Philips 3200 Vs 5400: Which Espresso Machine Wins? Reviewing 2 Affordable Models With Similar Design

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Philips 3200 vs 5400 has sparked a debate since they belong to very different price ranges with highly similar features. But after testing these espresso makers, Philips 3200 is my chosen winner.

The winner Philips 3200 is a simpler model since it is not integrated with quick one-touch milk-based recipes, so users have to handle the milk foam manually. But, in exchange, its operation is much more stable, and the quality of the drinks is far more consistent than Philips 5400. And the manual milk system is excellent for users with specific requirements for their coffees.

As for Philips 5400, despite having more convenient one-touch recipes, it doesn’t have descaling or cleaning alerts, which help a lot when it comes to cleaning. The grinder also is very noisy from my experience. You can check my verdict now.

Philips 3200 vs 5400: Comparison Chart

Image
THE WINNER (#1)
PHILIPS 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine - Classic Milk Frother, 4 Coffee Varieties, Intuitive Touch Display, Black, (EP3221/44)
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Model
Philips 3200 EP3221/44
Philips 5400
Dimensions (LxWxH)
9.8 x 17 x 14.6 inches
9.8 x 17 x 14.6 inches
Color / Material
Black / Plastic
Black / Plastic and Chrome
Weight / Power / Voltage
16.5 Pounds / 1500W / 120V
17.6 pounds
Water Tank Capacity
60.85 oz
60.9 oz
Bean Hopper Size
9.6 oz
9.6 oz
Grind Settings
12 settings
12 settings
Coffee Grinder Type
Ceramic burr grinder
Ceramic burr grinder
Quiet grinder
Milk-based one-touch beverages
Compatible with preground coffee
Spout Height
3.3 - 5.7 inches
3.3 - 5.7 inches
Water tank position
Frontal
Frontal
Programmable Drinks
9 Drinks
14 Drinks
Used Coffee Drawer Capacity
Up to 12 servings
Up to 12 servings
Interface
Touchscreen
Touchscreen
What I Like
Price
$499.00
Price not available
THE WINNER (#1)
Image
PHILIPS 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine - Classic Milk Frother, 4 Coffee Varieties, Intuitive Touch Display, Black, (EP3221/44)
Model
Philips 3200 EP3221/44
Dimensions (LxWxH)
9.8 x 17 x 14.6 inches
Color / Material
Black / Plastic
Weight / Power / Voltage
16.5 Pounds / 1500W / 120V
Water Tank Capacity
60.85 oz
Bean Hopper Size
9.6 oz
Grind Settings
12 settings
Coffee Grinder Type
Ceramic burr grinder
Quiet grinder
Milk-based one-touch beverages
Compatible with preground coffee
Spout Height
3.3 - 5.7 inches
Water tank position
Frontal
Programmable Drinks
9 Drinks
Used Coffee Drawer Capacity
Up to 12 servings
Interface
Touchscreen
What I Like
Price
$499.00
More Info
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Image
Model
Philips 5400
Dimensions (LxWxH)
9.8 x 17 x 14.6 inches
Color / Material
Black / Plastic and Chrome
Weight / Power / Voltage
17.6 pounds
Water Tank Capacity
60.9 oz
Bean Hopper Size
9.6 oz
Grind Settings
12 settings
Coffee Grinder Type
Ceramic burr grinder
Quiet grinder
Milk-based one-touch beverages
Compatible with preground coffee
Spout Height
3.3 - 5.7 inches
Water tank position
Frontal
Programmable Drinks
14 Drinks
Used Coffee Drawer Capacity
Up to 12 servings
Interface
Touchscreen
What I Like
Price
Price not available

Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Philips 3200 vs 5400: Differences

Philips 3200 wins 3-1 against Philips 5400 thanks to its stable operation and espresso quality. 5400 has more convenient features, but I don’t find the actual functionality worth the extra money, and they aren’t as smooth as I expect them to be either. Don’t miss the details below. 

Coffee flavor: Philips 3200 

+Grinder

Texture-wise, Philips 3200 and Philips 5400 are excellent at their job. Judging from the used pucks’ quality, I can tell that the grinders can deliver very even ground. These machines use the same ceramic burr grinder design, and they have 12 settings for final texture.

As a coffee lover who prefers a strong and slightly bitter cup, I suggest you set the grinders at 8-9 to get finer ground. The finer the ground, the more robust the flavor. But, if you prefer mellow and smooth shots of espresso, I think it’s ideal to set the grinders at around level 5-6.

But, there is a catch here. Philips 3200’s grinder is much quieter than Philips 5400’s. If you don’t enjoy listening to a loud crumbling sound every morning, you know which is better. 

Philips 3200: Coffee Flavor
Philips 3200: Coffee Flavor

+Dosing + tamping

The design of Philips 3200 and Philips 5400 is more or less the same, so they both can dose and tamp without the manual intervention of users. Judging from the crema quality, I think Philips 3200 tamps more tightly, but not too tight.

Why? The crema layers made by Philips 3200 is visibly thicker than those of Philips 5400, and they add a heavier and creamier texture to the entire shot of espresso. With 5400, I can get crema as well, but the texture and thickness are noticeably not as impressive.

+Heating system

Philips 3200 and Philips 5400 have a decent temperature performance, ideal for drinking right away without getting burned. And it’s possible to adjust the heat level to our liking as well. These models use a single boiler for both brewing and frothing, so it’s normal that the temperature doesn’t reach the hot and steaming point.

Given that 3200 is much cheaper to purchase and has overall better performance, including temperature performance, I think it’s worth getting this product line more.  

Milk System: Tie

Philips 5400: Milk System

In terms of milk system, I have nothing to complain about Philips 3200 and 5400. 

With Philips 3200, I enjoy its steam wand since it gives me more control over the final texture, and it’s able to froth microfoam as well. Such a powerful steam wand is not very common in espresso machines in this price range. 

When I purchased this model, I didn’t have many expectations. But, to my surprise, it can deliver dry foam for cappuccino and latte art. For the quality of steamed and frothed milk that I get with this machine, I think its value greatly surpasses its price tag.

As for Philips 5400, this machine is equipped with a LatteGo milk system, a milk carafe that can be attached to the device, and froth milk. Dry and airy foam is not a difficult task with this system. So you can get high-quality microfoam automatically. However, it has been more challenging to get steamed milk with this one, given that I don’t have as much control over the system.

Utilities: Philips 5400

In terms of utilities or additional features, Philips 5400 wins completely. It has many more one-touch beverages than Philips 3200, including cappuccino, latte macchiato, flat White, café au Lait, etc. 

If you are wondering what kind of recipes these espresso machines share, you can expect to brew beverages with one touch like espresso, americano, coffee, hot water for tea, espresso lungo. 

Also, Philips 5400 has various profiles for different users, 4 to be specific. This feature allows users with distinctive taste to establish a personal profile that saves changes that they have made to each beverage without affecting the experience of others. For me, this is very convenient for couples, families and small offices. 

On the other hand, a convenient aspect that both Philips 3200 and Philips 5400 boasts of is that they work perfectly fine with preground coffee. We don’t always have whole roasted beans available, so knowing that these devices have bypass dosers for preground is assuring. 

Philips 5400 has more one-touch beverages
Philips 5400 has more one-touch beverages

Cleaning & Maintain: Philips 3200

Since the design of Philips 3200 and Philips 5400 is very similar, there isn’t any difference in their cleaning cycles either. Both are equipped with a rinsing process that helps clean the milk and brew path briefly after each brew and complete washing cycles for weekly and monthly maintenance. 

Since the brew groups are removable, I can clean it thoroughly every week to ensure that the espresso quality is as authentic as possible. But, if you don’t like washing the parts manually and frequently, you can opt for cleaning tablets or solutions, which help rinse the entire machine from grinder to dispenser automatically.

The difference lies in the alarms that tell users when to clean the products. With Philips 3200, I can directly see the descale and cleaning alert on the screen, while with Philips 5400, there isn’t any alert related to machine maintenance. 

Philips 3200 vs 5400: Similarities

There are 2 aspects that Philips 3200 and 5400 share that I want to highlight: the one-touch americano and the touchscreen display. Check how these features assist my brewing experience below.

One-touch americano

If you are a fan of americano like me, Philips 3200 and 5400 have the one-touch function for this refreshing beverage. They measure the right coffee to water ratio to deliver the most balanced and smooth cups. 

After many attempts of brewing and testing to see if one machine holds the higher ground in making americano, I have concluded that both do a phenomenal job at it. The flavor is rich and slightly bitter, so I usually add a bit of sugar to further enhance the taste and aroma. 

Touchscreen display

If you are already used to the touchscreen control, Philips 3200 and 5400 are equipped with an ideal interface for you. You can select beverages and customize them with a touch of the screen. As for me, I’m definitely more used to the modern interface instead of buttons.

Quick Rundown of Philips 3200

Sale
PHILIPS 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine - Classic Milk Frother, 4 Coffee Varieties, Intuitive Touch Display, Black, (EP3221/44)
  • With Philips 3200 Series easily make up to 5 black and milk-based coffee varieties at the touch of a button! Enjoy the delicious taste and aroma of coffee from fresh beans at the perfect temperature.Cord length : 100 cm, Frequency : 60 Hz, Coffee bean capacity : 275 g, Pump pressure : 15 bar, Adjustable spout height : 85-145 mm.
  • Classic Milk Frother System: Dispenses steam, allowing you to easily prepare silky smooth milk froth for your cappuccino
  • Intuitive Touch Display: Select the perfect coffee for your mood with just one touch
  • My Coffee Choice Menu: Adjust the strength and quantity of your beverage and choose from three different settings to suit your preferences. The Aroma Extract system intelligently strikes the optimum balance between brewing temperature and aroma extraction by keeping the water temperature between 90 and 98°C
  • Powerful Filter and Easy Maintenance: Thanks to the AquaClean, enjoy clear and purified water - by changing the filter after being prompted by the machine, you will not need to descale your machine for up to 5000 cups

Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Stable and consistent espresso extraction
  • Good drink temperature, the coffees come out hot
  • Easy and convenient to use with variable options for customization
  • Smart interface with easy control over the brew system
  • Authentic espresso flavor with good crema
  • One-touch Americano
Cons
  • No one-touch milk-based beverage

Quick Rundown of Philips 5400

Pros
  • The display is modern and has an individual icon for each beverage
  • Quick and efficient brewing time, ideal for busy users
  • Various one-touch milk-based recipes
  • Good espresso flavor and temperature
  • Users can enjoy many customizable options
Cons
  • Noisy grinder during the entire brewing process
  • Little coffee crema

Product Videos

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