KRUPS XP601050 Manual Pump Espresso Machine with Thermo Block System and Stainless Steel Housing, Silver

Very nice machine for the price!


Great espresso maker for this price range!
I previously worked as a barista for a couple of years and acquired quite a bit of espresso knowledge on the job, so I did my research before deciding on this machine. I am confident that if you know what you're doing already OR are willing to be a student of espresso machines for a little while, you can get great results with any machine. Like any other machine, this Krups took some trial and error. For example, I became quite frustrated on a couple occasions during the first week of use because I would flip the espresso dial and nothing would happen. It turned out I had used too much espresso, so that took a little finessing to get just right.
First, the things I love about the machine: easy to use, easy to clean, relatively easy to understand, and gives me good-tasting espresso for americano or latte/cappuccino.

Things I had to learn: don't overfill the basket/portafilter, and if you're making a latte do the espresso before the milk- the machine takes forever to...

Great Machine
This is the second Krups espresso machine I've owned. My first one lasted 15 years, so I'm hoping this one will go the distance, too.

This one pulls a tasty espresso shot, and it's easy to use.

I agree with others when they say you *have* to read the manual first. It's not the most well-written manual, and is a tad confusing. Sometimes the manual says to wait until a light is "on" when they mean "off." Basically, what you need to know is that when the temperature light is on, the unit is still warming up. When it's off, it's ready to go. (BTW, it only takes a minute to warmup.)

Yes, you have to prime it before the first time you use it. Not a big deal -- it just means filling up the water tank and running hot water through the wand into an empty cup for 1/4 of the tank, then running hot water through the main head (without the portafilter in place) for the other 3/4 of the tank.

Also, don't forget to wash and rinse the portafilter and...

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