Upgrade Delonghi Arte 685/695 to 885 or 890 – is the tuning worth it?

Anyone looking for an affordable portafilter machine will sooner or later come across the Delonghi Arte series. The 685, 885, and now the 890 models are especially popular among beginners – not least because of their attractive price. But what really sets the models apart? Can an older Arte be upgraded? And which one is most worth it?

Basically: the higher the model number, the newer the version. The Arte 685 was the first in the series and quickly became a bestseller. No surprise – for little money, you get a compact espresso machine that delivers solid results. Its successor, the 885, brought some useful improvements, and the 890 takes things even further.
Technically, the 685 and 885 are largely identical in terms of brew group. Delonghi seems to stick to its proven brewing system even in the 890. Why change something that works?
However, the models differ significantly in terms of accessories and usability. The 685 had a very simple steam wand, making it difficult to froth milk properly. The included plastic tamper was also practically useless.
With the 885, Delonghi improved exactly these areas: the new steam wand performs much better, and the included accessories are significantly higher quality – including a decent milk pitcher and sturdier tamper. Still, there are drawbacks: fitting two espresso cups under the portafilter is hardly possible. Also, the drip tray with its almost closed cover plate is impractical.
The Arte 890 goes a step further with a touch display and wider drip tray. It looks more modern – but do you really need a display on a manual espresso machine? That’s up to you.

Thanks to the widespread use of the 685, the second-hand market is currently well stocked. If you're looking to save money, you can find a real bargain here. From personal experience: the machine is solid and reliable – even after years.
When buying used, there are a few things to consider. For example, it's worth knowing the water hardness at the seller's location. With very hard water, limescale can be an issue. But with a well-maintained machine, you're usually safe. And if something does break: spare parts are easy to find, and many repairs can be done yourself with some skill.

Absolutely! If you want to tune your 685, you can fix most of the original weaknesses quite cheaply – especially the steam wand. The original wand is more of a "foam faker" in the worst sense.
With a few spare parts, you can retrofit the high-quality steam wand from the 885. You'll need:

1. The steam nozzle from the Arte 885
2. A suitable hose seal
3. A clamp for the connection
4. Steam valve from the 885

The included tools with the Arte 685 are – let’s be honest – not very useful. The so-called “tamper spoon” should go straight into the bin. And the included portafilter is a bit of a fake: the built-in basket has only one hole, artificially increasing pressure. That creates crema – even with old coffee – but has nothing to do with real espresso.
If you're using freshly ground coffee, invest in proper accessories:

1. An espresso grinder, e.g. the Eureka Mignon
2. A proper tamper and open portafilter with 51 mm diameter (e.g. by Joe Frex or the Kaffeemacher)

A touch display like on the Arte 890 can’t be retrofitted – but it’s possible to improve the drip tray functionally and visually. The narrow, almost closed tray of the Arte 685 and 885 is often impractical. An alternative: larger drip grids, as used in beer tap systems. These are usually made of stainless steel and offer more space for cups.
A popular model is the BieTal drip grid. However, it doesn’t fit in front of the machine without modifications. The front part of the Arte's plastic base must be removed. Structural changes like this should only be done on out-of-warranty machines.
Since removing the foot weakens stability, it’s best to mount the machine on a sturdy base – like a solid wood plate with a recess for the machine’s foot. The Arte can then be screwed from underneath into the wood. You may need to drill additional holes to reach the original screw points with a screwdriver.
For more safety, use anti-slip mats. That way, the machine sits securely – even when locking in the portafilter – and won’t slide off the shelf. With this mod, the drip tray becomes far more practical and visually brings the Arte closer to the 890 model.