Philips LatteGo 4300 tips for best coffee

[@ethanmorrison6330]

Thank you so much for making these videos. I have the same machine and have found the instructions to be a bit confusing your videos make perfect sense since you walk us through the processes. Thanks heaps from Australia 🇦🇺

[@mikeluv3773]

@@ethanmorrison6330 glad to hear. 😊 Thank you.

[@coolscience622]

I bought the same one too last month and it's been an amazing machine

[@derekroberts5931]

Does ot shoot water mist in the upper left of machine?

[@derocknrose]

I had a 3200 and liked it so much that I upgraded to a 5400 I've had it over 11 months and I love it!!! Grider set on a 4.

[@mikeluv3773]

The 5400 looks awesome with the big touch screen. Yeah these machines tend to be of great quality. Enjoy it 😊

[@derocknrose]

@@mikeluv3773,I definitely enjoy it every day. I'm a firm believer in going by the manufacturer instructions & keeping the machine clean & oiled. Love it.

[@Lecco1616]

Thank you for the info about the first 100 cups. I also changed the grinder after the first day and was worried I shouldn't have, also worried about the lack of strongness. Basically you have to play with the espresso until you find what is good for you.

[@mikeluv3773]

Thank you 😊 yes. The machines are all set for the "standards " but as we all know...none is alike...so set your machine based on your own settings. And play with the settings based on the types of espresso beans you get. Cheers

[@arishem555]

Thnx, Mike. Simple but great video without marketing :))

[@mikeluv3773]

Thanks 😎

[@Genxa]

Thank you for the advice! My first day using it, but decided to just go ahead an turn the grind setting down. Instantly better results than default setting, now I need to make some minute changes to dose amount vs temperature etc. Medium temp seemed better for my batch of beans currently.

[@mikeluv3773]

Awesome. Glad to hear. Let me know if you have any questions 🙂

[@7MMirek]

Hello, thank you for nice review and recommendations! I bought years ago series 23xx for my parents and I already ordered new 43xx for me as well. In 23xx there was almost no settings possible, so I am looking forward now to “play” with that and get the best option for my coffee taste. Have a great day and cheers (with coffee ☕️ of course 🙂)

[@mikeluv3773]

Thanks for the feedback 😊 hope you enjoy your new machine and great coffee.

[@meassapascalpong8355]

Thank you for the tips! The espresso quality is way better

[@mikeluv3773]

Glad to hear 😎

[@Scoondog]

Can’t wait mine will be here Friday

[@mikeluv3773]

Nice! Enjoy it 👍🏼

[@TrendzSportsCollection]

Very informative. Great video.

[@mikeluv3773]

Thank you !

[@stephendoyle3352]

I have the Philips 5500 top of the range in this machine line up. I use dark roast beans and I have had no issues. This is why Philips provides you to use tablets to remove oil build up and if you clean the machine regularly as you should then you have no issues. So, don't get hung up on not using dark roasts.

[@mikeluv3773]

Using dark roast beans is your choice. If I use the Philips / Saeco recommended types of beans and also make some research on many super automatic sites, I find that they all seem to send the same message. It’s recommended to not use oily beans because, with time, the oil will build up and become hard, blocking the grinder, making the grinder’s motor force too much, risking to break it all too. So in the short term, while you keep using the tablets, some oil will remain and build up over time. It might take years for your machine to break but you'll also notice a degradation in its function and reduce its lifetime. At the end of the day, it's your prerogative.

[@Espada11777]

Very informative, thank you!

[@Satine_Moisant]

Great tips! I had a Gaggia superautomatic a couple of years ago and I found the shots weak on the finest settings. I like this machine pulls a true double and not just extended water flow through the puck. I will keep your tips in mind!

[@mikeluv3773]

Thanks 😎 enjoy the coffee

[@redited144]

Have one of the older models of the Late to go high tear machines. Mine has a colered display looks they grabimg cens for that to omg. But yes you should get it to greind 2 which is the max. And ristreto is the only one that realy works. For coffe make 2 expressos. When you take schuger coffe is a option but there is a reason why there is the expresso shot - extra shot there 😅.

[@kimdokkyu]

very helpful! thank you.

[@edibumbaru]

Hello! I got an lattego 5400 series 11 days ago and i adjusted the grinder at level 2 after 10 days of use with 2-3 cups of coffee per day. The same opinion with, i considered this time was enough for machine to calibrate. For now…the result is not so obvious but i think that after some time it will be better. First coffe that i user was an 250gr of beans from Starbucks that was very dark and oily, but after that i bought an Segafredo Casa Selezione Crema that is medium roast and not oily at all. I hope to results will improve with time.😅

[@lilyjasmine1668]

Thank you nicely explained

[@Marcustrismegistus]

I just ordered mine today. 😊

[@mikeluv3773]

Hope you enjoy it! It has been a great machine so far. (9 months and going)

[@lauwe54]

Thanks great video

[@williamlaino8507]

Thanks, Mike, for your prompt and informative reply. To answer your question, I'm only using beans, which the machine grounds from the hopper. What is the "inside cassette?" Is that the Brew Group on the inside of the water tank (which I clean weekly) or something else? If something else, how do I access and recognize it? Bill

[@mikeluv3773]

You're welcome. I was referring to the brew group. My apologies for the confusion, my French kicks in regularly 😉 Hope you find a solution. Cheers.

[@dobby5687]

I have a sage barista express and just haven't got the time anymore its been a fantastic machine for the past 6 years but I have a little rug rat now that takes up most of my time what's the temperature like on milk based drinks because I do like a nice strong flat white or double espresso I don't want something shockingly hot but I dont want something that's just above room temperature

[@mikeluv3773]

I unfortunately do not have a temperature gauge to measure the temperature of the milk, but, on the machine's setup, you have the ability to adjust the temperature of your drinks from low to medium to high. Also, googling milk temp on the Philips LatteGo 4300 provides the following answer : We measured the milk temperature at 65° (60° is average). hope that helps.

[@KoDiaKuL]

Manufactured in Romania! I have the same machine, but although it's a strong coffee, it's kinda watery...Idk why...I was expecting the coffee to be more creamy, thicker, IDK how to explain. But if you were to a coffee shop and you had that nice espresso very thick, not only the foam on top...Anyhow, thank you very much Mike for sharing your experience. I will lower the grinding level and see the result.

[@mikeluv3773]

Mmm a watery coffee can mean different things. So are you making a coffee or an espresso? Are you changing any of the brew settings when making your coffee / espresso?(strength, water quantity and x number of coffee?). Are you using fresh beans or coffee ground? The freshness of the coffee is what is going to give you the aroma, flavor and crema. Anything old and already oxidated will not yield the same results.

[@KoDiaKuL]

@@mikeluv3773 I've been trying different types of brew settings with coffee and espresso. I am using Julius Meinl beans bought from the supermarket shelf. True that the date of roasting was in Feb2022. Maybe that's the problem

[@mikeluv3773]

@@KoDiaKuL try buying a small fresh batch of medium roast espresso beans and make yourself a few cafe cremas or espressos and see if there is difference.

[@filipduzel5385]

@@mikeluv3773 pozdrav tek sam dobio ovaj aparat i nakon 5 6 salica kave mi se skupi vode u posudi ispod aparata,sad jel to normalno ili?? Skupi se jadna casa vode na 6 kava.

[@bradley7506]

I’m assuming that with my new 5400 arriving tomorrow I can just set the grinder to 2 when I set the machine up as there won’t be any beans in the hopper. Do I still have to use the grinder settings from the factory for a while or can I just make the adjustment to 2 before my first cup?

[@mikeluv3773]

Hi and sorry for the late reply. I'm not familiar with the newer 5400 but I'm assuming it functions similarly to the 4300 with the exception of an all digital screen and a few more coffees. Having said that, I'd recommend you make about 20 cups before adjusting it to 2 (and since you should have beans in the hopper by then, adjust it to a finer grind while it's working/grinding). And you should be all set. 😊

[@Amiadler1]

Is it possible to change the order of the drink options under the “More Drinks” button?

[@mikeluv3773]

I don't believe you can on the 4300. The order is Factory preset.

[@amitmehta1699]

Where do you get the metal spout for the milk container? Mine is plastic

[@mikeluv3773]

@@amitmehta1699 the one that came with the 4300 is plastic covered in some sort of plastic chrome . It's not metal

[@mevlutunlu42]

what is your ideal grind size setting? I use number 3 but the shot is too fast

[@mevlutunlu42]

ah ok. best informative video about these machines. thanks for sharing. do you still use it?

[@mikeluv3773]

@@mevlutunlu42 thanks 🙂. Yes I've been using the 4300 lattego for a little over a year now and it's been flawless so far.

[@hervelechat7576]

Thank you for this great video. I have the 5400 and I have an issue during pre-infusion some water falls from the coffee dispensing spout. Have you ever noticed this issue on yours ? If it is the case, do you have any solution ? Thanks again

[@mikeluv3773]

Hey Herve. Yes I believe that is a normal "cleaning" process that the machine uses in order to ensure that the spouts are actually clean and open before dispensing your espresso. Mine does the same as well. Now I thought at the beginning that the amount of water would actually dilute the espresso, it turns out that it does not. What I have started doing is actually removing my cup before it dispenses water and placing it back for the espresso shot . Hope that helps 😊

[@hervelechat7576]

@@mikeluv3773 thanks again !

[@PabloCanterodotcom]

Does it usually dispense rinse water for the first brew? I didn't see rinse water in your video.

[@mikeluv3773]

Sorry for the late reply. Yes it does dispense rinse water for the first brew and when you turn the machine off, it will self rinse and clean the dispenser. Hope that helps

[@catherineebbern1464]

Hi mike. I’m a bit confused on the grind setting knob. How do you know what setting it’s on. It’s on factory but I would like to put it on 2 but not sure on where the indicator is.

[@mikeluv3773]

Hi there 🙂 the numbers on the knob are fine printed and also in the same color as the knob (bad engineering I guess ). So, if you have the lattego 4300, your machine came with the factory grind setting at 6 (the middle of the knob ). I believe the knob goes till 12. Here are the steps , if you have the 4300: 1- setting the grinder coarser, you can do this while the machine is off. Just turn the knob clockwise. You might need a flashlight to see the numbers. 2- setting the grinder to a finer level should ONLY be done when the machine is ACTUALLY in the process of grinding. (this will prevent the burr from breaking if coffee beans get stuck ) . Turn the knob counter - clockwise. Use a flashlight if you need an exact setting. Hope that helps.

[@zzzwinWin0905]

I bought 4300, trying to replace my breville 870. I tried all setting, manitience but It will never get a good quality expresso in a rich body and complex flavours like sweetness and fruity taste like Breville or other semi-auto machine. 4300 could make coffee taste better than an instant coffee but far away from any cafe quality, I will say it is not a great extracting like the grinder setting is not fine enough even though it's already the finest in the machine. Grinder approx Philipss 1 = 6 in Breville. please let know If you guys can make great coffee even close to the semi- auto machine with fully auto machine, or just my 4300 having some problems, or which brand and series you are using thanks.

[@mikeluv3773]

@@zzzwinWin0905 I've had the 4300 for well over 3 years now and everytime I make an espresso, regular coffee or cappuccino, it always tastes rich and creamy. The magic on all of this is the grind level (should be at the finest - that's what worked for me) and more importantly the quality of the beans. I've never used pre ground coffee in my machine and only used good quality medium roast beans. The machine does the rest . Many factors can play in your case, how long have you had the machine? Do you maintain it and clean it weekly? What kind of beans are you using ? The machine will take a few days to a week to adjust if it's new. If you have tried all of these above and still find that the taste is not right, you might have a faulty machine or just simply enjoy way more a semi-automatic espresso machine. Hope this helps.

[@betimgashi7408]

I have adjusted to finer settings the grinder without instructions to do it when its grinding…did I caused any damage or should I turn it back to level 12 when its off then go while grinding two levels lower until I reach for example level 2

[@mikeluv3773]

That depends on the state of your machine. If it's brand new and the Burr grinder has not been used at all, dialing it down (to the finest grind) while not recommended when the machine is off might not have damaged anything. Dialing up can safely be done while the machine is off but when going to the diner grind, always do this while the machine is actually in the process of grinding coffee. If you like the setting that you currently have at this time, I would suggest to keep it and test the coffee and see if you like it. (always adjust it after at least 5 cups ) . Hope that helps

[@TheRettvest123]

Thank you 🙂

[@__-pl3jg]

I just got the 4300 model and I've made about 12, 40ml espressos at maximum grind time. I also made a handful of cappuccinos and macchiatos just to see what would happen. Even after these 15-20 drinks I'm noticing the pucks dont exit the ramp into the grounds bin. Instead the puck which is watery gets stuck on the ramp. Anyone have ideas as to why this would happen on a brand new machine?

[@mikeluv3773]

I'm not sure what you mean when you say "maximum grind" is it the finest grind or the coarsest grind? Are you adjusting the coffee level to the highest liquid volume when making cappuccinos and macchiatos? Here are a few tips, keep us updated to see if any changes occur. With the Philips Espresso Machine you can try different settings and create your preferred coffee taste. The changes you make will affect both the consistency of the coffee puck and taste of your coffee. We recommend you make small changes to the grinder settings (finer) or coffee volume (less), taste the result, and try gain. For a less strong coffee you can select a coarse grind setting. This will also make the coffee puck more wet. If you choose a higher coffee volume, it will lead to a less strong coffee and a more wet coffee puck. With a lighter aroma setting the coffee puck will be more watery.(that might be your issue?)

[@__-pl3jg]

@@mikeluv3773 - Sorry for the confusion. When I say "maximum grind time" I'm referring to the weight of coffee being ground. If the machine grinds for a longer amount of time a larger portion of coffe grinds will enter the portafilter. That's what the "strength" meter on the display changes. I've got mine set to the max which I think is about 15g of coffee. I've got the grinder set to maximum fineness (Level 1) And I'm only pushing 40ml of water which is the traditional amount for one espresso. After watching other people run their machines with similar settings and achieve a perfectly formed dry puck, I think there is something wrong with my machine. Mine produces a soggy mush which subsequently cant be ejected from the brew group into the grounds bin. I fiddled with every single option to no avail. I even disassembled the brew group, cleaned, regreased, and assembled it. Still same soggy mush. I figured the motor wasnt applying enough torque to properly tamp the puck so I went to my local Best Buy to get another unit. I plugged it in, ran 12, 40ml espressos through and I'm getting identical results. I'm using Starbucks Pike Place medium roast beans. I've now made about 30-40 drinks on my first machine with no changes in puck consistency. I'm going to call Phillips support on Monday to see if this is a known issue they can fix. I'll try to remember to provide an update if I figure this out.

[@mikeluv3773]

@@__-pl3jg sorry that the issue seems to be consistent. I tried looking for other options but you seem to have tried most of them. I'd say run about 100 cups before the machine self-adjusts like the Philips manual states, but mine took about 30 cups before it adjusted to a perfect espresso pull. You might have had two defective machines :( Calling Philips would definitely provide you with Kore options. Hope it gets resolved soon.

[@TeslaFSDStudent]

I also bought a Phillips 4300 the other day. In what exactly does coffee machine "calibration" consist of? . If I understood this calibration process I could probably make better coffees along the way. Oh and the video is excellent!

[@mikeluv3773]

Thanks for the positive feedback🙏 In the Philips Lattego 4300 manual, they say that the user can adjust the coffee grind settings using the grinder knob inside the coffee beans dispenser but they recommend brewing about 100 cups of coffee first before doing that. In their opinion, the machine is set at the perfect setting (which is half way on the knob) and that any changes will have to be done once the machine has brewed a month worth of coffee. I personally have dialed the setting to a lower one (I'm at 2) and I use medium roast espresso beans. I've made these settings adjustments about 20 coffees through. (I think that is enough time for the machine to self regulate and brew drinks based on your personal settings : strength, water quantity and x cups). Hope that helps and happy brewing!

[@TeslaFSDStudent]

@@mikeluv3773 Thank you Mike for explaining 👍

[@joshuac2991]

Have been looking at this one and the 3200 as a possible purchase. I see in the video it just mentions Low/Med/High temperature setting. Is there a more precise temp setting, if not what temp is "high"

[@mikeluv3773]

The Philips 4300, like the 3200 lets you adjust your coffee temperature. While you can’t give it a precise temperature you can choose between low, medium or high. The machine is set to medium by default and that brews espresso at about 150F; a hot but drinkable temperature. Unfortunately, you don’t get to adjust the temperature for the coffee and the milk separately; you’re getting an overall setting here, but at least you have some room to adjust.

[@oceanbeat]

Hi Mike, thanks for your video. Did you adjust the grinder right off the box or you waited after 100/150 brews as indicated in the user manual?

[@mikeluv3773]

Thanks 🙂. I'm impatient by nature lol so I did dial it down to "2" after only about 15 cups of espressos. 9 months after with about 3 cups a day , it has been producing consistent shots. Enjoy your machine !

[@oceanbeat]

Thank you. I'm still in the process of learning the best settings for my liking.

[@murpm01]

How do you change the grind?

[@johnjiii414]

@@murpm01theres a black knob with numbers on it inside the bean hopper. On. Top.

[@filipduzel5385]

Pozdrav dobio sam philips 4300 na poklon i kako se jos ucim jel normalno da nakon 5 6 kava bude vode dole u posudici ( 1 sqlica vode otprilike) jel zna netko?hvala

[@vasavishanthi3771]

Hi Mike. Which coffee beans are you using? I just bought this machine, its arriving tomorrow and im more of a beginner when it comes to coffee beans

[@mikeluv3773]

Congrats on the machine! I've been buying the medium roast Lavazza crema e gusto Clasico. I find that the acidity is pretty low and the intensity is what I look for in an espresso. Moreover, the coffee tastes good no matter what drink I chose to do( and the crema is always thick). However, coffee is a personal taste, so I'd recommend you try several, and pick the one you like the most. Enjoy your coffee 😊

[@robbiem4041]

Does anyone know what the brew cleaning option does ? I know when cleaning the brew crew you need to take out the internal piece i just dont know what the option does

[@mikeluv3773]

@@robbiem4041 yeah so the brew group cleaning function in your settings is the one you would want to use when cleaning the oil residue using the tablets. Just follow the instructions once you select it. 😊

[@alexandrinaivanova8090]

Hi there! I have an unusual question. Can I have a saved custom drink with milk only - no coffee?

[@mikeluv3773]

Hello 🙂 I believe you can have a user profile in your "more drink" function (if you have that in your machine. You should if you have the lattego4300) for the frothed milk (will only custom the quantity ). Here is the excerpt from the 4300 user manual : machine allows you to adjust the settings of a drink to your own preference and to store the adjusted drink in a personal profile. The different profiles have different colors. After selecting a drink by tapping one of the one-touch drink icons or by tapping the 'More Drinks' icon (specific types only), you can do the following things: 1 adjust the aroma strength with the up and down icons (Fig. 21). There are 5 strengths, the lowest is the mildest and the highest is the strongest. 2 adjust the coffee quantity (Fig. 22) and/or the milk quantity (specific types only) with the up and down icons. There are 5 quantities for each of the settings. Hope that helps. Enjoy 🙂

[@VladimirMik]

Hi Mike, does lattego produce silky microfoam or it is still bubbly like in other machines?

[@mikeluv3773]

Hey Vladimir. I find that the foam that the 4300 LATTEGO produces is very silky. I noticed that even when my milk has been sitting in the lattego container in the fridge overnight, the foam is silky and consistent. I use 2% milk (Canada) and also noticed that if I use organic 3.25% milk, it's even silkier, giving the coffee a sweet note Hope that helps.

[@VladimirMik]

@@mikeluv3773 thank you! I use Breville machine with a steam wand and make really nice micro foam, afraid of switching to automatic which is not able to produce similar foam 😜. But I might need to try based on your answer, getting lazy.

[@mikeluv3773]

@@VladimirMik anytime! I used to own a Breville duo tempo plus and enjoyed the milk froth. I can safely say that it's very similar. I haven't tried to dump the froth in a separate milk jug and tried some Barista art yet 😎 . To get better fidelity, feel free to check Seattle coffee gear on KZbin. I trust their reviews and feedback. Cheers

[@williamlaino8507]

Hi, Mike. A basic question: Im in the USA. I use Lavazza Super Crema, Lavazza Gran Crema and Lavazza Espresso in my 4300, all medium roasts. I have the grind setting at around two (very fine). I set the strength meter up all the way and the amount of coffee liquid at midpoint. I usually get a 2X espresso. The coffee seems a bit weak and the crema is good but not great (Im spoiled b/c my daughter lives in Italy and I visit often and am used to strong crema filled espresso). Any suggestions? Thanks. Bill

[@mikeluv3773]

Hey Bill. Now I'm no expert but I can say that I've been making espressos for a few years and have tried many methods and kinds of coffee. Reading your comment I note a few things : 1- grind settings at 2 (fine) 2- you are choosing X2 drinks 3- you seem to be using the right kind of beans. Here are the variables that I think you should check and play with to get the best espresso shot combined with the best crema: 1- how fresh is your coffee ? Did you check the expiry date ? (Or Best before ) . And how are you storing them ? (Air tight container and dark place ) 2- you didn't specify if your coffee was ground or fresh beans 3- did you try using only 1x espresso with the settings the machine had?( Keep the water level untouched and just increase the Strength if you desire ). See if that gives you more crema 4- some coffee beans require coarser settings. I'll explain. Sometime your coffee is too finely ground. When that happens, the puck of coffee creates a near-solid block, the machine has a problem pushing water through it, and you get a trickle of espresso with no crema 5- last but not least, extraction should be between 10 and 20seconds. Anything after that will distort the taste. (the machine is preprogrammed for that anyways ) 6- did you clean the inside cassette? (Mechanism) . Cleaning the oily deposits will help keep your machine running at 100% Hope that helps. Cheers

[@dominictomasino5198]

I agree not the best machine for crema at all

[@domenicoaltieri3074]

Hello, When I turn off the machine, the rinse phase begins and I hear a loud noise for a fraction of a second, is that normal? thanks for the nice review

[@mikeluv3773]

Hi Domenico. It depends on the noise you hear. It's hard to determine what it is if I don't hear it. But when I turn mine off and it starts the rinse phase, the internal mechanisms will make some clicks to self adjust for the next brew. Sounds like plastic clicking. If this is what you hear then yeah I guess it's normal. Can you try to record the noise you hear ? Thanks

[@NivenShah]

When you make the latte macchiato (or cappuccino for that matter), does the machine do one shot of espresso or two (ie, one or two doses of espresso)? Thank you!

[@mikeluv3773]

For these two types of coffee, you can only control the coffee strength and amount of liquid you want , in addition to the amount of milk foam you desire. The only drinks that give you the ability to chose two shots are espresso, coffee, Americanos, ristrettos and cafe cremas.(the two shots are provided when you chose 2x cups in your options to make the coffee )

[@NivenShah]

@@mikeluv3773 Thank you!

[@arlokkkk]

@@mikeluv3773 Am I ruining my macchiato if I decide to put a expresso x1 on top of it? Like, I would do my macchiato and after is over, I would leave the mug in there and run a 1x expresso

[@mikeluv3773]

@@arlokkkk In Italian, macchiato means “spotted.” This refers to the typical spot on the top of the drink, caused by a barista pouring espresso directly into a small amount of steamed milk, leaving a spot of espresso on top of the milk. This drink is traditionally served in a smaller espresso cup, usually 2-3 oz So...I don't see why you wouldn't pull another shot on top of that. And besides, my way of thinking is : if your way makes you happy and you enjoy the taste, that trumps every rule out there 😊 enjoy your coffee the way you like it 😊

[@arlokkkk]

@@mikeluv3773 thanks for telling the macchiato background. I had no idea and it’s interesting. So basically when I choose the macchiato option, I’m already getting the expresso shot already and by pouring another shot is like the equivalent of a double shot on a milk. Good to know this. Thanks a lot

[@arlokkkk]

Thanks for the video. I just bought the 3200 and I changed the coffee to most fine after like 6 cups of coffee. Is this going to make the machine go bad?

[@mikeluv3773]

I don't believe 6 shots of espresso are enough to help the grinder and machine self calibrate. I'd recommend dialing it down incrementally and making a few shots to test it out. If on the other hand you like the finer setting and you like the way it's pulling the shots , then I don't see why not. And no that would not ruin the machine nor the grinder. The only thing that is less recommended are dark oily beans.

[@arlokkkk]

@@mikeluv3773 mike, do you know the default settings for the grinder? I forgot where the machine was after I changed to the finest settings. I want to put it back to default and let the machine self calibrate first for the first month then adjusting it 1 by 1. Thanks!

[@mikeluv3773]

@@arlokkkk yes it was set at exactly the middle of the grind level. Remember that if you are dialing back (coarser) you can do this while the machine is off. If you are turning the dial to the finest grind, perform this action while the machine is actually grinding, as it will protect the burrs. Cheers

[@marissawilson6892]

Thank you for the helpful video. We just bought this machine. It’s our very first espresso machine so I’m looking to learn all I can! I bought Illy “intenso” beans and they appear very oily. We used these on our first drinks (we’ve brewed about 5 so far). Should we empty out the beans and use something else? I don’t want to ruin the machine.

[@mikeluv3773]

Hi Marissa. Glad you like the machine. So far it has been one of my favorites. I owned a few before and some like the Breville duo tempo that was very manual intensive to get a good shot, I tell you I am enjoying the Philips 4300 latte go. To answer your question regarding the beans, many professional reviewers out there,in addition to Philips itself, do not recommend oily beans.Furthermore, the oils in the beans will clog your machine at some point. There are lots of superautomatic machine reviewes out there that highly recommend medium roast beans or even the darker ones that are NOT oily. You will unfortunately have to empty the container and fill it with less oily ones. Don't forget to give the brew mechanism a good wash before using the less oily beans. Enjoy !

[@arlokkkk]

Can you explain how do I know that the coffee beans I have requires coarse settings?

[@mikeluv3773]

For espresso brewing, you need to use a fine grind setting; so the ground particles will be around 1/32 of an inch, or 0.8 mm. Although this exact value can vary with different coffee beans, as well as between different espresso makers. Since it will be extremely hard to measure this, a good rule of thumb is that the espresso grind should feel like ground sugar (same texture ). Having said that, the entire process is a trial and error. Set your grind level to one the machine came with (if referring to the Philips lattego 4300) and make around 10 espresso shots and see of you like the texture and taste. It takes a few tries for the machine and grinder to get self adjusted. I have mine at level 2 which makes great shots and a thick Crema. I but medium roast beans. Hope that helps.

[@arlokkkk]

@@mikeluv3773 thank you!! I will try!

[@inhyeokham6916]

Hi Mike I just bought this machine and I did more than 10 times to get an espresso but the pucks are so watery it is not watery it looks already smashed with water and melted by water too. Do you have a same experience when you bought at the first time? Actually I already adjusted to grind to fine which is #1

[@mikeluv3773]

That is totally normal the first few times as the machine has to make some self adjustments. It also greatly depend on the type of coffee you are using . Beans, what kind ? Ground coffee, what kind? With the right type of coffee and your adjustments to grind level 1, it will take about 5-10 more drinks to get a good firm puck.

[@inhyeokham6916]

@Mike Luv Bean is Bluebottle Medium roasted Bold one. I'll try more. thanks for your reply. I'm really frustrated because I was really excited to purchase but result is too awful.. 😨

[@mikeluv3773]

@@inhyeokham6916 I'm curious to see if you were able to get better results now. Let me know. Cheers 😊

[@inhyeokham6916]

@@mikeluv3773 I think I’ve been trying more than 20, now the pucks ares solid and firm. taste is better too. thanks Mar. Personally I like more strong espresso, so later I’ll change grinder setting to more fine

[@mbsindel007]

What type of coffee do you use whole bean and ground? Thx

[@mikeluv3773]

I use whole beans medium roast from lavazza. I find that the coffee tastes way better when the coffee is freshly ground.

[@mikeluv3773]

I use whole beans medium roast from lavazza. I find that the coffee tastes way better when the coffee is freshly ground.

[@comedyman112]

Since I bought it 1 year ago I left the grinding on medium - 6. I recently changed to finest setting, then changed it back but the coffee still tastes bitter/burnt. I'm also using a third party compatible water filter, but it used to taste perfect the first month I got it. Still using the same beans. What should I do?

[@mikeluv3773]

Ok so I'll try to dissect your issue here, with the best of my ability. I'm no expert..so here goes: 1- what is the actual quality of the third party filter?(what are the particles inside the filter ?) 2- are you using dark roast beans or medium roast beans ? 3- how fresh are the beans? 4- how often do you clean the machine ? (Descale and using Philips pods ) Now all of the above statements could results in metallic /bitterness in coffee. The grind plays a little effect when compared to the above. Normally, a machine that has too much oil residue (normally from darker roast) and has not been regularly cleaned or water is somewhat tainted by filter quality...that could result in a bitter coffee .

[@comedyman112]

​@@mikeluv3773 1. the brand is called Darkoff. not sure about that, it's 7 usd vs 12 usd (oem). i also pass the water through a filtering jug before putting it in the machine. 2. just googled LAVAZZA CREMA E AROMA and it is a mix of robusta and arabica. should i get arabica only for better taste? and of course not oily beans 3. the current bag of beans was manufactured 3 months ago, with another 2 years before expiration 4. i thought descaling would be requested on screen after 8 aqua filters or so. i've only used 2 filters in the 12 months i've had it 4. never used pods (do they go into the small grinded coffee slot?) but i always remove and clean the mechanism inside (do i also need to grease it often?) so i guess i should now proceed with descaling and pods and maybe use the original water filter as well.

[@mikeluv3773]

@@comedyman112 to your point : 1. DARKOFF is a brand of instant drinks and mixes produced by family owned company SIMANDL. So are you using ground coffee that is instant coffee ? Or beans ? 2. I have been using the Lavazza crema ans it has been consistent and very tasty. No bitterness and light chocolaty aftertaste. If you happen to chose beans, ensure they are not expired and that they are medium roast. 3. The machine should tell you when to change your aquafilter. So to your point if you are using the filter plus your own filtered water, the issue with the bitterness might likely be produced by the coffee itself . 4. Yes you need to clean the brew group weekly and grease it once a month. (Specific points you need to grease . Check the manual and ONLY get Philips grease as it won't change the taste of your coffee if it happens to touch it ) 5. The pods are placed in the little opening for ground coffee. Drop one in and chose the cleaning process in your setting. I have a video explaining that. Let me know what happens. Cheers

[@comedyman112]

@@mikeluv3773 1. I'm always using beans. I didn't know Darkoff also do instant coffee, but it clearly states on the website I bought it from that it's AquaClean Philips compatible 2. Will switch to another type of coffee in the future. Probably: 100% Arabica, medium roast I guess the bottom line is: only use original cleaning/maintenance products and as often as recommended use the right type of coffee beans (I wasn't well informed about the differences when I got the machine) Thanks for your time :D

[@mikeluv3773]

@@comedyman112 my pleasure. I'm no expert but I've learned to understand that on order to make a great coffee, you need great beans , clean water and a clean machine. You don't necessarily need to have the most expensive coffee, but one that is fresh. Enjoy!

[@davemarshall6883]

It seems to pull the shot very fast. Does it still taste good? What Breville machine did you have before?

[@mikeluv3773]

You think it does ? I mean I tried different coffee beans and now that the machine has had over 300 cups, it seems to pull the shot after about 8seconds. I guess it also depends on the strength of the coffee I am making as it means more grounds in the automatic portafilter. I had a Breville duo tempo pro. How long does yours take before pulling a shot ?

[@davemarshall6883]

@@mikeluv3773 I don’t have a machine like this. I have a Breville Dual Boiler. Shots take anywhere from 30 to 40+ seconds. I grind 18 grams of coffee and try to get 36 grams of coffee out. Any idea what this machine grinds and how much it extracts? I’d probably have to pull two shots for one latte on this Philips. I love my Breville and Sette grinder, but it can be a lot of work sometimes. Thanks for the video and reply.

[@mikeluv3773]

Hey Dave. So I searched around on the internet and the Philips LatteGo 4300 model I have says that its brew group capacity is 6-9gr. which means that while I can control the strength of my coffee through the menu, the machine will only control the time it will take to drip the water into the brew group. Having said that, when pulling a single espresso shot with my machine, I timed about 8sec between the "start" to the "first drop of coffee", adding a thick crema. I kept the setting as described for that particular drink. Also, looking at my old Breville manual, they mention that the machine should take around 8seconds before dripping the coffee into your cup AND, the shots should not exceed 25-30s. anything under this time or over this time will create an under-extracted shot and over-extracted shot. you are using 18g of ground coffee, which is good, talking to many baristas out there, they all suggest around 16-17 g max(depending on the beans you use as well). If you use a tamper,, it will ensure that the ground coffee is well pressed before receiving the water. Hope my answer helped a bit, enjoy your espressos! cheers

[@mariak4045]

i would like to ask which model is better for latte 4300 or 5400 model ?

[@mikeluv3773]

From what I have previously read through coffee machine reviews, they both seem to be equal in the quality of types of coffee they produce. The 5400 has the digital screen with a few more types of coffees that that the 4300 does not have. I'd recommend doing your research and comparing both. There are many videos out there comparing different types of machines . Best of luck.

[@johnkoops8541]

What I am as an owner of the same machine disappointed about, is that although the machine is advertised with 15 bar pump pressure, the valve of the brew unit will open at 5 bar. It seems there is consensus that an espresso needs 8 to 9 bar. So whatever liquid comes out of this machine, espresso it is not.

[@mikeluv3773]

Hey John. Thanks for the comment. How did you measure the valve opening at 5 bar? Looking at the performance of mine and how consistent the espresso shots are (when comparing to the Breville duotempo pro I used to own) I am to believe that the machine uses all of the 15bar pressure in order to express the shot. Besides, all the specs I read seems to state that the machine uses 15bar. If you have the info or measurements, or how you got to 5bar, I'd love to see it. Please do share. Thanks 🙂

[@johnkoops8541]

@@mikeluv3773 My reply has now been deleted three times. Not sure what triggers the deletion. Just look up the replacement brew unit for this machine. You will notice it says 5 bar right in the item description. I checked with the customer service of the manufacturer, and they confirmed. The pump is 15 bar, but the brew unit can only handle 5 bar.

[@mikeluv3773]

@@johnkoops8541 hey John. Thanks for your reply. So I looked around and was able to see what you were referring to: the difference between the pressure bar at the pump vs the one at the brew group. I was also able to find this site that would explain why there is a difference in pressure (between what's advertised and what the real pressure that ends up at the brew group) . So far of the machine starts at 15 and ends up at the brew group with about 5 bars of pressure, AND the extraction time is bang on , then your espresso is being pulled with enough crema. Here is the site www.homegrounds.co/how-many-bars-of-pressure-for-espresso/

[@johnkoops8541]

@@mikeluv3773 I actually couldn’t resist and found the same brew unit with 8 bar for an earlier model. Ordered that part and put it in. As expected it fits in nicely. The espresso is definitely more flavorsome in my opinion. Unfortunately it seems to mess up with the GoLatte function, which my wife uses all the time. Therefore I had to switch it out again. But in my opinion the 8 bar does make a difference in this machine.

[@demetrismoustakas5088]

Any one know if that engine have espresso X2.?

[@Chrontard]

can u recoment this? or any other machines ?

[@mikeluv3773]

If you mean whether I'd recommend the Philips Lattego 4300? Yes. Definitely. Comparatively to the 3000 series who has less coffee styles and the 5000 series which has a few more drinks and a full touch screen, the 4300 falls in the middle and has all the bells and whistles you would need. (my personal opinion)

[@joieinka]

Will I be saving money on coffee coming from Nespresso pods?

[@mikeluv3773]

I don't quite understand what your intent is here but if I take a long shot at it and assume that you will be using ground coffee, similar to the ones in the Nespresso pods...then my answer would be .how fresh is the coffee ? How long has it been sitting in the pods? I always try to use fresh beans or ground coffee for my espressos. Quality always trumps quantity. I hope that answers your question, if not, let me know. Cheers

[@joieinka]

@@mikeluv3773 I’m thinking about investing in this machine, specifically to safe money, coming from nespresso machine we are spending about 180 dollars in coffee pods a month

[@mikeluv3773]

@@joieinka oh...buddy! 100% savings. Not only you are saving money on the overhead Nespresso charges to produce these pods, but also saving on the potential negative environmental footprint that your pods (if no recycling facilities) may create. Buying the 4300 Lattego is an initial big $ but all you will be buying later is the coffee and water filters and cleaning pods (these you use a few times a year ) depending on your usage. So all in all big savings!

[@joieinka]

@@mikeluv3773 thanks a lot for the help

[@bigny56]

How do you change the grind level?

[@mikeluv3773]

There is a dial inside the coffee bean container. It should he next to the funnel for the burr grinder. It has normally numbers on it. Remember that it is set to level 6 (middle ) when out of the factory. To set it to a coarser grind, you could turn it to a bigger number anytime (even when the machine is off ). To dial it down (finer grind) it is recommended you do that AS THE NACHINE IS GRINDING coffee. This will prevent the burr to break. Always check your manufactur booklet /instructions

[@bigny56]

@@mikeluv3773 Thank You so much!

[@CrisMertens]

Curious what your settings are for each drink?

[@mikeluv3773]

Depends on the coffee type. I nornally increase the Strength by one or two levels depending if it's a coffee or an espresso. I keep the rest as is.

[@SSS-uo3cd]

I know you touched on this a little - but at what point do I expect the pucks to become firm? I have done 2 dozen cups and the pucks are still very watery. Grind settings are adjusted to 2 but still watery. especially for a regular "coffee" I had the 3200 previously and never had this issue and the pucks came out firm from first cup.

[@mikeluv3773]

Hey so there are a couple of reasons why your pucks are watery/soupy: 1- your beans are too oily (don't use dark roast beans as they tend to be oilier than the medium roast beans and can clog your superautomatic machine. Only use medium roast beans ) 2- your grind settings are too fine for the type of beans you are using, pushing the machine to use more water. 3- your grind settings are too coarse (which is not the case as you pointed out ) Hope that helps for now. Your grind settings should point at the smallest dot on the setting (I'm pretty sure this is what you have ) and make sure your beans are not clogging the portafilter inside. Have you also cleaned your internal cassette? (The mechanisms inside). That could help in removing some stuck grind .

[@davidwei5908]

Try to adjust into 3 and taste.

[@amirelsayed3403]

The coffe hot?

[@mikeluv3773]

Yes. It's supposed to be hot. You can also change the water temp in the machine settings.

[@thesistahhhzzz]

Are you French Canadian?!

[@mikeluv3773]

I'm a writer and a new author! Follow my other channel twist of Nate

[@TanakaJulian]

Are you Dutch?

[@mikeluv3773]

Canadian

[@kraska5759]

Hi, what exactly is the model?

[@mikeluv3773]

Philips LatteGo 4300 series

[@kraska5759]

@@mikeluv3773 yes, but this model has different color versions, which are numbered differently. For example: EP4343/50

[@mikeluv3773]

@@kraska5759 I didn't know you wanted the model down to the color. The following model number is what's on my official bill of sales : PHILIPS 4300 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with LatteGo, EP4347/94. Hope that helps

[@aykutunsal6875]

Philips EP5144/70 is really sucks. I just bought that machine and have a software problem in Turkey. I cannot install aquaclean filter and philips is not helping and protecting their machine in here. Too bad for them.

[@camlon2]

Hi Mike - apologies if this is a stupid question, but can you confirm that the bigger dots on the grinder represent a coarser grind and the smaller dots represent a finer grind? I can't seem to find anything that confirms my assumptions. Cheers.........

[@mikeluv3773]

Hey 😊 your question is legit. You are correct to think that the bigger dots represent coarser grinds while the smaller ones are for finer grind. Hope that helps 🤙

[@camlon2]

@@mikeluv3773 Thanks Mike. I appreciate you getting back to me. Cheers, Cam....

[@fotofx3d]

I bought this machine last year to replace my old Incanto Classico and let me tell you this machine is very disappointing compared to the old Saeco machines. Not sure why it has so many good reviews but I assume most have never tried a real Italian espresso from the bars in Italy and have nothing to compare it too. It cannot make thick cream no matter what settings you put it on. I’ve tried every setting possible the past year. It makes a decent espresso but nothing like the Old Saeco machines. Obviously once Philips bought Saeco they cheaped the machines down to make extra profit. If you want a great home espresso look elsewhere. If you want aqua lorda then be my guest.

[@carlosgouveia]

Got this machine today and I'm very disappointed, the coffee looks and tastes weak and watery (I'm using premium beans so it's not the coffee, also tried cheap ones), the foam is very thin and goes away as I take one or 2 sips, and since I know the taste of the coffee that these beans can produce, this machine is miles away of producing the same flavour.

[@zoibatzina134]

Carlos, I bought mine yesterday and tried it today to make an espresso. Big disappointment as water was dripping before the actual coffee and like you said, coffee came out very thin and watery. I hope it's because it's new and maybe needs a few times of usage until it sets.

[@carlosgouveia]

@@zoibatzina134 hi. yes it needs some time, I'm making great coffees now. Everyone of my friends said wonders about the machine also. The water dripping before the coffee is normal, it's cleaning the remains of last coffee. I'm using the finnest grind setting (1) and level 3 coffee, level 2 water and level 2 temperature.

[@zoibatzina8411]

@@carlosgouveia thanks for your reply. On my third day today and coffee is already improving. I will not change the grind setting yet, though, I will follow the manual's advice.

[@redited144]

Fine graind which is atleast on my old one 2 or 1 who cares, butt I would sugesst you get the heat up to max ! It makes a diference and make rather 2 ristretos when you like expresso !