Brew 
Thinking About the Magnifica Duo?
This espresso machine review covers the De'Longhi Magnifica Duo: how it makes your drinks, what you need alongside it, and the tradeoffs to consider before buying.
A bigger drink menu is only worth paying for if you use it. Compare your favorite drinks with a simpler automatic machine too.
Full Amazon Product Name: De'Longhi Magnifica Duo Automatic Espresso Machine, Milk Frother, Silver
What’s It Like to Use the Magnifica Duo Every Day?
Rather press a button than fill and empty an espresso handle? The De'Longhi Magnifica Duo grinds and brews inside the machine. Keep the bean hopper and water tank filled, choose your drink, and adjust the available settings to suit your taste. You’ll still empty the used-coffee container and drip tray.
The appeal is having fewer steps before your first sip. You can still choose the coffee you like, but you spend less time handling wet grounds between drinks. Daily cleaning is still part of owning it.
What About Lattes and Cappuccinos?
If milk drinks are your favorite, the Magnifica Duo gives you some help with that part. You don’t have to handle every part of steaming manually. Set up the jug or milk container the way the instructions show, choose the available milk settings, and make your drink.
How much the machine does for you depends on the design. You’ll still need to add milk and wash the parts it touches. Before choosing the De'Longhi Magnifica Duo, check the milk instructions to make sure the cleanup feels manageable for your mornings.
What Else Will You Need?
The De'Longhi Magnifica Duo espresso machine already has a grinder, so you don’t need to buy a separate one to get started. Add the right beans and follow the starting settings in the instructions. When you change coffee, you may need to change the grind too.
That keeps the equipment together, but it doesn’t remove the need to clean the grinder. If you already own a grinder you like, compare the full price and daily work before paying for another one inside the machine.
What’s Good, and What Should You Think About?
What You Might Like
- Grind beans without adding a second appliance.
- Get help preparing milk for lattes and cappuccinos.
Before You Buy
- A bigger drink menu is only worth paying for if you use it. Compare your favorite drinks with a simpler automatic machine too.
- The grinder needs cleaning along with the brewer.
How Easy Is the Magnifica Duo to Clean?
After milk drinks, run the rinse the machine calls for and wash the removable milk parts as directed. A cleaning button is helpful, but it doesn’t mean every milk part takes care of itself.
Descaling takes care of minerals inside the water path; washing the removable coffee parts is a different job. Use the products and cleaning steps recommended for this machine.
Leave room to refill and clean it. Before putting the De'Longhi Magnifica Duo under a cabinet, check that you can open the lids and remove the tank or tray. A machine that fits on paper can still be awkward when you use it.
What Could You Buy Instead of the Magnifica Duo?
Not quite sure this is the one? These machines give you a few other options to weigh up. Look at how they make coffee, what you do with the milk, and whether a grinder is included.
| Machine | How It Makes Coffee | How You Make the Milk | Built-In Grinder | Who It May Suit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS | Hands-on espresso | Automatic milk frothing | Yes | A Little Help Making Espresso |
| Ninja AutoBarista AE1002 | Fully automatic | Automatic milk frothing | Yes | Let the Machine Do More |
| De'Longhi Magnifica Evo | Fully automatic | Automatic milk frothing | Yes | Let It Grind and Brew |
You can also browse all our coffee makers, or answer a few questions in Help Me Choose to get a smaller list that suits your drinks and budget.
A Few More Questions About the Magnifica Duo
Does the De'Longhi Magnifica Duo Grind Coffee Beans?
Yes. The Magnifica Duo has a built-in grinder, so you can start with whole beans. Follow its grind-adjustment and cleaning instructions.
Can You Make Lattes and Cappuccinos with the Magnifica Duo?
Yes. It includes help with milk preparation. Check the exact steps for its milk jug or container.
What Should You Know Before Buying the Magnifica Duo?
A bigger drink menu is only worth paying for if you use it. Compare your favorite drinks with a simpler automatic machine too.
What Else Should You Compare with the De'Longhi Magnifica Duo?
Start with the Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS and Ninja AutoBarista AE1002. Compare the coffee format, milk steps, and whether you need a separate grinder. The links above take you to each full review.
Is the De'Longhi Magnifica Duo Right for You?
The best choice comes down to what you drink and how much you want to do before that first sip. If the coffee and milk steps above sound comfortable, the Magnifica Duo is worth comparing with the other machines on your list.
Compare the whole cost before you decide. Include the coffee you’ll keep buying and any grinder or milk accessories you need. Then check the current offer and what comes in the box.
