02.Results
The following models scored the best results in our test.
| What to buy |
|
|
|
|
|
| Brand |
Price |
| Delonghi Magnifica Automatic Cappuccino ESAM3500.S (A) |
$1999 |
| Saeco Talea Touch |
$1899 |
| Delonghi Magnifica ESAM3000.B (A) |
$899 |
| Saeco Odea Go (A) |
$899 | |
(A) Discontinued.
Results table
Full results for all models are shown in the table below.
| |
Performance |
Coffee-making components
|
| Brand / model (in rank order) |
Overall score (%) |
Coffee-making score (%) |
Ease of use score (%) |
Milk frothing score (%) |
Programming score (%) |
Taste score (%) |
Coffee temperature score (%) |
Temperature consistency score (%) |
Price ($) |
DeLonghi Magnifica Automatic Cappuccino ESAM3500.S (A)
www.delonghi.com.au |
69 |
66 |
75 |
55 |
90 |
65 |
70 |
70 |
1999 |
Saeco Talea Touch
www.saeco.com.au |
67 |
60 |
70 |
75 (B) |
90 |
60 |
69 |
53 |
1899 |
DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3000.B (A)
www.delonghi.com.au |
66 |
65 |
73 |
45 (B) |
80 |
65 |
66 |
65 |
899 |
Saeco Odea Go (A)
www.saeco.com.au |
65 |
61 |
65 |
75 (B) |
80 |
60 |
68 |
65 |
899 |
Jura Impressa J5 (A)
www.globalcoffee.com.au |
64 |
64 |
70 |
50 |
70 |
65 |
68 |
53 |
2495 |
Krups Espresseria Automatic XP9000
Groupe SEB: 02 9748 7944 |
64 |
60 |
78 |
55 |
70 |
55 |
78 |
78 |
2299 |
Jura ENA5 (A)
www.globalcoffee.com.au |
62 |
60 |
72 |
50 |
70 |
60 |
64 |
60 |
1295 |
Krups Espresseria Automatic XP7200 (A)
Groupe SEB: 02 9748 7944 |
58 |
53 |
82 |
35 |
60 |
45 |
85 |
80 |
1000 |
Gaggia Platinum Vogue (A)
www.gaggia.com.au |
57 |
57 |
58 |
75 (B) |
40 |
55 |
64 |
68 |
1499 |
Sunbeam Intuitive Digital EM8910 (A)
www.sunbeam.com.au |
53 |
36 |
73 |
80 |
90 |
25 |
83 |
80 |
799 |
| |
| |
Features |
Specifications |
| Brand / model (in rank order) |
Programmable On/Off |
Frothing mechanism |
Cup warming plate |
Cord storage |
Hopper empty warning |
Variable coffee strength |
Digital display |
Coffee temperature settings (number of settings) |
Heat-up time (min:sec) |
Dimensions (cm, H x W x D) |
Weight (kg) |
DeLonghi Magnifica Automatic Cappuccino ESAM3500.S (A)
www.delonghi.com.au |
•/• |
Automatic |
• |
|
• |
• |
• |
• (3) |
2:00 |
37 x 28 x 39 |
10.7 |
Saeco Talea Touch
www.saeco.com.au |
•/• |
Manual |
• |
|
• |
• |
• |
• (3) |
1:10 |
37 x 31 x 43 |
9.3 |
DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3000.B (A)
www.delonghi.com.au |
- / - |
Manual |
• |
|
• |
• |
|
|
1:40 |
37 x 28 x 39 |
9.6 |
Saeco Odea Go (A)
www.saeco.com.au |
- / - |
Manual |
• |
|
• |
|
|
|
1:05 |
37 x 30 x 38 |
8.2 |
Jura Impressa J5 (A)
www.globalcoffee.com.au |
•/• |
Automatic |
|
• |
• |
• |
• |
• (2) |
1:00 |
34 x 29 x 43 |
10.6 |
Krups Espresseria Automatic XP9000
Groupe SEB: 02 9748 7944 |
•/• |
Automatic |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• (3) |
1:10 |
40 x 29 x 48 |
11.3 |
Jura ENA5 (A)
www.globalcoffee.com.au |
-/• |
Automatic |
|
• |
• |
• |
• |
• (2) |
1:00 |
36 x 24 x 45 |
9.2 |
Krups Espresseria Automatic XP7200 (A)
Groupe SEB: 02 9748 7944 |
-/• |
Manual |
• |
|
|
• |
|
• (3) |
0:50 |
36 x 25 x 34 |
7 |
Gaggia Platinum Vogue (A)
www.gaggia.com.au |
- / - |
Manual |
• |
|
• |
• |
|
|
1:10 |
38 x 32 x 42 |
10.2 |
Sunbeam Intuitive Digital EM8910 (A)
www.sunbeam.com.au |
- /• |
Manual |
• |
• |
|
• |
• |
• (5) |
1:25 |
38 x 30 x 39 |
9.1 |
| |
Table notes
(A) Discontinued.
(B) Tested with the froth enhancer removed as it gives better results.
Scores The overall score is made up of:
- Coffee-making: 60%
- Ease of use: 20%
- Milk frothing: 10%
- Programming: 10%
Coffee-making score consists of:
- Taste: 80%
- Coffee temperature: 10%
- Temperature consistency (when making four cups of coffee in quick succession): 10%.
Heat-up time The time taken to heat the machine up to operating temperature (not scored).
Price Recommended retail, as of November 2008.
How we tested
- Preparation Our tester first pumped a litre of hot water through each machine to remove any factory smells and tastes, and then made 12 cups of espresso coffee (not for tasting).
- Ease of use Our tester checked how easy the machines are to use, trying the controls, filling the water tank and bean hopper, making a coffee, and cleaning inside and out.
- Frothing He experimented with each machine to find the best way to froth milk with it, looking for fine, pourable froth.
- Programming He checked how easy the machine is to program, looking for intuitive labelling and indicators.
- Temperature He measured the average temperature and temperature consistency of four consecutive coffees for each machine, first when the machine was just turned on and then after being on for 15 minutes.
- Taste Three experts tested the espressos in a “blind” tasting, checking the colour and thickness of the crema (the tan-coloured foam on the top of an espresso), aroma, flavour, mouthfeel (for example, creaminess or wateriness) and aftertaste.
The taste test experts
David and Matthew Gee are from Barista Basics Coffee Academy in Sydney. Fiona Mair is CHOICE’s home economist; she has extensive experience in judging cooking and taste test results.