It’s just past midnight on a Saturday here in New York. The city is quiet, and it’s a great time to think about the yummy coffee that will start the weekend tomorrow. When you look at the shiny, new coffee machines from Philips, you might see two called the 2200 and the 3200. They look like twin brothers! But even though they look alike, one of the brothers knows a few extra tricks.
Let’s give them some easy names. We’ll call the Philips 2200 “The Simple Star” because it perfectly makes the most popular, star drinks. We’ll call the Philips 3200 “The Menu Master” because it has a bigger menu of drinks to choose from. Let’s see which one is the star for you!
Source: berrytobrew.com
Is The Simple Star (Philips 2200) Good?
Yes, The Simple Star is a wonderful machine! It’s like getting a starter art kit with the three most important colors. It’s perfect for someone who knows they love the main, classic coffee shop drinks and wants them made perfectly every single time.
Dreaming of my morning cappuccino is easy with The Simple Star. I know that when I wake up, I just have to touch one picture. The machine will make a whirring sound as it grinds the beans, a hissing sound as it makes the milk foam, and then it will pour a perfect, happy drink into my cup. It does the most important jobs perfectly, and that’s what makes it great.
What Makes It Cool
- Makes the 3 Big Stars: It can make a strong Espresso, a regular cup of Coffee, and a foamy Cappuccino with one touch.
- Simple Touch Buttons: The buttons feature clear images. You just tap the one you want.
- The Magic Milk Cup: It uses the amazing LatteGo milk frother. It has no tubes and is so easy to clean.
- Fresh Coffee Every Time: It has a grinder inside that turns whole beans into powder for every cup.
- You Can Choose: You can tell it to make your coffee a little stronger or a little weaker.
Things I Love
- It’s So, So Simple: You really can’t get confused. It’s designed to be easy for everyone.
- Cleaning is a Breeze: The LatteGo milk cup is the best part. You just rinse it under the tap.
- Perfect Classic Drinks: It is an expert at making a perfect, classic cappuccino.
- A Great First Machine: It gives you the full fancy coffee experience without any confusing extras.
Things That Could Be Better
- Smaller Drink Menu: It only has the three main drinks. If you want something else, you’re out of luck.
- No Way to Adjust Foam: It makes one kind of perfect foam, but you can’t tell it to make more or less.
- A Simpler Look: It looks very nice, but it doesn’t have the extra shiny parts of the more expensive model.
My Recommendation
The Simple Star is for the person who loves the big three: Espresso, Coffee, and Cappuccino. If those are the drinks you want, and you want them to be delicious and easy every time, this machine is a very smart choice.
Source: www.youtube.com
Is The Menu Master (Philips 3200) Good?
Yes, The Menu Master is also a wonderful machine! It’s like getting a super art kit. It has the three main colors, but it also comes with green and purple already mixed for you! It does everything The Simple Star does, but it has a few more drink recipes ready to go.
My cousin visited last week, and he asked for an “Americano.” I had heard of it, but I didn’t know how to make it. Then I saw the button for it on The Menu Master! I pressed it, and the machine made a shot of espresso and added hot water to it, all by itself. My cousin was so happy. It’s fun to have extra options for guests.
What Makes It Cool
- Makes 5 Yummy Drinks: It makes Espresso, Coffee, and Cappuccinos, PLUS a layered Latte Macchiato and an Americano.
- More Buttons, More Fun: The touch panel has more pictures for its bigger drink menu.
- The Magic Milk Cup: It also has the same super-easy LatteGo milk system.
- Fresh Coffee Every Time: It also has the same great grinder inside.
- You Are Still the Boss: You can also choose the strength and size of your drink.
Things I Love
- More Drinks to Explore: It’s fun having a bigger menu. You can try something new whenever you feel adventurous.
- Great for Hosting: When friends come over, it’s cool to offer them more choices.
- The Americano Button is Awesome: If you like a big cup of black coffee that’s different from drip coffee, this button is a huge plus.
- A Little Fancier: It often has extra chrome trim that makes it look a bit more special.
Things That Could Be Better
- It Costs a Little More: You have to pay a bit more money to unlock the extra drink recipes.
- The Extra Drinks Are Similar: A Latte Macchiato is a lot like a cappuccino. The difference is small.
- Still an Automatic Machine: It’s still designed for ease, not for you to control every little detail.
My Recommendation
The Menu Master is for the coffee explorer. If you like having variety and you know you and your family will enjoy the extra drink options, then spending a little more for the Philips 3200 is a great choice.
Source: www.coffeeness.de
The Big Match: Simple Star vs. Menu Master
These machines are almost twins, so let’s see where they are different!
Round 1: The Drink Contest: Who Knows More Recipes?
If you want the biggest menu of drinks, who is the winner?
| Feature | The Simple Star (2200) | The Menu Master (3200) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Drinks | It knows 3 main recipes | It knows 5 main recipes |
| Special Moves | No Americano recipe | Has the Americano recipe! |
| Winner? | The Menu Master! |
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Rating: The Simple Star (2200) – 7/10 | The Menu Master (3200) – 9/10
Summary: The Menu Master wins! It has more drink recipes programmed into its brain.
Round 2: The Simplicity Test: Which Is Less Confusing?
If you want the machine with the fewest buttons to worry about, who wins?
| Feature | The Simple Star (2200) | The Menu Master (3200) |
|---|---|---|
| Buttons to Look At | Very few, very clear | A couple more buttons |
| Learning Time | You’ll learn it in a snap | You’ll learn it in a minute |
| Winner? | The Simple Star! |
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Rating: The Simple Star (2200) – 9/10 | The Menu Master (3200) – 8/10
Summary: The Simple Star wins, just by a little. Its panel is a tiny bit simpler because it has fewer options.
Round 3: The Taste-Off: Do They Taste the Same?
If you make a cappuccino on both, will you taste a difference?
| Feature | The Simple Star (2200) | The Menu Master (3200) |
|---|---|---|
| The Machine Guts | Has the same coffee grinder and brewer | Has the same coffee grinder and brewer |
| The Taste | Makes a delicious cappuccino | Makes the very same delicious cappuccino |
| Winner? | It’s a tie! | It’s a tie! |
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Rating: The Simple Star (2200) – 9/10 | The Menu Master (3200) – 9/10
Summary: It’s a perfect tie! Because the parts inside that make the coffee are the same, the main drinks taste identical on both.
Round 4: The Money Question: Which Is a Better Bargain?
Which machine gives you more for your money?
| Feature | The Simple Star (2200) | The Menu Master (3200) |
|---|---|---|
| The Price Tag | Costs less money | Costs a bit more money |
| The Deal | Gets you the best features for less | You pay more for two extra drinks |
| Winner? | The Simple Star! |
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Rating: The Simple Star (2200) – 9/10 | The Menu Master (3200) – 8/10
Summary: The Simple Star is the winner! It gives you the most important features (like the amazing milk system) for a lower price.
The Final Decision: Which Art Kit Should You Get?
Choosing between these two is easy. Think of it like buying an art kit.
If you know you love to paint with red, yellow, and blue, and you know those are the main colors you’ll always use, then you should get The Simple Star (Philips 2200). It perfects the classics and saves you money.
But, if you are an artist who wants more colors ready to go, and you know you’ll want to use pre-mixed green and purple often without having to mix them yourself, then it’s worth getting The Menu Master (Philips 3200).
| Feature | The Simple Star (2200) | The Menu Master (3200) |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | The person who loves the classics | The person who loves having choices |
| Main Power | Perfecting the 3 most popular drinks | Giving you a bigger menu of drinks |
| My Score | 9/10 | 9/10 |
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It’s a tie because they are both amazing machines! You just have to ask yourself: do I want to pay a little extra to have those two other drinks ready with the single touch of a button?
Questions You Might Ask: Philips Coffee Machine 2200 vs 3200
What is the real, number one difference?
The only big difference is that the 3200 has buttons to make a Latte Macchiato and an Americano automatically. The 2200 does not. That’s it!
They both have the LatteGo milk thing?
Yes! If you buy the version that says “LatteGo” on the box, both the 2200 and 3200 come with that same awesome, easy-to-clean milk cup. It’s the best part!
Can I make an Americano with the 2200?
Yes, you can! It just takes two steps. You would make an espresso shot, and then press the “hot water” button to add water to it. The 3200 just does those two steps for you when you press one button.
So is the 3200 worth the extra money?
It is if you want the convenience. If you think you will make an Americano or a Latte Macchiato almost every day, then pressing one button instead of two might be worth the extra money to you. If not, you can save your money and get the 2200.
