DeLonghi Magnifica Review ESAM3300

Why choose DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica over other espresso machines?

DeLonghi has had a long tradition in crafting quality espresso makers, and in this DeLonghi Magnifica review, I am putting under the microscope the ESAM3300 Magnifica.

I found the Delonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica to be a functional appliance that seems to have been built with efficiency in mind. When I compared DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica with other espresso machines, I found that DeLonghi Magnifica has several advantages over other machines.

• Robust functionality that allows users to brew phenomenal espresso, cappuccino and lattes
• A classic and reliable espresso machine that has been on the market for several years already
• Excellent feature set that allows users to control more aspects of the brewing process (temperature, strength)
• A simple yet highly performing machine that yields high quality coffee
• Choice between instantly grinding beans for coffee (for more flavor), or using already ground coffee
• Delicious coffee

Who is DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica perfect for?

In my opinion, this espresso machine will most likely ignite the interest of those who prefer simplicity, high quality and value. As I was researching or testing for this DeLonghi Magnifica review, I found this machine to be very simple to use. It alsoyielded some of the best coffee I have had.

I feel that DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica can be perfect for those who are looking for an espresso machine that has any or all of the following characteristics:

✓ Flexible and multi-functional coffee brewing (espresso, cappuccinos, lattes)

✓ A simple to use yet high-performing espresso machine to brew top quality coffee

✓ Ability to froth warm milk for cappuccino or latte

✓ A reasonably-sized espresso maker that should fit well in a variety of spaces

✓ Families and individuals who value a strong brand and high quality

✓ Great design that does not take much as much space as other espresso machines

Who is DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica NOT perfect for?

Again, I would love to also remain honest in this DeLongi Magnifica review, and I would love to list a couple of instances where ESAM3300 Magnifica might not be a perfect choice:

✗ Small kitchen spaces or small home

✗ Lightweight or compact appliance

✗ Low budget

✗ Not paying attention to coffee flavor or quality

✗ Preference for basic filter coffee maker

✗ Desire for dark roast coffee beans (I recommend using only medium roast beans in this machine)

✗ More than 2 cups of coffee at a time

✗ Quiet

✗ Plastic free appliance

✗ Brewing and frothing at the same time

DeLonghi Magnifica Review and Evaluation 🕵️

→ Appearance

The ESAM3300 Magnifica has a modern but versatile look with silver housing and metallic details. Some parts are plastic, but they do not jeopardize the charm of this machine.

The DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica comes with an integrated grinder as well as a pre-ground coffee container. The machine is medium-to-small size, compared with other espresso machines in this class. In my measurements, it was about 11 x 15 x 14 inches in height.

I really enjoyed DeLonghi Magnifica’s design. Unlike some other espresso machines, ESAM3300 comes with a 60oz removable water reservoir. Instead of pulling it up, which requires more vertical space, I can simply pull the reservoir out.

Given the materials from which this machine is built (stainless steel, metal, plastic and other materials), DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica is on a heavier side, weighing about 23 pounds.

Overall, the machine is quite stunning and very well built. I enjoyed this unit tremendously.

→ Features and technical specs

Voltage: DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica espresso machine is made for 120V, and can be used in Canada and the US only.

Basket size: I was surprised how automated this machine is. My unit did not come with a regular portafilter. The coffee travels from the grinder to the infuser, and the grinds are then dumped automatically into the ground container.

Beverage size: I was surprised that the maximum amount of coffee I could brew was only 2 cups. However, I was able to select an actual size of a cup myself. When I pressed the 1 cup button, I was able to make one cup of coffee, or a single size shot. When I pressed the 2 cups button, I was able to make 2 cups of coffee, or a double size shot. I tested this machine thoroughly for this DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Review. The machine allowed me to program sizes between half an ounce and 8 ounces of coffee in one pull.

Weight: With a weight of 23.2 lb, I did not find DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 to be light. Fortunately, the machine has been built in such a way that the grinder, the control panel and the water tank are all easily accessible from the top or from the front of the machine. Therefore, I did not have to move or lift this machine too much at all.

Unit size: DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica measures 11 inches in length, 15.3 inches in width and 14.4 inches in height, which means that it will take quite a bit of space on my kitchen counter. However, this is way smaller than some other espresso machines.

Water reservoir: DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica came with a 60oz removable water reservoir. It was smartly designed, and was located as a “shelf” inside the espresso machine. I was able to remove the reservoir very easily, simply by pulling it out (just like a shelf) to the side. That said, the machine’s designed allowed me to save a lot of space, and made the unit quite compact.

Additional perks: Though this espresso machine is beautiful in its simplicity, there are a lot of sophisticated built-in features. In my opinion, those features contributed positively to flavor, texture and fragrance:

✓ DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 maintained perfect brewing temperatures and reduced time between brewing and frothing.. My machine came with a double boiler thermoblock system. It accomplished two things. First, it reduced time between brewing and frothing quite considerably. Second, it maintained the temperature of water at the right level in between brewing sessions.

✓ DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica is not just a regular espresso machine. It makes some of the most delicious lattes and cappuccino.

✓ DeLonghi Magnifica yielded some of the freshest coffee I have had in years due to an integrated burr grinder. The beans go through the grinder right before brewing, which ensured that my coffee had rich, delicious aroma every time.

✓ At the same time, I was able to brew coffee from pre-ground coffee. This feature was amazing for a cup of decaf once in a while. I used different types of pre-ground coffee. It was very good! However, I do not recommend using any type of flavored coffee beans or grounds (this may, in fact alter the change of coffee brewed in this machine).

✓ DeLonghi Magnifica has the ability to brew creamy coffee unlike some other espresso makers. I was able to adjust the coarseness of the grinder. When I set the coarseness level to 1, I got much creamier and delicious coffee.

✓ DeLonghi ESAM3300 produces unparalleled milk froth due to a patented Cappuccino system. This frothing system uses steam to produce rich, creamy milk froth. The steaming wand rotated at a 180 degrees angle to fitted most cup sizes and shapes.

✓Last, but not least, I was able to control quanities of water and strength of coffee. By turning the knobs clockwise, I used more water and more coffee (the espresso was be stronger). It did take me a process of trial and error to find the right quantity of water and coffee for myself.

As noted before in the DeLonghi Magnifica Review, the machine comes with a nicely designed 60oz removable water reservoir.

→ Performance

Brewing time: Of course, the brewing time depended on the cup size I selected. In my experience, the machine took between 1 to 2 minutes to brew a cup of espresso. Once I started brewing, the machine ground the beans first. Then, the grounds webt through a pre-infusion cycle. Depending on how I programmed the machine, the coffee then started pouring in your cup. The total brewing time depended greatly on whether I chose the grinder or the pre-ground function, and on how much coffee I wanted to make (a long, double shot coffee took a longer brewing time than a short, single shot coffee).

Flavor: As I mentioned earlier in the DeLonghi ESAM3300 review, this espresso machine is capable of preparing espresso, coffee, cappuccino and latte drinks. It used a unique beans-to-brew system that grinds coffee beans right before brewing for exceptionally rich and aromatic coffee flavor.

In my experience, I found that only medium roast coffee beans should be used in super-automatic espresso machines like this DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica. Why? It’s because oily beans like the dark roast ones can clog the grinder. I embraced some strong coffee (medium roast coffee is stronger than dark roast coffee)!

Temperature: The appliance came with two stainless steel-lined aluminum Thermoblock boilers that provided excellent heat distribution, as well as an instant reheat function. Thus, the machine kept an ideal temperature between cups. In my measurements, I gained 188 F degrees at the spout, which is perfect for espresso (190 – 196 F degrees).

Milk frother: I love cappuccino. And, I loved what DeLonghi Magnifica could do for me. It came with a patented, one of a kind frothing system. This system mixed steam and milk to create rich, creamy froth.

Pressure / pressure gauge: The machine works on a 15 bar pump pressure.

Noise levels: The grinder of this machine made a high buzzing noise. It was quite difficult to hide from other people living in the house. Everyone knew the coffee was brewed, and demanded I brew this delicious coffee for them 😉.

Cleaning: DeLonghi claims that their automatic espresso machines require half the cleaning time of other brands. The maintenance guidelines can easily be found on the DeLonghi website and I found it extremely important to read before starting to use the machine.

I found that the ground container needs cleaning after 7 double cups of coffee, after 14 cups of single coffees, or every 72 hours. When the container is full, the warning light should illuminate a steady red on the machine control panel. The ground container can be easily reached by opening the front door of the machine and by pulling out the drip tray.

The infuser also needs to be cleaned regularly. It can be easily removed by opening the front door of the machine and by pressing the two red buttons together while pulling the infuser out.

Customer-reported technical issues

DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica comes with a 2-year limited warranty.

While independently researching this product, I noticed that there were some users complaining about the noise coming from the grinder in this machine. Further, a few users complained about beans getting stuck in the grinder.

However, we have to keep in mind an important warning regarding this DeLonghi (and regrading all super-automatic machines, in fact). This warning is to stay away from oily beans, because these can clog the grinder. Medium roast beans that contain less oil are recommended to keep the machine in working order.

Otherwise, users seem very pleased with the machine and with the quality of the coffee it brews.

→ Health and safety

The body of this machine as well as the 2 Thermoblock boilers are stainless steel. However, the machine comes with some plastic parts, which I did not necessarily liked. I was not able to find information whether the plastic used in this machine are BPA-free or not.

I was not able to find much detailed information on what kind of materials or chemicals are used, so I am not able to verify. I will be reaching out to DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica so I can include it in the DeLonghi Magnifica review. [Update 10/22/2019: In a phone conversation, the DeLonghi representative confirmed that this model is made with BPA-free materials.]

→ Price to value: is DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica worth the money?

As with other high end and high quality espresso machines, DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica is certainly not cheap. Depending on the retailer, it typically sells at a $$$$$ price point (north of $500), with Amazon offering the most appealing prices. But, considering the technical specifications and the features of this machine, I think that this investment is worthwhile.

Unlike most other espresso machines, I felt that DeLonghi Magnifica was a relatively compact coffee maker that can fit better into a variety of spaces. In addition, DeLonghi Magnifica has a fairly long history of reliability and high quality in American households.

I enjoy gourmet cups of coffee. I used to pay about $5-$7 per cup at Starbucks. This machine paid back in 3 months after using. 😉

While I believe the price-to-value ratio to be very strong, I think there are a couple of areas for improvement for DeLonghi. First and most important, DeLonghi needs to ensure the use of BPA-free plastics. I have not been able to find any official statements regarding BPA-free plastics from DeLonghi. If they are not using those yet, I would strongly suggest switching to them. Second, I would suggest that DeLonghi should follow Breville’s lead in eliminating plastic as much as possible. There are much better metallic or stainless-steel replacements that will contribute to coffee’s better flavor and aroma.

Should I buy DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300? Owly’s verdict! 🔨

If you have not figured it out yet in the DeLonghi Magnifica Review, the machine mesmerized me quite a bit. I found it elegant, stylish and compact. Though I care about the price (I obviously want to pay the least for the best quality), I found this machine to be a reasonable and sensible investment! I was able to brew high end coffee right at home. I noticed that my friends started to stop by more often, too! 😉

For this price point, I feel like Breville BES870XL might be worth considering for true multi-functionality (tea, americano) as well as less plastic (and more transparency about the materials included). However, this is a MUCH larger and heavier machine that may not fit into some households.

Do you like your DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300? Did you enjoy our DeLonghi Magnifica review ESAM3300? Let us know in the comments!