The experienced driver will teach you how to make coffee step by step. You can make it at the master level in 3 minutes

This article was originally written by Rabbitgod, a tester of jiguo.com

Article experience products are jointly provided by Jiguo and Amazon China

Opening remarks

This time I was lucky enough to pass the application for the Delonghi DEDICA coffee machine. The last time I made espresso was 7 years ago when I was learning coffee. After that, I never had any contact with espresso. It’s not that I don’t like it, but I don’t have the space at home. Also, it’s not cost-effective to equip a coffee machine worth tens of thousands of yuan at home. In addition, the utilization rate of espresso is low for families. This machine is just what I want. First of all, it is a basic espresso machine without any extra functions. It is small in size and is about the same width as a grinder when placed on the table. The price will not make you worry.

The overall performance is still amazing.

Beauty is justice

DEDICA EC680 coffee machine has two colors, one is metallic silver and the other is red. The coffee corner at home is very plain, so I applied for a silver one to make it look more plain, but the one I received was red, which is too bright and sexy. Everyone has been attracted to this machine recently. Although I am reluctant, my girlfriend likes it very much.

It is slender in shape, which is quite small among Italian coffee machines. The one on the left in the photo is the bean grinder. The two together only take up a very small space, which is very suitable for the coffee corner at home. After all, not every family has a large coffee bar.

In terms of functional layout, there are only 4 commonly used buttons, and 3 mode switches are distributed on the front, which are used to select different capacities of coffee and steam. The power button is placed on the right side of the chassis, which is very considerate. It keeps it tidy and is also convenient for right-handed people. The same steam switch is on the upper right side with the steam nozzle. Of course, there is a slot here, that is, the power cord is really short. It can't even reach the ground when placed on the table, so you can only add a power strip. Although good steel is used on the blade, the necessary things must be provided.

The metal panel on the top is specifically used for cup warming, and the water tank is at the back, so all the core functions are included.

There are still some flaws in the workmanship of the details, such as the edge of the drip tray at the bottom, the metal burrs can easily scratch your hands.

The accessories are relatively simple, including powder bowls for one and two persons, a plastic powder hammer with a measuring spoon (this one should be metal), and it would be great if there was a cleaning brush.

My biggest feeling is that this Delonghi machine has outstanding appearance, and the workmanship is very good for this price range, and the key parts are very solid.

Advantages

– Excellent volume control

– Good-looking and eye-catching

– Simple panels and buttons (compared to other coffee machines)

– There is a cup warmer on top

– Small but complete

shortcoming

- The plug is not user friendly and is too short

- The base tray has rough edges, which can easily scratch your hands and the quality is a bit low

– The bottom of the handle is made of plastic, not metal

- It would be best if it has a cleaning brush head

Tips : The difference between pump-type and drip-type coffee machines

This Delonghi machine is officially called a pump-type, but it is actually different from an electric drip coffee machine. The difference is that the former makes Italian coffee, while the latter makes single-origin coffee, which is the hand-poured method. The focus of Italian coffee is high-pressure, fast, finely ground extraction. A single serving of espresso is made from about 7 grams of coffee powder, 90 to 95 degrees Celsius of pure soft water, plus 8-10 BAR pressure, usually within 20 to 30 seconds to make 25 to 35 ml (1 ounce) of coffee extract. Espresso is complex and fickle in chemical composition, many of which will decompose due to oxidation or temperature reduction, while hand-poured drip is made under 1 standard atmospheric pressure, and the flavors of the two are very different. To use an inappropriate example, this Delonghi coffee machine is like stewing meat in a pressure cooker, while hand-poured drip is like slow-cooking clear soup.

Espresso

Powder quantity 6-7 grams

Water temperature 88-95

Water pressure 9bar

Fine grinding

External pressure 20Kg

Coffee liquid 25-35ml

Brewing time 20-30/s

Caffeine content 60-90mg

Hand-poured coffee

Powder quantity 15g

Water temperature 88-92

Water pressure 1 bar

Coarse grinding

External pressure/

Coffee liquid 210

Brewing time 120/s

Caffeine content 220mg

Real Guns-Italian Espresso

After testing the appearance, we still need to do some real work to see whether it is a horse or a mule and take it out for a walk.

What else do you need besides a coffee machine?

The full name of this Delonghi machine is Delonghi EC680 Italian Home Semi-automatic Coffee Machine Metal Stainless Steel Coffee Machine. Okay, in such a long list, the key point is that it is semi-automatic, which means it is not the kind that you can do it by just clicking a button. So the question is, what else do we need to prepare after having a coffee machine?

Good coffee

When choosing coffee beans, it is recommended to choose medium-dark blended beans. It is not suitable to directly use lightly roasted beans for hand brewing, especially for making cappuccino and latte, the sweet and sour taste will feel weird.

Proper grinding

The importance of a good coffee grinder is self-evident. It is recommended to buy one that costs around a thousand yuan. In addition, the degree of grinding must be appropriate. If it is too coarse, the flavor will not come out and it will be too watery. If it is too fine, the taste will be bitter and the extraction will be excessive.

water

The TDS (total dissolved solids) value of water quality cannot be too high. If it is too high, it will damage the machine. Beijing's tap water is not good. The TDS measurement is about 200 or more. The safest way is to buy bottled water. Watsons' blue bottle mineral water is fine. Distilled water is not recommended because it will cause over-extraction. In addition, Delonghi's official manual mentions that the machine can also be set according to this.

You who love life

Practical operation - steps to make espresso

First, use a bean grinder to finely grind the coffee powder, put it on the coffee filter handle, and then use a plastic tamper to evenly press it. This step must not be forgotten, otherwise the coffee liquid will flow out all at once and the taste will be thin. This plastic tamper is not easy to use because the head is a measuring spoon. It is easy to press it sideways, resulting in uneven force on the coffee powder, which directly leads to the taste of the product. Some parts are over-extracted, and some are under-extracted. Fun lovers can make one by themselves.

This Delonghi machine can be used very quickly after it is turned on. When it is just turned on, the two espresso buttons will flash. When the lights turn on, you can make coffee. You don't have to wait for a long time. After cleaning the coffee filter handle, add some water (click the single espresso button), then align it with the machine and install it, and then press the extraction button. The reason is very simple. When the machine is not in use, the water coming out of the head is cold, so you must put water in first and then extract. After pressing the button, put the cup at the bottom to receive the coffee. It is very easy to use and the operation is relatively smooth.

The cup warming function mentioned above is a little unreliable, because when installing the coffee handle, you have to twist the handle, and when you twist it hard, the machine will be unstable and the cup on the top will fall off easily. The machine will shake, partly because the machine is small and light, and partly because the plastic pad at the bottom of the machine can have a stronger suction.

People who have not learned it may not have any idea about how much to extract and when to stop. Delonghi's machine is thoughtfully designed with an automatic stop function. After a period of time, the machine will automatically end the extraction, which is very suitable for home use.

To intuitively explain the biggest difference between the coffee made by this machine and hand-brewed coffee, just look at the extraction process. The coffee dripping out of the coffee filter handle is as viscous as honey, and is covered with a layer of oily substance called coffee cream, which occupies about 1/4 of the cup. It is yellow in color and has good density and durability.

This is good enough for home machines, but for espresso itself, it is still far from perfect. The flavor is not clean enough and a little unbalanced. Better espresso will have reddish-brown cream coffee, and the taste should be better balanced, with a complete taste and unique flavor.

The cleaning process after finishing is to knock out the powder and clean it with water. If you are not satisfied with one cup, the second cup can be made quickly, and the machine does not need to wait too long between two cups of coffee.

Briefly describe the operation process:

1. Grinding 2. Discharging 3. Spreading 4. Pressing 5. Cleaning 6. Draining 7. Extraction 8. Timing 9. Stopping 10. Smashing 11. Cleaning

Advantages

– Fast startup initialization (production can be done in less than 1 minute)

– Complete espresso coffee process (all automatic, no fun)

– Automatic stop flow design

– Continuous production, you can quickly make a second cup of espresso (no need to wait too long)

– Drip tray at bottom

shortcoming

– The bottom is easy to shake and the cup on the top is easy to fall off

– Plastic tampers are easy to bend, and the force applied to the powder is uneven

– After turning on the machine, it is difficult to quickly warm up the cup, and it takes a while for the cup to heat up

Tips: Savor espresso

Espresso is usually analyzed and judged from three aspects: visual analysis, olfactory analysis, and tasting.

1. Visual analysis

Coffee cream: a. Color b. Fineness c. Durability

2. Olfactory analysis

Good olfactory experience: baking, mellow chocolate aroma, fruit, flower aroma

Bad smells: smells of smoke, rot, peanuts, hay, rotten water

3. Oral perception and analysis of coffee

Feeling when taking the medicine: soft, stimulating, long-lasting

70-75° Mouth sensation: sweet, bitter, sour

Aftertaste: aromatic

Real Guns-Cappuccino

In addition to espresso, the most important coffee is cappuccino, which is why Delonghi machines have independent steam buttons.

Cappuccino is composed of 1/3 milk foam + 1/3 hot milk + espresso. The WBC World Barista Championship also compares this, just like the eight methods of the Chinese character "永". Through this cup of coffee, you can check your espresso skills and the ability to make milk foam. As for mocha coffee, it is latte with chocolate sauce. Latte is cappuccino with more milk. Different proportions constitute different milk coffees.

Which milk to choose

Milk is indispensable for making milk coffee, but good cappuccino and latte do not require the addition of creamer and sugar. When choosing and using milk, just pay attention to the following points.

– Freshness is beyond words

– 100% pure milk

– Fat content is 3-3.5%

– The temperature of the milk should be below 5°C (refrigerated)

– Milk should not be reheated with steam

Go back to the Delonghi machine and froth the milk.

First, click the steam button on the panel, the indicator light will flash and start making it ready. When the indicator light is on, you can start making it. Pour the refrigerated milk into a cup (a professional milk jug is better, I just use a beaker), turn on the steam switch on the right side of the machine to release a little steam, then insert the steam spray gun into the milk, and turn on the steam switch to officially make milk foam.

During the process of making milk froth, you will obviously feel that there is more milk, and the milk changes from a single liquid to part milk and part milk froth with a density lower than milk.

Actually, the steam enters the milk, making it larger in volume. Secondly, the temperature rises. Be careful not to burn your hands. After whipping, turn off the steam switch and it's done. Keep it clean and release a little steam, then wipe it with a clean rag. It is recommended to remove the nozzle and clean it at night.

The operation is not complicated, but it is still difficult to make milk foam that can draw patterns. One reason is the steam of the machine, and the other is that the steam coming out of the nozzle of the Delonghi machine is not fine enough, so the milk that comes out will have very rough milk foam and the fluidity is a bit poor. However, these will not prevent you from making cappuccino, and these factors have little to do with the taste. It is still amazing to take a sip, and it tastes much better than the cappuccino sold outside.

However, if you want to make two cups of cappuccino in a row or make cappuccino and then espresso, you have to wait for a while. The machine will be very hot just after using the steam, and the top cup warming panel will be a little hot. At this time, the machine needs to cool down, otherwise it will not be able to make the next cup. The two espresso buttons will keep flashing, so just wait until they return to a steady state.

Advantages

– If your girlfriend says it’s good, then it’s really good.

- Separate steam button

– Steam can last for 1 minute, which is enough for making latte and other coffee

shortcoming

– Wait a little longer before making espresso after frothing the milk

– The steam from the steam gun nozzle is not fine enough

Tips: How to make good milk foam

By changing the depth and angle of the contact surface between the steam nozzle and the milk, you can get milk foam of different thicknesses and dryness.

Depth of steam jets

The depth of the steam nozzle determines the three kinds of noises you can hear when frothing milk: the first is a loud popping noise when the steam nozzle is placed on the surface of the milk; the second is a smaller noise when the nozzle is placed slightly below the milk surface; the third is a relatively sharp and piercing noise when the nozzle is placed at the bottom of the milk tank;

The second sound is more appropriate. Finally, the heat must be evenly distributed when the steam is whipping the milk.

The best temperature after whipping is 60°~70°.

When the milk is whipped to the best state, it should be used immediately. The milk and the milk foam are basically completely integrated after being whipped. At this time, the taste is the best. If you use it after a period of time, the milk and the milk foam will have been separated, and the milk foam will become hard, which will make it more difficult to make cappuccino.

Tips: Choice of cup

A clean, warm porcelain coffee cup. The thicker the cup, the better the heat preservation effect.

Cup shape see the picture below

Alternative uses of Delonghi EC680

Many people's coffee machines will be covered with dust after being at home for a long time. After all, people don't drink several cups of coffee a day, so they will gradually become decorations. But isn't life meant to be loved? Don't limit the coffee machine to making coffee. Treat it like a kitchen knife, which can be used to cut vegetables, meat and fruit. It only matters how you use it, how you love and understand life, and Delonghi EC680 can do it.

Basic Coffee

– Hot milk (directly heated with steam)

– Hot milk chocolate (crush the chocolate into a milk jug and make milk foam)

– Iced Americano (fill the cup with cubes

– Brewing tea (brew directly with hot water)

Creative Coffee

Roman Empire

The strong lemon acid, the bitterness of the skin and the sweetness of brown sugar are intertwined and explode in your mouth along with the taste of coffee.

Single shot espresso + lime slice + brown sugar

Yuanyang Coffee

The interaction between black tea and coffee is suitable for iced drinks in summer (coffee and black tea need to be cooled)

Double espresso + black tea + milk foam

Indian

The embellishment of Indian spices is used as a stirring stick while also emitting a unique aroma.

Double espresso + milk foam + cinnamon stick

Amber Coffee

Amber honey and pepper will definitely satisfy the visual conscious person.

Double espresso + 10ml honey + crushed pepper

Vodka Espresso

Created in 1984 by cocktail master Dick Bradsell.

Double espresso + 1 oz vodka + 1 oz Baileys

Pomodoro

The coolness of tomatoes blends into the coffee, making it particularly refreshing. This is the work of Hou Zhenwei, the runner-up of the 2005 Taiwan Barista Competition.

Double Espresso + Peeled Frozen Tomatoes

postscript

The Delonghi DEDICA EC680 machine is highly recommended, not because the coffee it produces is the most professional, but because it provides just the right Italian coffee machine at this price. It has all the core functions related to coffee and can be operated independently, and its appearance and shape make it very suitable for being placed in a coffee corner.

PS: I took all the tests I needed, and my girlfriend drank the drinks, but I ended up just washing the cups by myself... What a tragedy.

Other functional details of Delonghi

- The machine will be reminded to descale after about 200 cups of use

– The water temperature can be customized to meet different coffee needs.

– Standby function time can be adjusted and set independently

Tips: Coffee machine maintenance

Daily cleaning: clean the outer surface of the machine, clean the water tray, clean the brewing portafilter, and the powder bowl.

Weekly maintenance: clean the brewing head; clean the lower water tank; clean the steam wand; check whether all parts are normal.

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