It’s simple and intuitive to use, but still gives you full control of your own coffee. That is the marketing message surrounding De’Longhi’s new manual coffee machine, The Dedica, which will be available mid-August.
The Dedica Manual Coffee Machine (RRP $349) makes the “easiest form of coffee possible with a manual machine,” according to De’Longhi and shares much of its internal workings, such as the thermoblock heating system, with De’Longhi’s automatic coffee machine the Eletta (RRP $1,699).
The Dedica is just 15 centimetres wide and will be available in red, black or silver. It has a detachable water tank, cup warmer and steam wand for manual milk frothing. It also dispenses hot water and the cup levels can be reprogrammed from 20 to 360 millilitres to make your preferred coffee.
The ease of use message surrounding the Dedica is also reinforced by De’longhi’s foray into pre-packaged pouches of ground coffee called ESE pods.
The new Easy Serving Espresso (ESE) pods contain De’Longhi’s ground wood-fired roasted beans, available in three blend varieties including Connoisseur (100 per cent Arabica), Family Value (70 per cent Arabica and 30 per cent Robusta) and Decaf.
An ESE pod offers “an easier solution to an espresso” by taking tamping and grinding out the equation. The resulting espresso has a silkier surface than one made with ground coffee. Grinding and tamping the beans yourself is more time consuming but rewards you with an espresso with a thicker crema on the surface — if that is the way you prefer your espresso.
The De’Longhi branded ESE pods will be sold through retail, supermarkets and online from August. Along with a grinder, ESE pods will provide retailers with another upsell opportunity.
