Things I Realized After Using the De'Longhi Magnifica S [An Honest Review of a Fully Automatic Coffee Maker]

Hello, this is OMASA.

Does the time you spend brewing coffee every morning feel like a "chore"?

Measuring beans, grinding them, setting up the dripper, pouring hot water...

While I enjoy the process itself, I felt it wasn't quite right to do every single morning when I wanted to focus on my work. That's why I chose the De'Longhi fully automatic coffee machine, the "Magnifica S (ECAM22112B)."

For those considering a De'Longhi coffee maker or espresso machine, I have compiled a summary that includes not just the specs, but also the "what's it actually like?" aspects.

*The links to the tools introduced in this article use Amazon Associates. By purchasing tools through these links, you support deeper equipment research and my future content creation.

Which De'Longhi coffee maker series should you choose?

There are several series of De'Longhi fully automatic coffee machines, and when you first look them up, seeing names like "Magnifica S," "Dinamica," "Eletta," and "PrimaDonna" can honestly be confusing.

To organize them roughly:

• Magnifica S: Entry to mid-range. Can automatically make espresso and Cafe Japone. Milk is manual.

• Dinamica: A different series alongside the Magnifica S. Features different menus such as an iced coffee function.

• Eletta: A higher-end model. Features a richer selection of milk menus, such as automatic cappuccino.

• PrimaDonna: The flagship model. Includes everything, such as a touch panel and smartphone connectivity.

I chose the Magnifica S because it perfectly suited my needs: "I just want to be able to drink espresso and Cafe Japone properly, and I want simple operation." I decided that if I wasn't particular about automatic milk frothing, there was no need to invest extra in a higher-end model.

What I learned from actually using it: 3 good points

1. It really is completed with just one button

Once you put in the beans and water, all you have to do is press a button. It automatically extracts about 20–180ml for a single espresso, or about 120ml for a single Cafe Japone (simultaneous extraction for two cups is also possible).
Since everything from grinding to extraction is fully automatic, you can do other things while you wait. Changing from "the task of brewing coffee" to "just waiting for the coffee to arrive" is a surprisingly big change.

The grinder uses a conical burr type, which is designed to generate less friction heat because it grinds coffee beans at a low speed.
Because it can grind to a more uniform particle size than a blade grinder without losing volatile aromas, you can enjoy a consistent flavor. The grind size can be adjusted in 7 levels, allowing you to dial it in to your personal preference.

2. The Cafe Japone is surprisingly excellent

Many people may wonder, "What is Café Japone?" but this is a Japan-exclusive extraction program developed by De'Longhi.
It is a deep-steamed regular coffee that fuses the flavor of espresso with the clean aftertaste of drip coffee. By using intermittent extraction while steaming the grounds just like hand-drip coffee, it condenses a rich aroma and umami.

It is not as strong as espresso, but it is not thin either. It is just right for everyday coffee to drink from a mug.
The fact that this one machine can cover both espresso and Café Japone is a major strength of this model.

3. All cleaning can be done from the front

With a 1.8L water tank capacity and a 250g bean hopper capacity, it can be operated with refills only once every few days for typical personal use.
The extraction unit can be removed from the main body and washed with water. Since the water tank and grounds container are also designed to be pulled out from the front, there is no need to leave space at the back.
The main unit size is compact at 238mm wide, 430mm deep, and 350mm high, making it easy to fit next to a desk or at the end of a kitchen counter.

Writing honestly: Points of concern

I am aware that a certain number of people are searching for "De'Longhi Magnifica S tastes bad." To be honest, the taste changes significantly depending on the choice of beans and the settings.

If you use cheap beans sold at the supermarket with the default settings, it may indeed fall short of expectations. Conversely, if you use your preferred beans and adjust the 7-level grind dial, the impression changes considerably. It feels more like "there is room to refine the settings" rather than "the machine is bad."

One more point.

With the ECAM22112B, you can only automatically extract espresso and Café Japone; for milk menus like cappuccino, you must froth the milk yourself using the included manual steam nozzle. If you buy this without knowing that, there is a possibility you will feel "it's not what I expected," so please be aware of this in advance.

Can it also be used for iced coffee?

Searches for "Magnifica S iced coffee" have surged in the last three months. To conclude, you can use it normally.

Just extract it strongly in espresso mode and pour it into a glass filled with ice. It is also recommended to set it to a small, strong amount in Café Japone mode and dilute it with ice. There is no dedicated iced coffee mode, but that is part of the fun of adjusting it yourself.

Cost talk: How much per cup?

The pump pressure is a maximum of 15 bars (9 bars during extraction), which stably maintains the pressure required for espresso extraction. Since it is a fully automatic type that uses coffee beans directly, the material cost per cup varies depending on the grade of beans used, but compared to capsule types, you can significantly reduce running costs.

If you drink 3 cups a day, the difference compared to a capsule type can be tens of thousands of yen per year. De'Longhi espresso machines are also actively traded in the second-hand market, so there is a possibility that you can sell them at a certain price when you upgrade to a higher-end model in the future.

Recommended for these people

• People who drink coffee every day and would prefer to drink it from beans

• Simpler operation is better

• It's fine as long as I can drink espresso and Cafe Japone

• I don't care about automatic milk frothing

• I want to place it in a space-saving spot in the kitchen or on my desk

Conversely, if you want to make cappuccinos or cafe lattes with one touch, please consider the Dinamica or higher models.
The Magnifica S comes with a manual steam nozzle, so you can froth milk by operating it yourself. However, please be aware that it does not have the automation of higher-end models where a cappuccino is completed with a single button press.

Morning coffee is one of the routines that helps me get ready for work. If you want to make that time more comfortable, a fully automatic espresso machine offers more than enough return on investment.

▼ Check current stock and prices

Since it's something you drink every day, just being a little particular about your tools can completely change your morning time.