DeLonghi Dedica EC685 Not Working? 5 Fixes That Work

The Dedica Is Not Like Other DeLonghi Machines — Read This First

A Dedica EC685 that stops making espresso usually has one of five causes, and the manual lists all of them: an empty tank, a tank whose bottom valves aren't open, blocked filter holes, a blocked filter or spout, or scale. Most take five minutes to check. If every light is flashing and the machine won't do anything, stop. That one is for De'Longhi Customer Services.

The Dedica is a manual portafilter machine. You fill the filter with pre-ground coffee or an ESE pod, press it, and lock it in. There's no grinder and no brewing unit to take out, so the Magnifica and Dinamica fixes you'll find online don't apply. Its signals are the lights on three buttons (1 cup, 2 cup, steam), including an orange descale light on the steam key, not error codes.

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Quick Checks (2 Minutes)

• Press the water tank down lightly. The valves on its base only open when it's properly seated, and the manual says never to run the machine without water.
• Watch the lights at switch-on. The three keys flash in sequence (self-diagnosis), then the coffee lights flash while it heats. Brew only when they're steady.
• Check the steam dial is closed. If the coffee lights flash after steaming, the dial needs closing, or the boiler needs its cooling cycle (Fix 5).
• Match the filter to the job: the 1-cup or 2-cup filter for ground coffee, and the pod filter for ESE pods.
• Look at the drip tray's red indicator. Empty the tray before it rises above the cup tray.

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Fix 1: Refill and Reseat the Water Tank (Works About 30% of the Time)

Two of the manual's causes for "espresso coffee is not delivered any more" are about the tank: it's empty, or it was put back without opening its valves. When the lights flash rapidly, the manual's meaning is "the water tank is empty or the machine does not make coffee".

Signs it's this one: the lights flash for a few seconds and nothing comes out, or the tank was just refilled.

1. Lift out the water tank and fill it with fresh water, up to MAX at most.
2. Put it back and press it down lightly to open the valves on the bottom.
3. Press the 1 cup button with the filter holder on and no coffee. Water should run through.

The Dedica's full light table sits alongside the Magnifica and Dinamica tables in the De'Longhi warning lights guide.

Time: 1 minute
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 30%
Difficulty: Easy

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Fix 2: Clean the Filters and Filter Holder Spouts (Works About 25% of the Time)

Blocked holes stop the flow. The manual lists blocked filter-holder holes, a blocked filter, and a missing perforated filter under both "no coffee" and "coffee drips from the edges". De'Longhi designs the filters to create the froth, so it asks for them to be kept free of residue.

Signs it's this one: very slow drips, or coffee escaping around the filter holder instead of through the spouts.

1. Rinse the filter under plenty of running water after every use.
2. Check the hole on the back of the filter is clear.
3. At least once a month, pull the perforated filter out by its tab, rinse both parts and clear blocked holes with a pin.
4. Refit the perforated filter and press it all the way down.
5. Clean the filter holder's spout holes, and rinse the pod filter the same way if you use pods.

None of the Dedica's parts is dishwasher safe.

Time: 5-10 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 25%
Difficulty: Easy

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Fix 3: Get the Dose, Grind and Press Right (Works About 20% of the Time)

How you fill and press the filter decides the flow. The manual explains both ends: press too firmly and the coffee comes out slowly and strong, too lightly and it runs fast and weak. Too much coffee is also why the filter holder won't lock in.

Signs it's this one: crema too dark and delivery slow, crema too light and delivery fast, or the filter holder won't attach.

1. Use the scoop supplied, and the right filter for the drink: 1-cup, 2-cup, or the pod filter for ESE pods.
2. Too slow and dark: press less firmly, use less coffee, and make sure the ground coffee isn't too fine or damp.
3. Too fast and light: press more firmly, add more coffee, and use pre-ground coffee made for espresso machines.
4. Won't attach: too much coffee in the filter. Use the measure and the correct filter.
5. Wipe excess coffee off the rim, align the handle with INSERT and turn it right to CLOSE.

Time: 5 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 20%
Difficulty: Easy

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Fix 4: Descale When the Orange Light Flashes (Works About 15% of the Time)

Limescale is the last cause on the "no coffee" list and on the "too slow" list. The descale light, an orange light on the steam key, flashes when it's due, based on the water hardness you set. Use De'Longhi descaler: the manual warns that an unsuitable descaler, or descaling incorrectly, "may result in faults not covered by the manufacturer's guarantee".

1. Take the filter holder off. Put a container that holds at least 1 L (34 oz) under the hot water dispenser and the boiler outlet.
2. Pour the descaler into the tank and top it up with water to MAX.
3. Hold the steam button for 10 seconds, until the three buttons flash in sequence.
4. Turn the steam dial to the hot water/steam position, then press the steam button to start. The descaler runs out in a series of cycles until the tank is empty.
5. Close the steam dial now and then during the cycle, which pushes a little descaler through the coffee spouts too.
6. When delivery stops (the orange light keeps flashing), empty the container, then rinse and refill the tank with fresh water. Open the steam dial and press the steam button to rinse.
7. Run the rinse a second time, with the water softener filter back in if you use one. When the tank is empty, the orange light goes off. Close the steam dial and refill the tank.

The whole job takes about 25 minutes. If a power cut interrupts it, the manual recommends running the cycle again.

Time: About 25 minutes
Cost: De'Longhi descaler
Success Rate: About 15%
Difficulty: Easy

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Fix 5: Run the Cooling Cycle After Steaming (Works About 10% of the Time)

Steam needs a hotter boiler than espresso. After you've steamed milk, the Dedica may refuse coffee until the boiler cools. It signals this by flashing the two coffee lights together. The manual's fix is quick.

Signs it's this one: you've just steamed milk, and the 1 cup and 2 cup lights flash together.

1. Place a container under the frother.
2. Open the steam dial to release steam and hot water. The steam light flashes.
3. When the coffee lights flash, the boiler has cooled. Close the steam dial. Dispensing stops by itself.
4. Brew your coffee.

Don't steam for more than 60 seconds at a time. For several cappuccinos, the manual says to make all the coffees first, then froth the milk.

Time: 1-2 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 10%
Difficulty: Easy

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When the EC685 Needs Professional Service

• The appliance does not function and all the lights flash. The manual says to "disconnect the appliance immediately and contact authorised Customer Services".
• Espresso keeps dripping from the filter holder edges with it correctly attached and clean filters. The manual says the espresso boiler gasket may have lost its elasticity or be dirty, and to have it replaced by Customer Services.
• Nothing in the manual's table fixes it. Its closing instruction is to contact Customer Services, found through delonghi.com.

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Daily Habits for the EC685

• Rinse the filter after every coffee and keep the hole on its back clear.
• Clean the frother after every use, purging steam for a few seconds first.
• Empty the drip tray before the red indicator shows above the cup tray.
• Every 200 coffees, run about 0.5 L (17 oz) of water through the spouts with no coffee.
• Set your water hardness in the settings menu so the descale light comes on at the right time.
• Unused for more than a week? Run a rinse cycle first.

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FAQ

Why does my DeLonghi Dedica EC685 pull espresso too fast — under 15 seconds?

The manual's causes for fast, light delivery are coffee pressed too lightly, too little coffee, a grind that's too coarse, or pre-ground coffee not made for espresso machines. Press more firmly, use the full scoop, and buy espresso-grind coffee.

Can I use ESE pods in the DeLonghi Dedica EC685?

Yes, on models that include the pod filter. Put the pod filter in the filter holder, centre an ESE-standard pod, and press the 1 cup button. The manual says you can only make one coffee at a time with pods.

Why does espresso dribble out from around the portafilter during brewing?

The manual lists four causes: the filter holder isn't attached correctly or is dirty, the spout holes are blocked, the filter is blocked or its perforated insert is missing, or the espresso boiler gasket has lost elasticity. The last one is a Customer Services job.

How do I make my Dedica coffee hotter?

The manual gives four tips: warm the cups, run the 1 cup button through an empty filter into the cup, raise the brewing temperature in the settings menu, and use the cup warmer on top. The settings menu opens by holding the steam button for 10 seconds.

Why won't my Dedica make milk froth?

Check the frother dial is on CAPPUCCINO, not HOT MILK. Then use milk straight from the fridge, clean the frother, and descale if the machine is due. Those are the manual's four causes.

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Related DeLonghi Guides

• De'Longhi error codes and warning lights: the Dedica's light table alongside the Magnifica and Dinamica
• De'Longhi won't brew coffee
• De'Longhi leaking water
• Dedica descaling guide
• Dedica vs Stilosa

Sources: De'Longhi EC685 / EC695 / EC785 (Dedica) Instructions (document 57132C8997_00_0424).