff, like the 3-way valve in the Gaggia, obviously can't be done with the Dedica. But since there's no feedback loop to tell the software otherwise, all I need to do is let it THINK it's operating the 3-way valve.
Those "T" fittings you recommended worked wonderfully. Tricky little things to get started, but sealed perfectly.
@@phillipzx3754 Great to hear, and I am looking forward to your results!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner I posted a (caution... quality is very crude) video on my UA-cam channel. It's not a serious channel. I use it for ham radio streaming and general goofing off.
Anyhow, it's on UA-cam under my ham radio callsign, "K7JBL." I'm waiting for the dimmer and SSR to arrive in the mail.
Surprisingly, that whole STM32 enclosure will fit inside and under the top lid! I had to grind down one of the two screws that hold the top metal and plastic together, but it fit.
I'm still toying with a few ideas on how to (cleanly) pass the wires up to the LCD display.
I really wish the author had used an ESP32 rather than an STM32. It would be so much easier to add into "Home Assistant."
You Are The Best!!
I wish you the best of luck
Thanks so much! Cheers!
does gauga handles water or air ?
This is the pressurized water. Cheers!
Why did you use a manometer with a capillary tube. It can cause lots of error in readings especially that everything is enclosed. Why not a straight connector? You get beat small t piece connector with small integrated pressure Guage which would have looked pretty cool installed in the front.
In any case great video. Maybe one with an inline temperature gauge? I don't see any videos about that and I think temperature readings while you pull a shot would be very advantages .
Hey Josh, most of these come with capillary tubes, including this one. There is not much space to work with either, so the coiled tube is nice for the flexibility. But thanks for the idea. Cheers!
thanks. I also have the dedica 685 and struggling terribly with sour shots, and have been since I bought it. Also bypass temperature with steam purge, got a non-presssurized basket, good fresh coffee. The lot and still sour. I think it is the temperature that cannot reach or is not stable. I also have a thermoocouple in the basket like you and although I start with very high temp(after steam purge) around 98/99/100 degrees, it soon falls to 85 before the end of the shot.that drop might not be good.I don't know.
@@fouriejosh Are you using medium roasted beans? Those are admittedly really hard to extract well. Darker beans are easier for sure.
But, when I did a temp probe over the whole extraction with the steam mode hack, it was a pretty steady 92 degrees in the basket. Cheers!
@11:18 "Title Text Here" 🙂
Ah shoot! That was supposed to say "Final Test". Good catch!
Wow, how did u manage to get it exactly at 9 bars, did u just shorten the original spring?
No, this is the original OVP. You will see in the video that while measuring before mounting, it maxed at 11-12 bars. But with coffee, it reaches 9 bars, as desired. Good thing to know! Cheers ☕️
@@TomsCoffeeCorner wow , just wow, default machine with default settings hits exactly 9 bars? You got so lucky with this machine. I can bet money mine goes way above 9 even without measuring it.
Cheers.
@@Gen_66 Hmm, I wouldn't be so sure about that. I just overhauled the pump too, so this should be pretty much like out of the box again. The pump is rated for 15 bar max, but the OPV opens around 11 bar max, and with coffee, it reaches as it seems 8-9 bar. At least these are my findings. Cheers!
Can you put a restriction knop with guage to control the flow
What do you mean? A dimmer? Sure you can do that.
@Tom's Coffee Corner yes like a dimmer but in your other video you already did it with different springs so thanks a lot Tom
Nice work Tom
Hi Tom new to your videos - excellent mod- I have the same setup as you, the eureka specialita grinder, I went ahead and order the parts here in the US, couldn’t find a all metal T valve, but managed with a polymer one with metal connector to the pressure gauge, i cut the machine with a dremel, was a breeze, I also was tempted to drill the 40mm hole and flush the gauge to the body of the machine… but at the end I think it worked out fine, keep those modification videos coming! I clocked in a 12 bar from my machine with the pressure gauge, the machine was used I bought off eBay a year ago,but I guess it was hardly used by the previous owner
Very cool, Samson! I'd like to see what this would look like flush mounted, but I thought this way is more plausible for most. Do you have a drill bit that large? 12 bar seems high - how long do your shots take? Cheers! Tom
Hi! Can you please share the link where you bought the parts for the mod? I really want to do this mod myself. Thanks!
Please how did you adjusting the shot pressure on this delonghi (9bars).?
It is just the backpressure created by the coffee puck. This is with an unmodded OPV. Cheers!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner tanks. Thats great ok. is this another to make 9bars without opv mod. Like modifing the spring of the pump or others.
@@قناتللمنوعات-ي8لA mod is not necessary. Cheer!
👍😀
Well done Tom👍
Hi Tom, I am looking into gauge mounting and I can get parts similar to what you propose but a gauge has no "spring" like connection but there is a short tube that connects gauge with t-connector. Do you think it changes anything or it should work fine?
To be honest, I am not that sure what the capillary tube is for. But I guess it serves a purpose. Perhaps it makes the reading more stable...
@@TomsCoffeeCorner that is also my only guess but I am going to give it a try since it is the only one available with domestic shipping in 1-2 days - once tested I will post there my feedback :)
Didnt make my test yet but found an article which says that capillary tube is for protecting a gauge from sudden pressure raise which can damage it. I think with vibration pump that Dedica has there is little risk for it since it builds pressure relatively slow. Though for rotation pumps it can be a different story and make much more sense to be kept.
@@oldgarnek Thanks for that info!
Another genius's video
Thanks!
Oh my god you legend
Hey Nabeel, this wasn't actually my idea, but rather I got the inspiration from a reddit post and facebook post. Cheers!
Salut à tous et à Tommm
J'adore votre tuning pour la Dedica😇
Thanks, Fethi! Are you going to try this mod? It's nice to see the pressure!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner
Bonjour Tom''s😇
Je préfère garder la Dedica en forme d'origine 😁 puisque je me suis contenter de voir votre modification et surtout quand vous nous avez fait une démonstration réelle de la pression de service qui n'attend jamais les 15 bars déclaré par DELONGHI 😳
@@fethiam755 I think it is good to keep it stock, in case you ever resell it. Plus, as you mentioned, you can now see what pressure it really operates at. Cheers Fethi!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner
Mr Tom's
Don't forget:
You are the best👍😎
Колхоз 🤦♂️
?
@@TomsCoffeeCorner не красиво, может можно найти маленький манометр
I would do other approach, like Bluetooth battery powered pressure sense, it's compact and doesn't have to do drilling and with phone app, you would get real time reading graph in pressure, on top of that, pair with bluetooth scale, that's more fun approach than this.
cool idea. do you have a recommendation?
yeah I'm interested, too.
Hi Tom, thanks a lot for your manometer mod video on the Delonghi Dedica. After watching it took some weeks to decide to try it by myself. But I combined it with Lance Hedrik‘s dimmer mod of Gaggia Classic Pro. I improved both mods in a way that both things are fully integrated in the Dedica‘s body.
It took me some hours of work and lots of beads of sweat…. but now I can play with the pump pressure, which gives me much better results in taste and fun. If it was possible, I would share some pictures or a video.
Thanks again and greetings from Hamburg,
Gustav
Hey Gustav! Wow, that is great news! How did you get the manometer flush with the housing, and how did you mount the dimmer? I am thinking of doing the dimmer next. But, there is so little space to fit anything else inside. If you look at my "about me" part of my channel, you will find my email address. Feel free to send a pic if you like.
Congratulations on your mods!
Tom
Hi Gustav, sehr sehr cooles Projekt. Ich spiele aktuell mit dem gleichen Gedanken und wollte auch ein Manometer plus einen Dimmer einbauen. Welche Teile hast du denn dabei verwendet? Würde mich über Tipps von deiner Seite freuen :)
@@alexanderrabensteiner5207 Moin Alexander, danke!
Ich kann dir gerne Infos bzgl der Teile schicken. Allerdings bin ich noch bis Sonntagabend unterwegs. Wenn ich wieder zuhaus am Rechner bin, kann ich es dir raussuchen. Kann dir auch gerne ein zwei Fotos schicken, dann siehst Du, wie ich die Teile eingebaut habe. Kannst mir ja mal deine Mailadresse schicken.
Falls ichs vergesse, schreib ruhig nochmal.
Viele Grüße,
Gustav
@@alexanderrabensteiner5207 Hi Alexander, hast Du meine Mail bekommen?
I would do other approach, like Bluetooth battery powered pressure sense, it's compact and doesn't have to do drilling and with phone app, you would get real time reading graph in pressure, on top of that, pair with bluetooth scale, that's more fun approach than this.
The dedica case is made from steel so not sure if a sensor inside the machine would communicate with a phone, better to test with any other devise you have before buying a bluetooth sensor
That sounds interesting. Do you have a link for one?
Amazing video Tom! I am wondering whether this 9 bar pressure is achieved with the original spring of dedica? If yes, does that mean no spring modification is requiered for non-pressurized coffee extraction?
Hey Saeed, yes this is my OPV unmodified machine. So it turns out that the max pressure (with the portafilter manometer) is 11 bar, but a coffee puck apparently only provides 9 bar of pressure. Cheers! Tom
@@TomsCoffeeCorner sorry if my questions seems stupid, but i dont understand the fact that you measured 11 bars but the coffeepuck only provides 9bar? I am currently thinking about modifying my Dedica with a Manometer, probably a Dimmer and I would also like to install a temperature meter just to track tge brewing process and to be aware of the numbers. Love your videos btw, really really interesting insights! A big thumbs up!
@@alexanderrabensteiner5207 It maxes out at 11 bar, when the water has no where to escape. But when the coffee puck provides the resistance, you can reach 9 bars instead, since liquid makes it through the barrier (coffee puck). Does that make sense? Cheers!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner hi Tom, thanks for your explanation. Now it makes sense. Best regards
Can you please tell me if the manometer shows 9 bar we have 9 bar also on the portafilter or less? I want to install one and I am trying to find out how is working
It's an in-line manometer, so yes if it shows 9 bar, then that is what you get, +/-0.5 bar tolerance.
Thank you so much. I installed a manometer and now I know how fine or coarse I have to grind coffee very easy. I hope you find a way to install a PID in Dedica some day so we might have a perfect little machine.