Delonghi ECAM22110SB Coffee Machine
The Delonghi ECAM22110SB coffee machine or as it is more popularly known, the Delonghi Magnifica XS is a mid-range, budget-friendly, automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine. That was a bit of a mouthful to say and indeed you will be pleased to know, produces a wonderful mouthful of “coffee excellence” in return.
Delonghi is well known in the coffee machine space and cater to a market that perhaps the Jura coffee machines leave behind. This is by no means a criticism, in fact, completely the opposite. I think Delonghi have cornered a very important market sector with their coffee machines. This is magnified by the quite brilliant Magnifica XS.
Ultimately, all that matters is that these wonderful coffee machines produce a fantastic coffee experience. How they go about getting there is up for debate and discussion. This review will tell you if the Magnifica XS lives up to that mantle.
If you do not have time to read the full review, here is a spoiler alert! The Delonghi ECAM22110SB is worth every last cent you pay for it and more besides. In my opinion, the coffee it produces is up there with more expensive bean-to-cup machines. It may lack some of the features and build quality that its more expensive counterparts enjoy but as far as coffee taste goes, it’s really rather good!
Delonghi ECAM22110SB Pros & Cons
 |  |
|---|---|
| Makes really good espresso | A small selection of drink types |
| Good value for money | Cleaning the steam wand is fiddly |
| An excellent conical burr grinder | |
| Has a separate ground coffee repository | |
| Quick heating and reheating | |
| Minimal wait time for the steam wand | |
| Nice design and easy maintenance |
Delonghi ECAM22110SB Design and Specifications
The Delonghi Magnifica XS is a tiny unit in comparison to some of the other coffee machines on the market and also fairly lightweight. Made completely of plastic, it does look quite elegant still but I would have preferred to see an aluminum cup holder and drip tray but that’s a small thing.
Here is a list of the specifications:
- Dimensions (l x w x h inches): 9.4 x 17.0 x 13.8
- Weight (Lbs): 20.1
- Input power (W): 1250
- Aroma control: Yes
- Auto shutOFF: Yes
- Beans container capacity: 8.8 oz
- Coffee grounds container: 14 single espresso, 7 double
- Descaling, cleaning and rinsing program: Yes
- Maximum cup height: cup height 3.5″ to 5.5″
- Energy-saving function: Yes
- New silent grinder with 13 settings: Yes
- Programmable water hardness: Yes
- Pump pressure (bar): 15
- Water filter: Yes
- Water Tank Capacity: 60 oz
Delonghi ECAM22110SB Setup & User Interface
The Magnifica XS is really easy to setup. I gave the water tank a clean with soapy water first just to ensure any residue was removed. I then installed the water filter into the 60 oz water tank which was also really easy to do. It is a good idea to rinse through the machine before you make your first brew.
Brew Unit
The Delonghi has a brew unit that is capable of delivering 15 bar of pressure for great espresso. It is the pressure that pushes water through the brew unit to extract the maximum amount from the coffee grounds rather than pour-over coffee which just drips water.
Bean Hopper & Burr Grinder
The bean hopper has an airtight lid to ensure your coffee beans remain as fresh as possible. The capacity of the bean hopper is 8.8 oz which is not a huge amount but is enough to keep you going for a few days for an average coffee drinker.
Inside the bean hopper is another lid which when lifted, reveals a separate compartment for ground coffee. This is an excellent addition and saves that perennial problem many bean to cup machines have. Which is not being able to cater for normal and decaffeinated coffee at the same time. If your partner drinks decaf and you don’t? No problem, you can both use the machine without swapping beans over.
There is also a setting dial for the excellent conical burr grinder. This dial has 13 settings ranging from coarse ground through to fine. The coarse ground is better for normal long coffee and the finer setting is for espresso.
Drink Settings
The front panel of the Magnifica XS couldn’t be easier to operate and in fairness, you are not spoilt with a wealth of drink options but I am being picky.
There is an on/off button which is self explanatory and under this is a button for 1 or 2 cup espresso options. Incidentally, all the cup buttons are programmable to shorten or lengthen the amount of time the drink pours for. To program is simple. Just press either the 1 or 2 cup button and keep your finger on the button while the drink pours. Take you finger off the button when the desired amount of espresso or coffee has been poured.
In the middle, is a coffee strength dial which is very easy to operate. Counter clockwise for weaker coffee and clockwise for stronger. After a bit of experimentation it is easy to find your desired strength level.
Under the dial, is a maintenance button to rinse through the system periodically.
Over on the right, there is a button to operate the steam wand/water spout and underneath are button to pour 1 or 2 cup long coffees which are also programmable.
Over to the left of the machine is a lever which corresponds with the steam/water button. When this is activated, the lever switches between hot water operation or steam for frothing milk.
Drip Tray and Water Tank
Both the drip tray and water tank are front removable and is a nice design and very easy to do. They both just simply slide out. The drip tray has a grill which needs to be removed to empty any waste water.
Thermoblock Boiler
The Magnifica XS contains a single thermoblock boiler which I was very pleased with. The problem with single boiler coffee makers is you can only do one thing at a time. For instance, you cannot make coffee and use the steam wand simultaneously. The Magnifica XS is the same but the boiler works really quick to negate this problem somewhat. It can heat water up to temperature for espresso and coffee very quickly and also allows very little wait time to get up to boiling temperature for the steam wand.
Cup Warmer
The Delonghi ECAM22110SB has a great little cup warmer on top of the unit. It is an important part of making good espresso to make it pour into a warm cup. It is possible to fit a few cups on the cup warmer at the same time.
Adjustable Spout Height
The coffee/espresso spouts are fully adjustable up and down to allow for bigger or smaller cups and mugs. The adjustment ranges between 3.5 to 5.5 inches to allow for most types of cups.
Delonghi ECAM22110SB Performance & Functionality
In use, the Delonghi automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine produced some really good espresso coffee. The crema was very impressive and matched anything that a more expensive machine could create. It took me a few goes to get the coffee strength dial, grinder settings, and length of brew time to a level that I liked. However, once I managed it, the espresso it produced was very consistent every time.
The milk frother steam wand does an okay job of creating micro foam for a milky drink like a Macchiato, latte or flat white. In use,, the steam wand was easy to control but the lack of control was quite apparent. The steam wand is either on or off and there is no subtlety to the amount of steam you can use. A small issue ultimately but just don’t expect the steam wand to live up to the standards of more expensive machines.
The steam wand also doubles up as a hot water dispenser. just turn the lever above it and it will pour hot water for tea or other hot drinks. The hot water is a nice bonus for a coffee machine and shows that the Delonghi has a lot of versatility.
It is also a nice touch that two espressos or long coffees can be poured at the same time with the dual spout. You could of course just have a double espresso by using a bigger cup instead of two drinks.
The temperature of the espresso and coffee was absolutely fine for me and quite optimal, to be honest. There is an adjustment that can be made to water temperature as well which is great.
One thing I particularly liked is the ability to make coffee using the coffee grounds as well as bean-to-cup. The great thing about this is the ability to make decaf and regular coffee without having to replace the beans.
Delonghi ECAM22110SB Build Quality & Maintenance
The Delonghi is made entirely of ABS plastic which is where I guess Delonghi can save on the cost of the machine. Thankfully, it doesn’t detract from its good looks or robustness. To clean the machine is fairly easy but I did find the steam wand to be a bit fiddly to remove the steamer accessory and clean it.
The machine does a very good job of letting you know when there is an issue by some warning messages at the top display. It will let you know when various things are amiss. For example, the water tank is empty or not inserted correctly. It will also let you know if the coffee grounds need emptying from the container. It will also let you know if the machine needs to be descaled.
From time to time various parts of the Delonghi need to be cleaned in warm soapy water. The coffee grounds container, drip tray, and spouts all need periodic cleaning. Also, the infuser needs to be cleaned at various times also. Full instructions are included in the manual.
Who Is The Delonghi ECAM22110SB For?
The Delonghi is a great automatic bean-to-cup coffee maker for people who love great espresso or coffee but their budgets are not quite up to the level of a Jura E8 or other more expensive coffee machines.
It really does match their more expensive counterparts in terms of quality of coffee without the price tag. It is a great machine for smaller kitchens because of its compact size. for a busy family it will also be a great asset for awesome fuss free coffee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Delonghi Ecam and Esam machines?
The Esam is typically dual boiler machines allowing for simultaneous steam wand and espresso making as found in commercial coffee makers.
Which Delonghi coffee machine is the best?
Not an easy one to answer because it depends on what you are looking for from a coffee machine. The Esam 3300 is an awesome machine that can be considered on a par with more commercial coffee makers. I particularly like the Ecam22110SB for its great coffee and budget-friendliness.
How long should a Delonghi coffee machine last?
The typical lifespan of a Delonghi coffee machine is around 10 to 15 years but as always it depends on how well it is treated. A good maintenance program and regular descaling should see the machine last for as long as you want it.
Delonghi ECAM22110SB Verdict
The Delonghi does a fantastic job of making coffee and I am sure if you were to purchase one then you would be very happy.