Philips 3200 LatteGo Review: Less Is More!

Have you noticed for some time now how manufacturers of super automatic espresso machines are slowly but surely saying goodbye to overdesigned products?

While in the past, there was no such thing as too complex or too high-tech, the latest generation of super automatics is reverting to simple usability and functionality.

Since the Philips LatteGo 3200 (CURRENT PRIME DAY DEAL! ONLY 499.99 $ INSTEAD OF 799.99 $) is typical of this simpler style, I’m guessing it will prove popular with older folks in particular.

Not that other age groups won’t take a liking to this super automatic espresso machine, too. I mean, after all, who can deny being able to operate their kitchen appliances without a degree in IT and engineering?

But minimalism always means compromises, and in the case of the Philips, you’ll find them in rather unexpected places.

The No-Frills, No-Fuss Philips 3200 LatteGo Espresso Machine at a Glance

Since I’ve had appliances with a plasticky smell get up my nose a lot lately, the Philips 3200 LatteGo is a pleasant surprise.

There’s barely a whiff when unboxing it and even during the first hours of operation there’s no “new car smell.”

Then again, that’s probably because the stainless steel style plastic housing not only looks high quality but is so, surprisingly. And the main components are just as impressive.

Philips LatteGo Grinder

What’s more, the ceramic flat burr grinder with 12 grind sizes definitely sets the Philips 3200 LatteGo apart from other machines — at least at this price point.

In fact, the current leader in this category, the DeLonghi Dinamica, “only” has the brand’s standard stainless steel conical burr grinder.

On the one hand, I don’t want to spark any new hostilities between the flat and conical burr camps and the ceramic versus steel camps. But the ceramic flat burrs currently enjoy a better reputation and features on much more expensive super automatic espresso machines.

Philips LatteGo Milk Frothing System

Although the Philips 3200 didn’t include “LatteGo” in its name in the United States until recently, it still features the same type of milk system as the Philips 5000 LatteGo series, which is why this system was touted as hot stuff.

And there’s some truth in that.

That’s because the automatic system doesn’t have any tubes of its own and consists of just two easily cleaned parts. The controls and menu navigation are also easy to use — there’s no display, only touch buttons.

Plus, depending on the function, these are supplemented with a three-step illuminated scale icon.

Philips LatteGo Display Panel

I’m a big fan of clear, front-panel indicators of this kind — as long as there are no issues with the main functions — though that’s certainly not the case here. You can select from five preset coffee options:

You can adjust all the key parameters using the corresponding three-step scale icons, as well.

What more do you need? Nothing really. Though as a rather roundabout solution, if you remove the LatteGo System, you can even draw hot water. And that’s about the extent of the fiddling required.

Sounds like a pretty ideal package, doesn’t it?

I think so, too, which is why I have to say that $499.99 on Amazon is a totally reasonable price tag. Even better at delivering value for money, I think, is my top pick in this category, the DeLonghi. Still, that doesn’t make the Philips 3200 LatteGo a bad choice.

Philips 3200 LatteGo vs 2200 Series: What’s the Difference?

Once again, Philips has managed to engage us all in a confusing game of three-card monte by offering super automatic espresso machines with very similar model numbers but very different price tags.

But as always, the devil is in the details — and the infernal figures in the product codes — as you’ll see with our test model, the Philips LatteGo 3200 (CURRENT PRIME DAY DEAL! ONLY 499.99 $ INSTEAD OF 799.99 $), which many of you like to compare to the 2200.

After combing through all the sub-models and color variants, I agree that comparing these two machines is most helpful:

To save you — and me — having to plow through long-winded explanations, let’s compare them in table form.

The differences between the 2200 and 3200 Series are pretty small. So one specialty coffee more or less isn’t exactly a real selling point. Now the automatic LatteGo milk system versus a steam wand is the only distinction that makes sense to me.

See Also: Philips 2200 Series Review

Setting Up Your Philips 3200 LatteGo: Grind Size, Volumes and Temperature

It would be absurd if you had to consult the operating instructions for a simple device like the Philips 3200, which is why you basically don’t need them at all.

You adjust the grind settings — as is pretty standard — via a wheel located inside the bean container, but only when operating the machine. As always for espresso, I used the finest grind setting possible.

After that, programming is a breeze. For espresso, you first select the relevant beverage button and can then customize the shot volume and temperature by adjusting the three-step scales at each of the buttons.

And if you want to make a latte or cappuccino, just triple the amount of milk.

It’s kinda dumb that you can customize the default setting of each drink at its highest level but not at its lowest.

That said, the minimum setting for espresso is not very generous. Instead, it just manages to scrape in the 0.8 ounce (25 milliliter) mark that I consider optimal.

As regular readers will already know, I maxed out the coffee strength (3 out of 3), minimized the water volume (1 out of 3) and selected the highest possible temperature for my espresso.

Philips 3200 LatteGo Superautomatic Espresso Machine: Brewing and Operation

Usually, the ceramic flat burr grinder enjoys a premium reputation because it’s often quieter than its conical burr stainless-steel rivals, though I really can’t vouch for this in the case of the Philips 3200 LatteGo.

That’s because this grinder makes quite a racket and is even louder than many of its conical burr counterparts. And the same is also true for the LatteGo milk system, which makes more noise than you’d expect. Why? Beats me.

Noise levels — which are pretty tolerable — during brewing aside, the extraction process is a bit too fast for my taste.

It’s also a sign of insufficiently compacted puck or other shortcomings in the way that the coffee grounds are automatically processed. Having said that, the brew flows evenly from the spout without sputtering.

On a side note, latte glasses up to 5.9 inches (15 centimeters) in height fit below the spout, and even very small espresso cups are a reasonable distance from the coffee outlet.

How Does Espresso From the Philips 3200 LatteGo Taste?

As it happens, the Philips 3200 LatteGo fully automatic coffee machine is one of the reasons why I developed my Coffeeness Signature Espresso Roast. After all, if you have limited control over preparation parameters, you should still be able to get full-flavored espresso. High-quality Brazilian beans with a medium-dark roast profile and notes of chocolate are ideal for this.

In my first test run with an older version of the 3200 LatteGo, I used a 100% Robusta coffee from Huber. The espresso was bold and full-bodied, displaying the ultra-thick crema typical of Robusta.

Using my own freshly roasted beans, all the basics were still in evidence: the espresso was still bold and full-bodied, and the machine did a great job of highlighting the chocolate notes. While the machine wasn’t able to tease out all the complex sweetness from my coffee beans, I was still satisfied.

As expected, the coffee (anything that isn’t espresso) was a bit too thin. But that’s true for practically every fully automatic coffee machine in the world. So, do yourself a favor and ignore all the other black “coffee specialties” you want to drink without milk. Instead, extend your espresso with a little water after brewing.

Best Coffee for the Philips 3200 LatteGo

Espresso and Milk Froth – Wrong Way, But Still Good

For this super automatic espresso machine review, I chose a brand of organic Robusta beans, which may come as a surprise to some of you, considering that I normally gravitate to light roasts and less bold, pure Robustas.

Then again, a super automatic espresso machine always lends itself to brasher Italian-style coffee with a serious caffeine kick. On top of that, climate change and Arabica’s vulnerability to pests and variable weather make the Robusta bean the better all-around choice.

What’s more, Robusta always delivers a decent crema. And the Philips 3200 LatteGo definitely comes to the party in that regard.

Admittedly, a coffee snob would point out that the crema isn’t as dark and speckled as what you’d get with Robusta roasts in an espresso machine. But it blankets the coffee evenly and is very stable in nature — a solid achievement!

Making Cappuccino

On the “cappuccino,” the microfoam is a little too dense and too hot for me, though I know many of you really value a high milk temperature.

The espresso is also a very good temperature and a well-rounded, robust affair — as you’d expect from a perfectly roasted Robusta.

I write “cappuccino” in quotation marks because the Philips 3200 LatteGo not only puts this coffee together in the wrong order but also makes it look like a latte. Usually, the espresso goes into the cup first, then the milk. Philips does it the other way around for some reason.

Don’t get me wrong: this isn’t the end of the world, but it does cause confusion — not just for me but also for those who’ve tried the Philips 3200 LatteGo.

Aside from microfoam’s serious density, the espresso and milk froth from this super automatic espresso machine are more than drinkable. It’s just that I’d have liked it if you could somehow tweak the microfoam’s consistency — which isn’t a problem with the DeLonghi Dinamica.

Philips 3200 LatteGo Cleaning: No Biggie!

With its two-part milk frothing system, the Philips 3200 LatteGo scores well when it comes to cleaning, though in other respects, it’s on par with other good competitor products.

In other words, what should be removable is — from the brew group to the milk container.

It’s also great that you can remove the main things, such as the water tank, coffee grounds container and brew group from the front or side. So no need to fumble around blindly behind the super automatic.

Overall, I give the Philips fully automatic espresso machine a high score for cleaning. It really does make life easy.

Even more good news is the built-in water filter, which means less automatic descaling.

Verdict on the Philips 3200 LatteGo Review: Simplicity Does a Body Good

Ok so the Philips LatteGo 3200 (CURRENT PRIME DAY DEAL! ONLY 499.99 $ INSTEAD OF 799.99 $) doesn’t have me gushing like the DeLonghi Dinamica or DeLonghi Dinamica Plus. But that’s a big ask. It’s hard to find better value for money in this price category.

This Philips model places less on high-quality functionality than high-quality minimalism — and hits the mark. So, if you’re looking for a super automatic espresso machine designed for everyday use and that does the job without a lot of fuss, you’ll be happy with this machine.

Yes, the noise levels are annoying, but ultimately it’s pretty average compared to all the other models in my super automatic espresso machine reviews. At least you know in advance that it’s not whisper-quiet, so you can decide how much noise you can handle. Make sure you also check out my reviews of the Philips 4300 LatteGo and Philips 4400 LatteGo.

Though I was pretty fed up with the brand after the Philips LatteGo’s mixed reviews and the disastrous appearance at trade shows, this sensible super automatic espresso machine managed to restore some of my faith. That’s something, too, I guess.