 Great coffee and convenience for the price |
| Review Date: July 2, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Stephen Younge, |
| I bought the XP7225 to replace and older Krups espresso machine that served me well for 11 years. I have had the XP7225 for 2 months and have made 225 cups of espresso according to its built-in odometer. The coffee has been of consistently high quality and I have had not problems. There are numerous online reviews that report problems with this machine, so I bought it at Bed Bath & Beyond because of their return policy. I recommend this machine as an entry-level super automatic that makes fine espresso. I paid $330 for the machine. |
Excellent Espresso, Coffee, and Cappuccino
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| Review Date: December 2, 2009 |
| Reviewer: T. Grady, |
When you open the box, be aware that it may contain coffee grounds. My wife opened the package, saw the coffee grounds everywhere, and assumed that the machine was used. After deciding that it wasn't a big deal and it still looked new, we decided to keep it. Only later, when reading the manual, did I notice that the machines are tested by Krups before leaving the factory and may have coffee grounds leftover.
The machine includes a water filter, water hardness test, and has adjustable settings for water hardness. Once setup, it heats and brews espresso quickly. The volume of the shot is adjustable and additional shots may be added fairly quickly. We found the middle/default grind setting to work best with most of the coffee we tried. When steaming milk, the cycle is long enough for a small amount of milk, but a larger amount (say for two cappuccinos) may take two cycles. It is VERY EASY to use and to clean.
The espresso coming out of it tastes great. It's much better than 99% of what I can buy around me in the Chicago area (including Starbucks which is actually better than the average coffee shop in my area). The money and time saved brewing it myself makes this machine worth every penny. The XP7225 is averaging 2-4 coffee drinks per day and our regular coffee machine (a Krups KM7000) is sitting unused. Keep in mind, the coffee is great, but it's not quite as good as a skilled barista who really knows what they're doing. I have had better coffee in Seattle (Cafe Verite/Cupcake Royale), San Francisco (Blue Bottle), and a small number of other places with great baristas. The character of those stores also makes them worth a visit.
Want a treat? Try 50% espresso and 50% Bailey's Irish Cream. It makes a fantastic drink hot or over ice. |
First impressions
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| Review Date: December 24, 2009 |
| Reviewer: S. Kaplan, Orlando, FL |
| After doing plenty of research I decided to give this machine a try, figuring the few bad reviews here were most likely either a defective unit or user error. This was the best (and only) automatic machine in this price range, and BB&B with 20% off made it a great deal. Set up is easy, basically just removing a few pieces of tape. Once its plugged in and turned on, it guides you through the settings, and then starts going through some initial cycles. This part seemed a little quirky. It went through a few (some were repeated a couple times) auto-tests, filling filter, filling machine, rinsing etc. I just kept doing whatever it said, and eventually it was ready to go. From this point its quite simple, just turn the knob to select what you want, and turn again to select the size and a minute or so later, its done. While I admit I am no expert on coffee, I think this machine does exactly what it says, and it does a great job. Perfect if you're looking for an automatic espresso machine, with a stylish and small footprint, at an unbeatable price. |
Great Size, great Coffee, Steam needs improvement
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| Review Date: July 15, 2009 |
| Reviewer: J. Willems, Midwest, USA |
Today I received my Krups XP7225 Compact Fully Automatic Espresso Machine after doing hours and hours of research. I liked the things I read about it- small size, some control over output, flavor, crema, dependability compared to other models of interest.
I have to admit that I don't usually drink espresso. I prefer to add milk to my coffee. I like to enjoy a latte or cappuccinno. I do not add syrups or sweeteners- no flavors- no sugar.
So, I really need to bring out the sweetness of the milk, and to do that I need to get the milk to at least 140 degrees. When the milk hits 140 degrees the natural sweetness of milk bursts through, and you can enjoy a reasonably sweet and creamy beverage without using sugar, and fend off osteoporosis at the same time. I learned from a barista in Rome that lattes and cappuccinos do not have to be loaded with chocolate or caramel to taste sweet and delicious. You just have to know how to produce proper steamed milk! I had fun learning how to do make a great espresso drinks in Italy, and I long for the quality I enjoyed there. (or at least as close to it as I can come in the U.S. midwest)
Unfortunately, the Krups 7225 does not have enough staying power to heat the milk properly before or after brewing a shot of espresso. I wish it had an additional heating element! I followed the set up, rinsed the machine, did the initial run through, prepared 2 cups of espresso, and as directed, threw them out and began to make my first latte.
My initial attempt produced lovely foam, but the milk was much too cool to sweeten the milk. Not a good product. I returned to the manual (which is WONDERFULLY instructive) and adjusted steamer's automatic timer. Better, but still the milk was not heated well.
Third time I let the steamer use the full cycle, then started the steamer again. It was a short wait, but my espresso was cooling on the cup warmer while I waited to generate steam again. Finally I got the milk to 140, added it to the espresso shot, and enjoyed a creamy, sweet latte. The foam was absolutely lovely, dense, creamy, sweet- perfect. I just wish the machine would provide an adequate amount of steam.
In fairness, I am going to go tonight to get some mineral water and see if I can produce more steam. Today I used distilled water, hoping to avoid calcium buildup to keep the machine clean and running for years to come. I hope I can report that it makes a difference.
It is regrettable to spend so much for a machine that cannot produce sweet, frothy milk for one latte or cappucino. I feel disappointed. However, if you prefer to drink espresso or use just a little milk, this could be the machine for you.
Pro's:
Very compact size
Easy to set up
Easy to adjust and customize for your particular taste
Easy to use- except when steaming milk
Easy to understand manual
No more stops at the coffee shop on the way to work!
Con's
Steam does not last long enough to produce a sweet, frothy large latte.
Less metal, more plastic than I expected.
Price seems a lot for the construction of the machine
Overall Impression:
If you don't have a lot of space for your espresso machine, drink straight espresso or drinks with just a little milk, then stop looking and buy the Krups XP7225. However, if you're like me and enjoy a large latte or cappuccino with sweet, creamy milk and dense, fluffy froth, this may not be the machine for you. |
Excellent Coffee/espresso machine
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| Review Date: November 7, 2009 |
| Reviewer: S.W., PA USA |
I reviewed semi-automatic machines like this one along with many others. My brother-in-law had introduced me to the concept of single-brew coffee and I had the opportunity to use similar machines while over in Austria.
It took me over a year before I made the purchase and I decided on this Krups machine.
I had experienced and read reviews that the temperature on other machines was not where it needed to be. In some cases, manufacturers suggested that you warm up the coffee mug to help with that issue. I didn't want that to be a problem so this was top on my list of important features.
All in all, I would say:
Pros
1) Hot coffee - 3 settings and I have dialed it down to setting 2. Very happy
2) Reliability - I am seeing a few individuals suggest that they are having issues. I specifically chose this manufacturer since I have an older manual espresso that will probably last another 20 years. Their customer service is outstanding and the warranty was respectable. Reading the reviews where there were issues sounds like someone may have had some electrical issues in their house??? Also, I could see where someone could think the machine leaks since there will be water on the counter if you don't empty the drip tray. I have had my machine for 8 months with zero problems.
3) Selectable options including temperature, grind setting (3), Amount of coffee/espresso per serving
4) Space - this is a smaller unit than some of the other brands
5) Frother - Works well as long as you use skim or a lower fat milk. The milk should also be cold when starting
6) Cost - other machines like this are $1,000+ (new)
7) Convenience - Excellent... wife would buy another one if this one should ever need replacing
8) Ease of use - I think Krups did an excellent job with the user interface and controls. This is very simple to use.
Cons
1) Selectable options do not include brew strength. This can be controlled through a combination of grind setting and serving size since the amount of coffee can not change. This should be an option
2) Plastic controls - The titanium look is a plastic look. Dials could be heavier metal but nothing has broken. This is a function of cost so you get what you pay for.
3) Serving size - The machine will only dispense 4 oz of coffee as a single serving. If you want a full cup, you select the Long Coffee setting which will then run through 2-cycles of the 4 ounce option. It doesn't take long to complete but it would be nice if 1-cycle could make 8 ounces. I am not sure why I say that other than the fact that it is different than what you would expect.... Don't put a lot of weight on this comment
4) Noise - I believe most machines are loud since they are grinding beans and using pressure to make the coffee/espresso but it will be nice when the machine is as quiet as a Miele Dishwasher.
In summary, I believe most of my purchases and satisfaction are a direct correlation between the price. I think this is an excellent choice at the price point. There are machines that are made out of heavier materials and provide some options that I talk about above. They are more expensive and I had concern over reliability.
*** update on 3/4/10 (8 months from purchase) - machine started leaking and I had to return for a new one. I have to say that the idea of not having this was not an option. I thought about buying one of the other more expensive versions but then came to grips with everything that I liked about this one to begin with. I guess reliability may not be one of the strengths though... I can say that we use this way too much! **** |
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