This past winter, my husband Chris and I got some terrible news: the coffee shop right around the corner shut its doors. We had gotten used to making almost-daily stops for coffee—to or from school pick-up, on the way to run errands, as a "treat" on stressful days, you name it. Without any warning (to the dismay of our town's Facebook group), the location simply closed.
Well over a decade ago, we bought ourselves a manual espresso machine, but we hadn't touched it in years. (Actually, besides trying it out one or two times myself, I only enjoyed coffee drinks from that machine when Chris made them, because I found it too intimidating.) I've really never been savvy with any type of kitchen appliance or gadget, so the "fully automatic" and "built-in grinder" promises attached to this new machine really intrigued me. Would it be a good espresso machine for beginners (or, ahem, exhausted working moms)?
So, after opening the (especially large) box that arrived this spring and clearing our countertop for this new home barista setup, Chris and I got to testing...and we've made hundreds of lattes, Americanos and coffees ever since. Is KitchenAid's espresso machine worth it? Here's my honest review after using it for the last 12 weeks.
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Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer
12 Weeks Later: The TL;DR Verdict
We've been blown away by its performance and still talk about how impressed we are almost every single day. I've especially enjoyed the convenience of the AutoMilk System that steams the milk and the user-friendly touch-screen that walks you through every step—from choosing a beverage to doing a quick clean between uses (you really can't mess it up, trust me).
Although it is an espresso machine, I'd also like to note that in the last 12 weeks, we have not made drip coffee from our regular coffee machine—we've solely used the KitchenAid unit for both espresso drinks and drip coffee, and have been thrilled with the results of both.
Shop the Fully Automatic Espresso Machine KF4 With Iced Coffee at KitchenAidCourtesy Kelsey Pelzer
Model Differences
KitchenAid Model
Best For
KF2
Great for individuals who like a more hands-on approach, and don't need a huge menu of drink options
KF3
Great for individuals and families who want an at-home cafe experience but don't need as much customization
KF4
Designed for users who want the most choice, customization and convenience
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Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer
Pros and Cons of KitchenAid's Fully Automatic Espresso Machine With Iced Coffee
Before you make your first drink, the machine asks you to use a water test strip to determine your water hardness level.You can make both hot and iced coffee (and espresso) drinks (a first for the brand).The IntelliGrind technology grinds all the beans without you needing to make any manual adjustments, and if you need to add more beans in the process of drink-making, it lets you know on the screen and then continues after you've filled it up.There is a separate spot to pour in already-ground coffee if you don't want to always purchase whole beans.The AutoMilk System (in the KF3 and KF4) makes the perfect frothy espresso drink, balancing the milk and espresso effortlessly. I've used manual steamers in the past, and have found them pretty finicky (and also harder to keep clean).Thanks to the QuietGrind technology, making drinks isn't noisy at all. My husband will often surprise me in the middle of the day with another cup, which I didn't hear from a couple of rooms away.Cons
Although the brand says it's "25% smaller" than its larger KF6, KF7 and KF8 units, the espresso machine's depth still might seem pretty hefty, depending on your available counter space. Still, the width is impressively narrow, which helps.This is barely a con, but because so many other elements of the process are truly automatic and, therefore, "brainless," you do still need to remember to check your water level (and/or milk level) before starting the process of making a drink.
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Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer
The Daily Workflow: Making a Drink at 6:30 a.m.
The steps are simple and clear, which I've appreciated as I've often still been rubbing my eyes when I drag my feet into the kitchen in the dark:
The first thing I do is grab our milk container from the fridge and attach the milk system hose to it.Then, I click "Caffe Latte" on the touchscreen, and the checkmark that shows up after.It quietly grinds the beans, pulls the milk, and I have my beverage roughly within a minute.Immediately after, it recommends having you empty the coffee puck tray and drip tray, and then doing the "easy milk rinsing" that involves just moving the hose from the milk container back to the appropriate area of the unit, and clicking on the checkmark.I appreciate how mindless the process is because, let's face it, I'm usually not fully awake and alert until my second cup.
Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer
Maintenance and Deep Cleaning: The Unglamorous Truth
Besides the "easy milk rinsing" and removal of any water or "coffee pucks" that's done after each beverage (I've included a photo example of what this looks like below), there are options to deep clean—either with descaling or focusing on the milk system or brew unit.
Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer
About a month in, we got a notification on the touchscreen that we should do both a deep milk cleansing and brew unit cleansing for the first time.
You stick the end of the tube in the soapy water and put a large container under the machine (where you would normally put a cup of coffee). We ran another round with just plain water after.
Brew unit cleansing
Since then, we've received the brew unit cleansing notification only one additional time.
Descaling
One more thing to note: If you ignore the maintenance notifications, a bubble in the top right corner will remain to remind you.
Is the Price Tag Justified?
Looking at a $1,299 price tag can be intimidating, to say the least. However, with everything that this machine does (and with such ease!), it's a justified amount. The drinks are professional quality at the touch of a button, truly.
It would begin to save me money in less than a year, so with that insight and the convenience of having cafe-style drinks with a tap of my finger, I believe the price tag is absolutely worth it.
Buy at KitchenAid
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