Chemex 6-Cup Classic Coffee Maker vs De'Longhi Magnifica Start Bean-to-Cup (2026)

✍️ By the 247Verdict Editorial Team📅 Updated 05 October 2026

Which is better? We compared both on score, owner ratings, pros and cons.

Chemex 6-Cup Classic Coffee Maker

9.0/10 Excellent

4.7★ (22,400 owners)

Non-porous glass, thick filters, 6-cup, hand-blown, natural wood collar. The manual brew museum piece.

Full Review

De'Longhi Magnifica Start Bean-to-Cup

8.9/10 Great

4.5★ (8,600 owners)

2-step brewing, manual steam wand, 1.8L, Arabica selector, 13-step grinder. De'Longhi's starter bean-to-cup.

Full Review

At a Glance

	Chemex 6-Cup Classic Coffee Maker	De'Longhi Magnifica Start Bean-to-Cup
247Verdict Score	9.0/10	8.9/10
Owner Rating	4.7★ (22,400)	4.5★ (8,600)
Verdict	Excellent	Great

Quick Verdict

This is a genuine draw — both score within 0.15 points of each other. Chemex 6-Cup Classic Coffee Maker: Non-porous glass, thick filters, 6-cup, hand-blown, natural wood collar. The manual brew museum piece. De'Longhi Magnifica Start Bean-to-Cup: 2-step brewing, manual steam wand, 1.8L, Arabica selector, 13-step grinder. De'Longhi's starter bean-to-cup. Choose based on your specific needs. Check the current price on Amazon →

Pros & Cons Side by Side

Chemex 6-Cup Classic Coffee Maker

Permanent collection in the Museum of Modern Art — design recognised as functional art
Thick Chemex filters remove oils for the cleanest, clearest cup of any manual method
Non-porous borosilicate glass absorbs no odours or tastes — pure coffee flavour
6-cup serves 2-3 people in one pour — the most social manual brew method
Under £40 — the most beautiful coffee brewing method at any price

Proprietary Chemex filters required — standard filter paper incompatible
Requires kettle and coarse-grind coffee — not self-contained like pod machines
Glass requires careful handling — drops at sink height typically crack the base

De'Longhi Magnifica Start Bean-to-Cup

Under £300 — most affordable De'Longhi bean-to-cup reviewed with genuine espresso extraction
2-step brewing process makes setup intuitive for first-time bean-to-cup users
Arabica bean selector adjusts extraction profile for the most popular bean type
13-step grinder adjustment covers espresso through long coffee brewing preferences
De'Longhi's 35-year espresso heritage at the starter bean-to-cup tier

Manual steam wand requires practice — not one-touch like Magnifica Evo
Less automatic than Magnifica Evo — manual steaming suits some, frustrates others
1.8L tank frequent refilling for 4+ cup per day households

FAQ

Which is better, Chemex 6-Cup Classic or De'Longhi Magnifica Start?

Is the Chemex 6-Cup Classic worth the extra cost?

Yes — Chemex 6-Cup Classic Coffee Maker scores higher at 9.0/10 vs 8.9/10.

Who is the Chemex 6-Cup Classic best suited to?

Non-porous glass, thick filters, 6-cup, hand-blown, natural wood collar. The manual brew museum piece.

Who is the De'Longhi Magnifica Start best suited to?

2-step brewing, manual steam wand, 1.8L, Arabica selector, 13-step grinder. De'Longhi's starter bean-to-cup.

What are the main downsides of each?

Chemex 6-Cup Classic Coffee Maker: Proprietary Chemex filters required — standard filter paper incompatible; Requires kettle and coarse-grind coffee — not self-contained like pod machines. De'Longhi Magnifica Start Bean-to-Cup: Manual steam wand requires practice — not one-touch like Magnifica Evo; Less automatic than Magnifica Evo — manual steaming suits some, frustrates others.

Do owner ratings agree with our verdict?

Largely, yes — Chemex 6-Cup Classic Coffee Maker sits at 4.7★ from 22,400 verified Amazon owners, and De'Longhi Magnifica Start Bean-to-Cup at 4.5★ from 8,600.

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