Philips Series 2200 vs. De’Longhi Magnifica S – Which coffee machine is more interesting?

Super-automatic coffee makers are one of the most common appliances in the kitchens of many homes today. What a few years ago was seen as something exclusive to bars and cafes has become a ‘must’, at least for us. Therefore, as good coffee lovers, we are always looking for the best models to compare and evaluate which is the most interesting coffee maker. And, if there are two clear competitors in the world of domestic super-automatic coffee machines, they are Philips and De’Longhi. And, more specifically, the Philips Series 2200 and De’Longhi Magnifica S models. 

Next, we are going to focus on knowing what the main differences are between the two coffee makers. As you can see, both have a very similar price, which shows that we are looking at two very competitive models. In this sense, both have the same power and pressure, and have a vaporizer with which they can create milk foam to complete the coffees. Now, the specific model that we have chosen of the Philips Series 2200 has an advantage in this sense, and that is that it has a built-in milk jug to directly make coffees with already foamed milk.

The type of grinder is not the same in both cases, and the grinding levels that we can choose do not coincide either (although, in this aspect, the difference is minimal). Likewise, the coffee bean container is larger in the Philips coffee machine than in the De’Longhi.

But, as you can imagine, it’s not all differences. In fact, there are several similarities that both coffee makers share. One of them, for example, is the possibility of making two coffees simultaneously, as long as they are not lattes or long coffees. Or, in addition to power and pressure, they also share the option of making coffee with already ground coffee. But, to be able to check which one best suits your needs, it is best to analyze them in detail. Let’s go there!

Philips Series 2200 vs De’Longhi Magnifica S – Comparison Table

In the following table, we compile the most important characteristics of the two best-selling super-automatic coffee makers of the moment. This way, you can have a first idea about what your choice will be:

Design and power, without changes

The first thing we see when we open the box is, logically, the design of the coffee makers. And, in this sense, we must say that the two we are analyzing are quite similar to each other. The dimensions and weight are very similar in both cases, so both take up more or less the same space in the kitchen. Likewise, black predominates in both coffee makers, although we must clarify something here. There are some versions of the Magnifica S that have the central interface in silver, but the one we have chosen is completely black.

In fact, one of the aesthetic differences that we are going to point out is the type of control that each one has. As you can see, the Philips Series 2200 has a touch screen with very clear iconography and legends. On the other hand, the De’Longhi Magnifica S is operated with buttons, which takes away that small technological plus that the Philips model has.

As far as power and pressure are concerned, it is practically the same in both cases. The two coffee machines have a pressure of 15 bars; being greater than 9 bars, there is no problem. As for power, the difference is 50 watts, totally irrelevant to the final result.

What capacity do the tanks have?

The capacity of the water and coffee tanks can be an important decision element, and here there is one for lime and another for sand. The water tank is 1.8 liters in both cases, so the number of coffees, making them the same, would be the same in both cases. On the other hand, the coffee bean container is slightly larger on the Philips Series 2200, which can hold up to 275 grams. The De’Longhi Magnifica S, for its part, has a 250 gram tank.

In case you want to make coffee with already ground coffee, you can also do it with either of the two coffee makers, as they have a specific compartment for it.

Milk system operation

With either of the two coffee makers we can prepare a cappuccino, although with one we do it more automatically than with the other. The Philips Series 2200 has the LatteGo system, a cyclonic foam technology mechanism that can create foam while pouring coffee. It does this thanks to a 260 ml milk jug from which the vaporizer tube comes out and goes directly to the cup at the same time as the coffee comes out.

On the other hand, the De’Longhi Magnifica S allows you to create milk foam, but manually. That is, it has a built-in vaporizer tube, but you must create the milk foam separately from the coffee. The cappuccino does not come out directly, as it does in the Philips Series 2200. For this reason, the Philips Series 2200 has a direct Cappuccino button, unlike the De’Longhi.

Variety of drinks that can be prepared

In line with the previous point, it is interesting to note that the Philips Series 2200 allows you to directly prepare one more drink than its rival, cappuccino. Thus, with this coffee maker we can make espresso, long coffee, cappuccino or infusions, since it is also capable of pouring only hot water.

For its part, the De’Longhi Magnifica S allows us to prepare espresso, long espresso and infusions. Of course, we can choose if we want it simple or double. We also have the option of preparing two coffees at the same time in the Philips coffee maker, as long as they are not coffees with milk. In fact, in both cases it is possible to adjust the height of the cup up to a maximum of approximately 145 mm.

Grinder and grinding levels

A fundamental piece in this type of coffee makers is the grinder, which is responsible for grinding the coffee directly before preparing the coffee. The Philips Series 2200 has a durable ceramic grinder that allows you to choose between 12 grind levels, depending on how strong you like your coffee. On the other hand, the De’Longhi Magnifica S has a stainless steel conical grinder, and adds one more level, with a total of 13.

Now, which is better? Well, none in particular, each one has its pros and cons. The ceramic grinder has a long life of sharpening its blades, but is more fragile than the stainless steel one. Therefore, if you move and the coffee maker suffers a knock, it could break more easily.

Degree of customization

We do not want to finish without referring to an aspect that, although not substantial, for us does make a difference to take into account. With the two coffee machines you can choose the amount of coffee, depending on whether you want a shorter or longer coffee.

You can also adjust the grind level, and you can even select the temperature you want it to come out at, depending on whether you like it hotter or not. In this sense, the Philips Series 2200 has three temperatures to choose from, but the De’Longhi Magnifica S has a more precise adjustment, because the regulation is more progressive and is done through a wheel.

Which super-automatic coffee maker is more worth it?

At the end of the review, we only have to decide which of the two coffee makers we think has the best quality-price ratio. You already know that this depends a lot on each person’s preferences, especially considering that the price is very similar. In particular, we opted more for the Philips Series 2200, because, for a similar price, it has a more mechanized milk system than the De’Longhi, and we are big fans of cappuccino. In addition, the coffee bean container is larger, and that can come in handy if we organize meals with many people at home.

In reality, our decision is motivated by these two issues, since, in the rest of the features, the two coffee machines are very similar to each other. On the other hand, we always find the fact that the screen is touch-sensitive an added value, but that is a subjective question. In any case, whatever coffee maker you choose, you can be sure that the coffee will be of excellent quality. At first it may be a little more complex to get used to the coffee maker, but once you get the hang of it, there will be no one to separate you from it.