Philips 2300 LatteGo Review: Maximum Performance With a Mini Price Tag

Having recently been highly impressed by the mid-range Philips 3300 LatteGo, I simply had to conduct a Philips 2300 review. And in my opinion, the Dutch manufacturer has knocked it out of the park with this budget-friendly firecracker.

The Philips EP2330/10 (2300 Series) offers more from its automatic LatteGo milk system, as well as its espresso and cappuccino quality, than I’ve seen among other entry-level candidates in my guide to the best fully automatic espresso machines.

To be honest, I’m increasingly blown away by the quality on offer with every new Philips espresso machine release. Especially given their competitive pricing. And having bought the Philips 2300 LatteGo to test out for you, I can give you a full rundown on what to expect from this new machine.

Philips 2300 LatteGo Review Overview

In my review of the Philips 3300 Series, I already complained about Philips spouting a bit too much marketing baloney lately. The manufacturer clearly wants to jump on the bandwagon of certain trends. Legally, everything is watertight, but from the customer’s point of view, it’s questionable.

I’m probably not the only one who has complained. I mean, the Philips 2300 LatteGo makes far fewer questionable claims. Nevertheless, there are two facts we should discuss. The website states:

“Enjoy 4 drinks in one touch”

At least Philips doesn’t claim this machine makes cold drinks. However, hot water is included among the four drinks it does make. Really guys?

“Easy instructions and inspiration with the HomeID app”

The app has nothing to do with the control of the fully automatic coffee machine. HomeID is (predominantly) a recipe application intended for cooking and kitchen appliances. There used to be a dedicated coffee recipe app, but I can’t find it in the App Store anymore.

In this Philips 2300 LatteGo review I tested the EP2330/10 model, costing $599.99. Still, if you come across other model numbers don’t be alarmed. But do bear the following points in mind:

Philips 2300 LatteGo Features

Size and Design

As with all Philips fully automatic machines, the 2300 LatteGo is fairly low key and compact. Sure, this machine doesn’t have the wow factor of a Jura coffee machine, but it’s certainly no ugly duckling.

There’s an abundance of plastic on the 2300’s construction, but that’s to be expected at this price point. Anyway, the thing feels solid and well-made, with all removable parts fitting seamlessly onto the machine.

I always point out that when you’re choosing an espresso machine you should pay special attention to its height. That’s because overhead cabinets could pose problems when it comes to filling the bean container. Clocking in at 17 inches (43 centimeters), the Philips 2300 LatteGo is on the shorter side. Still, do make sure to take precise measurements before committing.

User Interface

Featuring clearly labeled buttons, any Philips LatteGo fully automatic coffee machine is easy to operate right out of the box. In fact, I’d say you’ll hardly need the user manual. Aside from adjusting the grind setting, you could easily use your device with the factory settings and still get a deliciously aromatic espresso.

Nevertheless, I always play around with different settings during my testing to get the best out of the machine. Incidentally, the operating instructions apply not only to the 2300 Series, but also to every 3300 fully automatic coffee machine with LatteGo. So much so that the smaller fully automatic coffee machine makes the larger one practically redundant.

With that said, I did discover one limitation with the 2300 LatteGo. While higher-end Philips fully automatic machines have their own temperature button, with the 2300 LatteGo you have to select a “secret” button combination to adjust the temperature setting. Here’s how it works:

To be honest, doing all this will only be necessary if you have an asbestos mouth! During my testing I found the coffee temperature to be ideal.

Ceramic Burr Grinder

Twelve grind adjustment settings is pretty darn impressive, especially for a machine at this price point. In fact, I’d say only the best DeLonghi espresso machines can compete in this regard. What’s more, Philips makes it very clear that a ceramic flat burr grinder may have more advantages than you thought:

During my Philips 2300 LatteGo review, the grinder registered 63 decibels. Now, that’s not only quiet for a budget coffee machine, it’s quiet for any fully automatic espresso maker. For example, my old favorite, the DeLonghi Magnifica S roars at around 71 decibels, while the Miele CM5310 Silence (!) clocks in at 69.6 decibels.

As for the ideal grind setting, my recommendation for practically all Philips machines is the same: use very fresh coffee beans and set the grinder to level 4. Then again, my beans were a week out from their roast date, so level 3 out of 12 worked best during my test.

SilentBrew Technology

As you may already know, the reason for the aforementioned grinder’s low volume is the manufacturer’s patented SilentBrew technology. Great! But I’d like to poke a hole in the Quiet Mark promise: while the grinder really is as quiet as you would like it to be, the machine itself is annoyingly loud during drink preparation.

Let’s just say the pump really grabs your attention when it’s working. Still, you can minimize this annoyance by placing the machine on an anti-vibration mat.

Specialty Drinks

In comparison with other fully automatic machines, the Philips 2300 LatteGo drink menu is fairly limited. You can choose from espresso, coffee, cappuccino and hot water. And you already know how I feel about that last option being advertised as a drink option. Still, during my testing, I quickly found out that you can easily program a one-touch latte macchiato with the 2300 Series. All you have to do is change the amount of milk foam on the cappuccino button.

LatteGo Milk System

It’s common knowledge that I love the Philips LatteGo milk system. I mean, it’s just so simple and effective, as well as easy to clean.

As I mentioned above, only having a cappuccino button isn’t really a limitation. In reality, you can prepare a latte macchiato or espresso macchiato by pressing the cappuccino button. That way, you can program the amount of milk foam that ends up in your best espresso cup or latte glass. I simply set the milk foam to the maximum and a beautiful latte macchiato arrived lickety split.

Of course, we must not forget that an authentic cappuccino is actually prepared the other way around (first espresso, then milk foam). But hardly any fully automatic machine can do that. So, it doesn’t matter what the button says or what comes out of the spout.

If you just want to drink a cappuccino, you don’t have to adjust anything. For my Coffeeness glasses, setting the level to 2 out of 3 means it’ll fit nicely.

Water Reservoir

The 61-ounce (1.8-liter) water reservoir should certainly be large enough for most folks. Still, if this machine is in the kitchen of a large coffee-loving family you might get tired of constantly having to refill the tank. Then again, it’s always best to make coffee with fresh water, so no biggie!

Speaking of, the Philips 2300 LatteGo has the option to use an AquaClean water filter in the water tank. In my opinion, this is the way to go, seeing as it’ll seriously cut down on the frequency with which you’ll need to descale the machine.

The Philips 2300 LatteGo in Use

It seems to me that cheaper machines are artificially limited so a manufacturer can justify charging more for others. After all, most functions are not a question of mechanics, but of programming. That must be why adjusting drink volumes on the 2300 LatteGo is kind of awkward and imprecise.

In general, you’ve got three options for espresso, coffee and cappuccino. And making the adjustment is as easy as pressing the dedicated button. In addition, you have the option to increase the highest level a little, but you can’t decrease the lowest setting. Plus, there’s no inbetween settings.

If this all sounds arbitrary, that’s because it is. In practice, however, it turns out that this limitation isn’t too bad. If you select the lowest setting for your espresso, you get about 1 ounce (30 milliliters).

And if that sounds too small, simply order a double espresso. When it comes to coffee, you’ll get closest to my 4-ounce (120-milliliter) ideal at level 2 out of 3

You have three setting options for the coffee strength. I played around a bit, but came to the conclusion that all coffee specialties tasted best at level 2 of 3.

Philips 2300 LatteGo Milk Foam

We can tell how good the LatteGo milk system has become not only from the significantly reduced noise level when frothing milk. The quality and consistency of the milk foam are also top notch.

Nevertheless, the 2300 coffee machine makes it clear that the tubeless milk frother has a slight problem:

Although the milk blends perfectly with the coffee, the milk system still produces a few bubbles. This is mainly because the milk container has a fairly large spout, which means that the milk cannot flow as smoothly as it would from a cappuccinatore-style setup.

But that’s a minor drawback that doesn’t detract from the design or my rating. At 147 degrees Fahrenheit (64 degrees Celsius), the latte macchiato is spot on. If you want more heat, order a double espresso or turn up the coffee temperature.

How Does Espresso From the Philips 2300 LatteGo Taste?

Philips coffee was fairly unremarkable in the past. It was good, but nothing to write home about. However, with each new machine I test, more and more positive adjectives spring to mind.

During my Philips 2300 LatteGo review I used my Coffeeness Signature Espresso Roast. The machine not only highlighted the blend’s pleasant chocolate profile, but also delivered a clear marzipan note. Maybe it’s because of the more compact sip, maybe it’s the fine ceramic grinder or the whole dang coffee machine. Either way, I’m a fan.

Clocking in at 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius), I found the espresso to be at the optimal drinking temperature. What’s more, I enjoyed its velvety crema and long, satisfying finish.

The coffee is not quite as complex in terms of taste, but does deliver a little more freshness and a pleasant brightness. I’m of the opinion that it’s a real crowd pleaser that’ll also take cream or non-dairy milk very well. Oh, and it’s also exactly where it should be in terms of temperature at 180 degrees Fahrenheit (83 degrees Celsius).

Best Coffee for the Philips 2300 LatteGo

How Do I Clean the Philips 2300 LatteGo?

What can I say, other than that cleaning the Philips 2300 LatteGo is as easy as it gets for a fully automatic machine.

The water tank and grounds container are removable from the front, while the removable brewing group practically falls into your hand. Plus, you can completely disassemble the LatteGo milk system in three clicks.

In the meantime, the outside of the coffee machine is almost exclusively made of plastic, but you can still put almost all parts in the dishwasher. However, rinsing under running water is completely sufficient for the brew group, bean container and milk system.

By the way, you do need to learn how to reassemble the LatteGo milk system correctly: first connect the two parts at the top, then snap them into place at the bottom with an audible click. If you don’t do this, milk will quickly start to drip during operation.

When it comes to cleaning and descaling, the 2300 fully automatic coffee machine clearly demonstrates that it is designed for durability and everyday use. You just need to understand the significance of certain illuminated symbols for cleaning and maintenance. Don’t worry though; remember the user manual I told you not to bother looking at? It has all the information you need!

Philips 2300 LatteGo Technical Specifications

Philips 2300 LatteGo vs Other Super Automatics

I’ve already mentioned a couple of other super automatics during this Philips 2300 LatteGo review. Still, for the sake of completeness, let’s take a cloister look at a couple of other machines you may be considering.

Philips 2300 LatteGo vs 3300 LatteGo

At $789.77, the Philips 3300 LatteGo, showed us for the first time that the manufacturer can not only build affordable fully automatic machines, but also quiet, functional and tasteful devices.

After testing the 3300 LateGo, I remember my verdict being something along the lines of “surprisingly great.” That still applies. However, the 3300’s value is somewhat diminished since you can now buy a cheaper alternative in the 2300 LatteGo. A machine that delivers identical core features:

See Also: Philips 3300 LatteGo Review

Philips 2300 LatteGo vs 5500 LatteGo

Philips 2300 LatteGo $1,099.95 The brand’s current flagship is the aff id=”226321″ text=”Philips 2300 LatteGo” lang=”en”], which I recently put to the test. As always, Philips is consistent with the 5500; the new series simply does even more of everything.

A Philips fully automatic coffee machine doesn’t need a fancy touchscreen display to be easy to use. The operating concept with sensor touch buttons always works well. Nevertheless, it doesn’t hurt to have one.

As always, you have to decide for yourself whether you really need all the functions and coffee specialties that the 5500 Series offers. However, the fact remains that at $1,099.95, the 5500 LatteGo is almost insultingly affordable for what you get.

I am of the opinion that a 2300 fully automatic machine still delivers the best price-performance ratio. That’s because it encapsulates the current capabilities of the brand’s offerings in the best and cheapest way.

See Also: Philips 5500 LateGo Review

Philips 2300 LatteGo vs Others Comparison Chart

Verdict: Philips 2300 LatteGo Review

When I look at the Philips EP2330/10 fully automatic coffee machine, I come to one conclusion above all else: DeLonghi had better start preparing for some stiff competition!

After all, Philips fully automatic coffee machines are increasingly outperforming Italian models in terms of design, build quality and cup results in the entry-level segment.

The 2300 LatteGo’s price tag is still a bit too high to crown it the king of the entry-level machines. But given the great coffee specialties, the low grinder volume and easy cleaning, I’m almost sure it won’t take long.