Delonghi Magnifica espresso routine, is it really just fill and press?

[Thomas Martinez]

Looking at the workflow to pull a basic shot with the Magnifica, it's rather simple. There's a single button for espresso and a 2x button to make a double shot (as opposed to two singles back to back). It's as simple as filling the water tanks, filling the bean hopper, placing a cup under the spout and pressing the button you want to start the shot. There's no tamping required and there's no need to adjust the grind since it's a fully automatic machine.
Does anyone else find that the 1-shot button and 2-shot button dispense different volumes of espresso? Or is it essentially the same coffee but taken twice in a row with the 2-shot button? Beyond the beans what do people feel is the most important parameter to adjusting when using these machines for espresso?
I ask because most discussions about espresso seem to be centered around the manual methods of espresso machines. The Magnifica, however, eliminates most of the technique required to extract espresso to fully automate the process. Therefore, does anyone have thoughts regarding whether the 1-shot button is well adjusted out of the box or do people find it necessary to adjust the programmable volume parameter on these models?

 

[Star]

The 2x button makes two singles back to back instead of a true double shot. You can hear it re-grind the portafilter during the cycle.

 

[Bewilder]

Mine has been running for about 4 years now and the factory setting for a single shot is far too short; around 25ml. I've had to adjust it to around 40ml to taste. Hold the button down while it's dispensing and release to control when it stops dispensing. It remembers your setting.

 

[Esca]

The 2x button makes two singles back to back instead of a true double shot. You can hear it re-grind the portafilter during the cycle.

wait does the 2x button make two pucks in the dump tray?

 

[Star]

wait does the 2x button make two pucks in the dump tray?

yes they are two separate pucks. It dumps the first one and then re-grinds the portafilter for the second shot.

 

[Clever Capuchin]

Bean freshness has the biggest impact on espresso shot quality from these machines. I've made terrible shots with stale supermarket beans versus excellent shots with beans roasted just 5 days ago from a local bean roaster. The machine itself isnt going to make a difference.

 

[British Un]

its a bean-to-cup whats there to dial in lol. Push button, drink coffee, move on with your day. People overthink these machines and want it to be a breville or whatever

 

[Dist]

Couple things worth knowing if you actualy want decent espresso shots out of your Magnifica.
First, the grind adjustment dial inside the bean hopper is the single biggest thing you can tweak on your Magnifica and most Magnifica owners never touch it. Only adjust it when the grinder is running and do it one click at a time.
Second, the factory setting for the grind is set to be relatively coarse to prevent the Magnifica from getting too choked up on the cheap coffee beans that are out there in abundance. This will result in weaker coffee being pulled by the machine by default. Two clicks more fine though and it’s much better.
Third, the coffee strength button (that little bean icon on the machine) actually changes the dose of ground coffee that is pushed through the machine, not the volume.
Finally, remember to descale the Magnifica regularly or the machine will eventually stop functioning properly and your coffee will begin to taste terrible.

 

[Esca]

Couple things worth knowing if you actualy want decent espresso shots out of your Magnifica.
First, the grind adjustment dial inside the bean hopper is the single biggest thing you can tweak on your Magnifica and most Magnifica owners never touch it. Only adjust it when the grind…

How do you know when you've gone too fine on the grind on the Magnifica? Does it stop pulling shots?

 

[Dist]

How do you know when you've gone too fine on the grind on the Magnifica? Does it stop pulling shots?

It will pull your shot but incredibly slowly and possibly give you almost nothing in your cup altogether. There is no error code though. Just back it off one click and you’ll be good.