De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus EC950M Espresso Machine

A compact pump espresso machine without a grinder

The EC950M is De'Longhi's Dedica Maestro Plus, SKU 0132106247 on its US page, in a metal finish. De'Longhi lists a 15-bar pump, a thermoblock heater, button controls with no display, and an automatic steam wand it calls Auto LatteArt. Its instructions are titled Dedica Maestro Plus EC950 and rate it at 120 volts, 60 hertz and 1,450 watts.

De'Longhi's technical panel lists the grinding setting as not applicable, and the manual's espresso steps start from ground coffee, so whole beans need a separate grinder. The same US page also offers a Dedica Maestro option; this guide covers only the Maestro Plus EC950M sold on this listing.

Auto LatteArt steaming: three temperatures, three textures

In automatic mode the manual gives three milk temperatures, 140, 149 and 158°F, with 149°F the default, and three textures: LatteArt microfoam, fine and dense, with dense the default. The wand is set to position A, the steam lever is turned, and the machine stops frothing by itself.

The manual asks for fresh, refrigerated milk at about 41°F between the jug's MIN and MAX marks, and says milk can triple in volume. A manual steaming position is also available, without the texture and temperature settings. After each use the wand goes to OFF, which starts an automatic rinse.

Single-wall or double-wall baskets

De'Longhi includes both single-wall and double-wall filter baskets, which its page says take up to a 20 g dose, plus a stainless tamper, portafilter and milk jug. The manual lists one-cup and two-cup versions of each basket type, a measuring scoop, a cleaning brush and needle, and water-hardness test paper.

The manual recommends the single-wall baskets for more experienced users with a grinder capable of a fine espresso grind, and says they are less forgiving. It recommends the double-wall baskets for pre-ground coffee or a grind that is too coarse, and suggests starting with them.

Brew temperature, shot size and settings

The manual lists three infusion temperatures: about 197.6°F for dark roasts, 201.2°F for medium-dark as the default, and 204.8°F for light-medium roasts. Single and double shots default to 1.18 and 2.36 fluid ounces, and each can be reprogrammed within the ranges the manual gives.

A settings menu sets the pre-infusion delay to none, 1 second (default) or 2 seconds, and the auto-off time to 5 minutes (default), 1.5 hours or 3 hours. It also has three water-hardness levels, which change how soon the descale light comes on.

Size, cup height and figures that disagree

The manual gives 8.15 inches wide, 13.62 deep and 12.91 high, and De'Longhi's page gives a maximum cup height of 4.68 inches. A small cup tray is included for smaller cups. The manual lists a 54.1-fluid-ounce (1.6-litre) tank, and the page text calls it a 54-oz removable, clear tank.

Some figures conflict. The manual gives 11.02 pounds, while De'Longhi's technical panel and the listing give 13.67 pounds. The panel's water-tank row reads 1825.96 under an ounce label, which does not match either tank figure above, so rely on the manual and check with De'Longhi if the exact figure matters.

Cleaning, descaling and warranty

The manual says the drip tray, milk jug and small cup tray are dishwasher safe. It asks you to empty the drip tray after each use, rinse the filters, clean the water tank about once a week, rinse the coffee spout every 200 coffees, and run a rinse if the machine sits unused for over a week.

Descale when the descale light comes on, using only De'Longhi descaler; the manual warns that an unsuitable descaler or incorrect descaling may cause faults the warranty does not cover, and that repairing or modifying the machine yourself voids the warranty. The descaling steps and safety warnings are in the instructions for use; follow them there.

De'Longhi's product page lists a one-year warranty plus one year with product registration, while a banner on the same site says a 3-year warranty is included, so confirm the term with De'Longhi. Its limited warranty for manual espresso machines gives one year of parts and labor, has the owner pay shipping to an authorized service center, and covers only products bought from De'Longhi or its authorized resellers, in North America.