De'Longhi Magnifica Plus vs Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus
Quick take: The Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus costs $1 less.
| Spec | De'Longhi Magnifica Plus | Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Standout features | Touchscreen, One-Touch, Auto Milk Texturing, Programmable | 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 | 9.5 x 17.5 x 14.0 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 Plus
- ✓Intuitive full-color touchscreen
- ✓Excellent auto milk foam with 3 texture settings
- ✓4 user profiles for households
- ✓18 one-touch recipes including iced drinks
- ✗Loud conical grinder
- ✗Small drip tray
- ✗No app or WiFi connectivity
- ✗Must remove water tank to access brew unit
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
What owners say
De'Longhi Magnifica Plus
The Magnifica Plus sits at the top of De'Longhi's Magnifica family and is the model owners point newcomers toward when the cheaper Evo's interface starts to grate. At $1,000 the money buys two concrete things over its siblings: a large touchscreen that walks you through every maintenance step in plain language instead of asking you to decode blinking lights and button combinations, and De'Longhi's higher-dosing brew system, which puts more coffee in the puck than the standard Evo and produces a correspondingly stronger cup. It is a popular first super-automatic precisely because it removes the two things that frustrate beginners — not knowing what the machine wants, and drinks that taste thin. Owners report it holding up well in heavy use, with one logging over 1,300 drinks in under a year without a hiccup. Full owner insights →
De'Longhi Magnifica Plus vs Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus: common questions
Which is cheaper, the De'Longhi Magnifica Plus 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 Plus 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 Plus or the Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus?
The De'Longhi Magnifica Plus 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 Plus and the Gaggia Cadorna Barista Plus?
The De'Longhi Magnifica Plus 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.