I have worked with coffee for over 15 years of my life. In that time I've used all brands of manual and super automatic machines. The Philips 3300 is a great at home option that delivers a solid tasting shot of espresso in a timely manner. I broke the machine in by grinding through 2-3# of coffee on the first day. Positive observations: - The Philips 3300 pulls me a great tasting shot in about 15-20 seconds. The machine produces a flavorful shot that has a solid body, and nice crema. - There are 6 options: Espresso Shot, Long Shot, Coffee, Iced Coffee, Steam and Hot Water. Each of the coffee options can be pulled 1X or 2X. - Grind can be adjusted manually. - Dose, water, and temp can be adjusted individually from 3 options: Low, Medium, High. This allowed me to dial in my preferred taste. This allows up to 27 different types of shots. I enjoy a high dose, medium water, and high heat. It's the closest that I can get to a solo espresso shot on a commercial machine. In my opinion, high water has yielded a weak espresso shot every single time. It's a lot of water. - The steam wand produces a nice velvety milk foam for hot beverages. - It has a small footprint, and doesn't require much space above the machine, so it's great for being under low cabinets. What could be better: - Bean hopper is OK. I understand it's designed in a manner to keep the machine low profile, but it has opportunities when I'm pulling several shots. The beans don't always move towards the grinder, and often times I am required to push the whole beans towards the grinder. I need to do this every 4-5 grinds. - Espresso shot is good for at home, but the body and crema go dark incredibly quick. Almost immediately, so be prepared to mix/drink the espresso shots immediately. The more flavorful beverages that I have made are approx 5-6 oz total liquid (including the 1.5oz-ish shot). - The steam wand is fair and gets the milk hot at a reasonable pace, but it is finicky. I've learned two things: Steam the milk first, as you can't steam and pull shots at the same time, and once you hit the "steam" button, make sure your wand is breaking the surface of the milk, and leave it. It will take anywhere from 30-50 seconds to start steaming. Leave it, it will eventually turn on and start steaming. - Dispensed hot water comes from the steam wand, and it is a strong, narrow stream of hot water. I should have read the manual, because that one was a surprise. I was expecting it to come out of the spout. - A single serving of espresso, long shot, coffee, or ice coffee will grind and pull one time. If you select a double serving, it will complete the same process, two times, one after another. So, grind, pull and dump followed by another grind, pull and dump. - With Brewed Coffee at max water, 1 serving will yield about 6 ounces. Max dose and water has yielded a satisfying cup of coffee for me. - The espresso machine primes a bit of hot water out of the pour spout before each shot. If I'm not paying attention to it, I'll get a splash of water into my cup before the machine pulls a shot. - The discarded pucks are pretty dry, have a consistent grind, are well extracted, and have solid water saturation throughout. The machine is efficient at extracting shots. Overall, for the price it's a very solid at-home machine. I'm ok with what could be better because the machine does produce great tasting espresso/coffee. If it holds up with the regular use in my household, it will pay for itself in about 2 months. Very pleased with the purchase.
