Until the acquisition of XSMALL I had the always delicious coffee from large machines from Jura or Saeco office. Only my Senseo at home just did not give up the ghost, and as long as I wanted to also set no new coffee machine. Now, at home after seven and a half years Senseo, I was sick but fully, the good with security pad machine gave away and gained me the Xsmall. And since I have the Saeco, I wonder why I waited so long.
From the visual impression produces the device looks schonmal great. (My XSMALL is, however, the dark gray.) The elegant design and the sleek, almost minimalist design fit well to my kitchen with magnolia white high-gloss fronts, carcase and worktop in Wenge and sand-colored porcelain stoneware. Looks really cool! Also from the feel here my feeling is very positive. The matte surface with the polished stainless steel nozzle I'm even happy to clean. The resistance point the knob is just right.
Speaking of cleaning. After each entry and before each off the unit cleans the independent coffee outlets. This ensures that even really only fresh coffee and no old Siff comes into the cup. It is advisable to wait for the cleaning operation after switching on until it is a cup under the spout. It takes only a few seconds, you can stop there. It could now perceive as negative that the liquid used for cleaning now dropped into the integrated oil dish, but I prefer coffee from a clean line and holding it like to now and then the drip tray under running water. That one, not least due to this fact "only" about four cups of water must repopulate after, I also do not mind. More coffee I do not drink in my single household anyway within a day, and otherwise I would be happy either way fresh water.
The cleaning of other parts, especially the coffee grounds container, the brewing unit and the drip tray is very easy. Everything is removable with a handle. To clean the brewing unit, I recommend a small brush. Also behind the grounds drawer it is advisable with a brush to remove every few days the loose grains of the coffee grounds. But that is really very little, and when you empty the grounds container regularly, nothing bib.
The actual process of making coffee is comfortable and uncomplicated. The grinder can be set in five levels from coarse to fine. The finer the beans are ground, the stronger the coffee will ultimately. How big should a serving, you (simply hold the espresso or coffee button until the desired amount of the particular drink is reached) program on first use short, then in all subsequent applications precisely this amount is prepared. It is later also the possibility to prepare two cups at the same time, by providing outlet for a two cups under the (double) and the other presses the corresponding button twice.
Using the rotary control, the water or steam function can be selected. Use the steam function can eg. Milk can be foamed to prepare a cappuccino. Then you just fill the cup to 1/3 with cold milk, keep the nozzle in the milk and heat with the hot steam and froth, then add the coffee. The water feature is to manually stop the program hot water from the nozzle to prepare eg. Tea.
But what probably playing for the preparation of the "proper" coffee with the greatest role is the coffee bean itself. I prefer illy beans, but since everyone has to try just for a bit.
My conclusion: If you know what kind of coffee you like and how you like it, the Xsmall offers great preparation option for home use with excellent value for money!
