Best Krups Espresso Machine: Top Picks and Reviews

Krups makes many home espresso machines, from basic, affordable models to pricier super automatics. In researching the brand, however, Home Grounds has found that not every model is worth your money, and some suffer from serious drawbacks or user complaints.

The popularity of Krups endures because many of their espresso machines are genuinely great value. And those are the only ones you’ll find on this list. Don’t take chances with your money. Follow our expert guidance for the best Krups espresso machines.

The 6 Best Krups Espresso Machines in 2023

image	product	details
Best Overall Best Overall	Evidence One Automatic Coffee Machine	Super-automatic 2.3 litres 15 bars	See on Amazon
Best Value For Money Best Value For Money	Arabica Digital	Super-automatic 1.7 litres 15 bars	See on Amazon
Best Automatic Best Automatic	Virtuoso Pump Espresso Machine	Automatic 1 litre 15 bars	See on Amazon
Easiest To Use Easiest To Use	Intuition Preference Coffee Machine	Super-automatic 3 litres 15 bars	SEE ON AMAZON
Budget Pick Budget Pick	Opio Steam & Pump Espresso Machine	Semi-automatic 1.5 litres 15 bars	SEE ON AMAZON

Krups has been a German manufacturer of small appliances for over 150 years. They started by producing precision scales and later developed the very first electric coffee grinder! More recently, they have expanded their line-up to include coffee and espresso machines.

Krups espresso machines aren’t premium, either in quality or pricing. If you’re willing to drop a bit more cash, you might prefer to check out our reviews of the best Breville espresso machine models and the best Jura coffee machines.

The Krups coffee maker line up has opted to focus instead on making home espresso affordable and approachable. Their models run the gamut from tiny semi-automatic steam brewers to full-size super-automatic pump machines, so there’s something for everyone.

1. Evidence One Automatic Coffee Machine – Best Overall

Specifications

• Type of machine: Super-automatic

• Water tank capacity: 2.3 litres
• Pressure: 15 bars
• Dimensions: 24 x 36.3 x 37.2 cm

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When looking at the line-up of Krups espresso machines, it’s hard to go past the super-automatics. And the Krups EvidenceOne Automatic really does it all. It offers one-touch operation and a thermoblock heating system, so your cafe-style drinks are never more than a moment away.

The slick and intuitive OLED screen gives you access to the drinks menu and customisation. There are 12 pre-programmed drinks, including espresso, ristretto, Americano, latte macchiato, and three options for tea. For coffees, you can adjust the volume of water, brewing temperature, the amount of coffee used, or add an extra boost of flavour with the Aroma + button.

The built-in grinder has 5 different fineness settings and can hold up to 260 g of beans. The generous 2.3-litre water tank can be removed for easy refilling and cleaning. Despite all these features, the Evidence One is a very compact machine that should fit into any kitchen.

2. Arabica Digital – Best Value for Money

Specifications

• Type of machine: Super-automatic

• Water tank capacity: 1.7 litres
• Pressure: 15 bars
• Dimensions: ‎36.5 x 26 x 32 cm

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If your tastes run more to espresso, but you still want that convenient bean-to-cup experience, then the Krups Arabica Digital could be the machine for you. It offers one-touch black coffees, with the option to make cappuccinos or lattes with the manual steam wand.

This machine is all about speed and convenience. Once you power up, it will freshly grind the beans and prepare you an espresso in under a minute. But that doesn’t mean you miss out on personalisation. There are three coffee styles available – espresso, ristretto, and long coffee – all of which can be adjusted for volume, strength and brew temperature. You can also make them as a double or make two at a time.

You can still make cafe-style drinks like cappuccinos, but you’ll need to froth the milk yourself using the manual steam wand. It’s a panarello-style wand that’s designed to be easier for beginners, so don’t worry if you haven’t used one before (1).

Taking care of the machine is just as easy. You’ll be alerted when the machine needs deep cleaning or descaling, both of which can be done using automatic cycles from the LCD screen. You can also set up your machine to do a quick rinse on start-up to ensure you never have any stale flavours in your coffee.

3. Virtuoso Pump Espresso Machine – Best Automatic

Specifications

• Type of machine: Automatic

• Water tank capacity: 1 litre
• Pressure: 15 bars
• Dimensions: ‎28 x 14.3 x 28.5 cm

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There are a few different awards that would just as easily apply to the Krups Virtuoso Pump Espresso Machine. It’s super compact, making it the best pick for small spaces, and the sleek stainless steel design surely makes it the most stylish on our list.

With any automatic machine, you’ll need to do almost every part of the brewing process yourself. This means grinding, dosing, and tamping your own coffee beans, and frothing your own milk if you want a latte or flat white. The payoff to all this work is that with a little practice, it can yield a superior coffee.

If you’re having a lazy day, or if you’ve run out of your favourite specialty beans, you’ll be pleased to know that you can use ESE pods in the Virtuoso.

Controls are simple, with just buttons for one or two coffees (or a double shot). As an automatic machine, it will time the shot for you. The preset volume is 40 ml, but this can be adjusted anwhwere from 15-65 ml to suit your taste. It’s a straightforward machine but a good choice for a budding barista.

4. Intuition Preference Coffee Machine – Easiest to Use

Specifications

• Type of machine: Super-automatic

• Water tank capacity: 3 litres
• Pressure: 15 bars
• Dimensions:

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Krups have eliminated any potential for user error with the Intuition Preference Coffee Machine. Just like the Evidence One, it’s a true bean-to-cup machine, making both black and milk coffees at the touch of a button, and without the need to move your cup.

The key to its ease of use is the large touchscreen display, which has been designed to mimic a smartphone. From here you can access 11 pre-programmed drink options, with the option to easily customise for strength and volume on the fly. It’s great to see so many variations of black coffee, which include espresso, ristretto, doppio, lungo, long coffee and Americano.

For those that want cafe-style drinks, you have the option of three sizes for your brew, M, L and XL, which is great for those days when you want to relax with a giant mug of coffee. The machine offers both hot water and a standalone serve of frothed milk, so you can also use it to make tea and hot chocolate.

Last but certainly not least, we can’t skip a mention of the water reservoir. With a huge 3-litre capacity, you can get through more XL cappuccinos without the need for refilling.

5. Opio Steam & Pump Espresso Machine – Budget Pick

Specifications

• Type of machine: Semi-automatic

• Water tank capacity: 1.5 litres
• Pressure: 15 bars
• Dimensions: ‎29.7 x 20.1 x 29 cm

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The Krups Opio Steam & Pump Espresso Machine is the smallest and least expensive pump machine on this list. For this reason, it’s the perfect introductory model for anyone curious about the espresso world. Use it to learn the ins and outs of pulling espresso shots on a semi-automatic machine, and then decide if espresso is a hobby worth your time and money.

The 15-bar pump provides plenty of pressure to create true espresso, complete with the beautiful crema topping. Because it doesn’t have a built-in grinder, we suggest pairing it with a good burr grinder for the most flavorful brew. However, you’ll still enjoy tasty results using pre-ground coffee thanks to the pressurised filter basket, perfect for an espresso beginner.

The Krups Opio is also equipped with a steam wand. Once you’ve mastered the technique, you’ll have the versatility to create creamy latte foam or airy cappuccino froth. The top of the machine acts as a passive cup warmer, and accessories include a scoop, tamper, and separate filter baskets for single and double shots.

For a larger selection of entry-level machines of this style, you might be interested in some of our favourite Delonghi espresso makers.

How to Choose the Best Krups Espresso Machine

Choosing the suitable Krups espresso machine for you is easy because each has a unique selling point. You can narrow your choice to the perfect model by answering just a few simple questions. Let’s get started.

Brewing style: semi-automatic or super-automatic?

Krups espresso makers can be broadly categorized as semi-automatic or super-automatic. The user experience is very different in either case, so this is an easy first step to narrow down your options.

Semi-automatic espresso makers require the user to do most of the work. You will need to grind the coffee, fill the portafilter, tamp the espresso puck, and start and stop the shot. Milk steaming is also done manually.

The advantages of this system are:

• It’s less expensive to buy.
• There is less to break, so it’s also cheaper to own and maintain.
• It’s more compact (though you will also need a grinder).
• The user has total control of the process, leading to better coffee.

Automatic espresso makers are almost identical to semi-automatics, but with one difference: the machine will time the shot for you. This means you press a button to start and the machine will stop at the correct volume.

Super-automatic espresso makers do everything for you, including grinding, tamping, and brewing. They’re like having a personal barista; press a button or two and wait for your drink to arrive.

The advantages of this system are:

• CONSISTENCY. This is the big one. There is no possibility for user error.
• You don’t need to own a separate grinder.

The impact of pressure on coffee style

What’s the difference between coffee and espresso? Despite what you might think, it’s not the type of coffee bean; it’s the pressure used for brewing. Drip coffee is brewed at atmospheric pressure, and you traditionally brew espresso with 9 bars of pressure. And there are pseudo-espresso brewing methods that fall somewhere in between – for example, the Aeropress and the Moka pot. These brew strong cups of coffee, according to Stumptown Roasters’ Matt Lounsbury, but not quite espresso (2).

Krups espresso machines have several pressure options. Their pump machines use 15-bar pumps, which yield 9 bars of pressure at the brew head. These produce the true espresso you expect, with a heavy body, rich mouthfeel, and layer of crema (3). Other Krups models use steam rather than pump pressure, which only generates about 4 bars. Like a Moka pot, they will produce a strong coffee, but it won’t have the same body as an espresso brewed under higher pressure. These steam machines are a good choice if you plan to enjoy mostly milky coffee drinks, where the texture of the espresso is less important.

How much capacity do you need?

Before buying an espresso machine, think about how much espresso you plan to make. Is it just you enjoying an occasional shot? Do you have a large household of espresso enthusiasts? Do you often entertain guests? The answers to these questions impact which Krups espresso machine is right for you.

For one person, every model has plenty of capacity. The larger models will likely be overkill – taking up more space and costing more money than necessary. On the other hand, if you plan on making a lot of espresso, the smaller machines won’t be able to keep up. You’ll get frustrated constantly filling the water tank, emptying the drip tray, and so on.

Also, consider the available space in your kitchen when deciding, and measure the area where you plan to put your coffee machine. All Krups machines are relatively compact, but the larger super automatic models may not be suitable for small kitchens.

The Verdict

Krups espresso machines aren’t the highest quality on the market, but they offer excellent value for money in the case of the six mentioned here. Our top pick is the Krups Evidence One, which includes an integrated grinder, 15-bar pump, and 15 pre-programmed specialty drinks. But if you’re more interested in discovering the craft of espresso and whether it’s right for you, one of the automatic or semi-automatic models will be a perfect fit.