Krups XP 4000 Espresso Machine, Black

List Price:$250.00 Image: http://bestdeallocator.info/image.php?id=B0009YDHOS Best price found: http://bestdeallocator.info/index.php?id=B0009YDHOS This is the worst espresso maker we have ever owned. After 20 years of good and faithful service by other Krups machines, we thought we could trust Krups to produce a reliable replacement. What a mistake. The product was delivered with a defective seal, which required a lengthy trip to an authorized dealer (and a two week delay) in order to be repaired. From day one, the machine made terrible coffee, and the capuccino steamer never provided enough pressure for a decent froth. Three months after purchase, the machine has finally died of its own accord, and went straight into the garbage can - where it should have belonged in the first place. DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT! We will never trust Krups again. Little Back story : I am a Coffee drinker, I love coffee produced in a drip maker, press, percolator or steam. I have owned 3 espresso machines, two of the three have had steam pumps. I was at a local high-end kitchen store and they were having a close out of Krups XP 4000 they were reduced to $20.00! so I purchased one to replace my beloved older Seaco,Starbucks machine. The machine seems to be well made, nice heavy material. It seems to froth milk just fine, but that is where it stops. This machine in noisy, my wife actually stood back when I was making a shot, thinking it may explode...it's honestly that loud. As for the espresso, it is manual operation, so when you have your shot you turn off the machine off. Well there must be build up of water some where because when you turn off the machine clear water runs out for 15 to 25 seconds into your cup. I have never seen a machine that sprayed espresso out of the nossels like this one did. Honestly would blow coffee all over the machine and kitchen. I tried different grinds,different coffee and different tamping pressure, thinking this machine may be very sensitive...no luck. So as a last measure, I called Krups and they acknowledged this as a complaint, saying that it is mostlikley an issue with their filter design. They said that they are suggesting for all of their espresso machine models that you don't tamp the coffee!? So, I tried that and it made lousy Espresso and turned the puck into soup. I also noticed at one point water coming from behind the power button. I returned the machine. A $130. machine that I purchased for $20. I returned. I purchased this espresso machine when I was ready to move up from my steam espresso machine. I have had it for almost one year and it has been great. I am able to make Starbucks type drinks for my family for a fraction of the price. A few things to watch for: Make sure you always have water in the tank. Let the machine heat up fully. Make sure you empty the resevoir or it will overflow. I have owned this product for a couple years. I make expresso/cap/latte every weekend from ground beans as a treat for the family and a pod decaf on some evenings. Works VERY well and has held up well. The drip tray is a bit difficult to get out and the frother attachment has occassionally slipped off. (That makes a mess) But for the money it is a great machine. I hand wash the filters and attachments each use and have had not trouble with them. Terrible... works for a couple shots and then ... water all over you counter top!!! Passion. Precision. Perfection. The Krups heritage of German engineered coffee machines and food preparation appliances provides clear functional, rigorous design at the highest level of technical perfection, performance and quality. Working with leading European designers, the product series also represents the newest European designs yet maintains the rigorous and clearly functional characteristics synonymous with Krups products. Designed and built for those who continuously seek out new gourmet experiences and take pleasure in discovering and understanding how things are done well, the Krups range provides the tools that deliver genuine results, performance and taste. Inspired by experts and demanding consumers with uncompromising standards of performance, the new Krups series has been built with three key attributes in mind: Passion, Precision and Perfection. Specifically designed for easy operation, the Krups XP4000 is a 15 bar pump espresso machine. It is virtually "fool proof" and is equipped with a patented "Perfect Froth System" which makes the process of steaming and frothing milk for cappuccino or latte simple. It has a high convenience filter holder that accepts ground coffee for 1 or 2 servings of espresso as well as ESE Pods. The auto cappuccino system precisely combines the right amount of steam and air to easily froth milk. SIMILAR PRODUCTS: Krups GVX2-12 Burr Grinder, Black and Silver:http://bestdeallocator.info/index.php?id=B0001I9R8W