Philips 3200 vs 4300 (2022): Comparing Bean to Cup Coffee Machines

Philips manufactures some of the best bean-to-cup coffee makers around, namely the Super Automatic line. In this range, the Philips 3200 is more of a classic, sort of like the company’s bread-and-butter coffee machine you’d commonly find in most folks’ homes. But then there’s the newer Philips 4300 that builds on it with modern features, which isn’t exactly a replacement but rather a more premium version.

In this Philips 4300 vs 3200 comparison, we highlight what makes the two different from each other in the hopes to help you decide which one is better for you.

Philips 3200 vs 4300 Comparison Chart

Model	Philips 3200	Philips 4300
Price	Check Price at Philips.com	Check Price at Philips.com
Display	No	Yes, TFT
Water Tank	1.8L	1.8L
Coffee Bean Hopper	275g	275g
Pump Pressure	15 bars	15 bars
Grinder	12 settings	12 settings
Aroma	3 settings	5 settings
Beverages	Americano Coffee Espresso Espresso Lungo Hot water	Americano Caffé crema Coffee Espresso Hot water Milk froth Ristretto
Adjustable Coffee Length	No	Yes
Drink Profiles	No	2 + 1 guest
Dimensions	246mm x 371mm x 433mm	246mm x 372mm x 433mm
Weight	16.53 lbs	17.63 lbs
Warranty	2 years	2 years

Design and Build

The Philips 3200 and Philips 4300 have a similar design, but a closer look shows there are a few key differences.

At first glance, the Philips 3200 and Philips 4300 look like the same machine, if it weren’t for the latter’s TFT display and integrated knob on its panarello wand (more on that in a few). On that note, both have the same top-loading bean hoppers that have a capacity of 275g, front-access water tank with a 1.8-liter capacity, detachable drip trays and cup warmers on top.

The two also have the same footprint, with the 3200 measuring 246mm x 371mm x 433mm and the 4300 246mm x 372mm x 433mm. The latter is slightly heavier at 17.63 lbs as compared to 16.53 lbs, though.

Last but not least, both are available only in black with a glossy finish and silver accents. In other words, you don’t really have an option here, and if you don’t like its color but can’t pass it up, then you’ll have to make do with it.

Brewing Options

The Philips 4300 is more capable than the Philips 3200, and it offers a wider range of drinks.

Right off the bat, the Philips 4300 can brew and prepare more types of beverages at a touch of a button. That includes Americano, caffé crema, coffee, espresso and ristretto, as well as hot water and milk froth. In contrast, the Philips 3200 can do only five: Americano, coffee, espresso, espresso lungo and hot water. 

However, you can technically make any drink with either machine since it’s essentially determined based on the brewing process and how much water and milk is used. Speaking of, you can also make a cup of cappuccino, caffé latte or latte macchiato, all thanks to their milk frother. 

It should be noted that the 4300 does have the edge with five aroma strength settings as opposed to three and its ability to adjust the coffee length. For the record, both their grinders have 12 settings, and they have 15 bars of pump pressure.

As mentioned, the 4300’s panarello wand has a dial on it. That lets you make drier foam for authentic cappuccino, but while it’s not necessary since the 3200 can also make a similar foam, it certainly does make things easier.

Ease of Use

With the Philips 4300, you get on-screen instructions and explanations, which is better than figuring out what the combinations of lights on the Philips 3200 mean.

The Philips 4300 is a lot easier to use, and that’s actually what makes it more appealing to a wider audience. In particular, its aforementioned screen provides feedback and step-by-step instructions whether you’re brewing or cleaning it. Put simply, each function and things like errors are explained.

On the other hand, the Philips 3200 has somewhat of a learning curve because you’ll have to first get a grasp of what its lights are trying to tell you. Otherwise, you’ll be looking up what certain combinations mean in the manual or online, which is a tad inconvenient until you get used to them.

Moreover, the 4300 can save two user profiles—a blue one and a green one. That’s aside from the guest user profile. Basically, it can remember the settings of beverages you brew. Sure, the 3200 can also remember parameters like volume and such, but if you share this machine with someone else who has different preferences, then you’ll have to reset it each time after the other person uses it.

At any rate, both are easy to clean with their dishwasher-safe drip tray and milk frother, and they also have a guided descaling function. Again, the 4300 makes this more straightforward because of its on-screen instructions and reminders.

Verdict

The Philips 4300 is better across the board, but it doesn’t feel like much of an upgrade from the Philips 3200.

Philips 3200

Philips 4300

Choosing between the two boils down to whether the extra features of the Philips 4300 are worth the higher price tag or not. The gap isn’t that wide, and you get a screen, user profiles and a better panarello wand with a knob, all of which make brewing every day easier. Not to mention that it’s a bit more capable with five aroma strength settings instead of three and an adjustable coffee length. But if those things don’t matter to you, then the Philips 3200 is obviously your better bet since it’s easier on the budget, if nothing else. Besides, if you already own it and are used to it, then the 4300 isn’t much of an upgrade.

Also, when it comes to the Philips 3200 vs 4300 vs 5400, the last of which has a lot more brewing options, saves up to four user profiles and comes with a LatteGo milk frother built-in. Additionally, when comparing the Philips 3200 LatteGo vs 4300, it’s more or less the same deal as with the Philips 4300 vs 3200, except that the 3200 LatteGo has, well, a LatteGo frother instead of a standard one, as its name suggests.

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