De’Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus Review: The Best Dedica Yet?

The original De’Longhi Dedica became enormously popular for one obvious reason:

it's tiny.

At around 15cm wide, it brought espresso into kitchens where a full-sized Sage or bean-to-cup machine simply wasn't practical.

The Dedica Maestro Plus takes that compact formula and makes it considerably more sophisticated.

You still get the narrow body.

You still use a proper portafilter.

But De’Longhi adds something particularly useful for beginners:

automatic milk texturing.

The new Auto LatteArt steam wand can automatically create different milk textures and temperatures, while still letting you use a proper milk jug.

That turns the Maestro Plus into something quite different from the basic Dedica.

It's now a genuine alternative to the Sage Bambino Plus.

Coffee Machine Reviews Verdict

Overall: 9.1/10

Best for: Small kitchens wanting proper espresso with automatic milk assistance.

Avoid if: You don't already own — or don't want to buy — a separate grinder.

Machine type: Compact manual espresso machine

Built-in grinder: No

Milk: Auto LatteArt

Width: Approximately 15cm

Our verdict: The Maestro Plus transforms Dedica from a basic compact espresso machine into a serious beginner-friendly milk-coffee setup.

Dedica Maestro Plus Pros and Cons

Pros

• Exceptionally narrow
• Automatic milk texturing
• Multiple milk temperatures
• Multiple foam textures
• Proper portafilter workflow
• Fast heating
• Hot and cold coffee capability
• Stainless-steel construction
• Beginner-friendly
• Excellent for small kitchens

Cons

• No grinder
• More expensive than basic Dedica
• Still requires dosing and tamping
• Small footprint means compact drip tray
• Integrated-grinder machines may offer better all-in-one value
• Experienced users may prefer fully manual steaming

How Small Is Dedica Maestro Plus?

This remains Dedica's killer feature.

At approximately 15cm wide, the machine can fit into spaces where many espresso machines simply can't.

That matters.

A coffee machine isn't useful if it's too large to remain on the worktop.

But remember the grinder.

A proper setup means:

Dedica Maestro Plus + grinder.

So calculate total worktop space rather than machine width alone.

No Built-In Grinder

Maestro Plus doesn't grind coffee.

You'll need either:

• freshly ground coffee from a capable espresso grinder;
• or pre-ground coffee.

We strongly favour the grinder.

Espresso is extremely sensitive to grind size.

Freshly grinding beans and adjusting grind size to control extraction can transform results.

If you're spending this much on a good espresso machine, don't undermine it with stale pre-ground coffee.

Portafilter Espresso

This isn't capsule coffee.

And it isn't bean-to-cup.

You:

1. grind coffee;
2. dose the basket;
3. tamp;
4. lock in the portafilter;
5. extract;
6. remove the puck.

That's real espresso preparation.

De’Longhi simply makes some other parts of the workflow easier.

Auto LatteArt

This is the feature that separates Maestro Plus from simpler Dedica machines.

The automatic steam system textures milk in a jug.

You can choose different combinations of:

• milk temperature;
• foam texture.

The machine then handles steaming automatically.

That removes one of the biggest barriers for beginners.

Why Automatic Milk Matters

Manual steaming looks easy when a professional barista does it.

Then you try.

The milk screams.

Nothing moves.

You've created hot bubble bath.

Auto LatteArt removes that initial frustration.

You can concentrate on:

• espresso;
• pouring;
• understanding the drink.

And because milk remains in a jug, you still get the opportunity to practise latte art.

Flat White

This is one of the strongest reasons to buy Maestro Plus.

Select a fine milk texture.

Let the machine handle steaming.

Pour over your espresso.

You get far more control over the finished drink than with a basic automatic milk carafe.

Latte

Also excellent.

Choose the appropriate milk settings and let Auto LatteArt prepare the milk.

Because you're pouring it yourself, you can control the final coffee-to-milk ratio.

That's a good compromise between automatic and manual.

Cappuccino

Increase the foam texture and Maestro Plus adapts to cappuccino.

Again, actual milk-texture adjustment is more useful than simply putting three drink names on the control panel.

Espresso Quality

The machine has strong espresso potential.

But your grinder and technique remain extremely important.

The machine can control:

• water;
• pressure;
• temperature;
• programmed volume.

It cannot rescue:

• stale coffee;
• wildly incorrect grind size;
• terrible puck preparation.

That's espresso.

Cold Coffee

Maestro Plus also supports cold-coffee preparation, giving the Dedica platform more versatility than older models.

This makes it more attractive for households where coffee habits change through the year.

But we still view espresso and milk drinks as the primary reason to buy it.

Dedica Maestro Plus vs Sage Bambino Plus

This is the obvious comparison.

Both are compact.

Both use a separate grinder.

Both provide automatic milk assistance.

Dedica Maestro Plus

Particularly strong for:

• extremely narrow footprint;
• Auto LatteArt;
• De’Longhi workflow;
• hot/cold versatility.

Bambino Plus

Particularly strong for:

• Sage espresso platform;
• 54mm portafilter;
• ThermoJet;
• established automatic milk system.

This deserves a full head-to-head.

Dedica Maestro Plus vs Standard Dedica

The standard Dedica is cheaper and simpler.

If you mainly drink espresso or are happy manually frothing milk, the basic model can still make sense.

Maestro Plus earns its extra cost for milk-coffee drinkers.

Automatic milk changes the everyday experience substantially.

Dedica Maestro Plus vs La Specialista Touch

This is really:

separate grinder vs integrated grinder.

La Specialista Touch adds:

• built-in grinder;
• Bean Adapt;
• dosing assistance;
• tamping assistance;
• touchscreen guidance;
• Auto LatteArt.

Maestro Plus is much more compact and modular.

If you already own a grinder, Maestro Plus becomes particularly attractive.

Cleaning

You'll need to clean:

• portafilter;
• basket;
• group area;
• milk jug;
• steam wand;
• drip tray.

The automatic steam system still needs wiping and maintenance.

But there are no internal milk tubes or carafes carrying milk through the machine.

That's a significant advantage.

Who Should Buy Dedica Maestro Plus?

Buy it if:

• your kitchen is small;
• you want proper espresso;
• automatic milk appeals;
• you already own a grinder;
• you want to learn latte art;
• you prefer a modular setup.

Who Shouldn't Buy It?

Look elsewhere if:

• you want an integrated grinder;
• you want one-touch coffee;
• you mainly drink black coffee and don't need Auto LatteArt;
• you don't want to learn puck preparation.

Is Dedica Maestro Plus Worth It?

Yes — particularly for milk-coffee drinkers.

The basic Dedica concept was already excellent:

proper espresso in almost no space.

Maestro Plus addresses one of the biggest remaining difficulties:

milk steaming.

That's a meaningful upgrade rather than simply adding a nicer display.

Final Verdict

Dedica Maestro Plus might be the most interesting Dedica yet.

It's still incredibly narrow.

It's still a genuine portafilter machine.

But Auto LatteArt makes the learning curve dramatically friendlier.

Pair it with a good grinder and you've got a compact setup capable of excellent espresso and genuinely impressive milk drinks.

For small kitchens, that's a compelling combination.

Coffee Machine Reviews Score: 9.1/10

Compactness Score: 9.9/10

Milk Score: 9.5/10

Best for: Compact espresso and automatic microfoam without an integrated grinder.

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