Customer Reviews

Delonghi Magnifica Super Automatic Espresso Machine ESAM 4400

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

 

 

Not purchased via Amazon or this seller - this is just a review of the machine.

I used to use the Breville Die Cast Espresso machine, and I actually loved it. It made good, consistent espresso (once you figured out the nuances). But it was ultimately the nuances and the manual operation that led me to seek out a good super-automatic machine.

DeLonghi was at the top of my list because of a friend of mine who owned one (this exact model, actually). He spoke highly of it, being a pretty serious coffee drinker himself. I have found that the machine has lived up to the expectations he set.

The setup was very simple - the LCD display guides you through the process (supplementing the manual, of course). Starting with all of the default settings for water temperature, grind size, and shot volume, even the very first shot from the machine was good (though the manual warns you may not be satisfied until it has produced 4 or 5). I have been increasingly impressed as I've pulled a few more shots (though probably less than 20 so far)

The automatic timer allows the machine to turn on and warm up at a pre-determined time. So if your morning routine is pretty consistent, you can typically walk straight up to the machine and press a button, and enjoy your coffee 30 seconds later. I've seen people complain that it doesn't automatically make the shot, but this wouldn't be possible considering how the machine works. Before you can pull a shot, it pre-rinses the internal plumbing to ensure that only fresh, hot water is used for the first shot. You wouldn't want that water in your espresso :)

I can't really review the steam wand's operation - I've only used it to add hot water to make an Americano (which worked well).

Cleanup is ridiculously easy. The machine tells you that it needs to be cleaned, which requires you to

- Move the steam wand aside
- Open the door
- Remove the drip tray and waste bin together
- Dump and clean both the drip tray and waste bin
- Re-assemble

It takes like 5 minutes, and you do it once every few days. I believe they quote you 14 shots, more or less.

Overall, I haven't found a single flaw in this machine yet. I'm very impressed.

I agree with the other reviews. I have two of these, a his and hers. We drink a lot of espresso, and had an earlier model that developed a leak at the steam valve. We have had several of the Jura machines, which had short lives and were not easily user serviceable. The coffee from them wasn't as hot and they were more expensive. And that's the real beauty of the DeLonghis. Turn the unit off but still plugged in, open the door and squeeze the two red buttons, out comes the brewunit. So easy! Rinse it with your fingers and pop it back in. Clean everything every couple of weeks and it gives beautiful hot pulls with great crema <crema strongly dependent on the coffee used, for reasons unknown to me. Caffe Vita especially good, my family's choice. I like the more bitter beans>. As with any superautomatic, it seems important to avoid oily beans. They cause trouble. And the ideal grind seems to be within one click of the midpoint on the grindcontrol, otherwise the brewfilter will start to clog if too fine, or give weak brew if too coarse. The long shot gives a good Americano. The wand makes lattes very quickly.
Other points: Even if your water is almost distilled-soft, its not a bad idea to use the Swiss Durgol decalcifier from time to time. Once you set up the hardness number, the machine will let you know when. But the manuals don't say how much water to use. About a quarter of a tank incl cleaner seems correct. The little tape they give you to measure your hardness is tricky. It measured 2-3 yet we know the water here is very soft. In order to keep your warranty, however, you have to set the hardness by what the tape says however. Sigh.
Since I always use a double shot ("strong flavor") the pucks need emptying every seventh time. Easy, because it tells you to. Clean the crud in the bottom of the little bucket so mold doesn't start in. And çlean the tray, fill the water while you're at it, then you don't have to wait when it's low.
With the lesser machine, we noticed trouble when the brewspigots started pulsing a little forward and there was coffee leakage behind it. Then water started appearing below the tray. Have not had those problems with the 4400. Cleanliness seems essential to longer life.
Always leave a cup under the spigot, since the automatic rinse water will fester in the tray.
Overall, it still seems to save money over the local barista, and the convenience (it is ready whenever you have it set for) and taste are terrific. I see no reason to spend more for needless features. For us, this was the machine to get.

After about 10 years using a LaPavoni lever machine I tired of the routine and decided to get a superautomatic. When I first used the Delonghi 4400 I thought I had made a major mistake. However after making adjustments on the grinder and the water volumes it makes wonderful espresso with more crema than I ever got before. My only concern was the steam wand that froths the milk so fast it does not get hot enough. But I found that putting my finger on the air hole on the wand allows it to heat the milk without frothing and then releasing it results in nice hot microfoam. Still it would be nice if they offered an optional commercial wand like that on the LaPavoni Europiccolo that makes excellent microfoam and is easily wiped clean. Everything else about this machine cannot be beat. It is amazing to watch it grind, tamp, make a perfect double shot and dump the grinds at the touch of a button.

I had used a couple of smaller Espresso machines that were manual operation. Nothing too fancy, but they were pump driven at least. After my last one broke quickly I decided to seek out a very nice machine. I figured if I was going to get a machine that I should step it up to a Super Automatic Machine. It became quite tiresome to keep emptying, grinding coffee, adding and tamping when trying to create a venti iced doubleshot at home. I found this machine and I must say I am so impressed with it. It's quality is quite amazing. The espresso it produces is incredible. Clean up is easy and maintenance is simple. The wand works extremely well and steams milk to 160 Degrees quite quickly. It's also super easy to clean up the wand. It comes apart and allows you to clean it with just a simple wipe down. The machines I have had before you had to really put some elbow grease in because the milk would cake on it. This machine definitely carries a premium pricetag, but it is a premium machine of high quality. It is absolutely worth it if you are a cafe enthusiast.

We have owned our Magnifica for three years now. We jokingly refer to it as the MF 1000. It has served us well with a few exceptions. The biggest flaw that we have found is that the lever for the steam is made of plastic, with a plastic shaft that connects to the valve. I have no idea how to replace this part when it breaks, only that it cost us around $200.00 for a local shop to fix, and took them around 3 very long weeks. The plastic lever does not turn real easy, there is some resistence as you turn it. This torque seems too much for the plastic lever, and after you've turned it several hundred times, it breaks. One can only imagine how disappointing this can be when you're fixing your first latte of the morning, dispense your espresso, and then open the valve to froth your milk, only to have the lever break off in the open position. Grrrr.
Recently the machine has started hissing and the MF is starting to leak water from underneath. I'm not going to repair it again, rather look at other brands and models, and hopefully find something that is built a little better.

Brothers and sisters I am here to testify------- I have owned this model for the past 4 years and have made over 5000 cups of coffee and espresso with it. Perfect coffee every time, I repeat every time. When my wife heard how much I had paid for a coffee maker, I thought she was going to blow a gasket, but she is now in complete agreement with me that this machine was a great investment. The only thing I do is use filtered water and decalcify as needed. I have never had a problem with this unit. Thank you Delonghi for making my mornings so enjoyable for the past 4 years

We're at the 24hr point with this model and have about a dozen espresso's and a couple latte's under our belt and we are very happy with the initial start up and performance of the machine. Within about 5 min we were pulling our first espresso's and after a few to break in the machine, we tried espresso's made on the "strong" setting and they were very good made using Starbucks beans. Next we went through the instructions to steam milk and our first forays lead us to a quick and seemingly inexhaustable amount of good, dry steam and was able to heat milk nicely to 160F.
Cleanup included rinsing the quick-detach steaming wand and having a cup under the espresso spouts while the rinse water comes out after turning the machine off. More in-depth, periodic cleaning involves emptying the ground container and rinsing and drying the bottom tray. Everyone finds their own comfort zone for cleaning, but for the 1 min it took to do the "total cleanout", we'll be doing that every time.

Instructions come in the form a dvd, picture guide, and text. Very easy to start up and run.

Only things I would change so far would be the length from the body of the machine that the steam wand/arm swings. A little close for steaming the larger frothing pitchers out there. No problems for 20oz and smaller.

I'll post an update after a few months, but this looks like a machine we'll be very pleased with.

We own the Delonghi Magnifica and I tell you, we LOVE it! I make Americano's all the time and my husband add shots to his regular drip coffee. It is so convenient. It is a little pricey - but worth every penny. FYI...The machine sits high and very deep, so make sure you have the counter space for it.

After five months of fairly light use (since I'm the only one using it), It started leaking from beneath the unit. It leaked so much that it covered my counter top and my cookbook soaked up the rest. It was also leaking from around the infuser, which started very early on, but became increasingly more over the next few months.

I called Delonghi and after proving to them I had purchased the unit within the last year by faxing the receipt, they told me that I could send it to their repair center and I'd have it back within a week. That was more than a month ago. I called Delonghi today and they gave me the phone number to the service center. The service center said that they might be able to look at it this week, but they have many people ahead of me (which makes me think I'm not the only one with problems). I called Delongi again and asked them to contact the service center and have things expedited. They said that there was nothing they could do.

I purchased such an expensive unit expecting excellence and if not that, decent customer service. This is not the case. This is the first and last Delonghi product I will ever buy.

I have had this machine repaired twice. The steam controller has broken AGAIN. It is plastic and not very strong. The electronics have also been replaced. I will NEVER buy a delonghi product again. This machine should be recalled because of the steam controller. I will have to have this machine repaired again but I will contact the company for a final fix.