DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 review: Is This Oldie Still a Goodie?

If you’re looking for an entry-level super automatic espresso machine, this DeLonghi ESAM 3300 review is for you. The machine has pretty basic features, and it doesn’t have a display or a water filter. Plus, if you want to create authentic Italian drinks with milk froth, you have to do so manually with a steam wand. Yep.

In this DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 review, I’ll share what I liked and what I didn’t.

Here’s a sneak peek: My favorite features are the plentiful stepless adjustment options for coffee strength and water volume as well as the 13 different grind settings to choose from while dialing in.

With that said, I discovered that the pump was too weak to take advantage of the finest two grind settings. So, just be aware of that.

DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 Review Overview

Though it’s been on the market for many years, the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 is still one of the most affordable models out there. Sure, this machine may look a little vintage, but it now represents very good value. Plus for those who don’t want to spend the earth on a fully automatic machine, the ESAM 3300 offers a great starting point.

Anyway, it’s been one of the best-selling super automatics in recent years, so DeLonghi must have done something right.

Of course, the Magnifica ESAM 3300 can’t do everything that the manufacturer’s newer, more advanced machines can – but with the right settings, it makes a very nice espresso.

Given its current price of $799.00 on Amazon, it’s hard to complain too much. Besides, the Magnifica ESAM 3300 is relatively compact and boasts solid construction. Even cleaning is simple, and the brew group is easy to remove.

What’s in the Box?

First things first: you’re probably wondering what to expect upon opening the DeLonghi ESAM 3300 box. Here’s a quick rundown of what comes with this super automatic espresso machine:

Downloadable User Manual

Having a reference on hand will be important, so I’d definitely recommend downloading the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 user manual to your smartphone. It’s especially helpful because this model doesn’t have a display to guide you through the settings. I mean, I’m usually one to ignore the instruction booklet, but in this case, it’s kind of necessary.

DeLonghi ESAM 3300 Features

Let’s continue this DeLonghi ESAM 3300 review by taking a closer look at the machine’s most notable features.

User Interface

As I’ve already mentioned, the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 doesn’t have the kind of digital display you’ll see on newer machines like the DeLonghi Magnifica Start. And seeing as there’s no automatic milk system, you won’t find a latte macchiato button either.

Still, operating the ESAM 3300 is really intuitive, thanks to the water volume and coffee strength dials. Plus, there’s a double espresso button, single espresso button, hot water button and various alert lights. Sure, you’ll need to learn the ins and outs of how to adjust settings, but once you’re familiar with how to use this machine, it’ll feel like a piece of cake.

Adjustable Spout Height

Whenever I’m looking at semi automatic machines, I like to know how much room I’ll have under the portafilter spouts. If there isn’t enough, I know I’ll need to buy new espresso cups. On the other hand, spouts that are too high often mean excessive coffee splashes all over the place.

Fortunately, the dispensing spout on the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 super automatic machine is fully adjustable. It has a maximum height of 4.3 inches and a minimum cup height of 2.8 inches. Sure, that’s not a huge amount of wiggle room, but it’s better than nothing!

Removable Brew Group

If you’ve read my guide to the best fully automatic espresso machines, you’ll know that a removable brew group looks like more of a hassle at first, but has two big advantages:

You can purchase parts for the Magnifica coffee machine on Amazon, which is a good thing since super automatic espresso machines tend to last a good while.

Of course, this is only an advantage if the brew group gets cleaned more regularly than your dirty socks! Then again, who are we both kidding.

Integrated Burr Grinder

The DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 grinder is definitely one of the strengths of this super automatic espresso machine – it’s capable of achieving a very fine grind size. Still, although the stainless steel conical burr grinder has 13 adjustment settings, the pump has its limitations, so the finest two settings are a complete waste.

DeLonghi claims that the machine’s grinder “works particularly quietly.” Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Anyone who has a really quiet grinder – like the one on the Jura Z10 – will know how a quiet, albeit more expensive, grinder sounds. I’m just saying.

I have to be honest with you, though, the DeLonghi grinder is really loud!

Water Tank

The DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 automatic espresso machine’s 70-ounce (1.8-liter) water tank doesn’t have the option to use a water filter. So, it’s important to set the correct water hardness when you’re setting up the machine. Don’t worry, because you can figure out how hard your water is by using one of the test strips included with the machine. Alternatively, you might be able to find out online.

Pro tip: The harder the water, the higher its mineral content, primarily calcium and magnesium.

Hard water means your machine will need to be descaled more often, which means more work for you.

What I’d recommend is that you filter the water beforehand with a Brita water pitcher. If you do that, it’s important to set the water hardness in the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 to soft aka “Level 1.” The advantage is that you need to descale less often, saving you no small amount of hassle.

Used Coffee Grounds Container

Though the used coffee grounds container is a bit small, you can conveniently remove it from the front of the machine. The best practice is to empty the coffee puck drawer and rinse it under running water on a daily basis. In other words, if you want the container to last, you should avoid cleaning it in the dishwasher – it’ll only damage the plastic in the long run.

As for the removable drip tray, it’s equipped with a red float that indicates the water level. And while this isn’t the biggest drip tray I’ve ever seen, it’s easy to pull out from the front of the machine. Oh, and a word to the wise: empty it as often as possible to avoid unfortunate spills.

15 Bar Pump

We all know the pump in a DeLonghi fully automatic espresso machine forces the water through compressed coffee in the brew group. What you may not know is that the DeLonghi Magnifica 3300 pump can apparently achieve a maximum pressure of 15 bar. Wow!

That should easily be enough pressure to make a DeLonghi espresso – which technically, only requires 9 bars of pressure during the extraction.

However, as I’ve already pointed out, this pump has difficulty forcing water through the coffee puck if the coffee is ground too finely.

During the testing phase of my DeLonghi ESAM 3300 review, I ended up setting the grinder a little coarser than I’d expected. In fact, I achieved the best results at the third finest setting.

Cup Warming Tray

As far as I can tell, the DeLonghi ESAM 3300 has a passive cup warmer. Let’s just say you definitely can’t fry eggs on this thing.

Unfortunately, the surface doesn’t really get warm at all. This may be a way to save energy, but I would like to have seen the lukewarm cup warmer tray operate at a higher temperature.

Ground Coffee Bypass Doser

As with most fully automatic machines, there’s an extra compartment for pre ground coffee next to the bean hopper.

I don’t really like ground coffee bypass dosers, because the whole point of a bean-to-cup espresso machine is to brew freshly ground coffee at the push of a button. Then again, I realize that it’s handy to use for decaf coffee if someone in your family wants that.

The instructions say not to use more than a spoonful at a time – I guess a little goes a long way. But the question remains: why not just offer a second bean hopper?

DeLonghi ESAM 3300 Milk Foam

Rather than an automatic milk frother, the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 has a manual steam wand, which works surprisingly well. As a former professional barista, it’s actually my preferred milk frothing method. I managed to get good milk foam on my first try with the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300, and I’m sure, with practice, the results will only get better. Just be careful under all that hot steam!

Speaking of avoiding hot steam: you’ll need to buy a stainless steel milk pitcher seeing as the machine doesn’t come with one. Heads up, though, while the steam wand does froth milk well, it’s certainly not capable of perfect microfoam for latte drinks.

Look, I’ll level with you, foaming milk is a learned skill. So, if you need help, read my article on how to froth milk. It’ll give you a better understanding of how to make a latte or a delicious cappuccino with the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300.

How to Use the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300

You’ll find the main power switch on the back of the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300. And as you probably already figured out, if it’s not on, nothing works at all. At the front left, there is a separate on/off switch for convenience. Nice touch.

If you’re removing the brewing group, don’t forget to switch off the main power switch on the back, but only after shutting down the machine using the switch on the front.

One cool thing about the auto-shutoff function is that you can adjust it on the DeLonghi Magnifica 3300. And that’s a good thing, seeing as the default setting is two hours, which is way too long.

You can also adjust the water temperature on the DeLonghi Magnifica 3300, and it’s easy to do. Personally, I was happy with the factory-set temperature, so I didn’t make any adjustments during testing. Still, I know how important this is to many of my Coffeeness readers, so I thought I’d point it out.

The machine heats up quickly, though you should know that the ESAM 3300 needs a little recovery time after frothing milk before it’s ready to brew an espresso. To be honest, this is the Achilles’ heel of the machine’s design – the dual thermoblocks get the machine to temperature quickly, but the pump still needs time to build pressure.

Ideal Settings for the Magnifica ESAM 3300 Coffee Machine

My standard formula for brewing espresso coffee with a DeLonghi fully automatic espresso machine is usually as follows: “finest grind + smallest amount of water + maximum amount of ground coffee.”

These settings didn’t really work on the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300, because the pump didn’t have enough pressure to match the fineness of the coffee grinds. So, I adjusted the grinder to the third finest setting. The goal was to brew an espresso with a volume of 0.7-0.8 ounces (20-25 milliliters).

As you can see, I set the coffee volume to the lowest setting and maxed out the coffee strength. And in combination with the grind setting I mentioned above, these settings allowed me to brew a 0.85-ounce (25-milliliter) espresso shot. It flowed nice and steady from the spouts and had a nice layer of crema on top.

Like to experiment? It’s also possible – using the dials – to go beyond the specified ranges. I tried that at the beginning, but unfortunately, I didn’t get very far.

How to Clean the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300

You have to clean a super automatic espresso machine on a regular basis, preferably daily. In doing so, you’ll always enjoy the tastiest coffee possible and also prolong the life of your coffee maker.

Cleaning the Brew Group

There’s a removable brew group in this coffee machine, so take advantage of that! Rinse the brew group under running water and dry it thoroughly. Do not put it in the dishwasher!

Cleaning the Steam Wand

After frothing milk, there will still be milk residue left on the inside and outside of the steam wand. So, you should wipe it down with a wet cloth that’s only used for that purpose – you know I always say this. You’ll also want to engage the steam function briefly to purge the wand. Be careful, though, because the steam wand will be hot.

Water Filters and Descaling

First of all, there are no water filters. DeLonghi just didn’t design the ESAM 3300 for it. That’s why you need to descale the machine more often than you might like. Still, there’s no need to mark your calendar, since the machine will tell you when it needs descaling.

If you want to descale less frequently, you should only use filtered water. All that to say, how often you need to descale depends on the water you use.

Water Reservoir and Waste Containers

I’ll just come right out and say it: Please clean the water reservoir and the used coffee grounds container thoroughly and regularly. It’s also a good idea to let the water reservoir dry completely every now and then. You’ll want to avoid putting either container in the dishwasher because it’ll damage the plastic and shorten the lifespan of these components.

Cleaning Programs

Never skip the cleaning and descaling programs – it’s better to err on the side of frequency when cleaning. Just download the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 manual for step-by-step instructions.

DeLonghi ESAM 3300 Specifications

Troubleshooting the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300

Check out these tips to help you with troubleshooting your ESAM 3300 super automatic espresso machine.

What to Do if the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 Brew Group Is Stuck?

Let’s say that when you open the service compartment you find the brew group won’t budge. Trust me, this is not the time to roll up your sleeves and keep trying to force it. Rather, there’s a simple solution that doesn’t require any force and won’t damage the machine.

Usually, if the brew group is stuck the coffee machine hasn’t been turned off – by the designated switch – and shut down properly.

So, like I said earlier, the Magnifica coffee machine has an on/off switch at the front and a main switch at the back. The main switch immediately cuts off the power, so the brew group can’t move to its “resting” position for removal.

To remedy this problem, simply:

What Does It Mean When the Lights Are Flashing?

Flashing lights mean that the machine is not yet ready to start working. Most of the time, it’s because the machine hasn’t heated up sufficiently.

Then again, if you’ve just frothed milk, it’ll take a little longer for the buttons to stop flashing because it has to reach the necessary temperature to brew espresso. Incidentally, the LEDs for the milk frother first flash red and then permanently turn red when the system is ready to go.

What If the Grinder Jams?

I would first try adjusting the grinder to the coarsest setting possible. In most cases, this will clear the blockage. However, if you find that you need to manually remove stuck coffee beans, first, turn off the machine in the front and the back. Then unplug it before you continue.

What to Do if Water Is Leaking?

More often than not, you’ll see this with older super automatic coffee machines. It’s almost always due to a defective gasket – which you can easily replace.

Another possibility is a gasket being wet or covered with coffee residue. Try cleaning the gaskets first. If that doesn’t work, replace them immediately.

What to Do if No Coffee Comes Out?

As I mentioned earlier, the pump can’t keep up with the quality of the coffee grinder. You’ll remember that I had to adjust the grind setting to “Level 3” for this very reason. So, first check to see how finely you have the grinder set.

This can also happen because the pump hasn’t had enough time to build internal pressure. Give the machine a little longer and see if that solves your issue. I’d say drink a cup of espresso while you wait, but that’s why you were at the machine in the first place!

What to Do if You Can’t Switch the Machine On?

Lots of things can go wrong when we haven’t had our morning coffee. So, first check to see that you plugged in the machine. Hey, it happens! If that’s what it was, well, that can be our little secret.

Next, remember that the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 has two power buttons. If the one in the front isn’t working, make sure the one in the back is turned on.

If these two options don’t solve the issue, bum a shot of espresso off your neighbor or run down to your nearest café. I’d probably do both before getting on the phone with support for a repair, but at this point, contacting DeLonghi is your only option.

DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 vs DeLonghi Magnifica S

At $599.00, the DeLonghi Magnifica S costs substantially less than the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 these days. So, are you better off going with the less expensive option?

For starters, the Magnifica S ECAM 22.110 has a water filter, whereas the ESAM 3300 doesn’t. Another difference is that the ESAM’s maximum cup height is shorter. So, practically speaking, the difference between the ECAM’s 5.6 inches and the ESAM’s 4.3 inches will affect how easy it is to prepare milk-based drinks like cappuccinos and lattes.

Though both models have a steam wand, the ESAM benefits from being a double boiler machine. Why does that matter, you ask? Because having a single boiler means you’ll wait longer for the machine to come to steaming temperature after making espresso. Regardless, even when the Magnifica reaches temperature, you’ll still have to wait for sufficient pump pressure for the steam wand to work.

See Also: DeLonghi Magnifica S Review

DeLonghi ESAM 3300 vs Magnifica S Comparison Chart

Verdict: DeLonghi ESAM 3300 Review

Put simply, the affordable DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 is a no-frills, bare-bones fully automatic espresso machine. It has no display and no automatic cappuccino function.

Overall, the device is solid and sturdy. But at this price point, you usually search in vain for a machine with stainless steel housing.

What really stands out about this DeLonghi Magnifica espresso machine is how you can conveniently service the machine from the front.

This means that you can access the drip tray, brew group and the used coffee grounds container without having to move the machine.

It also has numerous adjustable settings, which I appreciate. And having dual boilers is a definite plus!