The Bezzera Magica made a good impression in our espresso machine test. With a small upgrade that you can perform yourself, the Bezzera Magica is a good choice for heat exchanger espresso machines.
You can find out more about the comparison with 11 other heat exchanger espresso machines here.
And the espresso tastes…
Like the Bezzera BZ10, the Bezzera Magica also delivers what is most important. 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. Only in the aftertaste did we find room for improvement.
The taste of an espresso is determined not only by the correct grinder settings, clean distribution, and tamping of the grounds, but also by the performance of the espresso machine. In our espresso machine tests, we focus on the temperature of the espresso machine, but also the distribution of the brewing water through the shower screen.
Temperature measurement of the Bezzera Magica
The Bezzera Magica performs well in both these aspects. The brewing water is evenly distributed through the shower screen, thus wetting all the ground coffee in the portafilter evenly. And the temperature of the Bezzera Magica is also optimally adjusted. At the beginning of brewing, the temperature was 93.5 degrees and then increased to about 94.2 during brewing. This is not perfect, but it is well within the desired range. Slight temperature fluctuations are hardly noticeable within this target range.
What we don't like…
However, we noticed the included sieve of the Bezzera Magica as a negative. It is surprisingly large and easily holds 20 grams of coffee. This is not a disadvantage in itself. We recommend utilizing this volume so that there is not too much space between the coffee cake and the shower screen (headspace), which leads to increased turbulence and the risk of uneven extraction.
Sieve of the Bezzera Magica
More problematic is that the punching of the holes stops well before the edge, forcing the brewing water, which extracts the particles at the edge of the sieve, to take a detour towards the center of the sieve. A better sieve, e.g., a VST precision sieve or an IMS Competition sieve* would certainly be a very good upgrade here, especially since the holes are also more precise.
Unfortunately, the included tamper is also a bad joke once again. The plastic projectile can be used for many things, but should only be the absolute last resort for tamping. The plastic disc is too small and too unstable to tamp the coffee powder evenly.
The sieve upgrade is optional, but you shouldn't skimp on the tamper when such a chic espresso machine is on the table.
Shape, Material and Price
We tested the Bezzera Magica without PID control. And once again, if a machine is so cleanly set, then no PID control is needed. The machine runs at the desired temperature and playing with temperature only really makes sense if you want to delve 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 built-in toggle switch gets a bit hot, but not as hot as on other models in our test series. The vibration pump operates in the medium noise range. Often, it's not the pump that causes the noise, but 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, does.
The machine is generally well-made. This is also evident when looking inside the machine. The usual suspect sharp edges are part of the picture of most espresso machines. (In the video, we go into more detail about the individual edges).
The Bezzera Magica has an enormous copper boiler with a volume of 2 liters. This is located inside the machine, which is why the Bezzera Magica is also one of the wider heat exchangers. A width of 30cm is offset by a height of 44cm and a depth of 45cm. Accordingly, the machine also takes a long time to heat up – you should allow 25 to 30 minutes before making espresso.
It is astonishing that the Bezzera Magica is sometimes offered at really favorable prices in both Switzerland and Germany. We have already seen it for as little as €1250 and 1550 Swiss Francs.
For that, you get a lot of performance, which was also evident when frothing milk.
Making Cappuccinos with Gusto
Our coffee academy director, Michel Aeschbacher, attributed considerable momentum to the machine. Frothing the 0.6-liter pitcher was quick and powerful, and the cappuccinos were a delight for both taste and aesthetics.
Two delicious and beautiful cappuccinos.
Speed and powerful performance are particularly pleasant if you are already reasonably proficient in milk frothing. A good swirl in the rolling phase then helps to decimate the bubbles formed in the stretching phase.
For frothing beginners, it is often easier if a machine doesn't have too much power. However, it is then also difficult to find the right position to get all the milk swirling.
Pros and cons… But one thing is certain. The Bezzera Magica can froth milk – no question. And with practice, everyone will achieve desirable results from the machine.
Conclusion on the Bezzera Magica S
We really liked the Bezzera Magica S. It is neither an innovative high-flyer, like the Lelit Mara X, nor a miracle of consistency, like the Quickmill Andreja Premium PID. Instead, it is simply a good heat exchanger espresso machine at a fair price. In our case, we had bad luck that a pressure gauge was not sealed and had drawn moisture. Otherwise, only the tamper should be replaced and optionally the sieve. Then you can have a lot of joy with the Bezzera Magica.
*This is an affiliate link. If you order through this link, you don't pay more, but we get a small commission and can invest it in new machines and tests.
