De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 Espresso Machine vs Sowden SoftBrew 8-Cup Coffee Maker (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

Sowden SoftBrew 8-Cup Coffee Maker

8.8/10 Great

4.5★ (3,800 owners)

Stainless mesh filter, immersion brewing, 8-cup ceramic, George Sowden design, no paper filter. Designer filter coffee.

Full Review

At a Glance

	De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 Espresso Machine	Sowden SoftBrew 8-Cup Coffee Maker
247Verdict Score	8.8/10	8.8/10
Owner Rating	4.4★ (18,400)	4.5★ (3,800)
Verdict	Great	Great

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. Sowden SoftBrew 8-Cup Coffee Maker: Stainless mesh filter, immersion brewing, 8-cup ceramic, George Sowden design, no paper filter. Designer filter coffee. 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

Sowden SoftBrew 8-Cup Coffee Maker

Stainless mesh filter eliminates paper filter cost and waste forever
Immersion brewing extracts coffee oils for fuller, richer body than paper-filtered methods
Ceramic vessel is dishwasher safe and aesthetically distinctive on any kitchen surface
George Sowden's award-winning Italian design heritage applied to coffee brewing
Under £60 for a 8-cup coffee maker that never needs consumable filter papers

More sediment in the cup than paper-filtered methods — the fine mesh allows some passage
Requires coarser grind than paper filter methods for optimal results
Ceramic can crack under thermal shock — avoid pouring boiling water directly on cold ceramics

FAQ

Which is better, De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 or Sowden SoftBrew 8-Cup?

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

The Sowden SoftBrew 8-Cup Coffee Maker 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 Sowden SoftBrew 8-Cup best suited to?

Stainless mesh filter, immersion brewing, 8-cup ceramic, George Sowden design, no paper filter. Designer filter coffee.

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. Sowden SoftBrew 8-Cup Coffee Maker: More sediment in the cup than paper-filtered methods — the fine mesh allows some passage; Requires coarser grind than paper filter methods for optimal results.

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 Sowden SoftBrew 8-Cup Coffee Maker at 4.5★ from 3,800.

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