Krups KM321 Pro Aroma Plus Filter Coffee Machine - Review 🏆

The Krups KM321 Pro Aroma Plus is a stylish and compact filter coffee machine designed for brewing delicious coffee right at home. As part of Krups' Pro Aroma line, it combines classic filter coffee brewing with modern conveniences and technology for incredible results.

This 10-cup coffee maker features Krups' unique brewing technology to extract the optimal flavor from ground coffee beans, producing a rich, aromatic cup of filter coffee. Its compact, sleek design with stainless steel accents allows it to fit nicely on most kitchen counters without taking up too much space. The KM321 is an ideal choice for coffee lovers who want to make cafe-quality coffee at home.

Design

The Krups KM321 Pro Aroma Plus has an attractive and premium looking design. The coffee maker is made of high quality plastic with a brushed metal finish on the front panel, giving it a stylish and modern look.

At 23cm wide, 27cm deep, and 33cm tall, the Krups KM321 has a nice compact footprint that doesn't take up too much counter space. It weighs about 2.3kg, making it relatively lightweight and easy to move around or store when not in use.

The coffee maker comes in an elegant black color that will fit into most kitchen decor seamlessly. The control panel uses black buttons with white indicator lights, further enhancing the sophisticated aesthetics. Overall, the Krups KM321 has a sleek and contemporary design with premium materials that make it look and feel like a higher-end appliance.

Another noteworthy option is the De'Longhi ICM15240BK, which features a modern design that complements any kitchen setup. This coffee maker offers a fully programmable system, allowing you to set a timer for brewing. With a capacity of 10 cups, it is perfect for larger households or entertaining guests. Its sleek black finish and intuitive controls enhance its usability and aesthetic appeal, making it a pleasing addition to your countertop.

Features

The Krups KM321 Pro Aroma Plus coffee maker comes with a variety of useful features that make brewing coffee easy and customizable.

• Programmable settings - The coffee maker has a programmable timer that allows you to set the machine to start brewing at a certain time. This is perfect for waking up to freshly brewed coffee.

• Adjustable grind - There are 5 grind settings to choose from to get the right consistency based on the coffee beans you are using. Finer grinds for espresso and coarser grinds for regular coffee.

• Milk frother - The coffee maker has an integrated milk frother to make creamy cappuccinos and lattes. Just add milk and with the frother you'll have frothed milk in seconds.

• 12 cup capacity - The 1.25L water tank allows you to brew up to 12 cups of coffee at a time. Great for entertaining or large families. There are markings on the water tank so you can see the right water level for the number of cups you want to brew.

In addition to the Krups model, the ‎Buffalo ‎CW305 offers excellent brewing capabilities. This coffee maker features an easy-to-use design, allowing you to brew consistently delicious coffee with minimal effort. Its compact size makes it perfect for limited counter space, and it also includes a warming plate to keep your coffee hot for longer. With durable construction and an efficient brewing process, it’s a fantastic choice for any coffee lover.

Brewing Performance

The Krups KM321 Pro Aroma Plus brews coffee quickly while maintaining ideal temperatures for optimal flavor. The 1500 watt thermoblock heating system ensures water is heated to the ideal range of 195-205°F for coffee extraction. This allows the KM321 to brew a full 10 cups of coffee in under 6 minutes.

The fast heat up and brew time means you can enjoy a hot, flavorful cup of coffee in minutes. Reviewers consistently praise the great tasting coffee produced by the KM321. It extracts bold, aromatic flavor from ground coffee beans thanks to the hotter brewing temperature. The metal brew basket and shower head distribute hot water evenly over the coffee grounds to fully saturate them. This results in a balanced flavor profile with subtle notes and acidity.

The KM321 also produces a nice layer of crema on top of the brewed coffee. Crema is the tan foam created when pressurized hot water releases carbon dioxide from the coffee grounds. It traps aromas and indicates the coffee was properly extracted. The presence of crema on coffee brewed by the KM321 shows its ability to fully extract flavors from the grounds.

Ease of Use

The Krups KM321 Pro Aroma Plus coffee maker is designed with ease of use in mind. The control panel is simple and intuitive, with clearly labeled buttons for functions like brew start, keep warm, and auto-off.

Cleaning and maintenance are straightforward as well. The water reservoir and filter basket lift out for easy rinsing, and a descaling alert reminds you when it's time to descale the machine. The removable drip tray and warming plate make cleanup simple if there are any spills or drips.

One handy feature is that the lid of the water reservoir flips open, allowing you to fill it easily at the sink without having to remove the whole reservoir. The cord storage on the back keeps things tidy.

Overall, the Krups coffee maker is very easy to operate on a daily basis. The controls are self-explanatory, and regular maintenance like descaling is simple to perform when needed. This simplicity of use makes it a great choice for those looking for hassle-free, fuss-free coffee brewing.

Accessories

The Krups Pro Aroma Plus comes with a few handy accessories to help you brew and maintain your coffee maker.

It includes a permanent #4 gold tone filter that sits inside the brew basket. This reusable filter eliminates the need to buy and replace paper filters. The permanent filter is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

For descaling and cleaning the machine, Krups includes a descaling powder and a cleaning brush. Descaling helps remove mineral deposits from the heating system to maintain optimal brewing temperature and flow. The included brush makes it easy to reach into the brew basket and other nooks of the machine to scrub away coffee residue.

Some other accessories included in the box are a measuring scoop and an instruction manual. The scoop helps you accurately measure the right amount of ground coffee into the filter basket. And the manual provides brewing guidance, cleaning instructions, troubleshooting tips, and safety information.

Overall, the Pro Aroma Plus comes with the key accessories you need to get started making great-tasting filter coffee. The permanent filter, descaling powder, and cleaning brush are handy for ongoing maintenance and care.

Price

The Krups KM321 Pro Aroma Plus currently costs £79.99 on Amazon UK. This puts it in the mid-range for filter coffee machines, so it's not the cheapest option but also not overly expensive.

At this price point, the KM321 offers very good value for money. It has a generous 12-cup capacity and a wide range of features including an LCD display, programmable timer, aroma strength control, and dishwasher safe parts. The brewing performance produces consistently hot and full-flavored coffee.

Considering the build quality, features, and performance, the KM321 punches above its weight at this price point. It can compete with more expensive machines while being less costly. For shoppers looking for an automatic filter coffee maker with premium features without a premium price tag, the KM321 hits a sweet spot.

Pros

The Krups KM321 Pro Aroma Plus has several advantages that make it a great choice for a filter coffee machine:

• Excellent Brewing Flavor: The Krups produces a rich, smooth, and aromatic cup of filter coffee. It evenly saturates the coffee grounds to extract maximum flavor from the beans. Many reviewers praise the great tasting coffee it brews.

• Easy to Use: The machine has an intuitive control panel with buttons for programming the brew time, strength, and number of cups. The water tank is easy to fill and fits neatly into the back. The filter holder snaps into place with no mess or fuss. Overall, it's very simple to operate.

• Great Value: For the quality and performance, the Krups Pro Aroma Plus is very reasonably priced compared to similar filter coffee machines. It delivers premium results without the premium price tag. The durable construction also ensures years of reliable use to maximize value.

• Compact Size: The Krups has a small countertop footprint, making it a good choice for kitchens with limited space. The compact brewer will fit well in apartments, offices, or anywhere you need great tasting filter coffee without consuming too much counter real estate.

Cons

The Krups KM321 Pro Aroma Plus coffee maker does have some downsides to consider:

• Size - This is a fairly large coffee maker, measuring 12.2 x 27.9 x 32.5 cm. It may not fit well under cabinets or in small kitchens. The water reservoir also takes up a lot of space on the counter when removed.

• Noise - The machine is quite loud when brewing, especially towards the end of the cycle. This could be disruptive early in the morning if you have housemates or family sleeping nearby.

• Limited Settings - There are not many customization options with this coffee maker. You can't adjust the brew strength or temperature. The timer only allows you to set the machine to turn on, not off.

• No Thermal Carafe - The included glass carafe does not keep coffee hot for long after brewing is complete. A thermal carafe would maintain the temperature better.

Conclusion

The Krups KM321 Pro Aroma Plus is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable and easy to use filter coffee machine. It has a sleek and compact design that will look great in any kitchen, and it comes with useful features like an anti-drip system and keep warm function.

The brewing performance is very good, producing a smooth and aromatic coffee consistently. The machine is straightforward to operate, with simple controls and dishwasher safe parts for easy cleaning. It also comes with a glass carafe and some reusable filters.

Overall, the Krups filter coffee machine delivers delicious coffee with minimal fuss. It's simple to use even for beginners, while still giving experienced coffee drinkers the control and customization they want over their daily brew. For an affordable price, you get a durable and well-performing appliance. The KM321 Pro Aroma Plus is easy to recommend for anyone looking to bring café-quality coffee into their home.