Hi Lance, it's great that you're covering the Dedica. I am sure a lot of people will benefit from that, especially if you cover it in modified configuration. Oh, and thanks for the shout out - I do appreciate it! - Blooming: I always learn something from your videos. I hadn't thought about stopping the Dedica to let the puck bloom before. Will have to give that a shot. - Dual walled baskets: Delonghi used to make their pressurized baskets as welded dual walled, but since have switched to the gasket models, since their welded double walls were clogging, and people couldn't clean them. Now they can. - Smeg: I see the Smeg at a lot of boutique shops in Europe. You're right, it's just an expensive Dedica, but some people love the look. - Solis: I like the Solis. I took it apart, and it uses much more robust brass parts than does the Delonghi or Sage. I am not really sure why it is not more internationally known, but I think they are doing a marketing push, and I see them recently having entered the North American market. Maybe they'll get more popular now.
Good that DeLonghi changed it, I took mine apart and put it back together with just the screen and gasket so I have open basket. Pack the puck hard, step up to real flavor. The pressurized portafilters ruin the flavor imho.
You’re a sinner by using curse words. If you choose to continue to sin you’re also choosing to spend eternity in a bottomless pit filled with fire and sulfur and other souls that chose to not believe in the only person who can save souls. he saved my physical life. after a Sever brain injury and my severe physical and mental disability. you’re choosing to be a sinner as is Putin and the leaders of the Belarusians Chinese North Koreans Iranians Syrians Hungarians, Rapists. God helped save me after my brain was swelling up and there at the first hospital out of three in coma they removed the top front part of my skull for a few months
Tom is amazing for us budget conscious people. I have used his videos to help friends who had a smaller budget than myself and I'm back helping another friend shop now so I'm checking out all your new videos and he's a bit overwhelmed with how many I've shared with him 😂
For 25€ I bought a used "broken" Dedica and I have just fixed it changing 5€ ptfe hose. Now it's time to start with mods and my journey in the espresso world! Looking forward to watching your follow-up video :)
I like my Dedica so much I now buy used ones to clean up and sell. Almost always have at least six. Most people that get rid of them do so because they use heavy mineral water with no filter and freak out when the light for descaling comes on. Switching to bottomless portafilter and single walled baskets make a huge difference. A good grinder makes a huge difference.
I started not more than a few months ago with a Dedica. Very quickly realised I wanted to have more to play with and get deeper into coffee and espresso. I then moved on to a second hand 2007 Rancilio Silvia which I PID'd not long after, added a Niche Zero and have never looked back. The Dedica still lives in my work place office and is a great starter. I converted it's portafilter to a bottomless with a dremel. Tom was a huge help with everything Dedica. Small footprint too.
Thanks for the video. I have used a Dedica for about 4 years. It is way better than Nespresso and coffee is cheaper. Now, a few weeks ago I was able to upgrade to the Gaggia Classic Pro. After the 4th espresso I made I had had the best espresso I have ever had. No kidding. So the Gaggia is the next step in my coffee journey. My end will be a Cremina. Can’t wait to discover my next machine.
You must get a proper tamper. You need a decent grinder which truly does make a huge difference. What they say about the pressurized baskets is true. Not great. But they do come in handy if you have older coffee beans or can’t quite grind fine enough for some reason. But spend some money on a grinder. My Dedica had its pump go bad right after warranty ended. Luckily Cerrini in the Bronx fixed it for $100. The Gaggia is great actually but you need a good tamper and good grinder. Another thing is to get good coffee beans. Illy whole beans are really good to start. But try a roaster for some good arabica. Beans are really important. I caution you that this is a hobby like any other and it is easy to get caught up. But it is a lot cheaper than being an audiophile. 😂
loved the info and the topic. I wasn't big on having music clips randomly and replying the same section but thats really just a personal taste thing. Thanks for the useful and informative video boss
I’ve had the Solis Perfetta Plus for less than a week and am happy with its quality. This is my first espresso machine so there’s a bit of a learning curve. I did, however, pull a sublime shot this morning, and was delighted. Still haven’t nailed the steamed milk, but did use the “half then a quarter” method that Lance taught in another video. I’ll have to revisit that vid - I know my trouble has to do with where I’m placing the tip. I’m really looking forward to the next video about retrofitting these devices. I’m already thinking of getting a bottomless portafilter, an IMS basket, and a puck screen, but I’m not sure if a standard 54mm portafilter will work - how do I which ones are interchangeable? Finding Lance’s channel has been a gift, and just at the right time. I’ve gobbled up his reviews on espresso grinders and am considering the Baratza Sette 30. I’d prefer the 270, but the price point of the 30 is more in my range. Right now I’m using a Timemore C3 hand grinder, and I’m pretty sure neither of the two espresso settings is doing me any favors. I need more range. When it’s said that espresso at home is a hobby, they ain’t kiddin’. I can’t believe how challenging it is and how obsessed I am with my quest for a delicious shot, not to mention collecting all the gear necessary for meeting that quest.😮
Lance, I heavily modified my Dedica, I achieved stable 9 bar pressure using a voltage regulator, also, I use a bottomless portafilter, ims basket and shower screen, a membrane regulator to make the pump quieter, aaannnd, installed a steam pipe from a dedica arte. Now I'm way into adding a pid temperature control over the thermocoil.
As a Delonghi owner, my experience went from this: 1. Didn't know a thing, just wanted espresso 2. Learnt more, regrettet my purchase, but persisted 3. Learnt more, actually loving the machine It has its quirks, but with a naked portafilter and WDT (sprinkle some paper filters in there), and you can get some pretty great shots. Removing the panarello to reveal the silicone spout gives you a (albeit short) proper steam wand; unfortunately no steam control besides ON/OFF. In my honest opinion, the Delonghi Dedica is a fantastic starter, and if you're a tinkerer, it actually has some pretty decent modding capabilities. I've seen people do something like the Gagguino, some install a dimmer mod, and so on. Personally, I'm more attracted to more manual machines, and I have this idea that I could probably replace the logic board with an arduino, and make a basically fully custom Delonghi Dedica with full manual control. Just need a few more tools for that to happen, though. Some mods are: - Adjustable OPV - Rancilio Steam wand - Manometer - Dimmer mod (there are two types, one that controls how much electricity [?] the pump gets, and one that adjusts the on/off-ness of the pump) And a whole world of 3D printable tools. Edit: Heard IMS. There are IMS shower screens and baskets for the Delonghi, so those are a nice edition too. ;)
Identical experience. Came to say that I modded it with Rancilio wand, Saeco adjustable OPV valve, an additional diaphragm valve to try to even the output pressure (I'm not entirely sure its really worth it), a pressure gauge and a needle valve to try to mimic flow "profiling" (it's just ok, probably the dimmer mod is easier and as much convenient and useful if not more). And yes indeed, recently IMS showed some love for dedica. A metal mesh filter to put on top of the puck is a cheap and nice addition for a bit of better water distribution and cleanliness of the shower screen (especially since it doesn't have a solenoid valve)
How do you get the silicone wand to work without the panerello? Whenever I've tried to remove the panaerello the silicone wand always shot off into my milk. That aside, I've been loving my Dedica, it performs well, looks good, and the size means it fits in a student studio flat's kitchenette without issue.
This video couldn't have come at a better time. My brother is looking for a budget espresso machine cause he wants to get rid of his Nespresso pods. He's a smart dude. It feels like every time I'm looking to buy something your video, that's relative to exactly what I'm looking for, appears on my feed. It happens so often that I refuse to believe it's a coincidence.
Great video . Have used previously Bambino+ and now a Solis perfetta owner. I absolutely love my machine . I would rate it better than bambino coz steaming performance is much better and the pressure gauge helps a lot with dialing in. I haven’t done any mod other than naked filter and IMS baskets. I get very consistent results very happy with my Solis.
And yeah Lance missed that Solis ALSO is PiD controlled and has three settings , Low Med High . I get very consistent temp after the first shot . First shot needed to warm up the internals
Great video Lance. I have had Solis for 2 years now and been very happy with performance after switching to IMS filler and IMS shower screen. Can't wait for your Dimmer mod video as I have been wanting to do that to Solis for a while but have not been able to find a good guide online.
Does it steam the milk well? I have been struggling with mine…I always end up with too much foam or not enough because I just can’t figure out the timing. I just want to make a latte with a basic heart but I can’t get it 😢. Do you mind letting me know exactly how you do it? Like how much milk, how long you froth for before dipping the steam wand deeper into the milk to whirlpool, what angle do you hold the milk jug while whirlpooling, etc?! I just can’t get it 😢
I have to say, you've got an amusing taste in music to pair with coffee! I have a Dedica EC685, bought secondhand for $50 Australian Dollars, which came with a knock-out box and jug. It was a great deal. After a week, I stumbled upon a Gaggia Classic Pro 2019, so I bought it as well. Now, I have both the Dedica and the Gaggia, along with a strong desire to enhance my coffee skills. Great video, by the way! I also follow Tom; he's fantastic! Thanks for sharing with us.
Finally a legit review of the Solis! Thanks for putting it out there. I tried the dimmer mod on it a while back but didn't quite get it right so I'm looking forward to your follow up video, "Dimmer Mod for the Solis for Dummies" video. Also interested in knowing what you would consider the next step up from the Solis. My Solis does everything I want it to but am curious what the upgrade path would be if I wanted to step up my game.
@@FunkyLoiso I'd be interested in seeing how you did that. Is there a way you can post it somewhere or tell me on this thread how you did it? Also interested in your feedback on the mod. Totally worth it and you use it all the time or not so much?
I’m poor and I really can’t afford to buy a new machine. I inherited my dad’s dedica, and I’m amazed at the shots I’m pulling from that thing. Five years old and doesn’t seem to be stopping. Also, mine came with pressurized and unpressurized baskets (as well as a couple water filters).
I have been using the dedica for 3 years now, 2 years with grinder and bottomless portafilter. New tamper, WDT-tool and the shots turn out pretty decent. I think it is a great way to start once upgraded a bit. Small footprint and fast heat-up. Only problem is that even with an upgraded basket 15g of coffee is the max. it can hold, but maybe some people like the smaller 30ml shots. Great video!
Also a dosing Ring is helpfull bc of the small diameter. And if you are a bit handy you can cut the bottom of the portafiler and add a basket from Greaf. -> Graef 145722
@@matz4k I have an 18g basket in a bottomless portafilter; there are larger ones from IMS. If you're in Europe, Barista-Essentials sell bottomless portafilters (18g basket included) for the dedica, among other tools.
I am a user of the Solis Barista Perfetta Plus for the past year and I stand by it. I have also been in close collaboration with Solis and I applaud their efforts in working with IMS, Eureka and even Brita!
Does it steam the milk well? I have been struggling with mine…I always end up with too much foam or not enough because I just can’t figure out the timing. I just want to make a latte with a basic heart but I can’t get it 😢. Do you mind letting me know exactly how you do it? Like how much milk, how long you froth for before dipping the steam wand deeper into the milk to whirlpool, what angle do you hold the milk jug while whirlpooling, etc?! I just can’t get it 😢
@@bbd1254 150ml milk in a 12 oz pitcher (flat top only, angled tops don’t fit), steam wand pushed down a little bit (not fully pulled out), add air for ~6 thumps of thermoblock, then raise pitcher and incorporate foam until hot (140-150F). Rest your right hand on the counter to hold up the pitcher and control its height.
For one of my "mods" of Dedica, I have used LEGO bricks and double tape and added a simple scale instead of a drip tray, and it looks like it was always there. For 50 bucks you can conveniently measure both time and weight of your shot and have a slick design upgrade. In my opinion, with IMS 51mm basket, changed steam wound and this Black Mirror scale our Dedica can easily execute a recipe giving a delicious drink with silky milk. BTW (Installing a scale takes 5 minutes and no tools, and it is always detachable if you need a drip tray or a toler drink;-)
Solis Barista Perfetta owner here, thanks for reviewing this machine! I've had it for almost a year now and made quite a few mods. Really surprised there were pretty much no info or honest reviews online on this machine. Some of my thoughts: 1. The grouphead is badly designed, under the shower screen there is only one hole for water to come out, and the jet makes a dent in the puck. I added a plastic triangle to fight that and also I use a puck screen; 2. The machine does have an over pressure valve, that's what the second hole in the tank is connected to. But it is set at factory to maximum pressure and never actuates. You can dial it, the screw is under output hose inside the tube; 3. I've made a dimmer mod for this machine thanks to your old video 🤗. Inline dimmers designed for desk lamps are much more handy than wall dimmers; 4. Despite having a decent grinder (DF64), doing WDT, having freshly roasted coffee, IMS basket, using scales and good water I still (a whole year into the hobby!) usually get unpleasant kind of astringent espresso 🤔, which is a sign of channeling I guess. Or maybe something wrong with temperature stability (I use highest temperature setting). Anyway, thanks for the video, looking forward for the followup one with the mods! Your expertise will greatly help entry users like me!
Does it steam the milk well? I have been struggling with mine…I always end up with too much foam or not enough because I just can’t figure out the timing. I just want to make a latte with a basic heart but I can’t get it 😢. Do you mind letting me know exactly how you do it? Like how much milk, how long you froth for before dipping the steam wand deeper into the milk to whirlpool, what angle do you hold the milk jug while whirlpooling, etc?! I just can’t get it 😢
The “dent” in the puck is made by the solenoid sucking out water at the end of the shot. There’s no hole while you’re pulling a shot, and you don’t need a puck screen.
Awesome review, Lance!❤ My Debica is now a Frankenstein with a dimmer, manometer, steam wand, shower screen, bottomless portafilter and an IMS competition basket. Overall, Im getting awesome results and my only complaint is steam pressure and the fact that after steaming milk you need to cool off the machine a bit. Oh yes, and of course, its only 51mm but Aliexpress have plenty of acceptable accessories! P.S. my grinder is decent, its a Eureka Mignon, so that massively helps getting good coffee from my Debica!
@@whoami724y You need to lower your dose based on grind size and coffee roast level if you want to use something like a puck screen. I used to dose 16g and moved to 15.5 after adding 1mm puck screen on top of the coffee puck. Make sure to warm it as well before brewing so it does not lower your temps. As for the shower screen of the machine, I would also say it’s worth upgrading, as it helps (alongside the puck screen below) distributing water better over your coffee, and improves extraction.
@@ffsolutions9442 Oops my bad, what i meant is if the IMS basket upgrade worth it or not, because i use a bottomless portafilter with an unbranded 51mm basket, and it bent outwards. I think its because my machine pressure is high or my grind size is too fine causing too much restriction. I wonder if using IMS basket can help me fix that problem because i feel like the unbranded 51mm basket is too thin on the bottom part Edit: If you wanna test it out, try laying the basket on a flat surface. I had tested mine new vs old, the new one lays flat and the old one has this curve on the bottom that is visible
@@whoami724y keep in mind most baskets bend under pressure. Even if you buy a $200 one. Lance Hendrick has a great video on this matter too. My machine is dimmed so I control pressure, and I preinfuse at 4 bar and extract at 8-9 bar, mostly sticking to 8 bars on the manometer (pressure gauge). So the IMS basket might help extraction, but it will still bend if you push 14 bar at it (they do that even at 9 bar), but that’s normal. Again, check Lance’s video on the subject. :)
I have the Solis, and it really does just what I want from my occasional espresso draws. I got mine from Ebay, so I didn't get all the accessories, but I was happy with what I got. Allowed me to select my own accessories. Gotta say, I'm very happy with it.
Does it steam the milk well? I have been struggling with mine…I always end up with too much foam or not enough because I just can’t figure out the timing. I just want to make a latte with a basic heart but I can’t get it 😢. Do you mind letting me know exactly how you do it? Like how much milk, how long you froth for before dipping the steam wand deeper into the milk to whirlpool, what angle do you hold the milk jug while whirlpooling, etc?! I just can’t get it 😢
@@bbd1254 I don't actually use milk, preferring heavy whipping cream. And it does do a tolerable job of it, but it's probably going to be close to yours in that you have to time it right. Have you tried heating up the milk first? Like a minute or so in the microwave? Seems to help when I do use milk instead of cream.
In the UK we can get the Delonghi with a real steam wand (from the La Specialista) and it comes with a metal tamper. Bottomless portafilter, IMS basket, 1Zpresso J-Max hand grinder, and WDT, great, reliable shots. Being able to adjust temperature and the benefit of an, admittedly fixed, pre infusion makes the Dedica a great buy.
10:08: manometer. Huge. Add a cheap electronic thermometer with a remote sensor that you stick on the brew thermoblock, and then add a dimmer for flow control, and you’re in better shape than you’d be with a Gaggia Classic. That is, until you count the overall build quality.
The Solis does have an OPV and a solenoid. The OPV static pressure can be modified by turning a screw to change the spring tension and get to the desired pressure. I’ve done it on mine and it works very well.
There is some discussion that the 15 bar setting is for the pressurized baskets. What is the pressure on your reduced pressure machine with a pressurized basket? My stock machine shows max of 6 bars.
@@garyn7067the OPV just limits the max pressure basically if yours is only hitting 6 bar it could be due to not grinding fine enough. I don't think the machine is smart enough to detect if your using a pressurized or regular basket.
@@BensCoffeeRants Thanks for the tip. I will try it with a finer grind. I did not think a pressurized basket was sensitive to grind level. But it makes sense, to go finer to get the pressure up to 9 bars. I thought I had it dialed in, but maybe not. Yes there is nothing to tell the machine what kind of basket is in the portafilter.
The Dedica can make surprisingly good espresso if you use a proper portafilter..I use naked portafilter, cheap WDT proper 51 mm tamper and shower screen..and the espresso is actually good
Just got a Dedica and I‘m already amazed with it. I did get a naked portafilter and precision basket and that improved things hugely, never got anywhere with the pressurised basket. I do find the steam wand to be totally OK for cappucinos, when I am actually patient enough to make one 😅. Fun fact: I get the best espresso out of here with decaf beans, it‘s seriously lovely 😂
using the dedica with an 25€ after-marked open basket (think its the same you used) and mesh screen works surprisingly well. combined with an ~100€ grinder it gets me better espresso than most average cafes here in germany, guess thats a "good enough" for the investment :D
Nice video, thanks! I am very curious about the Kitchenaid espresso machine, it has a 58mm portafilter and a proper steam wand. And it is even cheaper then some of these in the video.
Hi Lance, thanks for the video. It’s interesting that you mentioned Tom’s coffee corner. In one of the videos he made with the Delonghi Dedica, he compares it to the ECP 3420 (ECP 35.31 in Europe) also from Delonghi. In his opinion, this one achieves better results than the Dedica. Both machines are in the same price range. I find it strange than no one among the youtube big names in the coffee word, besides Tom, has taken note of this machine! I personally would love to know (the opportunity presenting it self) what are you thoughts and sincere opinion about the Delonghi ECP 3420. (Tom’s coffee corner video title: Delonghi's Best Budget Home Espresso Machines: Stilosa vs Dedica vs ECP 3420) 🇵🇹
I have no comparison to the dedica, but I have that ECP 35.31 and I am really happy with the coffee! New tamper, new portafilter and a good hand grinder make some wonderfil espresso in my opinion. With the silicone steam wand (the outer tubing removed) you can easily get great milk foam and I prefer my Cappuccino to pretty much every coffee shop's. I especially like that the group head is heated
Love this video! Can you do a video on "How to dial in decaf espresso". I figured it behaves differently than normal beans.. cant find out where the issue is :(
Second that on a decaf beans vid! FWIW, I‘m no expert but I‘ve been using Lavazza (blue packaging) decaf beans ground on a K6 set to 40, plus bottomless portafilter with 51 mm precision basket and am getting great shots out of the Dedica. The decaf beans actually seem more consistent in quality than the real beans tbh. I wonder if it‘s because these Lavazza beans are a pretty dark roast.
Great video! Most probably the portafilter on the SMEG is heavier compared to the Dedica because it's based on / reused from another Delonghi model - I had an old model with same functionality but double the width and the baskets and portafilter were the same as these you show on the SMEG. When I got the new one - the Dedica, I initially thought it's a downgrade as the portafilter was perceived as 3x lighter and aluminium like feeling than heavier metal. As with everything, you get used to it and it's working just fine.
I'm gonna get a Dedica soon, but got nice bottomless portafilter for it already. And looking into it, turns out that it is also compatible with the SMEG, so it all makes sense now. The SMEG is literally a Dedica with new clothes, and I can't believe it is THAT expensive in comparison.
Lance, I love your videos but I think you should take cheap machines and pressurized portafilters more seriously. 1) Pressurized really does make producing a decent shot a LOT easier. I spent years in the world of semi-high-end espresso dialing in grind and tamp, and I grew to hate wasting time and throwing away not-quite-perfectly ground coffee and bad shots. Aiming for the God Shot is like playing golf -- it is a sport and sometimes a frustrating one. And as I grew older, I didn't want coffee to be a sport, I just wanted a decent cup when I woke up without a lot of drama. 2) Cheap machines can perform really well and higher price isn't necessarily better. For example, the very cheapest DeLonghi models (such as Stilosa) just happen to have an actual steel boiler (not a thermoblock) located right above the portafilter, so the whole group gets nice and hot, which as you know is huge. The Dedica which you review here is not designed that way, so it takes longer to warm up and brewing temp is not ideal. 3) DeLonghi's newer pressurized design -- I was skeptical at first but it's actually well thought out. The whole problem with double-wall is that they're uncleanable, and if you drink a lot of coffee you have to basically throw them away every few months when they start to clog. Delonghi's use of silicone gasket allows them to have a removable top layer of steel so you can open up and clean the thing and eliminate clogging. Anyway, thanks for all that you do. I really think there is value for some people in thinking espresso the way most Italians do. They want a consistent, fast, easy excellent coffee but they have no interest in spending a lot of money or time. Americans can be perfectionists, kind of obsessed. Italians just want to drink their shot and go hang out with their friends. So pressurized portafilter -- which allows you to get maybe 90% of the way to perfection with no drama -- has value for them; the remaining 10% of the way to the perfect shot does not interest them.
As a presentation note, I wasn't particularly fond of the very short musical stingers, but I liked them a lot more when they went on longer. When they were very short, they were kind of jarring. Otherwise, this is a fun video. I love seeing how it's possible to make decent coffee without spending a tonne.
Thanks for the video and I'm looking forward to your modification series for these machines :) What I like about Dedica and Delonghi in general, that it's easy to modify and you can mix and match different parts from different models. haha My first mod was better steam wand (it was not from other Delonghi machine, but seems like it's possible to install their no-burn wand from some of their high-class machines with some modifications). Then I've installed 3-ways coffee outlet from their Specialista model, it fits perfectly, but I was needed to stretch the spring a little bit 😅 But that was the easiest way for me to add pressure sensor that I'm going to connect to my Arduino.
DeLonghi machines are nice! I picked one up to use while I was modding my Gaggia, and was pleasantly surprised! I don’t use steamed milk anyway, so that’s not an issue for me 💕
Can you make a video with sage bambino for lighter roasts?
9 місяців тому
10:12 they don't have solenoid valves, but they most definitely have opv valves. They're set to about 14-16 bar. Recently I just modified (cut) the spring in the opv of my Dedica and now I get around 9-10 bar.
I just saw a review of the Miicoffee Apex on the Coffee Chronicler. Amazing for the price, but not available when I started looking. Good to see the industry moving things like PID, solenoids, 58mm portafilters, and more down the price scale. Reviews like this that help newbies get started are a public service. Thanks!
Thanks! Great videos! about those plastic inners (11:52) I believe it's whenever the portafilter is made of aluminum rather then stainless-steel they have to put the plastic from healthy reasons
Took me seven months of leaving a Stilosa on 24/7 and abusing it to burn it up. Still steams fine, use it for a second boiler. Easy to mod, heated group. Should be durable with anything approaching reasonable care.
Hello Lance! Its not related to this video, but I consider you THE coffee expert, the depth you dive in your selected topics is unmatched, I would love your input on coffee machine maintenance, descale or not to descale, I'm going in 2.5 years on my Bianca and I'm at cross road not knowing which road to choose. Best wishes!
There are several/many videos on maintenance. My take is: water: I use a FILTERED water, to filter out "stuff" that is in the city water pipes, from going into the boiler. Stuff like sand, and dirt. Take off and look at your faucet aerator, and you can see what kind of stuff is in your city water. More so if your machine does NOT have a filter. I use a Britta filtered pitcher. descaling: if you have lime deposits on your faucet, you DO need to descale, and more often, so you don't get lime buildup inside the boiler. If you do not have lime on your faucet, I don't know what time increment to use. Luckily, I don't have lime deposits, so I descale about 4-6 months. As I descale, I watch the water coming out of the machine, to look for pieces of lime. If I see any lime, I would do another descale cycle, until I don't see any coming out. Then maybe reduce the time to the next descale. If I see no lime, I might increase the time to the next descale. group head: You should clean the top of the shower screen and the group head. Taste from that coffee residue will affect your coffee. I would start with once a month; then see how dirty the top of the shower screen is, to increase or decrease the cleaning interval. Example: - If you do light roast, and only one single shot a day, you may clean on a 4 month interval. - If you do dark roast and 4 double shots a day, you may have to clean on 1 month interval. So YOU have to see how dirty the top of YOUR shower screen gets, then adjust your cleaning interval to match. > After 2.5 years, I would guess that you NEED to clean your shower screen. > The Solis has a 3-way solenoid and can do a back-flush, so you don't have to remove the screen. And better that you don't remove the screen anyway, as the group head of the Solis is made of plastic, NOT metal. IOW you can strip the plastic group head, if you over tighten the screw. It was a bummer to discover that the Solis group head was made of plastic. Group head gasket: If the gasket is damaged enough it will leak and have to be replaced. - I wipe the top of my portafilter before mounting, to prevent grinding coffee grounds into the group head gasket and damaging it. - Clean the group head gasket daily, to prevent accumulated coffee grounds from damaging the gasket when you lock down the portafilter. Just give it a quick brush with the head brush. And maybe weekly check it visually to see if it needs more cleaning. Water tank: Check your tank. Depending on where your machine is and how much sunlight hits it, you could get algae growing in the tank. YUK So you have to clean accordingly. Shield the tank with an opaque material, to reduce the sunlight hitting the water tank. Grinder: Like the group head. Amount and darkness of the coffee affects how fast the burrs will get clogged. On my timed grinder, if the weight of the output drops significantly, that tells me the burrs are getting clogged and needs to be cleaned.
@@garyn7067 Hello Gary, first of all, thank you very much, for your devoted time and detailed tips and techniques you are using to maintain your machine, I believe they will be usefull not only to me. Before getting in to coffee I watched many videos, I knew in what I'm getting in to, and I take care of my machine, I filter water with Brita filter + my machine has water softener in the tank. I check brew screen regularly, use caffize when needed. But there are conflicting opinions about descaling, there's a video on "Wired Gourmet" channel, talking about possible damage to stainless steel boiler and need for re-pasivation. On some descaling videos you can see blueish colored water coming out and some point out that copper is now exposed etc. So I'm trully confused what to do. I dont have any problems at the moment, heat up time is fast, though steamed milk sometimes leaves dried taste in the mouth. How long you've been using your machine? Did you noticed anything bad or side effects from descaling?
@@audriusa7005 Used my first machine (Saeco/Starbucks) for over 8 years. I never noticed a color in the water when I descaled. Colored water might be due to minerals in the water that crystalized with the lime. That is just a guess, since I don't have highly mineralized water.
@@audriusa7005 Well at least on my machine, I had no visible negative effects in that time. Unless someone actually disassembles their machine and OPENS the boiler to inspect the inside of the boiler, I would treat what they say with a grain of salt.
Had a Dedica for the last 8 years, great machine, just sold it because recently acquired a Barista impress, I was a bit sad though to see the Dedica leave... But I guess someone else is happy pulling some good shots from it.
There's a few Dedica versions, and Smeg is the oldest one - EC680 from 2013. Yours is EC685, newer version, with a switch on panarello ("hot milk" mode closes a hole on top so there's much less hard foam), new baskets with removable bottom (which is very helpful if you clogged them with a too fine grind), and an additional drip insert under the tray. There's also 785 which has a pitcher and a usable tamper, and 885 which also has a good regular cool touch steam wand instead of panarello. And also there's new Maestro versions, which looks a lot like Bambino and Bambino plus, but temperature sensor for autosteaming is on the steamer, not in the tray, which looks extremely weird Also, there's a limited D&G version of Smeg, which looks even crazier (still, same old Delonghi parts and plastic)
As for the mods - I've put EP4R pump in my Dedica: it has 8-10 bars peak pressure (replacement itself is pretty straightforward, but mushroom valve over the grouphead requires a bit of tinkering, i've stopped at 180 ml/minute on open grouphead), and the machine became much more predictable and consistent. The pump was something around 15$.
I picked up a Casabrew which I think is identical to the Dedica but with some a Solis features, for cheaper than both. Very happy with the results so far, but a naked Portafilter is def required.
Thanks for the video Lance! I might try a blooming shot on my DeLonghi EC155, seeing as you mention the lack of solenoid allows for that. I've been having very little luck with the 'fake' pre-infusion (turning on the steam then pump), so maybe this'll be better.
I've got the e series delonghi it like a couple steps up from that one. It was really nice after a steamwand upgrade. I've upgraded to a gaggia evo now, and PiD moded it. I'm really happy with it
For years I used the krups XP 40 or something, now that I know a bit more about coffee I can tell it was pretty good for what it was, self tamping, left a dry puck, no option for unpressurized basket , which was a bummer
I’m a big fan of DeLonghi, but I don’t use the Dedica. I actually use the EC155 and I have it modded with a Rancillio Steam wand and a different portafilter with an IMS basket. Really great setup for cheaper than any of these. Plus, a real boiler! That’s the main reason I love it so much! I’m not a big fan of the Thermoblocks, even though they have a lot to offer in terms of usability and features.
I took the plunge this morning and ordered the Dedica Arte EC885M for $250. A friend has it and loves it. I did my research though. The Bambino lost out for it's cheaper conponents, but the Bambino Plus was of interest. It's $500 though.
Lance, great video! Like always. I'm two years into my espresso (well, honestly cappuccino) journey and although I'm not buying something new in the near future, I'm kind of lost WHAT to buy and WHERE to go. My setup is a Baratza Encore ESP Grinder and a Sage Barista Pro (with IMS shower and basket). Your "no buyer's remorse" video made me think. My wife and I do enjoy medium to lighter medium roasts and Arabica waaaay more than Robusta, as far as the coffees go we tried over the two years. I can't really complain either, since my coffee at home is indeed close to the ones we get at the roastery. So, I don't know. I heard a lot of negative comments on Sage/Breville machines and since it's now two years old, I expect it to fail every second :D But I'm really lost, when it comes to the question "what to buy", if I want to taste a real and big difference. The Lelit Mara X, for example, is a really pretty machine, but misses some features, my Barista Pro has, but costs nearly double. I guess a better grinder would benefit me the most. In short. I would really love to see a video from you (or if that's already out there, please send the link) or just a good conversation here in the comments, about upgrading. Like: "Your setup looks like this, here are good options, what to buy, to really taste a difference." A guide to help us take our equipment from beginner to intermediate or enthusiast. Thanks for reading this. Keep up the awesome work
Thanks for this comparison! It's hard to see which wand is better when I swear you coukd get good milk texture with a super soaker 😂 Appreciate the entry level stuff as well as the high end videos. Great vid as always
At this pricepoint IMHO the pressurised basket does a better job. Might just be my subjective view but you need a much better boiler/pump to get the advantage of the non-pressurised basket. If you want to go non-pressurised get something like the Gaggia classic or the Racnilio Silvia.
Is there a reason you didn't go for the updated Dedica? The 885 has a better steam wand, a better quality milk pitcher and comes with a real tamper. You'd still ned a different portafilter or mod the stock one to fit a real basket. Where I live it's like a 30 bucks difference which is worth it for the wand alone in my opinion.
I'm stunned that not one, but TWO of the brands in this video could have names that were so ill-thought-out. The "soul-less" and the "smeg[ma]"??? Wow.
I really hope Lance is working on a (near) plastic free coffee maker with Breville. I was about to buy the Bambino Plus but that plastic group head really bothered me. Why can't they make the components that touch hot water be made out of metal? I realize that some don't care, but there's a sizable number of people wishing for "minimal plastic" coffee makers.
Thanks for the video. I new around here and i am searching for Delonghi and Smeg espresso machines , I guess I prefer the Delonghi with my purchase. ☺️
I was really lucky getting a Sage Bambino for super cheap (180 euros) during a deal to start experimenting with espressos / lattes. Still can't do proper latte art though 🤣Lance makes it look so easy it's crazy.
I have a 100€ silvercrest machine and with a few aftermarket things, such as non-presurised baskets, a good tamper and the 51mm umikot by elmoserafa, I can make really nice espresso. The only thing that would make me upgrade is if some machine could pull more consistent shots
I literally went from Nespresso (and an Aeropress for pourovers) to a Delonghi and yes, the difference is huge. Nespresso is basically instant coffee served as a shot.
@@mikesrandomchannel I have been using my Nespresso machine for years, and aside from the fact that it’s quick and easy, and froths great, I am unimpressed with the taste, and continually always end up getting my lattes from Starbucks. Your answer definitely makes sense. Looks like it’s time to invest in a Delonghi!
I had the Dedica for 4 months Used a naked portafilter and managed to froth decent milk for latte art.All of a sudden,the coffee started coming out very watery,no body,no crema at all.Also when purging the steamer prior to frothing,the water was enough to fill half a glass of water! Took it to the service,they returned it to me unrepaired.I cannot use it anymore😢
I'm looking for the cheapest "real and good espresso" package to recommend to friends when asked. Right now I's recommend the Dedica 885 (better steam wand) but with the addition of a new handle and basket(s). Combined with a Timemore hand grinder, you might stay under €350. After a year or two. upgrading to an electric grinder will up your game. And finally - if you stay enthusiastic about coffee - treat yourself with a nice machine. There seems to be a new combo machine from Breville (not on the Sage site yet), the "Siganture". With build in grinder (yikes), that comes with a digital grind size display (say whaaat?). If Breville has improved their game, as they usually do, this might be the perfect entry package…
Hi Lance, it's great that you're covering the Dedica. I am sure a lot of people will benefit from that, especially if you cover it in modified configuration.
Oh, and thanks for the shout out - I do appreciate it!
- Blooming: I always learn something from your videos. I hadn't thought about stopping the Dedica to let the puck bloom before. Will have to give that a shot.
- Dual walled baskets: Delonghi used to make their pressurized baskets as welded dual walled, but since have switched to the gasket models, since their welded double walls were clogging, and people couldn't clean them. Now they can.
- Smeg: I see the Smeg at a lot of boutique shops in Europe. You're right, it's just an expensive Dedica, but some people love the look.
- Solis: I like the Solis. I took it apart, and it uses much more robust brass parts than does the Delonghi or Sage. I am not really sure why it is not more internationally known, but I think they are doing a marketing push, and I see them recently having entered the North American market. Maybe they'll get more popular now.
Hi Tom!
Love that he gave you a shout out. Love your channel Tom. Helped me a lot with figuring out the dedica given to me! Tom you are the best! 🎉
Good that DeLonghi changed it, I took mine apart and put it back together with just the screen and gasket so I have open basket. Pack the puck hard, step up to real flavor. The pressurized portafilters ruin the flavor imho.
Love yah Tom! Keep the videos coming!
We love you Tom!
Dedica user here. The fact that you got to steam milk with the stock wand means I can't bitch about steaming milk with a less powered machine LOL
You’re a sinner by using curse words. If you choose to continue to sin you’re also choosing to spend eternity in a bottomless pit filled with fire and sulfur and other souls that chose to not believe in the only person who can save souls. he saved my physical life. after a Sever brain injury and my severe physical and mental disability. you’re choosing to be a sinner as is Putin and the leaders of the Belarusians Chinese North Koreans Iranians Syrians Hungarians, Rapists. God helped save me after my brain was swelling up and there at the first hospital out of three in coma they removed the top front part of my skull for a few months
i was shocked during that part... man i really suck then
Tom is amazing for us budget conscious people. I have used his videos to help friends who had a smaller budget than myself and I'm back helping another friend shop now so I'm checking out all your new videos and he's a bit overwhelmed with how many I've shared with him 😂
For 25€ I bought a used "broken" Dedica and I have just fixed it changing 5€ ptfe hose. Now it's time to start with mods and my journey in the espresso world!
Looking forward to watching your follow-up video :)
I like my Dedica so much I now buy used ones to clean up and sell. Almost always have at least six. Most people that get rid of them do so because they use heavy mineral water with no filter and freak out when the light for descaling comes on. Switching to bottomless portafilter and single walled baskets make a huge difference. A good grinder makes a huge difference.
I started not more than a few months ago with a Dedica. Very quickly realised I wanted to have more to play with and get deeper into coffee and espresso. I then moved on to a second hand 2007 Rancilio Silvia which I PID'd not long after, added a Niche Zero and have never looked back. The Dedica still lives in my work place office and is a great starter. I converted it's portafilter to a bottomless with a dremel. Tom was a huge help with everything Dedica. Small footprint too.
Thanks for the video. I have used a Dedica for about 4 years. It is way better than Nespresso and coffee is cheaper. Now, a few weeks ago I was able to upgrade to the Gaggia Classic Pro. After the 4th espresso I made I had had the best espresso I have ever had. No kidding. So the Gaggia is the next step in my coffee journey. My end will be a Cremina. Can’t wait to discover my next machine.
Do you need other equipment for dedica and gaggia or is the machine enough ?
You must get a proper tamper. You need a decent grinder which truly does make a huge difference. What they say about the pressurized baskets is true. Not great. But they do come in handy if you have older coffee beans or can’t quite grind fine enough for some reason. But spend some money on a grinder. My Dedica had its pump go bad right after warranty ended. Luckily Cerrini in the Bronx fixed it for $100. The Gaggia is great actually but you need a good tamper and good grinder. Another thing is to get good coffee beans. Illy whole beans are really good to start. But try a roaster for some good arabica. Beans are really important. I caution you that this is a hobby like any other and it is easy to get caught up. But it is a lot cheaper than being an audiophile. 😂
loved the info and the topic.
I wasn't big on having music clips randomly and replying the same section but thats really just a personal taste thing.
Thanks for the useful and informative video boss
I’ve had the Solis Perfetta Plus for less than a week and am happy with its quality. This is my first espresso machine so there’s a bit of a learning curve. I did, however, pull a sublime shot this morning, and was delighted. Still haven’t nailed the steamed milk, but did use the “half then a quarter” method that Lance taught in another video. I’ll have to revisit that vid - I know my trouble has to do with where I’m placing the tip.
I’m really looking forward to the next video about retrofitting these devices. I’m already thinking of getting a bottomless portafilter, an IMS basket, and a puck screen, but I’m not sure if a standard 54mm portafilter will work - how do I which ones are interchangeable?
Finding Lance’s channel has been a gift, and just at the right time. I’ve gobbled up his reviews on espresso grinders and am considering the Baratza Sette 30. I’d prefer the 270, but the price point of the 30 is more in my range. Right now I’m using a Timemore C3 hand grinder, and I’m pretty sure neither of the two espresso settings is doing me any favors. I need more range.
When it’s said that espresso at home is a hobby, they ain’t kiddin’. I can’t believe how challenging it is and how obsessed I am with my quest for a delicious shot, not to mention collecting all the gear necessary for meeting that quest.😮
The DeLonghi Dedica has never disappointed me. I believe this machine is the definition of value for money 🙂
I completely agree! I bought a bottomless portafilter, a real basket and a tamper for my Dedica, and i love it! 🙂
its garbage
@@petervansan1054 real helpful comment for someone trying to buy one of these. Care to explain why it's garbage?
Lance, I heavily modified my Dedica, I achieved stable 9 bar pressure using a voltage regulator, also, I use a bottomless portafilter, ims basket and shower screen, a membrane regulator to make the pump quieter, aaannnd, installed a steam pipe from a dedica arte. Now I'm way into adding a pid temperature control over the thermocoil.
What does the voltage regulator do?
Isn't the thermocoil already pid regulated?
@ as a matter of a fact, no. The thermocoil in the Dedica as far as I know doesn't even have a thermocouple
As a Delonghi owner, my experience went from this:
1. Didn't know a thing, just wanted espresso
2. Learnt more, regrettet my purchase, but persisted
3. Learnt more, actually loving the machine
It has its quirks, but with a naked portafilter and WDT (sprinkle some paper filters in there), and you can get some pretty great shots.
Removing the panarello to reveal the silicone spout gives you a (albeit short) proper steam wand; unfortunately no steam control besides ON/OFF.
In my honest opinion, the Delonghi Dedica is a fantastic starter, and if you're a tinkerer, it actually has some pretty decent modding capabilities. I've seen people do something like the Gagguino, some install a dimmer mod, and so on. Personally, I'm more attracted to more manual machines, and I have this idea that I could probably replace the logic board with an arduino, and make a basically fully custom Delonghi Dedica with full manual control. Just need a few more tools for that to happen, though.
Some mods are:
- Adjustable OPV
- Rancilio Steam wand
- Manometer
- Dimmer mod (there are two types, one that controls how much electricity [?] the pump gets, and one that adjusts the on/off-ness of the pump)
And a whole world of 3D printable tools.
Edit: Heard IMS. There are IMS shower screens and baskets for the Delonghi, so those are a nice edition too. ;)
Identical experience.
Came to say that I modded it with Rancilio wand, Saeco adjustable OPV valve, an additional diaphragm valve to try to even the output pressure (I'm not entirely sure its really worth it), a pressure gauge and a needle valve to try to mimic flow "profiling" (it's just ok, probably the dimmer mod is easier and as much convenient and useful if not more).
And yes indeed, recently IMS showed some love for dedica.
A metal mesh filter to put on top of the puck is a cheap and nice addition for a bit of better water distribution and cleanliness of the shower screen (especially since it doesn't have a solenoid valve)
How do you get the silicone wand to work without the panerello? Whenever I've tried to remove the panaerello the silicone wand always shot off into my milk. That aside, I've been loving my Dedica, it performs well, looks good, and the size means it fits in a student studio flat's kitchenette without issue.
@@camjkermanlock it in place with a small cable tie. You can see this in one of the Tom’s Coffee Corner Videos
As another user said, I just followed these instrucions: ua-cam.com/video/aQqeI2kJZJ4/v-deo.htmlsi=tvXmccREGyPXniEn
@@camjkerman I got an aftermarket steam wand where you basically replace the stock wand cover with another cover. No need to disassemble or anything.
This video couldn't have come at a better time. My brother is looking for a budget espresso machine cause he wants to get rid of his Nespresso pods. He's a smart dude. It feels like every time I'm looking to buy something your video, that's relative to exactly what I'm looking for, appears on my feed. It happens so often that I refuse to believe it's a coincidence.
Great video .
Have used previously Bambino+ and now a Solis perfetta owner.
I absolutely love my machine .
I would rate it better than bambino coz steaming performance is much better and the pressure gauge helps a lot with dialing in.
I haven’t done any mod other than naked filter and IMS baskets. I get very consistent results very happy with my Solis.
And the accessories are way better quality. Bambino feels consumer to me and the Solis feels prosumer.
And yeah Lance missed that Solis ALSO is PiD controlled and has three settings , Low Med High .
I get very consistent temp after the first shot . First shot needed to warm up the internals
Great video Lance. I have had Solis for 2 years now and been very happy with performance after switching to IMS filler and IMS shower screen. Can't wait for your Dimmer mod video as I have been wanting to do that to Solis for a while but have not been able to find a good guide online.
Does it steam the milk well? I have been struggling with mine…I always end up with too much foam or not enough because I just can’t figure out the timing. I just want to make a latte with a basic heart but I can’t get it 😢.
Do you mind letting me know exactly how you do it? Like how much milk, how long you froth for before dipping the steam wand deeper into the milk to whirlpool, what angle do you hold the milk jug while whirlpooling, etc?! I just can’t get it 😢
I have to say, you've got an amusing taste in music to pair with coffee!
I have a Dedica EC685, bought secondhand for $50 Australian Dollars, which came with a knock-out box and jug. It was a great deal. After a week, I stumbled upon a Gaggia Classic Pro 2019, so I bought it as well. Now, I have both the Dedica and the Gaggia, along with a strong desire to enhance my coffee skills.
Great video, by the way! I also follow Tom; he's fantastic! Thanks for sharing with us.
Finally a legit review of the Solis! Thanks for putting it out there. I tried the dimmer mod on it a while back but didn't quite get it right so I'm looking forward to your follow up video, "Dimmer Mod for the Solis for Dummies" video. Also interested in knowing what you would consider the next step up from the Solis. My Solis does everything I want it to but am curious what the upgrade path would be if I wanted to step up my game.
Hi! I've successfully made a dimmer mod for Solis Barista Perfetta, so maybe I could help you figure it out
@@FunkyLoiso I'd be interested in seeing how you did that. Is there a way you can post it somewhere or tell me on this thread how you did it? Also interested in your feedback on the mod. Totally worth it and you use it all the time or not so much?
@@FunkyLoisoI would love to know as well.Just got the Solis and would love to make this mod
I’m poor and I really can’t afford to buy a new machine. I inherited my dad’s dedica, and I’m amazed at the shots I’m pulling from that thing. Five years old and doesn’t seem to be stopping. Also, mine came with pressurized and unpressurized baskets (as well as a couple water filters).
I have been using the dedica for 3 years now, 2 years with grinder and bottomless portafilter. New tamper, WDT-tool and the shots turn out pretty decent. I think it is a great way to start once upgraded a bit. Small footprint and fast heat-up. Only problem is that even with an upgraded basket 15g of coffee is the max. it can hold, but maybe some people like the smaller 30ml shots.
Great video!
Also a dosing Ring is helpfull bc of the small diameter. And if you are a bit handy you can cut the bottom of the portafiler and add a basket from Greaf. -> Graef 145722
My solution for the basket problem is getting an aftermarket bottomless portafilter
are there deeper 51mm ones? How much does yours hold? @@ShinSuperSaiyajin
@@matz4k 18g-20g
@@matz4k I have an 18g basket in a bottomless portafilter; there are larger ones from IMS. If you're in Europe, Barista-Essentials sell bottomless portafilters (18g basket included) for the dedica, among other tools.
I am a user of the Solis Barista Perfetta Plus for the past year and I stand by it. I have also been in close collaboration with Solis and I applaud their efforts in working with IMS, Eureka and even Brita!
Does it steam the milk well? I have been struggling with mine…I always end up with too much foam or not enough because I just can’t figure out the timing. I just want to make a latte with a basic heart but I can’t get it 😢.
Do you mind letting me know exactly how you do it? Like how much milk, how long you froth for before dipping the steam wand deeper into the milk to whirlpool, what angle do you hold the milk jug while whirlpooling, etc?! I just can’t get it 😢
@@bbd1254 150ml milk in a 12 oz pitcher (flat top only, angled tops don’t fit), steam wand pushed down a little bit (not fully pulled out), add air for ~6 thumps of thermoblock, then raise pitcher and incorporate foam until hot (140-150F). Rest your right hand on the counter to hold up the pitcher and control its height.
@@iconindexsymbol thank you so much for this info!!!
For one of my "mods" of Dedica, I have used LEGO bricks and double tape and added a simple scale instead of a drip tray, and it looks like it was always there. For 50 bucks you can conveniently measure both time and weight of your shot and have a slick design upgrade. In my opinion, with IMS 51mm basket, changed steam wound and this Black Mirror scale our Dedica can easily execute a recipe giving a delicious drink with silky milk. BTW (Installing a scale takes 5 minutes and no tools, and it is always detachable if you need a drip tray or a toler drink;-)
The Perfetta has a 3 setting PID control & an OPV buried deep in the machine (not easily adjustable)
correct - so it has same feature as Bambino +; but you need to dig out the info in the manual :)
Solis Barista Perfetta owner here, thanks for reviewing this machine!
I've had it for almost a year now and made quite a few mods. Really surprised there were pretty much no info or honest reviews online on this machine. Some of my thoughts:
1. The grouphead is badly designed, under the shower screen there is only one hole for water to come out, and the jet makes a dent in the puck. I added a plastic triangle to fight that and also I use a puck screen;
2. The machine does have an over pressure valve, that's what the second hole in the tank is connected to. But it is set at factory to maximum pressure and never actuates. You can dial it, the screw is under output hose inside the tube;
3. I've made a dimmer mod for this machine thanks to your old video 🤗. Inline dimmers designed for desk lamps are much more handy than wall dimmers;
4. Despite having a decent grinder (DF64), doing WDT, having freshly roasted coffee, IMS basket, using scales and good water I still (a whole year into the hobby!) usually get unpleasant kind of astringent espresso 🤔, which is a sign of channeling I guess. Or maybe something wrong with temperature stability (I use highest temperature setting).
Anyway, thanks for the video, looking forward for the followup one with the mods! Your expertise will greatly help entry users like me!
Does it steam the milk well? I have been struggling with mine…I always end up with too much foam or not enough because I just can’t figure out the timing. I just want to make a latte with a basic heart but I can’t get it 😢.
Do you mind letting me know exactly how you do it? Like how much milk, how long you froth for before dipping the steam wand deeper into the milk to whirlpool, what angle do you hold the milk jug while whirlpooling, etc?! I just can’t get it 😢
The “dent” in the puck is made by the solenoid sucking out water at the end of the shot. There’s no hole while you’re pulling a shot, and you don’t need a puck screen.
Awesome review, Lance!❤
My Debica is now a Frankenstein with a dimmer, manometer, steam wand, shower screen, bottomless portafilter and an IMS competition basket. Overall, Im getting awesome results and my only complaint is steam pressure and the fact that after steaming milk you need to cool off the machine a bit. Oh yes, and of course, its only 51mm but Aliexpress have plenty of acceptable accessories! P.S. my grinder is decent, its a Eureka Mignon, so that massively helps getting good coffee from my Debica!
Is the filter upgrade worth it? I have only used cheap unbranded 51mm filter and they get distorted / bent outwards everytime
@@whoami724y You need to lower your dose based on grind size and coffee roast level if you want to use something like a puck screen. I used to dose 16g and moved to 15.5 after adding 1mm puck screen on top of the coffee puck. Make sure to warm it as well before brewing so it does not lower your temps. As for the shower screen of the machine, I would also say it’s worth upgrading, as it helps (alongside the puck screen below) distributing water better over your coffee, and improves extraction.
@@ffsolutions9442 Oops my bad, what i meant is if the IMS basket upgrade worth it or not, because i use a bottomless portafilter with an unbranded 51mm basket, and it bent outwards. I think its because my machine pressure is high or my grind size is too fine causing too much restriction. I wonder if using IMS basket can help me fix that problem because i feel like the unbranded 51mm basket is too thin on the bottom part
Edit:
If you wanna test it out, try laying the basket on a flat surface. I had tested mine new vs old, the new one lays flat and the old one has this curve on the bottom that is visible
@@ffsolutions9442 also i recommend you check out MHW 3Bomber puck screen, its really thin and doesn't distort!
@@whoami724y keep in mind most baskets bend under pressure. Even if you buy a $200 one. Lance Hendrick has a great video on this matter too. My machine is dimmed so I control pressure, and I preinfuse at 4 bar and extract at 8-9 bar, mostly sticking to 8 bars on the manometer (pressure gauge). So the IMS basket might help extraction, but it will still bend if you push 14 bar at it (they do that even at 9 bar), but that’s normal. Again, check Lance’s video on the subject. :)
I have the Solis, and it really does just what I want from my occasional espresso draws. I got mine from Ebay, so I didn't get all the accessories, but I was happy with what I got. Allowed me to select my own accessories. Gotta say, I'm very happy with it.
Does it steam the milk well? I have been struggling with mine…I always end up with too much foam or not enough because I just can’t figure out the timing. I just want to make a latte with a basic heart but I can’t get it 😢.
Do you mind letting me know exactly how you do it? Like how much milk, how long you froth for before dipping the steam wand deeper into the milk to whirlpool, what angle do you hold the milk jug while whirlpooling, etc?! I just can’t get it 😢
@@bbd1254 I don't actually use milk, preferring heavy whipping cream. And it does do a tolerable job of it, but it's probably going to be close to yours in that you have to time it right.
Have you tried heating up the milk first? Like a minute or so in the microwave? Seems to help when I do use milk instead of cream.
In the UK we can get the Delonghi with a real steam wand (from the La Specialista) and it comes with a metal tamper. Bottomless portafilter, IMS basket, 1Zpresso J-Max hand grinder, and WDT, great, reliable shots. Being able to adjust temperature and the benefit of an, admittedly fixed, pre infusion makes the Dedica a great buy.
10:08: manometer. Huge. Add a cheap electronic thermometer with a remote sensor that you stick on the brew thermoblock, and then add a dimmer for flow control, and you’re in better shape than you’d be with a Gaggia Classic. That is, until you count the overall build quality.
The Solis does have an OPV and a solenoid. The OPV static pressure can be modified by turning a screw to change the spring tension and get to the desired pressure. I’ve done it on mine and it works very well.
I said it has a solenoid. The OPV if there doesn't kick in on mine.
@@LanceHedrick Maybe it just comes set to 15 bar!
There is some discussion that the 15 bar setting is for the pressurized baskets.
What is the pressure on your reduced pressure machine with a pressurized basket? My stock machine shows max of 6 bars.
@@garyn7067the OPV just limits the max pressure basically if yours is only hitting 6 bar it could be due to not grinding fine enough. I don't think the machine is smart enough to detect if your using a pressurized or regular basket.
@@BensCoffeeRants Thanks for the tip. I will try it with a finer grind. I did not think a pressurized basket was sensitive to grind level. But it makes sense, to go finer to get the pressure up to 9 bars. I thought I had it dialed in, but maybe not.
Yes there is nothing to tell the machine what kind of basket is in the portafilter.
As a Perfetta owner, I'm looking forward to the next video!
The numerous filter basket sizes is hilarious. I wonder what the history and lack of an industry standard (besides the 58mm) is?
Right now there's a sell for the SOlis Barista Perfetta Plus at 199$ which is a pretty hard offer to beat!
The Dedica can make surprisingly good espresso if you use a proper portafilter..I use naked portafilter, cheap WDT proper 51 mm tamper and shower screen..and the espresso is actually good
Just got a Dedica and I‘m already amazed with it. I did get a naked portafilter and precision basket and that improved things hugely, never got anywhere with the pressurised basket. I do find the steam wand to be totally OK for cappucinos, when I am actually patient enough to make one 😅. Fun fact: I get the best espresso out of here with decaf beans, it‘s seriously lovely 😂
I started with a Dedica and now am the proud owner of a Silvia Pro X. But I gifted the Dedica to a friend who now is very happy with it.
using the dedica with an 25€ after-marked open basket (think its the same you used) and mesh screen works surprisingly well. combined with an ~100€ grinder it gets me better espresso than most average cafes here in germany, guess thats a "good enough" for the investment :D
I must say. Early in your UA-cam career, you broke no rules. Now, you are just having fun breaking them and I love to see it
Weird to include the expensive Solis, but not the Arte which comes with a better tamper, and has a few other minor upgrades over the OG Dedica.
Open box Perfettas are 199 at SCG so that might help with value calculation for folks on a budget
That's how I got mine. It had a small dent on the drip tray, but functioned flawlessly!
Did that “second part” video with the upgrades on this machines ever came out?
Love your attitude. Thanks again.
Nice video, thanks! I am very curious about the Kitchenaid espresso machine, it has a 58mm portafilter and a proper steam wand. And it is even cheaper then some of these in the video.
Hi Lance, thanks for the video. It’s interesting that you mentioned Tom’s coffee corner. In one of the videos he made with the Delonghi Dedica, he compares it to the ECP 3420 (ECP 35.31 in Europe) also from Delonghi. In his opinion, this one achieves better results than the Dedica. Both machines are in the same price range.
I find it strange than no one among the youtube big names in the coffee word, besides Tom, has taken note of this machine! I personally would love to know (the opportunity presenting it self) what are you thoughts and sincere opinion about the Delonghi ECP 3420.
(Tom’s coffee corner video title: Delonghi's Best Budget Home Espresso Machines: Stilosa vs Dedica vs ECP 3420)
🇵🇹
I'd love to see Lance do a video on that model.
I have no comparison to the dedica, but I have that ECP 35.31 and I am really happy with the coffee! New tamper, new portafilter and a good hand grinder make some wonderfil espresso in my opinion. With the silicone steam wand (the outer tubing removed) you can easily get great milk foam and I prefer my Cappuccino to pretty much every coffee shop's. I especially like that the group head is heated
Love this video!
Can you do a video on "How to dial in decaf espresso". I figured it behaves differently than normal beans.. cant find out where the issue is :(
Second that on a decaf beans vid! FWIW, I‘m no expert but I‘ve been using Lavazza (blue packaging) decaf beans ground on a K6 set to 40, plus bottomless portafilter with 51 mm precision basket and am getting great shots out of the Dedica. The decaf beans actually seem more consistent in quality than the real beans tbh. I wonder if it‘s because these Lavazza beans are a pretty dark roast.
Great video! Most probably the portafilter on the SMEG is heavier compared to the Dedica because it's based on / reused from another Delonghi model - I had an old model with same functionality but double the width and the baskets and portafilter were the same as these you show on the SMEG. When I got the new one - the Dedica, I initially thought it's a downgrade as the portafilter was perceived as 3x lighter and aluminium like feeling than heavier metal. As with everything, you get used to it and it's working just fine.
I'm gonna get a Dedica soon, but got nice bottomless portafilter for it already. And looking into it, turns out that it is also compatible with the SMEG, so it all makes sense now. The SMEG is literally a Dedica with new clothes, and I can't believe it is THAT expensive in comparison.
Immediately hype to learn more about the Solis!
I picked up a delongi ECP3630 for $50 on Facebook marketplace for my super budget set up. Great video Lance!!!
Lance, I love your videos but I think you should take cheap machines and pressurized portafilters more seriously.
1) Pressurized really does make producing a decent shot a LOT easier. I spent years in the world of semi-high-end espresso dialing in grind and tamp, and I grew to hate wasting time and throwing away not-quite-perfectly ground coffee and bad shots. Aiming for the God Shot is like playing golf -- it is a sport and sometimes a frustrating one. And as I grew older, I didn't want coffee to be a sport, I just wanted a decent cup when I woke up without a lot of drama.
2) Cheap machines can perform really well and higher price isn't necessarily better. For example, the very cheapest DeLonghi models (such as Stilosa) just happen to have an actual steel boiler (not a thermoblock) located right above the portafilter, so the whole group gets nice and hot, which as you know is huge. The Dedica which you review here is not designed that way, so it takes longer to warm up and brewing temp is not ideal.
3) DeLonghi's newer pressurized design -- I was skeptical at first but it's actually well thought out. The whole problem with double-wall is that they're uncleanable, and if you drink a lot of coffee you have to basically throw them away every few months when they start to clog. Delonghi's use of silicone gasket allows them to have a removable top layer of steel so you can open up and clean the thing and eliminate clogging.
Anyway, thanks for all that you do. I really think there is value for some people in thinking espresso the way most Italians do. They want a consistent, fast, easy excellent coffee but they have no interest in spending a lot of money or time. Americans can be perfectionists, kind of obsessed. Italians just want to drink their shot and go hang out with their friends. So pressurized portafilter -- which allows you to get maybe 90% of the way to perfection with no drama -- has value for them; the remaining 10% of the way to the perfect shot does not interest them.
As a presentation note, I wasn't particularly fond of the very short musical stingers, but I liked them a lot more when they went on longer. When they were very short, they were kind of jarring.
Otherwise, this is a fun video. I love seeing how it's possible to make decent coffee without spending a tonne.
0:12: My mom asked me what that strange looking machine in the middle is. I replied “it’s a Smeg, ma!”
Nice vid Lance, always love more content on beginner machines, I think you forgot to tag Tom's Coffee Corner in the description though
Good call!
Thanks for the video and I'm looking forward to your modification series for these machines :) What I like about Dedica and Delonghi in general, that it's easy to modify and you can mix and match different parts from different models. haha My first mod was better steam wand (it was not from other Delonghi machine, but seems like it's possible to install their no-burn wand from some of their high-class machines with some modifications).
Then I've installed 3-ways coffee outlet from their Specialista model, it fits perfectly, but I was needed to stretch the spring a little bit 😅 But that was the easiest way for me to add pressure sensor that I'm going to connect to my Arduino.
DeLonghi machines are nice! I picked one up to use while I was modding my Gaggia, and was pleasantly surprised! I don’t use steamed milk anyway, so that’s not an issue for me 💕
Can you make a video with sage bambino for lighter roasts?
10:12 they don't have solenoid valves, but they most definitely have opv valves. They're set to about 14-16 bar. Recently I just modified (cut) the spring in the opv of my Dedica and now I get around 9-10 bar.
I just saw a review of the Miicoffee Apex on the Coffee Chronicler. Amazing for the price, but not available when I started looking. Good to see the industry moving things like PID, solenoids, 58mm portafilters, and more down the price scale. Reviews like this that help newbies get started are a public service. Thanks!
I’m looking for my first espresso coffee machine , 200 € dollars maximum, what would you suggest ?
Thanks! Great videos!
about those plastic inners (11:52)
I believe it's whenever the portafilter is made of aluminum rather then stainless-steel they have to put the plastic from healthy reasons
The Solis has a stainless steel portafilter, but it has that plastic insert.
This is the perfect time of the year to buy a Smeg, you know, for your Ma.
Is it just me or are the music fills confusing? 😅
yeah they a lil wild in this one
I thought I was fancy drinking French press coffee. Now I feel like a peasant watching this.
Took me seven months of leaving a Stilosa on 24/7 and abusing it to burn it up. Still steams fine, use it for a second boiler.
Easy to mod, heated group. Should be durable with anything approaching reasonable care.
Hello Lance! Its not related to this video, but I consider you THE coffee expert, the depth you dive in your selected topics is unmatched, I would love your input on coffee machine maintenance, descale or not to descale, I'm going in 2.5 years on my Bianca and I'm at cross road not knowing which road to choose. Best wishes!
There are several/many videos on maintenance. My take is:
water: I use a FILTERED water, to filter out "stuff" that is in the city water pipes, from going into the boiler. Stuff like sand, and dirt. Take off and look at your faucet aerator, and you can see what kind of stuff is in your city water. More so if your machine does NOT have a filter. I use a Britta filtered pitcher.
descaling: if you have lime deposits on your faucet, you DO need to descale, and more often, so you don't get lime buildup inside the boiler.
If you do not have lime on your faucet, I don't know what time increment to use. Luckily, I don't have lime deposits, so I descale about 4-6 months.
As I descale, I watch the water coming out of the machine, to look for pieces of lime. If I see any lime, I would do another descale cycle, until I don't see any coming out. Then maybe reduce the time to the next descale. If I see no lime, I might increase the time to the next descale.
group head: You should clean the top of the shower screen and the group head. Taste from that coffee residue will affect your coffee.
I would start with once a month; then see how dirty the top of the shower screen is, to increase or decrease the cleaning interval. Example:
- If you do light roast, and only one single shot a day, you may clean on a 4 month interval.
- If you do dark roast and 4 double shots a day, you may have to clean on 1 month interval.
So YOU have to see how dirty the top of YOUR shower screen gets, then adjust your cleaning interval to match.
> After 2.5 years, I would guess that you NEED to clean your shower screen.
> The Solis has a 3-way solenoid and can do a back-flush, so you don't have to remove the screen. And better that you don't remove the screen anyway, as the group head of the Solis is made of plastic, NOT metal. IOW you can strip the plastic group head, if you over tighten the screw. It was a bummer to discover that the Solis group head was made of plastic.
Group head gasket:
If the gasket is damaged enough it will leak and have to be replaced.
- I wipe the top of my portafilter before mounting, to prevent grinding coffee grounds into the group head gasket and damaging it.
- Clean the group head gasket daily, to prevent accumulated coffee grounds from damaging the gasket when you lock down the portafilter. Just give it a quick brush with the head brush. And maybe weekly check it visually to see if it needs more cleaning.
Water tank:
Check your tank. Depending on where your machine is and how much sunlight hits it, you could get algae growing in the tank. YUK So you have to clean accordingly.
Shield the tank with an opaque material, to reduce the sunlight hitting the water tank.
Grinder:
Like the group head. Amount and darkness of the coffee affects how fast the burrs will get clogged.
On my timed grinder, if the weight of the output drops significantly, that tells me the burrs are getting clogged and needs to be cleaned.
@@garyn7067 Hello Gary, first of all, thank you very much, for your devoted time and detailed tips and techniques you are using to maintain your machine, I believe they will be usefull not only to me. Before getting in to coffee I watched many videos, I knew in what I'm getting in to, and I take care of my machine, I filter water with Brita filter + my machine has water softener in the tank. I check brew screen regularly, use caffize when needed. But there are conflicting opinions about descaling, there's a video on "Wired Gourmet" channel, talking about possible damage to stainless steel boiler and need for re-pasivation. On some descaling videos you can see blueish colored water coming out and some point out that copper is now exposed etc. So I'm trully confused what to do. I dont have any problems at the moment, heat up time is fast, though steamed milk sometimes leaves dried taste in the mouth.
How long you've been using your machine? Did you noticed anything bad or side effects from descaling?
@@audriusa7005 Used my first machine (Saeco/Starbucks) for over 8 years.
I never noticed a color in the water when I descaled.
Colored water might be due to minerals in the water that crystalized with the lime. That is just a guess, since I don't have highly mineralized water.
@@garyn7067 wow, thats a long time, maybe I'm worrying about nothing
@@audriusa7005 Well at least on my machine, I had no visible negative effects in that time.
Unless someone actually disassembles their machine and OPENS the boiler to inspect the inside of the boiler, I would treat what they say with a grain of salt.
Had a Dedica for the last 8 years, great machine, just sold it because recently acquired a Barista impress, I was a bit sad though to see the Dedica leave... But I guess someone else is happy pulling some good shots from it.
thx a lot - a great and comprehensive comparison!
Hi! May I ask if you have modified the smeg settings?
DeLonghi greatly improves the experience with the La Specialista line.
There's a few Dedica versions, and Smeg is the oldest one - EC680 from 2013. Yours is EC685, newer version, with a switch on panarello ("hot milk" mode closes a hole on top so there's much less hard foam), new baskets with removable bottom (which is very helpful if you clogged them with a too fine grind), and an additional drip insert under the tray. There's also 785 which has a pitcher and a usable tamper, and 885 which also has a good regular cool touch steam wand instead of panarello.
And also there's new Maestro versions, which looks a lot like Bambino and Bambino plus, but temperature sensor for autosteaming is on the steamer, not in the tray, which looks extremely weird
Also, there's a limited D&G version of Smeg, which looks even crazier (still, same old Delonghi parts and plastic)
As for the mods - I've put EP4R pump in my Dedica: it has 8-10 bars peak pressure (replacement itself is pretty straightforward, but mushroom valve over the grouphead requires a bit of tinkering, i've stopped at 180 ml/minute on open grouphead), and the machine became much more predictable and consistent. The pump was something around 15$.
I picked up a Casabrew which I think is identical to the Dedica but with some a Solis features, for cheaper than both. Very happy with the results so far, but a naked Portafilter is def required.
The Dedica already has a never version, the 885 which comes with a proper stamper and has an improved steamer.
Thanks for the video Lance! I might try a blooming shot on my DeLonghi EC155, seeing as you mention the lack of solenoid allows for that. I've been having very little luck with the 'fake' pre-infusion (turning on the steam then pump), so maybe this'll be better.
I've got the e series delonghi it like a couple steps up from that one. It was really nice after a steamwand upgrade. I've upgraded to a gaggia evo now, and PiD moded it. I'm really happy with it
For years I used the krups XP 40 or something, now that I know a bit more about coffee I can tell it was pretty good for what it was, self tamping, left a dry puck, no option for unpressurized basket , which was a bummer
I’m a big fan of DeLonghi, but I don’t use the Dedica. I actually use the EC155 and I have it modded with a Rancillio Steam wand and a different portafilter with an IMS basket. Really great setup for cheaper than any of these. Plus, a real boiler! That’s the main reason I love it so much! I’m not a big fan of the Thermoblocks, even though they have a lot to offer in terms of usability and features.
Lance, have you noticed a divot in your pucks after pulling shots with the Solis? And do you think that would impact extraction?
Yes and yes. Will be addressed in follow up
Thanks, looking forward.
Seems to be a known issue and a design flaw.
The IMS shower should improve this issue. If you can, consider a try with and without IMS shower.
@@nanu38319 Don't have the machine yet lol... Trying to decide between this and the Bambino
I took the plunge this morning and ordered the Dedica Arte EC885M for $250. A friend has it and loves it. I did my research though. The Bambino lost out for it's cheaper conponents, but the Bambino Plus was of interest. It's $500 though.
Lance, great video! Like always.
I'm two years into my espresso (well, honestly cappuccino) journey and although I'm not buying something new in the near future, I'm kind of lost WHAT to buy and WHERE to go.
My setup is a Baratza Encore ESP Grinder and a Sage Barista Pro (with IMS shower and basket). Your "no buyer's remorse" video made me think. My wife and I do enjoy medium to lighter medium roasts and Arabica waaaay more than Robusta, as far as the coffees go we tried over the two years.
I can't really complain either, since my coffee at home is indeed close to the ones we get at the roastery.
So, I don't know. I heard a lot of negative comments on Sage/Breville machines and since it's now two years old, I expect it to fail every second :D
But I'm really lost, when it comes to the question "what to buy", if I want to taste a real and big difference. The Lelit Mara X, for example, is a really pretty machine, but misses some features, my Barista Pro has, but costs nearly double.
I guess a better grinder would benefit me the most.
In short. I would really love to see a video from you (or if that's already out there, please send the link) or just a good conversation here in the comments, about upgrading.
Like: "Your setup looks like this, here are good options, what to buy, to really taste a difference."
A guide to help us take our equipment from beginner to intermediate or enthusiast.
Thanks for reading this.
Keep up the awesome work
Upgrade grinder first, explore blind shaker although it is definitely a hassle and a mess.
Thanks for this comparison! It's hard to see which wand is better when I swear you coukd get good milk texture with a super soaker 😂 Appreciate the entry level stuff as well as the high end videos. Great vid as always
I have the Solis Perfetta Plus has pre-infusion, and manometer… seems very capable. looking for modifications.
At this pricepoint IMHO the pressurised basket does a better job. Might just be my subjective view but you need a much better boiler/pump to get the advantage of the non-pressurised basket. If you want to go non-pressurised get something like the Gaggia classic or the Racnilio Silvia.
I believe the smeg portafilter is plated brass and the dedica is aluminum
Is there a reason you didn't go for the updated Dedica? The 885 has a better steam wand, a better quality milk pitcher and comes with a real tamper. You'd still ned a different portafilter or mod the stock one to fit a real basket. Where I live it's like a 30 bucks difference which is worth it for the wand alone in my opinion.
I bought this a year ago lol
@@LanceHedrick haha, fair. Then I'll leave my comment for posterity so ppl buying now can weigh their options.
That's what I decided on today, the EC885M.
@@LanceHedrick WELL AKSHULLY those were available since 2021 (and 785s with a good tamper and a milk pitcher even earlier)
I'm stunned that not one, but TWO of the brands in this video could have names that were so ill-thought-out. The "soul-less" and the "smeg[ma]"???
Wow.
Gr9 stuff! thanks for all the education!
I really hope Lance is working on a (near) plastic free coffee maker with Breville. I was about to buy the Bambino Plus but that plastic group head really bothered me. Why can't they make the components that touch hot water be made out of metal? I realize that some don't care, but there's a sizable number of people wishing for "minimal plastic" coffee makers.
Thanks for the video. I new around here and i am searching for Delonghi and Smeg espresso machines , I guess I prefer the Delonghi with my purchase. ☺️
I was really lucky getting a Sage Bambino for super cheap (180 euros) during a deal to start experimenting with espressos / lattes. Still can't do proper latte art though 🤣Lance makes it look so easy it's crazy.
I have a 100€ silvercrest machine and with a few aftermarket things, such as non-presurised baskets, a good tamper and the 51mm umikot by elmoserafa, I can make really nice espresso.
The only thing that would make me upgrade is if some machine could pull more consistent shots
love the videos lance.
There's the Dedica EC885 which has a narrow steam wand that's similar to many espresso machines you'd see today
How would you compare any of these machines to Nespresso? I’m
assuming they are all much better?
I literally went from Nespresso (and an Aeropress for pourovers) to a Delonghi and yes, the difference is huge. Nespresso is basically instant coffee served as a shot.
@@mikesrandomchannel I have been using my Nespresso machine for years, and aside from the fact that it’s quick and easy, and froths great, I am unimpressed with the taste, and continually always end up getting my lattes from Starbucks. Your answer definitely makes sense. Looks like it’s time to invest in a Delonghi!
Great video! Thanks!! By the way, any review for kitchenaid espresso machine?
Would you consider the KitchenAid semi automatic machine in the same category as this 3 or more in line with the bambino?
I never understood why some people obsess over Smeg products. Aesthetic is subjective, but the materials are cheap and nasty for the price even
I had the Dedica for 4 months Used a naked portafilter and managed to froth decent milk for latte art.All of a sudden,the coffee started coming out very watery,no body,no crema at all.Also when purging the steamer prior to frothing,the water was enough to fill half a glass of water! Took it to the service,they returned it to me unrepaired.I cannot use it anymore😢
Hey Lance.
Happy Thanksgiving my friend.
A video about pressure would be really nice. Currently have my opv set at 7bar are there any benfits going back to 9?
Ooooh nice! Just in time for Christmas 😁
I'm looking for the cheapest "real and good espresso" package to recommend to friends when asked. Right now I's recommend the Dedica 885 (better steam wand) but with the addition of a new handle and basket(s). Combined with a Timemore hand grinder, you might stay under €350. After a year or two. upgrading to an electric grinder will up your game. And finally - if you stay enthusiastic about coffee - treat yourself with a nice machine.
There seems to be a new combo machine from Breville (not on the Sage site yet), the "Siganture". With build in grinder (yikes), that comes with a digital grind size display (say whaaat?). If Breville has improved their game, as they usually do, this might be the perfect entry package…
I love the fact that you refused to clean your mustache going into the summary at the end 😂
Smeg have brought out a coffee machine with built in grinder that seems like their answer to the sage barista pro, would love to see a comparison!