Delonghi or Arzum Okka Coffee Machine? The Real Question: Espresso or Turkish

The Main Difference: Type of Coffee

Delonghi and Okka are not competing for the same thing. Delonghi is an Italian brand, and its most famous machines in Egypt are espresso machines: they push hot water under high pressure through tamped coffee, producing a small, concentrated cup with crema, from which you make cappuccino and latte. Okka is the Turkish coffee machine line from Arzum, the Turkish company: it heats the coffee with water and sugar slowly in a cezve and shuts off right before boiling. A Delonghi machine does not make Turkish coffee, and an Okka does not make espresso.

Distributor and Warranty in Egypt

Arzum has a distributor in Egypt named New Star, and the company states that it is the official distributor and sole agent for Arzum and Okka since 2015, and the Okka Minio page on Amazon Egypt states a 1-year warranty from New Star. Delonghi is sold in Egypt at major appliance stores, and there is a store selling the Dedica with an official 2-year warranty. But on Amazon Egypt, there are many versions of the Dedica labeled "international warranty", and one version has importer details from India. This means with Delonghi, you must read the exact warranty of the seller in front of you, while with Okka the warranty is clearer.

Where Was It Manufactured?

The Arzum Okka Minio OK0050 page on Amazon Egypt states that the country of origin is China, and the additional water tank OK701 from Arzum is stated to be made in Turkey. The country of origin for the Dedica and Magnifica was not written on the pages we reviewed, so ask the seller if this matters to you.

Daily Refilling and Cleaning

• Okka: Coffee, water, sugar, and a button, then you wash the cezve. The easiest thing possible, and anyone at home can use it from day one.
• Dedica: Needs practice, because the grind size, amount, and tamping make a difference in taste. After every time, you clean the filter and steam wand.
• Magnifica S: Grinds and makes the cup on its own, but needs emptying the grounds and water, regular cleaning, and descaling.

Coffee and Cost Per Cup

Turkish coffee is available at any coffee shop in Egypt at various prices, so a cup from Okka is cheap. Espresso requires "espresso grind" or whole beans for the Magnifica, and this is not available everywhere with the same ease and is usually more expensive. The Dedica also accepts ready coffee pods, but pods are more expensive than ground coffee. In both cases, Egyptian water has limescale, so descaling every 1 or 2 months is mandatory for both machines.

Space and Electricity

The Okka Minio is small and fits in any corner, and the Dedica is very slim and suitable for narrow kitchens. The Magnifica is much bigger and needs empty space above it to fill the coffee and water. In all cases, make sure the machine is 220 volts, and that the plug is suitable for your outlets.

Frequent Complaints

• Delonghi: The type of warranty is unclear in many versions, and a buyer said that the machine he received was "second grade" and he couldn't register its warranty. Also, there is a version of the Magnifica whose table lists 120 volts.
• Okka: Many new models still have few reviews, and the power ratings on the Rich Pro Plus pages do not match. A buyer said that the external water tank OK701 does not work well without water pressure.

If the Household Wants Both

One machine will not make Turkish coffee and espresso well. If some people at home drink Turkish coffee and others drink cappuccino, the Okka Minio and Dedica together are often cheaper than the Magnifica machine alone. And if your most important thing is milk drinks rather than the espresso itself, the Okka Rich Pro Plus makes milk and froth alongside Turkish coffee.