By Rashmi Goel
Having one of the best espresso machines ensures that you are able to prepare your own cappuccino or latte without having to visit a café. With just one step, the Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine w/ LatteGo simplifies the process. To make coffee, simply add coffee beans and milk, then press the button. The Philips 3200 Series is convenient, but it comes at a price, both literally and metaphorically, as we discovered when we reviewed it. Read on to find out what we liked and disliked about it.
Information On Price And Availability
https://www.usa.philips.com
Various online retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy offer Philips' 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with LatteGo for $775. If you wish to eliminate the need to descale the machine, you may also purchase it with an AquaClean filter for $817. Amazon offers replacement filters for $18.12 each, or you can buy two for $28. The filters last for approximately 5,000 cups of coffee.
Design
https://www.usa.philips.com
Though the Philips 3200 does not boast the same flashy features as, for example, a SMEG or Breville espresso machine, its glossy black finish with chrome-like trim gives it a sleek appearance that won't take away from the aesthetics of a kitchen. On the front of the machine, there are six buttons that let you select your beverage (espresso, cappuccino, macchiato, Americano, coffee, and hot water) alongside buttons that allow you to adjust the cup size and strength of the coffee as well as the amount of steamed milk. The coffee is dispensed from this spout, which can be raised or lowered to accommodate different sized cups, and from the LatteGo, a small removable container that creates steamed milk and dispensing it into your cup. A transparent gray lid covers the well at the top of the machine where the coffee beans are deposited.
Furthermore, the machine also accepts coffee grounds, which can be added via a small door on the top. A metal grille and removable base support your cup, which must be removed and emptied when it reaches its maximum capacity; the tray slides out easily, and the spout allows you to drain any liquid without spilling. Coffee grounds are stored within their own removable container, and they are easily disposed of (coffee grounds are a fantastic fertilizer for your garden, so don't throw them away). In terms of size and weight, the Philips 3200 measures 17 x 14.6 x 9.7 inches and weighs 15.4 pounds. I appreciated that it was quite compact, so it will not require as much counter space as a larger coffee machine.
Performance
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Although the grind could still not be adjusted to the finest setting, we decided to add an additional shot of espresso to our morning cappuccino so that we would get the caffeine kick we needed. It did not produce as thick a cream as it should have, and it quickly dispersed when it contacted the air. As I started using LatteGo attachment, I had a little difficulty to get the hang of it at first, but once I figured it out, I had no problem using it. There are three parts to the machine: the clear milk container, the plastic clip that is attached to the machine, and the lid on top of the milk container. Steam flows through a small channel, where it mixes with milk, and then it pours into your cup from the top of the container. It's an ingenious system, but you must affix the milk container securely; otherwise, the milk container will fall out. In comparison with the coffee, the steamed milk was satisfactory, but not excellent. Despite its strength, it wasn't as dense as previous milk frothers.
Conclusion
https://www.usa.philips.com
The Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine w/ LatteGo makes a decent cup of coffee, but nothing spectacular. Designed with a narrow shape, it is great for those with limited counter space. The parts are also easy to remove and to clean. As a bonus, this LatteGo attachment also makes it much easier to make cappuccinos than with a separate frother, especially for those who may not be familiar with the process. It is true that the coffee quality could be more satisfactory, especially if you went out and spent more than $750 on an espresso machine. The Breville Bambino Plus espresso maker was better than the Philips machine at making both coffee and steam milk, but it lacked the built-in grinder and the one-touch simplicity that many look for in an espresso machine - at least for now.
