Getty
I wouldn’t call myself a coffee snob per se, but as a product of living in Australia – home to arguably the best coffee in the world – I can’t deny my love for the warm embrace of a perfect brew.
While my morning commute often involves a large oat latte (a lifesaver) made by a barista (coffee wizard) in some trendy (overpriced) local café, this lifestyle is no longer a sustainable option for me as someone who commutes four days a week amid a cost-of-living crisis.
However, when it comes to making coffee at home, my knowledge of what makes a perfect cup tends to fall short. Plus, despite owning a manual coffee machine, I find myself too tired and irritated in the morning to be able to properly make a good coffee, resulting in bitter, weak brews with inconsistently frothed milk. I also do not have enough time in the morning for the clean-up. On those days, I close my eyes and wish that a perfectly brewed coffee would magically appear in my hands.
So, when I was offered to review the Magnifico Evo Next fully automatic coffee machine, and online exclusive by De’Longhi, I jumped at the chance to finally perfect my morning coffee routine. Normally priced at $1,149, it’s now just $899 for our readers with the code “HOME” at checkout.
De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next review verdict
- Our rating: 9 out of 10
- Why we rated it a 9/10: The automatic coffee machine is a time-saver during the morning rush. With a user friendly display, customisable drink options and easily removable components for an easy clean – it’s the perfect companion for people with busy routines who are short on time, or just crave a barista-style coffee experience at home.
Pros
- Extremely easy to use
- Time-saving machine. Barista-like coffee is made with just one touch of a button
- User friendly display with eight soft-touch buttons
- Customisable with 13 drink options
- Removable, dishwasher safe components make it easy to clean
Cons
- At 44cm long, the coffee machine would be best suited for deeper kitchen counters
- Can be loud when turning on and shutting down machine
What’s so special about De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next?
The De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next is a fully automated machine, which is perfect for those who want quick and easy, specialty made coffee at home. The machine sits in the higher end of the entry tier for automatic machines, however performs like a mid-high tier machine. This coffee machine is great for busy parents, or those who have long morning commutes and desire a quick pick-me-up before the day starts. It is also fully customisable with 13 drink options and can store three user profiles. Plus, if you’re like me and find milk frothing an impossible task, the machine features a carafe for perfectly frothed milk at the touch of a button.
De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next features and size
- Size: 240 x 440 x 360 mm
- Weight: 9.6 kg
- Milk carafe with LatteCrema Hot Technology
- 3 user profiles for advanced personalisation
- Soft touch buttons
- 2.4′ TFT colour display
- Twin shot
- Can use beans and pre-ground coffee
- Programmable water hardness
- Water filter included
How to use the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next
You will need to put some time aside to set up your coffee machine and to give it all the attention it deserves. The machine set up is made easy with an instructional display that will guide you through every step of the process.
On first use, it will guide you through a standard setup. This includes filling the water tank, running through a rinsing cycle, and testing the water hardness level. You also have the option to install a water filter, which is included in the box. While a lengthy process, the instructions are detailed and you have the option to go back to previous instructions in case you missed a step. You only need to go through this process once, and then you’re all set!
At first use, the De’Longhi machine recommends making 4-5 coffees before drinking to obtain the ideal result in a cup. Use this as an opportunity to play around with size and intensity to see what you like best. The machine also has an option to use pre-ground coffee instead of beans. Once you find a coffee setting that you like best, you have the option to save this profile for future use.
As for beans, I used the Dhuwa Coffee Beans Kickstart Blendfrom Woolworths, however De’Longhi have their own signature and specialty blends that you can purchase.
Results from our test
As someone who doesn’t have a lot of time in the morning, I loved using the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next for a quick and easy coffee before my commute. I found the display beginner-friendly, and the machine easy to use. After many coffees – and a lot of caffeine – I found myself buzzing with excitement after every brew.
It took me around 10 coffees to figure out what settings I liked to use and to create my user profile. I don’t have anyone else in my household who likes coffee, but there are two more user profiles available if that changes, or if I feel like shaking things up a little bit. Plus, with 13 drink options, variety is just a button away!
Ultimately, the whole coffee making process takes around three minutes, including the machine warm up and clean up process. As for physical labour, I spent at most 30 seconds with the machine, including turning on and off the machine, choosing my coffee profile and filling the carafe with milk. This meant the rest of the time was reserved for cleaning and putting my energy into other tasks. I found this process so much more beneficial for my time compared to using a manual coffee machine which needed a lot of time and attention to make the perfect coffee.
The machine itself is wider than a standard pod machine but still small enough to fit on most kitchen benches., Those with small kitchen spaces like myself might not benefit from such a long machine taking up their island space. Gratefully, I have my own separate coffee table set-up (I highly recommend this, you’ll feel like your own personal barista) so it wasn’t an issue for me. I would also recommend keeping a container nearby as the machine expels water before and after use. If you do forget however, the machine will let you know when the drip tray is ready to be emptied.
Overall, is the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next worth it?
Absolutely. While the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next is a large machine, if you have the space, this machine is going to be a gamechanger for your home. It has already saved me so much time and money as I no longer need to buy coffee’s out. Plus, the barista-style results are a delicious bonus.
Where to buy the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next
The De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next is exclusively available online. Normally priced at $1,149, De’Longhi is offering it to our readers for just $899. Simply use the code “HOME” at checkout.
- Magnifica Evo Next, price $899 (usually $1149), De’Longhi
