Krups XP4020 Espresso Machine & Coffee Maker Review

“This was our third AND FINAL Krups machine. The...”

Written on: 22/05/2011 by sandvika (4 reviews written)

This was our third AND FINAL Krups machine. The original and best died when the bottom of the box we were moving it in fell out and it smashed on the floor :(. This one leaked into the bottom tray from new and the extent of the leakage increased over time until finally, it must have blown its gasket (see other reviews) and leaked 100%, no longer capable of producing coffee or steam. It would not have been so bad had the float in the tray actually worked and given us imminent warning that a flood was about to occur.



The steam nozzle was almost useless as a milk frother - for this to be effective, the heating element has to be on all the time, as with our previous two Krups models. From the start, the machine vibrated so much that it was necessary to hold the small espresso cups to prevent them from being shaken away from the coffee being dispensed.



The hard plastic (bakelite?) handle on the filter holder cracked when knocking out the used coffee grounds and thereafter would only stay on when wedged into place with a match stick. On one occasion it fell off under the vibration of the machine, rolled off the worktop onto the floor and broke in half - needing to be super-glued back together. Why did they use such a brittle material for the handle?



All in all, a tiresome product full of design flaws that was tolerated rather than appreciated. The contrast between it and our new Gaggia machine could hardly be greater.