Comparison · Bean-to-cup machines
De'Longhi Magnifica S vs Evo: which Magnifica should you buy?
The Magnifica Evo costs £70 more than the Magnifica S ECAM22.110.B at De'Longhi UK (checked 3 Oct 2026). Here's what the extra buys, the model codes to watch and who should save.
If you’re comparing the De’Longhi Magnifica S vs Evo, you’re choosing between De’Longhi’s established button-and-dial bean-to-cup machine and its newer touch-panel model. On De’Longhi UK, the Magnifica S ECAM22.110.B is £349.99 and the Magnifica Evo ECAM290.21.B is £419.99 (both in stock, checked 3 Oct 2026), so the Evo costs £70 more. We haven’t tested this in person. Our verdict is based on De’Longhi UK’s and Currys’ published specs and UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
Both machines grind beans, brew at the press of a button and froth milk with a manual wand. The differences are the controls, the number of one-touch drinks and, depending on where you shop, the price. There’s also a twist: “Magnifica S” covers more than one model code, and the cheapest one we found isn’t the one De’Longhi UK sells.
De’Longhi Magnifica S vs Evo: the short answer
Choose the Magnifica S if you want the simplest controls and the lowest outlay. The ECAM22.110.B uses physical buttons and a dial for strength, and De’Longhi UK lists two one-touch drinks. If you’d like four one-touch drinks for less, Currys sells the Magnifica S ECAM250.33.TB at £299.00 (in stock, checked 3 Oct 2026; prices can change), which is £120 less than the Evo at De’Longhi UK.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a modern touch panel with picture icons, or anyone who’d find a dial and two drink buttons too basic.
Choose the Magnifica Evo if you’d like a soft-touch panel with colour icons and four one-touch recipes from the brand’s own site. It’s £419.99 at De’Longhi UK (checked 3 Oct 2026).
Who it isn’t for: buyers choosing on value. The Evo lists the same 1.8-litre tank, 15-bar pump, 1450W power and manual milk frother as the Magnifica S, so most of the extra goes on the control panel.
Skip both if you want lattes and cappuccinos at one touch. Every model here froths milk with a wand you control yourself. Our guide to bean-to-cup machines under £500 covers other options, and our Philips 2200 vs 3200 comparison looks at an automatic milk system.
What they cost right now
These are the prices we found on 3 Oct 2026:
- Magnifica S ECAM22.110.B: £349.99 at De’Longhi UK, in stock, checked 3 Oct 2026. We didn’t find this code at Currys.
- Magnifica S ECAM250.33.TB: £299.00 at Currys, in stock, checked 3 Oct 2026. Currys doesn’t show a was price for the machine, but prices can change.
- Magnifica Evo ECAM290.21.B: £419.99 at De’Longhi UK, in stock, checked 3 Oct 2026.
On De’Longhi UK, the gap between the S and the Evo is £70. Against the Currys ECAM250.33.TB, it’s £120. We also looked at Amazon UK, but we couldn’t confirm a UK price there, so we’ve left it out.
- See the Magnifica S ECAM22.110.B at De’Longhi UK
- See the Magnifica S ECAM250.33.TB at Currys
- See the Magnifica Evo ECAM290.21.B at De’Longhi UK
Which Magnifica S? The model codes explained
The name on the box doesn’t tell you everything, so check the code before you buy.
- ECAM22.110.B is the black Magnifica S that De’Longhi UK sells. De’Longhi describes it as “One Touch, 2 drinks”, with buttons, a dial for strength and a traditional milk frother.
- ECAM250.33.TB is the titanium-black machine Currys sells as a Magnifica S. Currys lists four one-touch drinks (espresso, double espresso, coffee and long black) plus hot water, 13 grind settings, three strength settings and an LED display.
- ECAM290.21.B is the black Magnifica Evo with a traditional milk frother. Other Evo codes exist, including carafe versions, but we haven’t compared them here.
Some comparisons online mix up these codes or quote overseas prices, so make sure the code on the product page matches the machine you mean to buy.
Who it isn’t for: if you’d rather not think about model codes at all, the ECAM22.110.B and the Evo are the simplest pair to compare, as both come straight from De’Longhi UK.
Controls and drinks: the real difference
This is where the extra money goes. De’Longhi UK lists the Magnifica S ECAM22.110.B with “Button & Dial” controls. You press a button for your drink and turn the dial to set strength. It’s an older layout, but some people prefer physical controls they can work without reading a screen.
The Evo has what De’Longhi calls a soft-touch display with colour icons for each recipe, and it lists four one-touch recipes. De’Longhi UK also notes that the Evo has won a Red Dot Design Award, which tells you about its looks rather than the coffee.
Both list a pre-ground coffee option, which is handy for the odd cup of decaf. Neither page lists a grind-setting count for these two codes, so we’re not quoting one. The Currys ECAM250.33.TB is the only one of the three with a published figure (13 settings).
Who it isn’t for: anyone hoping the Evo makes a wider range of drinks than the Currys Magnifica S. On the specs we found, both list four one-touch drinks.
Milk: both are manual
All three models froth milk with a wand that you control yourself. De’Longhi calls it a “traditional milk frother”. You hold the jug under the wand, stretch and heat the milk, and judge when it’s done. It takes some practice, and the first few attempts may come out bubbly or too hot. The wand can also give you hot water for tea.
If you’d rather not steam milk at all, a separate frother is worth a look. See our guide to milk frothers for UK options.
Who it isn’t for: anyone set on automatic milk. You’d need a carafe model, which costs more and isn’t covered in this comparison.
Size and practical details
- Water tank: 1.8 litres on all three, according to De’Longhi UK and Currys.
- Pump and power: 15 bar and 1450W on all three.
- Dimensions: De’Longhi UK lists the ECAM22.110.B as 230 x 430 x 340mm and the Evo as 240 x 440 x 360mm. Currys lists the ECAM250.33.TB at 360 x 240 x 440mm (H x W x D) and 9.2kg.
- Cup height: De’Longhi UK gives the Magnifica S a maximum cup height of 140mm. Check the Evo’s listing if you use tall mugs.
- Heating: De’Longhi UK lists Thermoblock heating on the Evo, and Currys lists it on the ECAM250.33.TB.
They’re all close in size, so the deciding factor is the space under your cupboards. With depths in the 43–44cm range, measure before you order.
Who it isn’t for: very small kitchens. If worktop space is tight, a compact manual espresso machine may suit you better, though you’d lose the built-in grinder.
Who should save with the Magnifica S?
The Magnifica S makes sense if:
- you mainly drink espresso or black coffee and only want milk now and then
- you prefer physical buttons and a dial to a touch panel
- you’d rather keep the £70 (or £120 at Currys) for beans, a milk jug or a water filter
The Evo makes more sense if a touch panel with picture icons will make the machine easier for everyone in the house to use, or if you simply like the way it looks.
If you’re still undecided, it’s worth comparing a third option. The Magnifica Start sits at a similar price, and our Magnifica Start review covers it in detail.
Downsides of both
- Manual milk only. None of these models froths milk at one touch.
- Little listed difference in the hardware. The tank, pump, power and milk frother match on the spec sheets we found.
- Model-code confusion. “Magnifica S” covers more than one machine, and the cheaper Currys model isn’t the one De’Longhi UK sells.
- Missing specs. De’Longhi UK doesn’t list grind settings for the ECAM22.110.B or the Evo on the pages we checked.
- Bulk. At roughly 43–44cm deep, both need a fair amount of worktop.
Where to go next
- The best bean-to-cup coffee machines under £500
- Philips 2200 vs 3200, if you’d like a machine with an automatic milk system
FAQ
Is the Magnifica Evo worth £70 more than the Magnifica S? Only if the touch panel matters to you. On De’Longhi UK’s spec sheets, both list a 1.8-litre tank, 15 bar, 1450W and a manual milk frother. The Evo adds colour-icon controls and four one-touch recipes.
What’s the difference between the ECAM22.110.B and ECAM250.33.TB? Both are sold as a Magnifica S. De’Longhi UK lists two one-touch drinks and button-and-dial controls for the ECAM22.110.B. Currys lists four one-touch drinks, 13 grind settings and an LED display for the ECAM250.33.TB.
Do the Magnifica S and Evo froth milk automatically? No. All the models here use a manual milk frother.
Can they use pre-ground coffee? Yes. De’Longhi UK lists a pre-ground option for both the ECAM22.110.B and the Evo.
Where’s the cheapest Magnifica S? The lowest price we found was £299.00 for the ECAM250.33.TB at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026). Prices change often, so check on the day.