Short answer: get the De'Longhi Dinamica Plus. It makes noticeably better espresso and steams milk to three textures instead of one. If it is over budget, get the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo rather than the Cadorna Prestige.
Both are super-automatic machines with automatic milk carafes: fill them with beans, milk and water, and press a button for a latte. Here is why I think the Dinamica Plus justifies its higher price.
Which Should You Buy?
The Dinamica Plus, for three reasons:
- 1Better espresso, thanks to a better brew basket.
- 2Three milk textures versus one, so a cappuccino and a latte actually feel different.
- 3A longer warranty in most regions.
De'Longhi Dinamica Plus
Better espresso and three milk textures for genuinely different milk drinks.
The Cadorna Prestige's only real advantage is price: the Dinamica Plus usually costs around 1.5 times as much. If that pushes you toward the Gaggia, get the Magnifica Evo instead. It makes better espresso than the Cadorna Prestige, typically costs less, and like the Cadorna it has one milk texture, so you lose nothing there.
De'Longhi Magnifica Evo
Better espresso than the Gaggia for less money.
Key Differences
In order of importance:
- 1The Dinamica Plus has a better brew basket.
- 2The Dinamica Plus offers three milk textures; the Cadorna Prestige has one.
- 3The Dinamica Plus has a longer warranty.
- 4The Cadorna Prestige makes milk volume easier to adjust.
- 5The Dinamica Plus works with an app.
- 6The Dinamica Plus has a touchscreen; the Cadorna Prestige has buttons and a color TFT display.
Brew Basket
The Dinamica Plus's better basket gives it better espresso. Its metal basket has hundreds of tiny holes; the Cadorna's plastic basket has a few dozen much larger ones. Those holes provide resistance. With bigger holes, water runs through the coffee too quickly to extract it properly. That is why the Dinamica's espresso, and every drink built on it, has more flavor and body.
Winner: Dinamica Plus
Milk Textures
The Dinamica Plus foams milk to three textures. You choose with a dial on the carafe lid, and the machine suggests the right setting for each drink. The difference is noticeable: a thick, airy cappuccino and a smooth, silky latte.
The Cadorna has one texture, so its eight milk drinks only differ in the ratio of coffee to milk. Its foam is roughly the same as the Dinamica's middle setting.
Winner: Dinamica Plus
Warranty and Support
De'Longhi's warranty is generally longer than Gaggia's, and in some regions you can extend it by registering the machine. Check the terms where you live, as they vary by country and retailer.
In my experience, De'Longhi support was also quicker. When I broke a Dinamica Plus while poking around its brew unit, they replaced it within days. Reaching Gaggia took noticeably longer.
Winner: Dinamica Plus
Adjusting Milk Volume
The Cadorna is easier here. It lets you bump the milk up or down with a button press. On the Dinamica Plus, you enter customize mode and set the volume by eye. That gives more control, but I prefer the Gaggia's convenience.
Winner: Cadorna Prestige
App Control
The Dinamica Plus connects to De'Longhi's Coffee Link app over Bluetooth, turning your phone into a remote control panel. Since you still need to be near the machine, it's a nice extra rather than a game changer.
Winner: Dinamica Plus
Controls
The Cadorna's buttons are a little easier to use. The Dinamica Plus's touchscreen can be jumpy, and its options sit close together, so it's easy to press the wrong one (cancelling is easy, though). Phones have spoiled us for touchscreens, and buttons are more reliable here.
Winner: Cadorna Prestige
What They Have in Common
- One-touch milk drinks. Both make lattes and cappuccinos automatically.
- Similar size and cup clearance. Neither fits most travel mugs.
- User profiles. Three on the Dinamica Plus, four on the Cadorna Prestige. Three is plenty for most households.
- Similar menus. The Dinamica Plus adds an "over ice" coffee, but as I explain in my Dinamica Plus review, it isn't very good.
| De'Longhi Dinamica Plus | Gaggia Cadorna Prestige | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Super-automatic | Super-automatic |
| Milk system | LatteCrema carafe | Carafe |
| Milk textures | 3 | 1 |
| Controls | Touchscreen + app | Buttons + TFT display |
| Black drinks | 7 | 5 |
| Milk drinks | 7 | 8 |
| Strength settings | 5 | 5 |
| Temperature settings | 3 | 3 |
| Grinder | Stainless steel conical burr | Ceramic flat burr |
| Grind settings | 13 | 10 |
| User profiles | 3 | 4 |
| Water tank | ~61 oz | ~51 oz |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 9.3" x 16.9" x 13.7" | 10.2" x 17.3" x 14.9" |
| Max cup clearance | ~5.8" | ~5.9" |
Espresso Quality
The Dinamica Plus wins clearly. Its shots have more complex flavor and better body, and that carries through to every black coffee it makes. It fits the wider pattern: Gaggia's super-automatics tend to make weaker espresso than De'Longhi's.
Winner: Dinamica Plus
Milk
The Dinamica Plus wins, thanks to its three textures. Every Cadorna milk drink feels basically the same.
Winner: Dinamica Plus
Functions and Settings
The Dinamica Plus wins. The menus are similar, but its milk textures make each drink more distinct.
Winner: Dinamica Plus
Day-to-Day Use
The Cadorna Prestige wins, thanks to its more reliable buttons and one-press milk adjustments.
Winner: Cadorna Prestige
Design and Durability
About equal on build quality, with a similar share of owners reporting faults. The Dinamica Plus's longer warranty gives it the edge.
Winner: Dinamica Plus
Value
The Dinamica Plus justifies its higher price with better espresso, varied milk textures and better warranty and support.
Winner: Dinamica Plus
What If Your Budget Is Lower?
Get the Magnifica Evo, not the Cadorna Prestige. Its espresso is on par with the Dinamica Plus. Its main compromise is one milk texture, the same as the Cadorna, so the better espresso makes it the clear choice. For more options, see my best super-automatic espresso machines under $1,000.
The Bottom Line
Get the De'Longhi Dinamica Plus. Better espresso, better milk drinks and better warranty support justify its extra cost over the Gaggia Cadorna Prestige.
Also considering the standard model? See Dinamica vs Dinamica Plus. For more Gaggia options, see my Gaggia espresso machine guide.
FAQs
Where is the Gaggia Cadorna Prestige made?
In Italy. Gaggia builds its machines at its factory in Robbio, in northern Italy.
Can the De'Longhi Dinamica Plus make an Americano?
Yes. It's on the menu as "Long" (plus a dedicated Americano option on some versions), which adds hot water to espresso.
Is the Gaggia Cadorna Prestige worth it?
Not at its usual price, in my view. The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo makes better espresso for less, and the Dinamica Plus makes much better milk drinks for a bit more.
Written by · reviewed by the Cicada Coffee Bar team
Daniel Voss
Lead Equipment Reviewer, Cicada Coffee Bar
Daniel leads the equipment-testing side of Cicada Coffee Bar. Every super-automatic, semi-automatic, and grinder featured on this site is bought or sourced independently, set up on the test bench, and brewed with daily for at least two weeks before a single word is written — tracking espresso quality, milk texture, ease of cleaning, and long-term reliability. Reviews are updated whenever pricing or firmware changes.
