Espresso Machines

The Magnifica S ECAM22.110.B is an older, more affordable model with a manual Panarello steam wand and a simpler button interface. The Magnifica Evo (from around £499) adds a colour touchscreen, an automatic milk system on some variants, and a more modern design. The core espresso quality from the grinder and brew unit is similar between the two. The Magnifica S is the right choice if you are comfortable with a manual wand and want to keep costs down; the Evo is worth the extra if automatic frothing and a clearer interface matter to you.

Yes. The Magnifica S has a bypass doser — a dedicated slot on the top of the machine for pre-ground coffee. This is designed for decaf or flavoured coffees that you would not want running through the grinder. You use either the beans in the hopper or the pre-ground bypass, not both simultaneously. The bypass doser takes one measured spoon of ground coffee per cup.

Daily cleaning involves: rinsing the steam wand after each milk use (the auto-clean cycle handles this), emptying the drip tray every one to two days, and emptying the grounds container when the indicator shows. Monthly maintenance involves removing the brew unit (it slides out from the side panel), rinsing it under warm water without detergent, and leaving it to dry before reinserting. Descaling is required every two to three months in hard water areas, prompted by the machine's indicator light. De'Longhi descaling tablets or solution are recommended.

The grind dial is located inside the bean hopper, visible when you open the lid. Turn it clockwise for finer, anticlockwise for coarser. The important point is that the new setting only takes effect when beans are actively being ground — turning the dial when the machine is not grinding does not change anything. You need to brew one or two cups after adjusting before the new grind size fully comes through. Start with the middle settings (5–7 on the 1–13 scale) and adjust based on how the espresso tastes.

Yes — it is one of the best bean-to-cup machines for beginners. One-touch operation means you press a button and collect your coffee. The only skill required is operating the steam wand for milk drinks, which most users say they are comfortable with within a week of regular use. The machine handles grinding, tamping, and extraction automatically. Compare this to a semi-automatic machine like the Gaggia Classic Pro, which requires learning to dose, tamp, and pull shots manually.