Krups XP320840 Opio Steam And Pump Coffee Machine Review

While not the most elegant coffee machine, the Krups XP320840 comes with all the basic features you need to brew barista-quality espresso.

But you are not limited to just one type of coffee. Using the steam nozzle, you can prepare any kind of milk coffee you want simply buy adjusting how much you steam the milk.

The generous 1.5l water tank lets you brew several cups before you need to refill it.

Overall, the Krups XP320840 is a good coffee machine for the price. It’s very beginner-friendly and a great choice for those looking for an affordable espresso coffee machine that makes great coffee.

Read on to learn more in my Krups XP320840 review.

Krups XP320840 review

What I like

• Good quality espresso
• Affordable
• Compact design
• Easy to maintain

What I don’t like

• Filter difficult to change
• Steam nozzle not powerful

What are you buying?

1. 15-bar Pump Coffee Machine

For a coffee machine to make a decent shot of espresso, it has to pump hot water through the ground coffee at high pressure.

Pressure is measured in a unit called Bar.

The 15-bar pump in the Krups XP320840 hits the sweet spot. The pressure is not too low that the coffee is weak but not too strong that you get a bitter aftertaste from your coffee.

At this pressure, you get a rich and deep espresso with the beloved creamy crema at the top.

2. Includes Steam Nozzle for Milk Coffees

The Krups XP320840 is a purely espresso coffee machine. But you can use it to make more than just espresso.

Using the attached steam nozzle, you can create frothy steamed milk for cappuccinos, flat white and latte.

It requires a bit of a learning curve to steam the milk to the right frothiness but you’ll get it eventually.

3. Single and Double Shot Filters

The coffee maker comes with two filters for single and double shot espressos.

This allows you to vary how strong your coffee is or make two cups of coffee at a go.

4. Quick Heating Boiler

The aluminium boiler uses rapid heating technology to minimize delays. The pre-heating takes about a couple of minutes.

How easy is it to use?

The upside to having a basic coffee machine like the Krups XP320840 is that it’s very easy to operate and maintain.

Even if this is your first coffee maker, you won’t have any trouble brewing your first cuppa.

The only controls on the machine are for on/off, pre-heating and switching between espresso and steam preparation.

The water tank is easy to remove and fill.

The steam nozzle is easy to use but it takes some trial and error to know how to steam your milk to the right consistency and frothiness.

The only bit that customers had trouble with is slotting the filter into the filter holder. It requires quite a bit of force to turn the filter until it stops.

Maintenance is fairly easy.

For the steam nozzle, you simply wipe it after use and run some steam through it to remove any milk on or inside it.

To clean the coffee maker, check the easy rinsing guideline in the manual.

For some components like the filter holder, you’ll need to wipe them manually with a wet sponge (no alcohol or detergents).

Depending on your water hardness, it’s essential that you regularly descale the coffee machine.

Carry out a water hardness test to determine descaling frequency. The manual has a handy chart showing how often to descale based on water hardness and how many coffees you make per week.

What accessories are included?

The Krups XP320840 comes with two handy accessories: a tamper and a measuring spoon.

Use the tamper to compact the grounded coffee in the filter into a puck. When the coffee is more tightly packed, it’s provides more resistance to the flow of water.

This results in more intense coffee as the water is able to extract more flavour.

Use the measuring spoon to add just the right amount of ground coffee into the filter.

Remember you also get a set of two filters: one for single-shot espressos and the other for stronger double-shot espressos (or two coffees).

Krups XP320840 key features

Pros

• Makes good quality espresso.
• Steam nozzle lets you make different types of milk coffees.
• Affordable
• Easy to use and maintain.
• Compact design – takes up little space on the counter.
• You can vary the strength of your coffee by changing the filter.

Cons

• Filter is difficult to secure into place.
• Steam nozzle is not as powerful as in some other coffee machines.

Anything else you should know?

The kind of the water you use is not just important for the quality of coffee, it also determines how long your coffee maker lasts.

Hard water with a high level of impurities can gunk up the inside of the coffee maker, reducing its lifespan.

If possible, use filtered soft water.

Regardless of the water you use, it is important that you descale the coffee machine regularly.

If you make around 7-20 cups of coffee per week, the manual recommends descaling every 4 months for soft water, every 3 months for hard water and every 2 months for very hard water.

If you are not sure how hard your water is, and thus how often you should descale, just do it once a month to be safe.

Conclusion

If you are looking for an affordable but quality espresso coffee machine with a steam nozzle for milk coffees, the Krups XP320840 is a great choice.

The quality of the German-made coffee machine easily shows as you could see in this Krups XP320840 review. You can be sure it will still be working after years of use.

Where to buy?

• Amazon UK: >> Click here to see today’s price

Frequently asked questions

1. Is the Krups Opio Espresso machine difficult to use?

Not at all. The Krups Opio Espresso machine is easy to use, even for a beginner. The only challenge is using the steam nozzle to froth milk to the right consistency. It takes some practice to steam the milk properly.

2. How to descale the Krups Opio Espresso machine?

Fill the water tank to the max position and add two descaler tablets. Alternatively, you can fill the tank with a mixture of water and vinegar in a 3:1 ratio. Put the tank back into place in the machine.

Place the filter holder into its receptacle while empty (do not put any coffee) and place a container under it.

Plug in the machine and turn it on and set the button to espresso. Wait until the espresso indicator lights up, then turn the dial left to the espresso setting. Let a quarter of the water in the tank flow out, then press the on/off button to stop the flow.

Wait five minutes then let out more hot water through the filter holder and into the container. Do this one more time.

To descale the steam wand, set the selection button to steam and wait until the steam indicator comes on. Place the steam wand into a container with water and then turn the dial to the right for steam.

Finish by rinsing the machine and steam wand 2-3 times.

The rinsing process is similar to descaling, but this time, do not add any descaler to the water in the tank.

3. Where to buy Krups Opio XP320840?

The Krups Opio Espresso machine is available on Amazon. You can also check your local supermarket if you’d prefer not to shop online.