Krups XP7260 Compact Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with Auto Cappuccino Kit

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This was no small purchase for me. I've researched and waited for about 1 year before committing to this machine. The price dropped by about 40% from one of the Amazon online retailers and there was free shipping so I jumped at the chance. I've had the XP 7260 for about 1 week now and I mostly love this machine. When I first got the machine I spent an hour or so reviewing the instruction manual before I turned on the machine which helped me to realize a couple important tips (for most all auto-espresso machines). 1 - you have to use very cold l% or 2% milk for best froth/foam and 2 - you should use non-oily beans. Also, I expected to get coffee shop quality from the first cup of expresso but have quickly realized that I haven't learned the proportions of espresso to water (for Americano) or milk (for latte & cappucino). I wish more than two recipes were included for first time users.

Pros:
Stunning appearance
Auto frothing attachment works excellent(if you use cold 1% or 2% milk)
Great tasting coffee/espresso
Doesn't take up too much room on the counter

Cons:
The biggest CON is that there is NO pre-ground coffee funnel - I big disappointment - no decaf drinks at night.
The Amazon description mentions that this machine is compatible with ground coffee but it's NOT!
Noisy! Similar to turning on a blener full of ice. The noise is short-lived so it's bearable.
Not enough recipes for basic coffee drinks - I have yet to perfect the Americano. Web blogs are all over the place regarding recipes.
Frequently filling the water container - not a big deal but if you have cabinets above your counter you have the pull the machine out far enough to access the water container.
Espresso cups, manual frothing pitcher, and coffee not included (auto pitcher is included). Plan to spend another $50 on these items before making your first cup of espresso.
Maintenance costs could be about $100 per year for water filter replacements and cleaning tablets.
Water filter and cleaning tablets are not easily available so I will have to purchase online.

I know, this sounds like a long list. I have a feeling many other espresso machines have similar cons so I wouldn't consider any of these a deal-breaker.

Overall an excellent machine but I really wish there was a pre-ground coffee funnel so that we could enjoy decaf expresso drinks at night.

The machine is great. It's electronic controls are easy to understand and the operations are reasonably simple. It's really an all-in-one machine. It produces a varitey of espresso drinks and the clean up is very simple. It's a dream machine, except for one BIG drawback, the maintenance costs. The unit must be cleaned after every 6 drinks with a tablet costing $2. And that is IF YOU CAN FIND THEM IN STOCK, which I can't. Only two tablets are included with the machine....and I've long used those up. I am still trying to find someone that has the tablets in stock. Also, there is a descaling required after every 24 cups with a powder that costs $4 a packet. Overall, the amortized cost of the cleaning and descaling is about $0.55 a cup, which is a 3 to 4 oz drink. Since I drink the equivalent of four cups a day, my maintence costs will be around $800 a year. That is a little more than I paid for the machine!!! If you are rolling in dough, this is not problem....but it is for me. I am returning the machine and looking for something else that has a more reasonable maintenance cost.