I'm always excited when a new super automatic espresso machine hits the shelves, and I'm particularly pumped to be writing this initial Philips 4400 LatteGo review.
I’m always excited when a new super automatic espresso machine hits the shelves, and I’m particularly pumped to be writing this initial Philips 4400 LatteGo review.
As it happens, I’ve been consistently impressed by the manufacturer’s output in recent years. In my experience, a Philips fully automatic machine usually always delivers high-quality performance for a very reasonable asking price.
You can bet your bottom dollar I’ll be ordering the Philips 4400 LatteGo to test out. In the meantime, let’s take a first look at what this new machine is all about.
Brand new super automatic
Philips 4400 LatteGo
Plenty of thoughtful upgrades
Sleek design
Intuitive user interface
Ceramic burr grinder
12 specialty drinks
Awesome automatic milk system
Lots of plastic
Overview: Philips 4400 LatteGo Review
Last year I reviewed the Philips 4300 LatteGo, and was thoroughly impressed. Sure, the grinder was way too loud, but the machine’s overall performance more than made up for it. So, seeing as the Philips 4400 LatteGo comes hot on the heels of its sibling, can we expect a bunch of upgrades and extra features? Well, given the new addition costs $989.16, I should really hope so.
One look at the Philips 4400 LatteGo is all it takes to see that the manufacturer has made big changes to the user interface. Whereas the 4300 has a rather old-school (but effective) control panel, we’re now looking at a full-color TFT screen surrounded by beautiful color drink icons.
Other than that, the Philips 4400 LatteGo looks almost identical to its predecessor. Still, there are plenty of other upgrades, including an expanded drink menu with iced specialties and a bunch of new eco settings to help cut down on water and energy usage.
What’s more, the Philips 4400 LatteGo promises to be way quieter, thanks to something called SilentBrew Technology. Let’s just say I hope it’s quieter when grinding!
All upgrades aside, the 4400 LatteGo has the same core functionality that has made Philips machines so successful. Here, I’m talking about a ceramic burr grinder with 12 settings, tons of intuitive adjustable drink settings and the wonderful LatteGo milk system.
So, given the 4300 LatteGo currently sells for $972.07, is it worth spending hundreds of dollars more for the new 4400 Series fully automatic machine? I’ll do my best to answer that later in this Philips 4400 LatteGo review.
Philips Series 4400 Fully Automatic LatteGo Espresso Machine Features
Let’s dig a little deeper into the notable features of the new Philips 4400 LatteGo.
Size and Design
There can be little doubt that the Philips 4400 LatteGo is a sleek and stylish coffee machine. Sure, there’s an abundance of plastic housing, but the black and silver color scheme is pretty darn slick. Plus, there are a few stainless steel accents here and there.
The machine is nice and compact too, helped in large part by the fact that the automatic milk carafe is integrated into the front of the machine.
Up top there’s a decent-sized bean hopper, as well as a bypass doser for brewing with pre ground coffee.
One of my favorite design elements is the 61-ounce (1.8-liter) water tank, which can be removed from the front of the machine. Not only does the tank fit seamlessly into the machine’s silhouette, its positioning means you won’t have to move the 4400 LatteGo around when it’s time to add water. Thoughtful design elements like that really make a huge difference in my humble opinion!
User Interface
While the Philips 4400 LatteGo user interface looks way more modern and exciting, it employs pretty much exactly the same concepts as the controls on previous machines.
That’s not me complaining, though – I’ve always found the Philips controls to be incredibly intuitive and easy to navigate.
In fact, I’d wager that just about anyone could quickly get to grips with this machine without ever having to open the user manual. It’s simply a case of pressing a drink icon then using the arrow and OK buttons to scroll through adjustable settings.
Ceramic Burr Grinder
I’m not about to tell you that ceramic burrs are superior to stainless steel burrs. However, it really isn’t common to see ceramic flat burrs installed in a super automatic espresso machine at this price point. Sure, Gaggia espresso machines have ceramic grinders, but not with 12 adjustment settings.
One thing’s for certain: a ceramic grinder is going to be quieter than one with stainless steel burrs. Plus, ceramic burrs are going to stay sharp for a really long time.
As I just mentioned, you can feel confident dialing in your espresso shots, thanks to the 12 available grind settings. You can make adjustments using the dial located inside the bean hopper. However, remember to only make changes when the grinder is running!
LatteGo Milk System
The Philips LatteGo system is a flask with dispensing spout that clips neatly onto the front of the machine.
One of the biggest hassles of owning a fully automatic coffee maker is cleaning the milk system. This is especially true when the automatic frother involves tubes and lots of small parts.
That’s why the Philips LatteGo system is so successful, given it consists of just two pieces that snap together. As you might imagine, this means cleaning the thing takes mere seconds. What’s more, you’re able to remove the flask and store it in the fridge with any leftover milk.
During all my Philips reviews, the LatteGo hasn’t ever produced sumptuous milk foam. However, it’s more than suitable for a cappuccino or latte macchiato. Anyway, I’m hoping that the manufacturer has tweaked things a little for the release of the 4400 LatteGo. Who knows, maybe the so-called “cyclonic frothing technology” will deliver silkier and lighter results this time around.
Specialty Drinks
The Philips 4400 LatteGo comes fully loaded with just about every specialty drink you could want. These include the ubiquitous latte, as well as americano, caffe crema and latte macchiato.
Sure, there aren’t flat white or espresso macchiato options, but it’d be easy to program in an approximation of either drink using the intuitive customization screen. Here, you can adjust coffee size and strength, as well as the amount of milk foam.
I’m not at all surprised to see that the manufacturer has added a bunch of iced drinks to the menu. After all, that’s kind of expected from any new fully automatic machine these days.
As it happens, I’ve had pretty good experiences with iced coffee from machines like the Jura Z10 and Spinn Coffee Maker. Still, I’ll reserve judgment on how well the 4400 LatteGo performs until I’ve tested it out.
Suffice to say, Philips assures us that it has calibrated the machine to produce coffee at lower temperature and pressure for iced specialties.
SilentBrew Technology
Earlier in this Philips 4400 LatteGo review I touched on the fact that the manufacturer promises that this new machine is way quieter than its predecessors.
Well, I can only hope that’s the case, seeing as excessive noise was one of my main gripes with older Philips machines. Anyway, thanks to the so-called SilentBrew Technology, the Philips 4400 LatteGo is supposedly 40 percent quieter than older machines and has even earned a Quiet Mark certification.
Apparently, the manufacturer has achieved this through improved sound shielding and a quieter grinder. What can I say? I’m all for it!
QuickStart Function
Another new feature for the Philips 4400 LatteGo is its QuickStart function. Essentially, this means that you can power up the machine and make a drink right away without having to wait for it to heat up. Quite how effective this feature is remains to be seen. Still, I’ll make sure to give you the lowdown as soon as I’ve had a chance to experiment.
User Profiles
As with the 4300 LatteGo, this new fully automatic coffee maker has two user profiles, as well as a guest profile. You’re able to tinker with the settings for your favorite drink, then save it in your profile, which makes life a lot easier in the morning. Plus, you won’t have to worry about friends or family members coming along and ruining your hard work!
How to Use the Philips 4400 LatteGo
If my experiences using other Philips machines are anything to go by, you can expect to make pretty darn tasty espresso with the 4400 LatteGo. Especially given the fact that you can really dial in your grind size as well as your coffee’s strength and volume.
Before using the Philips 4400 LatteGo for the first time, make sure to rinse any removable parts, including the water tank and milk system. Once that’s done, fill the water reservoir and the machine will guide you through the steps for testing your water hardness. It’ll also ask you whether you want to install a water filter.
Now it’s time to make coffee. Add coffee beans to the hopper and assemble the LatteGo system if you want a milk-based drink. Next, press your desired drink icon and use the up and down arrows to start customizing settings. Once you’re happy, place a cup under the dispensing spout then press the start/stop button to start brewing.
Philips 4400 Coffee Machine Cleaning
As with any super automatic espresso machine, regular cleaning and descaling is of the utmost importance. That is, if you want the Philips 4400 LatteGo to keep performing at its best.
Fortunately, the user manual has detailed instructions for everything that needs to be done. I won’t bore you with all the details, but I’ll give you a quick rundown on what to expect.
At the end of each day’s use, I’d recommend emptying the drip tray and rinsing it under the faucet. And if you’ve used the LateGo milk system, make sure to take it apart and clean it thoroughly. Don’t worry, though – there are only two parts to deal with.
As for the brew group, make sure to remove it once a week and give it a good rinse. Oh, and wait until it’s completely dry before putting it back in the machine.
Finally, don’t forget about the water reservoir! Once a week, empty the thing and give it a good cleaning. That way you’ll avoid having to sip algae with your morning coffee.
As you’d expect, there are other deep cleaning tasks to attend to once a month, or so. But I’ll leave it to the user manual to explain all that.
Best Coffee for the Philips 4400 LatteGo
Coffeeness Signature Espresso Blend
High-quality beans through direct trade
Notes of Chocolate & Hazelnut
Easy on the stomach
Freshly roasted right in Brooklyn
Medium roast
After 10 years reviewing super automatics and espresso machines, and over 15 years reviewing coffee beans, we’re proud to offer our own Coffeeness Espresso Blend. Comprising ethically farmed and sourced coffee beans, our Espresso Blend is expertly roasted in small batches to guarantee freshness.
This premium blend of direct trade Brazilian coffee beans produces rich, bold and complex espresso that’s ideal straight or paired with milk. Featuring notes of chocolate and hazelnut, our Espresso Blend is particularly low in acidity, making it easy on the stomach.
Here’s how we recommend setting up your Philips 4400 LatteGo for the perfect cup of coffee:
Grind setting: 3
Attention: Only adjust when the grinder is running!
Espresso volume: 1.4 ounces (40 milliliters)
Coffee volume: 4 ounces (120 milliliters)
Temperature: High
Coffee strength: 5
Philips Series 4400 Espresso Machine Technical Specifications
Philips 4400 LatteGo | |
Manufacturer | Philips |
---|---|
Model number | EP4444/90 |
Product category | Super automatic espresso machine |
Removable brew group | |
Housing material | Plastic with stainless steel parts |
Color options | Black |
Milk frother | Integrated carafe |
User interface | Color TFT with buttons |
App | |
User profiles | 2 |
Removable water reservoir | |
Water reservoir capacity | 60.9 fl oz / 1.8 l |
Number of boilers | 1 |
Pump pressure | 15 bar |
Maximum cup height | 5.5 in / 14.0 cm |
Minimum cup height | 3.0 in / 7.6 cm |
Grinder | Ceramic flat burr grinder |
Grind adjustment levels | 12 |
Bean hopper capacity | 10.2 oz / 290.0 g |
Pre-ground coffee bypass | |
Grounds discard container capacity | 12 |
Specialty drinks | 12 |
Pre-infusion | |
Adjustable coffee temperature | |
Adjustable milk foam temperature | |
Adjustable milk temperature | |
2-cup function | Yes (non-milk drinks only) |
Pot function | |
Hot water function | |
Hot milk function | |
Milk foam only option | |
Water filter | |
Power consumption | 1400 W |
Weight | 17.6 lb / 8.0 kg |
Dimensions | 14.5 x 9.5 x 17.0 in |
Warranty | 2 years |
Notes | Included Accessories: Measuring scoop, Water hardness test strip, AquaClean filter, Lubricant, LatteGo storage lid |
Current price on Amazon | $989.16 |
All specifications |
Philips LatteGo 4400 vs Other Super Automatics
Now that we’re familiar with what the machine offers, let’s continue this Philips 4400 LatteGo review by seeing how it measures up to a couple of the manufacturer’s other models.
Philips 4400 LatteGo vs 4300 LatteGo
As I mentioned at the start of this Philips 4400 LatteGo review, I tested the Philips 4300 LatteGo just last year.
Costing an incredibly reasonable $972.07, the 4300 model thoroughly impressed me with the quality of espresso and overall ease of use. Sure, the user interface isn’t as pretty as that on the new 4400 LatteGo, but it works in the same way, with the same level of customization on offer. Plus, the ceramic grinder is the same.
I’ll have to wait to find out whether the 4400 really is that much quieter, and I’m interested to see if the milk system has been improved. Still, I do wonder whether color drink icons and a few iced specialties are worth the extra investment.
See Also: Philips 4300 LatteGo Review
Philips 4400 LatteGo vs 3300 LatteGo
During my Philips 3300 LatteGo review I was blown away by how quiet the machine is in operation. What’s more, the quality of espresso and milk foam was as good as any I’ve had from a fully automatic coffee maker.
Still, in comparison with the 4400 LatteGo, the 3300 is lacking in a few areas. For starters, there’s a really limited specialty drink menu, with only six options. Not only that, there aren’t any user profiles, so you can’t save a bunch of recipes.
With all that said, the Philips 3300 is still a very versatile machine that’s super easy to use. And for $N/A, it represents very good value for money.
See Also: Philips 3300 LatteGo Review
Philips 4400 LatteGo vs Others Comparison Chart
Philips 4400 LatteGo | Philips 4300 LatteGo | Philips 3300 LatteGo | |
Manufacturer | Philips | Philips | Philips |
Model number | EP4444/90 | EP4347 | EP3347/90 |
Product category | Super automatic espresso machine | Super automatic espresso machine | Super automatic espresso machine |
Removable brew group | |||
Housing material | Plastic with stainless steel parts | Plastic | Plastic with stainless steel parts |
Color options | Black | Black/Silver | Black |
Milk frother | Integrated carafe | Integrated carafe | Integrated carafe |
User interface | Color TFT with buttons | Color TFT with buttons | Buttons and dials |
App | |||
User profiles | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Removable water reservoir | |||
Water reservoir capacity | 60.9 fl oz / 1.8 l | 60.9 fl oz / 1.8 l | 60.9 fl oz / 1.8 l |
Number of boilers | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Pump pressure | 15 bar | 15 bar | 15 bar |
Maximum cup height | 5.5 in / 14.0 cm | 6.9 in / 17.5 cm | 5.5 in / 14.0 cm |
Minimum cup height | 3.0 in / 7.6 cm | 3.3 in / 8.4 cm | 3.0 in / 7.6 cm |
Grinder | Ceramic flat burr grinder | Ceramic flat burr grinder | Ceramic flat burr grinder |
Grind adjustment levels | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Bean hopper capacity | 10.2 oz / 290.0 g | 9.5 oz / 270.0 g | 9.9 oz / 280.0 g |
Pre-ground coffee bypass | |||
Grounds discard container capacity | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Specialty drinks | 12 | 8 | 6 |
Pre-infusion | |||
Adjustable coffee temperature | |||
Adjustable milk foam temperature | |||
Adjustable milk temperature | |||
2-cup function | Yes (non-milk drinks only) | Yes (non-milk drinks only) | Yes (non-milk drinks only) |
Pot function | |||
Hot water function | |||
Hot milk function | |||
Milk foam only option | |||
Water filter | |||
Power consumption | 1400 W | 1500 W | 1350 W |
Weight | 17.6 lb / 8.0 kg | 17.7 lb / 8.0 kg | 17.6 lb / 8.0 kg |
Dimensions | 14.5 x 9.5 x 17.0 in | 9.7 x 14.6 x 17.0 in | 14.5 x 9.5 x 17.0 in |
Warranty | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
Notes | Included Accessories: Measuring scoop, Water hardness test strip, AquaClean filter, Lubricant, LatteGo storage lid | Included Accessories: Measuring scoop, Water hardness test strip, AquaClean filter, Lubricant, LatteGo storage lid | Included Accessories: User manual, Measuring scoop, Water hardness test strip, AquaClean filter, Lubricant, LatteGo storage lid |
Current price on Amazon | BUY NOW ON AMAZON |
Philips 4400 LatteGo | Philips 4300 LatteGo | Philips 3300 LatteGo | |
Manufacturer | Philips | Philips | Philips |
Model number | EP4444/90 | EP4347 | EP3347/90 |
Product category | Super automatic espresso machine | Super automatic espresso machine | Super automatic espresso machine |
Removable brew group | |||
Housing material | Plastic with stainless steel parts | Plastic | Plastic with stainless steel parts |
Color options | Black | Black/Silver | Black |
Milk frother | Integrated carafe | Integrated carafe | Integrated carafe |
User interface | Color TFT with buttons | Color TFT with buttons | Buttons and dials |
App | |||
User profiles | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Removable water reservoir | |||
Water reservoir capacity | 60.9 fl oz / 1.8 l | 60.9 fl oz / 1.8 l | 60.9 fl oz / 1.8 l |
Number of boilers | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Pump pressure | 15 bar | 15 bar | 15 bar |
Maximum cup height | 5.5 in / 14.0 cm | 6.9 in / 17.5 cm | 5.5 in / 14.0 cm |
Minimum cup height | 3.0 in / 7.6 cm | 3.3 in / 8.4 cm | 3.0 in / 7.6 cm |
Grinder | Ceramic flat burr grinder | Ceramic flat burr grinder | Ceramic flat burr grinder |
Grind adjustment levels | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Bean hopper capacity | 10.2 oz / 290.0 g | 9.5 oz / 270.0 g | 9.9 oz / 280.0 g |
Pre-ground coffee bypass | |||
Grounds discard container capacity | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Specialty drinks | 12 | 8 | 6 |
Pre-infusion | |||
Adjustable coffee temperature | |||
Adjustable milk foam temperature | |||
Adjustable milk temperature | |||
2-cup function | Yes (non-milk drinks only) | Yes (non-milk drinks only) | Yes (non-milk drinks only) |
Pot function | |||
Hot water function | |||
Hot milk function | |||
Milk foam only option | |||
Water filter | |||
Power consumption | 1400 W | 1500 W | 1350 W |
Weight | 17.6 lb / 8.0 kg | 17.7 lb / 8.0 kg | 17.6 lb / 8.0 kg |
Dimensions | 14.5 x 9.5 x 17.0 in | 9.7 x 14.6 x 17.0 in | 14.5 x 9.5 x 17.0 in |
Warranty | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
Notes | Included Accessories: Measuring scoop, Water hardness test strip, AquaClean filter, Lubricant, LatteGo storage lid | Included Accessories: Measuring scoop, Water hardness test strip, AquaClean filter, Lubricant, LatteGo storage lid | Included Accessories: User manual, Measuring scoop, Water hardness test strip, AquaClean filter, Lubricant, LatteGo storage lid |
Current price on Amazon | BUY NOW ON AMAZON |
Verdict: Philips 4400 Review
Brand new super automatic
Philips 4400 LatteGo
Plenty of thoughtful upgrades
Sleek design
Intuitive user interface
Ceramic burr grinder
12 specialty drinks
Awesome automatic milk system
Lots of plastic
Having reached the end of my initial Philips 4400 LatteGo review, I must say I’m very interested to test the thing out.
As far as I can tell, things could go one of two ways. Either I’ll feel like the 4400 represents a huge leap forward, thanks to its improved soundproofing and automatic milk frother, or I’ll be left feeling conned. In the latter scenario, it’ll be obvious that spending way less money on the 4300 LatteGo would be the way to go.
Still, I’m a glass half-full kinda guy, so I’m hoping for the best!
Do you own the Philips 4400 LatteGo? Is it a winner? I look forward to reading your comments!