Overview

Fully automated and feature-rich including LCD display, descaling & cleaning, adjustable temperatures, dishwasher-proof parts, child lock, 2 year manufacturer’s guarantee but this is an imposing appliance with a price tag to match.

With the EQ7, Siemens have endeavoured to create the ‘Rolls Royce’ of coffee machines, and it appears that they have succeeded. The EQ7 not only does just about everything a professional barista can, it does a whole lot more besides. This machine is aimed at the coffee lover. It can produce just about every form of coffee you could possibly imagine and the results are noteworthy. Whether you prefer a simple espresso shot, a cappuccino, americano or a milky latte macchiato, the EQ7 not only makes it but does so with style.

The EQ7 is also most comprehensive and easy to use. Information is relayed via an easily legible LCD display under which options are selected with a simple rotary dial and easily accessible buttons. Siemens really have covered all of the bases here including non-slip feet, dishwasher safe parts and a child lock to prevent any unwanted operation of the machine. Both ground coffee and coffee beans can be used and beverage perfection is achieved with a variety of intelligent technology including Siemens’s ‘Auto valve system’, ‘One-touch operation’ and ‘AromaDouble’ functions.

To make life easier still, the EQ7 will let you know when it requires cleaning on the LCD display and then launch automatic deep cleaning and descaling programmes ensuring that your machine remains in good working order and your coffee tastes perfect. Siemens have so much faith in the quality of their workmanship that they have included a full 2 year manufacturer’s guarantee which should go some way to ease any trepidation over the price. That said, this is a high-end appliance and therefore economy would not be its main aim. It is at the top of the range, does just about everything it should and therefore does carry a hefty price tag. If saving money is your main aim, this is not the machine for you. The EQ7 caters for those who want and have to have the very best.

Design

With its piano-black lacquered facade accentuated by lines and panels of stainless steel, the EQ7 is a devilishly handsome beast indeed. This is probably just as well, seeing as it is a truly imposing size (320 mm (width) x 445 mm (depth) x 385 mm (height)) and demanding of worktop space. Press the power button and you are greeted with an array of cool blue LEDs, perfectly blending with the overall visual design and reminding you what you gave up that space for and why it was worth it. These aspects are of course purely aesthetic, but it doesn’t hurt to know that Siemens has taken them into full account, and so they should at this price point.

The centrally placed LED display is the command centre of the EQ7 and excels at its job. Easily legible, crisply displayed menus (including simple picture icons) are navigated swiftly and efficiently by the central rotary dial just below. On each start-up (and shutdown), the ‘automatic quick rinse programme’ is employed serving to save maintenance on your part whilst ensuring consistently great tasting coffee. You will also be alerted should the EQ7 require either more beans or water and the LCD display features a handy clock for utmost convenience.

The EQ7 houses a removable transparent 2.1 litre water container and a 300 gram bean compartment (which sits on top of the machine), ensuring neither has to be replenished too often. The drip tray (on which cups are placed when making a beverage) is also removable and supports the used coffee grounds container serving to facilitate the utmost ease when discarding used grounds. Also situated on the top of the EQ7 is its ‘active cup warmer’, which can be individually deactivated in order to save energy and will ensure that your coffee is always hot.

In order to create those beloved milky-coffee creations such as latte or cappuccino a good milk frother is required and the EQ7 comes up trumps here also. From a design perspective Siemens have been uniquely innovative to this end. The EQ7 features a removable separate thermally insulated milk container (which can be conveniently filled and stored in the fridge until required) from which the ‘creamCenter milk frother’ can draw fresh milk before rapidly infusing it with hot steam and dispensing it as perfectly frothy milk. The main coffee dispensing arm is manoeuvrable both up and down (to accommodate any size or height of cup); and left to right. This is an ingenious design in that shots of espresso can be added directly to frothed milk (as would be done by a barista at your favourite coffee house) by simply moving the arm across to the right to join the milk dispenser above the cup or back to its original position for a simple Americano or espresso.

The EQ7 may be an imposing appliance, but any surface space sacrificed is compensated by innovative eye-catching design combined with functionality and ease of use.

Features

Siemens have made sure that the EQ7 has all of the features that it should (and more) and that they work well. From the outset convenience is at the forefront with the EQ7’s handy one –touch operation. This allows the creation of your favourite beverage (which the EQ7 will remember for you) at the touch of a button using Siemens’s ‘aromaPressure’ brewing. Should you require an extra boost, the ‘aromaDouble’ shot function can be employed to achieve a stronger coffee with no loss of aroma.

As mentioned, the EQ7 has the capacity for the use of both coffee beans and pre-ground coffee. To this end, the machine features a top notch ceramic grinding unit (Siemens’s ‘silentceramDrive’) which is aimed at ensuring the perfect grind is achieved whilst minimising unwanted noise. Outlets which dispense hot liquids are thoughtfully encased in stainless steel to prevent any corrosion and prolong the life of the machine and its parts, which are all dishwasher safe. This includes the components of the ‘creamCenter milk frother’ and its detachable milk container (which features 0.7 litre capacity) for utmost convenience. Hot milk of the perfect frothy consistency is achieved by a unique suction function which uses three separate ‘whirl’ chambers for perfect results.

A further, excellent feature of the EQ7 is its ‘auto valve system’, which automatically switches between steam and hot water. Four temperature settings are available for hot water and three for coffee ensuring that the desired warmth is attained. When actually brewing coffee, the EQ7 once again displays its prowess as it utilises Siemens’s ‘senso Flow system’, with which it can intelligently gauge the necessary heat required for a specific beverage and alter it accordingly. This makes sure that your coffee is consistently hot and tastes outstanding whilst minimising any unnecessary operating requirements.

Aside from the ‘automatic quick rinse programme’ (which is activated every time the machine is used), long-term maintenance is taken care of with comprehensive automatic descaling and cleaning programmes which the EQ7 will prompt you to launch when required. This makes sure that you are in control of your machine and that it has a long and healthy life (which Siemens will further ensure with an included, full 2 year manufacturer’s guarantee).

The coffee produced by the EQ7 is excellent and always has that perfect crema layer expected thanks to the incorporation of a powerful 19 bar pressure water pump. Further convenient features include reduced heat-up time and a pre-brewing function all aimed at saving time in today’s busy modern world.

Conclusion

The Siemens EQ7 has managed a rare feat indeed: it is both visually stunning and comprehensively functional. The build quality is exceptional and beverages produced delicious. Espressos are intense, Americanos are aromatic and milky coffees such as lattes are creamy and satisfying. In addition to these, the EQ7’s infinite programmability allows you, the user, to create your own beverages which it then memorises and reproduces at the touch of a button. The only downside here is the price of the appliance; however we reckon that if you were to calculate how much you spend per year in coffee shops, the EQ7 would pay for itself and become a sound investment.

The EQ7 takes a relatively skilled and arduous task in the production of perfectly made coffee-based beverages, and turns it into child’s play with minimal drama and mess. If this machine is within your budget, there really is no need to wait. It will provide many years of hassle-free, excellent quality coffee.

Overview

Stylish contemporary design including 19 bar high pressure pump, ‘Aeroccino’ milk frother, automatic flow stop and auto power-off functions but beware the price of coffee capsules.

The Krups XN710141 is an attractive compact coffee machine which has the added bonus of a separate ‘Aeroccino’ milk frother for those of you who love lattés and other milky coffee creations. It exclusively employs Nespresso coffee capsules, which are hermetically sealed to provide the optimum conditions to preserve the quality and aroma of the coffee within. Nespresso have some 16 varieties of ‘Grand Cru’ coffee capsules available coming from an array of producers worldwide which are expertly selected and then blended to ensure unique and tasty coffees to suit every palate. The Nespresso system truly is the best way to achieve freshly brewed coffee with quite literally zero fuss as there are no beans or discarded coffee grounds to clear up; you simply insert a capsule and press a button. The only negative to speak of is that the cost of capsules can accumulate over time, although they remain far more economical than a trip to your high street coffee shop on a regular basis.

Design

A good deal of thought has evidently gone into the design of the XN710141 by the designers at Krups and it is no bad thing. The machine oozes style with its sleek piano black exterior accentuated by titanium paneling and would not look out of place in a modern design studio, let alone a kitchen or office. Krups have clearly aimed this product at the lifestyle conscious as it both looks the part and allows great coffee whilst not being time consuming.  It essentially fills a void between large fully automatic coffee makers and more entry level machines. If you are a person who appreciates fashionable and stylish things, this could be the perfect purchase for you.

Features

The Krups XN710141 has a neat little trick up its sleeve with the ‘Aeroccino’ milk frother which docks next to the coffee maker itself on the base of the machine. This is a worthy addition as it functions independently of the coffee maker and can be used to create both hot and cold beverage creations. The most notable point here is the fact that you will be hard pressed to find this feature on other compact machines of this quality and less likely to find it at this price level.

Another excellent feature of the XN710141 is Krups’s incorporation of their ‘Combination pump and Thermoblock system’ which ensures consistency in the quality of beverage production by exactly determining the correct temperature for both water and milk. ‘Thermoblock’ technology concerns itself with a narrow ‘labyrinth’ in which water is directly heated to 92 °c exactly, making sure that each cup is as delectable and as rapidly produced as the last (any machine featuring Krups ‘Thermoblock’ technology boasts coffee production in under a minute from turning it on). In addition to this, Krups have even thought to automatically flush the system after each use in order to improve the machine’s life whilst reducing scaling.

Other aspects of note featured in the XN710141 are its powerful 19 bar pressure pump and automatic ‘flow stop system’ which allows you to determine water volumes for espresso and Americano style coffees according to your preferences. There is also a 1.4l removable water tank for convenience and a capsule container to avoid any mess or hassle for those constantly on the go.

Conclusion

Should you be in the market for a well priced, easy to use yet ultimately stylish coffee machine, the ‘Krups XN710141 Nespresso CitiZ and Milk’ could be absolutey ideal for you. It has all of the features necessary for creating good coffee with its Nespresso system with the added benefit of a functional ‘Aeroccino’ milk frothing system. Therefore, if you are seeking a great coffee experience with easy to use functionality and a splash of style, the XN710141 will not disappoint.

Overview

Compact, attractive and lightweight machine which will fit neatly into almost any space. It is inexpensive, functional and very easy to use. Just insert a capsule, press the button and enjoy great tasting coffee!

The Magimix Essenza M100 Eco is a stylish, compact coffee machine designed for use with Nespresso coffee capsules which are easy to load and create no mess. This really is the perfect machine for those who want the taste of real coffee without the frills. The M100 Eco used for this review is the ‘automatic’ version, which means it is programmable to produce two different cup sizes. The machine will therefore stop brewing coffee once the desired cup size is reached: a handy feature for those on the go. It is worth mentioning that a manual version is also available, but the price difference between the two is so negligible (under £20) that it just didn’t seem worth having to watch the machine every time you want a coffee for fear of your cup overflowing.

Design

Magimix have made the Essenza M100 a handsome little devil indeed, making it an attractive addition to any modern kitchen or office. Its compact proportions (H22.5xW16.6xD29cm) along with a removable water container mean that it is easily manoeuvrable, fits comfortably into almost any space and requires hardly any cleaning.  At 4.1kg, it is also very lightweight and a variety of available colours to choose from.

The M100 is designed for use with Nespresso coffee capsules (a variety of which are available) which are easily loaded in the top of the coffee machine and automatically ejected after use. All you have to do is insert a capsule, press a button activating one of two cup size programmes and sit back and enjoy your coffee. That really is all there is to it!

Features

The main aims of the Essenza M100 are economy and efficiency; and as such the machine is designed to be simple and free of superfluous features.  It is cheap, functional and not intended to compete with its larger, far more complex siblings. That said, it is worth saying that what it does, it does very well indeed and will provide years of enjoyment and use.

Magimix have equipped the M100 with a powerful 19 bar high pressure pump and thermoblock heating element to ensure that the perfect pressure and temperature for your beverage will always be attained. As mentioned, the M100’s use of Nespresso coffee capsules render it truly hassle-free and eliminate the need to clear up messy coffee grounds or invest in expensive bean grinders. Quite literally all you do is lift the lever on the top of the machine, insert a Nespresso capsule and press the button. The machine will then automatically eject the used capsule to be discarded later for optimal efficiency. The only criticism we can level at this system is that the price of the Nespresso capsules can add up over time; but the low cost of the machine goes some way to alleviate this.

Conclusion

If a simple, economic and hassle-free coffee machine is what you seek then look no further. The Magimix Essenza M100 is a great device for its price and produces some great tasting coffee. If you are still an instant coffee drinker we can’t stress enough how worthwhile purchasing the M100 would be. Whether for the home or office this machine is an excellent addition which will not only provide daily use; but save you all of those trips to the coffee house and in turn a small fortune.