Krups XP5240 Pump Espresso Machine with Precise Tamp

This is my second Krups machine. I have owned this machine for just shy of one year.I make two lattes four to five days a week. The machine makes a good espresso shot and froths well. However, the wand is the weak point. I am on a replacement wand and it recently started a familiar pattern, either the wand shoots off or the joint it attaches to leaks steam. II am moving on and switching brands.

I purchased a 5220 (same as 5240 except more plastic and less stainless). The machine came recommended by the store personnel. After a couple of trial and error days, I got it to make good espresso with very good crema, but the coffee was not very hot. Perhaps that was because it brewed so solwly. When staming the milk, the froth was going over the top of the pitcher before the milk was fully heated. Then, the steam wand began blowing off into the milk! No matter how carefully I attached it, I still had the problem. If I did get it to stay on, the milk was heated but I got no froth. Steam was coming out the top of the wand, which I don't think it was supposed to do. I haven't liked Krups products in the past anad should not have been talked into this one. It is going back today.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

What's Best About this Product?

Good tasting coffee. The ejection button on the portafilter.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Don't buy it.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Various

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

The entire design. The brew time is too slow. The stam wand is dangerous. I like a bigger resevoir.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Starbucks Barista

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Blade

I purchased the XP5240 in Nov. '09. I went against my better judgment in doing so as there were no reviews yet as it was a new model and I had had a Krups Espresso Pronto since 1994 that was showing signs of giving up. So, what could go wrong? Well, let me tell you. Six weeks after I recieved the XP5240 the frothing attachment threads stripped out and another part of the machine started to leak. I took it to the local repair just before Christmas and was told in mid January that it had to be replaced. It then took two more weeks to recieve one from Krups. That machine arrived with the frothing attachment glued on at the threads and one of the 3 clips broken off and a brown colored liquid that came out while priming the machine. Krups asked me to ship it directly to them. They said it was shipped to me from another service center and not them directly. After 3 weeks I called to find out what was wrong with the 2nd machine. I was told that it was being tested. I explained to her that this was a replacement machine that was defective and I wanted a new one. She told me that she would have a supervisor call me. Two days later a supervisor named Pierre called and said that they saw no brownish liquid and had replaced the broken piece and were shipping it back to me. I told him that I wanted my money back and he said that this was all he could or would do for me. Two weeks passed and the machine arrived. About a week later the O ring on the frother dissapeared. Once again I called their customer service number. I was told that they would send me another O ring at no charge as this apparently is not a warranteed part and to expect it in 1-2 weeks. Two weeks passed and nothing. On April 8th I called them only to be told the the O ring is on back order. I asked her if they were going to call me and let me know or if I was just to sit and wait for it. She told me should have another supervisor call me that day or on the 9th. It is now April 12th and no call. I've been able to use this machine for maybe a month out of the last 5 months. I'm glad I kept the 16 year old machine as a back-up just in case this happened. As for loyalty to Krups? It's gone! Their customer servive is amazingly horrible! My next espresso machine will not be a Krups I'm sorry to say

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

It makes great espresso and that's all.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Connoisseur

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Peet's

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

The frothing attachment design.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Krups Espresso Pronto for 16 years

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Conical burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Baratza Virtuoso