Krups Reviews

Being italian, I really wanted to taste a good espresso at home. After 2 years of using it on daily base and with a real italian coffee for espresso makers, it is leaking. I don't really know if I abused it or it is just not good enough. What I know is that even the cheapest espresso maker in Italy would last longer (20 cups/day in italy versus 1 cup/day).

Bottom line: today we can find for the same price coffee makers with better quality (15 bars, for example), still we don't know for how long they will survive

I had many of the same problems mentioned in previous reviews and was ready to give up and get another espresso maker but kept tinkering. Now I am able to get a perfect crema shot everytime. This machine is not very forgiving. But if you can get the hang of it you can get a great cup of crema without spending $200 for the next level up in pump espresso makers. Maybe this is the case with all of them. I do not have experience with other brands. The secret was the grind of coffee, the amount in the portafilter and proper tamping. I did not have a grinder before last week and just ordered "espresso grind" from local coffee shop. This was too course. I now use 3.5 setting on a Capresso Burr Grinder which does the trick. BTW. YOu will not be able to grind fine enough with a blade grinder. Specifically ask for pump espresso grind if you buy coffee ground. A Coffee Shop in North Beach SF knew the difference. I bought a metal tamper from William Sonoma that makes it much easier to evenly tamp grinds. The pressure is firm but not too hard. There is a delicate balance between the grind and amount of pressure to tamp with this machine to get a perfect cup. Do not fill the portafilter to the very top. It is important to leave about 2-3mm space. As with all espresso machines, cup must be prewarmed before using. I run hot water over demi tasse before filling with espresso. Otherwise relatively small amount of hot liquid in a cold cup gives you tepid espresso.

I have used mine now for over a year. I use it every day. It makes a great cup of espresso or cappucino. It does take a little learning. If you follow the instructions in the manual you will be able to do it perfect probably on the first try.

Mechanically ... after a year it has begun to leak from the steam nozzle, but other than that continues to perform faithfully.

The kettle is compact and great for small counterspace, but it started leaking after 3 months of use, we fixed it, and then it started leaking again after another 3 months. I'm giving up on it and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

I loved this little guy --- Boiled water in a couple minutes... Then one day, after about 9 months, just like everyone else the rubber stopper at the bottom of the water level view port fell out - and is nowhere to be found! I think the dog ate it. Well now it is a $45 paper weight. Finally threw it away after today spending a couple of hours trying to locate a replacement part online. Don't waste you time.

I have owned this kettle for at least two years. It has been perfect for my needs. Yes the little plug came out of the water window a couple times, but it was not a big problem since I just put it back. It has not come out since. Searching the market now, there appears to be no other small kettle with a comfortable grip as this one on the market today. I think it boils water faster than others available now as well. I bought a second one as a back up and plan to buy another for a gift.

The teakettle rusted at the weld on the pour spout and inside the kettle in less than two months. Krups will charge you for the replacement shipping costs. This is not oulined in the warranty and appears to be a unilateral policy designed to squeeze the last nickel from the consumer. I concur with Lynn's review, below, for the "Customer Service Reality".

Outstanding in every way!! It is very fast even when filled to full. We use it for "tea" daily, which is 2 to 3 times a day. It will boil small amounts of water in seconds.

Also the design is outstanding, lifting off the base makes for ease in filling and light weight. This unit is attractive on your counter, handles with ease and is a 'best buy'. We have paid over $100.00 for a kettle in the past and it was not as efficient as the Krups.

When I purchased this item, I was looking for a cordless electric kettle, with an indicator light and a fill level indicator, spout fillable for preference as I find this to be the best for ease of filling in my past experience. In addition the item needed to look modern and fashionable for the wife's kitchen.

This kettle does everything I want of it, so receives full marks. Item looks beautiful, pours perfectly, heats quickly (though overfilling can lengthen the duration).

Spout filling at the highest rate the tap (faucet) delivers can result in spray back, so I use a little less than full pressure. The fill indicator seems sensitive to the angle the kettle is held during filling, and usually results in slight overfilling. The kettle scale is in metric so if you live in the US you need to know that 1L is about four mugs of tea, and 1.5L is about 6 mugs. Being British and under 40, metric is fine for me. The water produced boils to be hot enough for tea, but the auto shut-off does not allow the kettle to rolling boil excessively (a complaint I had with my previous solution - a saucepan).

One of the rubber feet on the base was missing when the item was delivered. After plenty of hold music, the man asked me to fax the receipt to them, and new ones would be sent. No problems with Krups service, except for annoying advertising in the aforementioned hold music.

Overall, very satisfied with the product. Would recommend this item and the Krups brand in general. Not made in Germany any more though -- item clearly states it is made in China.

Time to brew another pot of Tetley...