Philips 3200 vs 3100 has been a tough debate for me to decide the true winner because each product has positive points that excel compared to the other. But at the end of the day, Philips 3200 is the prizewinner with its overall better hands-on operation.
The winner Philips 3200 boasts of a consistent espresso extraction performance. This machine allows me to enjoy sweet, smooth, and nutty shots of coffee essence. Its quiet and powerful grinder also proves its worth with evenly ground beans. Overall, I highly recommend this model for users who are looking for a compact, affordable, jack-of-all-trades espresso machine for 2-3 daily users.
Philips 3100 also is a very complete machine in many senses. It has a one-touch cappuccino, a standard milk carafe, and a compact design. I enjoy its espresso extraction, which is similar to what Philips 3200 offers. Unfortunately, I have experienced water leaking and unstable bean hopper+grinder performance with this machine.
Philips 3200 vs 3100: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2024-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Philips 3200 vs 3100: Differences
Philips 3200 wins 2-1 against 3100, and they tie in the milk frother category. What makes 3100 a less favorable model is that it lacks stability in dosing and grinding beans. You can get to know the details below!
Milk frother
Tie!
Despite having distinctive milk frother, I find their performances very akin. With Philips 3200, users have to manage a classic Panarello wand that can froth creamy steamed milk. In the case of Philips 3100, this device is equipped with a gentle milk carafe system that allows users to relax with its hands-free frothing system. Judging from the cappuccinos I made with the later model, it’s also designed for creamy milk instead of microfoam.
Temperature-wise, both can steam milk to the right level (near 150°F). I never find the cups too cool for a pleasant cappuccino or latte experience. So there is nothing bad I notice about them regarding this matter.
If I must rank the milk systems, they will get a 7.5. Why? The pressure of the steam isn’t potent enough for microfoam. So they aren’t very ideal for cappuccino or latte. But, considering their price tag, I don’t think they do a lousy job at all. These machines are wonderful choices for users that enjoy mocha or flat white and occasional latte. I think there are adequate machines for all purposes of coffee drinkers.
Grinder’s consistency
Winner: Philips 3200
Regarding the grinders’ consistency, Philips 3200 leaves 3100 smoking dust. The former model is great at everything:
- It has 12 grinder settings for a wide range of coffee strength.
- The beans are fed into the grinder without any error.
- The noise isn’t too bad (according to espresso makers’ standards).
As for Philips 3100, it doesn’t impress me with its faulty grinder. At first, the grinder functioned smoothly without any problem. But after a few months of daily brewing, I noticed how the beans aren’t fed well from the hopper to the grinder. This contributes to uneven dosing and a faulty grinder.
Dose control
Winner: Philips 3200
Philips 3200 has better dose control for 2 reasons: firstly, the grinder on 3100 is faulty, making its dose not precise in all brews; secondly, 3100 has a leaking problem. I have spotted that the machine leaks through the dispenser outside brewing hour. And sometimes, I will encounter water in the used puck compartment. All of these problems can fit into the same “dosing problem” category.
One-touch recipes
Winner: Philips 3100
The biggest reason that forces me to consider twice when picking out the winner between Philips 3200 vs 3100 is that the second one has a more elaborate one-touch system while the 3200 only has non-milk-based recipes.
With 3100, you can get espresso, coffee, cappuccino, and hot water. And with 3200, the recipes that you can select, grab, and go are espresso, espresso lungo, Americano, coffee, and hot water. So technically, Philips 3200 wins regarding the number of one-touch drinks, but the variety is not as impressive as 3100.
Flavor-wise, I think the 3100 does a decent job. It doesn’t brew out-of-this-world cappuccino, but the flavor is good considering its price range.
Is this a big turn-off for 3200? For me, it shouldn’t be. I have tried calculating the total time it takes to start up the machine and finish the last milk step. It doesn’t pass the 5 minutes stamp. So the manual maneuver of a cappuccino isn’t that hectic and time-consuming.
Philips 3200 vs 3100: Similarities
Regarding espresso flavor and temperature performance, I find these machines to be very alike. How do these features perform for me? Let’s find out below.
Espresso flavor
Both Philips 3200 and 3100 are designed to brew balanced espresso with a nutty and mellow flavor. Of course, a cup of espresso always has a bitter note, but the bitterness and bold flavor aren’t these machines’ highlights.
The 15-pump pressure functions smoothly to extract the essence of the coffee beans I use. But Philips 3200 works with better stability. This is due to the leaking problem that I notice with Philips 3100. If the pump pressure and the valve are solid enough, leaking shouldn’t be a problem.
Single boiler heating element
These models come with a single-boiler heating system, which I admit is quite obsolete for modern-day espresso machines. But, for the price range, it’s not rare to encounter this system.
What comes across as rare is that both do a phenomenal job brewing hot cups. And paired with the 61oz water tank, they don’t require much time to heat up before each brewing session either. I only have to wait for 50-60s for Philips 3200 and over 1 minute for 3100 to finish warming up.
Quick Rundown Of Philips 3200
- With Philips 3200 Series easily make up to 5 black and milk-based coffee varieties at the touch of a button! Enjoy the delicious taste and aroma of coffee from fresh beans at the perfect temperature
- Classic Milk Frother System: Dispenses steam, allowing you to easily prepare silky smooth milk froth for your cappuccino
- Intuitive Touch Display: Select the perfect coffee for your mood with just one touch
- My Coffee Choice Menu: Adjust the strength and quantity of your beverage and choose from three different settings to suit your preferences. The Aroma Extract system intelligently strikes the optimum balance between brewing temperature and aroma extraction
- Powerful Filter and Easy Maintenance: Thanks to the AquaClean, enjoy clear and purified water - by changing the filter after being prompted by the machine, you will not need to descale your machine for up to 5000 cups
Last update on 2024-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown Of Philips 3100
Product Video
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References:
- https://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/EP3221_44/series-3200-fully-automatic-espresso-machines
- https://www.philips.ca/c-p/EP3360_14/3100-series-fully-automatic-espresso-machines
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.