The Magnifica Evo suits most people buying their first automatic: one-touch milk drinks from a carafe and seven recipes. The plain Magnifica suits anyone who wants bean-to-cup espresso for under $500 and is happy to steam milk by hand. The Magnifica Start sits between the two, and is only worth the step up in the version with the LatteCrema carafe.
If you searched for Magnifica S, that model has been superseded in Australia. The machine sold today as "Magnifica" is its successor with the same layout; the Start and Evo are the two steps above it.
De'Longhi Magnifica
The cheapest bean-to-cup machine from a major brand: built-in grinder with 13 settings, 1.8-litre tank, 250g hopper, four backlit buttons and a manual steam wand. It makes espresso, long coffee and, with the wand, anything with milk. Owners rate it 4.7 stars from nearly 130 reviews at The Good Guys.
Milk is manual, the controls are basic, and it heats in about 30 seconds.
What We Like:
- Under $500 with a grinder
- Small footprint, 23cm wide
- Best owner rating of the three
What We Don't Like:
- Manual steam wand
De'Longhi Magnifica Start
A newer body with soft-touch icons and four preset drinks (espresso, doppio, coffee, long), the same 1.8L tank and 250g hopper. The version at The Good Guys around $680 has a manual wand; the LatteCrema version around $800 swaps in a milk carafe with a one-touch cappuccino. Owners rate the base model 4.6 from about 55 reviews and the milk version 4.4 from about 40.
The base Start is close to the plain Magnifica in what it does, for more money. The milk version is close to the Evo, for slightly less.
What We Like:
- Cleaner controls than the Magnifica
- Carafe version available
What We Don't Like:
- Base version offers little over the Magnifica
De'Longhi Magnifica Evo
The one most people buy. Seven one-touch recipes on colour touch icons, including MyLatte, which empties whatever milk is in the 220ml carafe into your cup, and cappuccino via the LatteCrema Hot system that cleans itself with one touch. Same 13-setting grinder, 1.8L tank and 250g hopper. Owners rate it 4.4 from 250 reviews at The Good Guys, with the complaints mostly about the carafe needing a rinse after every use.
The Good Guys price runs about $200 under De'Longhi's own.
What We Like:
- One-touch cappuccino and latte
- Self-cleaning milk system
- Colour touch icons
What We Don't Like:
- Carafe needs rinsing after each session
Side by side
| Magnifica | Magnifica Start | Magnifica Evo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $450–500 | $600–700 (milk version $700–800) | $700–800 |
| Grinder | 13 settings, 250g | 250g | 13 settings, 250g |
| Water tank | 1.8L | 1.8L | 1.8L |
| Milk | Manual wand | Manual wand, or LatteCrema on the milk version | LatteCrema Hot carafe, 220ml |
| One-touch recipes | Espresso, long | 4 | 7 incl. MyLatte |
| Controls | 4 backlit buttons | Soft-touch icons | Colour touch icons |
| Size (W×D×H) | 23 × 43 × 34cm | 24 × 44 × 35cm | 24 × 44 × 36cm |
| Weight | 9kg | 8.8kg | 9.6kg |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
| Owner rating | 4.7 (129) | 4.6 (56) / 4.4 (38) | 4.4 (250) |
Owner ratings are from The Good Guys.
What actually differs
Milk. This is what separates the two. Magnifica: hand steam. Start: hand steam, or a carafe if you pay for that version. Evo: carafe with seven recipes. Owners who make a cappuccino a day and don't want to hold a jug should be looking at the Evo or the Start with LatteCrema; everyone else saves money on the Magnifica.
Controls. Buttons, then icons, then colour icons. None of these has a screen; that starts with the Magnifica Plus.
Espresso. Same grinder, same 15-bar thermoblock, same tank across all three. The coffee doesn't change up the ladder; the convenience does.
Ratings. The cheapest machine has the highest score. The Evo's 4.4 from a large pool reflects the carafe cleaning routine more than the coffee.
FAQs
What replaced the Magnifica S?
The current Magnifica (model ECAM12122) carries the same 13-setting grinder, 1.8L tank and manual wand layout. The Start and Evo are newer designs above it.
Does the Magnifica Evo make hot milk without coffee?
Yes. Hot milk is one of the seven presets, and the carafe can froth milk on its own.
How often does the carafe need cleaning?
De'Longhi's design assumes a one-touch rinse after each use and a full wash in the dishwasher regularly. Owners who skip the rinse are the ones reporting blocked froth.
