After about 120 prepared cups we would report our initial experience with the Krups EA850B.
It replaces a Krups Orchestro dialogue, which is now an "economic total loss" suffered after 10 years and two self-performed repairs.
Commissioning:
When unpacking fell to negative that coarsely ground coffee crumbs had spread in a box and have left first scratch in black glossy casing.
These are probably due to the trial operation at the factory, the machine was otherwise perfectly packed and did not give the impression that it has been tested and sent back from other customers.
The freeness was adjusted for our taste too fine.
After about 10 cups we had found the right setting for amount of water, coffee strength, temperature and degree of grinding. Here, everyone must act according to his taste and possibly readjust each type of coffee.
Despite similar settings Espresso significantly different from last taste at the same beans (Izzo gold) from this fully automatic machine from Krups Orchestro our dialogue. "Different" is value-neutral to see from the new machine he tastes more vigorous with a slightly bitter note.
Service:
The touch screen reacts just as good or bad as touchscreens by many navigation devices. What bothers some is the use of "key", which are displayed at the bottom of the display, they are too close to the edge and difficult to operate.
The favorites can be well set, so we have defined for different bar glasses and cups favorites. Warning, the height of the outlet is for "normal" large glasses latte unfortunately ca 5-10mm too low.
For other requests, the screen buttons for ristretto, espresso, coffee and cappuccino can be used here can customize the strength, amount of water and milk froth duration.
The water tank is located behind, and must be removed upwards. It is very high and fits in an average kitchen sink just so under the tap.
That the water tank is opaque to the outside, is in terms of sunlight positively, absolutely hinders the view of the water level.
Espresso Ristretto and:
At medium water temperature it is not pre-heat in, thick-walled cups on a good drinking temperature.
If a double espresso glass used, it is so hot that you can easily burn the mouth and palate. The Krups Orchestro dialogue was not so hot even at the highest temperature setting.
Cappuccino / Latte:
The froth of skim milk succeeds the machine does not always equal good. Overall, there is less foam than the Krups Orchestro dialogue produced.
The milk is very quickly "sucked" and is not very warm.
If cappuccino or coffee with milk or coffee with little milk foam hood this is offset by the high coffee temperature.
However Macciato A latte is only lukewarm.
Only milk froth:
The preparation of milk froth without coffee is only possible with Trick.
We have a favorite is defined, in which we have the milk froth-time set very high.
Is the glass filled with milk froth, is pressed "Cancel". There is no ground coffee and the preparation ends.
Due to the relatively low temperature foam but this is of limited significance.
Coffee consumption:
The pressed "pads" are thinner than in the previous engine, but this does not seem to have a negative impact on the flavor.
Our previous machine was prepared with a kilo of coffee beans only about 100-110 cups.
The EA850B now has about 120 cups cooked, from Kilo espresso beans are still about 150-200g available.
Cleansing Milk hose and nozzle:
The frothing may be briefly rinsed with water after preparation, it provides the machine immediately after preparation, but can also be triggered via the red warning label or on the Maintenance menu. Here, only the nozzle but not rinsed the tube.
For the entire unit of hose and nozzle, there is a cleaning program in the maintenance menu, which only then flushed with detergent and clean water.
As this is running for several minutes, is the expansion of the unit and the cutting and manual flushing a good alternative.
Cleaning the water tank:
The high narrow construction the cleaning of the water tank is not easy.
Cleaning drip trays:
The container for the coffee is sufficiently large, and here too the design is not necessarily the easy cleaning.
The water container under the coffee-spout is relatively small and so flat that it needs to be emptied frequently. If the machine asks the emptying of the tank after a few cups, the container is often so full that it must be balanced to the sink in order not to overflow.
The emptying is the way requested on the number of cups, not a level.
Cleaning the housing:
The glossy case attracts dust. But this is clear before buying, and is probably true of all glossy devices.
Auto power off:
Although we have the automatic flushing deactivated when switching off, the machine rinses still occasionally when turning. When and why is not clear to me.
We always make an espresso cup under the spout.
Preheat cups:
The top shelf is swinging suspended, strum parked cups. If the machine is not permanently attached to leaves, there is a warm up anyway impossible. Short let Eben times arrive hot water a sip, not about lack of hot water button also. So a cup can be handy with the machine Do not preheat.
Overall impression:
Espresso Ristretto and succeed well.
The milk foam is not as hot as in the previous machine. The consistency varies from cup to cup very.
The one-button operation for cappuccino is convenient, but a separate milk nozzle actually offers more options as it is independently operated - this we had not considered before buying. In preparing several cappuccinos, the one-key operation is slower because in each case the heating / cooling to the respective temperature for coffee and foam must be done with a separate nozzle allows the milk froth for all cups, then the coffee mugs for all produce.
It remains a mixed impression. For a current price of less than EUR 500 (with a suggested retail price of 1200) certainly a decent device, though not perfect. (Equivalent to 3-4 points)
