The Bezzera Magica made a good impression in our espresso machine test. With a small upgrade that you can do yourself, the Bezzera Magica is a good choice when it comes to dual boiler espresso machines.
Learn more about the comparison with 11 other dual boiler espresso machines here.
And the espresso tastes…
Like the Bezzera BZ10 before it, the Bezzera Magica delivers what matters most. Good espresso! We tried our Brazilian espresso from the Apas Cooperative. The espresso was round, creamy and balanced in terms of sweetness, bitterness and acidity. We only found room for improvement in the aftertaste.
Decisive for the taste of an espresso, in addition to the correct grinder setting, clean distribution and tamping of the ground coffee, are the performance characteristics of the espresso machine. In our espresso machine tests, we focus on the temperature of the espresso machine, but also on the distribution of brewing water through the shower head.
Temperature measurement on the Bezzera Magica
The Bezzera Magica delivers both of these aspects well. The brewing water is distributed evenly through the shower head and thus wets all the ground coffee in the portafilter evenly. And the temperature of the Bezzera Magica is also optimally calibrated. At the beginning of brewing, the temperature was 93.5 degrees and then increased to approximately 94.2 during brewing. This is not perfect, but certainly in the desired range. When in this target range, slight temperature fluctuations are hardly noticeable in taste.
What we don't like…
However, we were negatively surprised by the included basket of the Bezzera Magica. It is surprisingly large and easily holds 20 grams of coffee. This is not a disadvantage in itself. We recommend using this full capacity so that there is not too much space between the coffee puck and the shower head (headspace), which can lead to increased turbulence and the risk of uneven extraction.
Basket of the Bezzera Magica
More problematic is that the punching of the holes stops well short of the edge, forcing the brewing water that extracts the particles at the edge of the basket to take a detour toward the center. A better basket, such as a VST precision basket or an IMS Competition basket*, would certainly be a very good upgrade, especially since the holes are also more precise.
And the included tamper is unfortunately once again a bad joke. The plastic disk can be used for many things, but should only be an absolute last resort for tamping. The plastic puck is too small and too unstable to compress the coffee grounds evenly.
The basket upgrade is optional, but you shouldn't skimp on the tamper when such an attractive espresso machine is sitting on your table.
Design, Material and Price
We tested the Bezzera Magica without PID control. And once again: when a machine is calibrated as well as this one, you don't need PID control. The machine runs at the desired temperature and experimenting with temperature really only makes sense if you want to dive into all the depths of espresso culture.
Side view of the Bezzera Magica
The Bezzera Magica S relies on the proven Faema E61 technology and it delivers what it should – good and consistent temperature. The installed toggle switch gets somewhat hot, but not as hot as other models in our test series. The vibration pump operates in the mid-range volume level. Often it's not the pump that determines noise levels, but rather the rattling of the lid and drip tray. On the Bezzera Magica, the lid sits on rubber stoppers and doesn't wobble. The drip tray, however, unfortunately does.
The machine is well-built overall. This is also evident from a look inside the machine. The usual sharp edges are part of the picture for most espresso machines. (In the video we go into more detail on the individual edges).
The Bezzera Magica has an enormous copper boiler with a volume of 2 liters. This sits in the machine, which is why the Bezzera Magica is also one of the wider dual boilers. 30cm width is matched by a height of 44 and a depth of 45cm. Accordingly, the machine takes a long time to heat up – 25 to 30 minutes should be allowed before making espresso.
It is surprising that the Bezzera Magica is offered at really bargain prices in both Switzerland and Germany. We have already seen it for as little as 1250 € and 1550 Swiss francs.
For that you get quite a lot of performance, which was also evident when steaming milk.
Making Cappuccino with Style
Our coffee academy director Michel Aeschbacher put considerable spin on the machine. Steaming the 0.6L jug went quickly and powerfully, and the cappuccinos were a joy to taste and to look at.
Two delicious and beautiful cappuccinos.
Speed and powerful performance are especially pleasant when you already have some experience with steaming technique. Then good steam force during the rolling phase helps to break down the bubbles created during the whipping phase.
For beginners to steaming, it's often easier if a machine doesn't have so much power. However, it's then also difficult to find the right positioning to get all the milk spinning.
Pros and cons… But one thing is certain. The Bezzera Magica can steam milk – no question about it. And with practice, anyone can get desired results from the machine.
Conclusion on the Bezzera Magica S
We liked it, the Bezzera Magica S. It is neither an innovative high-flyer, like the Lelit Mara X, nor a consistency wonder, like the Quickmill Andreja Premium PID. Instead, it's simply a good dual boiler espresso machine at a fair price. In our case, we were unlucky in that a pressure gauge wasn't sealed properly and drew moisture. Otherwise, only the tamper should be replaced and optionally the basket. Then you can have a lot of joy with the Bezzera Magica.
*This is an affiliate link. If you order through this link, you won't pay more, but we receive a small commission that we can invest in new machines and tests.
