Philips 4300 and DeLonghi Magnifica Evo are two Entry level super automatic espresso machines. Although the Philips 4300 is slightly higher in features and price, it is still quite comparable to the DeLonghi Magnifica Evo in terms of experience and coffee quality.
This guide will help you understand the difference between Philips 4300 and DeLonghi Magnifica Evo:
- What coffee presets each machine has
- The differences in machine varieties: steam wand vs automatic frother
- Customization and ease of use
- and also, what similarities the two coffee machines share.
Key Takeaways
- The DeLonghi Magnifica Evo and Philips 4300 are both great options for an entry-level super automatic coffee machine.
- Both machines have similar features, such as easy-to-clean milk systems and filters included.
- However, the Philips 4300 has profiles and more pre-programmed drink options, while the DeLonghi Magnifica Evo has a better warranty and built-in milk cleaning system.
Philips 4300 vs DeLonghi Magnifica Evo
Similarities Between Philips 4300 and DeLonghi Magnifica Evo
Before we get to the differences, I want to point out the similar features that you will be getting whether you go for the Philips or DeLonghi:
Philips and DeLonghi Machine Variations
It’s important to point out that the Philips 4300 and DeLonghi Magnifica Evo are both available in two variations:
- Classic steam wand
- Built-in automatic milk frother
This will affect two things:
- How you froth your milk
- the Preset drinks on each machine
If you pick a model with an automatic milk frother, you’ll get milk based drinks (latte, cappuccino…) as presets. Machine models with the classic steam wand have espresso and coffee as presets only.
Specs Similarities
When it comes to bean hopper capacity, bypass doser, water reservoir, water filters and built-in grinder, both machines share the same specs.
Differences Between Philips 4300 vs DeLonghi Magnifica Evo
I’ll first list shared differences between the Philips 4300 vs DeLonghi Magnifica Evo, then I’ll get specific with the differences between the steam wand version vs the built-in frother version when it comes to preset drinks, froth quality and more.
Control Panel and Display
First thing you’ll notice about the Philips 4300 is that it has a digital screen that allows you to easily dig into the coffee machine’s system, customize your drink and save your settings. That, combined with a touch panel makes using the machine very easy.
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo has touch buttons, too. But it does not have a display. It uses colored touch buttons that almost look like a screen, but in reality they’re just buttons with colored pictured of each coffee drinks. I find this design to be quite attractive really, it looks cool for a non-display menu.
Adjustable Settings
On both coffee machines, you get to customize coffee strength and temperature. Volume can be reprogrammed, too, but it’s done differently on each machine.
- Philips 4300 has 5 coffee strength and 3 temperature settings.
- DeLonghi Magnifica Evo has 3 coffee strength and 3 temperature settings.
Volume Settings
Philips 4300 Volume Settings
For espresso and coffee, this machine has 1x or 2x which actually increase the amount of coffee grounds used to brew the coffee. Then, you also have the volume selector which gives you the option of adding more water but in volumes pre set by Philips.
For Cappuccino or Latte, you can’t adjust whether you want a single or double shot of espresso in them. But you can adjust the volume (adds water to your current shot) or froth (uses more milk). What if you want an extra shot of espresso? You’ll pretty much just press the espresso button after your latte or cappuccino is ready so it adds an extra shot. If you want a larger cup of latte, for example, as in double the size, you can prepare the same single recipe twice.
These settings are accessible on the screen as soon as you select a drink.
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo Volume Settings
the Magnifica Evo does not have a volume selector, instead, you can reprogram the volume of each drink as you like by pressing the recipe button and holding it until you reach your desired volume. This will reprogram the recipes and save the new set volumes.
on the LatteCrema version, the DeLonghi Magnifica Evo has MyLatte button which is used to save a whole customized recipe and reuse it with a single push of a button.
Temperature Settings
Both machines offer three step temperature settings . None of them has a dedicated button for temperature control, instead, you need to change the temperature via the machine’s settings.
Saved Profiles vs Non-Profiles
The Phillips 4300 has profiles, which allow you to save your drink preferences for multiple users. The DeLonghi Magnifica Evo does not have profiles. On the LatteCrema (with automatic frother) version, there’s a Memory function, but it’s not as detailed as a profile.
This feature is especially useful if the machine going to be used by several people. Each person can save their preferences and customization in a profile and recall it with a press of a button.
Grinder Settings
The DeLonghi Magnifica Evo has 13 grinder settings, while the Phillips 4300 has 12. That really won’t make a lot of difference, a single adjustment step won’t transfer your coffee’s taste so I wouldn’t worry about this one.
Warranty
The DeLonghi Magnifica Evo has a 2+1 year warranty when registered with DeLonghi, while the Phillips 4300 has a 2-year warranty.
Philips 4300 vs DeLonghi Magnifica Evo Drink Options
These are the presets on the Classic wand version of the Philips 4300 vs DeLonghi Magnifica Evo. Like I mentioned earlier, opting for the classic wand version means the presets will not include milk based coffee drinks.
Philips 4300 Drink Options
Espresso, Ristretto, Coffee, Americano, Caffe Crema, Hot Water.
For details on the difference between each of these drinks, have a look at my Philips 4300 Drink Options article.
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo Drink Options
Espresso, Coffee, Long, Americano, Over Ice
Difference Between Drink Options in DeLonghi Magnifica Evo vs Philips 4300
Espresso, Americano (double espresso + hot water) and coffee are the common beverages in these two machines.
Long and Caffe Crema are simply two different names for the same coffee drink, a Lungo.
the Magnifica Evo does not have a Ristretto option (0.75 oz espresso), while the Philips 4300 does not have Over Ice option.
I know that Over Ice is a lot more popular than Ristretto so let me tell you more about it.
Over Ice Drink Option
What this option does on the DeLonghi Magnifica Evo is two things:
- It brews the coffee longer so it tastes stronger, even when mixed with slightly diluted ice.
- It brews at a lower temperature than hot coffee, that way, the coffee does not melt the ice right away.
Does that mean you can’t make iced coffee using a Philips 4300? no, that’s not the case here.
But you’ll have to do some manual adjustments like make the brew bolder and lower the temperature manually. What I would do is create this settings and save them under a profile called Iced Coffee so you can recall these settings with a press later on.
Related: Philips 3200 vs DeLonghi Magnifica Evo – Philips 2200 vs DeLonghi Magnifica Evo
Philips 4300 LatteGo vs DeLonghi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema Drink Option
Now with the added benefit of Philips LatteGo vs DeLonghi’s LatteCrema, you’ll get some additional set of milk based coffee drinks in your preset menu.
Philips 4300 LatteGo Drink Options
Espresso, Coffee, Americano, Cappuccino, Latte Macchiato, Cafe Au Lait
- Cappuccino is a classic coffee drink, by default, you’ll get: 2 oz espresso, 2 oz milk, 2 oz froth.
- Latte Macchiato is a milkier type of drink, you will get: 2 oz espresso, 5 oz steamed milk and 5 oz frothed milk.
- Cafe A Lait is a simple coffee with hot milk, no froth.
The ‘More Drinks’ button on the Philips 4300 will give you more options like Ristritto, Caffe Crema, Milk Froth and Hot Water.
DeLonghi Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema Drink Options
Espresso, Coffee, Cappuccino, Latte Macchiato, Over Ice, Hot Water
The DeLonghi Magnifica Evo has a similar menu to the Philips 4300 when it comes to milk coffee drinks. It’s missing the Cafe A Lait and the Milk Froth option, which many people like to use to make froth for hot chocolate or any other non-coffee beverage.
And there’s direct way to dispense or froth hot milk only. You can try a workaround of using the ‘pre-ground setting’ without filling in the bypass doser, or, selecting any milk based drink and cancelling right after the machine has dispensed the hot milk into the cup.
Philips LatteGo vs DeLonghi LatteCrema – Frother Comparison
Both of these built-in milk frother perform in a similar way: they create a jet of air to heat and froth milk and dispense it directly into your cup.
- LatteGo can be easily detached and placed in the fridge if it has left over milk. the froth level is adjusted from the control panel of the machine.
- LatteCrema is also designed in a way that you can use it as a milk container in your fridge, so if you pour in too much milk, you simply detach the LatteCrema and keep it in your fridge. DeLonghi does not have an option to adjust the froth level.
When it comes to cleaning, both frothers can be detached, dissembled and washed either by hand or a in dishwasher.
Also, none of them can make cold froth.
The Philips 4300 get the lead because it can make milk froth without the need for any workaround.
Related: Philips 4300 vs 3200
Making Espresso on Philips 4300 vs DeLonghi Magnifica Evo
When it comes to making espresso, both the DeLonghi Magnifica Evo and the Philips 4300 perform well. The DeLonghi has a pre-programmed setting for a double shot, which grinds and brews twice, while the Philips allows you to customize the length and strength of your shot on the fly.
The DeLonghi has a slightly louder grinder than the Philips, but both machines produce a good quality espresso.
To make an espresso on the DeLonghi, simply select the strength and length of your shot on the control panel and press the button. The machine will grind and brew the coffee for you.
On the Philips, you can customize the length and strength of your shot using the display, or choose a pre-programmed drink from a profile.
Overall, both machines make a good quality espresso and have similar features. Differences are nearly insignificant in terms of espresso customization. Both allow you to customize your espresso’s volume, grind and strength, it’s just a matter of how its done. The Philips 4300 is more customizable and easier to control thanks to the display.
Making Cappuccino or Latte on Philips 4300 vs DeLonghi Magnifica Evo
Cappuccino and Latte are the most popular milk based coffee drinks. Both the DeLonghi Magnifica Evo and the Philips 4300 do a fantastic job creating a delicious and creamy drink with a press of a button.
If milk based drinks are your go-to coffee drinks, I highly advise that you choose a machine with the automatic frother so you get your favorite drinks as a preset and ready with a press of a button.
To start making a cappuccino or a latte using the Philips LatteGo or DeLonghi LatteCrema, all you have to do is press the designated button for either drink. Make sure you fill the milk frother jug to the line marked for cappuccino or latte and let your machine do the rest.
On the classic steam wand versions though, you’ll have to ‘build up’ your drink. First brew a single or double shot of espresso then manually steam and froth your milk to add to the espresso.
Whichever version of DeLonghi or Philips you choose, the experience will be quite similar.
Philips 4300 or DeLonghi Magnifica Evo – Which One Should You Buy?
I will give you several points to prioritize to help you with your decision in choosing the correct machine for your daily use:
Do you need an automatic frother or should you go for the classic frother version?
If you drink a lot of milk based coffee drinks, getting an automatic milk frother is a no-brainer. With a LatteGo or LatteCrema, you’re getting your latte or cappuccino with a single press of a button. You’ll also get consistent milk froth and temperature at each use.
Using the classic froth wand leaves the milk froth quality to your hand, literally. Although both Philips and DeLonghi use Panarello steam wands, which don’t require special skills to froth the milk, you can still froth it less or more than you should, leading to inconsistent results.
If you are mostly an espresso or coffee drinker, but do a latte or cappuccino every now and then, you’ll be okay the classic frother.
Do you drink a lot of iced coffee drinks?
If iced coffee is a daily beverage for you, you’ll want the DeLonghi Magnifica Evo for its one-button Over Ice setting.
As I mentioned earlier, Iced coffee can still be achieved using the Philips 4300, but it will take some ‘tinkering’ and adjustment to get a brew that can work nicely with ice without tasting diluted.
Will the machine be used by several users?
If the machine is going to be used in a multi person house hold, or maybe even in an office, having Philips 4300 user profiles will be fantastic for your daily use. You won’t have to redo customizations on a daily basis.
The Magnifica Evo does not have profiles. On the LatteCrema version, you get ‘My Latte’ button which will save customization for a single drink only.
Do you need a screen display?
If you like to get into your machine’s settings and play around with them, Philips 4300 will make a lot of difference to you in terms of how easy it is to see the options and setting on a display and in written words.
I find these to be the most important factors to consider when it comes to choosing between Magnifica evo vs Philips 4300.
