[Review] Philips 3100 series Automatic Espresso Machine

Owning an actual coffee machine has been a lifelong dream of mine. I even googled up barista courses to justify owning one at home but when I found out much a machine cost, it was back to cafe hopping. Then the Philips 3100 series Automatic Espresso Machine entered my life and it was life-changing.

Okay, I know this is starting to sound like a love letter but you have to understand that I am absolutely love coffee. I like walking into cafes where the first thing I smell is their coffee beans. I like smelling coffee beans samples and believe it or not, I can have coffee at night and still be able to sleep. Sometimes my dependence on coffee for me operate as a functioning human being went as much as three cups daily. I am trying to cut down now by pacing my drink throughout the day.

With this machine, I went from 3-in-1 coffee sachets to freshly brewed coffee every morning. Being able to decide my own choice of coffee beans and how I wanted it was strangely uplifting as an ardent coffee drinker. No more was I subjected to the whims and fancy of Kopiko, Essenso and Aik Cheong 3-in-1 coffee (okay, I still am la but only because I can't bring my coffee machine to work). Within a week of owning Philips 3100 machine, I had purchased Monin syrups, espresso cups and a frothing jar (it does make a difference!) to go hand in hand with my new coffee adventure.

So now that you understand why I am so excited to own the Philips 3100 series Automatic Espresso Machine, let's talk about the machine itself. The Philips 3100 is one of the various coffee machines introduced by Philips into Malaysia recently and is one of the more affordable ones. Granted it doesn't come equipped with their latest LatteGo milk system which basically heats and froths the milk for you but it does come with a classic milk frother wand. Like the ones you see in cafes with the stream jetting out after use (I learnt that was known as purging)

The machine was compact in size and doesn't take up much space or time to set up. Even installation of the AquaClean water filter system that ensures no descaling up to 5,000 cups and prevents scale build-up in the water circuit, was easy. Just follow the direction in the manual book provided. After loading my coffee beans into the bean hopper, I just needed to press either button for coffee or espresso and voila! Yummy coffee, in a manner of minutes.

The Philips 3100 series allows me to customise my coffee to find what I like - volume, temperature, aroma strength and grinding settings are all easily adjustable. I can even save my flavour profile for the machine to remember in case anyone else uses it. There is even an option for powdered coffee should I ever want a cup of decaf or flavoured coffee.

If I ever wanted hot frothed milk, the frother comes in handy in whipping up hot steam to do so. The espresso nozzle can be easily adjusted to suit the height of the cup. The Philips 3100 espresso machine is surprisingly intuitive for my everyday coffee needs. Even cleaning it was simple as it lets me know when and what to do. Of course, having instructional videos online helped.

If you were contemplating going all the way in your love for coffee, beyond instant coffees, capsule and store-bought ones, I can safely say I would recommend this machine for a beginner coffee aficionado. The Philips 3100 series is priced at RM2,999 and is available at selected retail outlets. For more information, visit on www.Philips.com.my.