Francis!Francis! X5 Espresso Machine, Dark Blue
by FrancisFrancis!
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: FrancisFrancis!Brand: Francis!Francis!
Release Date: 2005-01-27
Model: X5-Dark Blue
Color: Dark Blue
Product features:
- Pump driven with 8-9 bars of Dynamic Pressure
- Great steam pressure
- Water tank holds 48 ounces of water
- Chrome plated brass brewing handle maintains ideal temperature of coffee. Both ESE pod handle and ground coffee handle included
- Dimensions length 11 1/4 inch width, 8 1/4 inch height 10 1/4 inch, 15 pounds
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Francis!Francis! X5 Espresso Machine, Dark Blue
Customer Review: It Works as Well as it Looks
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently acquired this wonderful machine through an offer by Illy, which may or may not be the best way to acquire the machine, as I'm on the hook for a boatload of coffee, but I'm liking the espresso from this machine so much that that may not be an issue. The pods can make this a great machine for a quick cup of espresso, but I prefer to use finely ground espresso roast for a more traditional (and inexpensive) cup of espresso (typically to make cappuccino or lattes).
Pros
* pro-style 56mm (not the full 58mm of other machines) chrome plated solid brass portafilter.
* Separate pod (ESE) adapter with three different screens for different styles of espresso from pods.
* Solid construction and very heavy (relative to its small size)
* Fast heat up (1-2 minutes) and a very large capacity for making steam (which is very hot and dry).
* After brewing grounds form a solid puck, though with water on top of them, as this machine lacks a 3-way solenoid of pricier machines.
* The clock is functional as it has a second hand.
Cons
* Odd assortment of manuals with really no continuity.
* Cup warming is relatively useless (it doesn't get that hot and it takes a while to warm up). Run water (without grounds or a pod) through the machine to heat up the machine and the cups.
* Often the cups will fill at different rates (despite my best attempts at a firm even tamp, but this is a relatively minor issue.
Comments
* This machine uses an odd tamper which separates with the handle coming off and the tamper head remaining on top of the grounds (remaining in the portafilter while brewing). Beyond being unconventional, it makes it hard to get 14g of grounds in with the tamper head on top. Brewing without it seems to work fine. Research seems to indicate that they sold the machine without this for a while then "enhanced" it with this feature to limit the water build up on top of the grounds after brewing.
* It may leak around the brew head while brewing but it is minor and infrequent.
* Not too noisy (it does have a boiler and a pump, so it's also not too quiet either).
Description of Francis!Francis! X5 Espresso Machine, Dark Blue
The classic retro-espresso machine from Francis!Francis! Designed by Luca Trazzi. Featuring a brass boiler and a chrome plated brass brewing handle. Comes with both an ESE pod and ground coffee handle.One tin of illycaffe Pods included.Espresso Machines
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