- First Impression -
Compared to the (very) slim Saeco HD8964 the Krups devices are a bit bulky, but the slightly tapered design, they still come across as the more compact boxy Melitta machine. The EA8340 and EA8441 which have a pleasing feel and an attractive appearance, with my EA8340 with its black color even more pleasing before came as the EA8441, I was asked in white color available. But that in turn completely left to their own Gusto and should not be subject of an evaluation. A white coffee machines are not seen all day ...
Importantly: The "color" of the housing makes both devices at different elements (such as the cappuccino maker and the collection container) stop - so that the devices look here through the bank the same. That means: in white or milk frother collector in white you will not find. You are kept informed about the complete line of time in a tone.
Striking was the extremely good compared to competitors of transport safety Krups appliances. They were at any point of the actual product packaging to the outside, but were backed up inside with Styrofoam shapes. Outdoor re there was another package of special cardboard, made from extra-thick cardboard to risk so no transport damage. Exemplary - and quite suitable for the slightly elitist-inspired claim that the Werbebildchen spray on the product carton.
- Delivery -
Krups supplies in both cases, a well-documented fully automatic coffee machines from, packed in a few minor auxiliary remedies that are needed to clean, etc., but this is about the well-known from other manufacturers' product samples "not really out. For the whole package a semblance of goodness and quality, just do not reach the other producers at all hype so aroused already. The device may already be taken out of the "default state" out to a few simple steps in principle in operation. That is also exemplary.
I missed taken included basically just what the elitist posturing of packaging, not promises, but rather implies: gimmicks that one nor any promise added value. As a suggestion to the manufacturer, please refer to two coffee cups in the Krups design or a milk jug or anything else what one gives you the feeling of being left alone with the fully automatic "all perfectly equipped". This impression is, of course, purely subjective and will not be considered in the assessment.
- Facilities / equipment features / characteristics -
When equipping first catches the eye that the EA8340 and EA8441 which both have no milk carafe. Whether you want to have one is a matter of personal taste, I think, but at the Saeco HD8964 and other models with milk carafes I have seen that it can be quite useful, the "carafes method" to drive. Man thus has the possibility to store the milk for the fully automatic in the refrigerator and without much "hose pure hose out, hose here hose as" the milk in an ever same hygiene standard controllable (most carafes are dishwasher safe) way in the unit to get. What you now exactly want, but that was up to you, though my experience has rather caused a tendency toward carafe of various tests - to the need but mainly because I hate it clean, rubber hoses. Then rather from and put to a carafe in the dishwasher. Oh - and so beautiful Bärenmarke-Tetrapaks next to the fully automatic and are ... against a carafe they stink somehow off.
The Caffeo Bistro Melitta is here the way out of competition: Here no milk is through the machine out - here you fill the milk yet every time itself in the cup and put it under a whisk, which will do the rest.
The taste are - as described elsewhere before - every three or four machine makes at a similar level, but this only means that none of the equipment specified by the coffee taste with their Brühmethode "broken" as the now and then of case. I am the effect also not a big fan of the reviews, because the taste of the final product usually directly depends on the settings with which you has taken.
It was noticeable at a posttest that the milk foam system of Krups appliances in earnings significantly "professional" acts as what the Melitta (bringing up the rear) and Saeco (as midfield) produce so. Here we are working with a steam wand, how to get them to see also for example the catering every now and then. The advertised "bar tray" is actually nothing more than a "fixture", where you can leave coffee cups or better which is explicitly designed to allow that then produces dairy drinks. A nice idea, I think. This also higher / more cups at this point have space.
But beware: The misconception that make other manufacturers, is that it the Coffee not between "Coffee Production" and "Vermilchung" (or vice versa) once the cup can change. So you are bound by the standard cup height normally at the height that is reached by the actual coffee unit and is absolutely stunning, but is at a level which is achieved by many other devices. Average. (Unfortunately)
The Krups machines both for various coffee and milk specialties programs - the Saeco is by the variety forth at the same level ... are in the implementation (especially dairy products) but the Krups devices easily forward. However, gigantic differences can not be found.
But clearly separated from the competition, the two Krups devices have something that I want to fill "install" the otherwise quite lean heading. I'm doing this mainly because this heading is guided by the relevant feature complete absurdity. But to hereinafter more:
- Installation / commissioning / installation -
Commissioning is yes as I said dealt with a few simple steps. The reason is that you can do at the Krups generally very little "manual". The usual from other devices flaps over which one has access to the inner life, are almost entirely absent, because the formula used by Krups thermoblock technology and the associated grinder obviously need no maintenance of customer hand. I rely like to improve, but after my current state (and I really looked hard) you can actually remove the brewing unit from the device in order, for example (as in our Melitta and the Saeco usual) once a week with clear water rinse and clean. That is completely eliminated in favor of an automatic. Whether that's good or bad now, was once an open question - after all, make end users, too happy times due to improper cleaning things quickly broken as they "keep in state". I think it's still worth mentioning - especially since it means that the usual cleaning orgies to a minimum (you have now and again with a slider times "push out" the excess coffee grounds, nothing more).
- Operation / Ergonomics -
When EA8441 operation via a touch panel with settings that are not entitled by the manufacturer wrongly as "simple operation" takes place. Here you can with some "basic knowledge" of other fully automatic machines intuitively already fully cope without guide - with the guidance of the operation is then again simple; Krups explained very well what you like where do when. The EA8340 provides the same ease of use, but without touch function, but with appropriate controls or buttons. Mir is the solution button more, but what you choose depends here actually only by their own preferences from - the operating concept is almost identical in both machines, so that there are no deposits of two of the other.
The individual configurability and the consequent perseverance of concept "for each recipe the correct dosage" in both dairy, as well as coffee products makes the Krups devices a reliable partner for the upscale coffee. Much drinkers also get through the Doppelmahlfunktion (up 2x120ml) fast their cups full. Krups delivers a sophisticated solution here, but suffers from a problem that is shared by almost all but competition machines: You can just use only one type of bean. Ergo the Espresso is just therefore made coffee beans from "normal" and vise versa. Exactly this shortcoming, incidentally, was the reason why we decided for a Caffeo Bistro some time ago, because they at least allowed two separate chambers beans something variation. But here you have to ask yourself whether they need that at all. Typically, you come out with a well-balanced variety of bean, especially when the produced milk foam in cappuccino is anyway beyond doubt and it is therefore no longer interested in the question of the bean ;-)
- Maintenance / Cleaning -
The subject was already touched on above. Both Krups devices do not let a lot of opportunities here himself on the inner life to lend a hand. The milk nozzle is, however, dishwasher safe and can, for example, otherwise simply be rinsed with water. Both devices awaken in the "moving parts" (eg also the holding tank) seems robust, although not necessarily (in the case of the collection container) we can speak of a "monster size" here.
- Particularities -
As with the Saeco HD8964 the coffee spout is relatively rigid even when the two Krups devices and also not reached within the framework of my personal "Starbucks tests" predetermined height, you need to fill an 8 fl oz Starbucks cups can. Just when you - like me - like some coffee "entraining" refilling operations are necessarily required when a device fails in this test. Therefore, at this point for both getesten Krups devices a unique "pity", the type of construction an industry standard seems, however, with few exceptions (eg Melitta) somehow to be.
The advertised special features "Compact Thermoblock System", "Claris Aqua Filter System" and "Super Cappuccino System" are not so special, when you look at closer. At least one water filtration system is (no matter which manufacturer) to have now for almost all machines, on the other hand there is the question of what a "Compact Thermoblock system" really brings as well at other coffee machines I now have no problems with " had the perfect temperature Coffee from the first cup to ". Anyway - the reason why the thermal block system is a clear advantage lies elsewhere: dispense with descaling and the system is not (particularly) vulnerable to calcification. Ergo the life in areas with very hard water is probably higher. Verifiable such statements are of course difficult. The advertised "Cappuccino System" is super, in fact - I have to add my voice to the manufacturer. You get first-class dairy drinks and the component can also reliably clean. Exemplary. Only the storage of milk (see above) would be a point that I would possibly be addressed at the point of Krups still (if only as an optional component).
- After a week -
In addition to the "normal" Melitta the two Krups machines have yet to prove each time some alternates. Both deliver consistently (even among themselves) consistent results at very high levels. The Style and form factor of the Saeco HD8964 is not achieved for the devices provide but also for some prolonged use still seem high quality and robustness.
- Conclusion -
In conclusion arises for both Krups devices an identical rating of just 5 stars, the EA8340 my opinion of the value for her because of their lower pricing more attractive functions as its "big brother" EA8441. The two devices give themselves to each other not much but stand with their quasi timeless exterior, its good operating concept and its ease of care quite above what I have reviewed in the Saeco HD8964 with "I vacillate between 4 and 5 star".
- UPDATE (6/23/2014) -
I have the device now a good six months in operation. There is really very little maintenance and takes care of the majority of the care itself. The thermal block system makes it here "Clean Mach muffles" like me really simple. It is namely not only to the parts ran that one would have to clean (ie makes the device fully himself). Important and again clean the coffee grounds Hin / grounds container and the drip tray - is indeed in the dishwasher. One more thing: After producing of dairy products, it makes sense to clean the hose and nozzle immediately, as this will fix milk. Otherwise, one can but really happen with the machine not much.
Important for the budget conscious: Krups machines are of the "smallest" to the "biggest" series technically "inside it" almost identical. So if on Touchscreen, LCD etc. pp. can do without, which is found also in the "cheap" 300-euro segment of Krups at exactly the inner lives that you get even with devices like the 8340.
