Philips 3300 Series EP3326/90 Espresso Machine: features, specs and who it suits

The Philips 3300 Series EP3326/90 is a fully automatic espresso machine that grinds the beans, brews the coffee and, with its classic milk frother, prepares milk for cappuccinos. It is aimed at people who want a café-style drink at home without learning to pull shots by hand. Here is what its features mean in everyday use.

Five drinks from a touch display

The machine has a touch display with coloured icons, and Philips lists five drinks: espresso, espresso lungo, coffee, iced coffee and hot water. A lungo is typically a longer, milder espresso made with more water through the same amount of coffee. Iced coffee is brewed to be poured over ice. The hot-water option is handy for tea or for warming a cup.

Philips says each drink is made in one touch, with crema, aroma and temperature handled by the machine.

Adjusting a drink with My Coffee Choice

The My Coffee Choice function lets you change the coffee strength, the length of the drink and the milk froth level to suit your taste. In general, strength on a bean-to-cup machine changes how much ground coffee is used, while length changes how much water passes through it. Setting both once means each cup comes out the same way.

The classic milk frother

The classic milk frother makes milk froth for cappuccinos or hot milk for drinks such as hot chocolate. Philips describes preparing a milk-based coffee in two steps. A classic frother of this kind is typically a manual wand or similar arrangement rather than a fully automatic milk carafe, so you handle the milk jug yourself. That gives you control over the amount, though it asks a little more of you than a one-touch milk system.

A ceramic grinder with 12 settings

The grinder is ceramic, which Philips calls hard-wearing, and it adjusts in 12 steps from fine to coarse. Ceramic burrs typically stay cooler than metal ones and are less likely to affect the taste of the beans. A finer grind generally gives a stronger, more intense cup, and a coarser grind a lighter one. Because the machine grinds fresh for each drink, you start from whole beans.

SilentBrew and the AquaClean filter

SilentBrew is Philips's name for its noise-reduction design, which the brand describes as industry-leading. Any bean-to-cup machine makes some noise while grinding, so treat this as a relative claim.

The AquaClean filter is fitted in the water tank. When the machine prompts you, you replace the filter. Philips says that by doing so you won't need to descale for up to 5,000 cups, and that the water is clear and purified. The brand's footnote on that figure applies, so read the manual for the conditions. Descaling frequency in general depends on how hard your water is.

Size and weight

The machine measures about 9.7 x 17.0 x 14.6 inches (roughly 25 x 43 x 37 cm) and weighs 16.5 lb (about 7.5 kg). It finishes in black chrome.

Who it suits

It suits households that drink espresso-style coffee daily, want fresh-ground beans and prefer a simple touch screen to a manual machine. The classic frother suits people who are comfortable steaming or frothing milk themselves.

What to check before you buy

• Counter space: confirm the width, depth and height fit under your cabinets, and leave room to fill the tank and bean hopper.
• Cup height: check that your usual mugs or glasses fit under the spout.
• Milk preferences: confirm you are happy with a classic frother rather than an automatic carafe.
• Filter upkeep: check how AquaClean filters are replaced and how often the manual advises it.
• Cleaning: read the manual on rinsing, emptying the drip tray and descaling.
• Noise: grinders and pumps are never silent, so consider where the machine will sit.

The short version

• A fully automatic espresso machine, model EP3326/90, in black chrome.
• Five drinks from a touch display: espresso, lungo, coffee, iced coffee and hot water.
• My Coffee Choice adjusts strength, length and milk froth level.
• Ceramic grinder with 12 settings, SilentBrew noise reduction and an AquaClean filter.
• Classic milk frother for cappuccino froth or hot milk.

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