Be your own at-home barista with this coffee station that makes all of your favorite coffee drinks.
Those long lines at Starbucks attest to the popularity of coffeehouses that offer a range of coffee drinks not usually available with the average coffee machine. However, the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo brings the coffeehouse experience home. It brews regular coffee, but can also make espresso, cappuccino, latte macchiato, over ice, and even dispense hot water for tea or hot chocolate. The machine also has a grinder for freshly ground coffee beans, and you can personalize and save your settings.
It does a lot of things – but can it really compete with your favorite coffee house? I tested the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo for over a week to see how it performs.
Key takeaways
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Built-in grinder | Expensive |
| 13 grind settings | Instructions are primarily pictures instead of text |
| Can use pre-ground coffee | |
| LatteCrema automatic milk | |
| 7 one-touch recipes | |
| Save and personalize recipes | |
| Color touch icons | |
| Automatic self-cleaning | |
| Removable water tank |
De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Specs:
- Brand: De’Longhi
- Product Name: De’Longhi Magnifica Evo
- Model Number: ECAM29X6Y-29X8Y
- Dimensions: 9.45” W x 17.32” D x 14.17” H
- Weight: 21.2 pounds
- Water Tank Capacity: 60 ounces
- Grounds container Capacity: 14 ounces
- Wattage: 1250 watts
- Warranty: 3-years
Where to buy:
Unboxing and Setup
I was eager to test the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo because I’m familiar with the De’Longhi brand. I’ve tested several of their coffee and espresso machines and found them to be high-quality products. The Magnifica Evo, although expensive, is actually one of their less-pricey automatic espresso machines.
Presentation is everything, and as soon as the box arrived, I knew I would enjoy testing the contents. Everything was packed very securely with plenty of cardboard buffers to protect the machine from the grueling shipping process. The machine was also wrapped in plastic to protect it from scratches.
The contents of the box include the espresso machine, measuring scoop, carbon active filter, total hardness test, cleaning brush, descaler solution, and manual/quick start guide. The milk container was also included in a small box.
The espresso maker has a sleek, stylish design that combines stainless steel with black accents. I like the various hidden compartments that prevent the machine from looking bulky. For example, the water tank slides out from the front, right side. It’s removable, which makes it convenient to fill, empty, and clean. But when the water tank is in place, you can’t even see it.
On the front left side are the milk container/water spout connector door, and the sensor window. The middle of the front side contains the adjustable height coffee spouts, cup tray, drip tray, and drip tray grille. The grounds container is also in the middle section behind a hidden panel.
At the very top of the machine is the beans container, pre-ground coffee funnel, and grinding adjustment dial.
Directly below that is the control panel, which includes touch buttons and LED integrated lights. The functions include on/standby, and access to settings. There are also presets for coffee, espresso, cappuccino, latte macchiato, over ice, hot water, and My Latte. When the buttons are active, they also serve other functions. For example, the My Latte preset is also where the temperature can be adjusted, the cappuccino button is where the water hardness is measured, and the espresso button controls the auto-off.
I bypassed the water hardness test, since I already know that Birmingham has a water hardness level of 87ppm, which is in the medium range. However, there’s an option to use the water hardness test strip to test your water hardness and then you can adjust the default setting.
I did install the water softener filter, as recommended (In the photos, it’s the large white item). I placed it in the water tank.
Also, I ran an empty espresso cycle in the machine to flush any dust or manufacturing debris out. De’Longhi also recommends making 4 to 5 cappuccinos before the results will be satisfactory.
Using the De’Longhi Magnfica Evo
Whenever the espresso maker is turned on, it does an automatic preheat and rinse cycle. This process cannot be bypassed or stopped. This is important to note since sometimes a small amount of hot water comes from the coffee spouts, which could scald you if your hand happens to be in that area at the time.
To make a cup of coffee, I poured some beans into the hopper. Although the grinder settings are adjustable, the grinder is set to automatically prepare the coffee properly. However, if you want a courser grind, or it has no crema, you can change the grinder settings on the dial. (There’s also an option to make pre-ground coffee, but I focused on testing the grinder.)
Then I added milk to the milk container and placed a glass coffee mug under the spout. From the control panel, I selected a latte macchiato, and then chose a medium coffee strength. (Note: the options are mild, medium, and strong.)
After grinding the coffee beans, heated milk poured into the bottom of the glass mug to create the first layer of froth. Then the coffee poured into the cup – and the elegant look did indeed remind me of a coffee shot. And finally, the machine added the top layer of froth. Aside from creating a picture-perfect result, the drink was simply delicious. And, I was able to put the container of leftover milk into the refrigerator – which eliminates waste.
The next time I used the machine, I made a simple espresso, and it was delicious as well. I was really impressed with the ability to make fresh and tasty drinks every day.
The one-touch buttons make the process almost foolproof, whether making coffee, espresso, or latte drinks.
Cleaning the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo
Rinsing the machine is recommended after the use of any milk product. When pressing the rinsing feature (holding the x2 button for 5 or 6 seconds), the machine squirts hot water from the coffee spouts. This cleans and heats the internal circuit in the espresso maker. I also cleaned the milk container each time I used milk.
There’s a light that comes on when the grounds container needs to be emptied. If not, the machine won’t let me make coffee. I removed and emptied the drip tray and the grounds container and washed them in the sink.
On a monthly basis, De’Longhi recommends cleaning the inside of the machine (using a brush or sponge to remove coffee deposits, and a vacuum cleaner to remove residue). The infuser should also be cleaned to prevent clogging.
A light will display when it’s time to descale the machine, and De’Longhi recommends using De’Longhi’s descaler only. The process takes about 45 minutes.
Should You Buy the De’Longhi Magnfica Evo?
I resoundingly recommend the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo if you’re looking for a high-quality espresso machine that’s easy to use and can also make milk-based drinks. The variety of drinks makes it a good choice for households with more than one coffee drinker, since it can also accommodate those who prefer iced coffee or just hot water for tea or hot chocolate.
The ability to grind coffee beans or use pre-ground coffee is another feature to consider, as are the three brew strengths. For people who routinely go to coffeehouses, the machine is a more convenient alternative. It costs a pretty penny, but considering what you’d save from not going out for your coffee drinks, you will eventually recoup your investment.
You can purchase the machine at:
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