If you wonder if I have decided the winner between Philips 3200 vs 4300, the answer is yes. And the ultimate champion for me is Philips 3200.
Despite having the same design, Philips 3200 still boasts of more stable espresso extraction, and its milk system works twice better than the 4300 line. I’m impressed by the quality of the espresso, crema, and milk foam that I’ve consistently gotten from this machine. Therefore, Philips 3200 is the better value-for-price option.
As for Philips 4300, it can brew delicious espresso and froth steamed milk. But, compared to 3200, this product line is less efficient when I want to make cappuccinos or lattes, even though its milk system is promoted to make dry foam. You can see how these models turn out for me below.
Philips 3200 vs 4300: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2023-03-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Philips 3200 vs 4300: Differences
Philips 3200 wins 3-1 against 4300, I would love to let them tie, but the milk system of Philips 3200 is indeed much more potent and efficient. Flavor-wise, both do a decent job at making delicious espresso. But, some operational aspects make 4300 less ideal of an option. What are they?
Coffee flavor: Philips 3200
+Grinder
Philips 3200 and 4300 are equipped with a ceramic burr grinder, which is a good design for me. According to the advertisements, these grinders can deliver even ground with optimum precision. Thanks to the 12 settings, which both grinders have, we can adjust the final texture and decide the strength of the espresso shot organically.
Here is how the grinders work for me: they are very close to their advertisements. I have gotten consistently smooth and even coffee ground. The operation is pretty silent as well. I don’t notice any difference in this aspect. In general, I’m satisfied with these machines’ grinders.
If you want a strong-tasting cup of espresso, set the grinding to a higher level, like 8 or 9. The final ground texture will be finer. And if you refer mellow drinks, set the grinder at a lower level, like 5 or 6, and the ground will be coarser.
I don’t recommend going further than these setting numbers since it affects the regular operation of the machine. I have tried brewing with the grinders at level 12, and the coffee comes out very bitter yet watered-down at the same time. There is little to no crema at this point. With a lower grinder setting under 4, the ground is very coarse, which results in weak and sour shots.
+Dosing + tamping
Philips 3200 and 4300 are super-automatic machines that brew from bean to cup without needing extra care during the extraction process. They use the same dose amount, which is not specified, but it can be adjusted depending on each user’s preference. Thus, the espresso strength is very similar.
Judging from the used pucks, I can tell that Philips 3200 and Philips 4300 tamp and extract with good pressure, given that the crema layers are thick and the espressos have a heavy mouthfeel to them. Philips 3200 and Philips 4300 offer more than good espresso quality for their prices.
+Heating system
There is a slight difference here, Philips 3200 has a better coffee/ espresso temperature than 4300. Even though they share the same single Thermoblock heating system, I can still notice that espressos come out hotter from 3200.
Nevertheless, generally speaking, the temperature of these models is clearly suitable for drinking almost right away. It’s not as hot as many other models I have tested before, but the heat is not too low either. I think Philips 3200 and Philips 4300 are good deals for the prices.
Milk System: Philips 3200
After only a few brewing sessions, I can already tell that Philips 3200 has a better milk system. Despite being equipped with a steam wand similar to 3200, 4300 fails to deliver dry and airy foam, essential for making cappuccinos and lattes. With Philips 3200, I can get microfoam and engage in latte art. The case is not the same with 4300.
Utilities: Philips 4300
Philips 4300 wins this round thanks to its multiple user profiles. It has 2 different profile sessions for 2 users with distinctive tastes. The dual profiles feature is convenient if you share the machine with a friend or spouse and have different preferences for coffee strength, aroma, etc.
Cleaning & Maintain: Tie
What I like about Philips 3200 and Philips 4300 is that they are designed with an “alarm” system that tells when to descale and to clean the machines. Both have removable brew groups for monthly or weekly deep cleaning. And there are automatic rinsing and a complete washing cycle to keep the brew path odorless and bacteria-free.
I suggest rinsing the steam wands after each brewing session though. It is easy to ruin the wands by not maintaining their cleanliness daily. So make sure that each time you froth milk with it, you wash the milk path with a quick rinse afterward.
Philips 3200 vs 4300: Similarities
These machines have more similarities than differences, but I will mention aspects that I find most worthy of mentioning only. What are they?
One-touch americano
If you are a fan of americano like me, you will enjoy this feature. Even though Philips 3200 and 4300 don’t have one-touch milk-based recipes, both have a button for americano only. I have tested the result, and the pair do a great job of making a robust and balanced cup of americano.
If the taste is too strong for your liking, add a bit of sugar to enhance the flavor even more. My advice is to add as little ice as possible to enjoy the purest and most authentic taste of a good americano.
Various brewing aspects that are adjustable
It’s possible to adjust the brewing temperature, the coffee strength, the milk foam volume, the aroma, etc. If you have a specific taste for coffees and espressos, Philips 3200 and 4300 offer a lot of freedom in customization.
Doesn’t have one-touch milk-based recipes
These models don’t specialize in milk-based recipes. Thus they don’t have one-touch beverages that involve milk. But, they are equipped with a steam wand to satisfy the diverse tastes of each user.
Quick Rundown of Philips 3200
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
- Enjoy 4 coffees at your fingertips, makes espresso, hot water, coffee, Americano, Espresso Lungo. The classic milk frother allows you to create a silky smooth cappuccino or latte macchiato with ease
- Intuitive touch display, frequency: 60 hertz
- Adjust aroma strength and quantity
- 12-step grinder adjustment
Last update on 2023-03-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown of Philips 4300
- Enjoy 5 delicious coffees from fresh beans at your fingertips
- Intuitive TFT display with icons makes it easy to customize the length, strength, and temperature of your coffee. 2 user profiles to save your favourite coffee settings
- Classic Milk Frother makes it simple to prepare warn, silky-smooth frothed milk
- Aroma Extract system provides the perfect temperature, aroma and crema
- What's In The Box: Scoop and Manual. ** Additional consumable accessories are not included (Filter, Lubrication, Water testing strips etc)
Last update on 2023-03-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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References:
- Philips 3200: https://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/EP3221_44/series-3200-fully-automatic-espresso-machines
- Philips 4300: https://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/EP4347_94/philips-4300-series-fully-automatic-espresso-machines
I am a passionate coffee drinker. Since I left my job as a barista a few years back in 2012, I’ve been sharing my expertise on coffee and buying the best coffee equipment online. That’s how Wild Boar Coffee came to life.
I write about everything coffee-related under the sun. Where to buy the freshest coffee beans from? How to test coffee beans based on texture, aroma, and acidity?
I know all this from scratch – all thanks to my years and years of experience as a barista. So I’ve gotten real up-close-and-personal with coffee beans and different brewing techniques.