Nice Machine, shame about the coffee

I have had a Krups espresso machine for years but I rarely use it on weekday mornings because it takes too long. So, I bought one of these a few days ago. The machine itself is nice and seems solidly made. The coffee doesn't live up to the hype though and it is inferior to what I can make with my old machine using pre-ground Lavazza. In fact, it is inferior to what you would get in most coffee chains. It doesn't have the depth of flavour and the crema is strangely bubbly and not dense enough.

Easy to use and does fantastic coffee

The only thing that this machine does not do is let you know that it is short on coffee beans - everything else is looked after! As a newcomer to these machines, I was worried that it would be fussy or complicated. I couldn't have been more wrong. We were also wondering if we would use it enough to justify the price. Well, no worries on that front as we use it at least 3 times a day. It tells you when you need to add water, when you need to empty , when you need to clean etc. If it doesn't come with the extra milk container, order one from the Krups site at 12 Pounds- well worth the money as it makes a latte ( or cappucino) perfectly. This has been one of the best kitchen gadgets I have ever bought - in fact, probably the best.

Present

I was given the coffee machine by a kitchen company following the installation of a new kitchen and all of my new appliances are Siemens. I would agree that it is a little over the top in design but several friends have made positive comments about it. Hoping to get the toaster now. Coffee does taste good, I too like mine strong and having the option to make three different strengths is good. Only 1 snag - warming the coffee pot first is a good idea and I find using freshly boiled water from the kettle is best - water is then thrown away which I find a little wasteful! Agree about the jug springing out when the coffee is ready and you have to be careful that it is sitting on the platform properly otherwise it nearly falls off!!

Tips on using this machine

1. Use filtered water only. Water straight from the tap will increase the number of times you will need to descale the machine and your coffee won't taste as smooth. Please don't chuck the machine away after 3 months use thinking it is broken, it just needs a bottle of cheap vinegar!

2. Always use the '2 cup filter' for single and double espressos. If you only need a single espresso make two anyway and pour the rest away. Espresso from a 1 cup filter will rarely taste as good as one from a 2 cup filter from almost any machine available.

3. To start with, try the illy coffee grind. When you are ready to start experimenting purchase a Dualit Burr Coffee Grinder or any other good 'Burr' grinder, and grind your own beans at the beginning of each week. Don't be fooled by manufacturer claims written on the back of coffee packets such as 'suitable for all coffee makers', these are too coarse a grind for espresso making and you will be left with a soggy brown liquid with little to no crema - illy is the only brand out there in the UK that you can trust. If I am wrong on this please leave a recommendation in the comments section.

4. Add two loaded scoops of coffee grind to the 2 cup filter and tamp down hard. Apparently 7-14kg is optimum but I have found the harder you tamp the more concentrated the flavour of the coffee is and the more crema you produce. Really get stuck in there and level the surface when you are finished compacting. Of course discretion is advised, as if you are built like Arnold you won't get any flow at all.

5. If you want hot frothy milk for a cappuccino, leave the heating to the microwave and the frothing to the frother, otherwise you will be there for a long time trying to heat the milk up to a temperature where it starts to froth. I find 80s on full power for a cup of milk works well and sync the espresso extraction (20-25s) to heating the milk. Experiment with this as you do not want to end up with boiled milk as it tastes foul!

6. The machine has a temperature ready light; don't trust it with your coffee! The manual states 6 minutes is enough time from priming to when you can begin extraction. I find the light on my machine goes on and off beyond 6 minutes as the temperature further stabilizes. After 6 minutes recommended by the manufacturer is up prime the machine again this time switching the hot water button off as soon as the hot water begins to flow.

7. Wait 3-4 minutes or longer if you are not in a rush and place the filter holder into the brewing head 1-2 minutes before you start extracting the espresso.

This is my first machine so I would say its a 5-star product in this price range, it is built well and with a little care the results are superb. If you have more money to spend, have a look at the"Francis! Francis! X1!" espresso machine.

LOOKED GOOD BUT BURNT OUT WITHIN 1 HOUR OF USE

Unfortunately, although I was initially delighted with this coffee maker, the very first time I used it, it burnt out, acrid smoke pouring from the top of the unit when it was supposed to be on 'standby', having made the coffee and keeping it warm.

I was disappointed because it was easy to use, great to pour, quick and very stylish looking but unfortunately as it could have potentially set my kitchen alight had I not been around to switch it off at the plug, it had to go back to the shop. On returning it I was told that the store I bought it from was discontinuing it... Am still looking for a suitable replacement!

From disappointed of Oxfordshire

Thankfully there was a good customer service team to sort out my problems with this machine. I have tried three of them and they were all returned to the manufacturer as they all had a stange burning smell coming from the tank and made coffee taste revolting. Many a trendy magazine had sung the praises of this fabulous design - nobody can deny it really is a looker but did any of these people have any coffee from one?

about that apparent pouring problem ....

I read the only review available on Amazon about this coffee maker and decided to buy the product any way despite the negative. I am delighted with it - good looking, works very well, pours perfectly and not least hot coffee. This review is being posted to ensure a fairer balance of opinion but I wonder how many people have been put off buying it because of the low rating in the only review so far. Presumably not many as Russell Hobbs say this coffee maker has now been discontinued owing to low sales. Buy one while you can to match the kettle and toaster in the same style!

Magimix M 200 Automatic

Just finished my first cup, and it was amazing! Owned a Magimix Robot Cafe, bean to cup machine but got fed up of trying to guess all the variables and invariably got a bad cup of coffee. The nespresso system takes all the hard work out and makes a high street finished expresso. It is expensive but well worth it.

Only downside is the ordering of cupsules has to be done via nespresso themselves. Never good to be competitor less. But to be honest, I don't care, when the coffees this good!