Breville Researched
Bambino Plus
The easiest path to genuinely good espresso and hands-free milk in a tiny footprint.
BeginnersSmall kitchens
$500Read review →
DeLonghi Researched
Dedica Arte EC885
A genuinely slim, genuinely cheap entry into real (if modest) espresso with a steam wand.
Tight budgetsNarrow counters
7.2
BrewSift Score
Good
$150
Approximate — verify the latest price
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Should you buy it?
Buy it if
- Tight budgets
- Narrow counters
- Only ~6" wide
- Real manual steam wand
Skip it if
- Pressurized basket limits ceiling
- Small boiler / less temp stability
- Mostly plastic
Not for you? Consider the Breville Bambino Plus — or see all espresso machines .
The verdict
At just 6 inches wide and around $250, the Dedica Arte adds a proper manual steam wand to DeLonghi's entry machine. Expect convenient, decent espresso rather than café-grade — but it's the best-value way to find out if home espresso is for you.
BrewSift Score breakdown
Scored across the dimensions that matter for espresso. The overall is a weighted average — see the formula.
Espresso quality7.0
Milk-drink workflow6.4
Ease of use8.0
Temperature stability6.6
Build quality6.6
Cleaning & maintenance7.6
Value8.4
Pros & cons
What we like
- Only ~6" wide
- Real manual steam wand
- Low entry price
Watch-outs
- Pressurized basket limits ceiling
- Small boiler / less temp stability
- Mostly plastic
Specifications
- Portafilter
- 51mm (pressurized)
- Width
- ~6 in
- Milk
- Manual steam wand
Complete your setup
The gear that pairs with the Dedica Arte EC885 to make a complete, working setup.
Add a grinder
Timemore
Chestnut C2
Grind consistency does more for the cup than almost any other purchase — a burr grinder is what makes good gear actually taste good.
$75Buy
Add a scale
Timemore
Black Mirror Basic 2
Weighing your dose and yield is what makes a good cup repeatable, shot after shot.
$55Buy
Add prep tools
Normcore
58.5mm Spring-Loaded Tamper
A WDT tool and a properly sized tamper kill channeling — the cheapest fix for sour, uneven shots.
$44Buy
Alternatives to consider
All espresso machines
Breville Researched
Barista Express
The classic all-in-one: built-in grinder, manual wand, everything you need to start in one box.
All-in-one startersValue seekers
$500Read review →
Gaggia Researched
Classic Pro
A 58mm commercial-style machine that teaches real espresso and welcomes modifications.
Learning real espressoTinkerers
$501Read review →