De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 vs De'Longhi Magnifica Start
These two machines solve different problems. The Dedica Style at $199 is a slim semi-automatic that requires a separate grinder and some manual technique; the Magnifica Start at $699 is a fully automatic bean-to-cup machine that grinds, brews, and froths with one button press. Buy the Dedica if budget and counter space are the priority. Buy the Magnifica Start if you want hands-free daily espresso and are willing to pay $500 more for it.
Spec face-off
Bars scaled to the higher value. Coloured = wins that spec.
Full specifications
Strengths & weaknesses
Full comparison
The Dedica Style costs $199 but does not include a grinder — add a decent burr grinder and your real spend is closer to $350-450 total. The Magnifica Start costs $699 and includes a steel conical burr grinder (13 settings), one-touch recipes, and a LatteCrema automatic milk carafe that produces consistently creamy foam from dairy and plant-based milks with no manual technique. That is the honest cost comparison: roughly $350-450 all-in for the Dedica setup versus $699 for the Magnifica Start.
The fundamental difference is automation versus craft. The Dedica is a semi-automatic with pressurized baskets — you load pre-ground coffee or grind separately, tamp, and steam milk manually with its thermoblock wand. The Magnifica Start handles every step automatically: grind, dose, brew, and froth. There is no tamping, no manual steaming, no timing. If your goal is consistent morning lattes with minimal thought, the Magnifica Start is the cleaner choice.
Shot quality is where the Dedica can compete, but only if you invest in a good grinder and learn to use it. The Magnifica Start's dose cap of approximately 10g per cycle limits shot intensity, and its three coffee strength settings offer limited customization. A Dedica paired with a quality grinder and non-pressurized baskets (a $20 aftermarket swap) can produce more nuanced espresso. The trade-off is time and skill investment.
The deciding factor is lifestyle. The Magnifica Start is built for busy households that want good coffee with zero friction. The Dedica suits someone who enjoys the ritual of manual preparation, has counter space constraints below 6 inches of width, or wants to keep initial spend low while learning. Most people who own the Magnifica Start do not miss manual steaming; most people who own the Dedica eventually wish they had a better grinder from day one.