Bean to cup coffee machine - De Longhi Prima Donna or Siemens EQ9 or something else?

[AnnaNimmity]

After too many scaldings from my aeropress, I've decided that I'm going to gift myself a coffee machine.

I've come down to the 2 above (mostly because they're in stock in John Lewis) and wondered if anyone had any views? The Siemens one is recommended as the top one in one review I read, and it looks interesting.

I drink mostly black coffee, but like a strong cap every so often. My teenagers are very excited about making frothy stuff. I cannot abide cold coffee.

Any views please?

We've had a deLonghi "Authentica" for nearly 4 years now and it's used daily.

Can't say more than that really.

(We got it half price on a black Friday deal - we had a smaller deLonghi and registered with their coffee club, and got an email with the offer as members ...)

We have a Melitta Cafe Solo Milk. Had it approx 5 years & worked out we have made approximately 7000 cups of coffee. Had to do one small repair last year but it's still going strong. You can choose bean strength & cup size. Highly recommend it.

we have a six year old delonghi caffe corso which is used twice a day at least and still going strong different strength settings milk steamer if you need it would definitely recommend delonghi as a brand

I have a DeLonghi Caffe Corso that's about five years old, it's used at least twice a day now. The one thing I don't like about it is that there's no negotiating with the descaling programme. There have been so many times when I've started the morning with "Nooooooo" because it never decides that it wants descaling in the afternoon when I'm more reasonable, it's always the morning.

I've been very pleased with it, I put off getting one for years because I thought there would be too much fussing with cleaning and descaling - there isn't - and if it broke I'd replace it immediately.

I have a DeLonghi Caffe Corso that's about five years old, it's used at least twice a day now. The one thing I don't like about it is that there's no negotiating with the descaling programme. There have been so many times when I've started the morning with "Nooooooo" because it never decides that it wants descaling in the afternoon when I'm more reasonable, it's always the morning.

Ours just flashes a light, but carries on working.

Been using plain citric acid (from Wilkos) for descaling for over a year now.

Had to make a special container to catch the water without spraying the kitchen too.

I've looked at your choice of machines, I was very much looking at the other end of the price range with mine. It does depend on what you will be using it for, I wouldn't get the use out of the presets or the app because I drink either espresso or a half cup of coffee heated in the microwave with a double espresso dumped in it. If there are several of you using it, all with different preferences then I can see that the ability for each user to have their own settings would be useful.

Half a cup of MILK heated in the microwave with a double espresso dumped in it. Sigh

DGRossetti there is no negotiation with mine, heaven knows I've tried. I use a plastic 2l measuring jug to catch the descaling water, it's tall enough to stand on the kitchen counter at the side of the machine rather than trying to balance it on the drop tray.

We have a Delonghi Magnifica which has been in heavy use for 3 years & we love it. If you have the budget for a Prima Donna then consider the Jura E8 - they are some of the best bean to cup machines.

We've had a delonghi, I think a magnifica for 5 years. It's seen heavy use and is still perfect.

My parents have the same that is well over 10 years old possibly closer to 15 and works just as well. Only issue with theirs is that the tray and stuff isn't dishwasher safe whereas ours being newer is.

DGRossetti there is no negotiation with mine, heaven knows I've tried. I use a plastic 2l measuring jug to catch the descaling water, it's tall enough to stand on the kitchen counter at the side of the machine rather than trying to balance it on the drop tray.

Given that there's nothing in anyones kitchen that can do the job cleanly and properly (yes, I tried various bowls and dishes all propped up to sit on the drip tray) I was surprised deLonghi didn't think to either supply one with the machine, or make one as an accessory.

Maybe there's a market for them if I get into 3D printing ? And a range of colours of course - clearly the most important feature of any kitchen utensil these days.

We have had a De'Longhi magnifica for just over 3 years. It was on special offer on Amazon and often is. Needs descaled about ever 5-6 months. Used everyday (lots now DH is wfh). No bother at all perfectly hot with cold milk and good strong cappuccino with a double shot. Makes fab Irish coffees too

Thanks all. I think I may go with the magnifica - I can't see why I need to spend an extra £1000 on a machine when this seems to do the trick.

I have a delonghi autentica as well, and so far it's been great. Very occasionally it doesn't realise that I have added the ground decaf coffee when it's on that setting, which is a bit annoying, but otherwise no problems at all.

It needs regular maintenance, as they all do - always beeping to tell me something needs doing, but for descaling or filter changes, it will continue to work anyway. I too have finally found a way to balance a large tupperware cake box on a tiny espresso cup in front of the drip tray, to make a container large enough for the descaling water!

Things I wanted - an automatic milk frother, with milk container to be kept in the fridge (and can all go in the dishwasher); a separate compartment to make decaff coffee (ground coffee, doesn't have to be decaf but that's what I use it for). Small footprint - mine takes up little room on the worktop, and takes longer to make multiple drinks than some, but it's fine for just me here. Means the water tank is small and needs refilling often but that's not a hassle. Fits neatly in a corner and small enough to go under the cupboards, and still access the beans and water for refills.

Also got it half price or less at Amazon - they have loads of older models there for much cheaper, and are perfectly fine. It was about £500 more for the same model in JL when they still had them, around the same time (though newer ones were available). The newer ones don't necessarily add anything that you need or want!

We have a delonghi magnifica, it’s amazing, makes better coffee than what you get in coffee shops. Very simple to use, lots of adjustable settings so you can make coffee how you like it, I also like that you can use coffee grounds or beans, which means I can use decaffeinated grounds in the evening and normal beans in the day.

Another vote for the Delonghi Magnifica. Ours is over 5 years old, used several times a day and still going strong. ☕️

I use a plastic 2l measuring jug to catch the descaling water, it's tall enough to stand on the kitchen counter at the side of the machine rather than trying to balance it on the drop tray.

Same here. It is one of my least favourite jobs but satisfying once it's done.

And another vote for the Magnifica!

Having had a trawl through a few different machines if I was buying again I would look to see where the water tank fits. My machine is in a corner and having the tank at the back would be a royal pain. Fortunately the tank is at the free side and slides forwards. I got lucky, I see now that there are options which would have been much more inconvenient for the space I have.

I think I'll go with the Magnifica - there are quite a few models on amazon!

Mine is the Magnifica ESAM 4200 S. What I have particularly liked is there are loads of videos to show how you how to do stuff and got troubleshooting. Recently I needed a new knob (so to speak!) and I could get it next day delivery on Amazon for a couple of quid.