![De'longhi Coffee Maker White[japan Import]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61894iCAWsL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg)
Let me state this up front: We're coffee snobs. We buy our our own fair-trade green coffee beans and roast them in a Hottop coffee roaster. That's largely because we prefer a "city roast" rather than what we perceive to be "burnt" (which is why you won't find me at a Starbucks). So it's no surprise that we have gone through several coffee and espresso machines; and travel with a small brewing setup. We even bought a
Bonavita BV1900TS 8-Cup Carafe Coffee Brewer
for the occasions when the "real" machine is on the fritz. So yeah... kind of obsessive, maybe.
So when Amazon Vine offered me the
Saeco HD8911/47 Saeco Incanto Classic Milk Frother Super Automatic Espresso Machine
, I said Yes with alacrity. For the last several weeks, it's been sitting next to the
DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine
, which we've owned for two years. That's given us an opportunity to do true side-by-side testing. Or, to put it another way, it gives us an excuse to drink twice as much coffee.
Let me set a context, first. Although these are both espresso machines, in point of fact we rarely make espresso and even more rarely use the milk steamer. Our goal is one-touch "give me a cup of coffee to drink NOW," because making a whole pot means either (a) you don't finish the pot, which means you're wasting good coffee or (b) you run out when you want another cup but don't want to invest the time for just a single cup. While we have an
Aeropress
and another independent Kickstart-provided unit for travel, that's still far more fussing, particularly when the aim is to grab another cup before yet another online meeting, not to wait around in the kitchen for water to boil.
In any case, I have had the opportunity to use both these machines, which are in the same general price range, and I like to think my opinion can help you make a better decision. And thus a two-for-one review, with a bit more attention to the newer unit and to comparisons rather than standalone feature descriptions.
Let me start out with the most important point: These are both excellent units, and each deserves a 5-star rating. You won't be sorry if you choose either one of these machines. Both fulfill their god-given (or at least manufacturer-given) role, which is to make good coffee appear at the touch of a button, and for that I am grateful.
Rather, what follows is an intentionally nit-picking analysis. Because I know that when _I_ spend several hundred bucks on a kitchen item, I want to choose equipment that matches my needs. Let's see if yours match mine.
The DeLonghi is a solid piece of equipment. As most other reviewers have written, it does an excellent job of grinding and brewing. It holds most of a bag of coffee (should you eschew the hipness or time-consuming process of roasting). It does require a bit of daily maintenance, and we've found the machine to be a bit fussy. It already went back to the shop once under warrantee (thus the backup coffee machine, when I realized I'd be stuck for weeks); since then it objected to a failed de-scaling, and now we have a red light stuck on. This has made me just an eensy bit cranky.
Another dumb-but-real annoyance: A regular coffee mug fits fine under the spout of the DeLonghi; however, you're out of luck if you have an extra-tall mug (I've a favorite that says "Troublemaker" OH SURE ACT SURPRISED).
Those quibbles aside, it takes 42 seconds to emit a cup of steaming "keep me awake juice," and I had no thought of replacing it.
The Saeco Incanto is narrower than the DeLonghi, which means it doesn't take up as much room in your kitchen (though they're essentially the same height). I can use my tall mugs. It's faster to turn the unit on, and it doesn't insist that you clean things up quite so often. It has a visual display screen rather than buttons, which implies that it's easier to understand status messages (though in point of fact it isn't any more helpful).
The Saeco's water tank is slightly larger. You can pour water into it rather than having to pull out the container for refills, which is a nice convenience. It's a good thing, too, since it's awkward to pull out the container. The Saeco also shuts off the grinding process when you open the lid on the coffee side ("Oh hey was I out of beans?"); it's a good safety feature, even if I've never been drawn to poke my fingers in the mechanism.
The Saeco's default coffee setting uses less coffee than the DeLonghi. By eye, the coffee puck (biscuit? what do YOU call those things?) is about 10% smaller. The result is coffee with a bit less intense mouth feel, by which I mean, "I like the coffee from the DeLonghi a little better" and by which my husband means that the DeLonghi's cup is slightly less acidic. But I think that's only noticeable side-by-side, in the way that you'd never see the differences in two TVs unless you're looking at both of them in a big showroom.
You can adjust the Saeco settings from its default (probably 5 oz) up to an 8 ounce cup of coffee but then it tastes over-brewed. It's probably better to adjust for a 4 ounce shot and do a double shot. When you do so it makes a pretty good cup of coffee!
Initially, the Saeco seems a lot less fussy. But in reality it's just spreading out the fuss. For example, by default the unit turns itself off really fast. Even if you adjust the setting to the maximum, it shuts off in an hour. We often wander into the kitchen a few times in a morning to get a cup of coffee before a meeting starts, and it's annoying to wait for the Saeco to start up again when it's 8:58 and I've a 9am meeting. Worse, on each startup it shoots water to clean itself up, so it wastes more than the DeLonghi.
Plus, removing the tray underneath the Saeco (to clean out water and pucks) is a bit of a pain. You have to push buttons on both sides of the unit and pull out the tray for cleaning, which (depending on your counter arrangements) can be inconvenient. There's a bit more jiggling-things-around than I like, and that's when the unit is new. On a slick countertop I'd be concerned about the whole thing sliding off.
And it's necessary more often. The Saeco is touchy, displaying a message that the waste bin is full very early; sometimes it complains after two biscuits. That may be a failure of user interface, as we think it's saying, "Open me up!" rather than giving an explicit indicator. The DeLonghi accomplishes that with DasBlinkenLights, with which we've already become familiar.
I read through this and conclude, "She must hate the Saeco." Honestly, I don't. I like both these machines quite a bit. I'm used to the DeLonghi, and I might have had more criticism of it when it was new (and likely did, because it replaced another espresso machine I'd liked and which no longer was made). But given an opportunity to compare-and-contrast, I find myself analyzing the merits of each one.
Again, both of these are quite good and deserve 5 stars because they deliver what they promise. But if I was forced to keep only one, I'd hold onto the DeLonghi.
There is a newer model of this item:
De'Longhi Magnifica Evo, Fully Automatic Machine Bean to Cup Espresso Cappuccino and Iced Coffee Maker, Colored Touch Display, Black, Silver
$540.06
(4,363)
Only 5 left in stock - order soon.
$540.06
(4,363)
Only 5 left in stock - order soon.
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Price: >$200
Color: Silver
Brand: De'Longhi
Operation Mode: Fully Automatic
Material: Stainless Steel
Human Interface Input: Buttons
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Features & Benefits
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Fresh Espresso For Every CupThe professional burr grinder with 13 adjustable settings grinds fresh beans every time to ensure maximum freshness. You can also use pre-ground in the second chamber. Your choice of regular, specialty or decaf. |
Your Foam, Your WayA manual frother mixes steam and milk to create a rich, creamy froth for evenly textured drinks – just the way you like them. |
Consistent Brewing Every TimeEach cup is automatically brewed to the perfect temperature, richness and density. And you can customize the settings to ensure its always just the way you like it. |
Easy To Clean And HandleThe compact, extractable brew unit is not only easy to clean, it self-adjusts for one or two shots of espresso. |
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Delicious Cappuccino And LatteThe adjustable manual Cappuccino System mixes steam and milk to create the thickest, longest-lasting foam for your cappuccino. And it’s easy to adjust the levels to prepare a creamy latte, macchiato or flat white. |
Customized Espresso DrinksDesign your ideal espresso and cappuccino experience by programming in your preferences. The machine 'remembers' the details, from the strength of your espresso to your preferred size beverage and much more. |
Easy-To-Use Control PanelSimply adjust the menu settings for temperature, coffee strength and cup size according to your preferences. The machine takes care of the rest. |
De'Longhi Coffee Specialist SupportNeed help choosing a Coffee Machine? Setting up your new Machine or choosing right coffee beans? We're here to help! |
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| ESAM3300 | ESAM04110S | ECAM23260SB | ECAM37095TI | ECAM35075SI | ECAM45760B | |
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| Customer Reviews |
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| Price | $799.00 | — | $599.99 | $1,294.45 | $1,192.00 | $849.99 |
| Drink Options | 5: Espresso (multi-length), Cappuccino, Latte, Hot Water, Americano | 5: Espresso (multi-length), Cappuccino, Latte, Hot Water, Americano | 6: Drip Style Coffee, Espresso (multi-length), Cappuccino, Latte, Hot Water, Americano | 18: Espresso, Double Espresso, Long, Coffee, Doppio+, Truebrew Over Ice, Coffee Pot, Cappuccino, Latte Macchiato, Milk, Cappuccino +, Cappuccino mix, Caffelatte, Flat White, Espresso Macchiato, Hot Water + 3 custom drinks via app | 18: Espresso, Long (drip style), Truebrew Over Ice, Cappuccino, Latte, Milk, Lungo, Ristretto, Double Espresso+, Coffee, Cappuccino+, Latte Macchiato, Flat White, Espresso Macchiato, 2 Espresso, 2 Ristretto, 2 Lungo, Hot Water | 11: Regular Coffee, Espresso (multi-length), Cappuccino (auto), Caffe Latte (auto), Lattemacchiato (auto), Espresso Macchiato, Flat White (auto), Milk (auto), My Milk, Hot Water, Americano |
| One Touch Recipes | 2: Single Espresso, Double Espresso | 2: Single Espresso, Double Espresso | 6: Drip Style Coffee, Single Espresso, Long Coffee, Hot Water, Cappuccino, Lattemacchiato | 16: Espresso, Double Espresso, Long, Coffee, Truebrew Over Ice, Coffee Pot, Cappuccino, Latte Macchiato, Milk, Cappuccino +, Cappuccino mix, Caffelatte, Flat White, Espresso Macchiato, Hot Water | 5: Espresso, Long (drip style), Truebrew Over Ice, Cappuccino, Latte, Milk | 7: Single Espresso, Double Espresso, Hot Water, Cappuccino, Caffelatte, Lattemacchiato, Long |
| User Interface | Rotary Control | Rotary Control with Display | Rotary Control with Display | TFT LCD Color Touch Screen | LCD Display | Touch Control with LED |
| Thermoblock | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Milk Preparation System | Manual Steam Wand | Manual Steam Wand | Automatic Frother with Latte Crema System + Manual Steam Wand | Automatic LatteCrema One Touch System | Automatic LatteCrema One Touch System | Automatic Frother with Latte Crema System + Manual Steam Wand |
| Water Tank Capacity | 1.8 L / 60 oz. | 1.8 L / 60 oz. | 1.8 L / 60 oz. | 1.8 L / 60 oz. | 1.8 L / 60 oz. | 2 L / 68 oz |
| Programmable Timer | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Average Heat-up Time | ≈75 seconds | ≈55 seconds | ≈60 seconds | ≈45 seconds | ≈45 seconds | ≈60 sec |
| Bean Container Capacity | 8.8 oz. | 7.1 oz. | 8.8 oz. | 10.5 oz. (300g) - Flavor Saving Lid | 10.5 oz. (300g) - Flavor Saving Lid | 14.1oz |
Videos
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Features of the all-in-one coffee maker unit
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De'Longhi Magic: Barista-Grade Coffee at Home!
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This Item  De'Longhi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super Automatic Espresso & Coffee Machine, Silver |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $799.00 | $649.95 | -47% $549.95 List: $1,039.95 | -39% $549.95 List: $899.95 | $339.99 | $799.95 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Monday, May 13 | Get it as soon as Monday, May 13 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 15 | — | Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 15 | Get it as soon as Monday, May 13 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Easy to use | ||||||
| Blending power | ||||||
| Flavor | ||||||
| Easy to clean | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| Sold By | DJ Books & More | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | KaiHui Instrument Tec. | Amazon.com |
| capacity | 1.8 liters | 60 fluid ounces | 60 fluid ounces | 60 fluid ounces | 1.8 liters | 60 fluid ounces |
| material | Stainless Steel | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene | Plastic |
| input interface | buttons | touch screen | touch screen | touch screen | touch screen | touch screen |
| voltage | 120 volts | 120 volts | 120 volts | 120 volts | 120 volts | 120 volts |
| wattage | 1350 watts | 1250 watts | 1250 watts | 1250 watts | 1250 watts | 1250 watts |
| model name | ESAM3300 | Magnifica Start | Magnifica Evo, Fully Automatic Coffee Machine, | Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema System, Fully Automatic Coffee Machine, | Espresso Coffee Machine | Magnifica Start |
Reviews with images
Purchased 3/1/2020 still strong
My only complaint is that I have gotten so spoiled with its convenience over the last four years that I feel burdened when I have to refill the water or dispose of the pucked grounds.We got this machine 3/1 of 2020 and have used it multiple times a day, every day, since then. We even took it camping with us 3 times.It's great. I see there is a newer model out now. I'm just sl happy with this one I don't need to upgrade.We use beans for the most part, but we have used the ground coffee section a handful of times.Hands down, game changer if you like espresso extremely convenient 👏
Top reviews from other countries
Aaron C Kuchma
Best machine I have ever owned. Very low maintenance, still going strong after 14 months.
Reviewed in Canada on November 24, 2019Angélica Fernández
Vale lo que gastas en cápsulas en un año
Reviewed in Mexico on July 4, 2021