Power and pressure
Something that directly affects the quality of the device.
If we talk about technical characteristics, the most important of them are power and pressure. The speed of coffee preparation depends on the first, while the second affects the development of the taste of the beans and the strength of the drink. In this regard, Delonghi was pleasantly surprised, because it is capable of operating at a pressure of 19 bar, and not 15, like other models. Philips showed the best power - 1500 W will allow you to enjoy a drink in a couple of minutes. Characteristics of Krups can be considered the golden mean in the world of coffee machines - fairly high power and pressure, but not ideal.
Name | Power | Steam pressure |
KRUPS EA894 Evidence Plus | 1450 W | 15 bar |
Philips 5400 Series | 1500 W | 15 bar |
DeLonghi ECAM 370.95 S Dinamica Plus | 1450 W | 19 bar |
Ratings
DeLonghi: 4.9, Philips: 4.8, KRUPS: 4.7
DeLonghi ECAM 370.95 S Dinamica Plus
Best operating speed
The model prepares aromatic and rich coffee in record time thanks to a combination of high power and steam pressure.
Capsule machines
This is the simplest option in terms of functional qualities. The coffee for the drink is pre-sealed in special foil capsules that preserve the aroma of the ground beans. To prepare a drink, just insert the capsule, press the button and place the cup. Hot water passes through the capsule and at the exit you get a freshly brewed aromatic and tasty drink.
The advantages of such machines include the following:
- Easy to make coffee - no need to control the process, the correct dose of beans is already measured, the water is heated to the desired temperature;
- Compact size – the absence of unnecessary parts makes the equipment compact, which is convenient for home use;
- Reasonable price - the relatively low cost is also due to the lack of options and additional functions, which does not affect the quality of the espresso received.
Thus, capsule machines are ideal for those who do not want to waste time, but want to drink properly prepared coffee in the morning.
The disadvantages include the fairly high cost of the capsules, which is due to the complexity of their manufacture.
Dimensions and equipment
Important parameters for owners of a small kitchen
Even the most compact coffee makers are not easy to place in every home, what can we say about full-size machines with an automatic cappuccino maker. All participants in the rating have approximately the same dimensions, only DeLonghi weighs almost 10 kilograms. This will make it difficult to move once installed. As for the dimensions, there is no better one - some devices turned out to be narrow, but tall, and vice versa.
Let's move on to the configuration. Each device comes with a filter, and Philips also includes a test strip to check your water's hardness. The taste of the drink depends on the quality of the base, so the brand gets extra points. A milk container is provided in all models, but only Krups has cleaning tablets. Delonghi, in turn, boasts a removable drip tray, and Phillips boasts a grain measuring spoon.
Name | Dimensions | Weight | Equipment |
KRUPS EA894 Evidence Plus | 48.4*28.7*38.1 cm | 8.71 kg | Water filter, cleaning tablets, metal milk container |
Philips 5400 Series | 37.2*24.6*43.3 cm | 8 kg | Measuring spoon, Aquaclean filter, water hardness test strip |
DeLonghi ECAM 370.95 S Dinamica Plus | 42.9*23.6*34.8 cm | 9.86 kg | Water filter, milk jug, removable drip tray |
Ratings
Philips: 4.8, KRUPS: 4.7, DeLonghi: 4.5
Delonghi models
Of the automatic models, the most budget-friendly is 350.15.V in the Dynamics series. Its cost is about 35 thousand rubles. You can customize it according to your own preferences. The cappuccino maker in the form of a panarello tube is easy to clean. It is recommended to buy updated models for your home, since the old ones are gradually being phased out.
Video: Which coffee machine is better
The Magnifica series will cost a little more. These machines are direct competitors of Saeko. You can heat milk without frothing and customize drink settings. These are the cheapest automatic milk models.
In this series you can find steel pannarellos, as well as a different body color if necessary. The Magnifica series has devices with a double thermoblock that do not waste time heating water first for espresso, then for frothing milk - this is done simultaneously.
The Authentic series are budget simple models with a conventional manual cappuccino maker without adjusting the foam height. Their width is small - about 20 cm, but the units are more elongated in depth - this must be taken into account. An auto-cappuccino machine costs more – about 45 thousand rubles.
Cafe Korzo and Cafe Venice machines are considered slow and noisy. Their size is also larger than other coffee makers with similar functionality. Both models can be bought from 19 to 30 thousand rubles.
Based on all models, we can conclude that the manufacturer integrates the functionality of premium coffee machines into middle-class units, so you don’t have to choose between high cost and good taste.
Capacity
Which model can make the most coffee?
The capacity of the coffee machine directly depends on the number of people planning to make coffee at home. The larger the volume of the water tank and grain container, the less often you will have to top up and fill in the missing ingredients. Krups has become the undisputed leader in this category. At the same time, it makes no sense for small families and single people to buy an impressive device for their home, because they simply will not drink 2 liters of drink at a time. DeLonghi's coffee machine holds the most beans in its container, earning it second place.
Name | Water tank volume | Bean container capacity |
KRUPS EA894 Evidence Plus | 2.3 l | 260 g |
Philips 5400 Series | 1.8 l | 275 g |
DeLonghi ECAM 370.95 S Dinamica Plus | 1.8 l | 300 g |
Ratings
KRUPS: 4.8, DeLonghi: 4.7, Philips: 4.6
KRUPS EA894 Evidence Plus
The most spacious
This coffee machine has a maximum water tank capacity of 2.3 liters. Thanks to this, you can prepare several cups of coffee without adding liquid.
Functionality and management
Which coffee machine has the maximum range of recipes?
All models have a touch display for easy control. The best in terms of the number of programs was the grain coffee machine from Krups - it “knows” as many as 15 recipes, and it also has a Russified menu. Other models are not far behind - they have 12-13 different modes built in. All devices can prepare espresso, cappuccino, latte and other classic drinks. The highlight of DeLonghi is the application for control from a smartphone. This model also features heated cups. This is especially true in the cold season, when aromatic coffee instantly cools down. Caring for the devices is made easier thanks to automatic descaling. This function is provided for all models.
Krups has 3 grind levels, while DeLonghi offers a whopping 13 grind levels. It’s not entirely clear who needs so many modes and why, but the function is interesting. But Philips boasts the maximum range of settings: manufacturers have provided the ability to manually adjust the temperature, degree of grinding and strength of coffee. However, the latter function is also available in other devices. But only Philips is capable of preparing two cups of aromatic drink at the same time. This option will appeal to office workers and members of large families.
Function name | KRUPS EA894 Evidence Plus | Philips 5400 Series | DeLonghi ECAM 370.95 S Dinamica Plus |
Automatic descaling | + | + | + |
Cup warming | — | — | + |
Selecting serving size | + | + | + |
Adjusting the coffee strength | + | + | + |
Preparing two cups at the same time | — | + | — |
Adjusting temperature and grinding degree | — | + | — |
Number of built-in programs | 15 | 12 | 13 |
Ratings
Philips: 4.8, DeLonghi: 4.6, KRUPS: 4.5
Cappuccino maker
Comparison of technologies for making foam from milk
Delonghi is equipped with the proprietary LatteCrema system, which is responsible for foaming milk. The technology makes it possible to obtain foam with a uniform texture; it is also possible to select the desired density and consistency using a special regulator. All processes are automated and controlled by sensors. Along with the coffee machine, customers receive a removable double-walled jug that provides moderate heating and independent steam supply. It can be stored in the refrigerator. The reviews mention a small disadvantage of the device - when choosing the maximum mode, you get too much foam, and it is too dry. You will have to spend time to choose the optimal settings and type of milk.
Philips also uses a proprietary technology called LatteGo. The manufacturer proudly calls it the easiest to care for. The cappuccino maker can be installed and cleaned in just 15 seconds. It takes even less time to prepare thick and airy foam, the temperature and consistency of which the device will regulate independently. It is served directly into the cup, no straws or splashes. Since the automatic cappuccino maker consists of only two parts, it can be easily disassembled and washed at any time, including in the dishwasher. The only caveat is that you cannot place the container under the steam supply immediately from the refrigerator, otherwise the plastic may crack.
As for Krups, there is a classic cappuccino maker in the form of a flexible tube. The container is made of stainless steel and comes with a sealed lid. Interestingly, the coffee machine is not picky about the temperature of the milk; you don’t even have to cool it before preparing it. But it is important to choose the correct time in seconds, because the quality of the device’s operation depends on this. Buyers complain that it is difficult to make foam from a small amount of milk - and this is the main drawback of the model.
Ratings
Philips: 4.8, DeLonghi: 4.7, KRUPS: 4.6
About materials
Everything is simple here. As for the body of the coffee machine, the material of manufacture does not matter much. It can be metal, plastic, or a combination of both materials.
As for espresso coffee machines, it is worth paying attention to such a design element as the horn, into which coffee is poured and through which hot water passes under pressure. It is believed that in a good machine the horn should be metal - then the coffee warms up better and has a brighter taste.
Another essential element of a coffee machine - a coffee grinder - can be equipped with metal or ceramic millstones that grind the beans. Ceramic is quieter and is often used in “home” models of coffee machines that are not designed for heavy loads. As for metal, although such millstones create more noise, they are more durable and easier to maintain.
Price
Which coffee machine is the cheapest?
All presented coffee machines for home are approximately in the same price category. Philips is considered the best - it can be bought for less than 60 thousand rubles, while devices from DeLonghi and Krups will cost at least 62,000 rubles. It is important to consider that Philips does not specialize in creating coffee machines, unlike its competitors. This is a reputable manufacturer of equipment with an impeccable reputation. But connoisseurs of the noble drink often decide to choose proven brands that produce exclusively coffee-making devices. In this case, it’s worth taking another look at the Krups and Delonghi models.
Name | average price |
KRUPS EA894 Evidence Plus | 62470 rub. |
Philips 5400 Series | 59990 rub. |
DeLonghi ECAM 370.95 S Dinamica Plus | 62990 rub. |
Ratings
Philips: 4.9, KRUPS: 4.8, DeLonghi: 4.7
Philips 5400 Series
Convenient setup
You can adjust not only the strength of the coffee and the serving size, but also the temperature of the drink, as well as the degree of grinding of the beans.
Saeco coffee machines
A striking representative of the modern coffee industry market are Saeco coffee machines.
The company is a leader in the European market of coffee machines for home use and has established itself as a reliable and high-quality manufacturer with an impeccable reputation. A wide range of models will allow you to choose the coffee machine that is right for you. Since Saeco's main target audience is home consumers, the price range will pleasantly surprise you. The main advantage is the price/quality ratio, which guarantees a high-quality device at an affordable price. It should be noted that the Italian brand occupies a leading position in the market of both Italy and Europe as a whole. There are several reasons for its success, including a truly Italian approach to design, the company’s modern views on the technical aspects of production, innovative technologies and ease of use, and high-quality materials for the production of coffee machines.
Among the main advantages, the focus on user convenience should be noted. Most coffee machines have a so-called “brewing group,” which is an invention of the company. The brewing group is the basis of any automatic coffee machine, which can be easily and conveniently removed for washing. The location of the brew group depends on the machine model.
A distinctive feature of Saeco coffee machines is the unique taste of the prepared coffee. The use of ceramic components ensures uniform grinding and does not overheat the grains, which guarantees a taste without a burnt aftertaste. Ceramic elements also have increased durability and are quieter.