This is a review of the De’Longhi Esam 4000.b Magnifica 15 Bar Bean to Cup Coffee Machine
The De’Longhi ESAM 4000 is a 15 bar bean-to-cup espresso machine that has all the basic functions you need for home use. If you’re looking for an exceptional quality espresso machine for an affordable price then this could be the one you’re after. The difference between this machine and the very popular ESAM 4200 is that the latter has a better milk frother (review here).
A household name in the kitchen appliances industry, De’Longhi produce exceptional quality goods in the mid-market range without hefty price tags. Their products are usually well thought out and have all the technology you could need. This company has an excellent reputation and a loyal customer following.
With a traditional manual milk-frothing arm, this espresso machine can make not only espressos and Americanos, but also lattes, cappuccinos and really any type of coffee you want.
Easy to use
De’Longhi aren’t interested in creating machines that confuse their users, they want you to enjoy your new bean-to-cup coffee machine and they’ve made this high quality product very simple to use.
The controls are smart and neat and give the machine a thoroughly professional feel. They’re straightforward to use and it’s easy to choose grind settings, strength settings and change between beans or pre-ground coffee.
The 1.8 litre water tank and the coffee grounds compartment are both located near the front of the machine, making them easy to remove and clean without having to move the machine. The brewing unit is also easily removable but it automatically rinses itself after every single brew – meaning manual cleaning is left to an absolute minimum.
Fast and delicious
When coffee beans are ground they immediately begin losing their flavour and depth, this is why bean to cup coffee machines are so good; they grind the amount of beans you need and then use them immediately. This machine cleverly only heats the exact amount of water it needs for the coffee you’ve selected, this means that the heating time is reduced and the espresso is made faster. And with coffee making; the faster the better.
The conical burr in-built bean grinder expertly grinds the coffee beans you require at the coarseness setting you need. A high quality grinder, its skill makes for an excellent brew and it’s really all about the grinding here – bad grinders produce bad coffee.
Two of you needing a morning espresso? No problem. You can choose for the De’Longhi Esam 4000.b Magnifica 15 Bar Bean to Cup Coffee Machine to make two espressos simultaneously if you like and spend less time on making coffee and more time enjoying it. With an eco setting, you can tell the machine to turn itself off after a pre-set time too, from minutes to hours.
While this doesn’t have the feel of luxury that the more expensive bean to cup coffee machines do, it makes great coffee quickly and should certainly last you for years if looked after. This machine is really for someone who loves coffee, isn’t too fussed about cappuccinos and lattes and just wants a straightforward machine to do a good job.
Saying that though, you can certainly make all sorts of milky drinks with the excellent milk-frothing arm. A bit of practise is all it takes to make smooth, dense milk froth and you’ll be able to cater for anyone’s tastes within days. Use the steamer to heat and froth any type of milk.
A question of price
This machine is really excellent for the price and produces delicious coffee without confusing instructions, complicated settings or lots of maintenance. With the included descaling kit, you can keep this machine in tiptop condition and not have to take it all apart and clean it every time you use it.
For this price, this is a highly rated bean-to-cup espresso machine that’s innovative, practical and no-nonsense. You can create any type of coffee you want and it’s so easy to use that you can get your children to make you espressos in bed without worrying that they’ll break anything.
See the comparisson guide to the De’Longhi range here