With the steam wand of the Krups Coffee Crush SA404BB, I froth milk like a barista, while the machine takes up barely any space on my counter. However, a milk jug is not included.
Frothing milk like a barista
For me, the steam wand is the strongest point of this machine. I froth the milk myself, allowing me to determine exactly how firm and creamy the foam becomes. This way, alongside an espresso, I can also make a cappuccino or another coffee specialty with milk foam.
Coffee at the temperature I want
I can easily set the temperature via the control panel. As a result, I don't drink my coffee lukewarm, nor so hot that I have to wait. I notice that this makes the biggest difference with an espresso, because the taste changes quickly at a different temperature. This allows me to fine-tune every lungo or espresso even better to my own taste.
3 different grind settings
With the 3 grind settings, I adjust the grind size to the beans I have at home. For a dark espresso bean, I choose a different setting than for a lighter bean for filter coffee. This allows me to get more flavor out of the same bag of beans. If I use ground coffee, for example a decaf for the evening, that works too.
Clear menu with touch buttons
The menu with touch buttons is clear and responsive. I don't have to search for the right setting; instead, I choose my coffee and adjust the settings with just a few taps. That is convenient when I need to leave the house quickly in the morning and don't want to think about the controls.
Quick installation
Starting it up took me very little time. I filled the water reservoir, put the beans in, and brewed my first cup of coffee without having to keep the manual with me for long. The coffee machine also fits easily on the countertop. At a width of about 15 cm, it is much more compact than a standard fully automatic machine. This leaves me with room for the rest of my kitchen utensils.