I've had the Krups Expresso Vivo (887) since August of 1998 and I paid $150. It was the least expensive pump model I could find and I liked the fact that it has a small footprint.

I've not used it consistently since then, only because of my own laziness. During the past year, if I've tried to make a second "batch" right after the first one, often, it won't work - the ground coffee is spewed from the top of the filter holder (eventhough the first batch *always* works fine).

I removed the steaming wand attachment - it's not really that difficult to froth milk without it & it's one more thing to clean. <g> The used grounds are quite wet - I guess that's not normal for good espresso. I like the removable drip tray - easy to clean.

For someone who wants a pump machine for under $200, I think this is a good choice.



Recommended: Yes