Philips 3200 vs 4300: Which one is Best for You?

Philips has been making high-quality, affordable automatic espresso machines for some time now. Both the Philips 3200 and 4300 series has got quite a lot of attention these days. What’s the difference between these two models? Let’s find out!


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Differences Between the Two Coffee Machines

The milk system of the Philips 3200 is much more potent and efficient. Flavor-wise, both do a decent job at making delicious espresso. But, some operational aspects make the 4300 less ideal of an option.

Grinder

The 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. We have gotten consistently smooth and even coffee grounds. The operation is pretty silent as well. We don’t notice any difference in this aspect. In general, we are 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 to mellow drinks, set the grinder at a lower level, like 5 or 6, and the ground will be coarser.

We don’t recommend going further than these setting numbers since it affects the regular operation of the machine. We 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 under 4, the ground is very coarse, resulting 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 extraction. 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, we 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. Philips 3200 and Philips 4300 offer more than good espresso quality for their prices.

Heating System

There is a slight difference here; the Philips 3200 has a better coffee/ espresso temperature than the 4300. Even though they share the same single Thermoblock heating system, we can still notice that espressos come out hotter from the 3200.

Nevertheless, generally speaking, the temperature of these models is clearly suitable for drinking almost immediately. It’s not as hot as many other models we have tested before, but the heat is not too low either. We think Philips 3200 and Philips 4300 are good deals for the prices.

Milk System

After only a few brewing sessions, we can already tell that the 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, we can get microfoam and engage in latte art. The case is not the same with 4300.

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Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso...
  • With Philips 3200 Series enjoy the delicious taste and aroma of coffee from fresh beans at the perfect...
  • LatteGo Milk System: Top your coffee off with a silky-smooth layer of milk froth
  • Intuitive Touch Display: Select the perfect coffee for your mood with just one touch

Utilities

Philips 4300 wins this round thanks to its multiple user profiles. It has two different profile sessions for two 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.

Philips 3200 LatteGo
Philips 3200 LatteGo

Cleaning & Maintain

What we 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.

We 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 we will mention the aspects that we find most worthy of mentioning. What are they?

PHILIPS 4300 Series Fully Automatic Espresso...
  • With Philips 4300 Series easily make up to 5 black and milk-based aromatic coffee varieties with the touch of...
  • Classic Milk Frother System: Dispenses steam, allowing you to easily prepare silky smooth milk froth for your...
  • Intuitive Touch Display: Select the perfect coffee for your mood with just one touch

One-Touch Americano

You will enjoy this feature if you are a fan of americano like me. Even though Philips 3200 and 4300 don’t have one-touch milk-based recipes, both have a button for americano only. We 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. We advise adding as little ice as possible to enjoy the purest and most authentic taste of a good americano.

Philips 4300 LatteGo
Philips 4300 LatteGo

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.

Final Words

If you wonder if we have decided the winner between the Philips 3200 and 4300, the answer is yes. And the ultimate champion for us is the Philips 3200.

Despite having the same design, the Philips 3200 still boasts a more stable espresso extraction, and its milk system works better than the 4300. We are impressed by the quality of the espresso, crema, and milk foam that we’ve consistently gotten from the 3200. Therefore, the 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 the 3200, this product line is less efficient when we 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 Coffee Makers | Bestsellers (last 24h)

SaleBestseller No. 1
Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso...
Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso...
LatteGo Milk System: Top your coffee off with a silky-smooth layer of milk froth; Intuitive Touch Display: Select the perfect coffee for your mood with just one touch


We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Last update on 2024-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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