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Philips LatteGo 3200 review

Meanwhile, there are several models of the popular LatteGo. The technology behind it is the same for all models. This means that the milk system, the grinder and the brewing unit are identical in construction. The models only differ in the operation of the display or the software behind it. The higher the model number, the more drinks and adjustment options.

On the LatteGo 4300 and 5400, the amounts can be set in 10 ml increments

Here we have created an overview of all LatteGo models:

Which Philips LatteGo is the best?

The Philips LatteGo 5400 has the best value for money and performs best in the test. 12 drinks can be prepared and up to 5 profiles can be created. Compared to the Philips LatteGo 3200, there are even more settings and therefore a clear recommendation.

What is immediately noticeable about the Philips LatteGo is its compact size. At 25 cm, it is no wider than a normal coffee maker. If you have limited space at home, this bean to cup coffee machine fits the bill. The casing of the LatteGo 3200 is mainly made of plastic, but it makes a solid impression.

At the touch of a button, the Philips LatteGo 3200 prepares up to 5 specialty coffees: Espresso, Coffee, Americano, Cappuccino and Latte Macchiato. The milk system is fully automatic, i.e. the bean to cup coffee machine foams the milk for you itself.

Milk container & milk system

The big feature of the Philips LatteGo models is the milk container. Unlike other devices, this one comes completely without hoses. The complete milk system is located outside the bean to cup coffee machine. The milk is foamed directly in the milk container and does not flow into the machine via hoses. This makes cleaning very easy.

The disadvantage: the preparation of the milk foam is a bit louder than other devices. We measured an average volume of 68.2 dB here. The suction of the milk is briefly noticeable at the beginning by a loud hiss of 2-3 seconds.

How does the LatteGo milk system work?

The milk container is placed on the front left of the hot water nozzle. The bean to cup coffee machine draws the milk through a tube into a chamber and froths it with hot steam. Then the milk foam is fed directly into the cup. The milk system works completely without hoses and is therefore very easy to clean.

At first we were skeptical whether the system would work well. However, we were pleasantly surprised, because the LatteGo milk container is really sophisticated. It prepares a creamy milk foam very quickly. In one easy step, remove the milk container, put on the lid and place it in the refrigerator. We also like the fact that you can buy spare parts for the Philips LatteGo, such as a new milk container, separately.

The grinder

Philips has given the LatteGo 3200 a high-quality ceramic disc grinder. By gently pressing and turning the knob, you can make it finer or coarser. You have a total of 12 levels to choose from. We found that pressing in is not so easy when the bean compartment is well filled, as there are always beans in the way. The easiest way to adjust it is when the tray is almost empty.

The grinder’s noise is average for a bean to cup coffee machine. We measured 71.3 dB as the absolute maximum. This sounds loud at first, but you get used to it quite quickly. You can get a good impression of the volume in the video.

The grinder is set to level 4 ex works. We left this level for our test. In principle, the finer the grinder setting, the more aromas can be extracted from the coffee powder and the stronger the coffee will be. For espresso, a medium-fine grinder setting, like level 4 here, is a good starting point. From here you can experiment with a finer grinder setting. It takes a few brews before a change in grinder setting is noticeable in the beverage.

The bean compartment

The bean compartment is very easy to reach in the center and has a large opening. When filling, a bean rarely bounces next to it. The twisted shape is somewhat annoying. Thus, it may happen that individual beans do not slip perfectly. The bean compartment has a darkened lid with a circumferential rubber seal to protect your coffee beans from light and air. This preserves the flavor of the beans longer. The bean compartment holds 275 g, which is relatively large.

The water tank

The water tank is placed on the right side of the device. You can open it towards the front and remove it. This is well solved. With other devices, the water tank can only be removed from the side, so you need more space all around.

The water tank holds 1.8 liters. You can either remove it completely and fill it under the tap or pull it out only halfway and fill it directly on the device. The opening of the tank is nice and big, so that nothing misses. The bean to cup coffee machine will automatically notify you when you need to refill water.

You can connect a water filter directly in the water tank. This is included in the scope of delivery. Due to the water filter, your water will always have the right hardness. This is good for the taste of your coffee. In addition, you will have to descale your bean to cup coffee machine much less often. All details about the water filter can be found in the “Cleaning” section.

The coffee outlet funnel

You can adjust the coffee outlet funnel from 8.2 cm to 14.2 cm in height. So here fits well a tall latte macchiato glass underneath. The spout could have been a bit deeper for espresso glasses. The path is a bit too far here, so sometimes a few splashes go astray, but that’s complaining on a high level.

The bean to cup coffee machine has 2 outlets, which is why you can prepare 2 drinks at the same time. However, this only works with espresso, coffee and Americano. Then the machine automatically starts 2 grinding processes one after the other. Drinks with milk foam can only be prepared one after the other on the LatteGo.

Drip tray & coffee grounds container

The cup tray is made of shiny metal. You have to be careful here, because it scratches quickly. The drip tray is located under the cup tray. This is where the water that the machine uses for rinsing processes ends up. As soon as the drip tray is full, a red pin comes up.

The coffee grounds tray is located behind the panel. That’s where your coffee pucks end up. By the way, the device automatically informs you when the coffee grounds tray is full. Then a red symbol appears in the display. Here, too, cleaning is very easy, because the drip tray, drip tray and coffee grounds tray can be put in the dishwasher.

The display

The display has a sensor touch surface and reacts reliably even with wet hands. The display is also easy to read from above due to the slight tilt. The keys are sufficiently large and the labeling is understandable. We had no difficulty using the bean to cup coffee machine even without instructions. At first glance, the display is really self-explanatory.

However, for special settings, such as changing the temperature or water hardness, require a look at the instructions. With the Philips LatteGo 5400, this is all done via the integrated TFT display.

Meaning of the buttons:

1. On/Off switch
2. Espresso
3. Normal coffee
4. Americano
5. Cappuccino
6. Latte Macchiato
7. Hot water
8. Coffee strength (mild, medium, strong)
9. Amount of coffee (little, medium, much)
10. Amount of milk (little, medium, much)
11. Activate water filter
12. Decalcify
13. Start/Stop

Switch on the bean to cup coffee machine by pressing the large round button on the left. It takes pretty much exactly one minute for the device to warm up. Meanwhile, the machine hot flushes all the lines. It is best to place a cup underneath to catch the rinse water. Otherwise, it ends up in the drip tray – that’s fine, too.

As soon as all symbols light up, the bean to cup coffee machine is ready for operation and you can prepare several drinks in succession. By the way, the machine turns off automatically after 30 minutes if you don’t use it. All pipes are then flushed again with hot water.

Next, we’ll show you the Philips LatteGo in action. We prepare espresso, coffee, americano, cappuccino and latte macchiato. We’ll also tell you what little trick you can use to get milk foam for cocoa. The Philips LatteGo 5400 offers you a few more drinks and settings.

Espresso

To adjust the espresso to our liking, we press the “Espresso” button. Now we have the choice of 3 levels of coffee strength: mild, medium or strong. We can also change the beverage quantity in 3 levels: low, medium, high. However, we lack concrete milliliter specifications . Our test showed that we get 30 ml of espresso on the low level, 40 ml on the medium level, and 50 ml on the high level. We first brew a strong espresso and therefore choose coffee strength level 3 and a low beverage quantity (30 ml – level 1).

The bean to cup coffee machine only needs 37 seconds for our espresso. The crema is nice and light brown – just as it should be. The short temperature check shows that the espresso is also hot at 74°C. In the taste test, the espresso receives a good rating from our testers – but it could still taste a bit more intense and strong.

In the next test, we prepare a normal espresso, i.e. medium coffee strength (level 2) with a normal size of 40 ml (level 2). The machine does not perform a rinse cycle after each drink, so the second cup is drawn just as quickly. Here, too, we measure a perfect temperature of 74 °C.

The crema is again very fine, but this time a bit lighter. Compared to the first draw, less coffee powder was used for more espresso (more water). This makes the espresso milder and the crema lighter .

Coffee

Now let’s turn our attention to the Germans’ favorite drink – classic coffee. Since we like to start the day together, we prepare 2 cups at the same time. To do this, we tap 2x on the coffee icon. Here we can also adjust the beverage quantity and coffee strength. On beverage quantity level 2 you will get 125 ml and on level 3 approx. 200 ml per cup.

The machine automatically performs 2 grinding and brewing operations to fill both cups. Overall, the bean to cup coffee machine needs 2:09 minutes for 2 cups and is thus quite fast. It takes only 56 seconds to make a cup of coffee . At 75°C, the coffee has the perfect temperature and even a light light brown crema.

The 2 (small) cup function is also ideal for brewing a large 300ml cup. To do this, simply set beverage quantity level 2 and place a large cup under the spout.

Americano

Some will now ask: What is an Americano anyway? This is nothing more than an espresso that is extended with hot water. An Americano has a similar strength but a different taste than regular coffee. The Americano tastes more like an espresso, while the regular coffee is more reminiscent of classic filter coffee.

In our test, the Americano tasted better to us than the regular coffee, since here the diverse flavors of the coffee bean come to the fore more clearly. Here, too, we measured a perfect temperature of 74 °C. The bean to cup coffee machine took only 37 seconds to make the Americano, which was 19 seconds faster than normal coffee.

Drinks with milk foam & the right milk

Now let’s get to the reason why most of you buy a bean to cup coffee machine: Cappuccino and latte macchiato. First of all, we would like to talk about the right milk here. For our tests, we always use cold organic whole milk with 3.8% fat. The higher fat content enhances the aromas of the espresso and ensures a creamy foam. You can of course also use milk with 1.5% fat, then a slightly firmer foam is created. The fat content therefore influences the consistency of the foam and the overall aroma.

How much foam is produced depends not on the fat but on the protein content of the milk. A protein content of 3.5% is a good guide value. Especially vegetable milk from oats or soy has significantly less protein. Here you should resort to special barista variants. Your milk should always be cold, otherwise the bean to cup coffee machine will heat it too much. Then the milk foam of your cappuccino may taste slightly burnt.

Make sure your LatteGo milk container locks into place properly or it will leak out the bottom. You will hear a clicking sound when you put it together. On the container are small symbols how much milk you should fill, for example, for a cappuccino. It is best to place the LatteGo milk container on the hot water spout first and then fill in the milk.

Cappuccino

For the cappuccino, we press the cappuccino button once and leave the coffee strength at medium level (level 2). We set the beverage and milk foam quantity to the highest level (level 3) in each case. This way we get our 240 ml jar exactly full.

After we press Start, the machine froths the milk with hot steam. The spout of the LatteGo milk container is quite large and our cup quickly filled up with milk (-foam). Here we must note that in a classic cappuccino actually comes first the espresso and then the milk foam. With the Philips LatteGo, it’s the other way around. Maybe it will be faster. At least the cappuccino is ready after 1:42 minutes – very good.

We get a shiny creamy milk foam that easily masters our consistency test with a spoon. The milk foam is fine, but some other bean to cup coffee machines do it a bit better. At 72°C, the cappuccino has the ideal temperature. Almost a little too hot to drink right away.

Latte Macchiato

For the latte macchiato we take a typical 250 ml latte macchiato glass. By the way, all standard glasses up to 14 cm high fit under the LatteGo. We leave the coffee strength at medium again. If you like it a bit stronger, you can choose level 3. Then you get a stronger espresso in your latte macchiato. Or you can draw another espresso afterwards.

We leave the beverage and milk foam quantity at the medium level (level 2). The highest level caused our 250 ml jar to overflow the other day. That was quite a mess. Level 3 is more suitable for a 300 ml jar. It is annoying that the Philips LatteGo lacks exact milliliter values. Here we had to try out how much really comes out in the end.

The bean to cup coffee machine only took 1:33 minutes to make our latte macchiato. That was even faster than with the cappuccino. At 66°C, the milk foam is ideal again. Our glass must be quite far forward so that the milk foam hits the glass. The espresso flows into the glass at the very back. This makes the layers in the image look a bit strange.

In the next experiment, we moved the glass back a bit for the espresso cover. Here we see directly that the milk settles at the bottom and the espresso above it. This is because the milk has a higher density and is therefore heavier. At the top comes the light milk foam. This is what a real latte macchiato must look like. The milk foam has fine-pored bubbles and shimmers with a slight sheen.

Milk foam for cocoa

Many of you also want to prepare hot milk for cocoa. Actually, this option does not exist with the LatteGo 3200. There is no button for milk foam on the display. The manual does not provide a solution either. However, we know that the device is technically capable of doing this.

We will show you a little trick to get hot milk with some milk foam. For a latte macchiato, a lot of milk (foam) goes into the glass first. That’s exactly what we want! But there is a problem here: While the milk foam is flowing into the glass, the coffee powder for the espresso is already being ground. If you stop the process now, the good coffee powder will be wasted.

There is still a better solution. We prepare a latte macchiato and activate the coffee powder compartment. But then do not fill coffee powder . To do this, we first press the Latte Macchiato button and then the aroma strength icon for 3 seconds . This is how we activate the ground coffee function. This tells the bean to cup coffee machine that we want to use ground coffee instead of fresh coffee beans.

We set the milk foam quantity to level 2 and press Start. The machine now froths the milk, as is usual for a latte macchiato. We can stop the process at any time by pressing the stop button as soon as our cup is full. Ready is our hot milk for cocoa. It’s a bit cumbersome but it works.

Coffee with ground coffee powder

You can also use pre-ground coffee powder for each drink. This function is particularly suitable for decaffeinated coffee. To do this, press and hold the aroma strength button again for 3 seconds until the ground coffee symbol is activated. Then you select the respective drink. Now put one coffee spoon(included) of ground coffee into the powder chute and close the lid.

Now make the respective settings for the amount of beverage and, if necessary, the amount of milk. You cannot influence the aroma strength with ground powder, because the machine always uses the complete powder that you put into the chute. You can of course vary a bit with the amount of coffee powder. By the way, the bean to cup coffee machine can brew only one cup at a time with ground coffee.

Hot water

Next, we want to prepare hot water for tea. To do this, we need to remove the LatteGo milk container and place our cup under the outlet for hot water. Then we simply press the “Hot Water” button on the display and select the quantity here as well. At level 3, the machine fills a large cup. We can use the process Cancel at any time with the Stop key. The temperature of the water in our test is 85 °C.

Create profiles

However, the LatteGo 3200 cannot store multiple profiles. So you can only make settings for each drink. With the LatteGo 4300 you have the possibility to create 2 profiles. With the LatteGo 5400, even up to 5 profiles are possible. Those who value this should take a look at these models. In addition, you can choose from up to 8 coffee specialties with the Philips LatteGo 4300 and up to 12 with the LatteGo 5400.

Customize drinks

We have already mentioned it in the point “Preparation”. With the Philips LatteGo 3200 (and 2200), you can adjust the amount of coffee and milk via 3 levels each: low, medium, high. However, you don’t know exactly how many milliliters will come out in the end. So it may happen that your cup is not completely full or even overflows. After a few cups, however, you get the hang of it. Only with the Philips LatteGo 4300 and 5400 can you precisely set the amount of coffee and milk in 10ml increments .

Match drinks to glasses/cups

Nevertheless, the Philips LatteGo 3200 offers you the possibility of individualization. You can reprogram the beverage quantity in the highest setting for each beverage. This allows you to customize your coffee, latte macchiato or cappuccino exactly to your glass.

1. To do this, simply press and hold the button of the drink you want to reprogram for 3 seconds. We’ll show you using a latte macchiato as an example. As soon as the buttons for beverage and milk foam quantity flash, you are in programming mode.
2. Now we press the start button. Now the machine dispenses milk foam until we press the start/stop button again. Of course, you must remember to fill enough milk into the milk container beforehand.
3. Next, the amount of coffee flashes. Now we press Start again and Stop again once we are satisfied with the amount. The bean to cup coffee machine remembers this setting and saves it.
4. The next time we select the highest levels for latte macchiato, the machine will automatically dispense the amount we just programmed.

The function of reprogramming allows you to adapt your favorite drink to a specific cup. However, the adjustment is made exclusively by eye, which makes the whole thing cumbersome. For drinks with milk foam, you must also first try whether the ratio between milk and espresso suits you.

Overview of all special settings

Here you get an overview of all special settings. You can activate it by holding the following buttons for 3 seconds. For some functions, your bean to cup coffee machine must be switched off beforehand (device off) for others it must be switched on (device on).

To ensure that you can use your Philips LatteGo for many years, you should clean it regularly. The milk system, brewing unit and drip trays are particularly important. If you prepare 20 drinks or more , the weekly cleaning effort is about 20-25 minutes.

In addition, you should descale your bean to cup coffee machine every 1-3 months, depending on the water hardness. If you use a water filter you need to descale much less often. The program for decalcification takes about 30 minutes, while the effort for you is 5-10 minutes.

We have for you the most important care products each in the original and a cheaper alternative picked out.

LatteGo milk container

According to the instructions, you should clean the LatteGo milk container daily. This is very easy with the LatteGo milk system overall and compared to other milk containers. You can disassemble the container into two parts in one easy step and simply rinse it quickly with warm water and detergent. This takes no more than a minute.

Disassemble LatteGo milk container into 2 parts and rinse off

Alternatively, you can also clean the container in the dishwasher. We would also recommend you do this once a week to remove any residual milk fat.

An automatic rinsing of the milk spout, as with the
Philips LatteGo 5400
Unfortunately, this model does not have one. Therefore, you should really clean the milk container daily or store it in the refrigerator for a maximum of one day.

All in all, cleaning the milk system is really simple and can be done in no more than 10 minutes per week. Of course, if you don’t make drinks with milk foam every day, it’s faster.

Drip tray & coffee grounds container

When the coffee grounds tray is full, an LED lights up in the display. If the drip tray is full, a red float will stick up through the cup grate. You can pull out both containers together to the front.

It is best to empty the drip tray and the coffee grounds tray at the same time and only when the machine is switched on. The bean to cup coffee machine counts the coffee pucks and resets the counter if you pull out the containers for more than 5 seconds.

You should empty the containers after 3 days at the latest and rinse them thoroughly 1x per week. Cleaning in the dishwasher is also possible and saves you some more time. Because the drip tray has a few corners and is not as easy to clean as other bean to cup coffee machines in the test.

You can allow 2-5 minutes per week for cleaning the containers, depending on whether you put them in the dishwasher or rinse them by hand.

Cup grid, drip tray, coffee grounds tray & milk container may be placed in the dishwasher

Cleaning the brewing unit

The brewing unit of the Philips EP3246/70 can be removed in just a few steps. According to the instructions, you should clean them 1x per week, i.e. rinse with clean water.

To remove the brewing unit, you must first switch off the bean to cup coffee machine, because the brewing unit then moves to the rest position. Now you can pull out the water tank and open the service door. There you will see a button and the instruction “Push”. Press it slightly to the right and slowly pull out the brewing unit.

The brewing unit is located behind the service flap of the water tank

We found a little more coffee residue on the brewing unit than other bean to cup coffee machines. The interior, on the other hand, was quite clean.

To remove coffee residues from small corners, you can use a
cleaning brush
brush. Always rinse the brewing unit with clean water only and never with detergent. This is because rinsing agent dissolves grease and the brewing unit is greased in important places so that it does not jam. How to properly grease and care for the brewing unit you can learn in our detailed cleaning video.

Then allow the brewing unit to air dry and insert it again later. Make sure that the brewing unit clicks into place correctly .

Overall, cleaning a Philips brewing unit is a bit more involved than other manufacturers and takes about 10 minutes per week.

Rinse only with clean water and never use detergents

Philips LatteGo 3200 descale

When the Calc-Clean indicator flashes, you should descale the bean to cup coffee machine. How often you need to descale depends on how calcareous your water is. If the water is very hard you will need to descale every month, if the water is soft you will only need to descale every 3 months.

It is important that you use the enclosed test strip and adjust the water hardness on the bean to cup coffee machine. Only then can it remind you in time to descale.

If you use water filters throughout, you only need to descale after 5,000 cups, according to Philips. That would be in over a year with normal use.

According to Philips, you should only use the original descaler for descaling(of course). We recommend that you do so at least during the warranty period. Do not use descaling agents based on sulfuric, hydrochloric or acetic acid. We have the
original and a care set
with a cheaper alternative linked.

We will show you exactly how to decalcify and how to use a water filter in an extra video. Since the LatteGo 3200 does not have a display, you need to read the instructions or simply watch our video.

The program lasts about 30 minutes and for you the effective effort is 5-10 minutes.

You still have a question yourself or tips for other users about this device? Then feel free to leave us a comment.