Krups XP4050 Pump Espresso Machine Review
One of my latest retail therapy purchases was this baby, a Krups XP4050 pump espress machine. At first it was a toss up between the 2010 combination coffee + espresso maker because it seemed more pragmatic in features and price (it was cheaper by about USD $30) but the espresso nut in me opted for a fully automatic and dedicated espresso maker.
It’s been about a month since I brewed my first cup on this thing and as an aspiring coffee nut, I’ve figured out a thing or two about this particular model and I’d like to share them with you in bullet points:
- The XP4050’s milk frother extension tube doesn’t seem to be a great idea for actual frothing cappucino. After some frustration I opted to just remove the damn thing and froth using the teat, which has an extremely short nozzle. Sure you’d be able to kiss the milk’s surface with small milk holders, but it’s going to be a bummer with the big ones.
- The XP4050 only has one built in “machine” that alternates between heating the milk and making coffee. It’s like having a single core processor, if you would allow that example, that needs to “boot up” every time you switch from frother to espresso. This can get a tad annoying at times, especially if you’re in a hurry.
- For such an affordable pump espresso, you’re left with many options for one or two shots of espresso or the application of coffee pods.
- I love the one liter removable water tank. Easy to put water. Easy to clean. I just had to make sure that the tank was inserted securely into the bottom nozzle as there were times when I wasn’t getting any water or steam. The machine “hangs” with an error beep when this happens.
Pros
Versatile and cheap
Portable
Removable water tank
At the end of the day, makes good coffee
Cons
Small tray for catching water
Short nozzle for frothing, stock nozzle doesn’t really work well
Bottomline
The Krups XP4050 is versatile. I’ve taken this to out of town trips despite its small bulk. I have nothing bad to say about the build of the machine except for the nozzle, which doesn’t really become a problem if you’re frothing from a short container. No regrets. I’m happy with my XP4050.
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