Philips 3200 vs 4300 – Comparing Features and Performance

The coffee competition is heating up with the Philips 3200 and 4300 fully automatic espresso machines. With plenty of noteworthy functions and features, the two brewmasters are transforming the morning coffee ritual within the $599 and $899 price brackets. 

However, only one can emerge victorious in this brewing battle. Let’s look at their product details, prices, specifications, customer reviews, and more to decide which – the Philips 3200 or 4300 – reigns supreme in your kitchen.

Philips 3200 Overview

The Philips Series 3200 is the Dutch brand’s third edition of fully automatic espresso machines. Like the Series 2200, it is also available in two variations – the classic milk frother solution and the LatteGo technology. 

For example, the Philips 3200 (EP3221/44) includes a classic milk frother for making delicious, creamy lattes. On the other hand, a superior version of the Philips 3200, model numbers EP3241/54, is available with the LatteGo milk frothing technology and can produce up to 5 specialty coffees at the touch of a button. However, in this Philips 3200 vs 4300 comparison blog, we will only analyze the features and specifications of the Philips 3200 – EP3221/44 in detail to comprehend how the two milk frothing solutions are distinct. 

Now priced at $599, the Philips 3200 is designed to make 4 preset beverages within minutes. Its aroma strength, temperature, and quantity settings ensure you get customized drinks each time. 

Philips 3200 LatteGo

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 LatteGo Full Review

Philips 4300 Overview

The Philips Series 4300 is one version up. Therefore, its design includes upgraded features and settings like up to 8 preset coffee varieties, the option to create user profiles for customization, and LatteGo milk technology. 

However, like its predecessor, the Philips Series 3200, the Philips 4300 is also available in a classic milk frother model. The Philips 4300 (EP4321/54) includes a stainless steam wand (classic milk frother) for steaming and foaming milk to its velvety texture. This relatively cheaper model gives you the default option to make 5 specialty coffees. In this blog, however, we will focus on the Philips 4300 (EP4347/94) to help you understand the LatteGo tech and its benefits. 

The Philips 4300’s $799 price tag includes an AquaClean water filter, a sharp-edged ceramic burr grinder with 12 settings, and a detailed thin film transistor (TFT) display that allows you to adjust aroma strength, coffee quantity, and temperature, and the water hardness level.  

Philips 4300 LatteGo

Experience the perfect blend of convenience and quality with the Philips 4300 LatteGo. This automatic espresso machine delivers delicious, freshly ground coffee at the touch of a button

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Read Philips 4300 LatteGo Full Review

Features and Specs Comparison – Philips 3200 vs 4300 

The following side-by-side comparison table lists the technical specifications and features of Philips 3200 and 4300. 

Coffee Roast Level, Flavor and Grinding

The Philips 3200 and 4300 superautomatic espresso machines are equipped with hard-wearing ceramic burr grinders. Unlike blade grinders, burr grinders ensure uniform grinding, crushing the coffee beans into evenly sized pieces. Moreover, the grind size can be adjusted using the 12-step knob adjustments, from ultra-fine to coarse, to ensure that precise flavor is extracted from the coffee beans. 

Each ceramic burr grinder is made to last for at least 20,000 cups of coffee. So, whether you prefer light roast, medium-to-dark, or dark roast coffee beans, rest assured that you will effortlessly get flavorsome coffee from freshly grounded beans. 

Besides its bean-to-cup functionality, the Philips 4300 and 3200 allow you to use pre-ground coffee. A small compartment is next to the grinder where you can throw in some coffee powder, close the lid, and let the brewmaster work magic. 

Functions and Settings 

The core functions and features of the Philips 3200 and 4300 are the same. For example, both have a touch display that allows you to turn the machine ON/OFF, select any preset coffee, adjust the aroma strength, temperature, and quantity of the coffee, and descale the machine. Secondly, both have a removable brew group for easy cleaning and maintenance. 

However, the Philips Series 4300 takes its features up a notch by including custom profile creation in its settings. You can create 2 user profiles on its ‘My Coffee Choice Profiles’ option and add preferences so the machine can store the recipes for later.

Once the correct user profile is selected, the Philips 4300 will automatically customize the coffee by choosing the preferred variety and adjusting the aroma strength, quantity, and temperature. 

Moreover, with the Philips 4300, you can make 8 specialty coffees in the comfort of your home. You get default settings for:

In contrast, with the Philips 3200, you can only make 4 hot beverages, and it does not allow you to create user or guest profiles. 

• Americano
• Coffee
• Espresso 
• Espresso lungo

Milk Frothing 

With the Philips 3200 and 4300, you can neutralize the bitterness of black coffee by adding sweet, silky smooth, and foamy milk to the cup. Both the superautomatic espresso machines include milk frothers. However, while one enables classic milk frothing through a stainless steel wand, the other uses LatteGo tech to spin milk at high speed and create foam. 

The Philips 3200 EP3221/44 comes with a steam wand. It jets out pressurized air into the milk, steaming and heating it to a foamy consistency. We recommend pouring the milk into a stainless steel pitcher for frothing. Also, note that the steam wand is detachable and must be washed after each use to unblock the pinholes. 

In comparison, the Philips 4300 EP4347/94 includes a LatteGo milk carafe. You must pour the milk into the carafe, put the lid back on, and clip it to the hook. Press ‘milk froth’ and let the machine spin, and heat the milk into a velvety foam. Like the steam wand, the LatteGo carafe is removable, enabling easy cleaning. 

Water Filter System

The Philips 3200 and 4300 are compatible with the AquaClean water filter. In fact, the first filter is included in the price, giving you a saving of up to $20. Installing the filter in the water tank ensures you get up to 5,000 cups of coffee from clean and pure water.

The AquaClean water filter uses ion exchange technology to remove impurities and chemicals like chlorine, calcium, and magnesium from drinking water. As a result, the water’s hardness level drops, becoming 99.9% safe for human consumption. Moreover, the mechanism prevents limescale buildup and increases the machine’s lifespan. 

Power Consumption 

Both the Philips 3200 and 4300 consume around 1,500 Watts of electricity. Hence, they can be classified as power-hungry espresso machines because, on average, coffee machines consume between 700 and 1,200 Watts. 

However, to counter that, Philips has added an eco setting to all its automatic espresso machines. If enabled, the machine automatically goes on standby once the coffee is ready and you are not around to switch off the power button. It dims the lights on the touch-screen display, conserves power, and reduces water consumption.  

Portability

The Philips 3200 and 4300 can easily be moved around the kitchen or office pantries for deep cleaning or makeovers. Both are designed and manufactured to be sleek, compact, and portable. 

The Philips 3200 weighs nearly 16.53 lbs (7.5 kg), whereas the Philips 4300 weighs around 17.64 lbs (8.0 kg). LatteGo milk carafe’s addition to the Philips 4300 makes it slightly heavier. Nonetheless, both can be carried to vacation homes if you cannot part with them even for a day. 

Price and Warranty – Philips 3200 vs 4300

The price difference between the Philips 3200 and 4300 coffee machines is around $300. The Philips Series 3200 with classic milk frother can be bought for $599. It is available at online retail stores like Amazon and Best Buy. 

It was interesting to note that Walmart is selling the same model of the Philips 3200 for $844.04. While we do not have an answer for why the cost of the Philips 3200 varies so significantly at Walmart, we can state with certainty that you can purchase the product in monthly installments and for as low as $44 per month with the Affirm payment method. Moreover, the purchase includes free shipping and free 30-day returns.  

On the contrary, the Philips 4300 with LatteGo milk technology costs around $799 on Amazon and $899 on Walmart. Again, Walmart allows customers to purchase the product in installments instead of paying the entire amount upfront. Customers can select a 12, 18, or 24-month payment plan and pay as low as $46/month to pay off the espresso machine. Free shipping and free 30-day returns are also available with the purchase of the Philips 4300. 

Both the Philips 4300 and 3200 come with a 2-year manufacturer warranty. You may contact your nearest Philips service center to troubleshoot problems or replace/repair the espresso machines if you encounter malfunctions or damages within this period. 

Better Reviews and Ratings – Philips 3200 or 4300?

So, if you were wondering which is a consumer favorite, the Philips 3200 or 4300, here is a detailed breakdown. The average customer rating of the Philips 3200 espresso machine is 4.375 out of 5 stars. 

On the Philips official product page for Series 3200 model number EP3221/44, the fully automatic coffee maker has a 4.3-star rating, and based on its 237 reviews, it has become an 86% user-recommended product. Verified buyers have appreciated the coffee machine for its self-cleaning mechanism, an array of options, and easy user interface.

Meanwhile, the Philips 4300 is close behind with a median customer rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. Although Series 4300’s customer satisfaction levels on the Philips product page are higher than the Philips 3200, on other platforms, it has been downrated because of producing “weak, watery coffee”, breaking down after a year, and not keeping the temperature of the coffee hot enough. 

Final Verdict – Philips 3200 or 4300? 

So now that we have given you a lowdown on the specifications, settings, cost, and customer ratings and reviews of the Philips 3200 and 4300, it is time to declare a winner. 

The Philips 3200 costs between $599 and $844, offers 4 specialty coffees, and includes a classic milk frother for enriching the coffee experience. However, when you perform a cost-benefit analysis, it seems like the Philips 3200 is overpriced and provides less value for the money paid. On the other hand, the Philips 4300 is within the $799 and $899 price brackets and offers superior functionality with its 8 preset coffee varieties, LatteGo milk frother, and custom user profiles. Hence, if you can fork out $300 more, go for the Philips 4300 and get a worthy upgrade. 

Lastly, we recommend our Philips 3200 vs 5400 comparison blog to those interested in a premium superautomatic espresso machine. The Philips 5400 promises a luxe coffee experience with 12 beverages, LatteGo milk tech, four user profiles, and extra espresso shots.