Customer Reviews

Krups 968-41 Novo 2300 Plus Automatic Cappuccino Machine, Black

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

I've used these machines every morning for at least 12 years, since the first Krups Espresso Novo came out. I use them to make my breakfast cappucino. Before they were available, I used La Pavoni, an Italian boiler machine, for about 10 years. The Krups are the best pump machines for the price.

The boiler machines seem to take at least 5-8 minutes to heat up before you can get good steam. The Krups pump gives steam in about a minute or two. This saves a lot of time in the AM. And if you're making a lot of expresso or cappucinos for dinner guests, you don't run out of water and have to stop to cool the whole thing down to refill it so you can continue while everybody waits.

I've had none of the problems with leaks, etc. that other reviewers have reported on, but I've had experience using these machines, and I have learned the technique. You have to tighten up the filter cup holder when putting the coffee in, or you get leaks. You have to keep coffee grounds off the metal rim where the rubber gasket seals, or it leaks and coffee grounds stick to the gasket, making the next cup leak as well. All it takes is always sweeping the excess grounds off the rim with your fingertip before you put the filter holder on the machine, and twisting it on tightly enough to the right so it makes a tight seal.

Another important step is pressing the fresh coffee into the filter holder firmly with a tamper. It's also essential to use a burr coffee grinder so you get coffee grounds of a uniform size. The blender blade type "grinders" (like the Krups) that chop rather than grind the coffee beans produce a powder that's too fine or too coarse and not uniform in size. Too fine makes the pump work too hard to get the water through the grounds, the filter holes plug, the pressure goes too high, and this may cause a leak. Too coarse and the water runs through so fast that the coffee is weak. A burr type coffee mill like the Braun, Pavoni or Capresso allows the size of the grind to be adjusted so the grounds are consistent in size and neither too fine or too coarse. If you're having this problem, use the blade chopper for parsley and tarragon, and get a real coffee mill for espresso. I think the people using the pods have fewer problems because the pods use properly ground coffee properly packed, and the coffee doesn't scatter over the gasket.

It's also important to heat the water up to the steaming point in the machine before using it to make coffee.

The foam can also be a problem for newbies. I have never been able to use the various frothing contraptions on these machines. If you can't make foam without the attachment, go to a Starbucks or other pro cappucino stand and ask the person foaming the milk to teach you how to make it properly by sticking the steam pipe directly into the milk or cream and adjusting the pipe depth and steam force until you can do it.

Making expresso, cappucino or latte is a skill like cooking, driving or riding a bike. It has to be learned and practiced.

I usually don't do reviews, but I've owned a Krups Novo 2300 for about a year and I like it so much I feel it necessary to correct some of the impressions that potential buyers might get from the previous reviews.

First, many of the negatives have to do with leaks around the seal. When I first got this machine I had similar leaks for the first few times I used it. This can be easily avoided. Any espresso machine will leak a)if the coffee holder isn't sealed properly and b)if you try to make many cups of espresso rapidly or immediately after using the frothing mechanism. This is due to the natural buildup of steam. Too much steam and it's going to overflow the coffee holder.

Like I say, I had coffee holder overflow because I kept doing these things too rapidly. Now, I don't even think about it. I make my espresso, froth my milk and either drink it myself or serve it to a friend. Either way, just a short time and it's ready to use again.

Another objection I saw was that the water was never hot enough. This little machine builds up 19 bars of pressure which is the same as the commercial machines. It gets plenty hot.If you don't believe me, touch the metal tubing that leads to the frothing mechanism!

Third, someone else objected to the frothing mechanism being unwieldy. In response to that I don't know if other machines in this price range offer the same convenience of this one's frothing mechanism. I believe it's unique to Krups.

I've tried other machines where milk frothing for latte and cappucino is a manual guesstimate and this works better than any of those. As to not being able to use taller cups, I've never found that to be an impediment. I've used wider cups and have only received favorable comments (okay, raves) about my espresso-based drinks. In summary, if you're looking for for a sound espresso machine and don't want to pay upwards of $300.00, try the Krups Novo 2300. You really won't regret it.

I haven't and I use the thing several times a week.

I'm replacing a previous Amazon review of the Krups Bravo with this review covering both the Bravo and the Krups Novo 2300 Plus (model 968) in a side-by-side comparison. I think this approach will be more helpful to shoppers.

The Bravo is a lower-priced machine which produces espresso by boiling water in a pressure vessel, which uses steam pressure for both brewing and to froth milk. The Novo is a pump unit. It heats water for espresso, and then uses a pump to develop enough pressure to force the water through a brewing head containing grounds. You use a different temperature setting to produce steam, rather than hot water, to steam and froth milk for lattes or cappuccinos.

I used the Bravo for about 2-1/2 years. The unit is inexpensively priced, but the buyer need not have any concerns about quality. It is well-built, durable, and consistent. Basic operation of the machine is very simple, but you have to spend some time getting familiar with it in order to really get the best possible results. In fact, the cheaper Bravo unit may be slightly more difficult to use than the Novo because it seemed to me that developing a feel for the precise amounts of water and coffee was critical in order to get a good result.

The Novo is significantly more expensive, as all pump machines are. However, when compared to other pump-type espresso machines on the market it is an excellent value. It will give you a deliciously rich cup of espresso on the first try. The milk frothing attachment is a slightly odd siphon device. Instead of simply sticking a container of milk under a steam nozzle, the milk is sucked up through a flexible hose, steamed internally, and squirted into your cup (there is a "more foamy" setting for cappuccino and "less foamy" for latte). It's a bizarre looking contraption, but it really works well.

To sum up, I'd say that if you are sure you want to take the time to make espresso drinks frequently, and to perform the cleaning and maintenance that either of these units require, bypass the Bravo and go straight to a higher-end machine like the Novo. If you just want to test the waters, so to speak, of
home espresso-making, spend a little money on the Bravo and decide later if you want to upgrade.

The Novo 2300+ is a semi-automatic espresso machine. I decided to purchase a (refurbished) Novo 2300+ despite the large variance in reviews for this machine. The negative reviews are dominated by complaints regarding leakage. Fortunately, there is an easy fix for this problem: simply turn the gasket all the way to the right beyond the middle point, and the leakage goes away! If that doesn't stop it completely, use it a few times so that the rubber seal expands slightly to better fit the gasket.

For its price range, you can't get a better machine in terms of raw mechanical specification. This machine has a great pump comparable with commercial espresso machines and fast pump recharge time. Coupled with a decent grinder (hint: get a decent grinder!) and strong tamping (hint: get a decent tamper!) you can get consistently good shots with a nice crema on top almost every single time. From my experience you tend to do better with coarser grinds than with other espresso machines.

The auto-froth system is fairly effective: put the long straw into a container of (cold) milk, set the dial to how thick you want your froth to be, and turn a knob. Voila! Cappucino in an instant. A source of disappointment is the cramped space for you to put your cup into. An extra 1/4-1/2 inches would have been great help since then you wouldn't have to tilt your cup to get it in and out.

All in all, it's a great deal for its price and I would recommend it. Just be sure to get a shorter and wider mug to go with it for convenience.

Wow..judging from most of the reviews you would think this machine makes watery cremaless esspresso. Faults I've read include bad filter seating, leaking at the seal, slushing grounds, water temperature not hot enough. This machine does make a fine decent cup of espresso with nice crema.

I've had this machine for 2 months now and I think I can make a fairly decent review. Not sure if people were just to excited and made their espresso in haste to achieve the above results.

My first two attempts resulted in some leakage around the seal. I contribute this to two reasons. I didn't read the instructions and I barely tightened the seal because I didn't have a "feel" for the machine. After I put more effort on the filter holder, and made sure no grounds were on the edge, my leakage problems stopped. Plus I always make sure I remove my filter holder after I am done with my session so I don't wear out the rubber gasket pre-maturely.

The machine does produce espressos that have a nice rich head of crema. I attribute this to the fineness of the ground of the coffee and the tamping of the coffee in the filter. I've found that different combinations produce differing amounts of crema. I've finally settled on a medium espresso grind(GET A DECENT GRINDER - NOT A SHREDDER) and a tamp of maybe 5 to 10 pounds of pressure. I've read that 30 pounds is desired but I have not even tried that since I haven't had a need to. I am sure the grind would have to be adjusted for this.

Slushy coffee grounds probably depends on the grind and tamp. I've discovered that grinds are solid if I remove the filter holder after I steam my milk, and more wet if I remove the filter holder immediately after the pull(because the water hasn't had a chance to absorb into the hard puck I presume)

Espresso temperature in cup is about 185 degrees. I used a standard oven thermometer so can't be sure how accurate that is. But supposedly, 190 to 210 for water temp is optimal. I estimate that the water temp for the Krups is probably in that range on the low side. I was concerned with the water not being hot enough until I actually measure the temp. I'm okay with it now.

My only complaint about it is that only short squatty cups can sit under the heads. But I've worked around it by using short squatty containers and transferring the liquids to taller containers when drinking. I hope this helps. Plus I wish I would have gotten it in the gray.

After my old pump-driven Braun espresso machine died with a sorry wheeze, I decided to replace it with the Krups Novo 2300. My friends said the espresso I used to make on the Braun was the best in NYC, and with the Krups it's even better. I can make a cup of espresso with a thick and perfect crema ten times out of ten. The secret is to use a coffee grinder that lets you set a consistent grind, and then optimize the grind for your espresso machine (or regular coffee maker as well). Other reviews here have complained about leaks when you make espresso with the 2300, but as long as you keep the rim of the espresso holder and the area it contacts on the machine clean of grounds, you shouldn't have a problem. Otherwise I have found the pump to be quieter than the one on my old Braun, and I appreciate the way the Krups lets you dispense two cups at the same time. About the only thing I can fault is Krups' failure to include a proper tamper. The back of the measuring spoon included does NOT suffice for this purpose! The tamper was the one thing I kept from my old Braun, and it has served me well with the Krups; you have to tamp your grounds down solid to draw a good cup of espresso...

This machine makes good espresso, especially for the money. The espresso has a nice "crema" on top and tastes very good. This machine brings out a nice flavor from the coffee beans without accentuating any bitterness.

Consumed without milk, the espresso is *just* the right temperature. If you want to use this machine to make strong coffee and then add cold milk to it, you will be disappointed in that the coffee will be room temperature. I am somewhat disappointed by this because I used to use my Krups stream-driven espresso machine to do this, not wanting to take the time to steam milk in my morning pre-work haste. If you take the time to steam the milk, however, the coffee will be a proper temperature -- not to mention that you then have a latte or capuccino! Because of this inability to put cold mild in my coffee and drink it as is, I give the machine 4, rather than 5, stars.

The frothing attachment works very well. The manual is a little confusing, but if you read the text and look at the pictures while standing at the machine, it is understandable. It definitely works better than the "perfect froth" attachment to my previous machine.

One minor criticism of the machine: I, too, think they should have added just a tad more room between the tray and drip heads. It seems like only 1/4 inch would have allowed for standard mugs to fit under there without tilting. Or perhaps Krups should have just included a proper container or containers designed for the machine. Many homes don't have espresso shot glasses handy.

Not really a criticism of the machine, but the Illy espresso pods included in my package are 2 months past their "best used by" date. I used one -- still tastes okay, but I'm sure fresher ones would be better.

To address some previous reviewers' concerns: Read your manual (if you kept the machine) and try to use the machine again. (1) If you're getting excessive noise, it's probably because you are running the machine after the water has been drawn from the water tank. The manual specifically mentions that this noise will occur and that you should not run the machine with an empty water tank. I have found that during normal operation, the only sound is a mild buzzing while brewing espresso and a mild thumping while steaming/frothing milk. (2) As to water and coffee going "all over", I haven't encountered this. I agree with the previous reviewer that it is important to make sure that you move the handle fully into the "lock" position. (3) As to the coffee being cold, see my comments above. If you, like me, want to dump standard milk into the espresso made by this machine, you better warm the milk up somehow (either by steaming with this machine or with a quick zap in the microwave) or you'll have room temperature coffee.

I've had this machine about 3 months now. When I first bought it I almost returned it because I couldn't get anything to work right. However, after a close reading of the (well-written) manual and some practice, the machine works fine. This is quite possible.

Here are the problems I encountered and how I dealt with them.

The coffee wouldn't come out or it leaked out the brew head seal.

This was resolved by using a less fine, slightly coarse grind. (As explained in the manual). You will need a coffee grinder capable of doing consistant grinds, otherwise, you will never know if your cup will turn out. I have a Braun burr grinder that I bought at Bloomingdales on sale a few years ago. This works well

The Krups 968 comes with a separate filter holder for the ESE pods. When you use the pods the results are perfect every time, with a think froth on top, as long as you time the shot correctly. (I give it about 20 seconds from the time the coffee starts coming out.)

The milk frother works well, although the length of the silicon tube that gets inserted into the milk container is a bit short. It seems to have been designed for the European type of Parmalat containers. I dispense the milk into a different container in order for the tube to reach. The results are a perfect steamed milk or froth, depending on how you adjust the steaming dial.

Clean up is easy. Be sure to move the empty filter holder in the brewhead back and forth, while filling a cup, while pulling a cleaning shot, (as described in the manual). This cleans the seal in the brewhead and prevents leaks.

With practice you can get good consistant results with this pressure extracted espresso machine. When on sale, the price is about half of the Italian starter machines, such as the Saeco. I just couldn't rationalize spending [a lot]on another machine that does the same thing. The parts and service should be available on the krups for several years.

I exchanged the first version of this machine for a second thinking that the first was a lemon. Unfortunately, the 2nd was just as bad. The pump is not strong enough to push water through the coffee, the coffee is never hot enough and water leaks from the filter head.

My coworkers and I were excited to get this machine to keep at work, and we thought that for the price it would be a great espresso maker. Boy were we disappointed! It works ok when you use the ESE pods (which are expensive), but forget using your own coffee. The head leaks no matter what you do and gets water and grounds in your coffee. You have to just use your judgement as to when the machine done brewing and stop the cycle yourself - the result is that the grounds in the filter are wet and soupy rather than packed and dry, making clean-up a huge pain. $200 is too much to pay for a cup of bad coffee.