Dedica Duo review: De'Longhi's twin-function Dedica, explained

This De’Longhi Dedica Duo review looks at the newest member of the slim Dedica family. The Duo, model EC890, adds a one-touch cold brew setting to a compact espresso machine. The metal EC890.M is £279.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. We haven’t tested this in person. Our verdict is based on De’Longhi UK’s and Currys’ published specs and UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.

The short version: it’s the Dedica you already know, with a cold setting, touch icons and a reworked steam wand. Whether that’s worth the extra over the older Dedica depends almost entirely on how often you want iced coffee.

De’Longhi Dedica Duo review: the short answer

Buy the Dedica Duo if you want one narrow machine that makes hot espresso and quick iced drinks, and you’re happy to froth milk yourself. De’Longhi UK lists three presets: Espresso, Double Espresso and Cold Brew.

Skip it if you only drink hot coffee. The Dedica Style EC685 is £149.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, and our De’Longhi Dedica EC685 review covers that machine in full, so we haven’t repeated it here. De’Longhi Dedica Style EC685: See it at Currys for De’Longhi Dedica Style EC685 (opens in a new tab)

Still choosing between budget machines? Our De’Longhi Dedica vs Stilosa comparison covers the cheaper end of De’Longhi’s range. De’Longhi Stilosa EC260: See it at Currys for De’Longhi Stilosa EC260 (opens in a new tab)

What it costs right now

These prices come from Currys’ Dedica Duo listing and De’Longhi UK:

• Dedica Duo EC890.M (metal): £279.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026.
• Dedica Duo EC890.GR (green): £259.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026.
• Dedica Duo EC890.W (white): £279.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026.
• Dedica Duo EC890.M (metal): £279.99 at De’Longhi UK, checked 3 Oct 2026. The page showed it available to order.
• Other colours at De’Longhi UK: Check current price. De’Longhi UK also lists green, pink and white versions, but we only checked the metal one.
• Amazon UK: Check price at Amazon.

For comparison, the older Dedica Style EC685 is £149.00 at Currys in both silver (EC685M) and black (EC685BK), checked 3 Oct 2026. That makes the Duo £130.99 more in metal, or £110.00 more if you pick the green one.

Colour matters more than usual here, because the green Duo is the cheapest at Currys today. If you’re not fussed about the finish, that’s an easy £20.99 saved.

What the Duo adds over the older Dedica

Here’s what De’Longhi UK highlights on the Duo, set against the familiar Dedica formula:

• A Cold Brew preset. De’Longhi says its Cold Extraction Technology makes a customisable cold brew in under five minutes. Traditional cold brew steeps for many hours, so think of this as De’Longhi’s quick take on it rather than the same thing. We can’t tell you how it tastes.
• Colour touch icons. De’Longhi describes a digital display on top of the machine with coloured touch icons. Currys lists touch controls and an LCD display.
• The My LatteArt steam wand. De’Longhi says it’s for manual milk texturing, and that the cool-touch design is safer to handle and easier to clean.
• Room for taller glasses. De’Longhi says the adjustable, expanded drip tray takes mugs and glasses up to 12cm tall, which matters if you’re pouring over ice.

What doesn’t change is the basic idea. It’s still a manual espresso machine with a portafilter, and you still steam your own milk.

Specs and what’s in the box

These figures come from Currys’ listing for the EC890.M, unless we say otherwise:

• Size: 305 x 149 x 330mm (height x width x depth). De’Longhi UK rounds the width to 15cm.
• Pressure: 15 bar, per Currys and De’Longhi UK.
• Heating: thermoblock, per Currys and De’Longhi UK. De’Longhi says this gives a quick heat-up.
• Power: 1,450W.
• Water tank: 1.1 litres, removable.
• Coffee: ground coffee, plus ESE pods with the pod basket.
• Drinks Currys lists: espresso, double espresso, cold brew and hot milk.
• Cup sizes: espresso adjustable from 15ml to 90ml, and double espresso from 30ml to 180ml.
• Other features: cup warmer for two cups, auto power-off, water level indicator, anti-drip system, removable drip tray and a descaling programme.
• In the box: the machine, a metal tamper, a single filter basket, an ESE pod filter basket, the portafilter and a stainless steel milk jug.
• Guarantee: two years, per Currys and De’Longhi UK.

Currys’ box list names a single filter basket and a pod basket, but no double basket, even though there’s a Double Espresso preset. It may simply be missing from the list, so check with the retailer before you buy if you drink doubles.

We’ve left the weight out. Currys and De’Longhi UK give different figures, and we couldn’t confirm which one is right.

Who the Dedica Duo suits

Small kitchens. At about 15cm wide, it fits in the kind of gap most machines won’t. That’s the Dedica range’s main selling point, and the Duo keeps it.

Iced coffee drinkers. The Cold Brew preset is the Duo’s reason to exist. If you buy iced lattes through the summer, a one-touch cold option on a compact machine is a genuine difference from the older Dedica.

People happy to learn. You’ll grind or buy ground coffee, dose and tamp the basket, and steam milk by hand. If that sounds like a chore, a pod or bean-to-cup machine will suit you better. Our espresso machines hub explains the different types.

Who should save their money

Hot-only drinkers. Take away the cold setting and you’re paying a lot extra for touch icons and a new wand. Today’s Currys prices put the EC685 £130.99 below the metal Duo.

Latte lovers who don’t want to froth. The Duo has a manual steam wand, not an automatic milk system.

Anyone who wants to grind fresh beans built in. The Duo takes ground coffee or ESE pods only. You’d need a separate grinder.

Downsides

• The price gap. Today it costs nearly twice what Currys is charging for the EC685.
• “Cold brew” is De’Longhi’s term. A drink made in under five minutes isn’t the same as cold brew steeped overnight, so expect something different.
• Box contents are unclear. As above, Currys doesn’t list a double basket.
• No owner feedback in this review. The Duo is new, and we haven’t summarised owner reviews here. Check recent reviews at your retailer before buying.
• Upkeep is the same as any Dedica. You’ll still need to descale it. Our guide on how to descale a De’Longhi Dedica covers the basics for the range.

Alternatives worth a look

De’Longhi Dedica Style EC685. The obvious alternative if you don’t need the cold setting, at £149.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. See our Dedica EC685 review.

De’Longhi Stilosa. A cheaper, wider De’Longhi for tighter budgets. Our Dedica vs Stilosa comparison covers it.

Sage Bambino. Another compact manual machine that people often weigh against the Dedica. Our Sage Bambino review covers it. Check current price. Sage Bambino SES450: See it at Sage for Sage Bambino SES450 (opens in a new tab)

Independent review: TechRadar has published a review of the Dedica Duo. We haven’t summarised its findings here.

FAQ

Is the Dedica Duo the same as the EC890? Yes. Dedica Duo is the name, and EC890 is the model code. The letters after it show the colour, for example EC890.M for metal and EC890.GR for green.

Can the Dedica Duo make proper cold brew? De’Longhi calls its preset Cold Brew and says it takes under five minutes. Traditional cold brew steeps for hours, so treat the Duo’s version as a quick iced coffee option.

Does it take beans? No. It takes ground coffee, or ESE pods using the pod basket, according to Currys.

Will a tall glass fit? De’Longhi UK says the adjustable drip tray takes mugs and glasses up to 12cm tall. Measure your favourite glass first.

Is it worth it over the Dedica EC685? Only if you’ll use the cold setting regularly or really want the touch controls. On today’s Currys prices, the EC685 is £130.99 cheaper than the metal Duo.

Related

• De'Longhi Dedica vs Stilosa: is the cheaper machine enough?
• Dedica Arte review: De'Longhi's latte-art Dedica (EC885)
• De'Longhi Dedica EC685 review: a slim, affordable first espresso machine
• How to descale a De'Longhi Dedica: EC685 step by step

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