Philips 1200 vs 3200: Is the Upgrade Worth It in 2025?

Philips 1200 and 3200 are fully automatic espresso machines with intelligent brewing systems. Their intuitive touch displays, cafe-style steam wands for milk frothing, AquaClean filtration, and ceramic burr grinders are designed to produce unlimited great-tasting coffees under $700. 

However, the Philips 1200 is a starter coffee machine. Its beverage options and technical specifications are limited. For a finer coffee experience, you must look toward the Philips 3200 series. 

Let’s analyze the two instant espresso machines based on their price, features, coffee quality, milk frothers, water filters, portability, customer ratings, and more to help you pick the best brewmaster.

Philips 1200 Overview

Philips’ fully automatic espresso machines product listings start with Series 1200. The Philips 1200 – EP1220/04 is a starter coffee machine, perfect for making strong espresso shots and delicious cups of coffee within minutes. 

Its sleek touch display has 2 beverage settings. You can also adjust the strength and quantity of the output through its innovative ‘My Coffee Choice’ options. Whether you want to speed things up and get an espresso shot on the go or spend quality time with your loved one over a cup of coffee, both are possible thanks to the Philip 1200’s dual dispenser spouts. 

Unlike its newer counterparts, the Philips 1200 only comes with a classic milk frother, which is a stainless steel steam wand for heating the milk to its rich and creamy consistency. So, even though Philips 1200’s default settings only give you the option for espresso and coffee, you can put on your barista hat to transform the basics into velvety lattes, aromatic Americanos, and more.

Philips 1200

Enjoy 2 delicious coffee varieties at the touch of a button, featuring a classic milk frother for easy cappuccinos and lattes.

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Read Philips 1200 Full Review

REASONS TO BUY

• Fully automatic 
• Intuitive touch display
• 2 beverage settings 
• 12 ceramic grinder settings 
• Classic milk frother 
• Easy to use and clean 

REASONS TO AVOID

• The AquaClean filter needs to be bought separately 
• Loud grinding 
• It does not have an aroma seal

Philips 3200 Overview

Philips Series 3200 is two levels up from the 1200. The upgraded version of the Philips superautomatic espresso machine was released with a classic milk frother (EP3221/44) as well as a LatteGo milk frothing system (EP3241/54). 

While the Philips 3200 LatteGo model is popular for its high-speed and smooth milk frothing mechanism, it is pricier than the steam wand model and rarely available at retailers. Therefore, when comparing Philips 1200 and 3200, we will be analyzing the technical specifications and features of EP3221/44 (with classic milk frother) in detail.

The Philips 3200 espresso maker has 4 beverage settings, giving you the added options of Americano and Espresso lungo on its touch panel. Moreover, you can adjust the temperature and quantity of the beverage and the water hardness by selecting the appropriate setting on your ‘My Coffee Choice’ controls.

Philips 3200

Elevate your coffee experience with advanced features like a ceramic grinder and the LatteGo milk system for silky froth in seconds.

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Read Philips 3200 Full Review

REASONS TO BUY

• Fully automatic espresso machine 
• Simple touch control panel 
• 4 beverage settings 
• 12 ceramic grinder settings 
• Classic and LatteGo milk frothers
• Easy to use and clean 

REASONS TO AVOID

• The model with the LatteGo system is pricer (often unavailable)
• The coffee bean grinder is loud
• The variation in temperature settings isn’t great

Features and Specs Comparison – Philips 1200 vs 3200 

Coffee Roast Level, Flavor and Grinding

Customize your coffee the way you like! Philips 1200 and 3200 have conical ceramic burr grinders that exert pressure to grind coffee beans into fine powder. You get uniform and consistent grinds for flavorful espressos. 

Both Philips 1200 and 3200 have 12 grinder settings. You can twist the knob to adjust the grind between fine and coarse and make your brew taste as you desire.

The best part about Philips 1200’s and 3200’s 12-step grinders is that you can use any type of coffee roast and switch between beans and powder to create your unique blends of flavors and aroma. The machines come with a measuring scoop to add pre-ground coffee to the compartment. 

However, there is one major difference between the Philips 1200 and 3200. While there is an aroma seal on the lid of the 3200’s grinder, this feature is missing in Series 1200. So, with Philips 3200, you can rest assured that your coffee beans and pre-ground coffee will remain fresh, flavorful, and aromatic for days.

Functions and Settings 

The core functions of Philips 1200 and 3200 are quite similar. Both use the AquaClean water filtration system and brew group to make great-tasting espressos. However, one look at their touch control panels, and you can tell that 3200 offers a variety of settings while 1200’s options are limited.

With the Philips 1200, you can only make single or double shots of espresso and everyday coffee. However, with the Philips 3200, you can select either espresso, espresso lungo, coffee, or Americano to get your chosen beverage within seconds. 

Another difference in their ‘My Coffee Choice’ settings is that the Philips 3200 allows you to adjust the temperature of your beverage, along with its volume and strength. You can get a mildly warm cup of coffee or water at 70 °C or a steaming hot beverage at around 82 °C. But this option is unavailable with Philips 1200.

Milk Frothing 

Both Philips 1200 and 3200 come with a classic milk frother. The stainless steam wand is detachable and can be cleaned after each use for smooth milk frothing. The problem is that you will have to invest in a stainless steel pitcher to froth the milk for delicious lattes and cappuccinos.

But if you do not mind spending a little extra for more convenience, you can upgrade to Philips 3200 LatteGo (EP3241/54) and instantly add silky froth to your coffee from a separate spout. The premium-grade LatteGo carafe for auto milk frothing is detachable and dishwasher-safe to support deep cleaning.

Water Filter System

Philips 1200 and 3200 are compatible with the AquaClean water filtration system. The difference is that the price of the 3200 espresso maker includes one AquaClean filter, which can clean and purify up to 5,000 cups of water without descaling. 

However, with Philips 1200, you will have to purchase the AquaClean filter separately. An original AquaClean water filter costs between $20 and $35 (depending on the retailer). 

The benefits of AquaClean water filtration include odor reduction, absorption of impurities like chlorine and heavy metals, and preventing limescale build-up in the water tank and other components.

Power Consumption 

You will need around 1,500 W of electricity to brew a cup of coffee in the Philips 1200 and 3200. Although this may feel like high power consumption, most coffee machines in the market use between 600 W and 1,500 W of power to brew beverages. 

Portability

Philips 1200 and 3200 are compact and portable coffee machines. Both weigh nearly 16.5 lbs (7.5 Kg) and are 246 x 371 x 433  mm in dimensions, making it a breeze to move them around the kitchen as you clean and reset the countertops.

However, the LatteGo version of Philips 3200 weighs 17.6 lbs (8 kg) because of the added weight of the milk carafe. It must be noted that the capacity of the detachable pitcher is 0.26 liters. 

Price and Warranty – Philips 1200 vs 3200

Both Philips 1200 and 3200 are reasonably priced as long as you are opting for the classic milk frothers. The retail price of the Philips 1200 is $499.00, and you may even get it in installments from sellers like Best Buy and Seattle Coffee Gear. For example, the Philips Series 1200 is available at Best Buy for $38.34 per month on a 12-month financing plan. 

In contrast, the Philips 3200 costs $699.99. However, its upgraded version, EP3241/54, with a LatteGo system and 5 beverage settings, is priced at $999.99 and may only be available at Amazon. 

Service warranty for Philips 3200 and 1200 is up to 2 years. So, if you need repairs or encounter any problems, you can go to your nearest Philips service center and seek assistance.

Better Reviews and Ratings – Philips 1200 or 3200?

Customer reviews and ratings on several platforms indicate that while the Philips 3200 and 1200 offer good value for the money paid and are 87% user-recommended, they have their weak spots, especially regarding the quality of the coffee, durability of the machine, noisy grinder, and messy/ leaky spouts. 

On average, both Philips 1200 and 3200 are 4.3-star products, regardless of whichever model of 3200 you pick. The difference is that while 66 customers have reviewed Philips 1200 and given it a 4.3-star rating, Series 3200 was reviewed by 235 customers. 

So, based on the number of reviews, we can say that the Philips 3200 meets customers’ expectations a little better than the Philips 1200. 

Final Verdict – Philips 1200 or 3200? 

The choice between Philips 1200 and 3200 often boils down to affordability and convenience. 

If you are looking for a fully automatic espresso machine on a budget and can get by with basic features and functionality, the Philips 1200 is a good option for you. It costs $200 less than the Philips 3200 and includes all the core features like AquaClean water filtration, a ceramic burr grinder with 12 settings, a classic milk frother, and a user-friendly touch display. 

However, if greater convenience is your top priority then don’t be afraid to level up with Series 3200. Its 4 beverage settings, LatteGo milk frothing system (optional), and an included AquaClean filter offer the best bang for the buck.

For those looking for an in-between, check out our Philips 2200 vs 3200 comparison blog. With additional settings and benefits, the Philips 2200 is only $50 pricier than the series 1200.