DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 Review: Is it Still Value the Money?
Having a small kitchen or office, are you looking for a compact automatic espresso machine packed with full power and performance like a larger espresso machine? Worry not; DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 is the right solution for you.
Wondering, how?– let me share my honest DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 review to make things clear for you.
The DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 is an entry-level, fully automatic espresso machine that is perfect for coffee enthusiasts of all levels. With its sleek, modern design and advanced features, this machine is sure to impress even the most discerning coffee connoisseurs.
DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300
Overview of DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300
The DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 is an easy-to-use, fully automatic espresso machine, especially for home use. This compact and stylish machine is packed with features that make it easy to prepare a wide range of coffee drinks with the touch of a button.
Imagine what it would be like.
This compact DeLonghi Magnifica can prepare a variety of coffee drinks, including espresso, cappuccino, and latte. It features a unique beans-to-brew system that grinds coffee beans right before brewing for a more aromatic espresso.
Moreover, Magnifica has two stainless-steel boilers for excellent heat distribution. An instant reheat function, and a burr grinder that can be set to a specific grind level or used with pre-ground coffee. Isn’t it handy?
And what’s more? Its front panel offers easy controls for adjusting the water and coffee quantity, and you can rotate the cappuccino system to 180 degrees to accommodate different milk container sizes.
For further ease, it comes with a 60-ounce removable water tank, and a 7-ounce bean container. So that you can prepare coffee all day without refilling them. And it has auto programs for cleaning and maintenance.
Overall, the DeLonghi Magnifica is a great option for you if you want to enjoy a variety of coffee drinks in the comfort of your own home. You’ll appreciate the convenience of having a machine that can grind fresh beans for each brew.
Key Features:
DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 Review
Let’s explore all the features, uses, and things that I like or unlike in Delonghi Magnifica 3300.
Design and Built
A great aspect of the DeLonghi Magnifica is its compact design, which makes it a great option for those with limited counter space. Further, with its sleek and modern design, it will look great in any kitchen. Its compact size also makes it easy to store when not in use.
The DeLonghi Magnifica is a budget-friendly super-automatic espresso machine that boasts a sturdy all-plastic silver exterior but lacks the sleek and sophisticated look of a stainless steel design.
Despite its compact size, measuring 11.0 x 15.3 x 14.4 inches and weighing 23.2 lbs, the DeLonghi Magnifica offers a range of impressive features. This Italian machine comes with a convenient cup warmer, an adjustable auto-shutoff feature with a range of 15 min to 3 hours, and a standard 2-year warranty.
One of the most convenient features of the Delonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 is its adjustable spout height. This allows you to easily accommodate a wide range of cup sizes, eliminating the common problem of struggling to find the right height for the spout.
So, with a minimum height of 2.75 inches and a maximum height of 4.25 inches, this feature provides a greater degree of flexibility. It gives ease of use, ensuring that your espresso is served without any splashes or messes.
In short, the design of its components makes this entry-level machine perform beyond its class.
Easy-to-Use Display
Magnifica ESAM 3300 has a push-button control panel instead of a display. You can easily dispense hot water or select between single and double espresso shots with the press of a button.
Moreover, it also has two dials that allow you to adjust the strength and size of your coffee. Additionally, alert indicators notify you when it’s time to add water, empty the ground coffee, or descale the machine.
Another handy feature of DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 is its coffee memory function. This function allows you to save your custom settings, so you can easily brew your preferred drink with the touch of a button without adjusting the settings again. Cool?
Grinder of ESAM 3300
The DeLonghi Magnifica features a stainless steel conical burr grinder which ensures fast and fine grinding from whole fresh beans. Being stainless steel, this burr grinder is durable and super-fast.
The grinder is located near the hopper, which has a capacity of 8.8 ounces of coffee beans. Furthermore, it allows you to prepare your customized drinks by adjusting the settings between 13 different options.
However, I noticed one thing in its performance. It is not optimal for the two finest settings and the grinder is quite loud, which may be a concern for you, but not much louder.
Although the latest DeLonghi models come with a quieter grinder, the 3300 model does not come with this feature. On the positive side, the machine includes a coffee bean hopper for pre-ground coffee, providing a convenient option for decaf coffee.
Water Tank
The DeLonghi Magnifica espresso machine includes a large 60-ounce water tank, which is ideal for those who prefer larger beverages such as Americanos. With this large tank, you won’t have to refill it frequently.
Additionally, the machine has a low water level indicator. So you won’t be caught off guard in the middle of brewing an espresso shot. I found it quite handy as it gives you freedom of risk of running out the water which may damage the machine.
One downside to note is that the water tank does not have a built-in filter, and there is no option to add one.
However, the machine does come with a test strip to determine the hardness of the water, which can give you an idea of how often the machine will require descaling.
Therefore, the lack of a filter may result in more calcification than in other machines. Using filtered or bottled water can help reduce this issue. So, always use quality water to pull the perfect espresso shot.
Brewing Process
The brewing process in Magnifica 3300 is impressive and efficient enough to brew a fantastic cup of coffee for you to make your morning a perfect start to the day.
First of all Magnifica 3300 features a built-in, conical burr grinder that grinds coffee beans on demand at a fast and fine pace. Remember grinding is the core of brewing the perfect coffee.
The second most striking feature that You’ll surely love is its dual thermoblock boilers. They’re made up of stainless steel, with separate boilers for brewing and steaming. What does it mean?
It means that you can brew double espresso at a time without waiting for finding your first shot.
Thanks to DeLonghi’s Instant Reheat feature that save time and minimizes the wait time between brewing and steaming.
It should be noted that you cannot brew espresso and use the steam wand simultaneously.
Another standout feature of the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 is its large water tank capacity of 60 ounces. It’s significantly larger than many other models on the market. The front-access water tank also allows easy filling, and the indicator lights will let you know when it’s time to refill.
However, the water tank does not have a built-in filter, so you will need to use your own filtration or bottled water.
Besides this, the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300, like many other espresso machines, is equipped with a 15-bar pump. This high-pressure pump forces water into the brew group for the brewing process.
However, 15 bars of pressure may seem impressive, but it can be not easy to force the water through when using very fine ground coffee. This may require slightly coarser ground coffee for optimal espresso extraction.
Quality of Coffee
The DeLonghi Magnifica works like a semi-automatic espresso machine or a manual that delivers consistent, great-quality espresso. So, it does require some adjustments, known each time the beans are changed. This is the “dialing-in,” feature.
You can adjust the setting with the help of two dials from the front of the machine. One for shot volume (ranging from 0.5 to 6 oz) and the other for brew strength (manage the amount of ground coffee used). It gives you control over your coffee brewing process.
Next, it also has a single and a double shot button. You can press them to start and stop brewing at any time, with the flexibility to make anything from a long black to a ristretto.
Additionally, you can use a steam wand to make milk-based drinks like cappuccinos and lattes, even though the process of making such drinks still needs to be fully automated.
If I talk about the quality of coffee and milk-based drinks, I must say you’ll never regret a penny spent on this machine. It will give a consistent and rich aromatic espresso shot and creamy milk foam.
Milk Frothing System
Magnifica ESAM 3300 is equipped with a Panarello steam wand which requires you to hold the milk glass manually. The steam wand has a small hole for air intake and releases it into the milk to create foam.
This wand has an adjustable system that allows you to control the frothing and steaming. It makes it possible to create rich foam for your milk-based beverages. Moreover, you can detach the wand and rotate it 180 degrees, to use it with different-sized milk containers.
Additionally, the wand has a plastic case over the stainless steel pipeline. This case is removable, which makes it easy to clean.
However, this frother is less powerful than commercial ones and may not be the best choice for making latte art as Latte art requires great control over creating the foam. But even then, it makes a creamy texture for your cappuccino and Latte.
Maintenance of Magnifica ESAM 3300
The design philosophy of ESAM3300 makes it easy to clean. It has a removable brew chamber that allows for quick and thorough cleaning. You can simply remove the brew group from the front and wash it in the sink. So, it’s recommended that it should be done weekly.
The machine also has a removable drip tray with a level indicator and a drawer for the coffee puck. Make sure to empty it after every 14 brew cycles. A warning light will notify you when it’s time for cleaning.
As Magnifica 3300 doesn’t have a water filter, Scale buildup can be an issue with the machine.
Are you feeling down?
The good news is, the machine includes a test strip to check the water hardness and allows you to program the machine with the recorded hardness to set intervals for descaling.
The warning light will prompt you to run an auto-descaling program. It involves refilling the water tank by adding the manufacturer’s recommended solution. Now let the machine dispense into a container of 34 oz. And rinse it for 4 to 5 seconds. Then again refill the water tank, and repeat the process without descaling the solution to wash out the taste of the solution.
For further details read how to clean and descale automatic espresso machine.
For the milk cleaning system, you should wipe the milk frother with a wet cloth after every use. And have steam run through the steam wand to clean any milk residue. To avoid damaging the plastic, clean the water reservoir and dry it occasionally, but don’t wash it in the dishwasher.
Next, empty the coffee puck holder after 14 brewings, drip tray has an indicator that shows when it needs to be emptied.
Overall, the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 is a reliable machine that is easy to clean and maintain. Moreover, with its various features, it is easy to customize your coffee experience.
Sounds good?
How to Use DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300?
To use the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300, first, fill the water tank with fresh water. Then make sure that the coffee bean hopper is filled with your desired coffee beans.
Next, you will need to turn the machine on and allow it to warm up for a few minutes.
Once the machine is ready, you can use the dials on the front to adjust the coffee strength and volume to your liking. You can also use the buttons to choose between a single or double shot of espresso.
Next, place your cup under the coffee spout and press the button for the type of coffee you want to make.
To make a milk-based drink, you will need to froth the milk separately using the Panarello milk frother.
Once it stops brewing, you can enjoy your coffee. It’s recommended to clean the machine regularly after every use. Moreover, descale your machine if you notice hard water build-up.
Follow the instruction manual that comes with the machine for more detailed information.
Troubleshooting the Magnifica ESAM 3300
If You’re having any trouble with your Delonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300, follow the following tips to troubleshoot your machine at home.
Here are some common troubleshooting issues and solutions for the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300:
My Machine is not turning on.
To solve this issue ensure the machine is properly plugged in and there is the power to the outlet. Also, check the circuit breaker or fuse.
The Machine is not brewing?
To troubleshoot this issue, first, make sure that there is enough water in the water tank because water is a vital ingredient in the brewing process. Ensure the bean hopper is properly filled and the grind setting is correct.
If Weak or no coffee flow?
If your machine is brewing weak coffee shots or taking much time in coffee flow, then check the machine is properly primed. Make sure the grind setting is not too fine. Clean the machine’s brew unit and check for any clogs in the tubes.
Delonghi Magnifica 3300 is not dispensing hot water.
The most common reason for such problems is improper cleaning or lack of descaling.
Check to make sure the machine is properly primed. Make sure the hot water spout is not clogged.
If the machine is not frothing milk?
Make sure the milk container is properly placed on the machine. Check to see if the milk is too cold or has too much fat. Clean the frother and the tubes that lead to it.
Is your machine making strange noises?
Check to make sure nothing is blocking the grinder. Clean the brew unit and the grinder.
If the problem persists and cannot be solved through the above steps, you should contact customer support for more assistance.
DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 Review: Is It Value the Money?
Magnifica is an affordable super-automatic espresso machine that provides great value for its price. Despite being less expensive than many other models, it still offers features comparable to more costly machines with built-in burr grinders.
Moreover, you can often find it at a discounted price on online retailers such as Amazon, making it an even more attractive option.
Despite not having some of the advanced features, such as a display, the ability to brew and steam simultaneously, and Wi-Fi connectivity, it still offers a lot of functionality.
Finally, with the ability to grind and brew coffee beans, and a milk frother, it is a great choice for those looking for a budget-friendly super-automatic espresso machine.
The DeLonghi Magnifica isn’t For You If…
You only drink espresso or americano and prefer a ceramic burr grinder over steel. If you want control over your espresso look for a machine with advanced features and connectivity.
The DeLonghi Magnifica does not come with a display, simultaneous brewing and steaming, and Wi-Fi connectivity. If you are looking for a machine with these advanced features, you may want to consider the best automatic espresso machines.
Final Thoughts: DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 Review
Still, thinking? – let me make it simple
The DeLonghi Magnifica is a great option for those looking for a budget-friendly super-automatic espresso machine. It comes under $1000 but It offers many features, such as a stainless steel burr grinder, large water tank, and milk frother.
It may not have some of the advanced features of more expensive models, but it still delivers excellent espresso consistently. Additionally, it is easy to clean and maintain.
In the overall DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 review, it is a solid choice for those looking for a dependable and affordable super-automatic espresso machine. So, if you desire to be your own Barista at home, Magnifica is the right choice for you.
