After a thorough 3-month testing period, I’ve concluded that the DeLonghi Eletta is the superior espresso machine compared to the DeLonghi Magnifica S. The Eletta excels with its robust, flavorful, and aromatic espressos, making every cup a delight. I was particularly impressed by its milk-based beverages, especially the cappuccinos, thanks to its perfect microfoam. Additionally, the Eletta offers more one-touch drink options, simplifying the coffee-making process and making it an ideal choice for any homeowner.
However, this does not mean the DeLonghi Magnifica S falls short. It also delivers flavorful and well-balanced espressos and is an excellent value for its price. The Magnifica S is particularly appealing for its affordability and capable milk system, making it a great deal for those on a budget.
DeLonghi Eletta stands out for its advanced features and exceptional performance, the DeLonghi Magnifica S is a solid choice for those seeking a reliable and affordable espresso machine. ☕✨
Delonghi Magnifica S vs Eletta: Specs & Features Comparison
In the comparison between the De’Longhi Eletta and the De’Longhi Magnifica S, the Eletta emerges as the winner. The Eletta is a fully automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine with a sleek black design, measuring 260x360x460 mm and weighing 11 kg. It features a dual boiler heating system and a conical steel grinder with 13 settings. With a larger water tank capacity of 2 liters and a bean container that can hold 400g of coffee, the Eletta is well-suited for households that enjoy frequent coffee brewing. It offers six coffee options and an automatic frother with the LatteCrema System, making it easy to produce high-quality espresso and milk-based drinks. The soft touch buttons and text display interface enhance user convenience, and its sizable water reservoir and bean hopper add to its appeal. Priced at $2,699.99, it is a worthy investment for coffee enthusiasts.
The runner-up, De’Longhi Magnifica S, is a compact and efficient espresso machine measuring 230x430x340 mm and weighing 9 kg. It also features a dual boiler heating system and a conical steel grinder with 13 settings. The Magnifica S has a slightly smaller water tank capacity of 1.8 liters and a 250g coffee bean capacity. It offers four coffee options and uses a Panarello wand for manual milk frothing, allowing for control over milk texture and temperature. Its interface includes buttons and a rotary control for ease of use. The Magnifica S is a more affordable option, priced at $1,299.00, and is ideal for those looking for a budget-friendly yet capable espresso machine.
Overall, while both machines offer impressive features, the De’Longhi Eletta stands out with its advanced milk frothing system, larger capacity, and additional coffee options, making it the top choice for homeowners seeking a versatile and high-performing espresso machine. ☕✨
Delonghi Magnifica S vs Eletta: Review & Comparison
The De’Longhi Eletta wins 2 to 0 with 3 ties against the Magnifica S due to its convenient design and additional drink options. Let’s dive into the details:
Coffee Flavor & Brewing System: The Winner: Tie
- Grinder: Both machines are equipped with conical burr grinders offering 13 different grind levels, which is impressive for entry-level machines. However, not all grind settings work flawlessly; the two finest levels can cause the grinder to struggle or jam. Noise is another consideration; both grinders are quite loud, which might be a concern for early morning or late-night use. Fortunately, both machines offer a practical bypass doser for using pre-ground coffee.
- Heating System: Both the Eletta and Magnifica S use a dual Thermoblock heating system, ensuring quick heating. The Eletta excels in temperature control, consistently delivering hot coffee and steam, while the Magnifica S, although it provides hot coffee, doesn’t quite match the Eletta’s heat levels.
Design & Convenience: The Winner: DeLonghi Eletta
- Dimensions & Weight: Both machines are compact enough to fit seamlessly into kitchen spaces, constructed primarily from plastic for a budget-friendly price. The Eletta measures 260x360x460 mm and weighs 11 kg, while the Magnifica S measures 230x430x340 mm and weighs 9 kg.
- User Interface: The Magnifica S has a more basic interface with buttons and a central rotary dial, requiring manual input for beverage preparation. The Eletta, with its combination of buttons and an LED text display, offers a more intuitive navigation, although not all functions are laid out with individual buttons.
- Capacity: The Eletta has a larger water tank (2 L) and bean container (400g), compared to the Magnifica S’s 1.8 L water tank and 250g bean container. Both machines feature a front-loading setup for easy refilling and emptying.
Milk System: The Winner: Tie
- The Eletta features DeLonghi’s LatteCrema system for automatic frothing, with an adjustable dial on the milk carafe to fine-tune foam consistency. It’s a hands-off system that’s easy to clean.
- The Magnifica S comes with a Panarello wand for manual steaming, offering complete control over milk texture and temperature. This manual approach can achieve perfect foam but requires more hands-on effort.
Drink Options & Programmability: The Winner: DeLonghi Eletta
- The Eletta offers more drink variety with options like Espresso, Long, Cappuccino, Latte Macchiato, Caffelatte, and Flat White. The Magnifica S simplifies things with basic one-touch drinks like Espresso, 2x Espresso, Long Coffee, and 2x Long Coffee. Both machines allow fine-tuning of coffee strength and length.
Cleaning & Maintenance: The Winner: Tie
- Both models support the use of water filters, reducing the frequency of descaling. The brew groups in both machines are easily removable for rinsing under running water, ensuring hassle-free maintenance. The Eletta and Magnifica S will prompt you when it’s time for descaling, making the process straightforward.
DeLonghi Eletta stands out with its advanced features, convenient design, and superior drink variety, making it the top choice for homeowners seeking a versatile and high-performing espresso machine. The DeLonghi Magnifica S remains a strong contender, especially for those who appreciate manual milk frothing and a more affordable price point. ☕✨
Quick Rundown Of DeLonghi Eletta
De’Longhi Eletta, Fully Automatic Bean to Cup Coffee Machine, Cappuccino and Espresso Maker, ECAM 44.660.B, 2 liters, Black
Key Features:
- Multifunctional: Super-automatic espresso coffee machine with a patented automatic cappuccino system that delivers barista-quality cappuccino, caffelatte, latte macchiato, hot milk, and flat white in under 3 minutes. Can use either coffee beans or ground coffee to prepare two cups in a single brewing cycle.
- Professional: Brew two cups simultaneously with the integrated silent coffee grinder featuring 13 adjustable settings, a bypass doser, a pump generating up to 15 bars of pressure, a water filter, a double boiler system, an automatic milk frother, a milk jug, and cup warmer with electronic temperature control.
- User Friendly: Equipped with a touch control panel, front-loading water tank, frothing unit, telescoping spigot, bean hopper, and coffee-grounds container with capacity indicator. Adjustable water, milk, and coffee drink quantity.
- Easy to Clean: Automatic cleaning with descaling, cleaning, and rinsing programs, including a cappuccino system cleaning indicator. All removable components are dishwasher safe.
- Worry-Free Purchase: Backed with an unconditional satisfaction guarantee and a 12-month warranty. World-class customer support available 7 days a week.
Price:
- Available for $2,699.99 (price includes tax, excluding shipping).
Pros:
- Produces high-quality espresso and milk-based drinks.
- Easy-to-clean LatteCrema system provides decent milk froth for various beverages.
- Adjustable milk texture.
- Comes with a sizable water reservoir and bean hopper.
Cons:
- User interface can be a bit difficult to grasp initially.
- Grinder operates quite loudly.
The DeLonghi Eletta is an excellent choice for those seeking a versatile and high-performing coffee machine that can deliver a variety of coffee specialties with ease. Its robust features and reliable performance make it a worthy addition to any home. ☕✨
Quick Rundown Of DeLonghi Magnifica S
De’Longhi Magnifica S Automatic Espresso Machine with Milk Frother for Hot Coffee Drinks Recipes, Soft-Touch Control Panel, Black, ECAM22110B
Key Features:
- Espresso Machine with Grinder: Enjoy high-quality coffee in every cup as the machine grinds the beans fresh right before brewing. Includes a 250g bean container and a case for pre-ground coffee.
- Grinding Technology: Integrated grinding technology for freshly ground beans with adjustable grinding levels. Features conical steel grinders calibrated with 100% accuracy.
- The Freshest Coffee: The machine’s technology grinds the exact amount of beans, leaving no residual coffee, ensuring your next cup is just as fresh.
- Temperature Control: The De’Longhi Thermoblock system brews coffee at the ideal temperature by heating only the water required for each beverage.
- Easy Clean: Many removable components are dishwasher-safe for easy maintenance.
Price:
- Available for $499.95, currently on sale for $399.95 on Amazon Prime (price includes tax, excluding shipping).
Pros:
- Allows brewing coffee-based drinks at the touch of a button.
- Dual coffee spout enables brewing two espresso cups at once.
- Manual milk frother allows control over milk texture and temperature.
- Cheaper price compared to the Eletta.
Cons:
- Limited one-touch drink options.
- Build quality is predominantly plastic.
The DeLonghi Magnifica S is a budget-friendly and efficient espresso machine ideal for those seeking a straightforward coffee-making experience. Its affordability, coupled with the ability to control milk frothing manually, makes it a great option for espresso enthusiasts who enjoy customizing their coffee. ☕✨
Conclusion:
After thoroughly comparing the DeLonghi Magnifica S and the DeLonghi Eletta, the Eletta emerges as the superior espresso machine. The Eletta stands out with its robust, flavorful, and aromatic espressos, and its milk-based beverages, particularly the cappuccinos, are exceptional thanks to the perfect microfoam. It offers more one-touch drink options, making the coffee-making process convenient and user-friendly. Additionally, its advanced features and reliable performance make it ideal for homeowners who value quality and convenience in their coffee experience.
The DeLonghi Magnifica S, while impressive in its own right, delivers flavorful and well-balanced espressos at a more affordable price. It allows for manual milk frothing, giving users control over the milk texture and temperature. However, it has limited one-touch drink options and a predominantly plastic build, which may not appeal to everyone.
In summary, the DeLonghi Eletta excels with its versatile drink options, superior milk frothing system, and user-friendly design, making it the top choice. The DeLonghi Magnifica S remains a solid option for those seeking affordability and manual customization. ☕✨