If you have an espresso machine like the Philips 3200, making a latte doesn’t require the expertise of a barista.
The Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with LatteGo makes it a breeze to froth milk for a cappuccino, however, the strength of the coffee produced by the machine may be improved.
Pros
Careful planning and execution
It is simple to clean.
Simple in its operation
Cons
Coffee that’s on the watery side.
Milk foam might be denser
If you have access to a high-quality espresso machine, you will have the ability to make a cappuccino or latte at home without the need to travel all the way to the Starbucks location that is closest to you. But what if you don’t have the kind of experience that a barista would have when it comes to producing one of those foamy beverages? The Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with LatteGo streamlines the procedure by only requiring a single step to make espresso or lattes. Simply put coffee beans and milk into the machine, and then click the appropriate button.
Convenient, to be sure, but as we found out when conducting research for our study of the Philips 3200 Series, this convenience comes at a cost, both literally and figuratively. Continue reading to find out what we liked and what we didn’t like about the product.
Review of the Philips 3200 Espresso Machine, with Information Regarding Cost and Availability
On Amazon and other major online shops, the Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with LatteGo can be purchased for the price of $775. If you want to save yourself the hassle of having to descale the machine, you can alternatively get it together with an AquaClean filter for a total price of $817.
A Look at the Design of the Philips 3200 Espresso Machine
Even though the Philips 3200 espresso machine isn’t as glamorous as, say, a SMEG or Breville espresso machine, its glossy black finish with chrome-like trim is appealing, and it won’t detract from the decor of your kitchen in any way.
The front panel of the machine has six buttons that let you to choose your beverage (espresso, cappuccino, macchiato, Americano, coffee, and hot water), as well as buttons that allow you to modify the size, strength, and amount of steamed milk in your beverage.
Below these controls is a spout that dispenses the coffee; ingeniously, it can be raised and lowered to accommodate different size cups; and the LatteGo, which is a small removable container that creates steamed milk and dispenses it into your cup. Both of these features can be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of cups. On the very top of the appliance is a receptacle for coffee beans that has a removable cover in a translucent gray color. The machine also has a compartment for coffee grounds, which can be accessed through a door located on the top of the device.
Your cup is supported by a metal grille and a removable base, both of which need to be removed and emptied when the container has reached its maximum capacity. The tray slides out effortlessly, and a small outlet enables you to drain any liquid without the risk of it spilling. The old coffee grounds are kept in their own container, which can be removed, and they may be disposed of in the same convenient manner. However, since coffee grounds are beneficial to your plants, you shouldn’t simply throw them away.
It weighs 15.4 pounds and has dimensions of 17 by 14.6 by 9.7 inches; I appreciated that it was rather thin, which means that it won’t take up as much counter space as bigger coffee makers. The Philips 3200’s dimensions are as follows:
A Look at the Performance of the Philips 3200 Espresso Machine
In order to put the Philips 3200 through its paces, we brought it into our workplace and gave it to our coworkers to use so that they could get a break from the rather awful pod coffee machines we had been using. Although both they and I were generally satisfied with the results, the espresso that the Philips produced was not as potent as either of us would have liked it to be. Having said that, the coffee that it produced had a pleasant flavor and was not unduly bitter.
Even after we adjusted the grind to its finest setting, we still discovered that we needed to add an additional shot of espresso to our morning cappuccino in order to get the necessary rush of caffeine. This was the case despite the fact that we used the finest setting. In addition to this, the crema that it generated was not as thick as it should have been and it spread out pretty rapidly. According to the writing of one of your coworkers, “Crema was fairly thin, and shot was pretty weak.” Another customer commented that the espresso was a little bit watery, but that it was still good overall.
When I initially started using the LatteGo attachment, it was a little difficult to figure out how it worked, but after some practice, it became second nature. The attachment consists of three different pieces: a clear receptacle that contains the milk, a black plastic clip that connects to the machine, and a lid for the milk container that is included in the package. The machine will deliver steam via a narrow channel, where it will combine with the milk, and then it will pour the mixture from the top of the container into your cup. It is a clever approach, but you need to make sure that the milk container is clipped in firmly; otherwise, you will have a mess on your hands.
In the same vein as the coffee, the steamed milk was acceptable, although it did not particularly stand out. It was very stable, although not as dense as the foam that other milk frothers had produced for us in the past. One of my coworkers offered the opinion that milk foam is, at best, “fine.”
The verdict of the review of the Philips 3200 espresso machine
In general, the coffee that is produced by the Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with LatteGo is satisfactory, albeit unremarkable. Because of its well-considered design and its compact profile, it is an excellent choice for kitchens with limited counter space. Additionally, the components are simple to detach and wash when necessary. When compared to using a separate frother, the LatteGo attachment makes it much simpler to prepare a cappuccino, which is especially helpful for individuals who do not have as much experience with the method. However, the quality of the coffee might be improved, which is especially important to consider when purchasing an espresso machine that costs more than $750.
The Breville Bambino Plus was the finest espresso machine for preparing both coffee and steamed milk, but it does not have a built-in grinder and does not have the ease of use of the Philips machine, which may be sufficient for many people. The Breville Bambino Plus is among the greatest espresso machines.
