De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 Espresso Machine vs illy X1 iPerEspresso Capsule Machine (2026)

✍️ By the 247Verdict Editorial Team📅 Updated 05 October 2026

Which is better? We compared both on score, owner ratings, pros and cons.

De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 Espresso Machine

8.8/10 Great

4.4★ (18,400 owners)

15 bar, thermoblock, manual steam wand, 6cm wide, 3 filter baskets. Slimmest espresso machine.

Full Review

illy X1 iPerEspresso Capsule Machine

8.8/10 Great

4.4★ (4,800 owners)

19 bar, illy iPerEspresso capsules, Italian design, 1L tank, Michelin-starred coffee brand.

Full Review

At a Glance

	De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 Espresso Machine	illy X1 iPerEspresso Capsule Machine
247Verdict Score	8.8/10	8.8/10
Owner Rating	4.4★ (18,400)	4.4★ (4,800)
Verdict	Great	Great
Pressure	15 bar	19 bar

Quick Verdict

This is a genuine draw — both score within 0.15 points of each other. De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 Espresso Machine: 15 bar, thermoblock, manual steam wand, 6cm wide, 3 filter baskets. Slimmest espresso machine. illy X1 iPerEspresso Capsule Machine: 19 bar, illy iPerEspresso capsules, Italian design, 1L tank, Michelin-starred coffee brand. Choose based on your specific needs. Check the current price on Amazon →

Pros & Cons Side by Side

De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 Espresso Machine

Only 6cm wide — fits in kitchens where no other semi-automatic machine would
15-bar thermoblock heats up in 35 seconds — near-instant readiness
Manual Pannarello steam wand creates creamy froth with simple technique
Three basket sizes cover 1-shot, 2-shot and ESE pods
De'Longhi's 35-year espresso heritage in their most space-efficient design

Single boiler means waiting between espresso extraction and steaming
6cm width means smaller water tank (1.1L) — daily refilling for heavy users
Pannarello steam wand produces more airy foam than traditional wands — less suited for latte art

illy X1 iPerEspresso Capsule Machine

illy is the coffee brand of Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide — the quality benchmark
iPerEspresso two-stage capsule extraction produces espresso with genuine professional crema
19-bar pressure matches professional espresso machine extraction standards
Italian design that sits as a kitchen statement piece
illy's 90-year commitment to espresso quality in the most convenient format

Proprietary illy iPerEspresso capsules only — ecosystem lock-in to a premium pod range
Pod costs are premium vs Nespresso — illy positions pods as premium coffee
Less variety than Nespresso's 30+ Original pod range

FAQ

Which is better, De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 or illy X1 iPerEspresso?

Is the De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 worth the extra cost?

The illy X1 iPerEspresso Capsule Machine matches or exceeds it at a potentially lower price point.

Who is the De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 best suited to?

15 bar, thermoblock, manual steam wand, 6cm wide, 3 filter baskets. Slimmest espresso machine.

Who is the illy X1 iPerEspresso best suited to?

19 bar, illy iPerEspresso capsules, Italian design, 1L tank, Michelin-starred coffee brand.

What are the main downsides of each?

De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 Espresso Machine: Single boiler means waiting between espresso extraction and steaming; 6cm width means smaller water tank (1.1L) — daily refilling for heavy users. illy X1 iPerEspresso Capsule Machine: Proprietary illy iPerEspresso capsules only — ecosystem lock-in to a premium pod range; Pod costs are premium vs Nespresso — illy positions pods as premium coffee.

Do owner ratings agree with our verdict?

Largely, yes — De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 Espresso Machine sits at 4.4★ from 18,400 verified Amazon owners, and illy X1 iPerEspresso Capsule Machine at 4.4★ from 4,800.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.