The Krups XP4030 Pump Espresso Machine is an impressive espresso maker with a prominent, easy-to-use metal selector dial. This attractive device consists of a compact black and stainless-steel housing with internal thermoblock heating element, a concealed yet removable 32-ounce water tank, a removable stainless-steel drip tray, an attached steam nozzle, a top cup-warming tray and a filter holder with three interchangeable sieves.

We immediately warmed to the XP4030's compact design, which won't occupy much space on your countertop. The filter-and-sieve design glided smoothly into place under the machine's front brew head. A unique storage system under the water tank lid provides handy slots for the extra sieves when not in use. The internal water tank contributes to the XP4030's neat appearance while still offering the convenience of a lift-out reservoir. However, the water tank's design made it difficult to tell when the reservoir needed refilling.

A 15-BAR pump quickly pushes heated water through the grounds for a perfect cup of espresso with a plentiful amount of golden crema. If cappuccino is your passion, the XP4030 can divert steam through a special nozzle to foam or froth milk. During our testing, the temperature shift was managed quickly, and the nozzle produced ample steam for frothing.

The XP4030 is one of the more easy-to-use espresso makers. It has a single on/off button with a vibrant blue indicator light, plus an oversize stainless-steel function-selector switch with settings for brewing, steam preheat and steaming. The thermoblock heats up quickly and requires almost no time between cups of espresso.

The three included sieves are for preparing single-shot, double-shot or pod espresso. We achieved excellent results with the one-shot and two-shot sieves, but we had a bit of difficulty with the pod sieve. After a few attempts, however, we obtained a perfect cup of espresso. For best results, ensure the brew head is clean and the sieve is pushed all the way into place on the filter holder. The XP4030 has a pre-brew function that wets the coffee grounds to bring out the full flavor. The pump activates for a few seconds, then pauses and continues.

The XP4030 takes about 90 seconds to preheat, and an orange indicator light lets you know when the machine is ready. To get the hottest cup of espresso, you'll also want to preheat the filter and your cup by running some hot water through the system. After all of the parts have been preheated, you can use the cup-warming area to warm additional cups. Up to four demitasse cups fit nicely in the designated space.

The XP4030's steam function requires an extra preheat step that takes an additional minute or so. If you plan to prepare multiple cappuccinos, we'd recommend frothing all of the milk first, then switching to the espresso function and brewing directly into the frothed milk. Because the required steam temperature is much higher than the brew temperature, the machine is designed to cool itself down quickly by releasing some cold water into the system. This results in some excess steam being released into the drip tray. This startled us a bit the first time, but the steam release and noise stopped after a few seconds.

This is an efficient pump espresso maker with user-friendly controls and a detailed instruction booklet. The Krups XP4030 makes an excellent choice for novice as well as experienced espresso lovers.


Pros: 15-BAR pump, easy-to-use function selector, quick recovery time
Cons: Difficult to tell when water tank is empty, noise and excess steam released after steaming

Warranty
1 year, limited