Customer Reviews

DeLonghi EAM3200 Magnifica Super Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have had this espresso maker for a week now and it is everything I have wanted in a coffee machine. I have owned 2 other super automatics in the last 5-7 years - a Saeco which cost about half this one and a Jura/Capresso which cost more than twice as much. I think the Magnifica so far is the best of the three for my needs.

The Saeco made good coffee, but was messy and difficult to clean. I splurged on the Jura thinking I would like all the electronic control over the process. I liked its automatic cleaning process and thoroughly enjoyed the machine - until it broke. With no user access to its mechanism, I could not repair it.

The Magnifica is a perfect compromise, and the compromise is in price only. I don't miss the electronic LCD readout of the Jura one bit. The signal lights of the Magnifica provide the same information. And I actually find the manual adjustments for coffee amount and strength to be much easier to use and change compared to the electronic settings on the Jura.

The Magnifica has all the features of the Jura, including the automatic rinse on startup and closeout. The main difference is that the brewing mechanism will need to be cleaned regularly. I actually see that as an advantage since I will have access to it and can maintain it.

I have never used the frothing mechanism on any of the machines so I can't draw any conclusions about them. But if you want a machine that automatically brews great coffee with a minimum of fuss, and doesn't cost $2K, this is the machine for you.

This machine, in my opinion, is the best machine for the money. I compared and researched for two months, compared to Saeco, Jura or Solis the Magnifica line is well built and designed to last. I inspected the insides of all the machines and it seems that the advantage to Delonghi's late introduction to the "super-automatic" market was an improved brewing system.

The grinder is fast and efficient; the grinds are deposited directly into the brew system for brewing. In other machines, the grinder is far from the brew system, and the grinds are sent through a long tube before getting to the brew system. With ground coffee that sits in the tube, you are not brewing your cup of coffee, but the coffee the person before you requested. That defeats the whole purpose of freshly-brewed espresso.

The espresso is perfect on this machine, great color, texture and of course crema. The frothing is a no-brainer; just use a cold stainless steel pitcher with cold milk and you will create rich micro-foam. Make sure you use a large enough pitcher as the milk will double and even triple in volume. As other people have said, the frother might be too good, it would be nice to have some control on the frothing. For simplicity, the frother is very productive.

The Magnifica is so easy to clean; the inside of this machine is kept so clean all on its own. Just remove the drip tray and used coffee container to wash, then rinse the compact brew system under hot water.

The operation of the machine is a little tricky. READ THE MANUAL!! Many of the problems users encounter can be resolved by going through the manual. The espresso comes out hot, but with such a small amount of liquid (1-2 oz) in a cold cup, it will definitely cool down. Warm up the brew system by pressing the Decalcification button once before brewing, this will release some hot water. Also warm up your cups!! This is a must for any espresso machine. Also, if you need to brew again after frothing it will take some time to cool down the machine to the proper temperature for brewing. But as the user manual states, release some hot water through the frother while waiting for the brew lights to stop flashing. It takes me only 10-15 seconds to go from frothing to brewing again.

Anyways, my only dilemma now is trying to find the right blend of beans. After all the espresso doses I have had, I am starting to get very picky. The Magnifica comes with a can of Illy, and I find myself comparing every other blend to Illy, it is that good. But, I can't afford to spend $16 (CAN$) per can, which is more than triple the cost of other brands. I recommend finding a local roaster and trying their fresh blends.

My research included contacting two previous Magnifica reviewers that have had the machine for over a year now. They both stood by their 5-star reviews, and were completely satisfied with their machines. Thanks for your responses, Stephen and James.

If you are looking for a reliable good quality espresso machine, the Magnifica EAM3200 can deliver.

UPDATE (AUG. 5, 2008):

ALMOST 3 YEARS NOW AND STILL WORKING JUST AS NEW. I HAVE NO REGRETS AND WOULD RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT TO ANYONE LOOKING FOR AN AUTOMATIC MACHINE. FRESH COFFEE BEANS IS A MUST, AND ONLY THEN CAN YOU ENJOY THIS MACHINE TO ITS FULLEST. ONLY CON IS THE GRINDER SETTINGS, I DON'T SEE MUCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANY OF THE SETTINGS, SO TRYING TO MAKE A STRONGER ESPRESSO WITH CERTAIN BEANS IS DIFFICULT.

5 STARS AND HOLDING STRONG!!!

This was the best price point I could find for a super-automatic espresso maker. It was also among the most highly rated by other customers. The unit has been great! I've had it for 4 months. My friends are always amazed by the quality of the espresso and they all want one of these machines too, now.

A few tips:

- DeLonghi does a factory test to make sure everything works right, so don't be surprised if you open the package and see a drop or two of water in the water reservoir and/or a few coffee grinds.

- The frothing wand doesn't swing out as far as I would like (it extends about 1.5" away from the unit, so you need to buy a milk frothing pitcher with a relatively small diameter so you can move the frother around in the pitcher with ease. I bought a 20oz pitcher (so I could froth enough for 2 lattes at a time) with about a 4" diameter and it's a bit of a challenge moving the frother around evenly.

- milk frothing takes some getting used to -- buy a gallon of milk and just practice.

- since the unit takes both whole beans and pre-ground, it's easy to switch between decaf and regular by just keeping pre-ground decaf on-hand and regular whole beans (or vice versa :-) ).

April 2011 update - 5.25 years later the machine works great. Two observations: 1) on-off knob broke. it is plastic. steamer cannot function now so I need to buy a new handle. appears to be easy to replace once I source the part - $5 or so. The steamer seems to leak a little water now when making espresso. doesn't seem to affect its operation though.

After doing the math on the milk, coffee, and even the syrup shots -- and realizing that I can make for $.50 - under $1.00 (size and shots depending) what I have been readily paying more than $3.00 for this quickly became a no-brainer.

I was concerned at first about the manual knobs (I'm a gadget kind of person) vice the electronic display... but I don't miss it one bit, and I like how quickly I can switch the quantity and strength of the coffee using the knobs instead. Speaking of "quick"... to reiterate what someone else already said, after stoping the steam function, simply open the steam valve for a few seconds (literally) and you will be ready to make more espresso right away -- there is NOT a long wait between making drinks when using this method, and it is definately pointed out in the manual.

I did "have" to play quite a bit, and drink up some of the savings initially to figure out certain things: such as how many ounces of espresso would be coming out with the water quantity knob settings, etc. I had a quite a caffeine buzz the first full day after bringing the machine home. Actually... right out of the box it makes terrific espresso drinks -- it is more a testiment to the quality that lead to all of the experimenation. We were so impressed with the quality that we now basically have a full coffee bar right in our kitchen! Syrups, sprkinles, you name it! My wife and I don't miss famous-name coffee house one bit! And so, I am still finding myself experimenting with various recipes for old favorites and inventing new ones.

Some tips from my useage so far:

Get 2 or 3 shot glasses with Oz measurements, helpful for measuring espresso output, syrups, and even the milk. Keeping track of how you make each drink, and making only one change at a time will get you on track with your personal favorites quicker.

If you think of it more like an exact art, like baking a cake versus making a stew or a chili, you'll get better results. I have my shots at about 1.5oz for a single shot, and 3 oz for a double shot. I've been using 0.5 oz of syrups (and never more than 1.0 oz if combining syrups), and then for milk I use anywhere from 2.0 oz to 6.0 oz depending on whether I am making a cappucino or a latte, and of course cup size.

Practice, practice, practice! Get to learn how to make "microfoam" froth -- anyone can make big sloppy bubbles... go for a velvety smooth froth and you won't be disappointed! Do research online.. there are a ton of sites with great hints! The only "negative" thing I can say about the frother on this system is that there is no option use only a steam wand, vs. the plastic frothing attachment. On the upside, you can make "decent" froth without even doing anything... litterally just stick your frothing pitcher underneath -- no need for any fancy gyrations at all... just stand there and breathe. Again, due to the quality of the coffee though, in striving to make absolutely you-know-what-retentively perfect foam I wish I could try my hand at doing it the "hard" way. Be sure to start with a cold frothing pitcher and cold milk, and get one of those frothing thermometers that clips to the pitcher -- get your milk over 145, but under 170 (or you may scald the milk). Others who complain about drinks not hot enough, may be eliminating this part and adding relatively tepid milk to their coffee.

The Illy coffee costs, like that which comes in the box, costs about twice as much as other brands, but it has such an awesome flavor I find that I can use half as much.

Be sure to preheat your shot glasses and/or cups by using the hot water nozzle -- in my experience the "warmer" tray doesn't really warm up the cups at all (even after exceeding the 15-20 minute wait suggested in the manual). It does however make a great place to set your shot glasses and/or cups while waiting to brew.

My unit seems to use the same amount of coffee for a single or double cup (or "pull"), even though the manual says that the waste ground removal tray can hold up to 14 single cups, or 7 double cups. (I got pretty sientific on this, weighing the tray, grouds, etc. before and after various pulls); Either way though, the expense, even is it using the double amount, is still WAY under what your costs are at the coffee house.

Be sure to allow the machine to come completely to a "stop" after first turning it on, before placing a cup under the pour spouts -- it sends an initial flow of hot water to clean and heat the elements.

Also... Read the Manual!! Watch the Video! Then read the manual again!! I have a hunch that most people who are having issues with their machines didn't read the manual.

Cleanup is SOOOO simple! You will love this machine... even if you hate to clean your other appliances, you will be able to handle this one. Everything comes off/out so easily for a quick rinse ... no fuss, no muss.

The coffee, milk, and drinks, have all been wonderfully hot and delicious! With our new "coffee bar" (even in our small kitchen), I can hardly wait for our guests to come over this holiday season and share our passion for great coffee drinks.

After doing the math on the milk, coffee, and even the syrup shots -- and realizing that I can make for $.50 - under $1.00 (size and shots depending) what I have been readily paying more than $3.00 for this quickly became a no-brainer.

I was concerned at first about the manual knobs (I'm a gadget kind of person) vice the electronic display... but I don't miss it one bit, and I like how quickly I can switch the quantity and strength of the coffee using the knobs instead. Speaking of "quick"... to reiterate what someone else already said, after stoping the steam function, simply open the steam valve for a few seconds (literally) and you will be ready to make more espresso right away -- there is NOT a long wait between making drinks when using this method, and it is definately pointed out in the manual.

I did "have" to play quite a bit, and drink up some of the savings initially to figure out certain things: such as how many ounces of espresso would be coming out with the water quantity knob settings, etc. I had a quite a caffeine buzz the first full day after bringing the machine home. Actually... right out of the box it makes terrific espresso drinks -- it is more a testiment to the quality that lead to all of the experimenation. We were so impressed with the quality that we now basically have a full coffee bar right in our kitchen! Syrups, sprkinles, you name it! My wife and I don't miss famous-name coffee house one bit! And so, I am still finding myself experimenting with various recipes for old favorites and inventing new ones.

Some tips from my useage so far:

Get 2 or 3 shot glasses with Oz measurements, helpful for measuring espresso output, syrups, and even the milk. Keeping track of how you make each drink, and making only one change at a time will get you on track with your personal favorites quicker.

If you think of it more like an exact art, like baking a cake versus making a stew or a chili, you'll get better results. I have my shots at about 1.5oz for a single shot, and 3 oz for a double shot. I've been using 0.5 oz of syrups (and never more than 1.0 oz if combining syrups), and then for milk I use anywhere from 2.0 oz to 6.0 oz depending on whether I am making a cappucino or a latte, and of course cup size.

Practice, practice, practice! Get to learn how to make "microfoam" froth -- anyone can make big sloppy bubbles... go for a velvety smooth froth and you won't be disappointed! Do research online.. there are a ton of sites with great hints! The only "negative" thing I can say about the frother on this system is that there is no option use only a steam wand, vs. the plastic frothing attachment. On the upside, you can make "decent" froth without even doing anything... litterally just stick your frothing pitcher underneath -- no need for any fancy gyrations at all... just stand there and breathe. Again, due to the quality of the coffee though, in striving to make absolutely you-know-what-retentively perfect foam I wish I could try my hand at doing it the "hard" way. Be sure to start with a cold frothing pitcher and cold milk, and get one of those frothing thermometers that clips to the pitcher -- get your milk over 145, but under 170 (or you may scald the milk). Others who complain about drinks not hot enough, may be eliminating this part and adding relatively tepid milk to their coffee.

The Illy coffee costs, like that which comes in the box, costs about twice as much as other brands, but it has such an awesome flavor I find that I can use half as much.

Be sure to preheat your shot glasses and/or cups by using the hot water nozzle -- in my experience the "warmer" tray doesn't really warm up the cups at all (even after exceeding the 15-20 minute wait suggested in the manual). It does however make a great place to set your shot glasses and/or cups while waiting to brew.

My unit seems to use the same amount of coffee for a single or double cup (or "pull"), even though the manual says that the waste ground removal tray can hold up to 14 single cups, or 7 double cups. (I got pretty sientific on this, weighing the tray, grouds, etc. before and after various pulls); Either way though, the expense, even is it using the double amount, is still WAY under what your costs are at the coffee house.

Be sure to allow the machine to come completely to a "stop" after first turning it on, before placing a cup under the pour spouts -- it sends an initial flow of hot water to clean and heat the elements.

Also... Read the Manual!! Watch the Video! Then read the manual again!! I have a hunch that most people who are having issues with their machines didn't read the manual.

Cleanup is SOOOO simple! You will love this machine... even if you hate to clean your other appliances, you will be able to handle this one. Everything comes off/out so easily for a quick rinse ... no fuss, no muss.

The coffee, milk, and drinks, have all been wonderfully hot and delicious! With our new "coffee bar" (even in our small kitchen), I can hardly wait for our guests to come over this holiday season and share our passion for great coffee drinks.

After reading, researching, and desiring one of these super-automatics for years -- yes, years -- I finally took the plunge and purchased this unit. There were two things that kept me from buying a machine until now: 1. Price 2. Dependability. I kept looking at the other models (you know them) and saw that they had potential problems after 6-12 months. I didn't want to feel like a sucker when my $500-1000 unit quit working so soon. I also heard that customer service at any of the companies was questionable.

Here is how I addressed BOTH of these issues. I purchased a unit from BedBath&Beyond and spent $700 - 20% discount which (at least where I live in Texas) we receive at our house almost monthly. So a total of $560 + Tax. BB&B also provides an almost limitless return policy on items that aren't working correctly. I assume that I won't have any luck if it breaks in 10 years, but I received several assurances that I'm covered for at least several -- no questions asks, no dealing with the manufacture.

As far as what I like about the unit. For < $600 I got a unit that is fully adjustable for grind size, grind amount, and coffee amount. In addition it has a by-pass for adding your own coffee grinds (instead of grinding beans internally) which works great for adding decaf for visitors. I've been super happy so far, I'll update this review if I have any issues.

I know that this may sound like a ad for BB&B but it's not, just wanted to throw the idea out there for someone else that is looking.

Don't be fooled by the 'original' price. I bought my machine in Dec2004 for $849 (military exchange coupon made it $749]--but the new prices on this machine are very good, don't get me wrong. I have used this super-automatic daily for almost 14 months now. Not a single problem, consistent great crema every time. Easy to clean also, and by experience I recommend daily cleaning of the removable brew unit if you make 4-6 cups per day or more (at the very least every other day--the user manual just says 'often' so you have to use your own judgment). Overall inside/outside cleaning takes a couple of minutes a day--easy. Plus it keeps the interior cleaner--if you go a week or two between brew unit cleanings it can get messy in there. Use glass or smooth-bottomed coffee cups--a rough-bottomed mug will scratch the drip-pan tray cover. Using filtered water has helped also I think. My decalcification light has not come on yet but I descaled it anyway today. Descaling is a cinch with the liquid they provide. The corporate office was very responsive to email queries, and they recommended descaling after about 300 cycles with average non-filtered water. That would be about 4 months for us, but with filtered water (undersink culligan-style system) it was still running strong after 14 months with no need to descale. It also performed flawlessly during a week of heavy use with a visit from relatives from Denmark and Switzerland (we went through over 2 water-reservoir-fulls each morning and another 1.5 for afternoon coffee), so it probably could survive an office environment--but only if you trust your co-workers not to be stupid, right?

I have had my Magnifica for three weeks now, and I have been very pleased with it. I had been reluctant to purchase a super-auto machine, thinking that the promised convenience must necessarily be at the expense of the resulting espresso . . . I have been pleased to discover that my concerns are unfounded. It has performed flawlessly at both producing espresso and at steaming/frothing milk. The machine produces espresso that is commendable, with a pleasant aroma and the much coveted "crema" (light brown layer on top).

I like that this machine does not have an included water purification system that would require me to constantly order overpriced water filters that can only be used in that machine. I can simply use water from my own faucet mounted filter. I also like the control knobs as opposed to the LCD displays I saw on some models. The knobs are intuitive and very easy to use, one for amount brewed, another for strength. Aside from the knobs, the rest of the machine is similarly simple and user friendly. This extends to the included instruction manual and video which were both very helpful and made setup easier than I anticipated. Maintenance is practically non-existent, and to the extent there is some, it is very simple and required only every week or so and indicator lights tell when it is needed. The automatic self cleaning the machine performs at startup and shut down seems to do a good job of keeping the lines clear of coffee residue.

The machine was louder than I had expected, especially during the initial bean-grinding portion of the process. However, after my initial surprise, the noise is tolerable. The coffee is not as hot as I would ideally like, even when using the cup warmer before hand. The machine requires a surprisingly long time to heat back up for preparing more espresso after the steam wand is used. It seems to take longer to heat back up to the espresso function from the steam function than it does to heat up for the espresso function after the machine is initially turned on (which I do not understand). The steam wand frother works very well, maybe too well, as it can froth the milk into a huge head before the milk has heated sufficiently . . . and the frother does have to be taken off and cleaned thoroughly after each use.

I am very pleased with my Magnifica. It produces wonderful espresso and coffee drinks, while it's flaws are few and trivial.

THIS IS WAY TOO MUCH MONEY FOR A DISREPUTABLE MANUFACTURER THAT DOESN'T STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT! Although they are superb machines if they are functioning (and the espresso IS wonderful!), DeLonghi WILL USE ANY EXCUSE NOT TO HONOR THE WARRANTY IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG! Here's my experience: When I ordered my coffee/espresso machine from DeLonghi, it was "backordered" and took over a month to ship. A little over 10 months after I received it, it broke! NO MORE FUNCTIONING! NO MORE DELICIOUS BREW! Since it had been over a year since I ORDERED it, they said the one-year warranty was expired, despite the fact I had proof I had received it less than a year before (I still had the shipping confirmation). I explained this numerous times. For a couple of months, the various people I talked to kept telling me they would "look into it", but they never called back. Finally, when it actually WAS over a year since I had received the machine, when I called to check on the status of my warranty claim, they said, "Your warranty has expired. You've had this product over one year. There is nothing we can do." I highly recommend you find something from a manufacturer that stands behind their product!

I took "Greg's" advice (see review above) and bought it at Bed, Bath & Beyond and saved 20%. Great tip, Greg. The machine is great and great looking and worked as advertised. Except, I like Lattes made with steamed milk and just "a little" bit of foam. This unit does not really have a steam wand, it has a "frother" attachment which produces lots and lots of foam. I used less milk and I used more milk but I could not get it right--the frother with its foam just overtook the milk pitcher. The problem is you cannot take off the frother and use a steam wand because under the frother is a plastic tube that is held in place by (you guessed it) the frother. If you like really large quantities of foam this will do it for you. So, went back to BBB and bought the Saeco Vspresso machine. Retails for $999 but (thanks again Greg) with my coupon I bought it for $800. It has all the features of the Delonghi plus you can remove the frother and the steam wand is available to use alone. It also has a stainless steel boiler and my wife loves this part--it is more compact on the counter than the Delonghi. Again, this machine worked as advertised and would please most people.

2 WEEK UPDATE: The steam/froth knob stopped working on the Saeco V spresso today. Not acceptable on a $1000 machine. I returned it for the Delonghi and saved about $250. So far, so good.