Comparison De'Longhi ECAM 23.460.S silver vs De'Longhi Magnifica Automatic Cappuccino ESAM 3500.S silver

The material from which the millstones are made in a coffee machine with a built-in coffee grinder (see above).

Millstones are the working part of the coffee grinder, they directly provide grinding of beans; so the properties of the material from which these parts are made are very important. Nowadays, you can find two types of millstones:

— Metal. The oldest and classic version, is not losing popularity today. The key advantages of metal millstones are high strength, reliability and resistance to foreign objects; at the same time, this option is also cheaper than ceramics. However there is an opinion that such millstones tend to give the beans an extraneous taste — especially after long work (due to the strong heating of the metal). Such situations can really arise, but most often they have other reasons: cheap low-quality materials in the design of the coffee maker, negligent attitude towards cleaning and maintaining the mechanism, etc. On the other hand, millstones are usually made of durable refractory materials, which, during the grinding process, are almost impossible to heat up to such an extent that they begin to noticeably affect the taste of the beans. So most modern coffee grinders (including built-in coffee machines) are equipped with this type of millstone.

— Ceramic. Millstones made of special high-strength ceramics. This is a relatively new option, which is generally considered more advanced t...han metal: it is believed that ceramics are in no way capable of affecting the taste of the ground beans. However this is due not only to the real properties of this material, but to the overall quality of the coffee makers (they are generally more expensive than models with metal millstones). In addition, the psychological factor also has an impact: the taste perception of coffee is largely subjective. So the information that the beans were ground with ceramic millstones can affect the attitude towards the product and the final impression of the finished drink. Anyway, ceramic millstones are quite popular among lovers of quality coffee. Another advantage is their lower noise level than metal ones. However, you need to keep in mind that such mechanisms are very sensitive to the ingress of foreign objects (even small ones) and are not suitable for any products other than coffee.

— Grinding degree. Choosing the degree of coffee grinding is crucial for achieving the desired strength and consistency of the final coffee. Different types of coffee drinks require varying degrees of grinding. For espresso and related drinks like cappuccino and latte, a fine grind is necessary. Turkish coffee requires an extremely fine grind, almost like "dust." Cream coffee and filter coffee are best with a medium grind, while a coarse grind works well for French press.

— Pre-wetting. One option available in some coffee makers is the ability to pre-moisten the ground coffee with hot water before brewing the drink. This feature allows users to customize the duration of coffee wetting, although there may be exceptions. Pre-wetting plays a crucial role in enhancing the taste and aroma of coffee, resulting in a more intense and flavorful beverage. Automatic coffee makers often include this feature.

— The strength of the drink. Coffee enthusiasts have the option to manually adjust the strength of their beverage. This adjustment can be achieved through various methods, such as changing the coffee-to-water ratio, adjusting the water temperature, or controlling the brewing speed. The number of available settings may vary, ranging from a basic choice between "strong" and "mild" to more advanced options. Regardless of the number of settings, this function allows...individuals to personalize the taste of their coffee according to their preferences, providing additional customization features.

— Drink volume. Coffee makers offer the feature of selecting the desired volume of the final beverage according to individual preferences. Different models may have varying methods for making this choice. Some machines provide fixed settings (20 mL, 35 mL, etc.) from hich users can select their preferred option. Other models allow for manual adjustment of the volume, sometimes even allowing users to gauge it visually. This feature enables users to customize standard programs to their liking and provides opportunities for experimenting with unique recipes.

— Temperature control. Coffee makers offer the ability to regulate the water temperature for brewing coffee. The taste of the final beverage is heavily influenced by this factor. Higher temperatures result in a brighter and more intense flavor, but excessive heating (96 °C and above) can release compounds from the coffee that add bitterness. The optimal brewing temperature is generally considered to be within the range of 92 — 95 °C. However, coffee makers may provide a wider range of temperature adjustments. Some believe that even a difference of just 1 °C can significantly impact the properties of the coffee, making this adjustment essential for those who appreciate the subtle nuances of taste and aroma in their coffee.

— Steam pressure. Coffee makers offer the feature to adjust the steam pressure coming out of the panarello nozzle. This nozzle is used for frothing milk, especially when preparing cappuccino, as well as for heating milk. By modifying the steam outlet pressure, users can control the intensity of the steam and achieve varying foam densities. It also allows them to omit foam altogether if the intention is solely to heat the milk.

— Foam volume / density. For coffee and milk beverage enthusiasts, the ability to adjust the volume and thickness of the foam "cap" is highly useful. This feature is particularly valuable when preparing drinks like cappuccino, latte, and macchiato. The quality of the final beverage is influenced by the quantity and density of the foam. By customizing these parameters, users can tailor the drink to their personal taste preferences.

— Water hardness. Coffee makers offer the capability to adjust the settings based on the hardness of the water being used. Over time, the heating element of the coffee machine accumulates scale and requires regular cleaning or descaling. The rate of scale buildup increases with harder water, necessitating more frequent cleaning. However, the coffee machine evaluates the condition of the heating element not based on the actual scale amount, but by considering the water hardness setting and the duration of operation since the last cleaning. Therefore, it is crucial to correctly set the water hardness settings to receive timely notifications for descaling. Coffee machines equipped with this feature often include a water hardness indicator with four settings: very soft, soft, hard, and very hard.

The amount of coffee that can be loaded into the built-in coffee grinder at one time (see above). The larger the capacity of the coffee grinder, the less often it will have to be “reload” and the more coffee can be prepared at one “filling”. For ease of evaluation, we recall that it takes 7 g of coffee to prepare one standard portion of espresso.

The highest height of a cup (or other container) that can be used with a coffee maker — a larger tank simply does not fit under the spout.

This parameter makes it easier to choose compatible cookware. The smallest value of this indicator is about 75 mm, and in some models the allowable cup height reaches 160 mm and even more. For comparison, the classic "demitasse" coffee cup used for espresso is about 60 mm high, a standard 200 ml disposable cup is just over 90 mm, and a 400 ml ceramic mug (standard proportions) is about 120 mm.

Removable or pull-out basket in the design of the coffee machine for collecting and storing ground coffee waste. Designed for a certain number of cups of grounds, their countdown is usually carried out by a counter. When the container is filled with used coffee, the device gives a signal to empty the container. Until it is empty, the coffee maker will not be able to make coffee.

Power consumption of the coffee maker. Usually, this indicator is comparable with the power of the heater installed in the device.

This parameter is selected by the manufacturer, taking into account other performance characteristics (type of device, tank volume, additional functions, etc.), so that the coffee maker can effectively cope with its tasks. Therefore, in fact, power is of secondary importance: it is worth deciding first of all on other practical points, and only then look at power when choosing. In general, a more powerful coffee maker (ceteris paribus) will quickly cope with the preparation of coffee, but it will also cost more.