De’Longhi Magnifica S vs. De’Longhi Magnifica EVO – What are the differences?

When we think of almost professional super-automatic coffee machines, it is inevitable to think of brands like De’Longhi. The high specialization of this company in high-end coffee makers makes them the favorites of many users, and we wanted to know why. To do this, we have tested two of the best-selling De’Longhi coffee machines on Amazon: the Magnifica S and the Magnifica EVO. However, you already know that there are several versions within each of the models. In this case, we have chosen the Magnifica S ECAM11.112.B and the Magnifica EVO ECAM292.33.SB, so some features could change depending on the version.

That said, they are two coffee machines with a fairly similar price, although the price of the Magnifica S is somewhat higher. Mainly, because it includes the Cappuccino milk system, while the Magnifica EVO has it a little less sophisticated (the model that we have tried, there is one that does have the LatteCrema system integrated). Of course, both coffee makers have an adjustable vaporizer, so with either of them you can make cappuccinos manually. Another difference that we have identified between the two coffee makers is that only the EVO has a touch screen, since the Magnifica S has buttons. The functions are practically the same, only the design of the EVO is more modern.

We already told you that the choice is not going to be easy, because they share many of the characteristics that we consider most important to assess the performance of a coffee maker. They have the same power and pressure, both have double coffee output, the grinder is the same type and they have the same grinding levels, and in both we can also use ground coffee. So how to choose the most suitable one? We tell you!

De’Longhi Magnifica S vs De’Longhi Magnifica EVO – Comparison Table

Below, we summarize in this table the characteristics of the two best-selling De’Longhi super-automatic coffee machines of the moment, so you can check which one best suits your preferences:

One is tactile, the other is not

It is inevitable that the first thing we look at when we are evaluating which super-automatic coffee maker to buy is aesthetics. In this case, we have to say that, although they seem very different, they are not so different. There are differences, of course, but, if we analyze them, we realize that they are more similar than, at first glance, we would have thought. One of the differences is the color, since the Magnifica S is available in black, while the EVO is sold in silver. Particularly, we like the silver color better, but it is not a relevant quality.

Another difference is found in the interface. While the De’Longhi Magnifica S has buttons on the front, the De’Longhi Magnifica EVO is operated by touch. In addition, the controls are located on the top, and not on the front like its rival. Finally, it seems that the double outlet tube of the Magnifica S is longer, but the reality is that it is the casing where the logo is that is smaller. Otherwise, there are no more differences, since they have the same size and weight.

Same power, pressure and grinder

We continue to advance in our analysis and look at three of the most important aspects: power, pressure and the grinder. And, surprise! There are no differences between our two coffee makers. Both the De’Longhi Magnifica S and Magnifica EVO have 1450 watts of maximum power, a pressure of 15 bars and a stainless steel conical grinder. In fact, in both cases we can choose between 13 grinding levels, although we always recommend starting with a medium level and adjusting as you like.

It should also be noted that both coffee makers have double coffee outlets, so that we can prepare two (short) coffees at the same time. And, as for the height of the cups, it is practically the same in both cases, with a difference of just 2 mm.

What capacity do the coffee machine tanks have?

We are talking, now, about the different tanks that the coffee machines have, which are three. Firstly, the water tank is, in both coffee makers, 1.8 liters, a fairly common capacity for this type of coffee makers. The container to hold the coffee beans has a capacity of 250 grams in both models. At this point, let us tell you that, if you want to use already ground coffee, you can do it in either of the two. And finally, the container to store the grounds has the same capacity in both coffee makers.

Drinks available in each coffee maker

We are going to review the variety of different drinks that we can prepare with a single touch in each coffee maker. The De’Longhi Magnifica S allows you to prepare 4 types of drinks: espresso, lungo, infusion and cappuccino (thanks to the integrated milk system). For its part, in the De’Longhi Magnifica EVO we can prepare 5 types of drinks: espresso, Cortado, lungo, Americano and infusion. In this case, you will wonder if we cannot prepare cappuccinos in the De’Longhi Magnifica EVO.

The answer is yes, but manually. That is, in this coffee maker we find a vaporizer with which we can froth the milk and then add it to the coffee. On the other hand, the Magnifica S has the integrated milk system, which allows us to do this same process but only by pressing the button. It is, therefore, a more automated process on the De’Longhi Magnifica S.

Additional functions: cup warmer and auto shut-off

Before finishing, we want to talk about some of the extra features that the two super-automatic coffee makers include.

On the one hand, both have a cup warming tray, so that, while the cup is on top, it stays hot to prevent the coffee from cooling down. Of course, in this regard, you should know that the temperature can be adjusted.

On the other hand, both De’Longhi have the automatic shutdown function after a period of inactivity. This time can be regulated and choose between 15, 30, 60, 120 or 180 minutes without activity.

So, which super-automatic coffee maker do we choose?

Now that we have analyzed the differences and similarities between both De’Longhi, it is time to decide which one we would choose. For that, we have to look at the price, and, as we have already told you before, there is little difference. The De’Longhi Magnifica S is somewhat more expensive, but we justify it because it has the integrated milk system. If you usually drink coffees in which you use this functionality, this coffee maker is more comfortable. The only bad thing is that you won’t be able to make an Americano coffee, a variety that is only available in the Magnifica EVO.

If you don’t usually make cappuccinos, you might be more interested in sticking with the Magnifica EVO, since it is somewhat cheaper and shares most of the functionalities with the Magnifica S. In fact, the main difference is that it does not have an integrated milk system. That does not mean that we cannot prepare cappuccinos, but that we must do everything more manually. Additionally, this coffee maker has touch control, and we always find that an advantage.

As you have seen, the two De’Longhi coffee machines are really similar, and what you can be clear about is that, with either of them, the coffee will be of the highest quality. Proof of this is that the main parameters (power, pressure, grinder, tank capacity, etc.) are the same. Therefore, think about how many cappuccinos you drink a day and choose.