Philips 3200 vs Breville Barista Pro, which espresso machine is worth purchasing more? I have been testing these models for a while now, and my champion is Philips 3200.
Philips 3200 is a super-automatic model so that you can expect a convenient beans-to-cup experience. The espresso and milk quality is very impressive as well. What I like the most is that it has various cleaning cycles that help the maintenance much easier. This is a well-rounded model at a great price.
Breville Barista Pro is a big machine designed to serve users who look for a simple machine. The espresso quality is excellent, and the milk foam is one of the best in this price range that I have seen. However, this model is semi-automatic only, which means some steps require our intervention. And it has very few additional features. Check out my verdict below.
Philips 3200 vs Breville Barista Pro: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2023-11-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Philips 3200 vs Breville Barista Pro: Differences
Philips 3200 wins 3 – 2 against Breville Barista Pro thanks to its rich espresso, variable milk texture, and convenient additional features. You can find out how these machines perform from my experience below.
Coffee flavor: Philips 3200
+Grinder
Both Breville Barista Pro and Philips 3200 use conical burr grinders to grind coffee beans. But there are significant differences between them.
About the number of settings, Philips 3200 offers 12 different ground textures, and Breville Barista Pro offers 30. For me, the 12 settings are perfect already. 30 settings sound too specific and unnecessary because we never actually adjust the ground texture that specifically.
With Philips 3200, we can enjoy its ceramic grinder, which is the best material for coffee grinders, from my experience. The grinder on this machine is very stable and quiet, and it can produce smooth and even ground. The thing about ceramic is that this material doesn’t produce much heat due to friction. Thus, it doesn’t roast the coffee beans and alter their taste. That’s how I get very balanced and smooth cups with this machine.
As for Breville Barista Pro, since its grinder is made of steel, it tends to heat the beans more, and the cups’ final taste is usually very strong and sometimes bitter. In general, I don’t find the taste unpleasant or think it belongs to the negative side. But it’s clear that this machine is designed for heavy coffee drinkers due to its strong espressos.
+Dosing + tamping
Since Breville Barista Pro is a semi-automatic machine, it needs manual intervention during the brewing process, which involves dosing and tamping. To get coffee ground, I use its 54mm portafilter, pluck it in the ground dispenser, and the machine will automatically grind beans and pour coffee ground out for 11 seconds. Then, I have to tamp manually using its tamper.
This is not an inconvenience, given that I’m used to handling the tools already. But if you want an automatic machine that carries out the entire brewing process without requiring your attention, Barista Pro might not be the best pick.
With Philips 3200, it’s much easier since all I have to do is press the button, and the machine grinds a specific amount of coffee according to its preprogrammed recipes. Nevertheless, the recipes are adjustable. So the entire experience has been pretty convenient and deliberate for me.
+Heating system
In terms of heating systems, Breville Barista Pro is equipped with a much more elaborate system called ThermoJet. Thanks to that, I can start brewing espresso almost immediately after starting up the machine. And the temperature of the drinks is to die for. The coffees and espressos always come out hot and steaming.
As for Philips 3200, it uses a humbler system: a single boiler. So the heat-up time is longer, which is around 1 minute. And the drinks come out hot enough to drink right away, but it doesn’t reach the high temperature that many consumers like.
Depending on your taste, you can decide which machine has a more suitable heating system for you. As for me, I prefer that of Barista Pro since I like my coffee extra hot for sipping slowly.
Milk System: Tie
P.H.E.N.O.M.E.N.AL is the only word I have for Philips 3200 vs Breville Barista Pro’s milk systems.
First of all, they are equipped with a classic steam wand that I love. As an ex-barista, I look for high control over the milk texture since it dramatically affects the quality of milk-based drinks. And with these two, I have it.
Secondly, these steam wands are very potent and 100% capable of making microfoam. When I first purchased them, I didn’t expect much since not many espresso makers have decent steam wands. To my surprise, this pair has a potent system that can froth both creamy milk and dry foam.
Utilities: Philips 3200
Philips 3200 has a height-adjustable spout that helps avoid splatter. You can use different types of cups without worrying too much about cleaning the drip tray. This model also has a bunch of alerts for cleaning and maintaining as well.
As for Barista Pro, this model has a cup warmer on top to ensure that the drinks are always hot.
Cleaning & Maintain: Philips 3200
Philips 3200 wins thanks to its elaborate cleaning system that I can hardly find in even high-end espresso makers. There are a bunch of descaling and rinsing alarms on its interface to notify users when it’s time to clean or maintain the device.
Furthermore, it has an automatic rinsing cycle and instruction for the descaling process as well. In general, I find it easy to clean.
Design & Material: Breville Barista Pro
Since Breville Barista Pro is made of stainless steel while Philips 3200 is made of plastic, there is no doubt that the former model is more sturdy. I like the sleek metal design of this model.
However, judging from the price of each machine, I understand why they are made of such different materials. Philips 3200 is a few hundred bucks cheaper, so it’s a value-for-price pick for me.
Philips 3200 vs Breville Barista Pro: Similarities
Belonging to the same lower price range, Philips 3200 and Breville Barista Pro share similar features. Here are 2 aspects that I think you should consider if you decide to purchase one.
No one-touch milk-based recipes
Indeed, Breville Barista Pro and Philips 3200 don’t have an elaborate set of one-touch beverages that involve milk or milk foam. Users will have to handle the milk part manually with their integrated steam wands.
Luckily, these machines’ steam wands are one of the best I have ever tested, especially in the lower price range. They 100% can handle microfoam like champs, and creamy steamed milk is not even a challenge for them.
Good value for price
After testing and weighing all aspects, I conclude that Breville Barista Pro and Philips 3200 are both value-for-price picks. They can extract delicious espressos, and the overall operational process is satisfactory.
With Breville Barista Pro, you get a machine that focuses highly on espresso and milk quality. It might not be the most convenient with many additional features, but not many models can beat its fundamental brewing aspect.
As for Philips 3200, this is a well-rounded machine with balanced espresso, an excellent milk system, and more utilities. In general, this model is a perfect pick for its value and price.
Which one do you think is better?
Quick Rundown of Philips 3200
- 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
- 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
- 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 2023-11-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown of Breville Barista Pro
- Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use
Last update on 2023-11-29 / 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
- Breville Barista Pro: https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes878.html
Felix Hendricks is a skilled barista with over 12 years of experience. He excels in crafting coffee and has a strong foundation in coffee machine mechanics. Felix holds a Coffee Machine Maintenance Certification from the Coffee Equipment Technical Institute, showcasing his ability to diagnose and repair coffee machines. He’s also worked as a quality control specialist, selecting premium coffee beans for optimal flavor. Felix has a diverse work history, including stints at renowned coffee spots like Café Euphoria & Starbucks. His expertise in both brewing and machine maintenance makes him a respected figure in the coffee industry.