Crew Review: Francis Francis X1

[sweatnapper]

I have been watching videos from you guys all day and just realized your the company I just ordered a Francis! X1 from!! No joke I was looking you up to see if you were local because I wanted to see your store and mention how your vids have been helpful.

Now I'm even more exited to get it, thank you!

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@sweatnapper Cool!! Please come visit sometime :) - Kat

[peddfast]

I have this machine, and I love how you can tweak the espresso without doing so much programming that you have to do with some semi automatics. I just have one problem, it is that when im steam, some drops and water comes out of the portafilter, it is pretty irritating because it fills up the driptray fast. But I do have an old version from 5 years ago, and it still works almost perfectly. It is an extremly durable machine. I fixed it myself about 2 months ago because it wouldnt steam.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@peddfast Have you been descaling regularly or recently? Little drips from brew head or steam wand when the other is in use is often a sign of scale build up and the machine's inability to properly seal. If you haven't done that, I'd highly recommend a thorough descaling -- could fix that leaking issue :) - Kat

[peddfast]

@SeattleCoffeeGear Il do that its been a month since I last descaled :) thanks btw. Like your videos to :)

[rtrski1]

We just got an X1 (not from y'all - unfortunately; price would be the same and seems like you have a good customer service presence). But hope you wouldn't mind a question. Seem to get a LOT of leakage from around the portafilter handle (between brewhead and PF) and even out of the 'top edge' of the brewhead. More when using the single-serve insert and pods than with ground. Machine is new - any chance it's missing a gasket or something?? Overtightening or undertightening the PF?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@rtrski1 Hmmmmm -- This sounds like overfilling but peculiar that it would happen more with the pods. I would definitely check with the retailer & troubleshoot with illy (they support the warranty). This is generally a sign of too fine grind, too packed grounds, too full portafilter or not properly sealed portafilter. Depending on the pods that you are using, this could pose an issue -- I know we tested some pods on this machine that did not perform well at all, they overpressured. Kat

[cobr1]

When does a machine without auto-fill refill the boiler? because I have not done it manually :)

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@cobr1 Only when the pump is on -- either during extraction or pulling water through the wand. The Silvias, Dreams, Gaggias, etc., will not kick on their pump while you're steaming, it doesn't automatically refill. So unless you're careful about refreshing the water, you can burn out the machine. We have several videos that show how to do this on different machines -- look for temp surfing videos. - Kat

[cobr1]

@SeattleCoffeeGear Ok yeah, Ascaso claim that the Dream boiler has an external resistance so that it wont burn out, for those wo want to try it ;)

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@cobr1 Ha - yeah; if you're brave enough, go ahead, But since we see these machines in the repair center all the time for this very issue, I'm not buying their story ;) - Kat

[kenw30]

thanks for the video, Ive been looking for a review on the new X1. It looks so awesome but something tells me the Silvia would still mop the floor with it in terms of brewing quality :( wish the latter looked half as good though. This is definitely a problem because with the size of these units, the look is quite important too.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@kenw30 Well, we're going to do some side by sides, definitely, to see if their shot quality can compare. So stay tuned :) - Kat

[kragier]

I was thinking her latte art looked more like a nuclear bomb to me, but I saw the afro recognition! Now I go look at the other models >:O

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@kragier It does kind of look like a mushroom cloud :) - Kat

[kragier]

@kragier So many choices for espresso machines! Every time I watch one of your videos I end up in a dilemma I solve by completely ignoring the fact that I was ever in one! The X7 does seems quite nice for the price ($500, correct), but now I have opened my eyes ever so much more slightly to the Alexia, PIDs, etc. You responded quite fast!

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@kragier Yeah, there is a lot to choose from -- if you need any help figuring it out, let me know. :) - Kat

[Dantius2009]

Where can we see the woman, who films this? :)

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@Dantius2009 Sorry - I won't be on camera, I'm shy :D - Kat

[therealFranzpan]

@SeattleCoffeeGear You'll have to appear in the Christmas special though wont you? =P

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@therealFranzpan I *may* appear in our 1000th video ;) - Kat

[Dantius2009]

@SeattleCoffeeGear

Common, I took the looooooooong way from Germany to you, to see you on YT ;-) It would be nice to see, who is behind that nice voice.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@Dantius2009 Yeah, sorry...it's not gonna happen. I am an international woman of mystery! ;) - Kat