Welcome to the CoffeeCrew forum for registered users. - feel free to make yourself at home. This forum is dedicated to coffee and espresso based issues.
Forum spammers, link referrers, link placement, scam artists, confidence artists, crooks and obvious commercial shilling is discouraged. Violation of this one simple rule will result in you and your immediate geographical region being banned from the site so do not post ads or links to your site here unless approved by me! Violators of this one simple rule will find their firm, employer, and your pitiful self invoiced $1000 per violation of this simple rule. Enjoy!
The coffeecrew guestbook and forum has been alive for more than 10 years! Please consider it your one-stop resource for finding out about all things coffee, espresso, specialty coffee and all associated gear and equipment.
We welcome long posts - there is no word limit in fact. Keep in mind that you can only type for 15 to 20 minutes in the forum-post submit window (session timeout)- so consider composing your posts or responses in a text editor - then cut and paste! Thank you and enjoy the forums!
Krups xp4050 vs Breville Café roma - 2006/12/19 19:23hi! like a tons of people, i search the perfect espresso machine without pay the highest price. So after testing a Morphy richards 2 months long, i decide to return it for a refund(it was a crap). Now, i need to choose between the Krups XP4050 and the Breville café roma model. All the review about the Krups seem to be negative. On the other side, the breville just got positive note. BUT, when i compare(feeling) the 2 machines, breville seem to be a level entry and the Krups with the massive portafilter, seem to be better. I just not want to make a second return in the same month... I wish to buy a Rancilio like all ppl here, but i dont have 700$can(quebec) to spend on a expresso machine. So, Krups or Breville?
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
kirby
Visitor
Re:Krups xp4050 vs Breville Café roma - 2006/12/20 07:26The Breville will be a thermoblock machine, just like the morphy richards you returned. I have a thermoblock and they're not great for steam - I bought a stovetop steamer to steam milk.
What about a Solis? If you're in Montreal, you can also get Mokita machines there. Check out coffee connaiseurs site for a write-up about mokita machines. I don't have the link but it's an Australian company.
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
colin
Admin Admin
Posts: 772
Karma: 19
Re:Krups xp4050 vs Breville Café roma - 2006/12/20 14:17So true Kirby! Thermoblock Brevilles (And Morphy-Richards, Krups, et al) are SO old-school and it is appalling that these pathetics pieces of crap are on the shelves for sale.
Just say NO!Colin is the Senior editor and creator of the CoffeeCrew.Com Website
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
FeTTT
Visitor
Re:Krups xp4050 vs Breville Café roma - 2006/12/20 14:28Colin, whats did you think about the level entry Seaco espresso machine ( via veneto and Aroma )?
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
colin
Admin Admin
Posts: 772
Karma: 19
Re:Krups xp4050 vs Breville Café roma - 2006/12/20 17:28The Saeco Aroma is light years ahead of the Brevilee/Krups/Morphy crap -
It uses a real boiler.
If you must buy an espresso machine, make sure it has a boiler and not a "Thermoblock"
Thermoblock machines are totally sensitive to scale buildup and are virtually useless for powerful steaming: meanin NO Cappuccino or latte.
Steer clear of thermoblock espresso machines!Colin is the Senior editor and creator of the CoffeeCrew.Com Website
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
FeTT
Visitor
Re:Krups xp4050 vs Breville Café roma - 2006/12/21 10:46I finally choose the Saeco Classic model. Ill receive it tonight. Does someone have a good tutorial to use it? Its my first boiler machine.
Ill return the Krups XP4050. after test it 2 days.. i HATE the semi-electronic control and the all things seem to be weird...
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
FeTTT
User Senior Barista
Posts: 33
Karma: 5
Re:Krups xp4050 vs Breville Café roma - 2006/12/25 05:21I really love my new Seaco classic, its really easy to use.I dont really like the fact that Seaco dont give a tamper with it.... and the saleman tell that i need to dont keep the steam knob too tight when the machine is off, this is true?
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
colin
Admin Admin
Posts: 772
Karma: 19
Re:Krups xp4050 vs Breville Café roma - 2006/12/25 12:23There are 1000 dollar espresso machines that come with a 2$ plastic tamper - so do not worry.
You should never over-tighten the steam-valve on the Saeco at any time --
and Yes. when the unit is off, leave the valve open a bit so an air lock does not develop.
Nothing stops an espresso maker faster than an airlock.
When it happens, it is easy to clear:
POWER UP. OPEN STEAM VAVLE ALL THE WAY. PRESS BREW SWITCH.
The pump will kick in and water will come out the steam wand. The machine is now primed and the air lock cleared.Colin is the Senior editor and creator of the CoffeeCrew.Com Website
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
FeTTT
User Senior Barista
Posts: 33
Karma: 5
Re:Krups xp4050 vs Breville Café roma - 2006/12/25 18:24thank you very much collin! now its time to practice
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
tmplo
Visitor
Re:Krups xp4050 vs Breville Café roma - 2006/12/30 16:32After some research and asking Colin (the editor) a few questions, I bought my Saeco Aroma Black yesterday. At first I was going to consider the cheaper Via Veneto since the internals are all the same. Well, I couldn't get over the cheaper plastic look!!!
I had the liberty of playing with the Breville Roma and the new Breville Ikon with a boiler system since my friends have them. The Roma is actually not bad for $200. The Ikon I am not impressed with. The machine doesn't seem to have the 15 bar pressure as it claims. No matter how much I tinkered with the grind and tamp, the espresso always dripped out instead of streamed out. I think my friend will be returning the machine soon.
Anyway, I am very happy with my purchase. I am not good enough to use a non-pressureized portabfilter yet. With my basic Starbuck burr grinder at the finest setting and a light tamp, the espresso came out with nice crema and the pucks were dry.
My next step would be to invest in a better grinder, try out some new coffee beans and practice, practice......
| | Forum posting/replies are available to registered users.
For espresso I'd even say an hour is WAY too long. It should go from the grinder to the pf. After 30 seconds I consider my espresso old and dump it. There's just too many chemical changes happening...
GROUND coffee is fresh for about an hour.
Ditch the pre-ground coffee and grind it yourself.
Your espresso is never going to be right if you use pre-ground.
Sad reality....
Milano claims one of the only 11 bean blends for espresso. Colin, any tasting thoughts on their beans? The opening claims live music and 7 different blends to taste from 3 full bars running! The machi...
yes the espresso is preground, but in the store in front of me. I keep it in an airtight container (mason jar) I don't think I'm getting the same taste from my stovetop machine. I'm hoping that some u...
Vancouver's first Espresso tasting lounge and cafe ...
Really?
And the Elysian Room, JJ Bean or 49th Parallel are not espresso tasting lounges too? ;-)
Looking fwd to this newbie....
Even Winnipeg is entering the realm of better coffee - Good thing. When you think about those cold winter days and bracing winds; nothing warms you up like a great cup of coffee....
Any operating instructions for any similar pump powered espresso machine will get you in the groove - other than the placement of buttons, they are all the same.
I have a Proteo Grande right here o...
I've been using one of these machines for about 16 months. Other than the knob constantly falling off the side and an overly tight ground coffee compartment I like the unit.
Would I rave about it?,...
Forum 
