Comparison · Bean-to-cup machines
Siemens EQ700 vs Philips 5500: premium bean-to-cup compared
The EQ700 has Wi-Fi, a milk hose and a far bigger drinks list; the Philips 5500 is quieter and has the easiest milk clean-up. Prices checked 3 Oct 2026 and who each suits.
Siemens EQ700 vs Philips 5500 is a close fight at the top of the mainstream bean-to-cup market, and today the price makes it unusual. The Siemens EQ700 classic (TP713GB9) was £579.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, which makes it cheaper than the Philips Series 5500 LatteGo (EP5546/70) at £669.99 at Philips UK, checked 3 Oct 2026. We haven’t tested this in person. This comparison is based on Siemens’ UK spec sheet, Philips UK’s product page, Currys’ listings and UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
Siemens EQ700 vs Philips 5500: the short answer
Get the Siemens EQ700 if you want the longest drinks list, app control and a milk system that cleans itself with steam after every drink. At £579.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, it’s also the cheaper of the two today, though Currys prices can change.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants nothing to do with apps. Siemens counts drinks “within appliance and Home Connect app”, so part of that 36 lives in the app.
Choose the Philips 5500 if you want a quieter machine, saved profiles for up to four people and the simplest milk clean-up, a two-part jug with no tubes. It’s £669.99 at Philips UK, checked 3 Oct 2026.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who hates rinsing a milk jug. Philips says the LatteGo doesn’t clean itself; you rinse it or put it in the dishwasher.
Skip both if you mostly drink black coffee. Mid-range machines such as the Siemens EQ500 cover espresso and americanos for less.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants the longest drinks menu. Cheaper machines list fewer drinks and fewer milk options.
What they cost right now
Prices:
- Siemens EQ700 classic, black (TP713GB9): £579.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, in stock. See the EQ700 at Currys
- Same machine at Siemens UK: £1,299.00 at Siemens UK, checked 3 Oct 2026, available to order. That’s £720 more than Currys for the same model code. See the EQ700 at Siemens UK
- Siemens EQ700, graphite (TP715GB1): check price at Currys; it was in stock on 3 Oct 2026.
- Philips 5500 LatteGo (EP5546/70): £669.99 at Philips UK, checked 3 Oct 2026, in stock with one- to three-day delivery, and £669.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, in stock. Neither showed a “was” price. See the 5500 at Philips UK
Currys also listed a newer EQ700 iAroma (TP725G01) at £999.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. It’s a different model, so we haven’t compared it here.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants to buy direct from Siemens. At today’s prices the Currys deal is far better.
Drinks and controls
Siemens’ spec sheet says the EQ700 offers up to 36 hot and cold drinks, counting those in the Home Connect app, including Cold Brew specialities. Currys lists 19 named drinks on the machine itself, from ristretto and flat white to Cold Brew Macchiato and a Slow Brew. You get three aroma profiles (mild, balanced and distinctive), an adjustable milk ratio, and an “aromaDouble Shot” that brews large drinks in two goes. The 5-inch colour touchscreen works with taps and swipes, and you can save five favourite drinks.
Philips UK lists 20 recipes on the 5500, with a long run of iced versions: iced espresso, americano, cappuccino, latte macchiato, caffè latte and more, plus flat white, ristretto and a travel mug size. You can add an extra shot to any recipe made from beans and save drinks across four user profiles on the TFT display.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a household of five or more to have their own settings. The EQ700 saves favourites, not separate user profiles.
Milk system and cleaning
This is the biggest practical difference. The EQ700 uses a milk hose that Siemens says works with any milk container, so you can put the tube straight into a carton or jug from the fridge. After every milk drink it runs an automatic steam clean, which Siemens calls autoMilk Clean. It also has a combined descale-and-clean programme and a removable brew unit.
The Philips 5500 uses LatteGo, a two-part milk jug with no tubes. Philips says it cleans in under 10 seconds under the tap or in the dishwasher, but there’s no automatic cleaning. On the plus side, Philips’ AquaClean filter means up to 5,000 cups without descaling, based on eight filter changes, according to Philips. Our Philips 5500 LatteGo review goes into this in more detail.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who finds hoses fiddly. The EQ700’s tube still needs a proper clean now and then, even with the steam rinse.
Noise, grinder and smart features
Philips makes a point of noise. It says SilentBrew makes the 5500 40% quieter than earlier Philips machines and that it carries Quiet Mark certification. Siemens’ UK spec sheet doesn’t make a comparable noise claim for the EQ700.
Both use ceramic grinders. Philips lists 12 grind settings; Siemens describes the EQ700’s as multi-level without giving a number. Pump pressure is 19 bar on the Siemens and 15 bar on the Philips, though pressure figures alone tell you little about the cup.
The EQ700 has Wi-Fi through Home Connect, so you can start drinks remotely, queue several drinks in a “coffeePlaylist” and get software updates, according to Siemens. Philips lists no connectivity for the 5500; its HomeID app offers recipes and support only.
Who it isn’t for: anyone in an open-plan flat who’s sensitive to noise and wants Wi-Fi as well. You’ll have to pick one priority.
Size and capacity
Siemens lists the EQ700 at 380 x 309 x 467mm and 9.4kg, with a 2.4-litre tank and a 320g bean hopper. Philips lists the 5500 at 433mm long, 246mm wide and 371mm high, weighing 8kg, with a 1.8-litre tank and a 275g hopper. So the Philips is narrower and lighter, while the Siemens holds more water and beans. The EQ700’s spout takes glasses up to 14cm tall, according to Siemens.
Both are rated at 1,500W, and both come with a two-year guarantee.
Who it isn’t for: anyone short on depth. Both are deep machines, so measure your worktop.
Which one to buy
At today’s Currys price, the Siemens EQ700 is the better value on paper: more drinks, Wi-Fi, a bigger tank and self-cleaning milk, for about £90 less than the Philips. If you like to use your own milk carton and want minimal daily cleaning, it’s the one to look at first.
The Philips 5500 makes more sense if quiet operation, four separate profiles and a simple jug you can rinse in seconds matter more to you, and it’s available at the same price from both Philips UK and Currys. For other options in this range, see Philips 5400 vs 5500 or our Siemens EQ500 vs EQ700 comparison.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who’d pay full price for the EQ700. At £1,299 at Siemens UK, checked 3 Oct 2026, the Philips is far cheaper.
Downsides
- Siemens EQ700: check price at Currys on the day; a hose milk system needs more care than a jug; part of the 36-drink count lives in the app.
- Philips 5500: no automatic milk cleaning; no Wi-Fi; smaller tank and hopper.
- Both: deep footprints and a big outlay for a machine you’ll need to descale or filter regularly.
FAQ
Is the Siemens EQ700 better than the Philips 5500? It does more on paper, with more drinks, Wi-Fi and automatic milk cleaning. The Philips is quieter and has the simpler milk system. At 3 Oct 2026 prices the Siemens was also cheaper at Currys.
Why is the EQ700 cheaper at Currys than at Siemens? It was £579.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, while Siemens UK listed £1,299.00 at Siemens UK, checked 3 Oct 2026. Retailer prices move often, so check before you buy.
Do both make iced coffee? Yes. Philips lists several iced drinks on the 5500, and Siemens lists Cold Brew specialities on the EQ700.
Which is quieter? Philips says the 5500 is 40% quieter than earlier Philips models and has Quiet Mark certification. Siemens’ UK spec sheet doesn’t make a comparable claim.