KRUPS XP5240 Pump Espresso Machine with KRUPS Precise Tamp Technology and Stainless Steel Housing, Silver

I ordered this Krups after returning the Saeco Aroma. I had been concerned about the frothing attachment based on the reviews. I noticed the Krups web site acknowledged redesigning the frothing attachment. I do not know if the machine delivered represents the new design or the one with which so many customers had concerns. This Krups is very similar to my mid 90's model which proved very reliable for 18 years. Based on my experience with the previous machine, the controls are intuitive. The tamping mechanism seems like over kill but it does work. The steamer works very well but I would be satisfied with a simple, permanently attached, stainless feed. Based on the experiences of other reviewers, I am attempting to be very careful removing and installing the the frothing attachment. Only time will tell if it is sufficiently durable. Based on the quality of the brew, ease of use, and performance to date, I am completely satisfied. Update: Well three months of use and the plastic frothing attachment separated from the stainless wand with surprising force. One of the three plastic prongs cracked clean off under the pressure. I had consistently cleaned the frothing attachment by steaming clear water after milk. I believe the frothing attachment was blocked despite these procedures and the pressure was sufficient to cause the plastic tang to crack. Update: After 18 months of use the steamer wand failed at the mounting point to the main body of the machine. The swivel mounting point is a plastic spout; the stainless wand threads onto the plastic spout. The plastic spout failed at the top of the thread section leaving the threaded plastic portion in the stainless frothing attachment. Based on this failure, I would recommend against buy the Krups. An 18 month service life for a home machine is unsatisfactory. Update: Upon contacting Krups, a repair was authorized. After examining the failed machine, Krups authorized a replacement. Back to recommending the machine based on the fundamental performance and features. Update: Krups has provided steamer wand replacements and verbally provided additional cleaning maintenance instructions intended to address the failure of the threaded wand seal. Based on this owners experience, the threaded collar seal will fail. Anticipated life of the thread seal is 3 months. There is no redesign pending. Krups does not have a significant history of this failure and no known redesign is pending nor is an alternate machine available in the Krups catalog that addresses this failure and provides more reliable performance. The cost of the replacement part is $17.99 and should be factored into any decision to buy this machine.

GREAT MACHINE READ!I would like to say first that I had a very hard time choosing a espresso machine. This is the first espresso machine I have ever owned. For the money I dont know how you could expect anything more and I do not understand the bad reviews. I mean it is a three star machine compared to the high dollar machines. But for the price and features five stars. The only machines with all great reviews are $1500 +. I only used the machine for a few days and have to say the espresso is great. As for steaming milk I have had good and bad but I think its me not the machine. The nozzle I love how it is removable and can be cleaned. It is delicate but I guess you just have to be very careful with it. The main reason I purchased this machine was for the removable nozzle and I love the ratchet precise tamp. I read online that krups has a upgraded nozzle so I will can krups to see if I could get that. Finally I will try to leave a updated review in the future but until then I will be enjoying the great espresso this machine makes.

This machine was shipped to me on February 9th. By May the plastic piece on the frother had cracked and was spewing steam everywhere but through its nozzle. Taking the nozzle apart, even gently proved disastrous. The plastic used in the nozzle of the frother is cheap and apparently not strong enough for the steam and temperature it must endure. When taking it apart, a piece of it fell off in my hand. The espresso making functionality lasted only a bit longer. Even after taking all the required steps to take pieces of it apart as described in the manual for cleaning, I still had horrible leaking where the espresso was ratcheted into the machine. I would not recommend anyone purchase this machine. After my experience with this purchase, I will never buy another item from Krups again. At the time of this writing, the machine sits on a shelf in my garage where I may decided to take it apart one day and examine further its design deficiencies. I have since moved onto a Nespresso Citi machine (made by DeLonghi). The convenience and quality are acceptable. The frother that you can purchase with the Citi is fantastic, and judging by the design, there is no way it will break under proper use. I intend to use this machine until I can afford to build an actual coffee bar in my home with a plumbed industrial quality espresso machine and grinder. With regards to the XP5240 - DO NOT BUY.

We purchased the Krups XP5240 because of reviews indicating quality expresso, automatic tamping feature, and easy removal of coffee from the filter. We have had the unit for a week and are very happy with it. It's a big improvement over our earlier Krups that we had to tamp ourselves and dig grounds out of filters with spoons. This new model ejects a nice firm cake of coffee, just like you see them do at your local roaster. As indicated in other reviews, the foaming/frothing wand is acceptable, but not great. We'll probably buy the improved frother that came out in May to avoid the possibility of the piece shooting off unexpectedly. Since our concern is espresso, not foam, we're very happy with our purchase!

This thing makes great espresso but the poorly designed frothing wand shot off into a cup of milk while I was using it. I tied the wand back on using about 2 feet of hemp twine but I'm pretty erked It took 3 months for this thing to break. Buy something else. Krups sucks.

We have been using this for over a month. It works great and delivers a great shot of espresso.

Bought this machine in September. Reported a fault on Tuesday Dec 4. Received the standard reply that they would contact me within 48 hours. As of Sat Dec 8 I am still waiting. I rang Krups who were very helpful. Apparently the number on my machine shows that it was made in June 2009. Where it had been since then - who knows. The problem turned out to be with the additional Claris filter - so problem now fixed. Great machine but after service not so hot. The fault I reported in Dec came back. This time I went direct to Krups and not the supplier. They picked the machine up within 2 days, reported that it could not be fixed and sent me a new machine the next day. EXCELLENT service from KRUPS. The best machine for taste. Shame that one machine had a fault but that's. The way that Krups dealt with the fault was first class. One month later - still getting great expresso from the new machine

Bought the machine about a month ago and I love it, unfortunately the frother just isn't any good, not because it doesn't properly, it just isn't any good because the arm of the frother just broke on its fourth usage. I have just asked for a replacement, hope Krups as revised the design of the part. If not maybe I will give it an even worse result.

I received one of these for a Christmas present this year, for my office and we bought a second one for at home. It seems as though my review will follow everyone else's poor review - the steam wand falls apart and breaks after 2 weeks of weekend use only (on the home unit). All the negative reviews point to this and if you call Krups, they note that they are aware of the issue. They have been for years; yet they do nothing to design a proper steam wand. I'm returning the first unit (home unit) for a full refund and I'm returning the second unit as well- it has not broken yet but independent of this, the machine will not survive a month or two of minimal use. As such, both are being returned as they are not fit for the purpose for which they were designed. I'm looking for a replacement machine. When I spoke to Krups, I asked them which machines don't have this issue. The lady recommended the 9000 model at $3,000. She noted that she was aware that this machine didn't have issues with the wand. Conclude what you will. I will not purchase from them again.

I've been using this machine for about 5 months and am generally happy. I've not encountered a machine in this price range that can match its ability to make excellent coffee - lovely creme. But it also requires that you be careful and methodical about its use, because otherwise the results can be messy (or worse). A few hints; * After cleaning the tip of the frothing wand, pull the part with the claws all the way down, and then re-attach. That way it re-attaches firmly. Do this wrong and the tip will come flying off the next time you use it - sending milk and hot steam everywhere. * Let the machine warm up with the selector in the centre (neutral) position. * Once it stops blinking and your espresso is secured in place, then move the switch to brew. * Once the indicator starts blinking, turn the selector back to neutral or to the ready position for frothing. * Wait for the light to stop blinking and then turn to frothing setting. * When you're almost done frothing, I recommend turning the machine off (not back to neutral). The steam then tapers off to nothing. Doing this avoids a sudden release of pressure and water in to the tray at the bottom. * Once the steam has stopped, turn the machine back to neutral. In my experience, this minimizes the stress on the machine, and hopefully will help it last longer. Oh, and Krups... the frothing tip design is really dumb.