Philips 5400 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine - 12 Coffees, Easy-To-Clean LatteGo Milk System, Intuitive Display, Customizable Coffee Settings, Sleek Design(EP5446/70)

We purchased a bean-to-cup machine due to the ongoing expense of our Nespresso pod machine. When I discovered we were spending nearly £1000 a year on pods, the large upfront cost of a bean-to-cup machine seemed worthwhile, considering the much cheaper per-cup price. I did some calculations and deduced that we would break even in the first year of owning this machine, so we decided to buy it.When comparing this machine to our previous Nespresso machine, two key points stand out. This machine produces vastly superior coffee (once you've dialed it in correctly - I'll discuss that further on) but it requires more maintenance. Regular TLC is necessary to keep it in good shape, but it's entirely manageable and, in my opinion, worth it for the superior coffee.Initially, I was a bit underwhelmed after making the first few cups of coffee with this machine. The coffee tasted somewhat watery, but it still surpassed the Nespresso machine. However, it wasn't matching the standard I'd expect from a good coffee shop, which I was somewhat expecting given the price. As a novice, I knew nothing about dialing in grinder settings. Once I tweaked these settings, the coffee quality transformed from just okay to fantastic. I gradually adjusted the grinder until I found a setting that tasted best (3 with my current beans), which made a significant difference. Be prepared to experiment with this (please note, you can only change the setting while it's grinding, which can be a bit irksome).I considered a few other well-reviewed bean-to-cup machines, but what attracted me to the Philips was its simplicity. We appreciated the convenience of a pod machine, so a bean-to-cup that offered a similar setup was ideal for us. This machine is incredibly easy to use and allows you to customize each coffee. You can adjust the strength, add less or more water, and save your preferences to a profile, so each family member can have their own preferred settings. I love this feature.My wife and I primarily enjoy straight-up coffee, so we weren't concerned about some reviews noting the mediocre performance of the milk frother. If you're interested in making milky coffees, it should suffice. A proper steam wand might yield better results, but learning to use it requires an extra investment of time and energy. There are cheaper Philips machines with a steam wand instead of the latte-go, so that could be an option if you prefer that. We chose this particular model (5400) because it was on sale, but I expect the other models in the range to produce equally good coffee, albeit without some of the additional features.There are a few things I don't particularly like. The 'latte-go' milk holder feels somewhat cheap, and I fear a fall onto a hard floor could end it's life quite quickly. There's also a piece of plastic that slots into the drip tray and acts as the machine's front fascia, which scratches easily. The machine rinses itself when turned on and off, which can lead to stale coffee water contaminating your clean cup if you forget about it. Also, the machine doesn't recognize when the coffee grounds container has been emptied while the machine is off. It can be slightly annoying, but it's manageable once you're aware. Lastly, be sure to keep an eye on the water tank, as the machine doesn't recognize when the water level is too low to make the selected drink. This isn't a major issue as the machine will prompt you to refill the tank and let you continue with your drink, but it can be inconvenient if you've set your coffee to brew and left the room for a few minutes.Cleaning the machine is fairly straightforward. Every week, access the side panel found behind the water tank, remove the 'group set' or 'group head' (which is the core part of the machine and has group in it's name), and rinse it under the tap to remove any coffee grounds. Let it air dry overnight. Be sure to heed the instructions that warn against using a cloth or anything that might leave fibers in the mechanisms. You'll also need to clean the now empty area from which you removed the group set, as coffee grounds find their way everywhere. A slightly more challenging task is lubricating the group set/head. I've seen varying advice, even from Philips, on how often this should be done - it ranges from once a month, to once every 500 coffees, to once every four months if you drink 1-5 cups a day (more frequently if you consume more). I chose the once every four months option. It was a bit tricky due to the difficulty in seeing how much lubricant I was applying to the black plastic, but I think I managed. I haven't had to descale the machine yet, so I can't comment on that process, but I will update my review if it proves to be troublesome.Despite some minor flaws, I can't justify deducting a star because the machine excels in all the important areas. The profiles and customization options are easy to use; the main challenge is figuring out the best settings for you. My final piece of advice is to invest in a decent bag of coffee beans. We tried some cheap ones, and the coffee was horribly bitter. If this is your first machine of this type, you might blame the machine instead of the beans. But if you choose to buy this machine, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

After extensive research and having enjoyed a similar model at my parents’ home, I finally decided to invest in this coffee machine, opting for one that would cater to my preference for convenience over manual frothing. This machine perfectly accommodates my desire for a delicious, frothy coffee without the hassle of manual milk frothing, making it an excellent choice for those who appreciate ease of use.Pros:• Convenience: One of the standout features is the ability to store the milk in its own container and easily place it in the fridge. This ensures that the milk remains fresh and ready for your next coffee.• User Profiles: The machine supports up to four user profiles, allowing you to customise settings for different users or preferences. This personalisation is a great touch, ensuring that everyone can enjoy their ideal coffee.• Customisation: You have a wide range of customisation options for each coffee, from strength to temperature, catering to a variety of tastes.• Ease of Cleaning: Cleaning is straightforward with several options available, which makes maintaining the machine relatively hassle-free.Cons:• Milk Froth: While the frothing function is effective, it doesn’t achieve the same thickness as manual frothing methods where you shake a pot vigorously. The result is slightly less rich froth, which might be a consideration for those who prefer a creamier texture.• Drip Tray: The drip tray fills up quite quickly, even if you’re careful with drips during the start and end of rinsing. It seems to capture drips from the coffee-making process as well, which means frequent emptying.• Customisation Saving: A minor annoyance is that the machine automatically saves any customised coffee settings as the default. If you make a one-off adjustment for a stronger coffee, it will be saved as your new standard, requiring you to manually revert the settings later.• Shortcut Options: The machine does not allow for changing the coffee options on the shortcut buttons, which means you might need to navigate to the ‘more drinks’ menu for certain types of coffee. It would be more convenient if you could customise these shortcuts.Overall, this coffee machine has proven to be a fantastic investment. It was worth waiting for the price to drop rather than opting for a cheaper model. Its convenience, customisation features, and ease of use outweigh the minor drawbacks, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a high-quality coffee experience with minimal effort.

The media could not be loaded. I bought this machine as a present, at what I thought it was an offer price, nowhere in the description it said it was used or fixed item. When the package was opened, it did not come in any type of original box or wrap, only paper and bubble wrap. The screen has an scratch which doesn’t affect its use. I complained to Amazon and I was explained about the “condition of the machine” after explaining, they gave me a partial refund. My brother was happy to keep his present, until he plugged the machine to test it, seemed to work ok, a couple of hours later he went back to his kitchen to find the work too covered in water, the water tank was broken. I contacted Amazon again, they offered me the option of send it back to be fixed or a refund. I didn’t see the need to send it back (I live in an island and the whole process couldn’t have taken a few weeks) and I knew what the issue was, so I contacted Phillips directly and got a replacement water tank.The machine is beautiful, very easy to use, has a touch screen with various options to make coffee including how strong you want your coffees or if you want a double shot. It self cleans and the milk container can be taken out for storage in the fridge.As for Amazon service, very poor, they did give me a partial refund for something that didn’t affect it’s used but wouldn’t refund me for the broken water tank I had to buy.Overall brother seems very happy with his new coffee machine. Would definitely recommend it to anybody but, if you can afford paying full price, go for it, otherwise be prepared to return it or fix the issue yourself, at your own cost.