Introducing the FrancisFrancis! X8! For the connoisseur who likes their espresso machine to mimic their minimalist style, the FrancisFrancis X8 is designed with soft lines and a sleek form, making brewing your espresso great looking and great tasting.
The X8 brews using Illy iperEspresso capsules (available in decaffeinated, medium, and dark roast), making for easy brewing and clean up. Its stainless steel internal boiler offers optimized pressure and heat retention for perfect espresso extraction again and again. The machine comes equipped with a Pannarello steaming wand that allows you to easily foam and steam milk for a delicious cappuccino, latte, or macchiato.
Features & Benefits: Coffee
Capsule Brewing
Using Hyper Espresso capsules, Illy and FrancisFrancis! have presented an innovative method to prepare the perfect home espresso. The capsules are entered into the machine and then with the turn of a knob, pierced and prepared. The X8 uses two preparation phases, pre-infusion and emulsifying, where air is integrated into the brewing process, creating a more aromatic espresso and pronounced crema. This exclusive partnership with Illy and their fantastic medium and dark roast blends, enables the FransicFrancis! X8 to consistently put out café worthy espresso.
Design
When you look at the machine you will notice that it has relatively few buttons and indicator lights. The main thing to look for is the LED signaling light on the top front of the machine. This light tells you that the machine is heating up, when the temperature is correct or not, when it is ok to make coffee and a red warning if the boiler is empty or there is an issue with your machine.
Brewing
To brew your perfect drink, place the capsule in the top of the machine and close the top. Rotate the selector knob located on the right side of the machine clockwise to the cup icon. The machine should seem to hesitate for a few seconds, delivering the pre-infusion to the grounds. After this brief moment the espresso itself will flow from the coffee-dispensing spout. When your espresso has reached the desired level, stop the delivery by moving the selector knob back to its original position, straight up and down. Sip and enjoy!
Cup Warmer
Preheating your cup is very important, as it helps maintain the integrity of the espresso flavors. The X8 uses a passive heater, which warms the cups with the residual heat created by the boiler. You can put up to five cups on top of the X8 to be warmed.
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Features & Benefits: Frothing and Hot Water
Steam Wand
The X8 is equipped with a steam wand to froth milk and prepare hot beverages. To use, remove the Illy capsule from the unit. Press the steam button located underneath the selector knob. The temperature LED light will start to flash and turn yellow…don’t worry, this is supposed to happen! Once the light is lit solidly at yellow the machine is ready to steam. Immerse the Pannarello wand in the milk and turn the knob counterclockwise to the steam icon. This is useful if you’re looking to make lattes, cappuccinos and anything else that would benefit from a touch of frothed milk.
Hot Water
The steam nozzle can also heat up water. Again press the steam button and wait for the light to stay yellow. Fill a pitcher with the desired amount of water and steam by turning the knob counterclockwise to the steam position until the desired temperature is reached. This is not only perfect for a café americano, but for hot coco, tea and even soup or oatmeal!
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Features & Benefits: Care, Maintenance & Other
Water Reservoir and Descaling
The X8‘s water reservoir holds a little more than 40 ounces of water. It is easily removed from the back of the machine. The formation of limescale is a natural consequence of using any espresso maker, so to prevent this buildup descaling should be done once every 2-3 months, or more frequently if your water is very hard. Descale the machine with the non-toxic descaling product included with the machine.
Maintenance - Drip Tray & Cover
The X8 has both an easily removable drip grate and tray. You should empty your drip try and rinse at least once a week. If you forget, the X8 has a red floating indicator that will rise above the drip grate when it is completely full. The drip tray is also adjustable and can be set at two different heights depending on your needs.
Machine Body
The X8 is made out of ABS plastic and stainless steel accents, making clean up a breeze and eliminating worry about rusting or flaking. To keep the machine body clean, wipe down with a damp cloth. Overall, the X8 delivers a great performance in a sleek and modern package.
Accessories
The FrancisFrancis! X8 comes with descaling solution, a detailed instruction manual, and a 1 year warranty.
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