When you’re ready to spend around $1,000 on a fully automatic espresso machine, two names will keep popping up: the Philips 5400 vs De Longhi Dinamica Plus.
Both are smart, sleek, and serious about coffee. They offer touchscreen interfaces, drink personalization, and a promise to bring barista-level coffee into your kitchen—no tamping required.
But which one really delivers the best mid-range experience in 2025? And more importantly: who are these machines actually for?
Let’s pit them head-to-head in the categories that matter most: interface, app control, and of course coffee quality.
First Impressions and Shared Features
These two machines exist in the same category: super-automatic bean-to-cup systems with milk frothing, programmable drink settings, and sleek modern designs. They’re both compact enough for a countertop but powerful enough to brew espresso, lattes, and more with a few taps.
What they both offer:
- One-touch specialty drinks
- Color touchscreen interface
- Adjustable aroma and temperature settings
- Pre-programmed drink options
- Built-in grinders
- Custom user profiles
But once you start brewing? That’s where the differences come in.
Interface: LatteGo vs Dinamica Plus Touch
Philips 5400: Smart, Intuitive, and Profile-Friendly
The Philips 5400 touchscreen interface is bright, colorful, and easy to navigate. Everything is icon-based, with clean menus and a friendly layout even your sleepy self can find your favorite drink in the dark.
You get up to 4 custom user profiles, each remembering preferences for espresso strength, milk ratio, and temperature. It’s incredibly helpful for families or roommates.
Bonus: Philips displays each drink’s strength and coffee-to-milk ratio in real-time, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
De’Longhi Dinamica Plus: Sleek, Modern, But Slightly Cluttered
The Dinamica Plus also features a full-color touchscreen, but its layout leans more towards tech-forward than “friendly.” It packs a lot of features into each screen, which can feel a little cluttered for some users.
However, it shines when it comes to drink selection. With over 16 pre-set drinks and ultra-specific names like “Cappuccino+” and “Flat White,” you can scroll through a diverse menu that’s clearly designed with drink purists in mind.
The Dinamica Plus doesn’t offer individual user profiles, but you can save favorites within the app (more on that soon).
App Control: Philips Plays it Safe, De’Longhi Goes Full Smart
Philips 5400: No App, But You Might Not Miss It
Here’s the deal: the Philips 5400 doesn’t have app connectivity. That’s right—no Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth, no smartphone remote control.
But does it matter?
In practice, not really. The onboard profile system and touch controls are so intuitive that you don’t miss the app unless you really love gadgets. For many, it’s just one less thing to update or troubleshoot.
De’Longhi Dinamica Plus: App Lovers, Rejoice
The De’Longhi Coffee Link app connects via Bluetooth and lets you:
- Start drinks remotely
- Save and name custom recipes
- Access cleaning and maintenance tips
- Monitor machine performance
It’s sleek, stable, and useful—especially if you love tweaking variables or want to avoid navigating menus directly on the screen. The app even walks you through brewing your first drink, which is great for beginners.
Coffee Quality: Espresso, Milk Drinks & Everything In-Between
Espresso Comparison
Both machines use 15-bar pressure pumps and ceramic grinders (conical for Philips, steel burr for De’Longhi), but the espresso experience is a little different:
- Philips 5400 has a smoother, slightly milder espresso with more consistent crema and flavor depth thanks to its Aroma Extract system.
- Dinamica Plus punches a little harder, it produces bold shots with a more intense flavor, especially when using the “Extra Strong” setting.
Verdict: If you like balanced, drinkable espresso, Philips wins. If you’re into more bitter, roasty flavors, De’Longhi hits harder.
Milk Frothing Showdown
- Philips LatteGo is one of the easiest frothing systems in the world: two dishwasher-safe pieces, no tubes, and solid froth with minimal effort.
- De’Longhi’s LatteCrema System makes silkier foam and offers better temperature control—but the internal tubing requires more thorough daily cleaning.
Philips wins for ease, De’Longhi for precision and foam quality.
Drink Variety
- Philips offers around 12 one-touch drinks, all customizable, from espresso and macchiato to café au lait and flat white.
- De’Longhi beats it slightly with 16+ drinks, including rarer ones like Espresso Lungo, Doppio+, and even over-ice brews.
If you like experimenting, Dinamica Plus has the edge.
Cleaning, Maintenance & Reliability
Philips 5400
- Front-loading water tank
- Dishwasher-safe LatteGo
- Removable brew group (you can clean it yourself!)
- Descaling every 1–2 months
It’s a low-maintenance dream, especially for shared households or busy professionals.
De’Longhi Dinamica Plus
- Integrated cleaning system for the LatteCrema
- Monthly cleaning cycles (machine-guided)
- Brew unit is removable, like Philips
It’s a tie here; De’Longhi automates more steps, but Philips is more hands-on and flexible.
Price & Value: What Are You Really Paying For?
Philips 5400
- Avg Price (2025): $849–$999
- Focus: Ease, profiles, reliable performance
- Strengths: Intuitive interface, user profiles, easy milk frothing
- Weaknesses: No app, slightly milder espresso
De’Longhi Dinamica Plus
- Avg Price (2025): $1,099–$1,299
- Focus: Tech-forward features, app integration, bolder drinks
- Strengths: Smart controls, wide drink range, deeper espresso
- Weaknesses: More complex milk cleaning, no user profiles
Final Verdict: Which One Wins?
If your dream espresso machine is one that feels like an iPhone for coffee, go for the Philips 5400. It’s user-friendly, makes great drinks with little mess, and it’ll become your daily ritual without frustration.
But if you want a tech-savvy machine with bold coffee, deeper customizations, and app-based control, the De’Longhi Dinamica Plus is a solid upgrade—even if it comes with a steeper learning curve.
Still can’t decide?
✅ Pick Philips if you want an easy-to-clean workhorse with family-friendly features.
✅ Pick De’Longhi if you’re into smart home gadgets, advanced milk drinks, and crave a stronger espresso flavor.
Written by José Luis Surjan
Coffee critic, espresso maximalist, and proud milk-frothing minimalist.
Disclosure: Our blog contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.
