Philips 3200 vs Breville Barista Pro: An Honest Comparison Of 2 Popular Machines That You Shouldn’t Miss

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Does Philips 3200 vs Breville Barista Pro ever cross your mind? If the answer is yes, you can find out which espresso machine of these 2 is better at making espresso. After considering their brewing features and prices, the Philips 3200 has my final vote.

Philips 3200 is a well-rounded affordable machine. It boasts delicious espresso quality and a stable grinder made of ceramic, the ideal grinder material that maintains the authentic flavor of the roast of your choice. With its formidable steam wand, you can easily froth creamy milk for latte or mocha, among other milk-based recipes. I just wish the foam texture could get as airy and fluffy as what its fellow 3200 LatteGo can do. Other than that, this is a perfect low-to-mid-range machine.

As for Breville Barista Pro, this machine is perfect for making robust espresso and frothing creamy to dry foam for a good variety of coffee recipes. Unfortunately, this is a semi-automatic machine that requires a lot of hands-on intervention from users during the entire brewing process. It also lacks many modern features like adjustable temperatures and creative one-touch recipes.

Philips 3200 vs Breville Barista Pro: Comparison Chart

Image
THE WINNER (#1)
PHILIPS 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine w/Milk Frother, Black, EP3221/44
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine, 2 liters, Brushed Stainless Steel, BES878BSS
Model
Philips 3200
Breville Barista Pro
Dimensions (LxWxH)
9.8 x 17 x 14.6 inches
13 x 12 x 13 inches
Color / Material
Black / Plastic
Silver/ Stainless Steel
Water Tank Capacity
61 oz
64.2 oz
Weight / Power / Voltage
16.5 Pounds / 1500W / 120V
20 Pounds/ 1680W/ 120V
Bean Hopper Size
9.6 oz
8 oz
Grinder type
Ceramic conical burr grinder
Steel conical burr grinder
Used Coffee Drawer Capacity
Up to 12 servings
No dreg drawer
Grind Settings
12 settings
30 settings
Empty water tank indicator
Milk-based one-touch beverages
Heating system
Single boiler
ThermoJet
Clean/ descale indicator
Auto-purge
Milk frother
Milk carafe
Steam wand
Programmable Drinks
9
2
What I Like
Price
$599.00
$849.95
THE WINNER (#1)
Image
PHILIPS 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine w/Milk Frother, Black, EP3221/44
Model
Philips 3200
Dimensions (LxWxH)
9.8 x 17 x 14.6 inches
Color / Material
Black / Plastic
Water Tank Capacity
61 oz
Weight / Power / Voltage
16.5 Pounds / 1500W / 120V
Bean Hopper Size
9.6 oz
Grinder type
Ceramic conical burr grinder
Used Coffee Drawer Capacity
Up to 12 servings
Grind Settings
12 settings
Empty water tank indicator
Milk-based one-touch beverages
Heating system
Single boiler
Clean/ descale indicator
Auto-purge
Milk frother
Milk carafe
Programmable Drinks
9
What I Like
Price
$599.00
More Info
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Image
Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine, 2 liters, Brushed Stainless Steel, BES878BSS
Model
Breville Barista Pro
Dimensions (LxWxH)
13 x 12 x 13 inches
Color / Material
Silver/ Stainless Steel
Water Tank Capacity
64.2 oz
Weight / Power / Voltage
20 Pounds/ 1680W/ 120V
Bean Hopper Size
8 oz
Grinder type
Steel conical burr grinder
Used Coffee Drawer Capacity
No dreg drawer
Grind Settings
30 settings
Empty water tank indicator
Milk-based one-touch beverages
Heating system
ThermoJet
Clean/ descale indicator
Auto-purge
Milk frother
Steam wand
Programmable Drinks
2
What I Like
Price
$849.95
More Info

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

Philips 3200 vs Breville Barista Pro: Differences

Philips 3200 wins 4-3 against Breville Barista Pro thanks to its innovative design, convenient indicators, amazing espresso quality, and stable grinder. Breville Barista Pro also is a potent machine with wonderful beverage quality. But it lacks many additional features that today’s espresso makers have.

Automation level

Winner: Philips 3200

Philips 3200 is a super-automatic machine that has an entirely automatic brewing process (except for the milk frothing part). Users don’t have to intervene manually, but it’s still possible to adjust brewing aspects like coffee strength and temperature before the extraction.

On the other hand, Breville Barista Pro is a semi-automatic espresso machine that needs users to pluck in and remove the portafilter from the grinder’s well to the distributary mouth of the device for the extraction.

Espresso flavor

Tie!

Regarding espresso flavors, there are certain differences that I want to emphasize. First, Philips 3200’s espresso is about balance. All the flavor notes are there without being too bold to consume. On the contrary, Barista Pro seems to be more gifted in making robust drinks that heavy coffee drinkers love.

This difference might be due to many reasons. But I think the steel grinder plays a part in it. The steel material tends to roast beans slightly, making the drinks a tad stronger and more bitter.

Philips 3200 brews espresso deliciously
Philips 3200 brews espresso deliciously

Grinder

Winner: Philips 3200

To grind coffee beans, both the Breville Barista Pro and the Philips 3200 employ conical burr grinders. There are, nevertheless, considerable distinctions between them.

In terms of settings, the Philips 3200 has 12 distinct ground textures, while the Breville Barista Pro has 30. The 12 settings are already ideal for me. On the other hand, 30 options seem overly detailed and unneeded because we seldom modify the ground texture precisely.

With the Philips 3200, we may enjoy its ceramic grinder, which, in my opinion, is the ideal material for coffee grinders. This machine’s grinder is highly sturdy and quiet, and it can create smooth and uniform grinding. The issue with ceramic is that it does not generate a lot of heat due to friction. As a result, it does not roast the coffee beans and affects their flavor. However, with this machine, I obtain wonderfully balanced and smooth cups.

Philips 3200's bulti-in grinder is powerful and consistent
Philips 3200’s built-in grinder is powerful and consistent

Because the grinder on the Breville Barista Pro is constructed of steel, it tends to heat the beans more, and the final flavor of the cups is generally quite strong and occasionally harsh. In general, I don’t find the flavor to be disagreeable or to be on the negative side. However, the powerful espressos show that this machine is intended for hardcore coffee consumers.

Heating system 

Winner: Breville Barista Pro

In terms of heating technologies, the Breville Barista Pro has a considerably more complex technology called ThermoJet. As a result, I can begin brewing espresso virtually immediately after turning on the machine. And the beverages are just delicious. Of course, the coffees and espressos are always hot and boiling.

The Philips 3200 employs a simpler system: a single boiler. As a result, the heat-up time is prolonged, approximately 1 minute. And the beverages arrive hot enough to sip straight immediately, but not at the high degree that many customers want. So Philips 3200’s temperature performance is good but not potent enough to face Breville Barista Pro heads-on.

Milk System and its results

Winner: Breville Barista Pro

Both machines can easily froth creamy milk foam for the perfect latte, macchiato, flat white, or mocha. As for cappuccino with Philips 3200, the milk texture needs to be slightly drier for it to be authentic to the original Italian recipe. But overall, I’m satisfied with the milk texture that these machines can offer, especially for their price range.

Is there any difference in the milk texture of these machines? Unfortunately, yes. With Barista Pro, the milk texture is drier and airier. This is due to the 4-hole steam wand that Breville Barista Pro comes with.

Breville Barista Pro froths microfoam perfectly
Breville Barista Pro froths microfoam perfectly

Utilities

Winner: Philips 3200 

The Philips 3200 includes a height-adjustable spout, which helps to prevent spatter. As a result, you may use a variety of mugs without having to bother about cleaning the drip tray. This model also offers a slew of cleaning and maintenance notifications.

The Barista Pro, like the Philips 3200, includes a cup warmer on top to guarantee that the beverages are constantly hot and don’t drop their temperature too soon after dispensing.

Philips 3200 vs Breville Barista Pro: Similarities

I will reveal 2 major similarities between Philips 3200 and Breville Barista Pro here!

Water tank size

Philips and Breville Barista Pro are equipped with a 61oz and 64.2oz water tank, respectively. The tank size is not too small but not too big, just enough to comfortably serve 2-3 users’ coffee needs daily. If you are a couple or a student who is looking for a machine to share with 2 more roommates max, I highly recommend this model!

Auto-purge

Auto-purge is a wonderful feature that assists in cleaning these devices that I think is so worthy of mentioning. When I turn the machine on or off, they will automatically rinse the brew path gently and briefly. This allows the machines to be free of old coffee odor from what is left from previous brewing sessions.

Quick Rundown of Philips 3200

Sale
PHILIPS 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine w/Milk Frother, Black, EP3221/44
  • 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 4 coffees at your fingertips, makes espresso, hot water, coffee, Americano, Espresso Lungo. The classic milk frother allows you to create a silky smooth cappuccino or latte macchiato with ease
  • Intuitive touch display, frequency: 60 hertz
  • Adjust aroma strength and quantity
  • 12-step grinder adjustment

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

Pros
  • Stable and consistent espresso extraction
  • Good drink temperature, the coffees come out hot
  • Easy and convenient to use with variable options for customization
  • Smart interface with easy control over the brew system
  • Authentic espresso flavor with good crema
  • One-touch Americano
Cons
  • Drink temperature isn’t very hot, just warm enough for drinking right away
  • No cup warmer

Quick Rundown of Breville Barista Pro

Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine, 2 liters, Brushed Stainless Steel, BES878BSS
  • Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use

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

Pros
  • Quick heat-up time in 3 seconds
  • Strong heating system (ThermoJet) & consistency (PID)
  • Features a separate hot water dispenser
  • High pressure steam wand that can froth microfoam
  • Quiet smooth and silent grinder
  • The machine has a warming tray
  • Very good water temperature for hot coffees
Cons
  • Manual tamping
  • Not many convenient extra features

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5/5 - (1 vote)