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: Great Automatic Espresso Machine
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this machine about a month ago, and this is my first automatic espresso machine. In short: I love it. It is easy to use and produces excellent espresso. It is also easy to use and clean.
From cold start to a finished espresso is around two minutes, and less from a warm start. The unit draws a consistently dark, rich espresso; the easy to adjust controls let you select single or two-cup, volume per cup, and darkness (strength).
The water tank is easily accessible (it holds about 3 bottles of bottled water, which is what I use since my local water is poor). It is easy to add more beans, but I do notice that the refill door is one the top in an area that makes it difficult to open fully if you have the machine positioned on a counter top under overhead cabinets.
Cleanup is easy (the unit does a small flush on startup and shutdown), and the waste tray for the used coffee (which turn into solid "hockey pucks") holds about a week's worth of waste making coffee once a day for my wife and me.
After reading many reviews for this and other brands online, I was a little concerned about the learning curve to be able to brew a good quality espresso, but after only about 4 cups, I had it down...the machine really does most of the work.
I will echo comments from other reviewers: the beans you use are important, and I have been experimenting with different brands.
I would highly recommend this unit to others.
Customer Review: Super Easy to Use
Summary: 5 Stars
After buying a more expensive competitor's machine and having it leak all over the kitchen not once, but twice on Christmas morning we ended up buying this machine and are so happy. We had a coffee-shop brand prior to this machine for the last 5 years and when it ended up dying we decided to upgrade. I would highly recommend this machine.
PROS ~ super easy to use, easy to clean, stylish looking and functional. We make both espressos, place mugs on warming shelf and froth milk for a nice creamy latte. We take our froth to 180 degrees and it is nice and fluffy.
CONS ~ Would have loved 2 separate bean units. Sometimes I want a decaf coffee in the evening, but the one scoop option, just doesn't do it for me.
Some reviewers complained about noise- apparently they have never had an espresso machine. Have you ever walked into a coffee shop and thought it was quiet like a library? They make noise, but this is way quieter than what we replaced. Give it about 8-10 mugs to really get the taste you prefer. We buy coffee-shop beans and flavor syrups and have saved a ton of money in just a month. My husband previously hated me using our old machine because he was afraid I would burn myself- no worries with this machine. If you want to get really crazy- the coffee presses into little circular shaped pods that you can easily save to mix with your soil- it is actually a great fertilizer option.
Customer Review: Magnificant!
Summary: 4 Stars
I waited until I had my machine 1 year to write this review. I chose it because, based on reviews, it appeared to be the best low price fully-automatic espresso machine. I am really happy with it.
I use a frothing thermometer to tell how long to steam the milk for. This results in perfect cappucino every time!
Pros:
- Makes great coffee
- Fool-proof milk frother
- Easy to clean - don't need any special cleaning tablets
Cons:
- Manual controls for bean and water quantity
- My machine jams once every couple of months. However, the jams always clear themselves - no service has ever been needed
Update November 2010 after 18 months of use:
My machine finally had a jam that wouldn't clear itself. I called Delonghi tech support. To my pleasant surprise, the call was answered quickly, and the technician informed me my machine had a 2 year warranty. There is a service depot in town 1 mile from where I live. They were able to fix the machine in only 24 hours.
The cause of the jams appears to be a manufacturing defect. There is supposed to be a spring that allows an internal funnel to flip out of the way when the brewing mechanism moves inside the machine. My machine didn't have the spring, so the brewing mechanism would sometimes catch on the funnel.
After the service, my machine is now working perfectly.
Customer Review: Yes, Yes, Yes
Summary: 4 Stars
This is my 1st machine that is more than a $50 drip coffee maker. Well worth it!! After researching so many super automatics and reading reviews this seemed by far the best buy for the money. (after $100 rebate = $528.00!) This is an excellent buy for this machine. I have found this model in retail stores for $800.00, sometimes they do offer 20% off such as Bed, Bath & Beyond which would still put you at $640.00.
I just received my ESAM 3300 Thursday 12/23- just in time for xmas eve dinner at our house. I practiced and tried out the machine early in the day with ease. By nighttime I was ready to go. My ESAM pumped out 1 espresso after another as well a couple of Americanos in between without an issue. My wife's Portuguese family who are all avid espresso drinkers were all impressed and really enjoyed their espresso.
I can agree as i've seen some negative comments that the temperature could be hotter, but don't be fooled, the temperature is quite hot & drinkable upon serving. If you planned to make your espresso and let it sit for too long than you may end up with a not so hot espresso- obviously!
There is a little bit of a learning curve in determining the right size to strength ratio but after 1 or 2 servings you should have that figured out.
Great machine(so far) for a great price!
Customer Review: Good espresso maker for the price with few negatives
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a good solid reliable machine that makes a good cup of espresso. I like the analog dials: the simplicity and elegance makes it easy for anyone to understand how to use it in just a few minutes.
Pluses:
1. Design simplicity
2. Good espresso
3. Easy to clean
4. Auto descaling indicator and simple to descale (comes with one Durgol descaler)
Minuses:
1. Noisy grinder
2. User's manual was obviously written by a nonnative English speaker, example: "the program of descaling is hour terminated and the machine is ready per do again the coffee" and as such, some of the instructions take some time to figure out.
3. The power on/power off cycles rinse the system causing brown fluid to drain into the drip catching tray - just keep a little cappuccino milk pot underneath to remedy this
4. Grounds bucket inside fills up irregularly so the warning light goes off before it's really filled to capacity (requiring more frequent emptying)
5. I could not adjust the setting for water hardness (not that big of a deal, but it might prolong the interval needed for descaling)
Overall, a good super-automatic for the price (I got it at Bed Bath and Beyond for $639 using their 20% off coupon, but then you pay tax)