Philips 2200 EP2220 review: a well-rated, no-fuss bean-to-cup with a manual frother

This Philips 2200 EP2220 review covers the Series 2200 EP2220/10, the black version with what Philips calls a “classic milk frother”. That’s a manual steam wand, so it isn’t the LatteGo model with the automatic milk system. It’s a deliberately simple bean-to-cup machine: fill it with beans and water, press a button and get an espresso or a longer coffee. I haven’t tested this in person. My verdict is based on the specs Currys and Philips list, UK prices at time of research (28 Sep 2026), Currys owner ratings and Philips’ own user manual.

Philips 2200 EP2220 review: the short answer

Buy the Philips 2200 if you want fresh-ground coffee with as little fuss as possible, and easy cleaning matters to you. It’s £329.99 at Currys, price at time of research (28 Sep 2026), with no reduction shown. You get a 1.8-litre tank, a removable brew group and a solid 4.5 out of 5 rating from 95 Currys buyers.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants one-touch lattes and cappuccinos. This version has a manual steam wand, so you froth milk yourself. It also only has two coffee buttons, espresso and coffee, plus hot water.

Choose the Magnifica Start instead if price comes first. The De’Longhi Magnifica Start is £279 at De’Longhi UK, price at time of research (28 Sep 2026). That’s a reduction from De’Longhi’s listed original price of £319.99 and may end. It also has four one-touch options including steam.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants owner feedback they can check. I couldn’t read any owner ratings for the Start, while the Philips has a solid Currys rating.

What it costs right now

• Currys: £329.99, price at time of research (28 Sep 2026), in stock when checked. Currys showed no reduction or was-price. See the Philips 2200 at Currys
• John Lewis: Check current price. I couldn’t load a live price. See the Philips 2200 at John Lewis
• Argos: Check current price. I couldn’t load a live price. See the Philips 2200 at Argos
• Philips UK: Check current price. Philips’ own page didn’t show a price when checked. See the Philips 2200 at Philips UK

I couldn’t confirm a live price anywhere other than Currys, so it’s worth comparing on the day.

What you get: specs and what’s in the box

Currys lists a 15-bar pump, thermoblock heating, a 1.8-litre water tank and a 275g bean hopper. Philips says the grinder has ceramic burrs with 12 settings, and claims they’re built to last at least 20,000 cups. There are two one-touch coffee drinks, espresso and coffee, plus hot water and three strength settings, and it can brew two cups at once.

Other features on the Currys listing include a removable brew group, guided descaling, an aroma seal and compatibility with Philips’ AquaClean water filter. It measures 24.6cm wide, 43.3cm deep and 37.1cm high, weighs about 7.8kg and draws 1500W. It comes with a two-year manufacturer’s guarantee (Currys and Philips).

Currys lists only the machine in the box, so I can’t confirm which accessories are included.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who likes to experiment with lots of drinks. Two coffee buttons and a steam wand is a deliberately basic setup.

Running costs: beans, AquaClean and cleaning

As with any bean-to-cup machine, the main ongoing cost is beans, and you can buy whatever you like rather than being tied to pods. My guide to the best coffee subscriptions compares options if you’d like beans delivered.

The AquaClean filter is optional. John Lewis’s listing quotes Philips as saying that, with the filter fitted, you may not need to descale for up to 5,000 cups. The trade-off is that you’ll be buying replacement filters. I couldn’t confirm a live price for them, so I haven’t put a figure here. Without the filter, you use the guided descaling programme, and I couldn’t confirm a descaler price either.

The removable brew group is a genuine plus. You take it out and rinse it by hand, so you can keep it clean yourself.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants to set it up and forget it. It needs regular rinsing, emptying and descaling or filter changes.

What reviewers, owners and the manual say

I couldn’t find an expert UK test of the EP2220. The Guardian’s April 2026 bean-to-cup roundup covers the Philips LatteGo 5500, a different machine, so I haven’t used it here.

Owner feedback is positive. Currys buyers rate it 4.5 out of 5 across 95 reviews (checked 28 Sep 2026). Retailer ratings often reflect the first few weeks of ownership, so I’d weigh them alongside the specs rather than treat them as the final word.

Philips’ own user manual has two points worth knowing before you buy:

• Grind changes are slow. It advises waiting until you’ve made 100 to 150 cups before adjusting the grind, and then changing it only one notch at a time while the grinder is running. Fine-tuning takes patience.
• Milk cools the drink. It says adding milk always lowers the temperature of your coffee, so if you like milky drinks very hot, bear that in mind.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants an expert verdict before spending over £300. The evidence here is specs and owner ratings, not a lab test.

Philips 2200 vs De’Longhi Magnifica Start

The Magnifica Start is the obvious rival: another entry-level bean-to-cup machine with a manual steam wand.

• Price: £329.99 at Currys against £279 at De’Longhi UK (a reduction that may end), both price at time of research (28 Sep 2026). That’s about £50 in the Start’s favour.
• Tank and hopper: both have 1.8-litre tanks. The Philips hopper is slightly bigger at 275g, against 250g on the Start.
• Drinks: the Philips has two coffee buttons plus hot water, and brews two cups at once. The Start has four one-touch options including steam.
• Size: the Philips is a little lighter, at about 7.8kg against the Start’s 8.99kg.
• Evidence: the Philips has a 4.5 out of 5 Currys rating from 95 buyers. The Start has the Guardian’s best overall and best budget award, but for a sister model with an automatic milk carafe.

On price alone, the Start wins while its reduction lasts. If it goes back to £319.99, the gap is only about £10, and the Philips’ removable brew group and owner rating make it a strong alternative.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who’d rather save £50 today. Go for the Start.

Downsides

• Basic drink choice. Two coffee buttons plus hot water.
• Manual milk. You steam milk yourself, which takes practice. My guide to the best milk jug for latte art will help.
• Milk cools the drink, as Philips’ own manual points out.
• Slow to fine-tune. The manual says to wait 100 to 150 cups before changing the grind.
• Filter costs if you use AquaClean, and I couldn’t confirm the price.
• No expert UK test of this model that I could find.

Where to go next

See my guide to the best bean-to-cup coffee machines under £500 for more options, and my De’Longhi Magnifica Start review for the closest rival. If you’d like more control over each shot, the best espresso machine under £300 guide covers manual machines, which pair well with a grinder from my best burr grinders under £100.

FAQ

How much is the Philips 2200 EP2220? £329.99 at Currys, price at time of research (28 Sep 2026). I couldn’t confirm live prices elsewhere, so compare on the day.

Is the EP2220 the LatteGo model? No. The EP2220/10 has a manual “classic milk frother”. The LatteGo versions have a different model number and an automatic milk system.

Do I need to descale it? Yes, unless you use Philips’ AquaClean filter, which Philips says can mean no descaling for up to 5,000 cups. Otherwise there’s a guided descaling programme.

Can it make two coffees at once? Yes, according to Philips.

Is the brew group removable? Yes. Currys lists a removable brew group, which you rinse by hand.