Krups EA817040 Espresso Machine - Review 🏆

Krups is a well-known German brand that has been manufacturing kitchen appliances and small home electronics for over 200 years. They first entered the espresso machine market in the 1970s and have since established themselves as one of the leading espresso machine brands globally.

Krups is particularly renowned for their pump espresso machines, which use pressure to extract flavorful espresso shots from ground coffee. Unlike steam-driven models, pump espressos promise cafe-quality results by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee at ideal 9 bars of pressure.

Over the decades, Krups has consistently delivered thoughtfully designed, user-friendly machines that produce excellent espresso and milk froth. Their machines are known for their precision, consistency, and durability. With a reputation for high-quality pump espresso makers across various price points, Krups is a trusted brand among coffee aficionados.

Overview

The Krups EA817040 Arabica Digital is a semi-automatic espresso machine designed for home use. It has a sleek and modern stainless steel design with an integrated conical burr grinder, 15-bar pump pressure, and digital display.

Key features of the Krups Arabica Digital include:

• Integrated conical burr grinder with 5 grind settings
• 15 bar pump pressure
• Thermoblock heating system
• Removable 1.5L water tank
• Steam nozzle for frothing milk
• Height-adjustable spout
• Digital display for programming volume, strength and temperature
• Single and double shot filter baskets included
• Removable drip tray and used coffee container

This espresso machine allows you to grind beans right before brewing and customize your espresso's volume, strength and temperature. The steam nozzle makes it easy to froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes. With its digital display and preset programs, the Krups Arabica Digital offers a high degree of brew customization in a stylish and user-friendly package.

The integrated conical burr grinder is a key feature that sets the Krups Arabica Digital apart from other home espresso machines. Freshly grinding whole coffee beans right before extraction helps maximize the coffee's aroma and flavor. The grinder has 5 adjustable settings to allow customizing the grind size for optimal espresso extraction. Many comparable home espresso machines lack a built-in grinder, requiring you to pre-grind beans separately.

In addition to the grinder, the 15 bars of pressure produced by the pump ensure proper extraction and help produce a rich, full crema on the espresso. The Thermoblock heating system helps accurately control water temperature for optimal extraction. The steam nozzle makes it easy to steam and froth milk for specialty drinks like cappuccinos and lattes.

The Krups Arabica Digital's digital display and programmable options provide a high level of customization for an at-home espresso machine. You can adjust the volume of coffee produced, strength of the shot, and water temperature. The machine can store volume, strength and temperature settings for two customized espresso drinks. This allows you to program your ideal single and double shot parameters.

Other user-friendly features include the height-adjustable spout to accommodate different cup sizes, removable water tank for easy filling, and removable drip tray and used coffee container for quick clean-up. The inclusion of both single and double shot filter baskets provides flexibility. Overall, the Krups Arabica Digital combines automated features like an integrated grinder and programmable options with a stylish, user-friendly design.

Those looking for a more affordable home espresso machine may want to consider the De'Longhi Stilosa EC260.BK. While it lacks an integrated grinder, this more budget-friendly model still produces 15 bars of pressure and has a Thermoblock heating system. It includes a manual frother for steaming milk. The De'Longhi Stilosa EC260BK provides a streamlined, lower-cost alternative to the Krups Arabica Digital for buyers seeking quality espresso and milk frothing without all the bells and whistles.

Design

The Krups Arabica Digital Espresso Machine has an attractive, modern design that will look great on any kitchen counter. It has a sleek black plastic exterior with stainless steel accents that give it a premium look and feel.

At 11.8 x 8.7 x 12.6 inches, this is a compact espresso machine that doesn't take up too much counter space. The water tank and drip tray are easy to access and remove. The materials feel durable and can withstand daily use.

Aesthetically, this machine has a minimalist style with an LED-lit control panel that gives it a sophisticated look. The black and silver color scheme looks classy and will fit into most kitchen decors. Overall, the design is well-executed with attention to aesthetics as well as functionality.

The design of the Krups Arabica Digital contrasts with other popular espresso machines such as the Smeg ECF01CRUK. While the Krups has a minimalist, modern look, the Smeg goes for a retro aesthetic with its curved lines and chrome accents. The Smeg has more of a 1950s diner feel that evokes nostalgia. It comes in a variety of fun, vibrant colors like cream, black, red and pastel blue.

The Smeg is slightly larger than the Krups at 14.1 x 8.7 x 13.4 inches. It has a chunkier, rounded body compared to the Krups' rectangular shape. The water tank is located on the side rather than the back. The knobs and portafilter handle also have an old-fashioned look. While the Krups interior is mostly plastic, the Smeg contains more metal like aluminum and copper. Materials like the stainless steel drip tray seem higher quality.

When looking at these two espresso machines, it really comes down to your kitchen's aesthetic. If you want an appliance that blends seamlessly into a sleek, contemporary kitchen, the Krups Arabica Digital's modern simplicity will suit your needs. However, if you have a kitchen with retro flair and appreciate vintage styling, the unique retro look of the Smeg will be the better fit. It will add a fun pop of color and 1950s charm to your decor.

The look and feel of an espresso machine is an important factor for many kitchens. Having an appliance that you enjoy seeing and using everyday can make the experience of making espresso more satisfying and fun. The designs of the Krups and Smeg reflect different aesthetics that will appeal to different tastes. Choosing the one that aligns best with your personal style will ensure you have a machine that looks great on your countertop.

Brewing System

The Krups Arabica Digital EA817040 is equipped with a 15-bar pump that provides optimal pressure for extracting rich, flavorful espresso. The powerful thermoblock heating system ensures consistent temperatures during brewing for full-bodied shots.

The machine uses a pressurized portafilter with a single spout. The pressurized portafilter allows you to use pre-ground coffee and still extract decent espresso. However, for best results, it's recommended to grind fresh beans with a burr grinder and use the included single basket non-pressurized portafilter. The non-pressurized portafilter gives you greater control over the brewing process and allows you to pull traditional espresso shots.

Overall, the brewing system provides solid pressure and temperature stability for brewing good espresso at home without much fuss. The pressurized portafilter makes it more beginner-friendly, while the included single basket allows you to upgrade your shots as your skills improve.

Brewing Customization

The Krups Arabica Digital offers a good degree of customization for brewing espresso.

Grind Size Adjustment

The machine has an integrated conical burr grinder with 15 grind size settings to choose from. This allows you to finely tune the grind for optimal espresso extraction. The grind settings range from extra fine for dark roasted beans to coarse for lighter roasts.

Temperature Control

The thermoblock heating system allows you to adjust the water temperature in three settings - low, medium, and high. Lower temperatures are suited for dark roasts while higher temperatures help extract the flavors from lighter roasts.

Shot Volume

You can program the shot volume to your preferred size. The digital display lets you set the amount of espresso dispensed from 0.5 oz to 2.5 oz. This gives you control over single and double shot volumes. The preset volumes ensure consistent results.

Milk Frothing

One of the highlights of the Krups EA817040 espresso machine is its steam wand for frothing milk. This allows you to make specialty coffee drinks like cappuccinos and lattes.

The steam wand is easy to use and provides powerful steam to froth milk quickly and evenly. It has a pannarello attachment on the end that makes it simple to get perfectly frothed milk. Just insert the steam wand into the milk pitcher and turn it on. The pannarello attachment will aerate and froth the milk by combining air, steam, and milk.

You can froth any type milk including whole milk, 2%, skim, soy, and almond. The froth comes out smooth, silky, and with the ideal texture for topping espresso shots. Frothing only takes about a minute to go from cold milk to hot, frothed milk ready for pouring.

The steam wand provides enough power to froth enough milk for multiple cappuccinos or lattes at once. This makes it easy to make drinks for a crowd. Overall, the steam wand works extremely well and makes it simple for anyone to create cafe-quality frothed milk.

Ease of Use

The Krups Arabica EA817040 espresso machine is designed for easy, intuitive use. The control panel features an LCD screen and simple buttons to select your drink, adjust strength, volume, and temperature.

Maintenance is straightforward with removable, dishwasher-safe parts. The drip tray, water tank, and used coffee container are conveniently accessible from the front of the machine. Descaling is recommended every 2-3 months to keep the machine operating smoothly. The descaling process is automated by the machine and guided on the display screen.

Overall, cleaning the Krups Arabica is simple with removable, dishwasher safe components. The stainless steel exterior can be wiped down as needed. The brewing chamber has an automatic rinse cycle between coffees. User reviews mention how low-maintenance and easy to clean this model is compared to other espresso machines.

Beverage Quality

The Espresso Coffee Machine Krups EA817040 produces high quality beverages with rich flavor and aroma. The espresso shots have a smooth, thick crema layer on top which is an indicator of proper extraction and freshness.

The espresso has a balanced taste without any bitterness or sourness. The flavor notes really come through from the beans resulting in a complex and satisfying espresso. The machine is able to extract the oils and soluble compounds from the coffee grounds fully.

The temperature of the brewed espresso is hot without being scalding. It's in the ideal range of 190-195 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows you to taste all the flavors properly. Often times overly hot temperatures can scorch the coffee leading to a bitter taste.

The milk frothing wand can produce silky smooth microfoam that incorporates nicely into the espresso shots. The milk is able to be frothed to the right texture, providing a creamy and rich taste in milk based drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. Overall, the beverage quality from the Krups Espresso Machine is excellent.

Pros

The Krups Arabica Digital Espresso Machine has several notable pros that make it stand out:

• Fast heat up time: This machine only takes about 45 seconds to heat up and be ready for brewing. This is much faster than many other home espresso machines that can take several minutes to warm up. The fast heat up gets your morning coffee ready quickly.

• Easy to use interface: The digital display and button controls on the Krups are intuitive and easy to operate. It's simple to select your brew settings and make espresso or milk froth with minimal effort. The interface is beginner friendly.

• Consistent high-quality espresso: The 15-bar pump provides excellent pressure and extraction for rich, full-bodied espresso with thick crema every time. The brewing technology reliably delivers cafe-quality espresso that rivals much more expensive machines. You can count on great espresso with the Krups.

Cons

• The milk frother on the Krups EA817040 produces froth that is too airy and lacks the creamy, velvety texture you'd expect in a high-end espresso machine. The froth tends to have larger bubbles instead of a smooth, microfoam consistency. This results in cappuccinos and lattes that are less than satisfactory.

• The portafilter is made of plastic rather than the more durable and heat-resistant stainless steel or chrome-plated brass found on pricier models. The plastic material feels flimsy and there are some reports of it warping or cracking over time, especially if knocked around while cleaning.

• Although Krups advertises 15 bars of pressure, third party testing showed the pump only generates about 10 bars during extraction. This is lower than the ideal 9-12 bars needed to properly extract espresso. The end result is espresso shots that are weaker and less flavorful than they could be with more pressure.