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A Guide to Identifying Your FrancisFrancis X1
3 Aug 2015
We get asked all the time 'Can you tell me which FrancisFrancis X1 machine I have?'

This is a guide that shows you how to work out which generation of FrancisFrancis X1 your machine is simply by using the coffee handles alone.  There's also additional information on X3, X6, X7 and X7.1 machine handles.
While the design of the X1 has remained constant since the original machine, the handles have changed a little (and sometimes a lot), so if we focus on the handles it's a straightforward way of working out what you've got.  This way we can specify spare parts, replacement handles and give advice about your coffee machine on what style of coffee it can take etc.

Please click for SPARE PARTS and HANDLES.

FrancisFrancis X1 machines have been in production since 1998. Various models have been made to date.


Aluminium boiler 1st Gen: Classic (1999 - early 2004) - Aluminium internals - POD and Ground machine. Look where water is dispensed, all the area (except the rubber ring seal) should be silver coloured. Outer dimension on existing handle (pod+ground) is 66mm. With the handle facing up, measure from the outside of the rectangular metal piece on either side. Ground coffee handle didn't have a screw on spout, just two holes that the coffee is dispensed from. The ESE pod handle spout is cast part of the handle and protrudes from the handle by aprox 15mm. With the ESE handle facing towards you the lugs (where the handle slots into the chrome housing) are at the clock position ‘ten-to-four’. Lenses on lights are red (even if machine is powered off). Top light is red for power. Lower light is flashing red for warming up, goes out when temp is reached.


Brass boiler 2nd Gen: Classic (late 2003 – mid 2008) - Brass internals - POD and Ground machine. Where water is dispensed, some of the area (except the rubber ring seal) should be brass coloured. Outer dimension on existing handle (pod+ground) is 71mm. With the handle facing up, measure from the outside of the rectangular metal piece on either side. Ground coffee handle had a metal screw-on spout. The ESE pod handle spout is cast part of the handle and protrudes from the handle by aprox 22mm. With the ESE handle facing towards you the lugs (where the handle slots into the chrome housing) are at the clock position ‘quarter-to-three’. Lenses on lights are red (even if machine is powered off). Top light is red for power. Lower light is flashing red for warming up, goes out when temp is reached.


Brass boiler 3rd Gen: Ground (late 2007 – current) - Brass internals - Ground coffee only machine. Outer dimension on existing handle is 71mm, like the 2nd Gen. Picture icons under coffee and steam switches and inside temperature dial. Existing handle has black push on plastic spout. Lenses on lights are clear until machine is powered. Top light is red for power on. Lower light is remains clear and then illuminates green when ready, complete with a beep.


TRIO - Brass boiler. Uses PODs only. Handle has a black plastic inner that seats the POD. This plastic piece extends down through the handle and a black plastic spout is attached to it. The area where the handle is placed in to the machine (silver chromed) will have three cup icons to illustrate the three stages of TRIO extraction. Lenses on lights are clear until machine is powered. Top light is red for power on. Lower light is flashing and then illuminates green when ready.


THANKS FOR WATCHING.

CHRIS.