The long-running way into bean-to-cup: two buttons and a dial, a steam wand for milk you froth yourself, and a brew unit you can lift out and rinse.
Updated
- Steam wand Milk system
- 1.8 L Water tank
- 34 cm Height
- 2 years Warranty
Pros
- Buttons and a strength dial instead of menus
- Removable infuser (brew unit) that rinses under the tap
- Steam wand froths milk and also gives hot water for tea
- 1.8 litre water tank and 250 g bean container
- 34 cm tall on De'Longhi's figures, among the lowest here
Cons
- Milk is frothed by hand: no one-touch cappuccino
- Only two one-touch drinks, espresso and a long coffee
- De'Longhi says faults from other descalers may not be covered by its guarantee
- Some owners find the printed manual thin and learn from online videos
- Best for
- Black coffee and espresso drinkers, or anyone happy to steam milk by hand, who want fresh-ground coffee without a learning curve.
- Not for
- Latte and cappuccino drinkers who want milk drinks at a touch: the Philips 3300 or Siemens EQ.300 do that.
Our verdict
The Magnifica S is bean-to-cup at its simplest, and that is the appeal. There are no menus: buttons for your coffee, a dial for strength, and a grinder that grinds fresh for each cup. A separate funnel takes pre-ground coffee, handy for an occasional decaf. Milk is the big difference from the other machines we list. Instead of a carafe it has a traditional steam wand, so you froth milk in a jug yourself; that takes practice, but you control the foam. The infuser, De’Longhi’s name for the brew unit, slides out for a rinse under the tap.
If your household mostly drinks espresso and black coffee, or doesn’t mind frothing milk by hand, it does the job with very little to learn. If you want lattes at a touch, it is the wrong machine.
Cleaning and running costs
The manual’s routine is easy to keep. Rinse the infuser at least once a month: switch off, take it out, soak it in water for about five minutes and rinse it without washing-up liquid. Clean the steam wand after every use, and check the pre-ground funnel and wash the tank about once a month. Empty the grounds container whenever you take out the drip tray, even if it looks nearly empty, or it can overfill. The DLSC002 water filter lasts about two months, or three weeks if the machine stands unused. When the descale light flashes, use De’Longhi’s descaler (DLSC500): a 100 ml dose plus a litre of water, about 25 minutes, then a rinse. De’Longhi says faults from unsuitable descalers may not be covered by its guarantee.
Owner reports
Among the owner reviews we read on De’Longhi’s UK site, eBay and PistonHeads, most found it easy to use and liked the coffee once the grind and strength suited their beans. Several said the printed manual is thin and learned the machine from De’Longhi’s online videos instead. There were long-life stories: one owner’s previous machine of the same model lasted six years of daily use, and another was still going well after three years. A few reported early failures, at three weeks, at one month (the steamer) and at ten months, and one found two tiny rubber rings on the steam wand slipped off while wiping and were hard to refit. These are individual reports, not a failure rate.
Who should look elsewhere
For cappuccino at one touch, look at the Philips 3300 LatteGo or the simpler Siemens EQ.300. Compare it with every bean-to-cup machine we track, read De’Longhi vs Philips bean-to-cup for the Magnifica S against the Philips, or see it among compact machines that fit under kitchen cupboards.
De’Longhi Magnifica S ECAM22.110.B specs
- Steam wand Milk system
- 1.8 L Water tank
- 34 cm Height
- 2 years Warranty
Milk
| Milk system | Steam wand |
|---|
Drinks
| One-touch drinks | 2 |
|---|
Size
| Water tank | 1.8 L |
|---|---|
| Bean hopper | 250 g |
| Height | 34 cm |
| Width | 23 cm |
| Depth | 43 cm |
| Weight | 8.9 kg |
Cleaning
| Removable brew unit | Yes |
|---|---|
| Takes a water filter | Yes |
Ownership
| Warranty | 2 years |
|---|
Coffee
| Grind settings | not listed |
|---|---|
| Pump pressure | 15 bar |
Features
| App control | not listed |
|---|---|
| Power | 1,450 W |
Manufacturer figures, checked 2 Nov 2026. — means not listed.
Where to buy the De’Longhi Magnifica S ECAM22.110.B
- De’Longhi£349.99Go to De’Longhi (opens in a new tab)
Prices and stock change; the retailer’s page is always the final word.
De'Longhi Magnifica S questions
Why is the descale light flashing on my De'Longhi Magnifica S?
It means the machine is due for descaling. The manual has you pour De’Longhi descaler into the tank to level A (a 100 ml dose) and add water to level B (a litre); the programme runs for about 25 minutes, followed by a rinse. How often the light comes on depends on the water hardness you set, which is level 4 by default.
How do I take out and clean the brew unit on a Magnifica S?
Take out the infuser, De’Longhi’s name for the brew unit, at least once a month with the machine switched off. Soak it in water for about five minutes and rinse it without washing-up liquid, then refit it. While you are at it, empty the grounds container: the manual says to do that every time you take out the drip tray.
How long does a De'Longhi water filter last in the Magnifica S?
About two months in normal use, according to the manual, but no more than three weeks if the machine stands unused with the filter fitted. De’Longhi’s filter is the DLSC002 water filter, softener and purifier, which it says suits all its automatic coffee makers. Take the filter out of the tank before you descale.
Why does my Magnifica S make coffee very slowly?
The grind is probably too fine. The manual says that if coffee comes out slowly or a drop at a time, turn the grinding dial one click clockwise while the grinder is running, then judge the result after two coffees before turning it again. Changing one click at a time makes it easier to find the setting that suits your beans.
Can you use pre-ground coffee in the Magnifica S?
Yes. It has a separate funnel for pre-ground coffee, so you can make an occasional decaf without emptying the bean container. The manual asks you to check the funnel about once a month and clean it if needed, at the same time as you wash the water tank.
Why does the steam stop after a few minutes on the Magnifica S?
It is a safety cut-out, not a fault. The manual says the Magnifica S ends steam delivery after three minutes; wait a moment, then turn the steam function on again. The manual also asks you to clean the steam wand after every use. Keep your hands clear of the wand and the steam while it runs, because both get very hot.