In a Nutshell:
The Philips 3200 LatteGo is a functional superautomatic with user-friendly features for a moderate price. We recommend this for espresso novices who don’t want to pay a lot for a fancy machine or for small families who want a convenient way to enjoy quality coffee without any hassle.
Brew Quality
Customization options
Ease of Use
Durability
Overall Rating
4.6/5
Benefits
Drawbacks
Recommended For: Espresso novices who don’t want to pay a lot for a fancy machine or for small families who want a convenient way to enjoy quality coffee without any hassle.
Superautomatics have a reputation for being luxurious and over-the-top, but the highly respected Philips brand proves otherwise.
If you’re looking for a quality espresso machine that is easy to maintain, then you’ll love our Philips 3200 LatteGo review. This simple yet functional espresso maker lets you brew your favorite coffee with the push of a button.
Philips LatteGo 3200 Espresso Machine Design Overview
It seems these days that superautomatics are less complex or overloaded with fancy features. Instead, we are seeing big-name brands introduce new models that are convenient, straightforward, and purely functional.
That’s the case with the Philips 3200 series, touting an attractive design with user-friendly settings that let anyone whip up a perfect cup without the steep learning curve.
Honestly, this simplicity trend is something we can get behind, mostly because of how it impacts the value. The Philips 3200 is a modestly priced superautomatic made by a reputable brand. It doesn’t get any better than that!
The Philips 3200 LatteGo dimensions are 13.0″ x 8.6″ x 16.9″, and it weighs 16 pounds, making it a suitable option for small apartments with limited counter space.
We admit here in our Philips 3200 LatteGo review that you won’t have a playground of features to flaunt, but you do get a more lightweight, compact design that is easier to handle.
It’s light because most of the parts are plastic with metal accents. Some LatteGo Philips reviews have stated that it looks cheaply made, and the plastic wears down or breaks, but many users are also happy with the performance and love the sleek look.
Convenience is the very essence of the superautomatic spirit, and the Philips 3200 nails it. It has several front-loading, removable parts, so cleaning and refills are a breeze.
It brews five different coffee drinks, including:
The My Coffee Choice setting gives you the freedom to customize the volume, strength, and milk froth amount- all done from the Intuitive control panel. There are also three aroma settings to finetune the taste.
And that’s just the start! This is a superautomatic designed to be effortless, and you still get an espresso drink that doesn’t skimp on quality.
Let’s take a more in-depth look at the features, and you’ll see what we mean.
Philips 3200 Espresso Machine Features
The Philips LatteGo 3200 includes built-in features that you won’t find with semi-automatics. Not only does this make it even more convenient, but you don’t have to shell out another $100 on a grinder.
Removable 61oz Water Tank
We love the reservoir on the 3200 because it is easy to remove and refill.
The size of the tank is what’s important, and we would say it’s average. You can brew about 7.5 cups, which will go fast if your entire household drinks coffee. You’ll be refilling the water tank quite often, and that can get old fast.
We wouldn’t recommend this machine for an office, especially since there are other superautomatics with larger reservoirs, such as the Jura Impressa E8.
It really comes down to how much coffee you drink, and refilling a water tank under a faucet doesn’t take much effort, right?
Airtight Bean Hopper
The integrated bean hopper is conveniently located on top of the 3200 LatteGo, so you can pour your fresh whole coffee beans into the machine without fear of spilling them all over the place.
It holds a pound of coffee and seals up nice and tight to preserve all of the aromas and flavors.
If you prefer pre-ground coffee, a chute is located on top of the machine to load instead of the hopper.
Use the measuring cup that comes with the 3200 and scoop your pre-ground coffee. Some LatteGo 3200 reviews recommend tamping it down before dumping it into the chute to improve the quality of the extraction.
After using either bean-loading function, you then select your settings on the control panel, and it’s off to the grinder!
Ceramic Burr Grinder
We love the integrated grinder on the Philips 3200 series fully automatic espresso machine with LatteGo. The company did a great job selecting a top-quality device that delivers a consistent, aromatic espresso every time.
If you don’t know, coffee grinders are a tricky business. You need to be selective because the grinder has a crucial impact on the overall flavor of the coffee.
Stainless steel blade grinders mash beans, resulting in inconsistent flavor, while steel burr grinders tend to overheat and burn beans,
The ceramic burr grinder is considered to be the creme de la creme, and this is what the 3200 utilizes. To take it one step further, it’s a flat burr grinder, which is touted as being quieter than the conical steel variety.
The 3200 espresso grinder has 12 settings to grind your coffee beans as coarse or fine as you prefer. This number of grind settings is above average, especially for a mid-range machine like this one.
One thing to note- it’s recommended not to adjust the grind settings until you’ve made at least 100 cups of coffee (or about one month of use).
You can expect to make up to 20,000 cups of coffee using this grinder.
LatteGo Milk Frothing System
This is the defining feature of the Philips 3200 espresso machine that makes milk frothing as easy as 1, 2, 3.
1. Power on the steam, and the LatteGo system creates a funnel for the hot steam to pick up milk through the bottom of the container.
2. Air, steam, and milk combine at high speed to thicken the milk.
3. In seconds, rich, silky milk foam spills into your cup to give you a stunning cappuccino.
The secret to the LatteGo system is that it consists of two parts and no tubes. This innovative design makes steaming and cleaning easy peasy.
Just fill the container with milk, clip it to the steam wand. When you’re finished, remove the parts and rinse them under the faucet or simply clean them in the dishwasher.
Philips 3200 Series Accessories
The Philips 3200 LatteGo superautomatic espresso machine comes with everything you need for optimal maintenance.
We’ll go over the cleaning process and how each accessory is used later on. The package includes:
Philips Series 3200 vs. Philips Series 2200
These two models are only slightly different, as the Philips 3200 is an upgrade of the 2200.
The 3200 is smaller than its predecessor and is built with more stainless steel parts, while the 2200 is plastic from head to toe.
The brewing capabilities are the same, except that you get five coffee options with the 3200. The 2200 only brews coffee and espresso.
Pricewise, both models are on the same level. While both are quality options for those seeking delicious coffee, the 3200 does pull ahead because it offers more features for the same price.
Philips Espresso 3200 LatteGo vs. Philips 5000 LatteGo
We’ll see how the Philips Espresso 3200 stacks up against the 5000 since both utilize the glamorous LatteGo milk frothing system.
The 5000 is considerably more expensive, but we don’t see much difference in features compared to the 3200. You get the same ceramic burr grinder, brewing capabilities, and a two-part milk frothing system.
This model is made of lightweight stainless steel, so that amps up the price right away. It’s an attractive machine that makes six coffee drinks (including cafe au lait). That’s just one drink more than the 3200’s five drink menu, so no biggie there.
One difference we noted is that with the 5000, you only get five grind settings, while the 3200 offers 12 grind settings.
The 5000 does have some fun extras like a ThermoBlock to keep drinks at a precise temperature and a memory feature to save your drink profiles. But for the price, we still think you get more bang for your buck with the 3200.
If you’re looking to spend big bucks on a top-notch superautomatic, you might want to consider the Philips Saeco Xelsis.
Philips Espresso Machine 3200 Setup & Operation
Convenience is the name of the game with the Philips espresso machine 3200, and you’ll see that with the operation.
The control panel consists of a smattering of buttons with icons to guide you along your espresso journey. It’s user-friendly, and the learning curve is low, making this an ideal device for beginners.
Besides brewing, it will also let you know when the grounds drawer is full or if you need to refill the water tank/bean hopper.
To brew a shot, start by selecting your drink of choice on the control panel, then you can customize the settings using the 3-scales to adjust the volume and temperature.
You can choose to brew one or two shots of espresso. Both amounts will take about one minute to produce your drink.
Note: For the double shot option this machine will make two individual shots of espresso instead of adding more water to a single shot, like other machines.
Philips Coffee Machine 3200 Cleaning Process
One of the reasons this particular model shines is that the cleaning process is a dream come true.
Convenience is once again at the forefront, with automatic rinse cycles, removable parts, the tubeless LatteGo system, and the Philips 3200 Aquaclean filter.
Removable Parts
You can quickly detach the water tank, grounds bin, and brew group from either the front or side of the machine without having to dig around inside or behind, disconnecting who-knows-what. The brew group needs to be rinsed every week.
LatteGo: 2-Parts, No Tubes
As we mentioned, the LatteGo System consists of two parts and no tubes. This is important because milk tubes are complicated to clean.
With the Philips 3200 series espresso machine LatteGo, just detach the LatteGo system and wash as needed. It’s even dishwasher safe!
Philips LatteGo 3200 Aquaclean Filter
With a water filter, you can cut down descaling considerably. In fact, with the Philips 3200 Aquaclean filter, you can supposedly make up to 5000 cups before descaling. The machine will notify you when it’s time to do the deed.
Purifying the water doesn’t just prevent mineral build-up; it improves the overall taste of your coffee. Luckily, the 3200 comes with a filter, so you don’t have to buy it separately.
Automatic Rinse Cycles
The 3200 series LatteGo will automatically initiate a rinse cycle after each use– another hands-free bonus for you.
Note that the machine will shut down after sitting idle for 15 minutes and will start the rinse cycle on its own.
Philips Coffee Machine 3200 Pros vs. Cons
PROS
CONS
According to Philips coffee machine 3200 reviews, this is a popular machine- and for good reason. For a steal, you get a quality superautomatic that makes you believe for a brief moment that life is simple.
As you can see, the cons are few. Philips kept this model functional, and it worked. The innovative LatteGo frothing system takes the mystery out of milk frothing while making the fear of dried milk in the tubes a thing of the past.
You get a high-performing, fast espresso maker that whips up 1 to 2 shots in a heartbeat, then rinses itself clean after you’re all done and out the door to work in the mornings.
Top it off with a state-of-the-art ceramic burr grinder with 12 grind settings, and you’ve got everything you need to satisfy that inner coffee snob.
We recommend the 3200 series for beginners who want to learn the art of espresso making without paying a fortune on a semi-automatic with tons of manual settings.
We also think this is ideal for individuals or small families who want a reliable machine that brews good coffee.
If you love tinkering with settings to concoct your perfect espresso recipe, this may not offer as many customization settings as you’d prefer. We also don’t recommend the 3200 for office environments due to the small water reservoir size.
Philips Coffee Machine 3200 Warranty
With the Philips 3200 series machine, you get a 12-month warranty that begins on the day of purchase.
Philips 3200 LatteGo Review Conclusion
Philips did a phenomenal job of delivering a standard superautomatic that veers away from the luxury standard and makes espresso available for all.
You won’t get a heap of features with the 3200, but you will get cutting-edge technology for the ones that matter, like the ceramic burr grinder, LatteGo milk frother, and the airtight bean hopper.
To conclude this Philips 3200 LatteGo review, you just can’t beat the price. If you’re a beginner in the espresso world or you just want a dang good cup of coffee before grinding away at work, then the 3200 may be the reliable sidekick to get the job done.
References & Resources:
- Philips, Official Brand Website.
- Philips 3200 Series LatteGo User Manual.
- The Technology Behind Good Coffee Machines, TechWyse.
- Importance of Coffee Machines, Streetdirectory.
- 7 Benefits of Installing a Coffee Machine in the Workplace, Linkedin.