Krups 867-42 Il Caffe Bistro 10-Cup Coffee/4-Cup Espresso Maker
I gave this gift to my sister and her husband as a wedding gift, and they have done nothing but rave about it and make coffee and expresso for all their guests. They love the design and the easy to use functionality of this machine. I personally don't drink coffee but I would recommend this as a must have appliance to any serious coffee connoisseur.
This coffeemaker was not a good buy. Don't get me wrong, the coffee and espresso you can produce with it are wonderful ... if it works. The "perfect froth" attachment is rather temperamental, and the cap will pop off unexpectedly at times. It also requires a high amount of maintenance to keep the steam attachment unclogged. Beside these minor details, the machine is simple to use, and produces good results ... like I said, when it works. There seems to be a problem with the clock assembly on the machine I have, which made it very difficult to set, as well as to turn on the coffee side from the day I bought it. After a mere 4 months, the assembly shorted out and quit working entirely. The repair shop to which I took it to ordered a replacement part from Krups within 3 days, and now, after a month and a half, it has still not arrived. Krups says the part is backordered. It makes me wonder if those parts were defective on a high number of units. I would have never guessed that this would happen!
I had been on the lookout for a new coffee maker for some time when my husband gave me Krups "Il Caffe Bistro" for Christmas. That was four years ago, and this wonderful machine is still brewing exquisite american coffees and excellent italian espressos and capuccinos. I don't know why the other reviews portray it as an unstable machine. For me, it has worked wonderfully. The capuccinos come up with very rich, frothy milk. The pressure sensitive valve needs to be thoroughly cleaned with an extended paper clip, though; but if one does this simple procedure it should work alright for the longest time.
As an avid reader I am also a lover of coffee of the first kind. I have made flavored capuccinos with different tasting coffees and lattes that make my friends suggest I go into the gourmet coffee business. One small - really small - drawback, is that I've had to buy a small pitcher on the side in order to make the milk frothy for the capuccinos. One also needs practice in order to achieve that special heavenly froth, but do not despair; it is not the machine's fault and, with some practice, you'll soon be on the way to enjoy coffee the way it was always meant to be: relaxing and with your own, home-made flavor.
I purchased this item to replace my fifteen year old "Caffe-Presso" by Krups. This was the closest thing to my old reliable. The old machine provided years of care-free service, but fell off the counter one day and I had also wanted the timer anyway. When researching new machines on-line, this was listed as being made in Europe, but when I brought it home, I noticed on the bottom it read "Made in China". The materials are not of the same quality as the older machines; stainless steel has been replaced with plastic or aluminum, and the machine feels much lighter, and not nearly as solid. I don't feel this one will last nearly as long, as the craftsmanship and attention to detail found in the previous model is not present here. I contacted Krups to ask why they advertise the machine as being manufactured in Europe, and received no answer.
This espresso machine is one of the easiest,and one of the best espresso machines that I have ever had. I use the espresso maker on this machine on a daily basis, and sure beats spending [money]at the local coffee shop on a daily basis. I highly recommend this maker, and for those on a budget makes a great cup of espresso.
Everything was great with this machine until the handle on the espresso filter broke off. That is a part whose function entails a certain amount of stress, but when it broke off one could easily see that breaking as it did was almost invetiable due to shoddy design. The place where the handle snapped is the point at which the plastic handle attaches to the filter itself, and thus endures more stress than any other part of the machine, but it is reinforced only with thin plastic. Krups seems to have cuts corners on this model.
I guess that I could be described as pretty brutal on coffee machines. With entertaining guests as well as my appetite for coffee, many days this thing has had to brew 20 cups of coffee. It is a solid coffee machine. I am not a barista; I don't understand everything about coffee. But I do know that the coffee that comes out of the this machine tastes better than out of the our old coffee maker. I'm guessing that this is because of the cone-shaped filter, but I don't know. I just know it tastes better. The espresso maker is just as good in every way to other much more expensive machines that I have seen. It is durable and easy to use. The only complaint that I would have about it is that the spout of the steamer sets too low to easily froth a taller cup of capuccino. So would I recommend this machine? Yes, definately. And for the price, you absolutely can't beat it. My aunt with a much more expensive machine covets ours whenever she comes over.
Accesories? The Krups coffee grinder is durable and easy to use. It is prone to make a mess if you are not careful though. However, it has lasted much longer than most coffee grinders I know of. I would give it four stars, and would recommend it if you don't already own a grinder.
Do not get the reusable filter. It's a waste of money. It would take you about two years' worth of two brews a day with the paper filters to even match the cost. Then on top of that, it is obnoxious.
But basically, from a non-expert, just someone who loves coffee and makes a lot of it, I have had nothing but good experiences with Krups, and this coffee/espresso maker in particular.
I have the previous version of this machine which I have used practically every day for about the last 10 YEARS! And it works just fine. The large 10 cup pot/section is easy to clean, easy to pour, makes good coffee. The espresso part I have used daily since returning from Spain this last April, and it works very well. I really can't think of anything this machine should do that it doesn't. When using the frothing milk attachment you are going to have to clean it, but you really can't make great coffee without making a little mess. Does everything it should, does it well, been doing it for a long time.
Well, it worked real good (not "great" but good), but it lasted less than one year. Than it simply stoped working. Still on warantee, but it does not help much since to fix it I have to bring it to San Francisco - the nearest service center to me. So, it looks like I'll have to through it away.This was not exactly my expectations...
Was real nice coffee maker while it worked. But it died exactly in 1 year. Not exactly what one would expect.
My wife gave me the 867-42 Caffe Bistro three years ago and it has been a very reliable machine. I have had none of the problems that other reviews have listed. The only design flaw that I have found is the tabs that keep the lid of the espresso caraffe in place. In Krups defense, every caraffe that I have seen has the same type of lid.
The coffee maker works well. The warmer keeps the brew a bit too warm, but that usually isn't a problem.
It is basically a good machine, especially considering the inexpensive price.
I bought this unit in 1994 (yes 12 years ago) and it hasn't skipped a beat. Every few years when I remember, I update the review here at Amazon. I've made coffee with it almost every day and it still works as well as the day I bought it. It's performance is nothing short of remarkable. I recommend cleaning it with 1/2 strength vinegar at least once a year to remove mineral deposits.
As far as the espresso function, I've used it sporadically but have always been impressed with the quality of the foam/brew. I couldn't imagine a better performing coffemaker in terms of appearance, quality, and function for the price.
When and if this unit fails, I will definitely buy another Krups model.
I purchased this coffee/expresso maker for my husband for Christmas. Upon attempting to make the first pot of expresso the handle snapped off of the filter holder. I called Krups,. who promised to send a replacement part. Now, a month & a half later I called to ask where it is. Well, my order is still in the system, but it is on backorder & they "have no idea when it will be in".
The coffee maker side has worked fine (the timer works great if you remember to set the am/pm setting :) The expresso & frother work fine. My husband keeps a pair of pliers on hand to seat the filter holder that is missing a handle. It would just be nice not to need this kind of work-around on a brand new machine.
Anyhow, I was told that I could ship the machine to New Jersey, and they would still honor the warranty. However, I have to pay for the shipping and won't have a coffee pot for 4 weeks. Krups sold my parents this defective pot, but does not see this as an inconvenience. I have dealt with customer service for years, and this treatment would never pass in the companies I have worked for.
I will probably never buy a Krups again because of this. I have noticed from other reviews that this model has a lot of maintenance issues.
I've had this machine for less than two years. I use it nearly every day. I'm terribly disappointed in a leak it has developed along the side of the machine. This morning I woke up to a half cup of coffee and water all over my counter. The leak is coming from the side of the machine, apparently through a seam. It looks as though the price has gone up on this machine as well.
This machine makes good coffee and espresso. Not magnificent, not spectacular, but good. Very good, for the price. It just takes a little know-how and freshly-ground beans to get surprisingly good espresso. Plus it makes good foam. I bought one for my mom as a gift and she's absolutely thrilled with the timer function, she finds it really convenient to set it up the night before and have it just go in the morning (she's not as much of a fresh-ground freak as I am though). The coffee and espresso aren't as good as the local indie coffee shop, but then I don't buy organic shade-grown beans, either. All in all, a good value.
I am totally dissatisfied with the Espresso maker for Krups 867-42 Il Caffe Bistro that I received as a wedding present for two reasons:
1) when I pour even as little as 1-2 cups of water it drips water through the system in the amount of 1-2 table spoons. I shown it to friends who have other espresso machines and they comented that they never saw anything like this and I should return the product.
2) Also, not sure it it suppose to be this way, no matter how I grind the coffee (thingly or not so) the watter seems to have hard time dripping through but the system produces increadible amount of steem. So from 4 cups of water the espresso maker would create less than 2 and the rest will be just steaming all over the boiler. Not happy at all.
This is a great machine. It's a little on the flimsy side, compared to these very expensive steel-like espresso machines out there, but definitly sturdy and convenient. I love that I have one machine that makes both coffee and espresso. Great for the price, works great, made by a dependable company. I rec. buying a gold filter (saves trees and works great).
Nothing much to add to other reviews--good coffee, a little flimsy in build. Except that I have mislaid the manual, and figured I'd be able to download a copy from www.krups.com.
However, despite the fact that they have an area on the website for electronic versions of their manuals, they seem to be denying the existence of the 867-42 model. After half an hour of searching, I ended up using the instructions for the Cafespresso to descale my machine. Not helpful, guys!
Two tips:
1. Use good coffee and grind it fine. You can use espresso grind for regular brewing, but you can't use regular grind for espresso. You'll get brown water.
2. Tamp it pretty firmly. The back of the little measuring spoon that comes with the machine works perfectly.
I recently completed a serious search of home machines up to $1,500, and concluded that it makes a lot more sense to stay with the Krups than invest in a unit that will require more cleaning and a lot more cash. I wish all my appliances were this good a buy!
Ammendment to the product review (9 June 2004): This product works great again. It turns out I didn't clean the frothing arm well enough. Apologies and keep up the good work, Krups!
This workhorse of a coffee maker has not given me any problems at all. I use it everyday, twice a day to brew coffee. Occassionally, no more than once a week, I use the espresso maker. Neither have given me problems in the last three years.
My only advice for current and prospective owners is to make sure that you clean the top of the coffee filter portion at least once a week. I've noticed that the water perks into the cone filter reservoir faster than it can come out. This can tend to let some of the grounds float to the top of the water and dirty it up. My coffee began to taste a little bit acidic, almost like mold, and after I cleaned this well with some 10% bleach solution and let a rinse-pot brew, everything tasted perfect again.
My only other complaint is with the coffee pot itself. The lip is made poorly so that unless the coffee is poured extremely slowly coffee spews everywhere. This has caused stained counters and marital conflict on more than one occassion.
But besides these two small comments I have no complaints and nothing but praise for this well-made coffee and espresso maker. It is a simple machine that looks good on the counter and makes an even better cup of coffee or espresso. If I had to do it all over again, I'd buy this maker in a heartbeat.
We made the mistake of not cleaning with vinegar on a regular basis and ended up clogging the espresso side because of our hard water. The coffee side still works, but I miss my morning mocha latte. :( Technically, I did fix the espresso side by using Lime Away, but can't get that smelll and taste out of the coffee for it to be safe to consume. So, my advice is to clean with 1/2 vinegar 1/2 water on a regular basis and stay away from Lime Away.
So, I'm back in the market for an espresso machine and we will purchase a new Krups dual machine as soon as we get a water softener. In the meantime I'm purchasing a cheap espresso machine, as the "coffee shop" trips are becoming too frequent and cost too much.
As for people complaining about the sturdiness of htis machine - I don't know what they are talking about. I have NEVER had a problem with the plastic breaking or anything like that. Also, I've never experienced leaks in 7 years. Of course, I loved my machine and took care of it too - with the exception of removing hard water build up.
Oh yeah, the coffee tastes awesome. I'm not a lover of strong coffee, but we have always purchased beans and ground them ourselves. So, our coffee is fresh and tastes wonderful. I highly recommend this machine for the coffee lover.
I have had Krups products before so when I wanted to own a dual machine I looked up different reviews and picked this one. Wish someone had told me what a problem that would be. First the espresso machine broke after 1.5 months of use!!! I called to get it fixed and even though I sent in the registration card, they have no way of confirming my purchase so officially it isn't under warranty. In addition, even though I live in a major metropolitan area (DC) the closest service center is 1.5 hours away. I am suppose to drive 3 hours to fix a machine that broke so soon? Not helpful and wish I didn't have a broken machine. Waste of money.
We were so excited when we bought this machine, it was a gift to ourselves and we thought we would end up saving money making our tasty coffee treats at home well.......
For the first few months it worked just fine, then it suddenly had all kinds of kinks appear. The espresso maker stopped working JUST when the warranty ran out. No steam and no espresso. The coffee maker still works but doesn't make coffee any better or worse than a cheap coffee pot. The lid on the pot broke after about 4 months. If you don't fit the pot on the heating pad just right you will have a countertop of coffee so you have to stand and watch it start to make sure that won't happen. The timer works fine but because of the aforementioned problem doesn't matter much!!
We were very disappointed overall with this machine and I really can't in good conscience recommend it at all!!!! Stay away!!! run for the hills ...seriously!
I have been making espresso and cappuccino for nearly two years, first on a Delonghi pump espresso maker, and now on a Gaggia Baby. While I was waiting for my Gaggia to arrive, and I had already given away my DeLonghi, I borrowed this Krups. It makes normal drip coffee as well as any $30 machine, but for the extra money, it is incapable of making espresso. In order to make espresso, you need a pump to pump water through the very fine grind (espresso is a grind, by the way, not a roast), and you need a boiler with temperature (thermostat) control. This unit has neither! For temperature, it merely passes water over a heat coil (called a "thermoblock") which merely heats it up randomly until it has enough pressure to steam through the tube, thus charring your espresso grounds and producing a black burnt watery substance which bears no resemblance to caramel-striped espresso. Considering you can buy a Gaggia Carezza for around $189 here at Amazon, a top of the line semi-commercial Italian machine similar to what you'd find in a cafe, and any old coffee maker for $30 or under, there is no reason to buy this Krups. I can only imagine that 90% of its cost is pure profit -- it certainly isn't justified by its innards.
This machine is amazing! It produces up to four shots of high quality of espresso. The only complaint I have is that the black tips on the "Perfect Froth" attachment are very easy to lose. Other than that, I would recommend this machine to anybody.
I got this machine about 7 months ago and had never made a single shot of espresso before. The instructions were very clear and the machine is very easy to operate. The froth attachment works very well. I have not had any problems with the espresso maker or the coffee maker. I highly recommend it!
The coffee produced is of the same quality as any $30 coffeemaker. The espresso portion of the machine puts out weak espresso (even with fresh roasted and ground beans) - there is also NEVER any crema. I found the steamer on the machine very tricky - truth be told, I don't have much experience with steamers. With one use (steaming milk for 2 mochas) I clogged the machine and had to have it sent in for service. The service technician at Krups was a nice old man that took care of the problem for me; but, he said I am lucky I didn't ruin my machine..... ALL I WAS DOING IS TRYING TO STEAM MILK! It's a bit scary that a cautious amateur can ruin the machine in one shot. Unless you're familiar with steaming milk, I wouldn't recommend this machine.... and if you are, you'll probably want a machine that produces a quality espresso. I'd probably recommend the Braun Flavorsavor. If you're looking for an espresso machine, you really should consider purchasing the units separately. I'd recommend the Gaggia Classic Espresso machine for espresso. This month I purchased the Gaggia Syncrony Digital Espresso Machine, and we LOVE IT!
We bought an espresso machine that was about $250 a while ago and never made a cup of anything because we couldn't figure it out. I caught this one on sale and picked it up for $90 and am thrilled with it. My coffee shop habit was running me about $8/day with cappuccino and a bagel, so this machine easily paid for itself. As other reviewers have noted, the machine is very easy to operate! I think the coffee is actually better than from my mom's $200 coffee pot, but it may be that I buy better coffee. I have been thrilled and friends are amazed at the "fancy" coffee and how quickly I make it.
I purchased the metal frothing pitcher made by Krupps for $10 and liked how the pieces worked together. It's also a handy place to keep the little pieces when the machine isn't in use.
I call this my cappuccino, latte coffee dream maker machine.
If you are looking for a cappuccino & latte coffee maker combo this is the machine for you. The manual that comes with this machine has even picture detail to walk you through making your first cup of latte, cappuccino or just a cup of coffee. I would take the manuals advice and get familar with each item. Because if you do not you will get confused and frustrated. It took me maybe 30 minuts to make my first and after that it has been every morning a Latte on my way into work without having to stop in Starbucks. Just by their coffee (or any coffee will do) and make your own. You can even control your calorie intake by making your own with this Krups coffee maker.
I think that it is a wonderful thing to have the coffee maker making your coffee; when you are opening your eyes getting out of bed. Your coffee is already made. If you are not the Latte every morning type of person. This Kurps coffee espresso combo machine has every type of person in mine for coffee makers & coffee drinkers.
I just think that this machine is durable. The time on the clock is easy to program. The manual is easy to learn to make espresso. It is even easy to make your steamed milk and your froth that goes on top of your lattes & cappuccinos.
Now, you will need to purchase the Krups stainless still Frothing pitcher to go along with the machine. If you make as many Latte's as I will the $10.00 price for the pitcher is not bad at all. It is seperate piece. The machine will already have the measuring spoon in it. To me that is all you need.
The only thing that I do not like to do is to clean the frothing attachment. Please follow that manuals instructions. It would be a wise thing to do.
This is a wonderful machine and I LOVE MINE.
We got this machine as a wedding gift and have been using it for espresso for a few weeks now. (We have yet to try the American coffee side, so I can't comment on that half.) It produces very good espresso. An old-fashioned moka (stovetop espresso maker) probably works "better," but this machine is so easy and so comparable, I've put my moka away for now!
Some reviewers have had problems with the espresso maker side not producing enough coffee (i.e., they put in for two shots, but only about one shot comes out)...they should check the rubber rings in the boiler cap. There should be one that fits snug on the machine half, and another one that fits inside the cap. I noticed once that the pressure wasn't working, then discovered that the rubber ring that was supposed to be in the cap had come loose and had wedged itself vertically (still trying to figure out how!) inside the funnel part of of the machine. We removed it and replaced it in the cap and the machine produced fine espresso.
I'm only giving it four stars because we haven't had this machine enough to know if there are any significant, long-term problems.
I am really pleased with this machine. It makes a wonderful cup of regular coffee and using it for espresso and cappuchino is quite easy. When I opened it I was a little concerned because it looks complicated - but its not. Directions are clear. My purchase experience was great as well. I recommend it. Its a tidy package and I don't have to litter my counter tops with several coffee machines - this does it all.
We've used the Cuisinart Grind & Brew for over 8 years, but recently decided we needed an upgrade! After searching and reading reviews by others, decided on this machine. We were not disappointed; although this machine doesn't grind the beans, it makes a great cup of regular coffee, and the espresso and cappuccino features are very easy to use, and make a great cuppa, as my Aussie Mother-in-law says! My husband also likes the easy clean up, since that's his job!~
I have to admit I've been using this machine for a couple of years and quite enjoyed it, although the expresso has never really been up to par with commercial expresso (and always had some grounds mixed in). And it can't really handle it if you pack the expresso grounds a little.
I recently visited a friend's house and tried their expresso machine - WOW! The difference was quite dramatic - I'm definitely chucking this baby to get a 'real' expresso machine. (I'm giving it 3 stars instead of 2 because it's a good value for folks who aren't so picky - it's always impressed visitors and made decent pseudo-expresso).
Also, you've really got to stay and watch the coffee if you want to foam your milk because it only foams for about 90 seconds. So don't turn your back to cook the rest of your wife's breakfast.
I love having a combination machine. However, the espresso maker really, really does not work well. When you tamp down the coffee grounds it clogs up and the water can't pass through. You end up getting about 2 drops of espresso at a time. To make one espresso drink, I have to brew it about 3 times. It's quite inconvenient. I'm just waiting for my machine to break so I can justify getting a different one!
This is one great Coffee maker for the price. Espresso temperature isn't too hot, but the cappucino maker is fantastic. The instructions are very straight forward and I was able to make a good cup of cappucino on my first try.
I purchased one of these about 12 years ago at an auction, and fell in love with it. It worked beautifully for 12 years [making coffee at least once per day, and espresso several times per week]. When it finally died, I searched for it, but wanted to see if I could just buy something cheaper. I bought Krups and non-Krups machines - and returned every one of them and opted to go back to this machine despite it slightly higher price. This is the best coffee ever, and the espresso is perfect!
We got this a few months ago and fell in love with it, the only thing you may need to pay attention to is not allowing calcium buildup in the main heating chamber (where you pour the water into). I'm stationed in Germany so taking it to a repair tech is not too easy since my German language skills are lacking. I took it completely apart and found crud completely clogging the frothing system that resembled rustified calcium, after thoroughly cleaning every last part, I reasembled it and it worked fine, seems better than before to me. Try using the cleaning solution more frequently if you have hard water supplies.
I have been very pleased with our coffee/espresso maker. It is very simple to use for beginners like myself and easy to clean. It is also a nice size so it does not overwhelm the counter. The instructions were very clear and I had no trouble using the frother, it just took a little practice.
The espresso compressor broke after two months so we had to return the product. The former was hard to use, too, never warm up milk to the temperature we wanted to be.
For brewing coffee, it worked fine, but then a normal coffee maker is enough to serve that needs.
I received the Krups Caffe Bistro coffee/espresso maker 10 years ago as a gift. It never malfunctioned. It made wonderful frothy latte, strong espresso, and great coffee. After 10 years, it died out last week. ...I'm on Amazon today not surprised at all to see the exact product still on the market! I'm buying another one today! Here's to another 10 years!
Ok, was very skeptical at first (I bought it from a guy at a garage sale that claimed he got it as a house warming gift and never used the espresso side). This machine does everything it says it does! One note, when your heating milk shut the espresso down half way thru the process, you'll get nice foam results because you'll have plenty of steam. Be careful with the Espresso Filter Holder, I broke the handle off mine the first day I had it! (I was probably man handling it... lol) Over all A+++
Actually, I don't own this particular machine, but am considering purchasing it. I have two Krups machines - a combination machine, the Cafe Duomo, and an old venerable Espresso Mini that's used mostly for travel and for when we need more espresso capacity for when we have guests over. I have no complaints with either machine, and in fact would consider myself well-chuffed with both machines. I've been using distilled water to make espresso for about 20 years, and as a result, have never had to de-scale. Additionally, regarding cleaning the steam nozzle - it's best to clean it immediately after frothing - that way, the milk is still soft and easy to remove with a wet cloth. If you allow the milk to dry or to otherwise build up on the steam nozzle & tube after multiple uses, said buildup will harden and become a much more difficult proposition to remove. Regarding that "Perfect Froth Attachment" - well, my first Krups Espresso Mini, vintage early 80's, was before the PFA was introduced, so I "grew up" steaming & frothing milk sans PFA. On subsequent Krups machines that came with the PFA, I opted to remove same, as I could see what a cleaning and sanitary issue it would become. Hope this info helps!
When the first one died after 12 years of use, we replaced it with the same model. Very reliable, good quality and does a decent job of espresso and steamed milk although it's by no means a real professional's unit.
The one thing that has consistenly bugged me is the shape of the spout on the coffeepot. For some reason I literally cannot pour it when near full without the water or coffee sticking to the side of the pot and running down and dribbling off the bottom. So every morning I have this ritual of filling the water and then cleaning up all the water that the darned pot dribbles off the side, and then pouring coffee and cleaning coffee off the counter. I assure you all I have reasonable coordination.
But we really like the unit otherwise.
I received the Krups Caffe Bistro coffee/espresso maker 10 years ago as a gift. It never malfunctioned. It made wonderful frothy latte, strong espresso, and great coffee. After 10 years, it died out last week. ...I'm on Amazon today not surprised at all to see the exact product still on the market! I'm buying another one today! Here's to another 10 years!
Ok, was very skeptical at first (I bought it from a guy at a garage sale that claimed he got it as a house warming gift and never used the espresso side). This machine does everything it says it does! One note, when your heating milk shut the espresso down half way thru the process, you'll get nice foam results because you'll have plenty of steam. Be careful with the Espresso Filter Holder, I broke the handle off mine the first day I had it! (I was probably man handling it... lol) Over all A+++
Actually, I don't own this particular machine, but am considering purchasing it. I have two Krups machines - a combination machine, the Cafe Duomo, and an old venerable Espresso Mini that's used mostly for travel and for when we need more espresso capacity for when we have guests over. I have no complaints with either machine, and in fact would consider myself well-chuffed with both machines. I've been using distilled water to make espresso for about 20 years, and as a result, have never had to de-scale. Additionally, regarding cleaning the steam nozzle - it's best to clean it immediately after frothing - that way, the milk is still soft and easy to remove with a wet cloth. If you allow the milk to dry or to otherwise build up on the steam nozzle & tube after multiple uses, said buildup will harden and become a much more difficult proposition to remove. Regarding that "Perfect Froth Attachment" - well, my first Krups Espresso Mini, vintage early 80's, was before the PFA was introduced, so I "grew up" steaming & frothing milk sans PFA. On subsequent Krups machines that came with the PFA, I opted to remove same, as I could see what a cleaning and sanitary issue it would become. Hope this info helps!
When the first one died after 12 years of use, we replaced it with the same model. Very reliable, good quality and does a decent job of espresso and steamed milk although it's by no means a real professional's unit.
The one thing that has consistenly bugged me is the shape of the spout on the coffeepot. For some reason I literally cannot pour it when near full without the water or coffee sticking to the side of the pot and running down and dribbling off the bottom. So every morning I have this ritual of filling the water and then cleaning up all the water that the darned pot dribbles off the side, and then pouring coffee and cleaning coffee off the counter. I assure you all I have reasonable coordination.
But we really like the unit otherwise.
I love having a combination machine. However, the espresso maker really, really does not work well. When you tamp down the coffee grounds it clogs up and the water can't pass through. You end up getting about 2 drops of espresso at a time. To make one espresso drink, I have to brew it about 3 times. It's quite inconvenient. I'm just waiting for my machine to break so I can justify getting a different one!
I have to admit I've been using this machine for a couple of years and quite enjoyed it, although the expresso has never really been up to par with commercial expresso (and always had some grounds mixed in). And it can't really handle it if you pack the expresso grounds a little.
I recently visited a friend's house and tried their expresso machine - WOW! The difference was quite dramatic - I'm definitely chucking this baby to get a 'real' expresso machine. (I'm giving it 3 stars instead of 2 because it's a good value for folks who aren't so picky - it's always impressed visitors and made decent pseudo-expresso).
Also, you've really got to stay and watch the coffee if you want to foam your milk because it only foams for about 90 seconds. So don't turn your back to cook the rest of your wife's breakfast.
I am really pleased with this machine. It makes a wonderful cup of regular coffee and using it for espresso and cappuchino is quite easy. When I opened it I was a little concerned because it looks complicated - but its not. Directions are clear. My purchase experience was great as well. I recommend it. Its a tidy package and I don't have to litter my counter tops with several coffee machines - this does it all.
We've used the Cuisinart Grind & Brew for over 8 years, but recently decided we needed an upgrade! After searching and reading reviews by others, decided on this machine. We were not disappointed; although this machine doesn't grind the beans, it makes a great cup of regular coffee, and the espresso and cappuccino features are very easy to use, and make a great cuppa, as my Aussie Mother-in-law says! My husband also likes the easy clean up, since that's his job!~
I have been very pleased with our coffee/espresso maker. It is very simple to use for beginners like myself and easy to clean. It is also a nice size so it does not overwhelm the counter. The instructions were very clear and I had no trouble using the frother, it just took a little practice.
The espresso compressor broke after two months so we had to return the product. The former was hard to use, too, never warm up milk to the temperature we wanted to be.
For brewing coffee, it worked fine, but then a normal coffee maker is enough to serve that needs.
I call this my cappuccino, latte coffee dream maker machine.
If you are looking for a cappuccino & latte coffee maker combo this is the machine for you. The manual that comes with this machine has even picture detail to walk you through making your first cup of latte, cappuccino or just a cup of coffee. I would take the manuals advice and get familar with each item. Because if you do not you will get confused and frustrated. It took me maybe 30 minuts to make my first and after that it has been every morning a Latte on my way into work without having to stop in Starbucks. Just by their coffee (or any coffee will do) and make your own. You can even control your calorie intake by making your own with this Krups coffee maker.
I think that it is a wonderful thing to have the coffee maker making your coffee; when you are opening your eyes getting out of bed. Your coffee is already made. If you are not the Latte every morning type of person. This Kurps coffee espresso combo machine has every type of person in mine for coffee makers & coffee drinkers.
I just think that this machine is durable. The time on the clock is easy to program. The manual is easy to learn to make espresso. It is even easy to make your steamed milk and your froth that goes on top of your lattes & cappuccinos.
Now, you will need to purchase the Krups stainless still Frothing pitcher to go along with the machine. If you make as many Latte's as I will the $10.00 price for the pitcher is not bad at all. It is seperate piece. The machine will already have the measuring spoon in it. To me that is all you need.
The only thing that I do not like to do is to clean the frothing attachment. Please follow that manuals instructions. It would be a wise thing to do.
This is a wonderful machine and I LOVE MINE.
We were so excited when we bought this machine, it was a gift to ourselves and we thought we would end up saving money making our tasty coffee treats at home well.......
For the first few months it worked just fine, then it suddenly had all kinds of kinks appear. The espresso maker stopped working JUST when the warranty ran out. No steam and no espresso. The coffee maker still works but doesn't make coffee any better or worse than a cheap coffee pot. The lid on the pot broke after about 4 months. If you don't fit the pot on the heating pad just right you will have a countertop of coffee so you have to stand and watch it start to make sure that won't happen. The timer works fine but because of the aforementioned problem doesn't matter much!!
We were very disappointed overall with this machine and I really can't in good conscience recommend it at all!!!! Stay away!!! run for the hills ...seriously!
I got this machine about 7 months ago and had never made a single shot of espresso before. The instructions were very clear and the machine is very easy to operate. The froth attachment works very well. I have not had any problems with the espresso maker or the coffee maker. I highly recommend it!
The coffee produced is of the same quality as any $30 coffeemaker. The espresso portion of the machine puts out weak espresso (even with fresh roasted and ground beans) - there is also NEVER any crema. I found the steamer on the machine very tricky - truth be told, I don't have much experience with steamers. With one use (steaming milk for 2 mochas) I clogged the machine and had to have it sent in for service. The service technician at Krups was a nice old man that took care of the problem for me; but, he said I am lucky I didn't ruin my machine..... ALL I WAS DOING IS TRYING TO STEAM MILK! It's a bit scary that a cautious amateur can ruin the machine in one shot. Unless you're familiar with steaming milk, I wouldn't recommend this machine.... and if you are, you'll probably want a machine that produces a quality espresso. I'd probably recommend the Braun Flavorsavor. If you're looking for an espresso machine, you really should consider purchasing the units separately. I'd recommend the Gaggia Classic Espresso machine for espresso. This month I purchased the Gaggia Syncrony Digital Espresso Machine, and we LOVE IT!
This machine is amazing! It produces up to four shots of high quality of espresso. The only complaint I have is that the black tips on the "Perfect Froth" attachment are very easy to lose. Other than that, I would recommend this machine to anybody.
I have been making espresso and cappuccino for nearly two years, first on a Delonghi pump espresso maker, and now on a Gaggia Baby. While I was waiting for my Gaggia to arrive, and I had already given away my DeLonghi, I borrowed this Krups. It makes normal drip coffee as well as any $30 machine, but for the extra money, it is incapable of making espresso. In order to make espresso, you need a pump to pump water through the very fine grind (espresso is a grind, by the way, not a roast), and you need a boiler with temperature (thermostat) control. This unit has neither! For temperature, it merely passes water over a heat coil (called a "thermoblock") which merely heats it up randomly until it has enough pressure to steam through the tube, thus charring your espresso grounds and producing a black burnt watery substance which bears no resemblance to caramel-striped espresso. Considering you can buy a Gaggia Carezza for around $189 here at Amazon, a top of the line semi-commercial Italian machine similar to what you'd find in a cafe, and any old coffee maker for $30 or under, there is no reason to buy this Krups. I can only imagine that 90% of its cost is pure profit -- it certainly isn't justified by its innards.
Recently bought this product after my old machine, a combo like this one, finally gave out after 13 years. Right off the bat the espresso side isn't working. Water goes through okay by itself, but when there's coffee in the filter I only get about 2 cups of product when I poured in 4 cups of water! I'll be calling soon to either get this fixed or to send it back.
I have had Krups products before so when I wanted to own a dual machine I looked up different reviews and picked this one. Wish someone had told me what a problem that would be. First the espresso machine broke after 1.5 months of use!!! I called to get it fixed and even though I sent in the registration card, they have no way of confirming my purchase so officially it isn't under warranty. In addition, even though I live in a major metropolitan area (DC) the closest service center is 1.5 hours away. I am suppose to drive 3 hours to fix a machine that broke so soon? Not helpful and wish I didn't have a broken machine. Waste of money.
Ok, I have the older version that doesn't have the timer. It was a wedding gift over 7 years ago. We used this machine (both coffee and espresso sides) daily sometimes several times a day and it wasn't until recently that we had problems.
We made the mistake of not cleaning with vinegar on a regular basis and ended up clogging the espresso side because of our hard water. The coffee side still works, but I miss my morning mocha latte. :( Technically, I did fix the espresso side by using Lime Away, but can't get that smelll and taste out of the coffee for it to be safe to consume. So, my advice is to clean with 1/2 vinegar 1/2 water on a regular basis and stay away from Lime Away.
So, I'm back in the market for an espresso machine and we will purchase a new Krups dual machine as soon as we get a water softener. In the meantime I'm purchasing a cheap espresso machine, as the "coffee shop" trips are becoming too frequent and cost too much.
As for people complaining about the sturdiness of htis machine - I don't know what they are talking about. I have NEVER had a problem with the plastic breaking or anything like that. Also, I've never experienced leaks in 7 years. Of course, I loved my machine and took care of it too - with the exception of removing hard water build up.
Oh yeah, the coffee tastes awesome. I'm not a lover of strong coffee, but we have always purchased beans and ground them ourselves. So, our coffee is fresh and tastes wonderful. I highly recommend this machine for the coffee lover.
This workhorse of a coffee maker has not given me any problems at all. I use it everyday, twice a day to brew coffee. Occassionally, no more than once a week, I use the espresso maker. Neither have given me problems in the last three years.
My only advice for current and prospective owners is to make sure that you clean the top of the coffee filter portion at least once a week. I've noticed that the water perks into the cone filter reservoir faster than it can come out. This can tend to let some of the grounds float to the top of the water and dirty it up. My coffee began to taste a little bit acidic, almost like mold, and after I cleaned this well with some 10% bleach solution and let a rinse-pot brew, everything tasted perfect again.
My only other complaint is with the coffee pot itself. The lip is made poorly so that unless the coffee is poured extremely slowly coffee spews everywhere. This has caused stained counters and marital conflict on more than one occassion.
But besides these two small comments I have no complaints and nothing but praise for this well-made coffee and espresso maker. It is a simple machine that looks good on the counter and makes an even better cup of coffee or espresso. If I had to do it all over again, I'd buy this maker in a heartbeat.
Ammendment to the product review (9 June 2004): This product works great again. It turns out I didn't clean the frothing arm well enough. Apologies and keep up the good work, Krups!
Two tips:
1. Use good coffee and grind it fine. You can use espresso grind for regular brewing, but you can't use regular grind for espresso. You'll get brown water.
2. Tamp it pretty firmly. The back of the little measuring spoon that comes with the machine works perfectly.
I recently completed a serious search of home machines up to $1,500, and concluded that it makes a lot more sense to stay with the Krups than invest in a unit that will require more cleaning and a lot more cash. I wish all my appliances were this good a buy!
However, despite the fact that they have an area on the website for electronic versions of their manuals, they seem to be denying the existence of the 867-42 model. After half an hour of searching, I ended up using the instructions for the Cafespresso to descale my machine. Not helpful, guys!
I've had this machine for less than two years. I use it nearly every day. I'm terribly disappointed in a leak it has developed along the side of the machine. This morning I woke up to a half cup of coffee and water all over my counter. The leak is coming from the side of the machine, apparently through a seam. It looks as though the price has gone up on this machine as well.
This machine makes good coffee and espresso. Not magnificent, not spectacular, but good. Very good, for the price. It just takes a little know-how and freshly-ground beans to get surprisingly good espresso. Plus it makes good foam. I bought one for my mom as a gift and she's absolutely thrilled with the timer function, she finds it really convenient to set it up the night before and have it just go in the morning (she's not as much of a fresh-ground freak as I am though). The coffee and espresso aren't as good as the local indie coffee shop, but then I don't buy organic shade-grown beans, either. All in all, a good value.
I am totally dissatisfied with the Espresso maker for Krups 867-42 Il Caffe Bistro that I received as a wedding present for two reasons:
1) when I pour even as little as 1-2 cups of water it drips water through the system in the amount of 1-2 table spoons. I shown it to friends who have other espresso machines and they comented that they never saw anything like this and I should return the product.
2) Also, not sure it it suppose to be this way, no matter how I grind the coffee (thingly or not so) the watter seems to have hard time dripping through but the system produces increadible amount of steem. So from 4 cups of water the espresso maker would create less than 2 and the rest will be just steaming all over the boiler. Not happy at all.
I purchased this coffee/expresso maker for my husband for Christmas. Upon attempting to make the first pot of expresso the handle snapped off of the filter holder. I called Krups,. who promised to send a replacement part. Now, a month & a half later I called to ask where it is. Well, my order is still in the system, but it is on backorder & they "have no idea when it will be in".
The coffee maker side has worked fine (the timer works great if you remember to set the am/pm setting :) The expresso & frother work fine. My husband keeps a pair of pliers on hand to seat the filter holder that is missing a handle. It would just be nice not to need this kind of work-around on a brand new machine.
Anyhow, I was told that I could ship the machine to New Jersey, and they would still honor the warranty. However, I have to pay for the shipping and won't have a coffee pot for 4 weeks. Krups sold my parents this defective pot, but does not see this as an inconvenience. I have dealt with customer service for years, and this treatment would never pass in the companies I have worked for.
I will probably never buy a Krups again because of this. I have noticed from other reviews that this model has a lot of maintenance issues.
I bought this unit in 1994 (yes 12 years ago) and it hasn't skipped a beat. Every few years when I remember, I update the review here at Amazon. I've made coffee with it almost every day and it still works as well as the day I bought it. It's performance is nothing short of remarkable. I recommend cleaning it with 1/2 strength vinegar at least once a year to remove mineral deposits.
As far as the espresso function, I've used it sporadically but have always been impressed with the quality of the foam/brew. I couldn't imagine a better performing coffemaker in terms of appearance, quality, and function for the price.
When and if this unit fails, I will definitely buy another Krups model.
Well, it worked real good (not "great" but good), but it lasted less than one year. Than it simply stoped working. Still on warantee, but it does not help much since to fix it I have to bring it to San Francisco - the nearest service center to me. So, it looks like I'll have to through it away.This was not exactly my expectations...
Was real nice coffee maker while it worked. But it died exactly in 1 year. Not exactly what one would expect.
My wife gave me the 867-42 Caffe Bistro three years ago and it has been a very reliable machine. I have had none of the problems that other reviews have listed. The only design flaw that I have found is the tabs that keep the lid of the espresso caraffe in place. In Krups defense, every caraffe that I have seen has the same type of lid.
The coffee maker works well. The warmer keeps the brew a bit too warm, but that usually isn't a problem.
It is basically a good machine, especially considering the inexpensive price.
I had been on the lookout for a new coffee maker for some time when my husband gave me Krups "Il Caffe Bistro" for Christmas. That was four years ago, and this wonderful machine is still brewing exquisite american coffees and excellent italian espressos and capuccinos. I don't know why the other reviews portray it as an unstable machine. For me, it has worked wonderfully. The capuccinos come up with very rich, frothy milk. The pressure sensitive valve needs to be thoroughly cleaned with an extended paper clip, though; but if one does this simple procedure it should work alright for the longest time.
As an avid reader I am also a lover of coffee of the first kind. I have made flavored capuccinos with different tasting coffees and lattes that make my friends suggest I go into the gourmet coffee business. One small - really small - drawback, is that I've had to buy a small pitcher on the side in order to make the milk frothy for the capuccinos. One also needs practice in order to achieve that special heavenly froth, but do not despair; it is not the machine's fault and, with some practice, you'll soon be on the way to enjoy coffee the way it was always meant to be: relaxing and with your own, home-made flavor.
I purchased this item to replace my fifteen year old "Caffe-Presso" by Krups. This was the closest thing to my old reliable. The old machine provided years of care-free service, but fell off the counter one day and I had also wanted the timer anyway. When researching new machines on-line, this was listed as being made in Europe, but when I brought it home, I noticed on the bottom it read "Made in China". The materials are not of the same quality as the older machines; stainless steel has been replaced with plastic or aluminum, and the machine feels much lighter, and not nearly as solid. I don't feel this one will last nearly as long, as the craftsmanship and attention to detail found in the previous model is not present here. I contacted Krups to ask why they advertise the machine as being manufactured in Europe, and received no answer.
This espresso machine is one of the easiest,and one of the best espresso machines that I have ever had. I use the espresso maker on this machine on a daily basis, and sure beats spending [money]at the local coffee shop on a daily basis. I highly recommend this maker, and for those on a budget makes a great cup of espresso.
Everything was great with this machine until the handle on the espresso filter broke off. That is a part whose function entails a certain amount of stress, but when it broke off one could easily see that breaking as it did was almost invetiable due to shoddy design. The place where the handle snapped is the point at which the plastic handle attaches to the filter itself, and thus endures more stress than any other part of the machine, but it is reinforced only with thin plastic. Krups seems to have cuts corners on this model.
I guess that I could be described as pretty brutal on coffee machines. With entertaining guests as well as my appetite for coffee, many days this thing has had to brew 20 cups of coffee. It is a solid coffee machine. I am not a barista; I don't understand everything about coffee. But I do know that the coffee that comes out of the this machine tastes better than out of the our old coffee maker. I'm guessing that this is because of the cone-shaped filter, but I don't know. I just know it tastes better. The espresso maker is just as good in every way to other much more expensive machines that I have seen. It is durable and easy to use. The only complaint that I would have about it is that the spout of the steamer sets too low to easily froth a taller cup of capuccino. So would I recommend this machine? Yes, definately. And for the price, you absolutely can't beat it. My aunt with a much more expensive machine covets ours whenever she comes over.
Accesories? The Krups coffee grinder is durable and easy to use. It is prone to make a mess if you are not careful though. However, it has lasted much longer than most coffee grinders I know of. I would give it four stars, and would recommend it if you don't already own a grinder.
Do not get the reusable filter. It's a waste of money. It would take you about two years' worth of two brews a day with the paper filters to even match the cost. Then on top of that, it is obnoxious.
But basically, from a non-expert, just someone who loves coffee and makes a lot of it, I have had nothing but good experiences with Krups, and this coffee/espresso maker in particular.
I have the previous version of this machine which I have used practically every day for about the last 10 YEARS! And it works just fine. The large 10 cup pot/section is easy to clean, easy to pour, makes good coffee. The espresso part I have used daily since returning from Spain this last April, and it works very well. I really can't think of anything this machine should do that it doesn't. When using the frothing milk attachment you are going to have to clean it, but you really can't make great coffee without making a little mess. Does everything it should, does it well, been doing it for a long time.
I gave this gift to my sister and her husband as a wedding gift, and they have done nothing but rave about it and make coffee and expresso for all their guests. They love the design and the easy to use functionality of this machine. I personally don't drink coffee but I would recommend this as a must have appliance to any serious coffee connoisseur.
This coffeemaker was not a good buy. Don't get me wrong, the coffee and espresso you can produce with it are wonderful ... if it works. The "perfect froth" attachment is rather temperamental, and the cap will pop off unexpectedly at times. It also requires a high amount of maintenance to keep the steam attachment unclogged. Beside these minor details, the machine is simple to use, and produces good results ... like I said, when it works. There seems to be a problem with the clock assembly on the machine I have, which made it very difficult to set, as well as to turn on the coffee side from the day I bought it. After a mere 4 months, the assembly shorted out and quit working entirely. The repair shop to which I took it to ordered a replacement part from Krups within 3 days, and now, after a month and a half, it has still not arrived. Krups says the part is backordered. It makes me wonder if those parts were defective on a high number of units. I would have never guessed that this would happen!
I have the "cheaper" version of this machine that I bought used. The only difference is the lack of timer and adjustment for espresso strength, so I can't comment on that.
However mechanically, they are identical and I have some design comments.
1. On the American coffee pot end. The fact that you can remove the thing that holds the coffee grinds is great. I also find that if you don't have one of the more expensive triangular filters, that you can push one of the cheaper pleated style filters in there just fine. Just make sure it is even or you could end up with coffee grinds between your teeth.
2. Whoever came up with this design for a coffee pot should be the person wiping up my counter each time I spill stuff all over it. I had one pot of a similar design and if you try to pour just a little bit faster, you make a mess. It is nice however that Krups made the top removeable, as it is easier to fill and clean.
3. Also, the coffee pot I have is the slowest I ever owned. It takes easily 15-25 minutes to do an entire pot.
4. On the espresso end, I have no complaints about the espresso machine part, it seems to work well.
5. The frother. Like the Espresso Bravo I previously owned it is a pain to clean, you have to disassemble it and clean it well. Including using a needle to be sure the opening is not plugged. However, on this one you have some other issues. See below.
6. Besides just cleaning the easily removable parts on the frother, you need to unscrew the end and clean out the back side, using a needle to be sure the orifice is not plugged. Maybe it is hard water build up or whatever, but if you don't do this monthly, it will plug and you will not be able to use it. I don't think milk can get in there due the pressure, so I'm assuming it is the water residue causing this. If you have soft water, you might not have this problem.
7. Also, the location of the frother is horrible. Mine only has 3/4" from the center of the frother to the side of the back of the machine. However, this arm comes forward to where the machine arches out for the espresso pot. You have very little room in which to hold your frothing pitcher.
The machine in general makes good coffee, but slowly and the espresso machine makes good espresso and cappuchinos, if you keep up with the frother maintenance.
A year ago, I purchased one of these for my fiancee. My initial impression was very positive, but I didn't want to rush into writing a review without putting it through the wringer (so to speak). Well, after countless latte's the Caffe Bistro is still pumping out quality espresso and foaming great quanities of milk. It's very solid in construction and brain-dead simple to use, even without its very well written owner's manual. I do have a few comments to make, however, that might serve as minor caveats to anyone seeking to purchase a combo espresso/coffee maker:
[1] While the manual states that the handle assembly is dishwasher safe, I would strongly recommend *against* putting it in the dishwasher. I'm not sure what it is about my fiancee's dishwasher crystals, but after one go-around in the 'washer, the aluminum portion of the handle assembly turned very dark grey (almost a slate color)--completely oxidized. This doesn't affect performance in the least, but it does make the it somewhat less pretty to look at. Wash it by hand and all should go well. If you forget and find yourself with an oxidized cup, simply go at it with a brillo-type (mildly abrasive) pad and your favorite dishwashing soap (e.g. Palmolive, Ivory, etc.). After a few minutes of scrubbing, the aluminum cup will be back to its original lustre.
[2] The manual makes frequent mention of a "perfect froth attachment" but doesn't really explain what it is or what it does or why it's there. In short, it's the second little miniature stem to the side of the steam stem whose purpose is to funnel in cool air from the room via the top of the attachment via the Bernoulli effect (the same principle that perfume atomizers with the squishy rubber bulbs use), thus providing the "perfect" amount of air needed to make foam. While cleaning the frother, the little rubber tip on the top of the attachment rolled under the stove and was effectively lost. The next time I tried to froth some milk, I got a whole bunch of air and very little steam, resulting in just a rapidly moving cup of slightly warm milk (and a whole lot of noise). I figured out that if you just remove the "perfect froth" attachment, you can get "perfect froth" by simply holding the nozzle just a tiny bit above the surface of the milk--just the way one would do with a machine without such an attachment. I'm now actually glad we lost the tip of the PFA since now the steam nozzle is much easier to clean. :-)
[3] Regular cleaning of your frothing nozzle is imperative. I like to keep a straightened paper clip next to the machine to clean out the tip after every use. If you don't clean it regularly, old milk and hard water deposits will result in a partially or completely blocked nozzle. You should also use a small wrench to remove the tip of the nozzle once a month and make sure you clean it from the inside--a paper clip can only get so much.
[4] The nozzle on this unit is just a bit too long, even without the PFA in place. We purchased a stainless steel frothing pitcher from Fourbucks, er...Starbucks, and found it to be just about 1/4" too tall (or the nozzle just about 1/4" too long) to fit under without tipping either the pitcher or the machine. I'm sorry I don't have a measurement handy, but it's only a very minor annoyance, nothing worth losing sleep over.
[5] I am concerned about the use of aluminum in the unit. The grounds cup, the handle assembly and apparently the tank in which the water is heated are all made of aluminum, and aluminum is a known neurotoxin (i.e. it's bad for you) and it is thought to be a contributing factor in the contraction of Alzheimer's Disease. If I had known that the Caffe Bistro used so much aluminum in the parts that contact the water, I probably would not have purchased it, but buying an espresso machine with stainless steel parts would have been prohibitively expensive. :-(
In short, it's a great unit and has served wonderful lattes and coffees for the past year or so, and it's a great value...that is, if you don't mind ingesting material that is a known to do the body harm.