De'Longhi Magnifica S vs Gaggia Magenta Plus
Quick take: The De'Longhi Magnifica S costs $49 less.
| Spec | De'Longhi Magnifica S | Gaggia Magenta Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Standout features | Milk Frother, Programmable, One-Touch, Adjustable Strength | Commercial Steam Wand, Full-Color Display, One-Touch Americano, Ceramic Burr Grinder, Pre-Ground Bypass Doser |
| Approx. price | ~$700 | ~$749 |
| Type | Super-Automatic | Super-Automatic |
| Boiler | Thermoblock | Single Boiler |
| Built-in grinder | Yes | Yes |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar | 15 bar |
| Water capacity | 60 oz | 60.8 oz |
| Warm-up time | 45 seconds | 45 seconds |
| Steam wand | Panarello | Commercial Manual |
| Basket type | — | — |
| Best for | Beginners | Compact Kitchens |
| Dimensions | 9.4 x 17.1 x 13.8 in | 8.8 x 17.1 x 14 in |
| Weight | 20.4 lbs | 17 lbs |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 year |
Pros & cons
De'Longhi Magnifica S
- ✓Easy one-touch operation
- ✓Built-in grinder
- ✓Compact for a super-auto
- ✓Good value
- ✗Basic milk frother
- ✗Not true barista-quality espresso
- ✗Plastic build
- ✗Limited customization
Gaggia Magenta Plus
- ✓1-hole commercial wand steams some of the best milk of any superauto
- ✓Slim sub-10-inch body with 6 inches of spout clearance for travel mugs
- ✓Color icon display makes on-the-fly strength and volume tweaks easy
- ✓One-touch Americano is rare at this price
- ✗No one-touch milk drinks - see the Magenta Prestige for the carafe
- ✗Five coffee presets is fewer than the Cadorna line
- ✗Manual steaming has a learning curve for superauto shoppers
- ✗1.8L tank loads from the rear, awkward under cabinets
What owners say
De'Longhi Magnifica S
The Magnifica S is the machine that introduced an enormous number of people to bean-to-cup coffee, and its reputation rests almost entirely on durability. Owners describe it in the language you use about appliances rather than hobbies: bombproof, reliable, and still going years later. One owner ran an older Magnifica S for a full decade before the display eventually stuck in descale mode — and even then the machine continued making drinks perfectly well; they replaced it because they were tired of looking at the message rather than because it had failed. Another describes three years of trouble-free service before selling it on. The honest assessment from those same owners is measured: not great coffee, but very good and comfortably beyond acceptable, which is a fair description of what this class of machine is for. Full owner insights →
De'Longhi Magnifica S vs Gaggia Magenta Plus: common questions
Which is cheaper, the De'Longhi Magnifica S or the Gaggia Magenta Plus?
The De'Longhi Magnifica S is the cheaper of the two at roughly $700, about $49 less than the Gaggia Magenta Plus at ~$749. Both figures are approximate list prices and street prices move with sales.
What is the difference in boiler design between the De'Longhi Magnifica S and the Gaggia Magenta Plus?
The De'Longhi Magnifica S uses a thermoblock and the Gaggia Magenta 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.