ONLY AVAILABLE AS A REFURBISHED MACHINE! Luca Trazzi’s first espresso coffee machine, the X1, was presented in 1995 and sold in 28 countries. WIRED magazine described its design as "retro-futuristic". The FrancisFrancis! line is designed to use the Illy Easy Serving Espresso System which is a 7 gram pre-packaged single serve pod. The hot water dispenser and steam nozzle are both operated by the same knob. The X-1 is an elegant and functional espresso machine at an affordable pric
Whole Latte Love Staff The Francis X1 weighs in at 17 lbs. Information like this can be found for any of the espresso machines we carry by following the link below to our Compare-O-Matic.
Whole Latte Love Staff You can purchase any replacement parts for this machine through FrancisFrancis by calling them at 877-854-4141.
I have had my x1 for about 2 years, last night for the first time I made a single shot with out the tamper / screen in place. Do I have to use that device?.
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Whole Latte Love Staff Although, as youve discovered, it is possible to brew with ground coffee without using the tamper/shower screen device, it isnt recommended. This is because without it in place, there isnt a shower screen for water to travel through. Without it, water will come out of a central hole in the machines group head and provide a very uneven extraction (mostly from the center of your coffee grounds) that generally results in less than optimal flavor.
I just purchased the X1. I wasn't aware that the standard for use is the pods. If I were to go at this the old-fashioned way with grinds, how much do I use?
In other words, what is the equivalent of a 7 gram pod to a scoop or scoops of ground espresso beans?
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Whole Latte Love Staff Your Francis should have come with a 7 gram coffee scoop for you to use with ground coffee. If youre brewing using the single shot filter basket, you should use one scoop (7 grams) of grounds. If youre using the double shot filter basket, 2 scoops (14 grams) of grounds will work perfectly.
Whole Latte Love Staff I would recommend removing the steam tip (it should simply unscrew from the end of the steam wand) and soak it in a cup of hot water mixed with a spoonful of Urnex Cleancaf. In addition, you may want to try using a toothpick or other small instrument to poke through the steam hole. As future preventative maintenance, after you’re done steaming you should wipe off the exterior of the steam wand with a damp cloth to remove any remaining milk from the outside of the wand and then direct the steam wand toward the drip tray and let a bit more steam out to clear out anything that may be inside the wand. This should help prevent future clogs as well. You can purchase Urnex Cleancaf (which you also use to descale this machine) on our website by following the link below.
I loved my Francis but it appears to be drawing too much power. In fact, it trips the breaker on my GFI switch when plugged into the electrical outlet.
I am tiring of my daily espresso trips to the coffee shop.
What do you suggest I do to get my machine back in good working order?
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Whole Latte Love Staff Solving your problem may require some repair work. As FrancisFrancis handles all of their own repair situations, I would recommend contacting them directly at 877-854-4141. They will be able to thoroughly diagnose the problem and provide the appropriate solution for you.
We purchased an X1 several years ago and have enjoyed many and various types of espresso drinks. However recently it began to leak at the seal between the unit and the pod filter only when brewing ground, not ESE pods. While the simple solution would be to stick w/ pods, we do enjoy the versatility of ground espresso. I read somewhere that the o-ring may need replacing, but can anybody confirm this before I attempt to take this beautiful machine apart?
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Whole Latte Love Staff It does sound like the group gasket needs replacing. I believe the reason youre not seeing the same problem with the pods is because the paper that hangs a bit over the edge of the portafilter is compensating for the gasket problem. FrancisFrancis should be able to provide you with a replacement group gasket easily. They can be reached by phone at 877-854-4141.
Is this a commercial grade machine for example, a drive-thru business? If not, do you have any that are for that type of functionality?
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Whole Latte Love Staff This machine is intended for home use only and would not be able to handle the capacity you would need for a commercial setting. We do not currently carry any machines that would handle the volume youd be expecting, but I would recommend contacting a manufacturer like Rancilio at 877-726-2454. They produce a full commercial line and would be happy to provide you with all the information youll need.
My temperature gauge goes completely off the scale when I put my new X1 on, is it faulty?
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Whole Latte Love Staff It does sound like there may be a problem with the gauge. I would recommend contacting FrancisFrancis directly at 877-854-4141 for further assistance as they handle all of their own troubleshooting and repair situations.

mjackson ♦ Mary,
Thanks for thinking of us. We get these machines all the time and they are delivered and shipped to you new. They will work well and I really like the look of the machine. We have them in stainless steel, black and red. I hope this helps and let us know if you have any other questions.
12-03-2011 2:31pm |