mocha
DeLonghi Magnifica 3300 Esclusivo Review
We’ve been prepping this review for several months – and drinking far too much espresso. Beware. Our energy level has never been higher.
Fully Automatic Espresso Maker – DeLonghi Magnifica 3300
Have you ever looked at the full cost of your espresso habit? I found myself visiting local coffee shops an average of 6 times per week, conservatively spending $3.50 each time (I usually order smaller “tall” lattes). Over the course of a year that added up to just over $1,000. The cost plus the time involved in just getting to the coffee shop in the end limited how many espressos I was willing to enjoy in a week. And none of this figured in my wife’s own coffee habit!
For most espresso fans the financials look great immediately. Finding the right machine was next – a process which proved a little daunting.
Happily, we can report that we found at least one great option – the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 Super Automatic (Amazon.com).
Many Choices Out There
Prospective buyers of super automatics will find a large number of unfamiliar manufacturers. The terminology can be bewildering and most have no first-hand experience even using these types of machines in the past. Combine that with the ticket price and it’s enough to turn many people away before they get started.
We had luckily already been exposed to the awesomeness of fully automatic espresso. Friends ‘inherited’ an older hand-me-down $2000+ model from their parents. And while that wasn’t going to work for us the seed was planted and kept growing. We knew how easy it can be to make great coffee at home and having reviewed the cost of our “habit”, it was just a matter of time.
In researching options, DeLonghi repeatedly came up as building reliable effective and economical machines. After lots of feature cross-checking and carefully reading online reviews we decided the DeLonghi Magnifica 3300 – DeLonghi’s “lower-end” model (ha!) – was the right place to start.
Getting Started With Super Automatic Espresso
We were slightly taken aback by the size of the unboxed ESAM 3300. Your old automatic coffee pot is going to have a serious inferiority complex. (You probably won’t be too interested in that thing any longer anyway). We had the measurements right and it fit where we wanted it to go, but it did a day or two for it to feel “right” in the kitchen. The exterior is nicely designed and complements other appliances well. Once it started pouring great espressos the DeLonghi instantly became a member of the family.
The manual is easy to follow. We impatiently ran through the recommended cleaning cycle. A few minutes later we had loaded our first beans and water, set the dials for medium strength and medium coffee quantity and pressed the 1-cup dispense. The machine came to life and poured out an aromatic first cup of espresso with a professional-looking crema (the redish-brown layer of foam on top). Delicious!
3 Weeks Later
The beginning of our new espresso-at-home life was exhilarating but we really hit our stride after a few days with our “barista” duties. Specifically: Finding personal preferences for brew quantity and grind strength (both settings are adjusted and easy-to-remember via numbered dials on the front), expanding to latte’s/cappaccino’s/mocha’s/etc., learning to use the frothing wand (easy, but takes a couple practice cups to perfect the art). We are happy to report everything quickly became second nature and now we don’t like to imagine living without the ESAM3300.
My usual weekday routine: large Americano for the morning commute and a skinny double-shot latte (iced latte during summer) when I get home in the evening. On weekends I like to include more exotic fare, usually 2-3 espresso’s per day.
Good vs. Bad
Good
- Making great-tasting espresso is easy and fast
- Built-in grinder w/ bean storage
- Built-in, removable water container (60 oz or about 7 full cups)
- Easy to use frothing/steam wand
- Handsome, elegant appearance
- Awesome when entertaining coffee lovers
- Built like a tank
- Easy to clean & maintain
- Conversation starter
Bad
- Unit is large – make sure you have the counter space and upper cabinet clearance!
- Grinding process can be noisy (no more so than a dedicated coffee grinder)
- The grinder bypass for using pre-ground beans seems to result in weaker espresso
- Cup warmer takes too long to be truly useful
- Not for brewing large quantities of “regular” coffee all at once for a large party
Magnifica? Well, Is It?
In a word, yes. In a couple words, absolutely yes.
The DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 lives up to its name and the company’s reputation. It makes great-tasting espresso (in all its forms) easy and enjoyable.
On the cost-saving front, yes, we still go to Starbucks and other local shops but only for the occasional social outing. The coffee we make at with the Magnifica 3300 at home rivals and sometimes surpasses what’s available elsewhere.
Where To Buy
The best place to buy the Magnifica ESAM 3300 is Amazon.com, who offer the lowest price we have found and sometimes free shipping. We’ve seen it at retail at Great Indoors and have heard it can be spotted at Bed, Bath & Beyond and similar stores.
Further Reading
Read product info & user reviews at Amazon’s DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 page.
DeLonghi’s official ESAM 3300 page (DeLonghiUSA.com).
See additional high-end espresso machine recommendations online (CompareTheBrands.com).
Want to take good espresso-making on the road and trail? Check out something a bit more portable, namely the Handpresso Wild, a hand-pumped espresso maker you can take camping, hiking … anywhere. (GonzoGadgets.com)
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