Delonghi isn’t known for disappointing its customers, especially with their range of super automatic espresso machines. The renowned coffee brand claims that with the Magnifica ESAM3300, anyone can become a home barista. We set out to put the machine to the test, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and more people being forced into work from home as the new normal, effectively becoming their own baristas and having to take responsibility for the coffee they consume during the day when they would have been in a more traditional office environment. So how does the ESAM3300 shape up in terms of this?
First Impressions
While the design of this machine isn’t the most innovative on the market, it’s silver coloured exterior gets some props from us for being adaptable to most kitchen colour schemes. Upon further inspection, we were disappointed to note that the exterior is not stainless steel, but rather made entirely of plastic, which might help make the machine weigh a little less than anticipated, but doesn’t exactly send a strong environmental message. Aside from this, the machine is relatively compact and weighs around 10kg, making it more mobile than some of its counterparts on the market.
Features, Bells and Whistles
We spotted the cup warmer on top of this machine first, which is always a nice touch in any coffee machine. Upon further inspection, we noticed that it includes a couple of features more commonly found in higher-end machines, including an auto shut-off feature, which can be set to your own preference. The ESAM3330 comes with a milk frother and other standard features, each of which is relatively easy to use and better yet, easy to clean as well. As a whole, the machine comes with a range of features that may take some time to master, meaning it isn’t exactly a “plug & play” coffee maker. That’s not to say that it isn’t easy to use, and experienced coffee makers won’t have a problem wrapping their heads around the instruction manual.
The True Test: Making a Cup of Coffee
It’s always going to be hard for a semi-automatic machine to compete with an actual barista, but the true test is whether the machine is able to make the same cup time and time again, effectively giving a consistently good cup of coffee each time. The ESAM3300 does this time and time again, doing so with minimal effort and a quick turnaround time. A nifty volume dial even lets you set the shot volume, allowing you to control the amount of ground coffee dispensed. This comes in handy if you have a household with a variety of different preferences. The end result is the same: a good cup of coffee from a machine that is easy to use and maintain in the long run.
Closing Thoughts
As a whole, the Delonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 is a great option to explore if you’re looking to make a coffee machine a permanent feature in your home for personal or business reasons. While there’s not getting around the plastic design, the machine makes up for this in it’s speed, ability to deliver a consistently good cup of coffee, as well as in how easy it is to clean. If you’re looking to get your hands on this machine, or are thinking about the other options out there, have a chat to the team at Aquaspresso. They will be able to point you in the right direction depending on your individual needs. Have you considered a coffee machine rental? If not, factor this in as an option, and chat to their team about the available machines in their catalogue. Happy lockdown coffee drinking!
