Review · Bean-to-cup machines
De'Longhi Magnifica S review: the long-running budget bean-to-cup
The Magnifica S has been De'Longhi's go-to budget bean-to-cup machine for years. Here's what it costs in the UK, which model code to look for, what owners mention and who should skip it.
This De’Longhi Magnifica S review looks at one of the longest-running budget bean-to-cup machines on UK shelves, and asks whether it still makes sense today. The version we’ve focused on is the ECAM250.33.TB, which is £299.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026 (prices can change). We haven’t tested this in person. Our verdict is based on Currys’ and De’Longhi UK’s published specs, UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026, and owner comments on De’Longhi UK’s review page, which we link below. Read how we compare.
The short version: it’s a simple, no-frills machine for fresh-ground black coffee, with a steam wand for milk if you’re willing to learn. If you want milky drinks at the touch of a button, look elsewhere.
De’Longhi Magnifica S review: the short answer
Buy the Magnifica S if you want to move from pods or instant to freshly ground beans without spending much or learning a manual espresso machine. You press a button, it grinds, tamps and brews. Currys lists 13 grind settings and three strength settings on the ECAM250.33.TB, which gives you room to adjust for different beans.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who drinks a latte every morning and doesn’t want to steam milk by hand. There’s no milk carafe on this model.
Choose a different De’Longhi if you’d like a more modern control panel. Our De’Longhi Magnifica S vs Evo comparison sets the two side by side, and our De’Longhi Magnifica Evo review explains its model codes. De’Longhi Magnifica Evo: See it at De’Longhi for De’Longhi Magnifica Evo (opens in a new tab)
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants the newest design. The Magnifica S is an older layout, and that’s part of why it’s cheap.
What it costs right now
- Currys (ECAM250.33.TB, titanium black): £299.00, in stock, checked 3 Oct 2026. Currys didn’t show a was price for the machine on the day we checked, but prices can change. See the Magnifica S at Currys
- De’Longhi UK (ECAM22.110.B, black): £349.99, in stock, checked 3 Oct 2026. See the Magnifica S at De’Longhi UK
- Amazon UK: Check price at Amazon. We couldn’t load a UK price on the day we checked, so we’ve left it out.
These aren’t identical machines, so the £50.99 gap isn’t a like-for-like saving. The Currys model lists more one-touch drinks, as we explain below.
Who it isn’t for: anyone hoping for a bean-to-cup machine well under £250. At around £300, this sits at the lower end, but it isn’t the cheapest way into fresh beans.
Which Magnifica S are you buying?
“Magnifica S” is a family name rather than a single machine, so the model code matters.
- ECAM250.33.TB is the titanium-black version Currys sells. Currys lists four one-touch drinks (espresso, double espresso, coffee and long black) plus hot water, an LED display, button and dial controls, 13 grind settings and three strength settings.
- ECAM22.110.B is the black version De’Longhi UK sells. De’Longhi lists button and dial controls, two one-touch drinks and a traditional milk frother.
If you’re comparing listings, match the code on the product page with the one you want. Some older reviews online describe the ECAM22.110.B, so their drink counts won’t always match the Currys model. We go into more detail on the codes in our Magnifica S vs Evo comparison.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who’d rather not compare codes. Pick one retailer listing and check its drinks list before you pay.
Controls, grinder and drinks
The Magnifica S keeps things physical. You choose a drink with a button and set strength with a dial, rather than tapping through a screen. Currys describes the ECAM250.33.TB’s grinder as having 13 settings, and lists three strength settings and a variable cup size, with an adjustable cup stand so taller mugs fit underneath.
It takes whole beans or pre-ground coffee, according to Currys, which is handy if one person in the house drinks decaf. Currys lists a bean dispenser that holds up to 250g, a 1.8-litre water tank, a 15-bar pump, Thermoblock heating and 1,450W of power.
What you don’t get is a long menu. There are no milk recipes at one touch, no user profiles and no app. For some people, that’s the appeal.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants to save favourite drinks for several people or control the machine from a phone.
Milk: the steam wand
Every Magnifica S we looked at froths milk with a manual wand. Currys calls it an adjustable steam wand, and De’Longhi UK calls it a traditional milk frother. You fill a jug, hold it under the wand and judge the texture and temperature yourself.
It takes a little practice, and the first few attempts may be too foamy or too hot. Once you’ve got the hang of it, you have more control than with many automatic carafes, which is why some coffee fans prefer a wand. If you’d rather skip it altogether, a separate frother can do the job; our guide to the best milk frothers covers UK options.
Who it isn’t for: busy households that want one-touch cappuccinos. You’d need to spend more on a model with an automatic milk system.
Size, cleaning and descaling
Currys lists the ECAM250.33.TB at 360mm high, 240mm wide and 440mm deep, with a weight of 9.2kg and a 1m power cord (checked 3 Oct 2026). De’Longhi UK lists the ECAM22.110.B at 230 x 430 x 340mm. Either way, it’s a compact machine by bean-to-cup standards, but check the depth against your worktop.
Currys lists a descaling programme, an integrated water filter and automatic power shut-off. In the box, according to Currys, you get De’Longhi’s EcoDecalk descaler, a hard water test strip and a water filter. De’Longhi UK says the removable drip tray grid on the ECAM22.110.B can go in the dishwasher. De’Longhi EcoDecalk descaler: Check price at Amazon for De’Longhi EcoDecalk descaler (opens in a new tab)
Descaling is the job to keep on top of with any bean-to-cup machine, especially in hard-water areas. Testing your water when you set it up tells you how often it’s likely to be needed.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a machine that never asks for upkeep. Regular rinsing, emptying and descaling come with the territory.
What owners mention
De’Longhi UK collects owner reviews of the ECAM22.110.B on Feefo. Several we read liked getting fresh-ground coffee at home without fuss. Among the complaints, one owner found it quite loud, if only briefly, and another said the descale light came on quite soon after purchase. You can read them yourself on De’Longhi UK’s Feefo review page.
Owner comments are individual experiences rather than a measure of reliability, so treat them as things to be aware of rather than a verdict. Currys lists a two-year manufacturer’s guarantee for the ECAM250.33.TB.
Downsides
- Manual milk only: no carafe, so lattes take effort.
- Confusing codes: the ECAM250.33.TB and ECAM22.110.B differ in drinks and price.
- Basic controls: buttons, a dial and an LED display, with no app or profiles.
- Noise: one owner on De’Longhi UK’s review page found it quite loud, if briefly.
- Upkeep: descaling and cleaning need doing regularly.
Alternatives worth a look
De’Longhi Magnifica Start. De’Longhi’s entry-level bean-to-cup machine, also with a manual wand. Our De’Longhi Magnifica Start review covers its price and who it suits. De’Longhi Magnifica Start ECAM220.22.GB: See it at Appliances Direct for De’Longhi Magnifica Start ECAM220.22.GB (opens in a new tab)
De’Longhi Magnifica Evo. A newer layout with a touch panel and colour icons. See our Magnifica S vs Evo comparison for what the extra buys.
Other machines under £500. Our guide to the best bean-to-cup machines under £500 compares more options, including some with automatic milk.
Who it isn’t for: the Start isn’t for anyone who wants one-touch milk, since it also uses a manual wand; the Evo isn’t for anyone who’d rather not compare model codes, because its versions differ too; and the under-£500 guide isn’t for anyone already set on a De’Longhi.
FAQ
Does the De’Longhi Magnifica S make lattes automatically? No. It has a manual steam wand, so you froth the milk yourself.
How many grind settings does the Magnifica S have? Currys lists 13 grind settings for the ECAM250.33.TB.
Can you use ground coffee in the Magnifica S? Yes. Currys lists both whole beans and ground coffee.
How much is the Magnifica S? £299.00 at Currys for the ECAM250.33.TB, or £349.99 at De’Longhi UK for the ECAM22.110.B, both checked 3 Oct 2026. Prices can change.
Verdict
De'Longhi Magnifica S ECAM250.33.TB bean-to-cup coffee machine (titanium black)
A plain, button-and-dial bean-to-cup machine that grinds fresh beans and makes black coffee at a press, with a steam wand you work yourself for milk. At £299.00 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change) it's a sensible way into fresh-ground coffee, as long as you're happy to froth milk by hand and check the model code before you buy.
Pros
- Pro: £299.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change
- Pro: 13 grind settings and 3 strength settings, according to Currys
- Pro: Four one-touch drinks plus hot water on the ECAM250.33.TB, per Currys
- Pro: Takes whole beans or ground coffee, so decaf is easy
- Pro: Descaler, water hardness test strip and water filter in the box, according to Currys
Cons
- Con: Milk is all manual: you steam it yourself with the wand
- Con: Several model codes share the name, with different drinks and prices
- Con: No screen menus or app: buttons, a dial and an LED display only
- Con: One owner on De'Longhi UK's review page found it quite loud
- Best for
- First-time bean-to-cup buyers who mostly drink espresso, americanos or the odd hand-frothed latte, and want to keep the outlay near £300.
- Who it isn't for
- Anyone who wants lattes and cappuccinos at one touch, or a touchscreen with lots of drinks.
See it on the maker's site: De'Longhi's UK page for the Magnifica S (ECAM22.110.B)Link: De'Longhi's UK page for the Magnifica S (ECAM22.110.B). Not an affiliate link.
Sources
- See the Magnifica S at Currys (currys.co.uk)
- See the Magnifica S at De'Longhi UK (delonghi.com)
- De'Longhi UK's Feefo review page (feefo.com)
Related
- De'Longhi Magnifica S vs Evo: which Magnifica should you buy?
- De'Longhi Magnifica Evo review: which Evo model to buy and what it costs
- De'Longhi Rivelia vs Magnifica Evo
- De'Longhi Magnifica Evo vs Philips 3300: the mid-price bean-to-cup choice
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