DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine
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List Price: Our Price: $788.78 You Save: $471.22 (37%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $749.99 (click here) Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine
Customer Review: an investment in stress: broke after 3 weeks, WORST customer service
Summary: 1 Stars
I ordered this machine for my mother for Christmas. What convinced me to go with the DeLonghi were the overwhelming number of outstanding reviews on Amazon. I will say that for three and one-half weeks, the machine made outstanding coffee. It then broke. The lights would blink on and off over and over and the machine would no longer brew. When my mother called customer care they suggested a possible solution. When that didn't work they said it would need to be sent back for repairs. She asked about a replacement. They told her 'no', that it would have to be repaired. She then asked about an extension on the warranty for the time it was in their shop. They again said 'No'. Having no other option, she sent it back (after waiting two weeks for the shipping box and label to arrive). That was THREE months ago. She has called customer care. They referred her to the appliance repair shop. She attempted to contact the appliance repair shop NEVER receiving an answer. She again called customer care and was told that the shop is in Seattle, WA (we are in Virginia) and that they are only open Monday-Wednesday from 9-5 and Thursday from 9-1. They have no answering machine. You must call during working hours and be lucky enough to get someone on the phone. She found this out last Thursday. She now has to wait until Monday at 11 am to make another attempt.
We estimated that we probably had 40 cups of espresso before the machine broke. When I purchased it it was $799 (say an even 800 for sake of easy math). That means each cup cost us about $20 (not including the cost of the beans). The coffee was good, but it didn't pump out $20 cups. The company may believe that the quality of the machine is 'good enough' for the $800 price point, that a few lemons here and there are to be expected for that price point. Investing $800 in an espresso machine (in anything) is significant and not something I took lightly. It is an expression of trust. I don't mind the fact that we received a lemon, I do mind that the company does not seem to care or respect our investment in them. Beyond the money, it has cost my mother time and frustration. I am embarrassed that our family's gift to her (on my direction and recommendation) has been little more than a source of stress for her.
When (or if - at least seemingly) she gets the machine back from being repaired she is seriously considering just returning it to Amazon, even though we cannot get a refund due to the time that has passed.
Like I said, I read ALL the reviews on this before I selected in this particular machine - good and bad. I have never before run into a more appropriate application of the saying 'Let the buyer beware!'. If you are still thinking about investing in this Delonghi, we might have a deal for you! That is, if we ever get it back.
Customer Review: One of the Best Super Automatics Out There for the Price
Summary: 5 Stars
I have the EAM3200, which is the previous model version. The differences are slight but noticeable to the newer. These machines are the best in class for price and performance, produce a great espresso, and are maintainable in ways that other manufacturers models are not. The coffee from the Delonghi is just as good as from Jura and even some manual models such as Expobar and Rancillo. It is very close to what you find in Italy - not quite, but for the price it is worth it. Great crema, hot temperature, rich flavor. And the best part is you can pull out the brew mechanism and clean it - VERY key. This will ensure sound operation and function for many years.
In order to keep this machine is fine working order, you need to do a bit of upkeep each week and use the right beans.
1. Only use non-oily, 100% Arabica beans. If you use oily beans it will clog frequently and attract rancid flavors. It will also shorten the life of the machine. I use Illy, but any espresso will do (I actually get the Illy dark roast - it has more flavor when brewing a larger "americano" cup).
2. Clean the brew mechanism once a week. Just snap it out and run it under hot water.
3. Use spring water instead of tap water. This will keep any weird flavors from your tap entering the coffee. It may build up minerals, but...
4. De-calcify the machine when it asks for it - don't wait.
I, for one, would rather have manual controls over coffee amount, strength, etc. You are not losing out on anything by not having digital controls - other than not being able to have the machine automatically on and ready to go when you first wake up. As for the other models ability to do milk-based drinks at the touch of a button - how often do you really want a cappuccino? If it is every day, then get the 3500. If you are like me and need real coffee in the morning, then get this model. The milk canister can only sit in the fridge for so long. If you are planning to serve cappuccino at dinner parties, then you are committing Italian heresy - cappuccino is only served in the morning.
CONS
1. The cup warmer does not work very well, but get double walled cups and the temperature of the product will not be an issue.
2. You can't have it turn on automatically at a certain time. But it only takes a few minutes to get up to temperature.
3. It is NOISY.
My espresso settings - coffee amount at 10 o'clock, strength at 3 o'clock, single cup dispense. Super double espresso in an espresso cup. I may have 2 of these on a saturday.
My wife's "americano" settings - coffee amount at 3 o'clock, strength at 3 o'clock, double cup dispense. Full cup of rich coffee in a normal cup.
Bean grind at 5.
Customer Review: Awesome!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this machine after a lot of research. I was upgrading from a Starbucks Barrista which I had owned about four years and was wearing out. I decided to go with a semi-automatic or an automatic. I researched on line then decided to go to Williams Sonoma to look at them first hand. Unfortunately they didn't have the Manifica in stock so they started to show me the other models. I was almost sold on the semi-automatic Breville. I decided after spending over an hour in the store with a salesperson to sleep on it. I'm glad I did. My whole reason for wanting a new espresso machine other than my other one seeing better days, was to make my 4AM latte making faster and easier. My decision with the Delongi Magnifica was one of the best I ever made.
This machine is quick and easy to use. At 4 AM I really don't have the patience to be messing with coffee grounds and waiting a long time for the machine to warm up. It is as easy as 1,2,3,4.
1. Turn the unit on, it takes about 30 seconds to warm up.
2. Pour milk into frothing cup and froth by turning the dial on the machine.
3. Run Frothing mechanism under water to clean it.
4. Pick espresso selector and let the machine grind it, pour it, and get rid of the grounds for you.
The machine will turn off automatically in 3 hours or you can do it manually.
I was orginally concerned with a complaint about the loud noise the grinder makes. Honestly, I don't agree. It really isn't any louder than my previous machine (which didn't even have a grinder). Our bedroom is right above our kitchen and our home was built in the 40's. There is no carpeting upstairs which means no real buffering. My husband sleeps right through the noise and he is a light sleeper.
There is some fine tuning to be done to the machine to make espresso to your specific liking but it only took me a few turns of the dial to get it just right. I also like the idea that you can use ground espresso if you like. This is great for me when I want a decaf espresso (I know, whats the point) later in the evening. My regular espresso beans can stay in the grinder section and I can just add already ground decaf espresso to the other section for those rare occassions.
Basically, if you want a good espresso machine without a lot of bother, this is the one to pick. I am 100% happy with my decision.
Customer Review: Great coffee, build quality problems
Summary: 1 Stars
[This review applies to the Magnifica 3200, this is the same as the 3300 with slight cosmetic differences.]
I bought this machine in 2006 after an almost-endless trawl through the internet reading owners' reviews - after all, we are talking about the search for the perfect expresso here!
The coffee quality is indeed great. The only misgivings I would have about using it are that the knobs have no user markings, which means that if there are several people in the house using the machine, it is impossible to select the previously-selected individual settings. Also, the time before the machine performs an auto-switchoff is fixed at about three hours. I couldn't find the power comsumption in the user manual when in "idle" mode, but I think it must be substantial since it keeps the boiler/cup-preheater hot during this time. Not that the preheater is any use - I warm my cups by first wetting them and then putting them in the microwave for 30 seconds.
More seriously, I have had the machine for three years and in this time it has broken down four times - the first time after six weeks, the second time after about 18 months, the third time after about 30 months, and again most recently last week. The first two times, the machine was fixed under guarantee, without any quibbles. I think the problem is that the environment these machines have to work under is probably the most severe to be found in the home: high-pressure boiling water, grinding, and the transport of the coffee grains within the machine. Maybe the build quality of the cheaper machines is such that they cannot cope?
While waiting this last time round for it to be picked up and repaired, I decided to open it up to check its build quality (I'm an engineer). De Longhi has used thin plastic wherever possible. The coffee transfer path is not well isolated from the rest of the machine - as a result coffee powder had dropped into the moving motorised assembly at the back of the machine (I think this was the reason why the machine ultimately had failed).
Others here have commented on the machine's coffee-making ability. I agree, it makes great coffee. It's a pity that, in my experience at least, it was let down by poor engineering.
Customer Review: Gets the job done! Tastes great, saves $
Summary: 4 Stars
It took me a year to finally commit to buying an espresso machine because there are so many choices out there that it's paralyzing to pick one. But after too much time shelling out $10 a day for two drinks at our local coffee house, we decided to take the plunge. I did a lot of research on the site Whole Latte Love and chose the DeLonghi Magnifica 3300.
We've had our machine for about six months now, so we've saved almost $1000 (above the cost of the machine!) and enjoyed great tasting beverages. My husband has actually switched from drinking cappuccinos to straight espressos because it tastes so good. I still drink lattes and that works, too. The super-automatic function really is easy: just add beans and push one button and you have espresso, foam the milk and you have a latte.
I chose the Delonghi Magnifica from a crowded field of options because it was not too expensive. I didn't need a cup warmer or a timer. Honestly, on some of the more expensive models like the DeLonghi ESAM3500.N Esclusivo Magnifica I couldn't figure out what more I would be getting for approximately twice the cost (a milk container? I can put the wand in the frothing pitcher myself. Perhaps if I could compare them in real life I'd see the difference. Comments from DeLonghi 3500 owners are welcome).
This basic DeLonghi has the internal guts that mattered to me, the direct grind "beans to brew" system that ensures that the beans are freshly ground for each cup.
I am giving the machine 4 stars instead of 5 because it's not perfect. The grinder is really loud, but hey, it's supposed to be waking us up in the morning. The exterior construction of the unit is disappointingly plasticky. The water container leaks a bit when you remove it, and we have a small amount of grounds collecting inside the unit (maybe we need to clean the grinder).
Overall, we are very pleased with this machine. It gets the job done, producing wonderful espresso drinks at a reasonable price.