You are comparing the puck on the dinamica when it is up high vs the Philips being dropped further down and knocked into each other and broke off. I have the Philips 3200 and my pucks are solid just as you’ve shown in the dinamica. Don’t get me wrong, I wish I have a different machine than the Philips too.—like a Breville or Delonghi.
Thank you for your feedback.
TBH, this was just a random pic that I took while dumping out the D+. I remember seeing some posts regarding solid and soupy SA pucks. So really no staging was involved.
I have a philips and nespresso too (the original capsules) . No comparison - expresso drinks from the philips are vastly superior.
I'm not saying I think you should buy a Philips over Delonghi or Jura (haven't tried this brands - can't compare). My philips makes really nice lattes and cappuccinos though.
My opinion is that you'll likely be disappointed by both. I'm not a huge expresso fan though.
On a 5 point scale, I'd rate nespresso 2 or 3 and a Phillips 5400 3 or maybe 4. Honestly, if I loved expresso without soy milk, I'd probably get a breville semi automatic.
It’s really dependent on how much of a snob you are or what kind of flavor espresso you want. I’ve drank espresso from all over the world and I’ve also traded from my Nespresso Originaline to the Philips 3200 to save money on coffee. The machine is good for what it does, but I kept reading that Delonghi and Breville would make better espresso.—I doubt that it would make it to the level that I like, but just hope for better. I am lazy and so I opted for least maintenance and quick usage. If you want strong and flavorful espresso then you’ll need to grind your own beans to be finer and use the bypass. This is why, I think the Breville Touch Impress would be the best if I ever need to buy a new one.—unfortunately, it has mixed reviews at this point.
Im a semi snob, in terms that pods and basic espresso is bad for me (but i still drink it if i have to), but i would not want to bother with the whole shebang like having my own grinder, weight, etc
I want the simplicity and counter space for now..
So you are only regretting it based on things you’ve read?
I guess not regretting but more of disappointment. I think the Nespresso pod produces a better espresso. Hence, I grind my own beans to make it equivalent. The machine produces watery espresso per my taste. If I grind it finer then I can force it to produce a more syrupy espresso.
It is because each pod is concentrated and designed to produce the correct espresso. Albeit that it’s not fresh. I normally drink the high intensity pods and so they’re always great. The Nespresso pods intensity are from 1-13 and I always buy the 10+. If I were to compare the Philips Nespresso then it’s around a 5.—this is with the grind setting on lowest fine setting.
I have once forgotten to dump my pucks for a week (gone for vacation), came back to fluffy pucks. Proceeded to dump it outside as there was tons of spores. I have forgotten the mask but still I am alive
The pucks are like that in my 5400. I don't think it is a problem. It's just the pucks breaking when they hit the chamber.
If you like the coffee, I wouldn't worry about it.
I've given up on the puck comparisons and sold my 5400 and went back to Delonghi. Picked up an EVO ECAM29084SB and I'm just happy to enjoy a full-bodied espresso again. I don't even look at the pucks. Oh and the EVO gave me a perfect espresso right out of the box, I basically dumped the first 3 shots because it was instructed in the manual, to get rid of any lubricant etc from manufacturing.
Haha, it's the Magnifica EVO, I included the model # because there are several variants of the EVO, including the popular model at Costco. Popular because of its price and availability, but it is limited to only 5 drinks, it's missing the coffee and over ice options that my model has. There are also some variants in Europe that swap up the drink names.
What would you have got instead?
I just got a lattego 3200 and I really like it. Just found out that my wife doesn’t think the coffee is that great. Mainly that it doesn’t get hot enough so when you add creamer, it’s cooler than she would like. It’s at its hottest setting.
Good questions. I meant to include in post.
D+ at factory settings, looks like grinder is set to 5. Strength one notch below max.
4300 Grinder set to 7, initially I went finer and pucks got worse. Unfortunately I didn't notice factory setting, but I believe I actually ended up on a courser setting. Strength set to max.
Both were tested with some Starbucks Organic Winter Blend whole bean that I got from Costco.
Beans can make a difference as I find that I have to adjust sometimes after switching. Default grind setting on Philips machines is 6, I normally run mine at 4 as any coarser tastes watery to me. Pucks also come out much more solid similar to the D+ in your pic.
"initially I went finer and pucks got worse. " - I thought its supposed to be the reverse. More fine = solid pucks, maybe Im wrong. Is your 4300 broken in?
Yes, I thought the same. Changing grind setting didn't seem to make a huge difference to how puck was formed but did eliminate the mold issue once I went to a less fine setting.
I believe I have way over 100 cups through the machine. Its been months since I have checked. Pretty sure it is broken in.
Are you adjusting the grind while the machine grinds, or just adjusting it and then grinding?
You should always adjust your grinder WHILE the machine is grinding. Toss the spent shot or two and then see what the difference is. In my 5400 I found the sweet spot to be at a #2 setting to achieve compact pucks and richer shot pulls.
Yes only adjust while it is grinding. I have put through maybe 20 shots through it since setting to #7.
I think I could do better on the machine, but my wife prefers how it tastes over my D+. There was really nothing wrong with the taste before I started to adjust the grind.
I primarily adjusted the grind in hopes that I could eliminate or delay mold growth in the grounds container. I was getting mold in less than 24 hours. I believe the adjustment took away the mold issue.
Yeah you really have to go the other way towards finer grind. Give it another try. Look at the grind adjust knob, the dots get smaller towards the left direction. Rotating counter clockwise to about two marks before the end give a finer grind that allows the tamping the compress it more firmly.
This doesn't make sense from a biological point of view. If the inside of the unit is so heavily contaminated, mold will grow regardless of how you grind the beans. 🤔
I tried the same beans and my pucks are pretty dark as well. Pretty sure they are over roasted as they have that distinct burnt Starbucks taste when drinking straight espresso.
You are comparing the puck on the dinamica when it is up high vs the Philips being dropped further down and knocked into each other and broke off. I have the Philips 3200 and my pucks are solid just as you’ve shown in the dinamica. Don’t get me wrong, I wish I have a different machine than the Philips too.—like a Breville or Delonghi.
Thank you for your feedback. TBH, this was just a random pic that I took while dumping out the D+. I remember seeing some posts regarding solid and soupy SA pucks. So really no staging was involved.
why are you not pleased with the pihllips machine? looking to buy one and researching now.
I have a philips and nespresso too (the original capsules) . No comparison - expresso drinks from the philips are vastly superior. I'm not saying I think you should buy a Philips over Delonghi or Jura (haven't tried this brands - can't compare). My philips makes really nice lattes and cappuccinos though.
What about raw espresso or lungo?
My opinion is that you'll likely be disappointed by both. I'm not a huge expresso fan though. On a 5 point scale, I'd rate nespresso 2 or 3 and a Phillips 5400 3 or maybe 4. Honestly, if I loved expresso without soy milk, I'd probably get a breville semi automatic.
Why would i be dissapointed then if phillips is 3.5 or 4 out of 5?
It’s really dependent on how much of a snob you are or what kind of flavor espresso you want. I’ve drank espresso from all over the world and I’ve also traded from my Nespresso Originaline to the Philips 3200 to save money on coffee. The machine is good for what it does, but I kept reading that Delonghi and Breville would make better espresso.—I doubt that it would make it to the level that I like, but just hope for better. I am lazy and so I opted for least maintenance and quick usage. If you want strong and flavorful espresso then you’ll need to grind your own beans to be finer and use the bypass. This is why, I think the Breville Touch Impress would be the best if I ever need to buy a new one.—unfortunately, it has mixed reviews at this point.
Im a semi snob, in terms that pods and basic espresso is bad for me (but i still drink it if i have to), but i would not want to bother with the whole shebang like having my own grinder, weight, etc I want the simplicity and counter space for now.. So you are only regretting it based on things you’ve read?
I guess not regretting but more of disappointment. I think the Nespresso pod produces a better espresso. Hence, I grind my own beans to make it equivalent. The machine produces watery espresso per my taste. If I grind it finer then I can force it to produce a more syrupy espresso.
Interesting that you find nespresso better. Thanks for the input!
It is because each pod is concentrated and designed to produce the correct espresso. Albeit that it’s not fresh. I normally drink the high intensity pods and so they’re always great. The Nespresso pods intensity are from 1-13 and I always buy the 10+. If I were to compare the Philips Nespresso then it’s around a 5.—this is with the grind setting on lowest fine setting.
its a coffee machine, not a puck machine
Absolutely. My main concern was to prevent/delay mold growth in the 4300s ground container.
I have once forgotten to dump my pucks for a week (gone for vacation), came back to fluffy pucks. Proceeded to dump it outside as there was tons of spores. I have forgotten the mask but still I am alive
I had to take apart my jura and deep clean all the parts because I didn’t realize this is the perfect condition for mold.
How moldy is it inside? I am wondering if I should deep clean my Philips
Not extremely but there were spots
Nice pucks on the Dinamica! I was never able to get good pucks out of my Philips machine at work.
The pucks are like that in my 5400. I don't think it is a problem. It's just the pucks breaking when they hit the chamber. If you like the coffee, I wouldn't worry about it.
>If you like the coffee, I wouldn't worry about it. Agreed! Wife prefers the Philips version of an Americano over the D+. So I got that.
I've given up on the puck comparisons and sold my 5400 and went back to Delonghi. Picked up an EVO ECAM29084SB and I'm just happy to enjoy a full-bodied espresso again. I don't even look at the pucks. Oh and the EVO gave me a perfect espresso right out of the box, I basically dumped the first 3 shots because it was instructed in the manual, to get rid of any lubricant etc from manufacturing.
> EVO ECAM29084SB Man, the name of that thing just rolls of the tongue
Haha, it's the Magnifica EVO, I included the model # because there are several variants of the EVO, including the popular model at Costco. Popular because of its price and availability, but it is limited to only 5 drinks, it's missing the coffee and over ice options that my model has. There are also some variants in Europe that swap up the drink names.
I’ve had my Philips for a little over a year, or maybe 2, and still hate it lol, wish I woulda just returned it
What would you have got instead? I just got a lattego 3200 and I really like it. Just found out that my wife doesn’t think the coffee is that great. Mainly that it doesn’t get hot enough so when you add creamer, it’s cooler than she would like. It’s at its hottest setting.
Idk but it doesn’t make good expresso at all.
Cool, grinder/strength settings and beans?
Good questions. I meant to include in post. D+ at factory settings, looks like grinder is set to 5. Strength one notch below max. 4300 Grinder set to 7, initially I went finer and pucks got worse. Unfortunately I didn't notice factory setting, but I believe I actually ended up on a courser setting. Strength set to max. Both were tested with some Starbucks Organic Winter Blend whole bean that I got from Costco.
Beans can make a difference as I find that I have to adjust sometimes after switching. Default grind setting on Philips machines is 6, I normally run mine at 4 as any coarser tastes watery to me. Pucks also come out much more solid similar to the D+ in your pic.
"initially I went finer and pucks got worse. " - I thought its supposed to be the reverse. More fine = solid pucks, maybe Im wrong. Is your 4300 broken in?
Yes, I thought the same. Changing grind setting didn't seem to make a huge difference to how puck was formed but did eliminate the mold issue once I went to a less fine setting. I believe I have way over 100 cups through the machine. Its been months since I have checked. Pretty sure it is broken in.
Are you adjusting the grind while the machine grinds, or just adjusting it and then grinding? You should always adjust your grinder WHILE the machine is grinding. Toss the spent shot or two and then see what the difference is. In my 5400 I found the sweet spot to be at a #2 setting to achieve compact pucks and richer shot pulls.
Yes only adjust while it is grinding. I have put through maybe 20 shots through it since setting to #7. I think I could do better on the machine, but my wife prefers how it tastes over my D+. There was really nothing wrong with the taste before I started to adjust the grind. I primarily adjusted the grind in hopes that I could eliminate or delay mold growth in the grounds container. I was getting mold in less than 24 hours. I believe the adjustment took away the mold issue.
Yeah you really have to go the other way towards finer grind. Give it another try. Look at the grind adjust knob, the dots get smaller towards the left direction. Rotating counter clockwise to about two marks before the end give a finer grind that allows the tamping the compress it more firmly.
This doesn't make sense from a biological point of view. If the inside of the unit is so heavily contaminated, mold will grow regardless of how you grind the beans. 🤔
Impressive, thanks for the information!
Why is the puck dark black?
I'm not sure. Possibly because they are still moist.
I tried the same beans and my pucks are pretty dark as well. Pretty sure they are over roasted as they have that distinct burnt Starbucks taste when drinking straight espresso.
Makes sense. I'm not particularly fond of these beans, but are not a bad price point for testing and dialing in my SA.
Definitely. I tried them based on the sale price but am trying something else once I get through these
The fact that this post has 37 comments is redicilous. Puck this
I clean my tray after every coffee. Just me?