If you are a coffee lover like me, you are going to love the DeLonghi Dinamica fully automatic coffee maker & espresso machine. Brewed fresh each cup; the machine offers espresso, drip-style coffee, or over ice coffee. Make it how you want with programmable brew strengths and sizes. With amazingly smooth and rich flavored coffee with a crema top.
Cut to the case and view the DeLonghi Dinamica ECAM35025SB Espresso Machine now or read on for the full review.
A warm cup of coffee on a chilly day is so comforting. But on a hot day, I need an iced coffee. The DeLonghi Dinamica gives me the best of both worlds. It is the first and only fully automatic coffee machine with TrueBrew over ice coffee technology. Stop buying expensive coffee shop coffee and invest in a machine that will give you coffee shop quality right at home.
Table of Contents
- Features and Functionalities
- Pros of the DeLonghi Dinamica
- Cons of the DeLonghi Dinamica
- Programming
- Milk Frothing
- Grinding
- What coffee beans are recommended for this type of grinder?
- How to clean
- Common Questions about the Automatic Espresso Machine
- Warranty
- Should You Choose A Fully Automatic or A Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine?
- Accessories
- Make a Specialty Coffee
- Who Should Buy it?
- Final Verdict
- Where to Buy?
- More Product Reviews
Features and Functionalities
Once you turn on the Dinamica espresso machine, it only takes about 40 seconds to heat up and it’s ready to brew. The front screen is easy to use to select your favorite drink. First, you will choose your coffee strength, anywhere from extra light to extra strong. Next, choose from single or double shot espresso, drip coffee, or iced coffee. It features a built-in grinder for freshly ground coffee every time. You also have the option to froth your favorite milk for cappuccinos and lattes.
Pros of the DeLonghi Dinamica
- Heats up in 40 seconds
- TrueBrew to make full-bodied iced coffee
- Tastes great, really smooth and never bitter
- Milk frother can froth milk or just heat milk
- Adjustable spout for different cup sizes
- Energy saving which turns off after a certain amount of time not in use
- Compact, fits under the counter
For me, there is a lot to love about this machine! It has a large storage space for coffee beans so I don’t have to refill it very often. It makes a really smooth, good-tasting coffee in 2 minutes or less. The iced coffee is full-flavored and not watery. I get to customize what kind of drink I feel like. I mostly make lattes, drip coffees, and iced coffees. And can steam my milk. It tastes just as good as an expensive coffee shop coffee!
Cons of the DeLonghi Dinamica
- More difficult to set up
- Takes time to learn the machine
- Have to read the manual to program
- Can’t brew a whole pot of coffee
- No continual water supply, water tank needs refilling
- Price (around $999)
I will tell you that you will definitely have to read the manual in order to program and set up the coffee maker initially. It can be a little difficult to set up but once you set it up and learn the system it is easy to use.
What annoyed me about the machine when I first got it is; when you turn on the machine it does a manual rinse cycle. It pours a small about of hot water out of the coffee spouts and does this when you turn the machine both on and off. It does this to clean and heat the machine’s boiler and internal circuits. I have since learned to get used to it though.
Programming
Does this machine brew a full-size cup of coffee or just espresso?
Using the long button you can brew a full-sized cup of coffee. I have my machine programmed to go through 2 brew cycles to achieve this. I love that it only takes approximately 2 minutes to turn on the machine and brew a cup of coffee.
Can you program your favorite drinks?
You can program the amount of beans and water. My long button is programmed to brew a whole mug full but goes through 2 cycles of grinding beans and brewing the achieve. However, the strength of the coffee you will select each time.
Milk Frothing
You can easily froth milk by pushing the steam button. Then adjust the wand to cappuccino and wait a few seconds for it to heat up. Then turn the dial to froth milk for your favorite drinks. You can also simply heat milk or water without frothing to make tea or hot chocolate. Most types of milk and milk alternatives work with this wand (cow’s, soy, almond, rice, coconut, etc.) giving you more versatility to make the perfect cup of coffee.
Make sure the wand gets cleaned after each use to prevent build-up and clogging. I forgot to do it a couple of times and milk crusted on the inside causing an error. I was able to clean it and fix the error, however, it could have been prevented by cleaning the wand after each use.
Grinding
Adjustable Burr grinder for customizable ground size and strength.
What coffee beans are recommended for this type of grinder?
Good quality, good-tasting beans are best for super-automatic espresso machines. Pick a roast based on your personal preference (light, medium, or dark roast). Super oily or flavored beans aren’t recommended as they may clog the machine.
How to clean
Delonghi Dinamica cleaning is super easy! It has a dishwasher-safe drip tray and a removable water tank to make cleaning quick and easy. The exterior can be easily wiped with a damp cloth. Most machines come with a water filter resulting in fewer calcium deposits meaning less cleaning and descaling needed.
How to Descale DeLonghi Dinamica
The machine will notify you when it is time to descale. There will be a light on the front screen telling you when to do so. The machine comes with a descaling solution which you pour into the water tank then follow the directions in the manual to descale. This helps to eliminate built-up residue.
Common Questions about the Automatic Espresso Machine
Can this machine be hooked up to a water line?
This machine cannot be hooked up to a water line so you will have to refill the water reservoir as often as needed (I refill mine every couple of days).
What are the size of the water and bean reservoirs?
The bean hopper holds 10.5 ounces of whole beans (just under a standard bag of coffee). The water reservoir holds approximately 60 fluid ounces of water.
Can you use Ground Coffee?
You can use ground coffee and the machine comes with a scoop to ensure you the right amount of ground coffee needed.
Can you Adjust the Espresso Temperature?
You can adjust the temperature by following the instructions in the manual. The temperature options are low, medium, high, and maximum.
Warranty
DeLonghi Dinamica coffee machine has a 2 Year Warranty + 1 additional year if you register your product.
Should You Choose A Fully Automatic or A Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine?
Fully automatic machines do everything for you. They grind, heat water, brew, clean, and steam. A semi-automatic may do some of the same functions but won’t do it all. The downside of the fully automatic is that it is harder to learn, program, and is also more expensive.
Accessories
Make a Specialty Coffee
Make your own Cinnamon Dolce Syrup
Who Should Buy it?
The Dinamica is a great machine if you are looking for an automatic machine that can give you coffee shop quality at home. It is great for people who like espresso drinks, iced drinks, and enjoy coffee with steamed milk. It would make a great machine for your home or in a company break room.
Final Verdict
This super-automatic espresso machine allows for fully customizable fresh, smooth-tasting drinks. Offering coffee shop quality right at home. It gives you options to choose espresso, drip coffee, or iced coffee and allows you to steam milk. A great machine for coffee lovers!
Hi – How did you manage to program a custom drink to go through two cycles?
Please refer to p.13 in the manual that came with the machine under “customizing strength and quantity” to help you program. Press the bean button and select the strength. Press and hold the icon of the coffee you want to customize. Once the icon flashes and alarm lights flash 4 times, release the icon. The machine will make the coffee and when it has reached the amount you want press the coffee icon again. The quantity and strength will now be programmed for that button. When you push the button the next time it will likely go through 2 cycles of brewing to achieve the amount you programmed. It is such a nice feature once you have it programmed!
Hi Stacy, you mention making drip coffee using the lungo option. Isn’t a lungo actually a stronger form of espresso (more caffeine) vs typical cup of coffee that is less caffeine? I bought this machine hoping to make a classic cup of coffee as well as espressos and I don’t see how this makes a classic drip style cup.
Hi Katelyn, I am sorry for the confusion. You will actually use the long button (not the lungo button) to achieve drip-style coffee. You can program the button with the amount of water you want to use and the strength of the brew. I have my long button programmed to push through 250ml of water which is a little over 8 ounces. You can either select the strength of the brew each time you brew a cup or program it how you like. I hope this helps!
Can you tell me how to program it so I get the 8oz of coffee? Right now I’m lucky to get half a cup :/ Thanks!
Hi Katelyn, Please refer to p.13 in the manual that came with the machine under “customizing strength and quantity.” Press the bean button and select the strength. Press and hold the icon of the coffee you want to customize (the long button). Once the icon flashes and alarm lights flash 4 times, release the icon. The machine will make the coffee and when it has reached the amount you want press the coffee icon again. The quantity and strength will now be programmed for that button. Hope this helps!
The review says, “The bean hopper holds 20 pounds of beans.” That’s a lot of beans! haha
Oh wow, that is a lot of beans! Thank you for bringing that error to my attention Steve. The mistake has been fixed.