Krups Reviews

Rob's Bottom Line: good espresso (for the price); fans of foam will need something much better than this

I played with this machine for about two weeks, brewing 4 - 5 espressos and steaming 2 or 3 lattes per day. I toyed with several different beans, grinds, tamping pressure.

The espressos can be quite good, considering the price of the machine. I toyed with several coffees: fresh beans in blade grinder, pre-ground Italian espresso, ESE pouch system and fresh beans in a Gaggia MDF. I can get a decent espresso using a blade grinder, but the MDF is easier and much more consistent. The Krups does not produce star quality espresso but if you use good beans and a good grinder you can get something very drinkable.

Unfortunately, the steam/frothing capacity of the Krups machine is far below what I want. I am looking for foam! Maybe not all-star caf� style microbead foam, but a good quantity of foam that has some substance. The Krups can steam enough milk for two lattes, though it takes a while to do so. It cannot produce much foam - not nearly enough for a good cappuccino. The steam power is not there.

If you are looking for a decent (but not mind-blowing) espresso for a reasonable price you might want to try this machine. While there is the capacity to steam some milk, I suggest you try something else if you want a good quantity of foam.

I have had the Artese 3 for about 2 years now and while it has limitations, with a few tips it can produce a really good result.
Heat the basket first by soaking in boiling water to bring up to temperature.
If you are doing multiple coffees, make sure you do all the shots first before setting the higher steaming temperature as this will be too hot for the next shot and will ruin it (also takes a long time to cool down).
I have had reasonable success with the auto-cappucino function. Make sure you clean all the components of the auto-cap regularly in detergent to get the best results.
Also it is important to have the hose in the correct way. One end of the hose has a notch in it, this must go into the milk container. If it is at the other end the milk will not froth properly.
I always buy the best coffee, already ground, in small quantities, and stored in the fridge in an airtight container. It produces a wonderful shot with a thick crema every time.
It is certainly not the rolls royce of machines but pretty good value for money and I am continually complemented on the quality of coffees I make.

As I read the other reviews, I was surprised because I owned one KRUPS Artese since the beginning of December 2004. Important to mention about my own experience about cappuccino. It was my first espresso/cappuccino maker machine! After a couple of month of internship in a company where we can have unlimited cappuccino (the boss bought one machine from a bistro, so you can imagine the cappuccino quality and it's the receptionist who make them each afternoon, so he has enough experience to make good ones), I become an amator of cappuccino, so I've decided to buy my own machine for Christmas time! This machine can be compared to bistro machine, except that you have to do all the stuff manually (stop the machine when you have enough coffee or enough froth, etc.). By the way, there is a similar model that is automatic if you have money to spend. I've practiced enough during these 2 months to tell you that the automatic cappuccino makes nice froth but not hot at all! My little trick: make your espresso (60 ml), then use your automatic cappuccino to fill your cup (150 ml) and finally put the steam nozzle to the bottom (where the coffe is) to reheat it. Stop as soon as you can feel the heat from your cup. Don't heat to much! I think that all stuff should be used with care and attention, especially the screw (for the steam nozzle and the auto cappuccino accessory) and the water container because they are made with plastic. Other advices: the first cappucino in the batch will always be no hot enough compared to the others. So, use the steam nozzle to heat it more than the other cups. Key of success of a good cappuccino: good coffee (use a burr coffe grinder for better quality, but not essential), water at the right temperature and enough pressure (15 bar is enough). You can invest on some accessories if you have enough money and appreciate good quality: a steaming pot, a thermometer (milk at 160 degree Celsius is perfect), a coffee burr grinder, a tamper to tamp your ground coffee in your filter and an Aerolatte (milk frother) if you think your KRUPS machine doesn't give enough froth. Don't forget to wash all the accessories each time you finish your cappuccinos if you want to keep the same quality each time. Good luck!
WuFei

I've had this machine for 2 years which is why I gave it 2 stars. At first I was impressed, but as I got better at being a barister I found the milk didn't get as hot as I would like. I got great foam, just not enough heat. The clean up for the steamer got to be a drag. But this didn't make me dislike the machine. It was when the electrical went haywire that I began to dislike this machine. The machine turns on but when you push the button for 1 or 2 cups of espresso, the machine immediately turns off. I turn it back on, wait and the game begins, will it or won't it give me an espresso. Some days I win the game after a couple of hours and some days the machine wins and I'm off to Starbucks for a fix. My next machine will be a simple one.

I just got mine and still learning how to use it. The espresso is great, however I am a Latte drinker and I can not get the foamer to create foamed milk. In fact the milk is not very hot that comes out of the tap. Turning the tap all the way to the bottom produces steam, however it does no seem in infuse it into the milk.

I bought this machine 8 months ago. It makes the best espresso, latte and cappuccino. It is so easy to use and clean. It make a nice foam even if I can froth half and half but in this case you have to raise the milk container about 3 inches higher (because the liquid is denser). I paid for this machine $229. Also I bought another one to use it in my office lately.

I replaced a broken Saeco Vienna Deluxe (from shippng damage) with this machine . I just got it and so far (2 cups) I love it. I am not certain but they appear to be very similar (the brew group at least) to one another, and it says made in Italy on the box (saeco manuf?) . Anyways I will need to tune it a bit but so far it looks great the coffee was super.

Makes an excellent expresso consistently (as any super-
automatic should) This machine is identical in function to the Saeco Vienna at less money. It's made in Italy either by Saeco or a pirate knockoff. The issue may be parts when the grinder burrs wear out. I'm hoping the Saeco parts will fit.

After my initial problem with air in lines, the machine works great. It makes exellent coffee, very hot (I leave it on all day) with nice crema. It also dispenses hot water so my 10 year old son can have hot chocolate or tea anytime, without me doing it. It takes a bit long to cool down after steaming milk, but it's not a terrible inconvenience. For the money, I would recommend it to anyone.

The Novo Espresso Machine from Krups is a poor product from what is otherwise a reputable brand.
1. The unit requires a thorough cleaning after every brew. The o-ring seal is exposed to the espresso grinds which prevents an adequate seal. The unit leaks unless the seal is free of any grinds.
2. The unit is designed with two spouts to allow brewing of two cups at a time. The unit does not distribute into the two cups evenly which results typically with one well brewed cup and the other a watery waste.
3. I gave this product two stars only because the pod system does work as well as can be expected. There is no substitute for a properly prepared brew, ie, freshly and properly grounded espresso, properly tamped, and brewed.

I wanted an inexpensive pump driven machine, and bought this item "like new" through a famous online auction. I gave it 5 stars because you cannot beat the price/quality. This machine makes great espresso/latte/cappuccino every time. Take time to read the instructions though, it took me a while to get the hang of it.

This machine is just want the doctor ordered. I'm a 1-2 caps a day girl and this machine is perfect for me. In the morning, I can use a pod for a small but fast cup. This is a great machine for the price. It's easy to use and clean and not that big, so it doesn't take up all of your counter space. It took a week to get use to how the machine works. But now, grab some beans and some cold fresh milk and I am ready to go.