The Krups Serenity Milk coffee machine pleasantly surprised me as soon as I unpacked it. It looks modern and elegant, yet doesn’t appear unnecessarily bulky. In terms of size, I’d say it falls into the small to medium category of automatic coffee machines, so I reckon it’ll fit just fine even in a kitchen where there isn’t much space on the worktop. It’s easy to set up and just as easy to use. On the front panel there is a dial for selecting your drink, buttons for adjusting the strength and quantity of coffee, a start/stop button, and indicator lights for cleaning, descaling or refilling the water. Nothing complicated, no unnecessary menus to get lost in. The pack also includes a clear, illustrated guide, so even someone with little experience of automatic coffee machines will have no trouble getting it up and running for the first time. For me, the speed and quiet operation are a big plus. You can hear the coffee machine, but it’s not particularly loud; in fact, it’s quite quiet. I’d say the noise is more like that of a kettle than a loud pump. I also like the ‘switch on, start it up and walk away’ approach — there’s no need to stand by the machine waiting for it to warm up. Simply choose your drink, press start, and your coffee will be ready in a moment. As for the drinks menu, it’s a bit of a let-down. The coffee machine can make espresso, filter coffee and cappuccino thanks to its milk system with a dedicated container. The Cappuccino works well and the whole system is practical. On the other hand, I’d like to see a wider selection of milk-based drinks, such as lattes or flat whites, as well as the option to make just milk foam on its own. I have a minor reservation about cleaning the milk system. The jug itself is quite easy to clean, but the upper blending section doesn't come apart properly. The coffee machine does have a milk system rinse function, but I see it more as a quick rinse than a thorough clean. If milk gets stuck somewhere – especially if you’ve used bad milk – getting inside and cleaning it out properly isn’t that easy. The coffee itself is very good, though. It goes without saying that you can’t expect an automatic machine to produce exactly the same result as a lever-operated coffee machine, but within its category, the Krups Serenity Milk makes very good coffee. What surprised me most was the filtered coffee setting; I’d expected it to be nothing more than a token extra, but the coffee it makes is actually very good. Overall, I would recommend this coffee machine primarily to ordinary households looking for a simple, quiet machine that doesn’t require complicated settings. It isn't packed with features, but it does the job perfectly and is good value for money.