Krups Nespresso CitiZ & Milk XN730540 Coffee Machine Review

The popularity of espresso machines has never been higher, and if you’re looking to purchase a home espresso maker, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with all of the choices that are available on the market. After all, there are literally hundreds of different models to choose from, ranging from under £100 to thousands of pounds apiece.

If you’re not interested in troubling yourself with the intricate details of espresso making and you just want a fast, efficient and reliable capsule espresso machine that offers a robust set of features, you should definitely check out the Krups Nespresso CitiZ & Milk XN730540.

With an intuitive control panel and user-friendly design, the CitiZ & Milk enables you to create a virtually endless array of milk-based coffee concoctions at the touch of a button.

Krups Nespresso CitiZ review

What are you buying?

The Krups Nespresso CitiZ & Milk was designed with the milk-based coffee lover in mind, and every feature of the machine works to this end with impressive facility.

No matter what type of froth or flavour preferences you may have, the CitiZ & Milk features an integrated “Aeroccino” that can amply prepare hot milk froth as well as regular hot milk to accommodate a wide variety of milk-infused beverages including cappuccinos, lattes, macchiatos, and many more.

If you’re at all familiar with professional-level barista equipment, you know that a 19-bar pump is no slouch for providing excellent pressure and optimal flavour extraction; well, thankfully, that’s exactly what the CitiZ & Milk has. This high-performance pump enables the CitiZ & Milk to bring out the delicate aroma and rich texture of each coffee capsule, producing an incredibly dense crema that adds dimension and sumptuousness to every drink you create.

And you won’t have to wait around forever for the machine to warm up, either – thanks to the CitiZ & Milk’s optimal heat control system, it only takes 25 seconds for the machine to heat up to the ideal temperature.

As adept as this machine is at cranking up the heat, it is incredibly energy efficient as well; in fact, the CitiZ & Milk features an automatic energy saving function that will turn off the machine after nine minutes of inactivity, but can be adjusted to shut down after up to 30 minutes of inactivity.

As far as aesthetics goes, the CitiZ & Milk offers an elegant, Art Deco-inspired design with simple yet refined colour choices and a sleek, compact look. Its footprint is surprisingly conservative (roughly 14.5″ x 9″), leaving you plenty of space on your worktop. This combination of professional-level performance and everyday practicality is what makes the CitiZ & Milk such a uniquely effective machine.

How easy is it to use?

One of the most outstanding features that I appreciate about the CitiZ & Milk is that it offers remarkable ease of use; in fact, using this machine is so simple, you almost need help to misunderstand it.

With two straightforward programmable buttons for lungo and espresso coffee preparations and an automatic flow-stop (for those of us who are slightly less detail-oriented), all you have to do is pop in the espresso coffee pod, press the start button and then wait for the “ready” light to let you know when your coffee is fully ready.

If you prefer taller mug sizes, the CitiZ & Milk offers an adaptable drip tray that can accommodate a variety of cups. In addition, the CitiZ & Milk has a highly accessible and removable water tank, which makes it ultra-convenient to fill and clean when needed. The water tank is also visible on the rear of the machine, making it easy for you to see how much water is left at any time. Its water capacity is only 1l, which may not be enough for some people.

Speaking of cleaning, the machine’s modular design and wipe-down surfaces make it refreshingly easy to clean, a huge plus for those of us who don’t want to spend just as much time cleaning our machine as we do making and drinking our coffee.

What accessories are included?

The Krups Nespresso CitiZ & Milk comes with an excellent Welcome Set of 16 coffee capsules that represent some of the most popular flavours in the Nespresso collection.

You should definitely give each capsule a shot to find out which Grand Cru selections are your favourites, and then you can determine which ones you’ll be ordering on a regular basis. After going through this initial set, I decided to order a 250-pod starter pack that included a free accessory that can store up to 50 pods at one time.

Key features of Krups Nespresso Citiz

Pros

• Cleverly designed milk frother is highly versatile, making it easy to prepare a wide variety of drinks
• Super-easy to clean due to its modular design
• 19-bar pump for optimal performance
• Makes great-tasting espressos
• Magnetic cup stand
• Nice and compact; doesn’t take up a whole lot of space
• Beautiful design, looks great in practically any kitchen

Cons

• One complaint that I discovered from a small handful of online reviewers is that they felt that the CitiZ & Milk simply did not make their coffee hot enough. I personally haven’t had this experience, but perhaps they received the dreaded (and rare) defective unit
• Noise is another issue; some reviewers claimed that the unit is slightly too noisy for their preference. Again, I can’t say that I share this sentiment; in fact, compared to some of the other espresso machines I have owned in the past, the CitiZ & Milk is quite tame in terms of the noise that it generates.

Anything else you should know?

Keep in mind that Nespresso pods are not available at your local supermarket, which means that you’ll have to order them directly from Nespresso’s own website, or via their outpost on Amazon.co.uk. Some people find this to be somewhat of an inconvenience, but Nespresso puts these controls in place to ensure the quality of their product, and to prevent unfair pricing by unscrupulous retailers.

Conclusion

When it comes to delivering high-quality taste and outstanding aroma for your espresso drinks, Nespresso definitely leads the field, and the CitiZ & Milk is one of the most user-friendly and reliable espresso machines on the market. With a superb combination of premium functionality and eye-pleasing design, the Krups Nespresso CitiZ & Milk XN730540 is definitely a top choice for the avid espresso enthusiast.

Where to buy?

• Amazon UK: Click to see today’s price