Delonghi Magnifica XS vs Magnifica: Which Espresso Machine Will Be The Final Winner?

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Delonghi Magnifica XS vs Magnifica: which automatic espresso machine will walk away as the final winner? After comparing their features, I found that the Magnifica XS is the final winner, and this post is my detailed explanation.

I have to admit that these two machines share many similar features, such as the stainless steel conical burr grinder with 13 grind settings, the excellent steam wand, and the ease of operation and cleaning. Even so, the Delonghi Magnifica XS still proves its superiority with its coffee flavor, one-touch drink list, and built-in water filter.

As for the Delonghi Magnifica, this is still a great candidate, especially when it has all the features of a super-automatic espresso machine at an affordable price. If you are a fan of cappuccino or latte, I would say that its ability to create wonderful milk foam is not to be missed.

Delonghi Magnifica XS vs Magnifica: Comparison Chart

Image
THE WINNER (#1)
De'Longhi ECAM22110SB Coffee Maker, 13.8", Silver
THE RUNNER-UP (#2
De'Longhi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super Automatic Espresso & Coffee Machine, Silver
Model
De'Longhi ECAM22110SB
De'Longhi ESAM3300 Magnifica
Dimensions (WxDxH)
9.4" x 17.0" x 13.8"
11.0" x 15.3" x 14.4"
Color/ Material
Silver/ Stainless Steel, Plastic
Silver/ Plastic
Weight
20.1 Pounds
23.2 Pounds
Voltage
120 Volts
120 Volts
Bean Hopper Capacity
8.8 oz
8.8 oz
Water Tank Capacity
1.8 L / 60 oz
1.8 L / 60 oz
Grinder
Stainless Steel Conical Burr
Stainless Steel Conical Burr
Heating System
Single Thermoblock
Dual Thermoblock
User Interface
Rotary Control with Display
Rotary Control
Possibility to use water filter
Programmable Timer
Average Heat-up Time
≈60 sec
≈75 sec
One Touch Recipes
4
2
Milk Preparation System
Manual Steam Wand
Manual Steam Wand
Adjustable Coffee Strength
What I Like
Price
$799.98
$549.99
THE WINNER (#1)
Image
De'Longhi ECAM22110SB Coffee Maker, 13.8", Silver
Model
De'Longhi ECAM22110SB
Dimensions (WxDxH)
9.4" x 17.0" x 13.8"
Color/ Material
Silver/ Stainless Steel, Plastic
Weight
20.1 Pounds
Voltage
120 Volts
Bean Hopper Capacity
8.8 oz
Water Tank Capacity
1.8 L / 60 oz
Grinder
Stainless Steel Conical Burr
Heating System
Single Thermoblock
User Interface
Rotary Control with Display
Possibility to use water filter
Programmable Timer
Average Heat-up Time
≈60 sec
One Touch Recipes
4
Milk Preparation System
Manual Steam Wand
Adjustable Coffee Strength
What I Like
Price
$799.98
More Info
THE RUNNER-UP (#2
Image
De'Longhi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super Automatic Espresso & Coffee Machine, Silver
Model
De'Longhi ESAM3300 Magnifica
Dimensions (WxDxH)
11.0" x 15.3" x 14.4"
Color/ Material
Silver/ Plastic
Weight
23.2 Pounds
Voltage
120 Volts
Bean Hopper Capacity
8.8 oz
Water Tank Capacity
1.8 L / 60 oz
Grinder
Stainless Steel Conical Burr
Heating System
Dual Thermoblock
User Interface
Rotary Control
Possibility to use water filter
Programmable Timer
Average Heat-up Time
≈75 sec
One Touch Recipes
2
Milk Preparation System
Manual Steam Wand
Adjustable Coffee Strength
What I Like
Price
$549.99
More Info

Last update on 2023-05-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Delonghi Magnifica XS vs Magnifica – What To Look For

After much research on the difference between this pair, it appears that Delonghi Magnifica XS wins 4-1 against Magnifica. Let’s dive into the details together.

milk system

The winner: Delonghi Magnifica

Both machines feature a manual steam wand, which requires the user’s involvement. Be assured that the operations are easy to practice. You just need to fill the milk jug, set it beneath the steam wand, and then let the wand do its work. The device will get the milk to the ideal temperature and produce the perfect, dense foam that works beautifully with lattes and cappuccinos. Also, you can manually swirl the jug while the wand steams and aerates the milk so that the froth will become airier and thicker.

However, there is a little note that the steam wands will take a bit of time to reach the perfect density for milk foam. With the Delonghi Magnifica, it takes about 40 seconds, while the Magnifica XS will take a little longer.

Delonghi Magnifica esam3300 - milk frother
Delonghi Magnifica esam3300 – milk frother

coffee flavor

The winner: Delonghi Magnifica XS

Grinder

Speaking about the grinders of the Delonghi Magnifica and Magnifica XS, I didn’t notice much difference between them. The same stainless steel conical burr design, which has 13 settings for fine to coarse coffee bean grinding, can be adjusted easily by both beginners and experts. However, the Magnifica XS seems to run smoothly and make less noise than the competition. With the Magnifica, noise can wake your child up if the coffee maker is left too close to the bedroom.

I do not recommend you use oily coffee beans for these two machines. Those beans are greasy and over-roasted, and they will gum up your grinder and clog it. In this case, medium-roasted beans are the best option. In addition, there is also a spot for pre-ground coffee in case you want to enjoy a cup of decaf coffee occasionally.

Espresso flavor

Both Magnifica and Magnifica XS use 15-bar pump pressure to extract rich, aromatic espresso. They also offer a menu setting for coffee strength and grinding levels for users to customize their coffee drinks.

Overall, these two machines produce good espresso. The thick and flavorful crema still stays around for as long as your coffee is warm. However, when I tested brewing on both machines with certain types of coffee beans, the espresso from Magnifica would occasionally taste a little bit sour. But compared to its affordable price, this is completely acceptable.

Heating system

This aspect shows us more differences between these two espresso machines. While the XS comes with a single thermoblock, its competitor employs a dual thermoblock heating system. Let’s see which machine has the better advantage.

With Magnifica XS, the single thermoblock ensures fast heating and saves energy as well. As examined, this machine’s average heat-up time is around 60 seconds, and it just takes 10 seconds to get ready for steaming after brewing. Moreover, it features 4 temperature settings that let you customize the temperature of your coffee following your preferences. Besides, this device also features the Rapid Cappuccino System that maintains the temperature so you can brew cup after cup instantly without suffering a huge temperature loss.

As for Magnifica, despite owning the dual thermoblock, it doesn’t mean that you can brew coffee and steam milk at once. In reality, this heating system speeds up the heating process, and there is almost no waiting time between steaming and brewing. However, the average heat-up time of this machine is a bit longer than the XS, around 75 seconds, and it also doesn’t offer as many temperature control options as its competitor.

Espresso flavor

Both Magnifica and Magnifica XS use 15-bar pump pressure to extract rich, aromatic espresso. They also offer a menu setting for coffee strength and grinding levels for users to customize their coffee drinks.

Overall, these two machines produce good espresso. The thick and flavorful crema still stays around for as long as your coffee is warm. However, when I tested brewing on both machines with certain types of coffee beans, the espresso from Magnifica would occasionally taste a little bit sour. But compared to its affordable price, this is completely acceptable.

user interface

The winner: Delonghi Magnifica XS

Delonghi Magnifica esam3300 - user interface
Delonghi Magnifica esam3300 – user interface

To be frank, the user interface of these two machines is nothing special but simple and easy to use. However, the control panel of the XS uses icons to illustrate with larger buttons for easy operation. Meanwhile, the interface of Delonghi Magnifica only includes classic buttons and rotation.

drink options

The winner: Delonghi Magnifica XS

To begin with, both machines provide users with 5 basic drink options: espresso (multi-length), cappuccino, latte, Americano, and hot water function for tea and hot chocolate. Besides, this pair also features some one-touch drink recipes.

Specifically, Delonghi Magnifica comes with 2 one-touch recipes, while Magnifica XS offers 4, slightly more than its opponent.

Besides, you can create your ideal espresso and cappuccino experience by programming in your preferences. These two machines will remember the details, from the strength of your espresso to your preferred size beverage, and save them for the next time.

CLEANing

The winner: Delonghi Magnifica XS

With these two machines, cleaning is quite gentle and simple. Removable parts like the water tank, drip tray, or brew champer are easy to access and dishwasher safe. When it’s time to clean the machine, the indicators will let you know. Another small but still very important detail that users can find in both machines is that you can use hot water to clean the steam wand after each use.

As for the difference, the XS comes with a built-in water filter, while its opponent does not accept any filter. That means you need to filter prior to adding water to the tank. In my opinion, this is not a big deal, and it won’t take much of your time either.

Quick Rundown of Delonghi Magnifica XS

Sale
De'Longhi ECAM22110SB Coffee Maker, 13.8", Silver
  • This automatic coffee maker has a 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.
  • The adjustable manual cappuccino system mixes steam and milk to create the thickest, longest-lasting foam for your cappuccino. And it’s easy to adjust the levels to prepare a creamy latte, macchiato or flat white. Height adjustable Coffee spout
  • Simply adjust the menu settings for temperature, coffee strength and cup size according to your preferences. The machine takes care of the rest.
  • Maintenance: de’longhi machines require half the cleaning time of other brands, unlike competitor machines, which require chemical cleaning tablets monthly.
  • Warranties may not apply to purchases from an unauthorized retailer.

Last update on 2023-05-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Adjustable temperature controls
  • Compact machine with quick cleaning
  • Easy to use
  • Relatively quiet operation
  • Heating up fairly quickly and can brew cup after cup instantly
Cons
  • It takes a bit longer to make milk foam

Quick Rundown of Delonghi Magnifica

Sale
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 2023-05-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Affordable price
  • No water filter
  • Dual thermoblock for fast
  • Convenient operation from the front of the machine
  • Simple and straightforward functionality
Cons
  • No display
  • Quite loud

Product Videos

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