Philips 1200 and 2200 superautomatic espresso coffee machines are the most affordable listings in the Philips product catalog. Valued under $550, Series 1200 and 2200 are ideal for coffee drinkers who want their espresso shots without much fuss and fancy.
Philips 2200, launched after the 1200 model, is powered by LatteGo technology and offers a richer blend through its cappuccino setting. But 1200 should not be taken lightly. Its classic steam wand adds the right feel, helping you hone your latte-art skills.
We have compared the Philips 1200 and 2200 coffee machines based on metrics like affordability, grinding power, functions and settings, milk frothing, water filtration, customer reviews, and more to help you pick the best buy.
Philips 1200 Overview
Philips Series 1200 EP1220/04 is also fondly known as Philips Carina among coffee lovers. It was launched as a starter fully automatic espresso machine with a classic milk frother. Available in a sleek cashmere gray body for less than $500, the Philips 1200 has an easy-to-use touch display.
Its intelligent brewing system deliciously blends freshly grounded coffee beans and hot water to create aromatic espressos and regular coffees within a minute. Its stainless steel steam wand froths the milk just right, allowing you to experiment with latte art like a true barista in training.
You can use the Philips 1200’s user-friendly touch display to select your beverage, adjust the quantity and strength of your coffee, purify the water, or descale the water tank. Built for “enjoying a cup of coffee at your convenience”, the Philips 1200 has dishwasher-safe parts for quick and thorough cleaning.
Philips 1200
Enjoy 2 delicious coffee varieties at the touch of a button, featuring a classic milk frother for easy cappuccinos and lattes.
Read Philips 1200 Full Review
REASONS TO BUY
- Easy to use and clean
- Lightweight and compact
- Dishwasher-safe milk frother and drip tray
- A 2-year manufacturer warranty
- An affordable alternative
REASONS TO AVOID
- Offers 2 basic coffee options
- The price does not include an AuqaClean water filter
- Auto-grinder is loud
- A stainless steel milk pitcher will be needed for the steam wand
Philips 2200 Overview
The Philips 2200 series is a range of fully automatic espresso machines that allow you to customize your morning coffee with a single touch of a button. The two most popular models available in this series are EP2230/14 and EP2220/14. Episode 2220/14 of Philips 2200 includes a steam wand for classic milk frothing, while EP2230 comes with a LatteGo frother for a silky-smooth frothy coffee.
With Philip 2200’s three default beverage settings, you can make delicious espresso, cappuccino, or coffee just the way you like. Its advanced settings allow you to choose between mild or intense brewing, ensuring you get the perfect aroma, taste, and temperature each time.
The Philips 2200’s coffee magic is powered by its durable ceramic grinder. You can choose any one of the 12 grinder settings to get the desired flavor from your freshly grounded coffee beans.
Philips 2200
Brew aromatic coffee with an intuitive touch display and customizable settings, ensuring perfect drinks every time.
REASONS TO BUY
- Sleek and portable
- Easy user interface with touch display
- Automatic cleaning
- It comes with an aroma seal
- Includes a 2-year warranty
REASONS TO AVOID
- Limited coffee options and settings
- The milk frother is loud
- Its milk spout is messy
- Plastic body
Features and Specs Comparison – Philips 1200 vs 2200
The following side-by-side comparison table lists the technical specifications and features of Philips 1200 and 2200.
| Comparison | Philips 1200 Carina | Philips 2200 Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fully automatic | Fully automatic |
| Model No. | EP1220/04 | EP2230/14 |
| Retail Price | $499.00 | $549.99 |
| Dimensions | 246 x 371 x 433 mm | 246 x 371 x 433 mm |
| No. of Beverages | 2 | 3 |
| Grinder Settings | 12 | 12 |
| Temperature Settings | 3 | 3 |
| Water Tank Capacity | 1.8 litres | 1.8 litres |
| Coffee Bean Capacity | 275 grams | 275 grams |
| Material | Plastic | Plastic |
| Color | Cashmere gray | Matte black |
| Weight | 7.5 Kg | 8 Kg |
| Display | Touch screen | Touch screen |
| Filter Compatibility | AquaClean | AquaClean |
| Milk Solution | Classic milk frother | LatteGo |
| Power Consumption | 1500 W | 1500 W |
| Pump Pressure | 15 bar | 15 bar |
| Coffee Powder Option | Yes | Yes |
| Double Cap | Yes | Yes |
| Milk Double Cap | No | No |
| Removable Brew Group | Yes | Yes |
| Aroma Seal | No | Yes |
| Guided Descaling | Yes | Yes |
| Service Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
| Consumer Rating | 4.3 out of 5 stars | 4.7 out of 5 stars |
Coffee Roast Level, Flavor and Grinding
Both Philips 1200 and 2200 include a ceramic burr grinder, which will always be better than coffee machines with blade grinders. It is because, unlike blade grinders, burr grinders provide uniform and consistent grinding for great-tasting coffee.
Philips 1200 and 2200 offer 12 grinding settings, ranging from fine to coarse, allowing you to adjust the flavor of the coffee with a twist of the knob.
Now, if you specifically prefer ceramic grinders over stainless steel because of their noiseless operation, then you will be a little disappointed. Philips 2200 and 1200 ceramic grinders are noisy and can easily double as an alarm clock to wake up your snoring spouse and slumbering school kids.
You can try tossing any coffee roast in the grinder, and rest assured that the grinding size, aroma, and flavor will be perfect for a cafe-quality coffee.
Functions and Settings
Consumerism has a simple rule. The more you pay, the more you get. The same rule applies to the functions and settings of Philips 1200 vs 2200. Philips 1200 is a basic automatic espresso machine, giving you two options for beverages. You can make espresso or regular coffee by selecting either one of the two options on the touch-screen display. Moreover, you get 3 temperature settings to adjust the water hardness level.
In contrast, the Philips 2200 ups the game by adding one more option to the list of beverages. You can select an espresso, cappuccino, or a regular coffee for your ideal morning dose. Like Philips 1200, you get 3 temperature settings for water hardness level. However, its additional feature for customizing the aroma strength allows you to pick between 3 levels – mildest to strongest, for an enriching experience.
Milk Frothing
The real difference between Philips 1200 and 2200 is in their unique milk frothing systems. The Philips Carina 1200 express machine only comes with a classic milk frother. A stainless steel steam wand turns the milk into a silky-smooth creamy froth for barista-style lattes. However, there is only one steam setting for the frother, and you will have to use your own stainless steel pitcher to contain and steam the milk.
On the other hand, Philips 2200 (EP2230/14) uses the LatteGo solution for milk frothing. The automatic milk frother has a holder with a separate spout to ensure you instantly get steaming hot, frothy milk and espresso in a single cup for a delicious cappuccino. The LatteGo container can hold up to 0.265 liters of milk, which is enough for 2 cappuccinos or 1 Latte Machito.
Water Filter System
Philips 1200 and 2200 espresso machines include an AquaClean water filtration technology. It means that you can make up to 5,000 cups of coffee from clean and purified water without descaling.
However, the difference between Philips 1200 and 2200 water filtration tech is that the cost of 2200 includes an AquaClean filter, while Carina 1200 users will have to purchase one separately.
You must also note that the water tanks of 1200 and 2200 can hold up to 1.8 liters of water.
Power Consumption
Both the models of Philips’ fully automated espresso machines consume 1500 W of power, which is what most coffee makers use on average.
The good thing is that this is the brewing power consumption, and you only have to use the machine for 20 to 30 seconds to brew the perfect shot of espresso.
Portability
Both Philips 2200 and 1200 are considered portable and can be moved around the kitchen to suit its layout.
Philips 1200 weighs around 16.5 lbs (7.5 kg). In comparison, the Philips 2200 is slightly heavier, weighing nearly 17.6 lbs (8 kg), because of its LatteGo container.
Price and Warranty – Philips 1200 vs 2200
So, which is the most affordable option? Philips 1200 or 2200?
The answer is BOTH. Philips is known to deliver premium quality at a reasonable price. If you are looking for the best bang for your buck, go with Carina 1200 for aromatic espressos or pick 2200 for rich and creamy cappuccinos.
The cost of Philips 1200 varies between $470 and $499, depending on the retailer. It is currently available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Seattle Coffee Gear with a 2-year manufacturer warranty.
Whereas, the retail price for Philips 2200 with the LatteGo milk solution ranges between $545 and $549, again, depending on the retailer. It is being sold on Amazon and Seattle Coffee Gear and includes a 2-year manufacturer warranty and free delivery.
Better Reviews and Ratings – Philips 1200 or 2200?
Regardless of where you look, Philips 1200 and 2200 pop up as 4-star coffee machines. Consumers in the USA and beyond have recommended these Philips models for their value for money, ease of use, great flavor, high blending power, and easy cleaning mechanism.
On average, the Philips 2200 has a better consumer rating compared to Philips 1200. However, one can argue that it is because the reviews for the Philips 1200 are nearly three times more than the Philips 2200. For example, on Philips’ product page, Series 1200 has 66 reviews and 87% user recommendations, while Series 2200 has 25 reviews and a 91% recommendation rate.
| Platform | Philips 1200 | Philips 2200 |
|---|---|---|
| Philips | 4.3 stars | 4.7 stars |
| Amazon | 4.2 stars | 4.1 stars |
| Seattle Coffee Gear | 4.5 stars | 4.6 stars |
| Best Buy | 4.3 stars | N/A |
Final Verdict – Philips 1200 or 2200?
At the core, Philips 1200 and 2200 are quite similar with their durable plastic body, modern touch display, AquaClean water filtration, dual spouts with adjustable heights, and ceramic burr grinders.
However, additions like the LatteGo milk frother, a cappuccino button, and an aroma seal make the Philips 2200 a better buy compared to the Carina 1200.
For just $50 more, you get all this and an AquaClean filter to make up to 5,000 cups of hot beverages with clean and purified water.
But if you are looking for more beverage options and love the functions and specifications of the 2200, read our Philips 2200 vs 3200 comparison blog. With slight modifications, the Philips 3200 enhances the experience with its 4 beverage varieties.
