Saeco Xelsis vs Philips 3200: Which one is better? If you’re on the fence about that, I’ve got you covered. My quick answer is the former.
The Saeco Xelsis is among the best automatic espresso machines under $2000 that your money can buy. It boasts features typically found in higher-priced models, such as a dual boiler system and the capability to brew two milk-based beverages simultaneously. Although it has a few drawbacks, its myriad of significant advantages can eclipse them.
The Philips 3200 is also a great option that can help you whip up a cappuccino or latte without heading over to the nearest café. It may not possess the distinguished features of the winner, but this ensures the price remains friendly for those on a tight budget.
Saeco Xelsis Vs Philips 3200: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2024-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Saeco Xelsis Vs Philips 3200: Differences
The Saeco Xelsis beats the Philips 3200 with a score of 4-2. Now is the time to dig deep into my comparison to choose the best one for your needs.
Coffee Flavour
Winner: Saeco Xelsis
Built-in Grinder
Both the Saeco Xelsis vs Philips 3200 have premium 100% ceramic grinders. That is great since it eliminates the need for a separate grinder purchase, and the ceramic grinder is notably excellent in itself.
Firstly, unlike its stainless steel counterpart, this type of grinder is less likely to generate excessive heat during the grinding process. This is indeed a significant advantage when trying to achieve optimal espresso extraction. Overheating the coffee grounds can lead to a loss of delicate flavors and end up with a bitter or burnt taste in the espresso. Moreover, the ceramic grinder is known for its quiet operation. It isn’t really whisper-quiet, but at least it’s quiet enough not to wake someone up if you’re brewing espresso early in the morning.
They are also extremely precise with 12 different grind levels, giving precise control over the grind size, surpassing the exorbitantly expensive Juras with only 6 settings. So you have the flexibility to adjust the grind size to a coarser setting for a more subtle beverage or to a finer setting for a robust flavor just by turning a knob. Remember to avoid tweaking the grind size while the grinder is not in use, or it will get jammed.
Heating System
The Saeco Xelsis has two thermoblock boilers, while the Philips 3200 has only one. That said, the second one cannot brew espresso and steam milk simultaneously, and there is a delay between processes for the machine to heat the water to the required temperature for brewing or steaming.
However, thermoblock technology shortens the heating interval to about 20 seconds instead of minutes like traditional boilers. The secret lies in the fact that it only heats the necessary amount of water for each process in lieu of a large amount of water. This also saves energy and ensures that the water used for brewing espresso is always fresh, contributing to a better-tasting cup of coffee.
For large settings where preparing multiple drinks back-to-back is required, an espresso machine with two boilers, like the Philips 3200, is really a lifesaver. Two separate boilers ensure that each process gets the proper amount of hot water at the right temperature, resulting in efficient and quick operation.
Brewing System
Both have a pre-infusion function, which pre-wets the coffee grounds with an appropriate amount of hot water at low pressure to make them expand or “bloom” slightly for a more even extraction. This stage is almost standard in the automatic espresso world and is a must-have for a more balanced and flavorful cup of coffee or espresso.
One distinctive edge the Saeco Xelsis boasts over its rival is the ability to tailor the pre-soak duration via the “taste” slider. That is great, but I bet beginners won’t discern its true purpose until they consult the user manual. I mean, they should label their functions a bit more clearly.
The extraction process will then occur at a pressure of 15 bars, which is higher than the minimum pressure of 9 bars for pulling a nice espresso. But wait, let me explain a bit. “Bar” is a unit of pressure measurement. Unlike drip coffee machines, which rely on gravity to slowly drip water through the coffee grounds for a longer extraction time, automatic espresso machines rely on pressure to brew espresso.
During my tests, while I was very satisfied with a cup of Joe from the Saeco Xelsis, which is full body and topped with a thick crema layer, I found the Philips 3200 produced somewhat weak espresso with really thin crema. I’m pretty sure the cause is that the extraction process is slightly faster than it should be, resulting in under-extraction. This one pulled a shot in approximately 20 seconds, while a typical espresso takes up to 30 seconds.
Milk Frothing System
Now, with the advent of bean-to-cup machines such as the Saeco Xelsis and Philips 3200, you can do it yourself right in your own kitchen. Both machines come with fully automatic milk frothers, enabling you to effortlessly whip up milk foam for your milk-infused beverages with a mere button push.
Both come with an included transparent milk jug, which is a very good thing since some brands decided to sell it separately despite charging very high prices for their products. I’m talking about you, Jura! The carafe of the Philips 3200 is conveniently attached to the machine’s front via a black plastic clip, while the Saeco Xelsis requires the jug to be connected to the frother through a plastic tube, necessitating extra space for it. Both jugs can be refrigerated when not in use to keep milk fresh for several days or rinsed underwater for deep cleaning.
The Saeco Xelsis uses Latte Perfecto technology, foaming milk twice instead of once, thereby minimizing the size of the bubbles to produce a smooth, firm texture. Regarding adjustability, this one allows you to change the amount of milk/milk foam and decide if the espresso is dispensed first. My experimentation showed that this one generated a silky, velvety microfoam, which is a must-have for both café-quality cappuccinos and latte art. Frankly, very few models in the same price range can do the same thing.
Another minor con of the Saeco Xelsis is that it flushes the milk system with steam too quickly after dispensing milk. That is great for hygiene, but it would be better if this one purged its milk system a bit slower to give the user more time to move the cup. Am I fastidious? I believe not.
On the other hand, the Philips 3200’s frother mixes milk and air at high speed in the frothing chamber before dispensing the milk foam into a waiting cup. I found it only created consistent, thick foam, which is more appropriate for a nice cappuccino than a latte. So if you are after an espresso machine to practice your latte art skills, consider the other version with a steam wand.
Design & Usability
Winner: Saeco Xelsis
Dimensions, Footprint, & Weight
| Saeco Xelsis | Philips 3200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 11.1 x 15.5 x 19.3 inches | 9.7 x 14.6 x 17 inches |
| Weight | 25.8 lbs | 17.7 lbs |
The Saeco Xelsis sports a sleek, contemporary design with a gleaming stainless steel housing, giving it the feel of robustness and longevity even under heavy use. Adding to its modern allure is a glass touchscreen display reminiscent of a smartphone, which is both striking and user-friendly. I don’t have any issues with the touchscreen per se, but the fingerprints it collects are mildly frustrating, demanding extra wipes.
The Philips 3200 isn’t as flashy as its competitor, but it assuredly won’t diminish your kitchen’s visual appeal. It’s primarily constructed of sturdy plastic, finished with sophisticated black housing and some attractive chrome-like accents. A large non-touch display sits on top, serving as the command center for all essential adjustments.
I liked that these bad boys are fairly compact so that they won’t take up less space than many more sizeable espresso machines out there. They even easily fit on limited countertop space and under upper cupboards. The Saeco Xelsis is much lighter than the Philips 3200, which is a boon for those who frequently rearrange their kitchen, but I guess that’s a rare occurrence for most people.
Pre-programmed Coffee Options
| Saeco Xelsis | Philips 3200 |
|---|---|
| Coffee Espresso Ristretto Espresso lungo Americano Flat white Latte macchiato Cappuccino Caffe latte Cafe au lait Cortado Milk froth Warm milk Hot water | Espresso Black Coffee Americano Cappuccino Latte Macchiato Hot Water |
As you can see, the Saeco Xelsis has a longer list of one-touch drinks, making it a better choice for large families or high-traffic settings. Both feature some classic options that can be found in any coffee shop, including espresso, Americano, cappuccino, and latte macchiato. I like the hot water function, which proves useful when you wish to serve a delightful tea or hot chocolate to your guests – it’s basically a farewell to your conventional kettle.
Both have a wide range of adjustments, allowing you to get more involved with each pre-programmed drink to create something that fits your taste buds. The Saeco Xelsis allows you to customize coffee strength, the dose of water, milk, and milk foam, the brewing temperature, and the pre-infusion interval. This one also lets you choose whether espresso or milk foam is dispensed first. On the flip side, the Philips 3200 offers 3 settings for coffee strength, brew temperature, volume of water, and milk dose.
Another welcome feature of the Saeco Xelsis is the “user profile,” which allows you and your loved ones to save 6 different recipes of the same beverage option. That way, you’ll never find yourself waking up in the morning only to discover that a random member has modified your hard-to-find recipe.
I should also say that they have a bypass doser, facilitating the use of pre-ground coffee. This nifty feature is really your best friend whenever you’re out of coffee beans or your guest requests a decaffeinated beverage.
Spout & Cup Clearance
| Saeco Xelsis | Philips 3200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Spout Type | Dual | Dual |
| Cup Clearance | 3-6 inches | 3.3–6.9 inches |
I was glad they have a spacious cup clearance under the dual espresso spout, fitting large cups like a travel mug or glass for latte macchiato. While the Philips 3200’s spout can be lifted higher to fit some particularly large cups, the Saeco Xelsis’s can move down lower to preserve that beautiful crema layer.
While the Philips 3200 can only prepare two cups of espresso at once, the LatteDuo technology of the Saeco Xelsis allows it to serve double cups of any drink simultaneously, including milk-based ones.
My only gripe is that the Philips 3200’s LatteGo milk spigot is a bit high and not adjustable, so your milk will have to travel a long way down before reaching your waiting cup. But you’ll be fine, provided you don’t miscalculate your cup placement.
Water Reservoir & Bean Hopper
| Saeco Xelsis | Philips 3200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Water Reservoir | 1.7 liter | 1.8 liter |
| Bean Hopper | 0.35 liter | 0.28 liter |
Both have front-loading water tanks, making refilling them a breeze without moving the machine around. And as long as your family has no heavy coffee drinkers, these tanks typically don’t require more than a daily refill.
More importantly, they can pair with an AquaClean filter to mitigate limescale accumulation and enhance the flavor of your espresso. The use of such a filter is reputed to necessitate descaling only after brewing 5,000 cups. This means no need for descaling for about five years, provided you brew three cups daily. Of course, it leads to a monthly fee, but I don’t think it’s significant enough to distract you.
Their bean hoppers have an airtight lid, thereby eliminating the worry of short-term loss of the aroma of the beans. It also helps reduce the noise of the grinder further when it is doing its job.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Tie
The good news is that cleaning these espresso machines is easy enough to keep your worries at bay. Yes, there are still manual tasks that should be done daily, like emptying the drip tray, discarding coffee grounds from the basket, refilling the water tank, and wiping down the machine’s housing, among other tasks.
It’s worth noting that their brew units are removable, necessitating a bit of extra effort to clean and maintain them, ensuring their continued good condition. But believe me, it’s better than relying on an automatic cleaning cycle. Moreover, these removable brew units can be replaced if they get damaged.
Regarding descaling them, you will need to use the recommended descaling solution and follow the user manual to activate an automatic cycle. Of course, if you decide to use the filter, this chore can be shelved for a notably lengthy period. As for cleaning the milk system, just remove the milk carafe and wash it under the tap.
Utilities & Other Features
Winner: Tie
Auto Off
The Saeco Xelsis will go into standby mode after an adjustable interval since the last brew to save energy. The default time is 30 minutes, and you have options of 15, 30, 60, and 180 minutes. Likewise, the Philips 3200 can also shut off automatically after a programmable period with the same options.
Quick Rundown Of Saeco Xelsis
- With Philips Saeco Xelsis easily make up to 15 coffee varieties from common Espresso and Capuccino to specialty coffees like Flat White or Americano. Simply swipe the touchscreen to select the drink and customize it with our intuitive Coffee Equalizer.Filter type:Reusable.Power consumption stand-by : 0.5W, Drip tray capacity : 500 ml
- 15 Coffee Varieties at Your Fingertips: Explore the world of coffee - Espresso, cappuccino, macchiato, and a range of specialty drinks
- Personalized Preferences: Everyone’s custom coffee favorites can be saved in up to 6 user profiles for instant selection. Personalize each profile down to the finest detail
- LatteDuo Milk System: Prepare and enjoy single or double serving of any coffee recipe with one touch, including Cappuccino or Latte Macchiato
- Double Thermo Blocks: Dedicated for both brewing and steaming offer accurate temperature controls for every drink in your recipe book
Last update on 2024-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown Of Philips 3200
- With Philips 3200 Series enjoy the delicious taste and aroma of coffee from fresh beans at the perfect temperature
- LatteGo Milk System: Top your coffee off with a silky-smooth layer of milk froth
- 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
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References
- Saeco Xelsis: https://www.usa.philips.com/c-m-ho/coffee/saeco-automatic-espresso-machine#triggername=saeco_black
- Philips 3200: https://www.philips.com.my/c-e/ho/coffee/philips-lattego-3200-series
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.