DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica is an excellent choice for people with low budget who still need a decent, durable espresso machine. Here’s a comprehensive DeLonghi Magnifica review, so you’ll know how it is power-packed with features and functionality.
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De'Longhi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super Automatic Espresso & Coffee Machine, Silver
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
- FRESH ESPRESSO FOR EVERY CUP: The 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 WAY: A 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 TIME: Each 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 HANDLE: The compact, extractable brew unit is not only easy to clean, it self-adjusts for one or two shots of espresso.
Last update on 2023-08-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This compact, super automatic espresso machine unit is ideal to use at home for anyone who is crazy about specialty coffee drinks. It is one of those machines that can do it all, and is also convenient to use.
That being said, let’s begin our detailed review right away!
Key Features
Design & Aesthetics
The very first thing that you’ll notice about DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica is its handsome build and sleek Italian aesthetics.
It has a compact footprint, and overall the unit measures just about 11”L x 15.3”W x 14.4”H.
As for weight, it is about 23.2 lb. (10.52 kg), which makes it moderately light. DeLonghi Magnifica will be a suitable option for people who do not have large counter space in their kitchen.
Another important thing here is that DeLonghi 3300 has a beautiful, sleek metallic front panel with moulded black plastic accents at the top and sides. Overall, it looks quite modern and appealing. But there’s no digital display provided, so that’s a downside.
Durable Construction
DeLonghi ESAM3300 is rated as one of the most durable espresso machines in the market. If durability of the unit is a top priority for you, you cannot go wrong with this one. It is backed with 2 years of manufacturer’s warranty as well.
Front-loading Water Reservoir
A DeLonghi Magnifica Review is incomplete without mentioning its main feature: the Water reservoir.
This super automatic machine is equipped with a high-capacity water reservoir which can hold about 60-ounces (1.8L) of water.
The unit brews coffee by the cup which you can adjust to maximum 8 ounces. And, there’s also an option for ‘double shot’ which allows you to pull maximum 16 ounces of coffee. This means that DeLonghi ESAM3300 is capable enough to satisfy the needs of coffee fanatics back to back, without having to refill.
Best thing about its water tank is that it has a front-loading design, making it extremely easier to refill it.
Patented ‘Direct-to-Brew’ system
Magnifica 3300 flaunts a trendy ‘bean-to-brew’ technology. It accepts any of your favorite coffee beans, which are then grinded in the inbuilt conical burr grinder to brew a perfect cup of specialty drink. Such instant grinding helps in getting a fresh, aromatic cup of espresso every single time. For best grinder performance, DeLonghi recommends using medium-roast coffee beans with less visible oil.
The patented ‘Direct-to-Brew’ system along with Thermoblock technology allows for even heat distribution.
Plus, you can also decide optimal contact time through the strength setting dial provided.
Users are not limited to using just the beans. There’s a bypass doser inside the unit which accepts pre-ground coffee as well.
You can easily remove this brewing unit for cleaning.
Many users have reported that the grinder operation is noisy, so the company seems to have introduced ‘new silent grinder’ in latest models.
Dual Boiler System
DeLonghi has come up with a patented dual boiler system lined with stainless steel for rapid and even heating. This in turn reduces the wait time in between cups and brews your coffee at an optimal temperature every single time.
Know that even though Magnifica has a double boiler system, it cannot steam and brew simultaneously. It can only perform only one job at a time.
Patented ‘Cappuccino System’ Frother
Dual thermoblock heaters
The DeLonghi Magnifica includes dual thermoblock heaters crafted from stainless steel, each dedicated for steam side as well as brew side.
Of note, you cannot use the steam wand and brew espresso at the same time. The panarello style steam wand will inject air into the milk to efficiently create foam. It is basically a stainless steel pipe with a plastic sheath over it.
Telescoping Design of Coffee Spouts
Many might think this is an insignificant feature, but a telescopic coffee spigot is quite an impressive component to have in an espresso machine and most of the top ones have it.
Due to such inventive design, you can easily adjust the height of the coffee dispenser to fit in various sizes of cups, including large cappuccino mugs or classic espresso cups. It can accommodate maximum cup height of up to 4.25 inches.Cup Warming Tray
At the top part of Magnifica, you’ll see a cup warming tray, just like seen in professional coffee machines at cafes.
It plays a vital role in delivering hot cup of specialty drink, as pouring your brewed coffee into a cold cup can really ruin the whole thing. Using a pre-warmed cup will retain heat better.Other Convenient features
DeLonghi Magnifica has an energy-saving design, all credits to its automatic shut off feature that can adjusted up to 3 hours.
Additionally, there’s also an ‘Instant Reheat’ function where machine maintains optimal brewing temperature, so you are always ready to brew.Related Post
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Espresso Taste
DeLonghi Magnifica comes with an aroma control feature and it also lets you adjust the strength and grind size of the coffee, so everyone gets to choose their ideal taste.
Right kind of pressure is another factor that contributes to a delicious cup of espresso. A good espresso requires minimum 9 bars of pressure.
Magnifica ESAM3300 offers 15 bars of pump pressure to achieve authentic taste and deliver perfect brewing experience. The water is pumped, pushed through ground coffee and finally sent to the brewing unit. But, if the coffee grind’s coarseness is too fine, the pump might not be able to force water through the coffee puck.
Average heat up time for this machine is up to 75 seconds, which is quite appealing.
Overall, ESAM3300 is able to pull rich espresso shots and let you enjoy it in 8 different strength levels from 1.5 to 8 oz.
This espresso machine can proficiently brew espresso, latte, cappuccino, coffee and other such espresso-based specialty drinks with ease.Easy to Use
The front control panel of the machine features a rotary dial and push buttons with programmable menu settings. You can easily adjust coffee strength up to 5 settings and choose cup size using rotary dial up to 4 settings.
All the controls on the front along with the ON/OFF switch system are easy to use. The removable drip tray has level indicator for users’ convenience.
Front-loading water tank is a great feature to have, as you can place the machine anywhere on the countertop without any worries. Same is not the case with top-loading and side-loading water tanks, as they can be difficult to access.
With this unit, you can:
If you want to make specialty drinks that are creamier, all you need to do is lower the height of the coffee spouts to get them closer to the cup.
Easy to Clean
For best coffee flavor and longer lifespan of the machine, it is recommended to regularly clean the unit as per provided instructions. As compared to other machines in the market, DeLonghi does not demand much maintenance. You don’t even need to use chemical cleaning tablets every month for this unit.
How to Clean - Quick Reference Guide
Who is it for?
In our DeLonghi Magnifica review it is clear that the ESAM3300 is an ideal espresso machine for people who don’t want to spend a fortune on a super automatic machine, yet need a decent and long lasting unit. All the controls are easy to use, so it is a great option for beginners as well.
This machine is not for you if you want to pull barista-style, absolute espresso shot with full user control.
Water Hardness
One thing to note here is that this model does NOT accept any water filters. This means you need to use distilled or filtered water to avoid frequent descaling. It is important to scale the hardness of water before you use it with this machine. For that, DeLonghi includes a water hardness testing strip.
Harder the water, greater will be the need to decalcify the machine.
“Smart” Machine
To top it all, Magnifica has been designed with a “smart” memory function. It remembers your favorite brew settings, right from preferred cup brew length, brew strength and much more. This is so you can easily and quickly reproduce your desired specialty drink in no time.
The instruction manual provided is quite informative, but pulling great espresso shots with this unit will require time and practice. There’s a slight learning curve to it, but once you master the controls, you can make exceptional espresso-based drinks in a matter of minutes.
What we Like
Final Verdict
Pulling an excellent espresso shot is only possible when you have a reliable super automatic machine. In this DeLonghi Magnifica review, we have seen how this unit is a perfect option for people with low budget yet who need a durable, premium espresso machine to brew specialty drinks every day at home.
A super automatic machine does not require you to craft each and every shot of espresso, so it's a great entry-level machine for newbies as well. The ESAM3300 is easy to use, easy to maintain and has a patented cappuccino milk frothing system- which makes it outshine other models in this price range.
