If you've decided that a De'Longhi Magnifica is probably the right bean-to-cup coffee machine for your kitchen, choosing the actual model can be surprisingly difficult.
The Magnifica range includes machines at very different levels of automation, yet names such as Magnifica S, Magnifica Start and Magnifica Plus don't immediately tell you what you're gaining by moving up the range.
We've compared three specific UK models:
- De'Longhi Magnifica S ECAM22.110.B
- De'Longhi Magnifica Start ECAM222.20.B
- De'Longhi Magnifica Plus ECAM322.70.SB
All three grind whole coffee beans and brew automatically. The biggest differences are in controls, drink selection, milk preparation and personalisation.
Quick answer: choose the Magnifica S if you want a straightforward established bean-to-cup machine with manual milk frothing. Consider the Magnifica Start if you prefer a newer soft-touch interface and a simple set of one-touch recipes. Move up to the Magnifica Plus if automatic milk drinks, a much larger drink menu and user profiles matter enough to justify the extra cost.
Magnifica S vs Start vs Plus: At a Glance
| Feature | Magnifica S | Magnifica Start | Magnifica Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | ECAM22.110.B | ECAM222.20.B | ECAM322.70.SB |
| Milk system | Traditional manual frother | Traditional manual frother | Automatic LatteCrema Hot |
| Controls | Buttons and dial | Soft-touch panel | 3.5-inch full-touch colour display |
| One-touch selection | Focused coffee selection | 4 recipes | 18 drinks |
| User profiles | No | No | Up to 4 |
| Water tank | 1.8L | 1.8L | Approx. 1.9L |
| Best suited to | Simple bean-to-cup brewing | Modern straightforward controls | One-touch milk drinks and multiple users |
Specifications refer to the exact UK models above. De'Longhi sells other Magnifica variants with different features.
1. De'Longhi Magnifica S ECAM22.110.B
The Magnifica S is the simplest of these three machines in terms of interface and drink automation, but that simplicity is part of its appeal.
It uses physical buttons and a dial rather than a touchscreen. Whole beans are ground immediately before brewing, and you can customise coffee aroma and quantity.
De'Longhi lists Espresso and Espresso Lungo as its core coffee recipes, alongside hot water and steam. Its Twin-Shot system can also prepare two espresso cups simultaneously.
Milk preparation remains manual. The adjustable traditional frother lets you texture milk yourself for cappuccino and other milk-based drinks.
That makes the Magnifica S particularly interesting if you mainly drink black coffee but still want the option of preparing milk manually.
Who is the Magnifica S for?
- People moving from capsules to freshly ground beans
- Households that mainly drink espresso or longer black coffee
- Anyone who prefers straightforward physical controls
- People happy to froth their own milk
- Buyers who don't need a large menu of automatic drinks
We've also taken a much closer look at this particular machine in our De'Longhi Magnifica S review.
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2. De'Longhi Magnifica Start ECAM222.20.B
The Magnifica Start occupies an interesting position because it remains relatively simple while providing a more modern control interface.
The ECAM222.20.B uses a soft-touch control panel and provides four one-touch recipes: steam, espresso, coffee and long.
You can personalise aroma and temperature, while the integrated grinder uses whole beans and the machine also provides a route for pre-ground coffee.
Like the Magnifica S, this particular Magnifica Start uses a traditional manual milk frother. Don't assume that every machine carrying the Magnifica Start name has the same milk system — De'Longhi also sells other Start variants.
The ECAM222.20.B therefore isn't the machine to buy simply because you want one-touch cappuccino. Its main distinction here is the combination of straightforward bean-to-cup brewing with a newer soft-touch interface.
Who is the Magnifica Start for?
- Buyers who want straightforward bean-to-cup coffee
- People who prefer touch controls to the S's button-and-dial interface
- Households happy to prepare milk manually
- Anyone who wants espresso, coffee and long recipes without a huge drinks menu
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Magnifica S vs Magnifica Start: What's the Difference?
This is probably the most confusing comparison of the three because the Magnifica S and this version of the Magnifica Start occupy similar territory.
Both provide freshly ground bean-to-cup coffee, both use a traditional manual milk frother and both have 1.8-litre water tanks.
The most obvious difference is the interface.
The Magnifica S uses buttons and a control dial, whereas the Magnifica Start ECAM222.20.B uses a soft-touch panel with one-touch recipe icons.
The Start also explicitly provides one-touch espresso, coffee and long recipes alongside steam.
Rather than assuming the newer-looking machine is automatically the better purchase, compare their current prices. If one is substantially cheaper when you're buying, that can materially change the decision because their overall roles overlap considerably.
3. De'Longhi Magnifica Plus ECAM322.70.SB
The Magnifica Plus ECAM322.70.SB is a much more substantial step up.
Instead of manually frothing milk, it uses De'Longhi's LatteCrema Hot Technology to prepare automatic milk foam. Three foam textures are available: dense, creamy and light.
The interface also changes completely. A 3.5-inch full-touch colour display replaces the simpler controls of the other two machines.
De'Longhi specifies 18 customisable hot and cold drinks for this exact model, including Espresso, Americano, Cappuccino, Flat White, Cortado, Latte Macchiato, Iced Coffee and Iced Americano.
Up to four user profiles can store personalised preferences, making the Plus considerably more appealing in households where several people want different drinks.
That convenience comes with a substantially higher purchase price, so the important question isn't whether the Plus has more features — it clearly does. It's whether you'll actually use them.
Who is the Magnifica Plus for?
- Households that regularly drink cappuccino, latte and other milk-based coffees
- People who want milk preparation automated
- Families or households with several coffee drinkers
- Anyone who values saved user profiles
- People who want a much broader one-touch drinks menu
- Buyers willing to pay considerably more for convenience and automation
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Is the Magnifica Plus Worth Paying More For?
The Magnifica Plus isn't simply a more expensive version of the Magnifica S.
The reason to spend more is primarily automation and choice.
If you mainly make espresso or black coffee and occasionally froth some milk yourself, much of what you're paying for on the Plus may go unused.
If several people in the household regularly order different café-style milk drinks, the calculation changes. Automatic LatteCrema milk preparation, 18 drink choices and four user profiles can remove a considerable amount of manual preparation.
So don't choose between them purely by asking which machine has the longest specification list. Choose according to the drinks you actually make.
What About the Magnifica Evo?
You may also encounter the Magnifica Evo while shopping.
It sits elsewhere within De'Longhi's wider Magnifica family and is available in several configurations. We haven't included an Evo as one of our three primary recommendations here because model numbers and milk systems vary, and current retailer availability can make individual versions more or less attractive.
If you're comparing an Evo with one of these machines, check the exact ECAM model number rather than relying on the Magnifica Evo name alone.
Which Magnifica Should You Choose?
For a straightforward bean-to-cup machine where you're happy to froth milk yourself, both the Magnifica S and Magnifica Start deserve consideration.
The S makes particular sense if you like conventional buttons and a dial, while the Start ECAM222.20.B offers a newer soft-touch interface and clearly presented one-touch recipes.
The Magnifica Plus ECAM322.70.SB serves a different buyer. Its automatic LatteCrema milk system, extensive drinks menu, touchscreen and user profiles are meaningful upgrades for households that will actually use them.
Before buying, compare the current prices of the S and Start rather than assuming their position in the range determines value. Promotions can easily alter which is the more attractive purchase on a particular day.
Don't Forget the Space
Bean-to-cup machines need more worktop space than their front view can suggest.
The Magnifica S is approximately 23cm wide and 43cm deep, while De'Longhi specifies both the Start ECAM222.20.B and Plus ECAM322.70.SB at approximately 24cm wide and 44cm deep.
Allow additional practical space for accessing the water tank, bean hopper and removable components rather than measuring only the machine's footprint.
If space is particularly tight, see our guide to compact bean-to-cup coffee machines for small UK kitchens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Magnifica S make cappuccino automatically?
No. The ECAM22.110.B automatically grinds and brews the coffee, but milk is prepared using its traditional manual frother.
Does the Magnifica Start have automatic milk?
Not the ECAM222.20.B featured here. It uses a traditional manual milk frother. Other machines carrying the Magnifica Start name can have different specifications, so always check the model number.
Does the Magnifica Plus make milk drinks automatically?
Yes. The ECAM322.70.SB uses De'Longhi's LatteCrema Hot system and includes automatic milk-based drinks such as Cappuccino, Flat White and Latte Macchiato.
Which one has the largest drink selection?
Of these exact three models, the Magnifica Plus ECAM322.70.SB has by far the broadest selection, with 18 customisable hot and cold drinks specified by De'Longhi.
Do I need a separate coffee grinder?
No. All three are bean-to-cup machines with integrated grinders, so whole beans are ground as part of the brewing process.
Should I choose the Magnifica S or Start?
Think about interface and current price. Both of these particular models use manual milk frothers and occupy broadly similar territory. The S uses buttons and a dial, while the Start ECAM222.20.B uses a soft-touch interface and provides four one-touch recipes.
More Bean-to-Cup Buying Advice
If you're still deciding whether one of these machines suits your kitchen, read our Best Compact Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machines for Small UK Kitchens guide.
For a deeper look at the entry-level machine featured here, see our De'Longhi Magnifica S review.
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, The British Barista may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.