The fascinating world of coffee continues to attract more and more coffee lovers. As a coffee lover, I am always on the lookout for the most suitable coffee machines for each type of preparation. This incessant search has led me to compare two of the most popular models on the market: Philips 3200 vs De’Longhi Magnifica S, in order to find out whether they really live up to their renowned reputation.
Both have excellent reviews and stand out as outstanding choices in the superautomatic coffee machine market. Although they are priced slightly differently, they are in a similar economic range. Below, I will present the main differences and similarities between the two, so you can determine which one best suits your preferences. Let’s get on with this exciting comparison!
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Philips 3200 vs De’Longhi Magnifica S: Main differences between the coffee machines
First of all, we look at the main differences between the two coffee machines, which are the ones that will help us the most in making our decision:
Milk container
As you will see below, both coffee machines have a frother with which they can create frothed milk. However, the Philips 3200 has an advantage over its rival in that it has a 260 ml milk container. However, there is also an option to purchase the coffee machine without the carafe accessory.
Touch screen
Another difference between the two coffee machines is that only the Philips 3200 has a touch screen. In the case of the De’Longhi Magnifica S, the display is not touch-sensitive, but consists of several buttons and a wheel for selecting the type of beverage and the grind setting. In contrast, the selection of parameters on the Philips 3200 is done with the touch screen, which gives it a more modern look and feel. However, to be perfectly fair, this is not a substantial difference, but rather an aesthetic one.
Coffee bean container volume
Both the Philips 3200 and the De’Longhi Magnifica S are coffee machines in which coffee beans can be ground directly. One of the differences is the capacity of the bean container, which is 250 grams in the De’Longhi and 275 grams in the Philips. OK, it’s not a big difference, but 25 grams of coffee is 10% of the tank, so it’s worth bearing in mind.
Grind Grades
As you know, superautomatic coffee machines incorporate a grinder that grinds the coffee beans on the spot, to maintain all their aroma and intensity for longer in a more concentrated form. In this case, the grinder of the Philips 3200 is ceramic, and has 12 grinding levels to choose from. The De’Longhi Magnifica S, on the other hand, has a conical steel grinder with 13 grind settings, one more.
Philips 3200 vs De’Longhi Magnifica S: The most relevant similarities
As we mentioned in the introduction, there is a reason why they are two of the most popular on the market. Among other things, because they share the following qualities:
Power and pressure
The two coffee machines have the same pressure and practically the same power. Both the Philips and the De’Longhi have 15 bars of pressure, a figure that is more than sufficient for this type of coffee machine. In fact, to give you an idea, all those that exceed 9-10 bars are excellent.
In terms of power, the Philips 3200 has 1500 watts, while the De’Longhi has 1450 watts. However, the difference is so minimal that it cannot be classified as a difference. Even less so when, after testing both, we didn’t notice anything different.
Water tank capacity
Another quality that both coffee machines share is that the volume of the water tank is the same, 1.8 litres. Therefore, they can make the same amount of coffees, although this will vary depending on the type of coffees you make, because not all of them require the same amount of water. However, both coffee makers can make the same number of cups.
Coffee beans or ground coffee
If you are wondering whether you can use both coffee beans and ground coffee, the answer is yes, in both coffee machines. Both have a tank for ground coffee, in case you have coffee at home and don’t know what to do with it. I particularly use it when I want to drink decaffeinated coffee, so I use the decaffeinated coffee already ground and the normal coffee beans.
Variety of drinks
As both coffee machines are equipped with the milk frothing system, you can prepare 4 different varieties: espresso, American coffee, cappuccino or latte macchiatto. In addition, you can also heat just the water to prepare infusions, using the water frother.
Several cups at once
If you notice, both coffee machines have a double coffee spout, which means that you can make two coffees at the same time. But only if they are espressos, because you can’t make two long coffees at the same time. In addition, the double spout also allows us to make a longer coffee than usual, with a double shot.
Built-in milk system
It is also easy to see, at a glance, that the two coffee machines featured in this review have a frother on the side, with which we can make milk cream. The Philips 3200 has the two-part LatteGo system, which makes making cappuccino-style coffees very easy. In the case of the De’Longhi Magnifica S, the system it uses is very similar, Advanced Cappuccino, with a frother as the main element for creating dense milk foam.
Philips 3200 vs De’Longhi Magnifica S: which coffee machine should we choose?
Finally, we have to weigh up the pros and cons of each to decide which one to choose. And to be honest, I found it harder than I expected, because I would choose both. However, if I had to choose just one, it would be the Philips 3200. Actually, I base my decision on small details, as they share most of the relevant functionalities, such as pressure, power, milk frothing system or the preparation of different beverages.
Therefore, it is the small details, such as the fact that the Philips has a touch screen, or that it has a larger bean hopper, that lead me to choose this model. In addition, the LatteGo system creates a denser milk foam than the De’Longhi’s, although you have to be very exquisite to notice it. However, as these two coffee machines are so closely matched, any slight difference counts.
That said, it’s up to you to choose the most interesting superautomatic coffee machine. But you can rest assured that whichever one you choose, it will be a very good choice.