Krups XP4030 Pump Espresso Machine, Black

After making cappuccino on steam type espresso makers daily for the past 12 years, I thought it was time to upgrade to a pump model. I researched pump types and decided on this model. Wow! What a difference! The espresso first comes out as a creamy light brown froth which then clarifies into a rich darker brown color within a minute. What a difference in taste! We use pure Kona and the taste is softer and smoother than we're used to. In the week I've used it, I haven't yet mastered the froth on this unit, but it's getting better and is probably a learning curve on my behalf.

Some pointers and caveats need to be mentioned up front for optimum performance and eyes wide open purchase:

1) This model is heavier & noisier than steam models

2) No decanter is included. I use a Pyrex measuring cup if making two servings. About 1/3 cup per espresso serving.

3) You must manually turn off the espresso control after the desired quantity is made, hence the measurement of 1/3 cup per serving

4) The water tank is removable--a nice touch. If it is not reseated properly, you will hear a very loud continuous noise as the unit tries to suck out water it cannot obtain. This is just a learner's tip.

5) While the water reservoir is massive, you can only make one or two servings at a time, unless the espresso is diluted. Making more is only a matter of placing the unit in standby, removing the grounds, refilling with fresh grounds and continuing the process again.

6) Always wait for the thump thump noises of the pump to stop before proceeding to the next step. This is usually a matter of several seconds, just don't be impatient!

7) Whenever crafting the froth, you must wait for the orange light to go out before proceeding. This is like waiting for the oven to reach appropriate temperature.

8) Alternatively, you cannot go straight from froth to espresso without first placing the unit in standby for a cooldown cycle. The pump will cycle for about 10 seconds. When it stops, you can proceed. This is only a cool down period.

9) For making espresso only, this unit is FAST!!

10) I am well over the age of 13!

With the above in mind, I hope you take the plunge. The price is right and the difference in taste is remarkable. If you're thinking of upgrading your steam espresso maker, go for it! The Holidaze are just around the corner!

First, an introduction to my point-of-view on coffee. I am not a coffee snob by any means, but I do know what tastes good and what does not. I am also no stranger to the kitchen...what I mean is, kitchen gadgets are pretty self-explanatory to me.

I wanted an espresso machine because paying almost $5 for a latte a day was becoming out of control I brew coffee at home all the time, but really needed something that would save me $20+ a week. I purchased a Mr Coffee unit which was awful and I returned. I did not want to spend $300 $500 on something to brew espresso, but I did not want something that was cheap. I selected this model based upon it's pump feature and my previous experience with Krups.

Right out of the box, I cleaned the system following the simple instructions. Then, I was off to make my first latte. I read the instructions, while cleaning the system, and found them very easy to understand. Also, cleaning the system really helps to learn the system quite quickly. So, off I go....

This KRUPS unit brews a beautiful cup of espresso and quite simply so. Once my espresso was brewed, I steamed and foamed my milk for a latte. I could not believe how simple it was. My very first experience with this unit and I was able to create a wonderful latte that not only tasted good, but came out right. The milk was hot and there was the right amount of foam to drizzle my chocolate on top.

This unit allows you not only to brew ground espresso, but also pods if you choose. I am not a fan of the pods, but I might be with this unit. There are three filters in the box. A one scoop (cup), two scoop and pod filter. Also, it comes with a nice scoop that has a flat bottom at the end of the handle so that you can tamp your grounds in the filter. Very clever. The only thing that you might like which does not come with this unit is an actual small pot. I use a measuring cup so I can see exactly how much espresso I have brewed, but you can always purchase one of those pots as well.

The milk steamer/foamer is very simple to use. There is about a 3 inch clearing, so you may want to purchase a shorter stainless steel cup for steaming your milk. I use a 2 cup with the slant design. It is a pump; the sounds it makes are very normal.

Some tips I would like to offer:

1. Before pouring your milk into your container for steaming, place it in the freezer for about 5 minutes so that the milk is really cold. This will help to achieve the best foam.

2. Freshly ground espresso beans will give a full-flavor espresso. I tried pre-ground and it is not near as good.

3. Don't get frustrated if it does not work the first time. Especially the milk. This really is simple on this unit, but does take practice if you have never done it before.

A side note: My favorite is a Marble Mocha Macchiato so I wanted to attempt this at home. Use about 1 cup of milk, purchase white chocolate sauce and dark chocolate syrup and you can make these at home for cheap. They are just as good. You can also create white chocolate mochas omitting the dark chocolate syrup.

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This machine is fantastic--makes an excellent espresso, best I've ever had (and I'm a total coffee junky). I was a bit skeptical because of some of the bad reviews on here, but I've owned a Krups steam espresso machine for 16 years (4 espressos a day) and it still works like the day I bought it. I wouldn't have believed the difference the pump makes if I hadn't tried it for myself--if you love espresso like I do, dump the steam and get this machine.

As to the bad reviews...

The "noise" issue that people talk about is ridiculous. It makes two clicking noises when it starts up, which lasts about 1 second. Then it does the same thing when you flip the switch to make your espresso--1-2 seconds of a metallic clicking sound that is about as loud as an older dishwasher. Hardly what I would qualify as a "racket" or "sounds like a tank." It's compressing really hot water using metal bars in a pump mechanism--what do you expect? If you want total silence, you should expect to pay more than $150 for some feat of sound-baffling engineering by Bosch or something!

Second, the whole "leaks like crazy" issue is just plain wrong. There's a tray that collects extra water from the process. They tell you this in the manual (read it). It's NOT A LEAK--it's part of the normal operation of the machine. This slowly fills up, and needs to be emptied once a week--you pull it out, rinse it off and you're done.

The machine is also built like a tank, but doesn't sound like one...this is a solid piece of machinery--even the handle is made like it's supposed to be handed down to your grandchildren (it weighs 2-3 pounds!).

If you're looking to get into a pump machine, but don't want to spend outrageous amounts of money on it, this is the way to go. Don't bother with the bad reviews on here--people don't read the manual, and they expect engineering miracles that can a) fit on your countertop and b) cost under $150. Good luck with that!

I love this machine and I'm sold on Krups design, workmanship and value--ignore the whiners and buy it.

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Pumps great espresso, but after 2 months, my steaming wand flew off while steaming milk. One month later, milk stops frothing altogether. I called Krups customer service and they advised that I decalcify the machine. Mix 2 cups vinegar, 2 cups water, run some of the mixture through the steaming wand and the espresso pump. Then let sit for an hour. Now, run the vinegar through both the espresso pump and the steaming wand until it runs out. I found that the vinegar cleared the clog in my steaming wand! Repeat the whole process, this time with clear filtered water, to wash away the vinegar.

The machine should work great now. I learned that when the steaming wand gets a little clogged, it increases the pressure and this blows off the rubber gasket at the end of the wand, spewing milk all over. Depending on the hardness of your water, it is recommended to decalcify the machine every month.

Thanks to Judd at Krups for helping me out.

Ken

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This is a sharp looking machine that looks good sitting on the countertop. This is my first espresso machine, so it definitely took some time getting it right. Be aware that the nozzle on the frothing milk component often comes off and leads to a rather large mess of milk going everywhere. Other than that, the machine makes pretty good lattes/espressos. Also, you have to shut off the espresso maker manually when the proper amount of espresso has been made. This took me some time to figure out the proper amount in order to not dilute the beverage. Despite these issues, the product runs well and seems to be of decent quality.

KRUPS XP2280 Espresso Machine and Coffee Maker Combination with KRUPS Precise Tamp Technology and S

I was searching for a budget minded machine in the $350 price range that would be a combination espresso/coffee maker and stumbled upon the XP2280. mind you, I am a novice machine purchaser but avid coffee lover. I liked the overall appearance of the XP2280 and simplicity of the design and controls. I searched the internet for a review and alas there were none. I took a chance and bought it and am very satisfied thus far. It makes a very good cup of coffee with #4 cone filters, although a gold tone should be and was not included in the purchase. I also programmed it to start brewing before I wake up, VERY NICE. I would have been more satisfied with an extra two cups of coffee, my previous coffee maker being a 12 cup, but the coffee it does make is great tasting. The espresso side is literally idiot proof with the built in tamper system and makes a fine one or two serving with either scoops or the option of ESE pods (44mm Dia. 7g size). I used the Illy dark roast and it made two espresso servings with the right amount of foam, coloration, aroma, and taste that you would find in many popular "indie" coffee shops. I used the steam function for foaming milk for a cappuccino and was very satisfied with the outcome. It was quieter than other machines for the sole purpose of making espresso/ cappuccino while still making a full 15 bars of pressure. The unit is easy to clean and care for and will be a fine addition to your counter-top.

The reason for 4 stars and not 5

1. lack of gold tone filter, it should be included for the price I paid

2. 10 cup maker not 12, I drink alot of coffee

3. coffee making process can be heard from a few rooms away, not loud, but louder than my previous machine

4. no pressure indicator for espresso maker

I received this item as a Christmas gift. It looks beautiful on my counter top and for the first month it worked flawlessly. Other reviews are accurate concerning confusing instructions but once you figure out how it works, it works well.

The biggest issue is the frothing nozzle, MS-622874, broke within the first month. The internal assembly is plastic with a metal sheath. After my machine wouldn't froth milk the way it used to, I opened it up to clean it to notice that the threaded plastic assembly broke. This must be due to the high heat temperatures that can occur in the steaming process. When I try to purchase a replacement (ranges from $11 to 20 online) I cannot find one in stock ANYWHERE! This is a key part that works on several of Krups' cappuccino machines and its lack of availability (including from he Krups store itself) leads me to believe this is a very widespread problem!

The unit did come with an alternative device that attaches and still 'works' but it operates differently than the primary nozzle (it draws milk through a nozzle from a tube). This method produces lattes and cappuccinos that are nowhere near hot enough and not as good as the original part. It also tends to spit milk all over the place which is annoying. That said, I am glad it came with this back-up piece because otherwise I would be totally out of luck in the froth department. It would have also lead to a 1 star rating.

This was a great gift and I love it but I am bummed that this key part was so poorly engineered. It is even more frustrating that I cannot find a replacement. Perhaps they are working on a re-engineered version and no longer making the crappy original?

I have only brewed drip coffee a couple of times and the results are fine.

UPDATE 4-27-12: This is my third update to this review. I had filed a warranty claim with Krups concerning the frothing part which broke within the first month. They contacted me and informed me that it was being re-designed and they would send me a new one. I noted this in a comment in March. Well today I received the new part from UPS. It installed easily (although there were no installation instructions only cleaning instructions) but after I figured out that the plastic fitting attached to the metal tube could be unscrewed with care and replaced with the new fitting and gasket I was good to go. Anyhow, the new design actually looks better. The inner structure, which caused the problem on the original part, is made from a much more solid piece that does not require you to unscrew anything along it in order to take it apart. That was the primary design flaw of the original part. You had a piece of plastic that was subject to heat and then would be subject to the twisting force of the screw assembly. The new design eliminates this completely and relies on a silicone seal to keep the metal housing in place.

The performance of the new steam nozzle is even improved over the old one! I made my first cappuccino and it was awesome. Clean up was a snap. Obviously I will have to see how it performs over a longer period of time but it appears that the primary issue with this machine has been addressed. Krups replaced the part for free and while it took some time, and they didn't include instructions on how to replace and install it, it was intuitive enough to figure out. Raised the rating from 3 stars to 5 stars. Back in business!

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It is so rare that I take the time to write a review but I feel I must to prevent others from buying this machine and with the hope that the former excellent manufacturer sees how disappointed I am with this product. I am not a novice espresso maker and in fact had an older model Krups combo coffee / espresso machine for more than 10-years previous to this. That machine was so good, brewed perfect coffee, espresso and froth milk without a problem or touchy process.

Let me start by saying what I love about this machine THE LOOKS (lipstick on a pig???), the little compartment for the coffee spoon and the release button for used espresso grounds. These items do not have a thing to do with brewing or making a good coffee drink.

The machine I have does not make very hot coffee, it's very warm but not super hot. As for the espresso and frothing capability they just don't work according to the VERY fragmented instructions. There are so many references to figures 1.... and you have to keep going back and forth. The espresso does not brew after waiting for the light to turn solid and simply pushing 1 or two cup selection. I often have to push 3 or more times and it still doesn't work. Then I start the "warming" process, etc. all over again.

As for the "froth" it simply doesn't work everytime or well and worse of all it pushes water into the milk. Instead of froth it makes barely luke warm water filled milk. This machine generally sucks (a word I dislike and rarely use).

I am so disappointed with this machine and for the money it's really bad. I want to know when we started to think that spending $300.00 on a coffee maker was cheap. Why on earth is it necessary to spend $700.00 on a coffee maker? This product is not worth $40.00, let alone $300.00.

Don't buy it. I promise it's not worth any amount of money. Too bad because it looks great!

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Bought a Krups XP2070 because it is a company with a good reputation in the past. Shortly out of warranty, the clock/timer stopped working. OK, it still made offee and espresso. After another two months, it stopped altogether.

I sent it to the repair station, but they say parts are no longer available. Now I have a $300 paperweight.

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While it worked it made coffee just fine. My husband had A LOT of difficulty making any quality espresso with this machine. Overall the machine was very hard to work (as newbie espresso makers). Big reason for the 2 stars? Espresso side of the machine broke after 3 years and the machine stopped working all together (no power/no nothing), just shy of 4 years. For $400? I don't think so.

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Saeco S-OG-SG Odea Giro Super-Automatic Espresso Machine

This is a great machine for the price! At first I was nervous because of the plastic feel, but it seems to be holding up really well. It is very quick to heat up. VERY quiet considering the ceramic grinder. It is given 4 stars because of how quickly the drip tray fills up (near the coffee grounds drawer) otherwise I would give this a 5 star rating. It has to be emptied once a day if you have used the machine a lot. We do because it has the awesome feature of sending out hot water with the spout just by pushing the water button and turing the knob on top. So we use this machine for hot tea too! Also the water tank is a little hard to get out. Maybe we are being too gentle with it, but you do just have to give it a little extra pull. The adjustable drip tray (in front) is great. I just make my latte to go in a travel mug. The ability to switch from frothing the milk which is very fast to immediately making the espresso it my favorite feature.

Overall this is an excellent machine, makes great espresso, easy to use, and looks great too!

OK, so I did a ton of research on this and the plethora of similar machines that are out there. I also went the route of using the 20% off coupon at Bed Bath and Beyond and I could not be happier.

Right out of the box it was very easy to follow the 4-step directions. It fired right up and made what I hope to be the first of thousands of perfect lattes. It truly is a wonderful machine!!

I love that it swivels back and forth for easy access to the water tank and the dump bin for the used grounds. I don't think I even have to wait 30 seconds for the milk frother to produce steam--it's very fast.

A few tips:

1. steam your milk first before you pull your shots as the shots will go bad after about 10 seconds (this is what I learned as an employee of one super-popular Seattle-based chains).

2. Keep a little container under the frother attachment so that when you turn it on there will be something there to collect the small amount of water that spills out.

3. Keep a supply of decaf onhand because once you start making these you won't be able to stop and you'll turn into a caffeine zombie.

All of the negative points that have been raised in the majority of reviews (on both this and other similar makes and models) are a non-issue for me. The indicator lights tell you when things need to be refilled or emptied; the machine is very solid (albeit solid plactic), and it heats up super quick.

I am a super picky coffee/latte drinker and I am in love with thing!!!

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We took a long while researching what machine to buy and was told by the espresso zealots that if you want authentic shots you have to work for them... Meaning that you need to grind separately, hand press the puck into the porta-filter and pull the perfect shot.. and so on. So, ive had espresso in several corners of the world; so for all of that non-sense, I say 'meh'. We started looking at quality super-auto's and kept coming back to Saeco. Picked the odea-giro out for its balance of features vs simplicity, cost and previous reviews, company rep, etc.

One year after buying this machine and using it every day, we are pretty sure that I can finally say that the zealots are full of steam. ;)

The Odea is a great compact machine. There is a plastic feel but it is pretty durable and we have been pretty rough with it.. Its supposed to be an appliance.. right? We use the machine once or twice a day and more on weekends. Good espresso is pretty addicitive. We use oily beans and have no issues.

So the truth to all the haters of red-blinky lights and moving parts: This not a toaster with a crumb tray. This thing needs maintenance. Some of it is obvious.. Fill me, clean me, brush me off, wipe me down. The rest is not so intuitve..

To keep this machine happy you need to clean the brew-group under the faucet once a week. Its easy, stop whining. Keep the booklet near-by so you can diagnose the red-blinkys that happen with a complicated electro-mechanical device. De-scale, grease, empty, fill, clean and you wont have trouble with this machine.

I advise that you purchase the extra filter for the water tank. Even if you feed it britta water like we do, the steam wand tip gets pretty scaly. Hard water is the enemy of a system that boils water for a living! Fill it with RO if you can.

So enough. Its a good machine, get it, love it, drink espresso and be happy.

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I did not hesitate to purchase my second Saeco after 4 years of good experience with my first one a Saeco Vienna (which is still running fine). Compared with the Vienna, the Odea Giro does almost everything a little better, despite having a smaller footprint. It is more stylish, heats up (and cools down) faster, and froths better. The espresso quality is excellent with rich crema and aroma. I am especially impressed with how fast and easy it is to switch between the modes steam and hot water/ brew, despite it having a only a single boiler. In other single-boiler models like the Vienna you would have to manually purge the water and wait as much as 30 seconds. In the Odea Giro it is done automatically within 10 seconds.

As noted in other reviews, the water tank capacity can be a problem. The bean hopper is also smaller than Vienna. However I am happy to trade off tank capacity for less counter space. My previous experience with Vienna is that you always want to dump and refill the tank with fresh water before turning on the machine. The coffee tastes much better than with day-old water.

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This is our third or fourth Saeco machine so,obviously,you know we just love them. Our first two machines were the Vienna superautomatica models and then a Villa super automatic. All of them performed nicely.

We have had the Odea Giro Super-Automatic for a couple of months now so I feel qualified enough to make comparisons. This machine is a little more stylin' than our previous ones , it isnt as boxy as the vienna's and takes up less counter than either the vienna or villa models. It is easier to work around its nice rounded shape. It does heat faster than the others and really does froth on demand. overall it does out perform our previous machines one of which still lives. The only complaint we have pertains to the water tank. I just hate running the pump dry. It just doesn't seem good for it and I hate to wait for my fix. the other machines we had had larger tanks and they were "see through" so you could anticipate refilling them. this one is smaller and could really use atleast a level window. for some reason this oversight really annoys me. otherwise, this little buddie has more style,works faster, and makes one great cup of coffee.

We like dark dark bean and would suggest Jeremiah's Pick coffee bean sold also by amazon. Our favorite is the Fogbuster,it has a nice strong flavor without the bitter bite a lot of darker roasts get. 33 bucks is a great price and if you buy one of these machines you are going to need a 5 pound bag.

Baratza Preciso Coffee Grinder 685

The expert reviewers say this may be the best grinder for other than espresso anywhere near its price-point. I researched the heck out of grinders under $400 and chose this one. I am very pleased -it has lived up to the hype. I prepare coffee using a medium-coarse (not exactly road gravel but significantly finer than French press) grind and an Eva Solo CafeSolo brewer. This grinder was a significant step up from my KitchenAid Pro Line and helped me extract a much better result (more flavor and less bitterness) than my previous efforts. The grinder appears to have a very high build quality.

Caveat #1: I don't make espresso at home, so if you are considering this grinder for espresso, by all means look at other reviews. I can't help you except to repeat what the expert reviewers say (see caveat #2).

Caveat #2: If you haven't read the expert reviews from Coffee Geek, Home Barista, Coava, Prima, Intelligentsia, etc., you really should. You'll get a detailed perspective on what to expect from a decent grinder. And you'll be able to better judge the experience level and value systems of your fellow Amazon coffee drinking reviewers (from clueless to elitist).

Detailed review follows...

Consistency of grind: Excellent

My experience is limited to using just a few burr grinders of similar quality to the Kitchenaid. I can't tell you how this grinder compares to other more expensive grinders. The expert reviewers say it is better than grinders costing over $1,000. All I know is that the grounds it produces are more consistent than the Kitchenaid. Fewer large chunks, and overall more even sizing. As for minimizing fine sediment, here is where this grinder really shines. I was able to produce an amazing cup of coffee with less bitter fine powder than I ever have before. The brew also tasted more flavorful, both because the fines weren't there to mask some of the flavor and also because I could grind a bit finer than I had before (which allowed me to cut back on my brew time and maintain a higher temperature throughout the process). This is Baratza's major selling point for this grinder, because unlike any other model in their line, this grinder has burrs that are optimized for coarser grinds. The burrs feature special cutting edges and a refined angle of attack that not only causes beans to get sliced with less crushing, but causes the throughput to be noticeably faster even though no changes have been made to the motor speed.

Minimizing static: Good (but remember caveat #1--you'll get more static when grinding finer)

I used to prepare coffee using a grinder valued at half the price of this one. I bought the KitchenAid Pro Line burr grinder for its build quality and excellent control of static (all my friends have

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