Rancilio ROCKY Rancilio Burr Grinder with Doser

I won't rate this product 5 stars because I don't believe it is a good value. At almost , this thing should be flawless, and its not. If my only criteria were grading the ground coffee it produces, it would be a 5 though. Let me say though that it does a fantastic job making espresso grounds.

The path I took before I purchased this grinder started with a Black Friday sale at Starbucks where I picked up a Sirena espresso machine for $315. I had been coveting this machine since I had been introduced to espresso a year earlier but couldn't stomach the gut wrenching price for that machine. Box in hand, I headed home to make my first espresso.

Long story short, I spent a few days using my blade grinder to grind the coffee and came to the conclusion that I couldn't get the grounds consistent, even or fine enough. So I spent some time reading the thread on c about my machine and found that most people on there recommended the Rocky. I thought for a coffee grinder was ridiculous (I typically use stronger language but....) so I shopped around and settled on the still expensive (seriously, we're grinding coffee here) but reasonable Breville BCG450XL Conical Burr Grinder. I liked the Breville as it was fast, quiet, clean, small and light. However, its finest setting ("Turkish") wasn't really all that fine. Even on the finest setting, I was pulling triple shots in 8-10 seconds (which is about 2 seconds longer than when not using any coffee!). At that rate the espresso is thin and there is no crema.

Not being the type to give up on anything, I did some more research on the coffee grinders out there and was disappointed to find there was nothing in the $100-200 price range that people had good things to say about. Thus the Rocky was my cheapest "sure thing". I bit the bullet and bought it. To my satisfaction, it arrived later that week.

From the first shot I knew I made the right choice; the coffee was thick and rich, with a frothy and yummy crema. It wasn't perfect, but damn, it was better than anything that had come out of the machine before that! It took a few more adjustments to the grind setting and tamping pressure to pull a 25-30 seconds shot, but I got there pretty quickly. The Rocky has the adjustability to grind so fine that it can completely choke the espresso machine. That's awesome! I've now got the grinder dialed in just perfectly for my beans. The shots pull consistently good with about 2-3mm of silky smooth crema every time.

Now for the bad...

1.) The doser Inside the doser there is a 6 bladed sweeper that rotates when you pull the lever. However, the sweeper blades aren't quite long enough to reach the rim of the doser and thus don't sweep all of the grounds out. It leaves a substantial amount. I've learned to not use the doser lever anymore, but rather use a brush to sweep and move the doser blades around manually. That cleans it out very well.

(As a side note, I think that the doser is necessary to break up the clumps of ground coffee coming out of the machine.)

2.) The speed 21 grams of coffee takes about 45 seconds to grind. The beans get stuck in the hopper too so I have to use my brush to sweep them! The Breville processed this much cofee in about 1/3 the time (granted it wasn't as fine, but still).

3.) The weight At something like 17lbs, it's a beast. With as much coffee as the doser slops out, I need to move it frequently to clean the coffee grounds off the counter. On the flipside though, I am glad I got a lot of metal for my money though as I know this unit is sturdy enough to last a lifetime.

4.) Ergonomics It's hard to get a grip on this thing to move it. I wish there were small handles on the side of it.

5.) Cleaning Everything is screwed together and nothing snaps apart. It's sturdy, but it's a pain to clean because you have to get the screw gun out to disassemble it.

Overall I am happy with it as it makes delicious espresso. I would recommend it to anyone who is serious about good espresso.

The Rocky grinder is so incredible. Tons of horse power and a consistent grind. I grind for espresso and I can increment the grind size in slight increments according to how well the espresso is making it through the porta-filter on my espresso machine. Awesome way to fine tune and adjust according to the quality and age of the beans.

Built like a pro grinder heavy duty!

Regarding the decision of dosser vs. doserless: If you are going to us this as a COMMERCIAL grinder and pour shot after shot go with a dosser for measuring convenience. But you will always have some of your ground coffee sitting in the hopper.

If you're making your espresso's one at a time go doserless. Then you're getting your coffee freshly grounded just before you use it.

UPDATE 9/2011: Still running great and creating a perfectly even, fine grind for espresso.

UPDATE TO UPDATE: 11/2012: Still running great and creating a perfectly even, fine grind for espresso. Definitely getting my monies worth out of this one.

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I recently bought this great burr grinder along with the Rancilio Silvia espresso machine. Getting a great home espresso is all about the grind. I didn't know this until just recently. I'd been a dope, using a cheap blade grinder not knowing what a HUGE difference a burr grinder would make.

Now, I have my grind and my tamp dialed in, along with a great espresso machine (The Miss Silvia). I must say my espresso and cappuccinos are as good or better than our local coffee shops. If you are really into your espresso or cappuccinos, you MUST have a burr grinder. This is well made and easy to use. I highly recommend it.

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I am a contractor and when I recently remodeled Doug and Susans basement I was eventually shown how to use the grinder to make espresso while on breaks. Unfortunately, I started taking lots of breaks... good espresso! The grinder is quiet, precise,and efficient, like an excellent sub contractor, or a good table saw! The grinder was great. I use a burr grinder at my house but you can't even talk over the thing. This one whirs below a conversation level, then stores the suberbly consistant ground coffee. I then pull the lever a couple times to dispense premeasured amounts into the doser that is resting in its holder on the machine, and there it is break is on!! Thanks for the good times and good espresso. On my way to hawk some of my tools to buy one of these things, it's worth it!

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I can say that it has really improved my morning espressos. Having the ability to grind the coffee myself right before I pull a shot has improved the quality and consistency of my lattes. The Rocky does a great job with the grinding and with the doser, I haven't had too much problem with "dust". It's build is of a fairly high qualityplastic could be a bit heftier, but with a little care it should last me many many years, and it turns out great coffee grounds. Well worth the money even though it is not cheap. I use a La Pavoni hand pump machine, and it has never turned out as good a shot as I can now obtain with the combination of it with the Rocky.

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Krups XP2070 Programmable 10-Cup Coffeemaker/15-Bar Pump Espresso Machine

I was and still am deeply suspicious of these combo units, but this one has been a pleasant surprise. All of the basic functions work admirably and it does a wonderful job of frothing even low fat milk. The espresso maker is a little less forgiving of your tamping skills than other machines I've used, but when you get it right the crema is beautiful.

I have only had this for 3 months, so I can't vouch for longevity of the machine, but it seems to be sturdy and well made.

The problem I have is with the computer program that operates everything. It is perhaps the most non-intuitive, least user-friendly design I have ever come across on any home appliance. The functions themselves should be fairly straightforward -push a button -but require you to learn the secret code of whomever designed it.

Add to that the fact that the instructions are WRONG. I can handle them being written by a non-English speaker, I'm used to that. But they can at least be accurate. Helpful tip when frothing milk, after the steam has built up and the flashing light begins to glow continuously, DO NOT push the "steam" button again as the instructions indicate. Push the "Valid" button instead.

However, once you get the secret code down, this machine works well. Compared to other combo units I highly recommend.

My husband and I registered for this at Crate & Barrel and have been thrilled with it for 9 months now. I did immediately notice, however, that the carafe is made from very thin glass and was always scared I would break it. Other than that, the only problem I had with it was when pouring a cup of coffee, 9 times out of 10 it would leak over the sides and onto the counter if you didn't pour very slowly and sometimes even that didn't help. I just made a mental note that our next machine might be an upgrade from Krups or something like that, but still LOVED this machine. Imagine my horror when today, after our morning pot of coffee, it just completely stopped working! I unplugged it, changed outlets, nothing. The led display is just dead. The machine is dead. I've checked it every hour or so today. Nada. After doing some research online, I now see that is a common theme with this machine among people who've had it a while (the earliest I read of it happening was 5 months). I descaled it with vinegar every 3 months or so. Nothing in the manual addresses this situation. So, here I sit with a cup of Starbucks, writing this review. Starbucks just doesn't measure up anymore to having my fresh ground Kona coffee and espresso (not to mention lattes and cappuccinos!) each day....very disappointed.

UPDATE (7.11.08): We called, found we were within 3 days of waranty expiring, so sent it in to a local, authrized Krups repair shop..it came back in about a week, worked for 2 pots of coffee, then broke again. We called the shop and were told to send in again. This time it's worked (still working) for 3 weeks..now the black plastic lid above the filter area is warped and sticks/pops when you open it to put water/coffee inside. I should also mention that when they sent it back to us, they wrapped it with a plastic film and it apparently had moisture inside because now the machine has water stains all over it and looks pretty bad. I think we're giving this machine away when we move next month..did I say how it smokes and huffs/puffs when it's brewing (and it's descaled regulary)? It's too bad, because this machine looked great to start with and had such great potential!

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I bought the XP 2070 with the hopes of having better coffee and the espresso option. Within one week of purchase (one round of capuccinos), I am unable to turn on the espresso maker. I called customer service, and they asked me to ship the machine back and wait a month-and-a-half because "the warehouse has closed," even though this is the newest model. Very reluctantly, they threw in a few free coffee filters in the deal. I wish I had read other Amazon customer posts, that indicate that not even the CEO responds to customer service complaints.

They also said they had no information on troubleshooting the machine "because we just introduced it." It seems that any decent machine testing would check to see that you could turn on the machine. Please do not make the same mistake I did, especially with a holiday gift!

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This machine is absolute garbage. There are not enough pejoratives or expletives in the world for me to describe my feelings for this device with anything like the right level of detail.

The user interface is like trying to decode an alien artifact. The manual is terrible. The customer service and support is unbelievably bad. It is unreliable and expensive.

Get a different espresso machine, go to a coffeeshop, heck, boil coffee in a 55 gallon drum over a pile of oily rags any of these is a much more satisfactory way to get a coffee drink than using this (insert chain of imaginative diminutives) thing.

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I must echo the comments in previous reviews. This is a fine machine at first -does the job and does it well -but the instructions were very complicated, the pot is poorly designed & you end up pouring just as much coffee on the counter as you do in your cup, and after 4 months of use, mine just stopped working. I really thought this $300 machine would be the last coffee maker I would have to purchase for awhile considering my $50.00 "Mr Coffee" machine worked for 5 years and is now being used as my "backup" while I try to get a resolution with Krups. (Thank goodness I decided to hold onto it!!)

Think twice before sinking so much money into this product.

Briel ES200APG-TB Multi-Pro One Group Thermo Block Espresso Machine with Auto Espresso Flow, Steel/

To the point... Could not fine support for any questions I had through the Briel Company in the USA. The phone number in the espresso machine help book was Out Of Service. The instruction book, I feel needs more pictures to help individuals locate and understand usage of the espresso machine than what Briel offers. (Example) You need to turn the ON Switch fully to the right until you here a Click or the Machine will not brew and acts like it has a Vapor Lock which it doesn't. This why Briel gets only four stars from me. The Briel ES200APG-TB is really a Great Machine as long as you fully understand it's operation. I would recommend this product to my friends.

I've had my ES200 APG-TB for just about a year, and while I did have to consult the service center, I was VERY impressed with their responsiveness. When I called, I connected DIRECTLY to a service representative no computer menu a real live person! The service rep walked me through a quick trouble-shooting procedure, diagnosed the problem, and the replacement part was delivered in very short order that level of customer support is a rare find in today's business world.

And does the ES200 ever look great on my counter!!! It even looks better in real life than in the pictures and the pictures look great. Also, the ability to use coffee pods sure makes life easy no fuss no mess perfect brew!! One very satisfied Briel customer!!!!

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I bought this machine to replace an older model of the same machine that served me well for many years. With that machine, I learned that the Briel is a wonderful machine for someone who is willing to work a bit to adjust the machine settings for a personalized espresso. It is not for the user that wants to push a button and be done. I knew this when purchasing this machine. Yet, as first I could not get the espresso to flow through the filter basket despite many attempts. I knew the machine was working fine, but I must be doing something wrong. Since I live near by, I called the service center to ask if I could come by, and they were very helpful on the phone and welcomed my visit. There, the owner came by and promptly stepped up and plugged my machine in. He spent about a half hour with me, and we found the right filter basket and right adjustment for a perfect flow. Thank you Steve! This is a great machine but may take some personal adjusting at first.

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The first one I bought started to leak (from underneath the machine and from the steamer nozzle) after a couple months and I am still in the process of getting the company in charge of warranty repairs to fix it. When they tried to fix it the first time they broke the steamer which is now loose and doesn't work at all. So I foolishly bought a second one (while the first was getting repaired) since we couldn't do without ours for an extended period of time and this one never worked from the minute it came out of the box. When we turned it on it shorted out every outlet we plugged it in to. Amazon took that one back and credited our card. Will never buy this brand/model again.

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Less than 2 years old now, very light use. (office only) Blows water out around porta filter. Found the only authorized shop to repair these machines are on the east coast. With shipping and repairs cost over $200.00. They said the gaskets were worn out and the boiler support needed replacing. I have a Gaggia at home and have never had any problems.

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Black & Decker Programmable Coffeemakers

Here's a quick video that shows the Black & Decker 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker in use. You'll see it's main fault... which would be pouring liquids... which, well, is what it should do best. So, along with all the other reviews that say "do not buy this product," I concur. This thing is just horrible.

The DCM2160 Coffeemaker has a few design issues.

1) The most bothersome for us is that the carafe dribbles when pouring a cup of coffee or using it to fill the water tank.

2) Another issue is that the lid of the coffee maker is hinged at the back and allows the water condensation that collects on the lid to drip down the back of the coffee maker and end up all over the kitchen counter.

3) Another, but less severe, issue is that the drip apparatus is connected to the lid so it gets in the way when trying to fill the water tank.

If you enjoy wiping down your kitchen counter every time you make coffee and every time you pour a cup, this is the one for you. FYI, I did try to inform Black & Decker but have not had a response to the comment I submitted on their website.

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I wrote a review a while back when I first bought the black-colored version of this coffee maker. I wrote about the clock not working for more than a day, and also gave measurements to show that the coffee maker does not work well with overhead cabinets because the lid raises up and hits the cabinets.

Well, today the coffee maker died. It stopped pumping, and the heater element isn't turning on. I only had this coffee maker for a few months, and already it is broken. For $29, I did get what I paid for.

BUYER, please beware! This is a VERY cheap coffee maker!!!

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I was looking for a reasonably priced coffee maker that got the job done without too many bells & whistles. This appliance is excellent, autoomatic on & off, warming plate up to two hours, NO-Drip carafe! It is simple and efficient and makes a great cup of Joe. KQ

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Based on Consumer Reports recommendations, and the company's description,I ordered the Black & Decker DCM2500 Coffeemaker. It arrived promptly through Brand Variety, but on first use, I discovered a serious leak in the carafe between the plastic top and the glass. I contacted Black & Decker about the defective carafe asking that they send me a replacement. They told me that the carafe was not covered by the warranty, but that they would sell me a new carafe. I then contacted Brand Variety who said I could return the coffeemaker for a credit on its cost. They promised to send me a prepaid return label, but their letter did not contain the return label. The policy seems to be spend millions for advertising, but only pennies for customer service.

Derrick Bell

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Food Network Espresso Machine

people must know when purchasing this it is an economy machine. it will not work like a rocket or simonelli. it wasn't meant to it was meant to provide a functional machine for the home brewer. I have had this machine now for 4-5 months. and I am a very avid coffee drinker/brewer. the espresso does come out rather headless but the flavor is great. I make 6-15 lattes a week for me and my friends. I think it's a great buy until you want to get into the 2-300 dollar range.

I got this as a present and I had to return it. The operation of the unit was very loud and it didn't pump any liquid into the filter basket. I also tried the "steam" and "warm" from the wand to see if it pumped any steam that way. It had the same results. There are always factory defects but right out-of-the-box? It was also a concern that the knob to change from "off" "steam" and "warm" was very resistant and difficult to turn (almost to the point where I needed a channel lock). Maybe this was also a factory defect, but if all units was this tight then those who have weak hands or maybe arthritis would have difficulty. Not only that but if the steam feature was actually working, then I would be concern someone burning themselves and over heat their milk. Like I said, this might be a factory defect. I know this is not a $500 machine, but honestly I used $50 espresso MR. Coffee machines that seemed better built than this.

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It made good espresso for about 2 months and then the filter baskets were completely plugged up and are uncleanable. Noisy. Weak pump. Returned the machine. If you are going to use it once a week for a month and then put it up on the shelves until special occassions, fine, but there are cheaper ones that will do that. Day-to-day use wears the poorly made machine out quickly. Have been drinking nothing but espresso for over a decade and this has been the worst machine I've owned.

Food Network should be ashamed of putting its name on such cheaply made garbage for a buck.

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I can make good foam from this unit, the warmer is nice one thing to mention is the buttons on mine are backwards. Meaning if I want a double shot I need to select the one cup button if I want a single cup press the 2 cup button.. Odd but it just works that way I think it gives it character. other things to note the steam wand attachment does come off don't forget to clean off the burnt milk under it if you use it, I just keep mine off for the time being. The rest is pretty simple I use distilled water in the unit and for maintenance sake after I empty the last shot of espresso I run a cleaning ( just water only) through the system to keep all the espresso ground out of the unit.

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Delonghi BCO264B Cafe Nero Combo Coffee and Espresso Maker

I am an avid coffee drinker, somewhere between 2-4 pots a day. My husband bought this 3-in-1 coffee maker for me for the Christmas of 2004. It has a digital clock/timer, flavor strength switch and makes pretty good coffee. It worked great for a while.

However, after about a year and a half the coffee maker side stopped working, without any warning. I went to get a cup of coffee and the hotplate was cold. After emptying it, cleaning it out and setting it up again, I turned it back on to make another pot.

The hotplate didn't even get warm, and the brewer didn't even make a noise or pull a single drop into the carafe. Even though the espresso and steamer side still works wonders, for the price of this 3-in-1, you would think it would work a bit longer than it has.

I had originally purchased the Krups version of their fanciest dual machine and it arrived non-functional with a display and buttons that were a little too "Star Trek" for me anyway...in fact, they didn't function at all. The Delonghi Caffe Nero (so far) has been very straighforward, easy to use, and produces good coffee and espresso. The quality of the coffee is moderate-high and I'm impressed with its strength selection system (a simple knob) and the mechanism by which it brews. No bells or whistles to confuse me. I did think initially that the permanent filter might be difficult to clean but not so far. However, the heat resistant coffee pot has an interesting design and a strange top which snaps on somewhat awkwardly and appears vulnerable to breaking but otherwise I have not found any major flaws with this machine as of yet.

Good coffee, good espresso, easy to use, easy to program for the next day. We'll see...

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I thought I did enough research before buying this machine but apparently not enough. I was disappointed in 1. the design ( looks rather cheap) and 2. the performance. The coffee maker didn't stop dripping either water or coffee when you pulled out the pot and for the espresso part you need to REHEAT the unit 30 MINUTES prior to use!!! So much about being flexible about having an espresso! If you really enjoy good coffee you need to invest more, unfortunately.

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Although their coffeemakers do an excellent job of making coffee, DeLonghi WILL USE ANY EXCUSE NOT TO HONOR THE WARRANTY IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG! Here's my experience: When I ordered my coffeemaker from DeLonghi, it was "backordered" and took over a month to ship. A little over 10 months after I received it, the coffeemaker broke! (The heater coil went out and

it would no longer make coffee.) Since it had been over a year since I ORDERED it, they said the one-year warranty was expired, despite the fact I had proof I had received it less than a year before (I still had the shipping confirmation). I explained this numerous times. For a couple of months, the various people I talked to kept telling me they would "look into it", but they never called back. Finally, when it actually WAS over a year since I had received the coffeemaker, when I called to check on the status of my warranty claim, they said, "Your warranty has expired. You've had this coffeemaker over one year. There is nothing we can do." I highly recommend you find a coffeemaker from a manufacturer that stands behind their product! I have a Cuisinart now, and it is WONDERFUL!

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On the outside, this is a beautiful machine. Unfortunately, the mechanics don't match. 6 months after my wife and I purchased it, the hinge on the back cover broke. I contacted Delonghi to see if it was covered under the warranty. Of course it was not and I had to purchase a new one. Then, after having it for just over a year, the coffee maker quit completely. I had to take it to one of their authorized repair facilities to get it fixed. I have been without the coffee maker for 1 month now and they still don't know when they will get the parts from Delonghi. I do not drink coffee and my wife drinks maybe 1/2 cup a day. My wife owned a Mr. Coffee that lasted more than 10 years. You would think that with the price of this machine it would have lasted much longer. My recommendation to you is to save your money and buy a Mr. Coffee!

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Krups XP4050 1200-Watt 15-Bar-Pump Programmable Espresso Machine

I must start with saying that this is my second XP4050 in one month, the first suffering from two problems. One problem was the same that others have mentioned here, when water stops coming out of the filter head and instead just dumps into the drip tray from an apparent overflow-type valve in the bottom of the machine. This only happened once, corrected itself, and never happened again. The second problem was that I noticed a small amount of water occasionally leaking from the buttons on the front and the stainless portion on the front of the machine would also get VERY hot. I believe these were one problem, possibly the brewing portion leaking.

I contacted Amazon online and was shocked at the ease and speed of getting a replacement model. At no charge to me, including shipping, I had a brand new XP4050 within 3 days.

The new model works perfect. I am a somewhat new espresso afficienado, having been making my own at home for only about 2 years. This is my second machine, my first being a Krups Gusto that recently died. I decided on the XP4050 after a great deal of research and comparing features versus cost. The price I got this model through Amazon was literally half what I was looking at with other brands.

As far as use of the machine, it couldn't be easier. I use mostly pods but have tried grounds with equally easy and great tasting shots. The three different filter baskets for brewing are held in the handle firmly, which was an issue in my old Krups Gusto (I accidently threw away the single shot filter basket). The frother performs very well although I have not tried the attachment for pulling the milk from a separate container. As others have said, make sure you keep an eye on your drip tray, it does tend to fill quickly. I empty mine every 4-6 shots.

Overall, even considering my initial "problem" model, I am extremely happy with the XP4050. It's a great looking, inexpensive, easy to use machine that consistently puts out quality shots of espresso. I would recommend this model to either new beginners or someone looking to step up a little.

Ahh great coffee at home

Firstly I am just a wee amateur when it comes to coffee. I hate instant coffee and wanted quality coffee at home that was easy to make.

I just purchased this machine last night; it's our first pump espresso machine. It took me a couple of goes, messing around with the machine to produce a good coffee, but I seem to be getting quicker and better with each additional coffee I make.

It's fairly simple to use. The pre-programmed 1 or 2 cup buttons take all the guess work out of the coffee creation process. It is also very quick to fire up (become ready from power up to coffee creation) in comparison to some of my friends machines.

The autocappuccino (milk foamer) also works well, with surprisingly little mess or effort, but be sure to use very cold milk.

So far the machine seems to be very easy to clean after your perfect cup, no drips or mess which I have read about in other reviews.

I have not tried the ESE pods yet, but I am sure this eliminates any coffee ground mess.

I hope this helps, enjoy

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Last month I decided to replace my aging, 6-year old Krups espresso machine. It had provided great service but, thanks to a less-than-rigorous regimen of descaling over the years, was getting long in the tooth. Its pumping action was weakening, and the steamer would occasionally get rambunctious. I was happy with Krups, so I replaced it with another, the XP 4050. Bad choice.

The XP 4050 just didn't work as it should. On some mornings, after the machine heats up, it goes into a frantic blinking mode when I try to pump. And it didn't pump...its four blue lights just blinked furiously at me.

The machine's manual did not describe this behavior, so I called the Krups consumer help line from the manual. (Incidentally, kudos to Krups on that help line. I got to a human pretty quickly.) I described the symptoms, and they emailed me a UPS label to send the machine in. Four weeks later, a replacement arrived.

It does the same thing.

Another criticism: The steamer nozzle is useless. It's like a four-year-old blowing bubbles into a cup of milk. My old machine had a healthy steaming nozzle that was a whiz at frothing. The XP 4040 is no match. Adding to the aggravation, the steamer attachment has a little air-induction tube that keeps falling out.

I'm sorry, Krups, you've gone astray. The machine's going back to Amazon.

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I have owned the Krups XP4050 for over nine months now and have used it daily ever since it was purchased. I knew I was taking a risk when I bought the XP4050, as I had read the many negative reviews on Amazon. The primary reason why I took that risk was that I was able to get an extremely good deal getting well over $100 off the typical retail price. I feel fortunate not to have experienced any of the serious issues some of the other users have had.

There is a learning curve to the XP4500. That's for sure! Here are the things that I have learned in the time that I have owned the machine:

1. The water tank must be seated properly. Period!!! If it's not, you will get the flashing blue lights as others have pointed-out. When inserting the water tank, it should firmly stop when fully seated. You will feel a slight detent when it's seated properly. If it feels "squishy" and the tank pushes back up slightly, pull it out and start over again. I have noticed that the tank inserts easier the more the XP4050 is used.

2. Clean the inside of the brewing head frequently. It doesn't need to be after every espresso, but it should be done at least when you've finished for the day. I usually use a paper towel to do this after I have run a cycle without the filter holder. I also occasionally use a brush to remove grinds that accumulate in the brewing head.

3. Yes, the machine has a "rubbery" smell when it is new. It will go away after a while of usage.

4. Do not use the "auto cappuccino accessory." While the auto cappuccino accessory usually does an OK job if you want a latte, it suffers from three drawbacks: A) Results wildly vary. B) Milk does not get hot enough. C) There is only enough foam produced to top off a latte. It does not produce enough foam for a real cappuccino.

5. For a decent cappuccino, purchase a frothing pitcher and use the "perfect froth accessory." Oddly, the instructions for the XP4050 on the Krups website does not mention the perfect froth accessory, so I do not know if it was not included in the older units, or if it is no longer included in the newer units. Hopefully, it is still included. If you don't have it, you really need to get it if you want to make a decent cap. More importantly, you need to learn how to use it. This took me a long time to figure out because there are no decent instructions on how to use the attachment. Really, I should record a video on how to do this, but for now, I'll try to get the idea across here:

A) Remove the small stainless tube from the perfect froth accessory (PFA).

B) Attach the PFA to the steam nozzle so that the black rubber protrusion (that holds the small tube) points away from the machine.

C) Fill 1/3 to 1/2 of your frothing pitcher with cold milk (depending on how many caps you want to make).

D) Start steam process on the machine (I assume that users already know how to do this).

E) Once steam (not water) is coming out of the PFA, raise the frothing pitcher up to the bottom protrusion of the PFA so that the top of the milk is just barely over the hole in the protrusion. If the placement is correct, you will see the milk being sucked in to the hole along with a little air. If the hole is too high, you will get large air bubbles. If hole is too low, the quantity of foam will be significantly reduced. The foam will build upon itself if you are doing this correctly. Continue to create the foam until the milk has been heated to your liking.

Hope these tips help. Good luck with your XP4050.

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My husband purchased this espresso machine for me and I was thrilled at first. It worked well for just shy of 2 months, then broke. The water would no longer draw up into the filter it would only drain into the drip tray. We exchanged it for the exact same model and the new one was worse! We followed the instructions to prime it before the first use the night we received it and turned it off without making coffee. Luckily I smelled something funny before going to bed or else my house may have burned down! Internally the machine didn't turn off and it over-heated so badly that it scorched my counter and warped the plastic on the top and sides! The second machine never made a cup of coffee... We promptly returned that one as well and decided to purchase a different machine entirely! Please don't waste your money on this product!

Capresso frothPRO

I was worried to buy this because there were no reviews on it yet. I used it today for the first time and I could not be more happy with it. It says not to fill milk past the froth indicator line inside the pitcher, I know why now. It creates the most thick rich froth that you can imagine all the way to the top of the pitcher. After you pour the heated milk out (which by the way is heated to 150 degrees checked with thermometer)you will have to spoon out the froth because it is so thick. I gave it 5 stars because it does exactly what it describes it will do. The only thing negative that I could possibly say is that I do think that steamed milk and froth is sweeter in flavor than just heated milk and froth. I make caramel macchiatos at least twice a day for my wife and myself so we do a lot of frothing. This frother will make this super thick froth in around 2 min or so and then automatically shuts off too cool. I wait till it shuts off and then hit the espresso button on our espresso machine and then pour the heated milk, add the espresso and top with that thick froth decorate with the caramel and kick back. I thought at first this was going to be an expensive learning adventure but now I am very happy to have bought it. It also will make thick heated and frothed hot chocolate.

Who says you can't have it all? You can have your hot chocolate and your cappuccino too with this handy, convenient little machine. I'm no Einstein when it comes to operating appliances but this gadget is easy to operate and produces the most delicious hot and cold drinks you can imagine. The frothing mechanism is unbelievable. Now I can have my cappuccino without having to pay a king's ransom to Starbucks. In addition, it's easy to clean and that's a real plus in my book. Anyone who has ever had to deal with cleaning some of those razor sharp "jig-saw puzzle" pieces you see on a lot of appliances (my blender has been known to attack) will just love the safe, user friendly frothPRO parts.

And speaking of safety, there will be no burned lips and tongue with this little machine. It has three button settings and has the ability to control the temperature of your hot chocolate by just pushing the right hand button if you just want it WARM instead of HOT. Another plus is that you can froth your milk without the heat if ICED lattes are your drink of choice. Overall, this would be an excellent addition to your kitchen or a great gift for newlyweds who love cappuccino, latte or any hot or cold coffee drinks but can't afford those "Coffee house" prices.

Now that I've listed all the pros, let me add a couple of cons.

#1 The machine is a little pricey at the sixty dollars.

($ 35 to $40 would be a much fairer price). The machine

is a simple mechanism and made in China so there can

be no excuse like "union wages" to justify the $60 price

tag.

#2 The power cord could have been a little longer to provide

more options as to where it can be plugged in.

#3 Be careful not to touch the BOTTOM of the milk pitcher

once you have heated your milk and removed it from

the heating base and DO NOT set it down on a laminate

surface (like formica) because that baby is really HOT

and can leave a burn mark.

For performance and ease of operation this product falls into the 4 to 5 star range. The pricing, etc. rate 2 ½ to 3 stars. Overall rating 3 ½ stars.

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I am so happy I bought this machine! I have a DeLonghi espresso maker, and it makes great espresso, but the milk frother on my machine is a joke. In looking for a better milk frothing solution, I tried Aerolatte machines, but I wasn't satisfied with their weak results either. Luckily, I stumbled onto this device.

To be clear, I was seeking out very thick, creamy, meringue-like froth. My espresso machine and the Aerolatte made foam with bubbles far too large to support this type of froth, so I was skeptical when I saw that this machine advertised "meringue-like frother," yet works on pretty much the same principle as an Aerolatte frother. Nevertheless, I decided to try it out, and on its first run, it gave me exactly what I was looking for: mounds of soft, pillowy forthed milk that looked more like whipped cream or meringue. I was also left with just enough steamed milk at the bottom of the pitcher to make my cappuccino.

Making frothed milk with this machine couldn't be easier: add cold milk, put on the lid, and press a button. A few minutes later, the machine automatically shuts down when it's done. As I said, you're left with mounds of perfect frothed milk, and just enough steamed milk to finish your drink. The pitcher has a nonstick surface, so cleanup is pretty simple and doens't take much time.

My only complaint is that it's a bit difficult to remove the frothing disk from the bottom of the pitcher, and the instructions don't provide any guidance or tips. My technique is to reach down underneath the disk and just pry up one side until it pops off. The disk is quite firmly connected to the pitcher and is made of thin plastic, so it doesn't seem like the best design. Like a previous reviewer, I was initially scared that I might break the disk, but it hasn't happened yet, so maybe it's more rugged than it looks. There's a little tab that sticks up from the center of each disk--it looks like it's for gripping the disk, but I didn't have any luck removing it that way. Another complaint is that the disk-mounting assembly sticking up at the bottom center of the pitcher is like a little needle! I got a pretty bad poke when figuring out how to attach and remove the disks, and, again, I didn't see any warning in the instruction book.

Overall, however, these are very minor complaints, and I'm more than satisfied with this unit. It is a bit pricey for such a specialized machine, but if you'd otherwise be buying your coffee at a coffee shop, you'll make up the cost of the machine and then some in no time!

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This frother was great while it worked... easy to use, great frothy milk, quiet.

After three months, it just stopped working. Their customer service department insisted I return the broken frother before they would send a replacement... understandable if this was an expensive coffee maker but much less customer-friendly for a less expensive appliance which broke so quickly.

I asked to speak to a manager to see if the policy could be waived (I'd return the broken frother in the box they sent, they could even charge me while I held both). Seemingly annoyed at being bothered, the manager practically berated me for asking and, literally, mocked my speech before unapologetically telling me "this is how it is".

My previous coffee maker was Capresso with which I had quality problems (returned twice) and I've also given two other Capresso products as gifts (this Frother and a coffee maker) which both subsequently broke. Clearly, I like their products but, more clearly, they have a big quality control problem.

With such quality problems and horrible customer service, I will no longer purchase Capresso products.

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My first impression of this frother was a mixed one. It did not look like it was worth $60 even though it performed rather well in the beginning.

As time went by the frothing became worse. Now, after a little less than a year, I have to cycle it about three times to get enough froth for one cup of coffee. I don't know why, but it does not produce the thick froth that it once did. Many reviewers have had this same problem. I have experimented with different brands of milk without any luck and whole or 2% doesn't make any difference either.

The worst problem began today. I am lucky that I was at home.

I had finished my coffee earlier, cleaned the frother and placed it back in the base. Thirty minutes later I went outside for a less than 2 minutes. When I came in the frother was running. There were no lights on. I lifted the pitcher and set it back down thinking it would turn off but it did not. I lifted the pitcher several times but each time I placed it on the base it started again. In a few seconds it started to smoke and an eletrical smell filled the kitchen. I unplugged it and it continued to smoke for a few seconds. Obviously the frother is a fire hazard.

UPDATE:

I called Capresso customer service and they replaced this unit. I was leary of using it but I did anyway, but never leaving it plugged in when it was not in use. This second frother did not last as long as the first one, only a few weeks jsut long enough to finish out the one year warranty. It sometimes does not even spin, and when it does spin it doesn't froth the milk but about once every 4-5 tries. The sound it makes varies from a low rattle to a high whir. I have used the product as directed making enough froth for one cup of coffee a day about 5-6 times per week. Needless to say I am through using Capresso products and do not recomend them to you. A friend has a Capresso coffee maker that he has had replaced as well because it was defective.

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Didiesse Frog Espresso Machine For E.S.E Pods in Black

I wish I could give this a better rating. The 'jaws' clamp down on the ese pods and make a great cup of espresso. The large water storage unit is clean and a great idea. the only problem was that after approximately 80 cups the pump burned out and the warranty service is in Italy.

I have had this machine for 4 months now and I've used it to demo coffee pods that I sell in multiple small businesses around the area I live in.

It has gone through 2 boxes of 200 pods each (so 400 pods) and it has never had a problem. I just like the way it really clamps down on the pods forcing ALL the water and pressure trough the coffee and not out on the sides. It works great for me and the fact that I can just pop in water bottles in the "tank" is just great and avoids a whole lot of mess and spills.

Compared to other machines I've had it just performs better. And I am not sure about after sales assistance, but my guess is that getting in touch with whom it was purchased for should get the help needed, or alternatively, it's not exactly a space rocket, any decent repair shop should be able to fix it.

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Continental Electric 2-1/2-Liter Cool Touch Deep Fryer

I bought this as a gift for my brother. He says he loves it and uses it all the time.

Decent size, great deep fryer. It does get a little warm on the outside but not burning hot by any means. I would buy again

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very nice and just the right size recommend for anyone wanting a deep fryer I had one before but not as nice

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I bought this as a gift for my boyfriend. He loves it and uses it all the time. Easy to clean up and care for.

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deep fried (XXX) it is a great deep fryer and cooks great no problems so far. delicious. fun, and entertaining for

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