De'Longhi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema vs Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus
Quick take: The Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus costs $1 less.
| Spec | De'Longhi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema | Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Standout features | LatteCrema System, One-Touch, Iced Coffee, Auto-Clean | Manual Steam Wand, TFT Color Display, 4 User Profiles, Ceramic Burr Grinder, Pre-Ground Bypass Doser |
| Approx. price | ~$900 | ~$899 |
| Type | Super-Automatic | Super-Automatic |
| Boiler | Thermoblock | Single Boiler |
| Built-in grinder | Yes | Yes |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar | 15 bar |
| Water capacity | 60 oz | 50.7 oz |
| Warm-up time | 45 seconds | 45 seconds |
| Steam wand | Auto (LatteCrema) | Manual |
| Basket type | — | — |
| Best for | Milk Drinks | Milk Drink Perfectionists |
| Dimensions | 9.45 x 17.32 x 14.17 in | 10.2 x 17.3 x 15 in |
| Weight | 21.2 lbs | 21.2 lbs |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 year |
Pros & cons
De'Longhi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema
- ✓Cheapest De'Longhi with the full LatteCrema system
- ✓Carafe self-cleans and stores in the fridge
- ✓One-touch lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos
- ✓Over-ice recipe for cold drinks
- ✗Icon panel less intuitive than a touchscreen
- ✗No user profiles
- ✗Milk carafe adds cleaning parts
- ✗Grinder is loud
Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus
- ✓Manual wand steams proper microfoam no carafe system can match
- ✓Four user profiles remember each person's drink customizations
- ✓Italian-made with ceramic burrs and a removable brew group
- ✓Cheaper than carafe-equipped Cadornas since you do the milk
- ✗No one-touch cappuccino - milk drinks require hands-on steaming
- ✗Only 6 coffee presets versus 15 on the Prestige
- ✗Single rapid-heat boiler pauses between brewing and steaming
- ✗Grind adjustment range still limited compared to semi-automatics
De'Longhi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema vs Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus: common questions
Which is cheaper, the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema or the Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus?
The Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus is the cheaper of the two at roughly $899, about $1 less than the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema at ~$900. Both figures are approximate list prices and street prices move with sales.
Which is better for lattes and cappuccinos, the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema or the Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus?
The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema steams and textures milk automatically, while the Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus uses a manual steam wand you texture milk with yourself. An automatic system gets you a consistent milk drink with no practice; a manual wand takes a few weeks to learn but gives you proper microfoam and latte art once it clicks.
What is the difference in boiler design between the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema and the Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus?
The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema uses a thermoblock and the Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus uses a single boiler. Boiler design drives temperature stability and whether you can brew and steam at the same time, which is the main reason two otherwise similar machines behave differently once you start making milk drinks back to back.