Why Does My Espresso Taste Weak? Why Is The Two-cup Filter Not Working At All?

Hi, glad to hear that you are getting into the world of espresso! The machine does not sound like it is producing enough pressure to push the the tamped double basket. You need to be using filtered water and brita filters don't cut it. You need softened water that is free of minerals that produce build up which is probably in your system. I suggest first descaling your machine which will be easy because it doesnt have a boiler. just buy some descaling tablets for espresso machines, a quick search will bring them up. Secondly, as far as getting weak espresso i suggest your upgrade your machine a little bit. The baskets you are using are called pressurized baskets. They utilize a basket with a single hole in the bottom but many holes inside the basket. there is a small space between the bottom of the insdie of the basket and the actual outside bottom of the basket. this small space is what creates the pressure. This added pressure is what creates the "crema" which is actually fake crema because this is not how real crema is produced. what you need to get real tasting espresso (strong and with real crema that is) is a non-pressurized portafilter basket. you will need to find one that will fit your machine. i cannot tell what size it is probably a 51mm or 53mm. krups sells one that  might fit. Because you will have a basket that does not create its own pressure, the shot will rely on the fineness of grind and tamping pressure to ensure the pressure of the coffee to be properly extracted. For this you might need a better grinder because you want a really fine grind. Grind the beans until your basket is overflowing, level it off and tamp down about 30lbs of pressure (not more that is too much!). After that insert the basket in the machine and watch the shot come out, you should get 1-2oz for a double basket in 25-30 seconds. You should also get some fresh beans to see the difference in crema color. If the shot fills your glass with 2oz in more than 30 seconds then you need to grind the beans more coarsely, if less than 25seconds grind them more finely. Try and keep your tamping pressure consistent to 30lbs of pressure (you might need to use your bathroom scale to get the hang of it). Enjoy!