Gaggia Anima Prestige vs Philips 3200 LatteGo: The Battle Of Best Mid-range Machines

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It’s finally here! The debate between the Gaggia Anima Prestige vs Philips 3200 LatteGo, the 2 best mid-range machines I have ever tested, is here! With their consistent espresso quality and microfoam milk frothing, the pair will grace any household with their delicious cups. But there can only be one winner, and my pick is the Philips 3200 LatteGo.

Compared to Gaggia Anima Prestige, the espresso flavor and milk frother of Philips 3200 LatteGo aren’t very different. What makes this model wins is the fact that its grinder is much more stable and doesn’t cause me any hassle.

As for the Anima Prestige, the grinder is the sole weakness of this almighty machine. It has jammed a few times and has trouble correctly feeding beans into the grinder. Other than that, this model and Philips 3200 LatteGo will make the best cappuccino you have ever tried with a mid-range machine.

Gaggia Anima Prestige vs Philips 3200 Lattego: Comparison Chart

Image
THE WINNER (#1)
PHILIPS 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine w/LatteGo, Black, EP3241/54
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Gaggia Anima Prestige Automatic Coffee Machine, Super Automatic Frothing for Latte, Macchiato, Cappuccino and Espresso Drinks with Programmable Options
Model
Philips 3200 LatteGo
Gaggia Anima Prestige
Dimensions (LxWxH)
9.8 x 17 x 14.6 inches
8.3 x 17 x 13.4 inches
Color / Material
Black / Plastic
Silver / Stainless Steel and Plastic
Water Tank Capacity
61oz
61 oz
Weight / Power / Voltage
16.5 Pounds / 1500W / 120V
19.2 pounds/ 1500W/ 120V
Bean Hopper Size
9.6oz
8.8 oz
Grinder type
Ceramic burr grinder
Ceramic burr grinder
Used Coffee Drawer Capacity
Up to 12 servings
Up to 15 servings
Grind Settings
12 settings
5 settings
Milk-based one-touch beverages
Heating system
Single boiler
Milk carafe
Clean/ descale indicator
Front-access water tank
Adjustable temperature
Milk frother
Milk carafe
Milk carafe
Programmable Drinks
9
9
What I Like
Price
$799.00
$639.04
THE WINNER (#1)
Image
PHILIPS 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine w/LatteGo, Black, EP3241/54
Model
Philips 3200 LatteGo
Dimensions (LxWxH)
9.8 x 17 x 14.6 inches
Color / Material
Black / Plastic
Water Tank Capacity
61oz
Weight / Power / Voltage
16.5 Pounds / 1500W / 120V
Bean Hopper Size
9.6oz
Grinder type
Ceramic burr grinder
Used Coffee Drawer Capacity
Up to 12 servings
Grind Settings
12 settings
Milk-based one-touch beverages
Heating system
Single boiler
Clean/ descale indicator
Front-access water tank
Adjustable temperature
Milk frother
Milk carafe
Programmable Drinks
9
What I Like
Price
$799.00
More Info
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Image
Gaggia Anima Prestige Automatic Coffee Machine, Super Automatic Frothing for Latte, Macchiato, Cappuccino and Espresso Drinks with Programmable Options
Model
Gaggia Anima Prestige
Dimensions (LxWxH)
8.3 x 17 x 13.4 inches
Color / Material
Silver / Stainless Steel and Plastic
Water Tank Capacity
61 oz
Weight / Power / Voltage
19.2 pounds/ 1500W/ 120V
Bean Hopper Size
8.8 oz
Grinder type
Ceramic burr grinder
Used Coffee Drawer Capacity
Up to 15 servings
Grind Settings
5 settings
Milk-based one-touch beverages
Heating system
Milk carafe
Clean/ descale indicator
Front-access water tank
Adjustable temperature
Milk frother
Milk carafe
Programmable Drinks
9
What I Like
Price
$639.04
More Info

Last update on 2023-03-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Gaggia Anima Prestige vs Philips 3200 Lattego: Differences

Philips 3200 LatteGo wins 2-1 and ties with Gaggia Anima Prestige in milk frothing performance. I will get into the details below because this pair is very interesting. One heavily excels the other in certain aspects and vice versa.

Grinder

Winner: Philips 3200 Lattego

Gaggia Anima Prestige and Philips 3200 Lattego both employ ceramic burr grinders to ground coffee beans.

I like a quiet, reliable grinder that produces smooth ground of Philips 3200 Lattego. Additionally, it includes 12 options for different ground textures, which I find to be really useful for naturally adjusting the coffee’s intensity.

Philips 3200 Lattego boasts a reliable grinder
Philips 3200 Lattego boasts a reliable grinder

The Gaggia Anima Prestige grinder initially operated without any issues. But over time, I became aware that the coffee beans weren’t being fed into the grinder particularly smoothly. I have to get in and physically press the beans down, which is not fun in the long run. Afterward, the beans are ground evenly, but the manual intervention of feeding the beans into the grinding well isn’t something I particularly enjoy.

Espresso flavor

Winner: Philips 3200 Lattego

There isn’t any big difference in the espresso flavor of the two. They both can make robust and nutty shots of espresso. However, due to Gaggia Anima Prestige’s unstable grinder, there are problems with the dosing step that consequently affects the final flavor. It makes the drinks taste weak but bitter at the same time. In this instance, Philips 3200 LatteGo clearly excels.

Nevertheless, when the machines are in their best shape, I can’t tell which one is the prizewinner. Both brew deliciously, and I always get good feedback from my servings to friends or family members.

Milk frothing

Tie!

I think the two operate quite similarly regarding the milk frother. They can make microfoam milk as if it’s not the most difficult privilege to find in mid-range espresso machines. Therefore, recipes like cappuccino, flat white, latte, cappuccino, or macchiato with varying requirements for milk foam are not an issue.

Heating system

Winner: Gaggia Anima Prestige

Gaggia Anima Prestige and Philips 3200 Lattego choose a single boiler as their heating system. I’m happy with what they have to offer thus far. It is evident that Anima Prestige does better in this area, though.

First off, Anima Prestige heats up significantly more quickly. Just 12 to 15 seconds are needed to prepare for extraction. Additionally, the outcomes are superb. I can use this machine to make hot espresso. I have checked using my thermometer, and the drinks usually come out at 175-182°F. Simply because of this model’s amazing heat performance, I would suggest it.

Gaggia Anima Prestige heats up very quickly
Gaggia Anima Prestige heats up very quickly

For the Philips 3200 Lattego, the water preparation typically takes between 45 and more than one minute. However, I don’t think this is very long and shouldn’t be considered a disadvantage for this machine.

However, its drinks temperature is something you should consider. I have checked with my thermometer, and the drinks are slightly over 150°F only. So I have to warm the cups with the warming tray beforehand to ensure that the drinks don’t cool down too quickly. This helps the drinks stay hotter at around 160°F, not too hot and not too cool.

Cleaning

Winner: Tie

Cleaning these machines is pretty much the same. Both devices have an alarm system that notifies when something is wrong or needs cleaning about the machines. Gaggia Anima Prestige and Philips 3200 LatteGo will tell you when their water tanks are empty or need cleaning, especially Philips 3200 with its dedicated indicator.

Philips 3200 Lattego has a clean and descale indicator
Philips 3200 Lattego has a clean and descale indicator

An all-time trick of cleaning these machines without waiting too long is to run the preground brewing progress without having any coffee in the bypass doser. That way, we can rinse the system in 5 minutes and keep the machines odorless and sanitized.

Also, there is a dedicated descale cycle in both models. Normally it will take under 30 minutes. I suggest performing this cleaning procedure every month. I don’t hesitate to use a professional descale solution or powder because it’s much more gentle and more effective on the system than vinegar.

If you read anywhere that says a machine doesn’t need descaling until you have brewed 2000 or 5000 cups, it’s not a reliable advertisement. Always descale monthly if you brew around 4-6 cups per day, whether it’s espresso or latte macchiato (the drink with the biggest volume).

Gaggia Anima Prestige vs Philips 3200 Lattego: Similarities

Check these 2 major similarities between Gaggia Anima Prestige and Philips 3200 Lattego!

One-touch beverages

Gaggia Anima Prestige and Philips 3200 Lattego are designed with a good set of one-touch beverages, including classic espresso and milk-based coffee. Here is the list of things you can brew with the pair:

  • Philips 3200 LatteGo: Espresso and double espresso, coffee and double coffee, Americano and double Americano, cappuccino, latte macchiato, and hot water
  • Gaggia Anima Prestige: Espresso and double espresso, espresso lungo and double espresso lungo, cappuccino and double cappuccino, latte macchiato and double latte macchiato, and hot water
Gaggia Anima Prestige has many one-touch options
Gaggia Anima Prestige has many one-touch options

From my experience, these sets of beverages are more than enough for any user to enjoy a complete coffee experience. Recipes like cafe au lait or ristretto are just slightly different varieties that the machines can make.

Compatible with preground coffee

Gaggia Anima Prestige vs Philips 3200 Lattego have a dedicated bypass for preground coffee in case you want to try a different roast or decaf coffee. By pressing the aroma strength option of both devices, you can guide the machine to brew from the bypass instead of grinding fresh whole beans from the hopper.

For Philips 3200, press and hold the aroma strength option for 3 seconds. As for Gaggia Anima Prestige, click the button until it passes the strongest aroma level, and the foreground icon should appear.

Quick Rundown of Philips 3200 Lattego 

Sale
PHILIPS 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine w/LatteGo, Black, EP3241/54
  • 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.Product note: Please refer to user guide or user manual (provided below in PDF) before first use
  • Enjoy 5 coffees
  • Intuitive touch display
  • 12-step grinder adjustment
  • 20,000 cups of finest coffee with durable ceramic grinders

Last update on 2023-03-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Stable and consistent espresso extraction
  • Good drink temperature, the coffees come out hot
  • Various one-touch beverages that only takes a few minutes to make
  • Potent steam wand that can froth dry foam
  • Quiet operation, even during the grinding step
Cons
  • Not very hot drink temperature

Quick Rundown of Gaggia Anima Prestige

Sale
Gaggia Anima Prestige Automatic Coffee Machine, Super Automatic Frothing for Latte, Macchiato, Cappuccino and Espresso Drinks with Programmable Options
  • 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
  • ONE TOUCH BREWING AND FROTHING: Bean-to-cup feature with automatic milk frothing for cappuccinos, macchiatos and lattes
  • PROGRAMMABLE: Programmable brewing options for lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos and espresso
  • TEMPERATURE CONTROL: 3 different temperature settings. Min/177.5 °F, Med/182.9 °F, Max/184.5 °F
  • EASY ACCESS TO WATER RESERVOIR AND BEAN HOPPER: Features a removable 60 oz water reservoir that can be accessed on the top left of the machine, and an 8.8 ounce capacity bean hopper with access from the top right of the machine

Last update on 2023-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Flavorful espresso with all flavor notes
  • A very simple cleaning procedure that includes auto-purge and auto-descaling
  • Can froth microfoam using its carafe
  • Modern machine design with straightforward interface
  • Milk-based one-touch beverage
Cons
  • Unstable grinder that sometimes jams

Product Videos

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5/5 - (2 votes)