Which is the better automatic espresso machine, Delonghi Eletta vs Magnifica? Based on my experience, I would say that the winner is Eletta.
The Delonghi Eletta is a super-automatic espresso maker with a special latte system for espresso and milk lattes. Additionally, the machine allows you to have hands-free and hands-on milk steaming experiences, improving its versatility. It is also very easy to clean and maintain. The descaling requirement is also less, thanks to the included water filter.
The Delonghi Magnifica is also a simple and easy-to-operate automatic espresso machine. However, this machine isn’t very quiet and does not have the auto-froth function. It is also not compatible with a water filter, requiring more frequent descaling cycles.
Delonghi Eletta vs Magnifica: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2025-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Delonghi Eletta vs Magnifica: Differences
The Primadonna Eletta wins 4-0 against the Delonghi Magnifica for its versatility and convenience. Let’s discuss more details in the following categories.
Coffee flavor & Brewing system
Tie!
Grinder
The Delonghi Eletta and Magnifica have similar built-in grinders featuring stainless steel conical burrs with 13 grind settings. This means that these two machines allow me to adjust the grind fineness to regulate the resulting espresso taste. Depending on the beans and roasting level, it might take a while to test and find the right setting.
Additionally, both Delonghi Eletta vs Magnifica offer pre-ground coffee funnels so that I can easily use the coffee ground from the nearby supermarkets or make decaf coffee drinks.
However, one thing I’ve noticed when trying these machines is the difference in their grinding noise levels. The Eletta’s grinder is much quieter and more stable, and I’ve hardly encountered any issues with it. Meanwhile, the Magnifica makes a rather louder noise when grinding the coffee beans, which can be a con for many users sensitive to loud sound.
Heating & Brewing systems
Both of them feature dual thermoblocks for their heating system. Though dual-thermoblock system does not necessarily mean being able to steam milk and brew coffee at the same time, it does reduce the heating time for each stage, compared to the single-thermoblock or single-boiler system.
Thanks to the separate thermoblock heating elements for steaming and brewing, these two machines can reach the optimal temperature within a minute. I can start steaming milk almost instantly once the espresso is pulled. Besides, I can change the coffee temperature with these machines. I also measured the brewed espresso, and the temperature was in the range of 183-192oF.
Regarding the brewing function, both do not have low-pressure pre-infusion but possess high-pressure extraction. Their 15-bar pump pressure can deliver around 8-9 bar extraction for a full-flavor espresso shot.
Overall, these two Delonghi appliances do give me great and balanced espresso shots. The brewed espresso temperature is hot enough, not too hot to scald my tongue, but not lukewarm either. They allow me to adjust the coffee strength, but the espresso taste is not as strong as I desired.
Design & Convenience
Winner: Delonghi Eletta
Dimension
The Eletta is taller than the Magnifica, boasting a height of ~18.5 inches, 4 inches higher than the Magnifica. Thus, the Eletta may not fit under the low-hanging cupboard. You should make sure your countertop has enough space to accommodate the Eletta. If your kitchen counter has <18 inches hanging cupboard, opting for the Magnifica could be a better choice.
In terms of capacity, the Eletta definitely features the larger capacity of both the water reservoir and bean container. The Magnifica’s bean hopper and water tank capacities are also generous, not much different compared to those of the Eletta. Besides, about the water tank position, these two machines have water tanks located on the right side. Their water reservoirs are also easy to remove for refilling and cleaning.
Additionally, these machines feature adjustable-height brewing spouts. I really like this feature because it allows me to flexibly use between short and tall cups, contributing to reducing the espresso splashes. The Eletta with a greater height has a slightly higher max cup height, about 5.5 inches (~14 cm), which is enough space for most tall cups. The max cup height of the Magnifica is about 4.25 inches (~11 inches).
Drink options & Customization
The two machines enable nice drink customization, allowing you to adjust the coffee temperature, volume (quantity), and strength. This is an essential feature to get the best espresso flavors that suit your taste.
However, when it comes to drink presets, the Delonghi Eletta takes the lead because it offers more one-touch recipes than the Magnifica. In particular, with the Magnifica, I can brew only 2 espresso recipes, including single and double-shot espresso, at the touch of a button. Meanwhile, the Eletta offers 8 one-touch recipes: Espresso, Long Coffee (Lungo), Cappuccino, Latte Macchiato, Hot Milk, Caffelatte, Flat White, and Espresso Macchiato.
Milk system
Winner: Delonghi Eletta
The Delonghi Eletta offers manual and automatic milk steaming/frothing options, making it the winner of this round. On the other hand, its rival, Magnifica, provides the manual milk system.
In particular, the Delonghi Eletta utilizes the automatic LatteCrema system with a milk carafe, enabling the hands-free milk frothing process. Moreover, the Eletta comes with a removable water spout/steam spout, a combination of a hot water dispenser and a steam wand.
About the automatic LatteCrema system of the Eletta, I really like it because it makes frothing milk much easier, requiring literally no skill to master. I just need to put the milk in the carafe, choose how much froth I want for the drink, and then let the machine do its job. Their frother provides 3 levels of frothing, from no froth (steamed milk) to max froth, which can be easily selected by twisting the dial knob on the carafe’s lid.
The manual steam wands of the Magnifica and Eletta are the Panarello style, which is useful for making cappuccino foam. When using manual steam wands, I can control the milk temperature and texture by myself. However, it does take time and effort to get the desired results.
The resulting milk froth quality from these machines is generally good and smooth. I can get impressive frothed foam even using plant milk like almond milk. However, the frothed milk is sometimes not as hot as I wanted, so I need to microwave the milk before use.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Delonghi Eletta
Both of the machines are easy to clean and maintain. They all have cleaning and descaling indicators, showing me when it’s time to clean or descale. Their brew units are also detachable and require rinsing with water once a month.
However, in comparison with the Eletta, I’ve found that I need to run more descaling cycles with the Delonghi Magnifica. The Magnifica lacks a water filter, which means that dealing with calcium deposits can be a more frequent issue. These deposits have the potential to clog hoses, disrupt temperature control, and overall, reduce the lifespan of any coffee maker.
However, compared to Eletta, I have to clean Delonghi Magnifica more often. Due to Magnifica’s lack of a water filter, calcium deposits are a common problem. It is these deposits that can clog hoses, affect temperature control, and, in general, shorten the life of any coffee maker.
Besides, when making milk-based drinks with these two machines, cleaning the milk system after every use is essential. The carafe of the Delonghi Eletta has an auto-clean function, which I found really helpful for removing the milk residues inside the milk-delivery spout.
On the other hand, when using the manual frothers of the Magnifica and Eletta, I have to purge them manually. Additionally, these manual milk frothers are removable for easy cleaning. Nevertheless, I’ve noticed that the O-ring of the Magnifica’s steam wand requires more frequent replacement. Fortunately, Delonghi provides affordable replacement parts, making maintenance quite manageable.
Apart from that, the rest of the machines are easy to clean regularly. Their drip trays and coffee-puck containers are simple to remove and wash with tap water. For me, I do not wait for the machines to display cleaning alerts but usually empty and clean the drip tray and the grounds container with water after a couple of days.
Utilities
Winner: Delonghi Eletta
Both machines have the auto-off function, but the Eletta allows me to program the auto-off duration, while the Magnifica doesn’t. Specifically, the auto-off time of the Eletta can be adjusted to after 15 mins, 30 mins, 1 hour, 2 hours, or 3 hours of inactivity. Meanwhile, the Magnifica will switch off itself after 3 hours from the last interaction.
Moreover, the Delonghi Eletta allows users to enable the auto-start function, setting it apart from its rival. When the auto-start function is enabled, the machine will turn on automatically at the programmed time and be ready to make espresso drinks immediately.
Quick Rundown of DeLonghi Eletta ECAM45760B
Last update on 2025-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown of DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300
- 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 2025-05-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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References
- Delonghi Eletta: https://www.delonghi.com/en-us/eletta-automatic-espresso/p/ECAM45760B
- Delonghi Magnifica: https://www.delonghi.com/en-us/magnifica-automatic-espresso-machine-cappuccino-maker-esam-esam3300/p/ESAM-3300
I’m Floyd J. Alcock, an experienced barista with a deep love for coffee. I curate personalized coffee experiences, guiding customers through diverse flavor profiles and suggesting ideal brewing methods. My extensive knowledge of espresso machines enables me to recommend the best equipment to match specific needs and budgets. Sharing my expertise and passion with coffee enthusiasts brings immense satisfaction. I look forward to continuing my journey of coffee discovery with every customer I serve, fostering connections over a shared love for this magical beverage.