# Capresso, Mukka or Krupps? Cappuccino maker recommendations sought. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 6, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capresso-mukka-or-krupps-cappuccino-maker-recommendations-sought/509112 "2009-09-06T23:38:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capresso-mukka-or-krupps-cappuccino-maker-recommendations-sought/509112/1 "2009-09-06T23:38:29Z")
We’re debating - do we get the [Krups](http://www.krups.ca/All+Products/Espresso+Machines/Coffee+and+Espresso+combination+machines/Products/XP2070/XP+2070+Combination+Machine.htm) for about $300 Canadian? Or the [Mukka](http://www.bialettishop.com/MukkaMain.htm) for $99. CAD? Or the [Capresso](http://www.capresso.com/espresso-machines-4cup.shtml) for $119.? Any experiences, recommendations, horror stories? After my dealings with KitchenAid/Whirlpool, I’m not buying anything without running it past Team Doper. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capresso-mukka-or-krupps-cappuccino-maker-recommendations-sought/509112/2 "2009-09-07T00:08:07Z")
Don’t get the Krupps. I have that one and I’ve had it in the shop 3 times in 3 years. They fixed it for free, but geez. If it ever craps out again, it goes in the dumpster. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capresso-mukka-or-krupps-cappuccino-maker-recommendations-sought/509112/3 "2009-09-07T00:13:06Z")
that Mukka thing doesn’t make espresso as far as I can tell, just the moka variety of coffee. I haven’t tried the Krupps so I can’t say much about it. I’ve had a capresso, but not that particular model, and it did a good, diligent job. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capresso-mukka-or-krupps-cappuccino-maker-recommendations-sought/509112/4 "2009-09-07T02:05:08Z")
I’d go for a moka pot. But not for a C-note. [This is a good size](http://www.amazon.com/Bialetti-Express-6-Cup-Stovetop-Percolator/dp/B000CNY6UK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1252288876&sr=8-1) for a single cup of espresso-like coffee. (I have a big espresso cup.) And it costs a quarter of the Mukka one. You can also get cheaper ones that work just as well, or stainless steel ones that are easier to clean and don’t corrode. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capresso-mukka-or-krupps-cappuccino-maker-recommendations-sought/509112/5 "2009-09-07T03:20:11Z")
Ah, but that’s the trick - I like lattes, not espresso. In fact, what I prefer is not a café au lait, which is what Starbuck’s has convinced the world should be called a latte. No, my preference is for a true latte, where the espresso is added to the cold milk in the pitcher and the resulting mix is frothed as vigourously as you can. It will never froth as much as a cappuccino because the milk is too warm, but what froth you get is espresso flavoured. However, if it is a good working machine, I could settle for the Mukka. Sadly, with the machine you recommend, I get good espresso, but I’m left scalding my milk on the stovetop or in the microwave… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capresso-mukka-or-krupps-cappuccino-maker-recommendations-sought/509112/6 "2009-09-07T03:24:12Z")
I didn’t notice that the Mukka does the milk too. (I have mine with sugar only.) ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capresso-mukka-or-krupps-cappuccino-maker-recommendations-sought/509112/7 "2009-09-07T03:34:10Z")
Wow, is that ever embarrassing. I haven’t screwed up like that for a while - I could have sworn I hit the ‘New Thread’ button. Please, just ignore me. ---
**Author:** ![vifslan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f4b2a3/32.png) [@vifslan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vifslan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capresso-mukka-or-krupps-cappuccino-maker-recommendations-sought/509112/8 "2009-09-07T21:28:30Z")
To focus on the milk-frothing ability on espresso machines, I’ve learnt to be a sceptic about Superfroth doodads, thingamijigs etc. My very first espresso maker was a tiny little Krups “steam engine” where everything worked fine for morning cappuccinos and afternoon lattes, apart from the frothing aid. You’d have gotten a better result by taking your milk straight from the fridge and blown bubbles into it with a straw. Unfortunately, that model was discontinued and since then the Krups steam wands have failed to impress me. I’m more optimistic about the Capresso, though the thing with a steam-powered espresso machine is that it’s a little weak on steaming power after you’ve made a full pot of coffee. What’s left in the boiler may be enough to steam two medium lattes or so, with reservations for the fact that I haven’t tried out this model.