De'Longhi Magnifica Evo vs Magnifica Start: where the $150 goes

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The gap is drinks, not hardware. De'Longhi lists the Magnifica Evo at $749.95 with 6 one-touch beverages and the Magnifica Start at $599.95 with 3: espresso, coffee, and americano. Both grind with a 13 setting conical burr grinder and both steam milk through the same style of manual frother. If your household drinks straight coffee, save the $150 and take the Start. If you want one-touch variety, the Evo earns its price.

Magnifica Evo vs Magnifica Start, head to head

Specs and prices from delonghi.com product pages, checked August 2026. De'Longhi publishes few hard numbers for these models; rows a maker does not publish are left out rather than estimated.

Same grinder, same milk, different menu

Both machines run De'Longhi's 13 setting conical burr grinder and dose fresh grounds per cup, and both hand you a manual frother for cappuccinos rather than an automatic carafe. The Evo's extra money buys menu breadth: six programmed recipes against three. If your morning order never changes, you are paying for buttons you will not press.

The upgrade most people actually want

Milk drinkers eyeing this family usually want automatic milk, and neither of these models has it; De'Longhi reserves the LatteCrema carafe for higher trims. That makes the honest comparison simpler: buy on drink count and price. Where these fit against rival brands is mapped in the super-automatic guide and the Magnifica Evo vs Philips 3200 head-to-head.

Which one should you buy

Buy the Magnifica Start if you drink espresso, americano, or plain coffee and froth milk occasionally. It is the same core machine at the lowest price De'Longhi puts on a current Magnifica.

Buy the Magnifica Evo if two or more people share the machine or your orders vary. Six one-touch recipes cover the realistic range of a small household without stepping up to touchscreen prices.

Check current prices

List prices sit $150 apart and De'Longhi discounts this family often, so check both live before choosing.

Related reading

• De'Longhi Magnifica review
• Magnifica Evo vs Philips 3200 LatteGo
• Best super-automatic espresso machine
• Coffee gear guides hub

FAQ

What is the difference between the Magnifica Evo and Magnifica Start? Mainly the drink menu. The Evo offers 6 one-touch beverages while the Start offers 3: espresso, coffee, and americano. Both use a 13 setting conical burr grinder and a traditional manual milk frother.

Does the Magnifica Evo froth milk automatically? No. The ECAM29043SB Evo uses a traditional manual frother, the same approach as the Start. Automatic LatteCrema milk carafes appear on higher De'Longhi trims.

Is the Magnifica Start good for beginners? Yes. Three clear one-touch buttons, a 13 setting grinder, and a manual frother make it one of the simplest bean-to-cup machines to run, at De'Longhi's entry super-automatic price of $599.95.

Sources: De'Longhi Magnifica Evo (delonghi.com); De'Longhi Magnifica Start (delonghi.com). Manufacturer pages fetched August 2026. Specs a maker does not publish are left out rather than estimated.