Our Krups Coffee Machine Review: Nespresso Essenza Mini
If you are interested in a Nespresso style espresso maker at home, our Krups coffee machine review should help you decide if this is the one for you.
Krups Coffee Machine Review Details
There continues to be strong growth in the capsule espresso machine market and while it isn’t my favorite type of Italian coffee, I can easily acknowledge why these machines are popular. This review is based on a multi-day, hands-on review of the Krups coffee machine – Nespresso Essenza Mini.
The reason we thought this would be a good machine to review is because it is a small form factor, fairly inexpensive and uses the popular Nespresso capsule system. It is an easy decision to buy one of these, but is it the right decision for you?
This model is clearly for home use and could be considered an entry level machine best suited for beginners. That said, I remember my first home “espresso” machine and the improvements from a time more than 20 years ago are striking.
First Impressions And No Unboxing
When I started to inspect the machine, it was already on the counter, so sadly, no unboxing. I didn’t see if there was any assembly or loose pieces, but that wouldn’t be typical for these types of machines.
I would recommend sending 2-3 cups of lousy coffee, like the bag of decaf you have slowly dying in your cupboard, through the machine to “season” it a bit. Even lousy coffee is better than an unseasoned pot, so please don’t skip that step.
The machine is noticeably thin, with nothing sticking out from its 4 inch width. Because of the simplicity, there isn’t much that can stick out. The water reserve tank is narrow and there are no steamer wands or knobs that might get in the way.
The simplicity extends to the usability. The instructions for filling the water tank are straightforward and there are only two buttons on top. Choose between these two different buttons for a robust espresso (40ml) or a hot, satisfying lungo (110ml).
The details on the cup sizes were probably on the instructions that I never saw, so I was forced to guess what they mean. These are definitely for Italian style espresso because you won’t find an 8 or 10 oz. American style coffee available with this maker.
Krups Coffee Maker Features And Specifications
| KEY FEATURES | |
| Type of Nespresso pods | Original |
| Milk drink system | No |
| Water tank capacity | 0.6 L (20 ounces) |
| OTHERS | |
| Adjustable drip tray (number of levels) | 2 |
| Programmable automatic switch-off | 9 or 30 minutes |
| Removable drip tray | |
| Automatic switch-off (machine switches off after use) | 9 or 30 minutes |
| Colors | Dark gray |
| GLOBAL | |
| Power | 1200-1310 W |
| Frequency | 50-60 Hz |
| Customization | Manual stop |
| Pressure | 19 bar |
| Customization of quantity | |
| Machine activation | Press the button for Espresso or Lungo |
| Removable water tank | |
| Empty capsule container | Integrated |
| Automatic drink stop | Yes |
| Number of recipes | 2 |
| Milk System | No |
| Recipes | Long Espresso |
| TECHNIQUES | |
| Number of cups prepared simultaneously | 1 |
Performance And Espresso Quality
I’ve broken the evaluation down into 4 characteristics that are relevant to these capsule-type machines. My assumption is that one is only interested in brewing an espresso with this type of machine, and not an American-style drip coffee.
Here is how we evaluated the Krups Nespresso Essenza Mini:
- Brewing Speed: This was a surprising highpoint. The heating element, even in such a small maker, is clearly of high quality. The brewing happened quickly and I never got a sense that I was waiting around while it brewed.
- Taste Test: I don’t think this is fair to compare to a proper commercial espresso machine. The tastes are as far apart as the costs. That said, the most noticeable thing was that there was no difference in taste (or mouthfeel) between the layer of crema (coffee foam) and what should’ve been the underlying espresso. This small cup tasted only of foam. I would guess that if I let the cup sit for a minute, it would settle. I prefer my coffee ripping hot, and don’t want to wait. I view this as a negative, but if the instructions indicated a required waiting period, I might reconsider.
- Crema Quality: The crema is definitely better than a traditional moka, and also my recently reviewed Brikka. It was not as good as a commercial espresso maker, nor as good as a higher cost Nespresso machine. In other words, you get what you pay for.
- Consistency: These results were very consistent. Given the simplicity of the coffee maker, as well as what I think it a quality heating element, consistency should be expected.
User Experience And Convenience
So, what was my overall experience with the Krups Nespresso Essenza Mini:
I have a bit of experience with these capsule coffee makers, so I can’t speak to how easy this would be for a true novice. This matters, since, I would say the novice is that target customer base. For me, it was very simple to use and doesn’t have a steep learning curve.
The noise level was less than a higher end Nespresso machine, with one caveat: It was a few years back that I used a Nespresso and it sounded like an airplane taking off. It is possible they have improved those models, but I doubt it.
I mentioned it was small. Very little counter space was needed and the only requirement was to be in cord’s length to an outlet. Given the small form factor, the power cord was expectedly short as well.
There is a built-in pod disposal bin, but because this coffee maker is so small, the bin is also pretty small. Once you get over a half-dozen pods in it, you should consider emptying it. When you do, be careful. I lost a piece of one of these while emptying it when the backplate fell into the garbage unnoticed until it was too late.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy The Krups Coffee Machine?
There is a lot to like about this coffee machine, but unfortunately, the resulting brew isn’t one of them. If the instructions, which I couldn’t read, said to let it settle before drinking it, I might have a different opinion.
The biggest problem was that the coffee tasted too foamy (crema-y) with no difference between the foam and the espresso. Apart from that, I actually liked the machine. This was a dealbreaker, however!
More Italian Coffee Make Information
If you want to learn more about Italian coffee makers that you can use at home, here are some articles that get into the types to consider, as well as some reviews of types that we have evaluated hands-on:
- The Best Italian Coffee Maker – A Complete Guide.
- What Coffee Machine Do Italians Use? Here They Are!
- What Are Italian Coffee Makers Called?
- How to Make the Best Italian Coffee Again And Again.
- A Good Coffee Grinder Can Improve Your Italian Coffee.
- A Stovetop Espresso Maker Brings Italian Coffee Home.
- Using Italian Coffee Pods Are A Delicious And Easy Option.
- Authentic Italian Cappuccino Maker – What To Look For.
- The Italian Manual Espresso Maker – Your Quick Guide.
- An Electric Italian Espresso Maker Can Be A Perfect Gift.
- The Cuccumella: How to Brew in a Neapolitan Flip Coffee Pot.
- Skip The Bialetti Mini Express 2-Cup Stovetop Coffee Maker.
- Coffee From Italy Can Be Enjoyed At Home Overview.
- The “La Cupola” By Alessi Will Brighten Every Morning.
- The Beautiful Alessi Pulcina Stove-Top Espresso Maker.
- Could A Famous Stove-Top Espresso Maker Go Out Of Business?
- Long Live The Amazing Bialetti Stove-Top Espresso Makers!
- A Neapolitan Coffee Experience.
- Moka Express Review: Is This The Best Espresso Maker Ever?
- Bialetti Brikka Review: Is The Coffee Crema Worth It?
- Moka Pot Mistakes That Can Wreck A Delicious Italian Coffee.
- Moka Pot Cleaning With Vinegar.
- The Origins Of The Alessi Ossidiana Stovetop Espresso Maker.
- How To Use Stovetop Espresso Makers.
