DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine
by Delonghi
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Our Price: $569.95
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Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: DelonghiBrand: DeLonghi
Model: ESAM3300
Color: Silver
Product features:
- Patented "Cappuccino System" frother; mixes steam and milk to create a rich, creamy froth for perfect drinks every time
- Easy-to-use rotary and push button control panel with programmable menu settings
- Grinds beans instantly with the patented "Direct-to-Brew" system. Brewing system is compact and removable for easy cleaning.
- No waiting between preparing espresso and cappuccino with the double boiler system
- Professional-quality, conical low-pitch burr grinder. Grind settings allow you to adjust the fineness for all types of beans
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine
Customer Review: With Tinkering, Good Quality Shots AND Convenience
Summary: 5 Stars
Bought this machine after heavy and satisfactory use of a Solis Palazzo over the last 4 years.
The DeLonghi Magnifica performs as advertised, providing convenience with, given sufficient patience and understanding, the prospect of also making quality drinks. The machine is a bit more complicated for a novice to use, compared to the Solis, and takes more tinkering to get a consistent drink. With that territory, though, also comes the possibility of making a better shot than I could with the Solis. I will explain.
We all pursue that shot with perfect extraction and aromatic crema delicately gracing the surface. Nothing is more fundamental. How does the DeLonghi do? For a shot of set volume, this machine gives us the typical two variables to play with: fineness of grind and quantity of grounds. I found it took a great deal of tinkering with those two settings to get the flow at that point of perfect extraction: not gushing, not dripping. Can be done, just takes patience.
Further, get the settings right for the one cup setting, push the two-cup button, and the results will be worthless. That such a button cannot be found on most comparable machines has a reason. Two shots means a thicker puck, throwing off all your careful adjustments of grind and quantity. Forget about that two-shot button, set things for a single shot and hit that button as many times as required by the lateness of your prior evening.
The settings are sensitive enough - something I have not seen in the Solis - that I find I must vary them from roast to roast. What works for a darker roast leaves a lighter roast mostly dripping out the delivery spouts. Perhaps a liability for those interested in convenience over quality. For others, another opportunity to get it right instead of settling for the lowest common denominator. Quantity of grounds wheel is conveniently located on front so such adjustments are easy to make.
Some other initial observations:
* After a half-dozen cups, my machine locked up. Blinking lights and manual told be something was binding in the grinder and to contact manufacturer. My examination showed that the chute immediately below the grinder was packed up. Bent little bristle brush and some awkward maneuvering cleared up the problem which, so far, has not reoccurred.
* Specs say bean capacity is about 7 ounces. Anticipated this being an inconvenience as I roast in 12 oz lots. The bean hopper will actually take 11 or 12 ounces with no problem.
* Buried in the instructions is the observation that, if it has been 2 or 3 minutes between brews, then one should do a quick flush, hitting the descaling button, to assure optimal water temperature. Easy to do but not something I have seen on other machines. I see this as a positive. Yes, another step but one that improves quality.
* Specs suggest this will fit under a cabinet 14 inches above the counter. True, but if you want to be able to open the bean bin and fill, 18 ¼" clearance is necessary.
* The grounds you now grind are not those you next brew. There's a 1- or 2-shot lag. So, that first shot in the morning has been sitting for, say, 20 hours, ground and letting the volatiles vanish. There go the qualities you sought by carefully selecting a particular bean and then finding the perfect and perfectly fresh roast for it. Discard that first morning shot. Or use it for the family member who likes to add flavorings.
Finally, foam. Two boilers meant, I hoped, extra oomph for the steam. And, that is the case. Makes great foam for those afternoon cappuccinos, wet or dry.
But, what about those morning lattes? Need that perfect micro-foam, nary a single visible bubble, to pour through the surface and float the delicate crema to the surface. Pull the outer aerating sleeve off the foam nozzle and, with practice, can get micro-foam. As the nozzle swings out and not, like most machines, out and up, it remains perpendicular so cannot get the spinning in the pitcher that experts recommend for those of us unable to get perfect micro-foam in the first stages; amazing what steaming sins the swirling milk will bury.
That's not the real problem, though. Inner nozzle, when aerating outer sleeve is removed, is held on only by the friction of an o-ring, unlike others I have used where there is some kind of firm lock. Now and then, the inner nozzle, when used solo, fires itself into the cream pitcher.
So, lattes are not easy. Options I am considering: keep aerating sleeve in place and hold back the foam as I pour, making a 100% "wet" cappuccino; plug up the air intake hole in the aerating sleeve; or, hacksaw off the lower 2/3rd's of that outer sleeve, keeping the portion that holds everything together. But, then, no cappuccino's.
Update: Ended up taking a hack saw to the outer nozzle to kill the frother function, keeping just enough of the outer piece to hold the inner nozzle in place. Has worked very well. Can get microfoam good enough even to make my feeble attempts at latte art.
Summary: These machines are designed for convenience. The DeLonghi does deliver: want a fast, effortless beverage, you will get it after some initial tinkering. The complications that arise open the door for those who want to pursue a bit more but are not ready for all the hassles (and expense) of a full bore machine, requiring attention to several other variables. As to the latte foam issue, I chose 5 stars because the machine does perform well as advertised, including claiming to only provide foam for cappuccinos.
Update: Oct, 2010 - Has worked just fine until now - average of 5 or 6 double shot drinks/day day in, day out - over half include steaming milk. Steam system has now failed and so am in the market for a new machine. Steam nozzle always dripped a bit, became worse, eventually control would rotate only with great force. Then, control knob broke. Vice grips applied to knob are my temporary solution while deciding on next machine. May or may not reorder this machine as it did work well for several years and all the others in this price range seem to have spotty long-term performance judging from the reviews.
Description of DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine
The DeLonghi Esclusivo Magnifica Super-Automatic Machine brews perfect coffee, espresso, latte, and cappuccino. The compact and patented Direct-to-Brew System with Thermo Block technology provides excellent heat distribution, and it's removable for easy cleaning. The beans are ground instantly to ensure the freshest espresso or coffee brewed under 15 bars of pressure. Professional-quality integrated burr grinder produces consistent, fresh, and aromatic espresso or coffee. Grind settings allow you to adjust the fineness for all types of beans. The instant reheat function heats the core of the machine, ensuring that Magnifica maintains an ideal temperature for brewing. The patented cappuccino system frother includes a special chamber that mixes steam and milk to create a rich, creamy froth. It's perfect for making the ideal cappuccino, latte, or any other frothy milk coffee beverage. Automatic decalcification indicator lights let you know when it's time to clean the machine. Removable 60-ounce water tank with water-level indicator allows for convenient filling and easy cleaning. Removable used coffee container and drip tray for convenient cleaning and easy disposal of coffee waste. Two separate, easy-to-use control dials allow you to make adjustments to coffee strength and brewed amounts. Choose the one-cup option for a large mug or small espresso, or choose the two-cup option for two large mugs or two small espressos. Three-hour automatic shutoff for safe operation. Adjustable spouts let you brew directly into espresso, demitasse, or 12-ounce cups.Espresso Machines
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