KitchenAid Semi-Auto Espresso Machine, Burr Grinder, 2.5L, Cast Iron Black

I spent 16months looking at this machine—dreaming of it before I purchased. Literally LOVE this machine. I use fresh air roasted beans, vanilla bean sugar, starbucks vanilla syrup, Kemps 2%milk. Took a few months until new grinder. Makes espresso perfect. Amazing value at discount. Designers put thought into this for under counter space, design and even for clean up. Frother is top tier better than any brand. Its sleek, crisp and innovative. I push it hard 3-5 times a day. DO NOT use tap water, just use filtered bottled water so no purging machine for 2months(if used every other day). Just remove filter from water tank to use filtered bottled water(NO SPRING WATER). Do not leave machine "unused" for 2+ weeks, then clean water will smell, if used ovbiously no smell. Ease of use is extremely easy, i recommend for everyone. DO NOT FORGET TO PRIME FIRST #1 Rule. Or Prime every 2 weeks because you can. Purge every 2 weeks because you can. Clean water tank every 2 weeks because you can. This is a tool not a toy. Pretty sure all the bad reviews are paid actors or amateurs. Water does not spill/leak everywhere, its the drip tray over flowing. Rinse drip tray everyday or after every 4 espresso makes. You will 100% need some tools and this goes for ALL home espresso brands not just kitchen aid, so dont think another brand is going to save you. Its actually going to be worse because other brand portafilters are only (54mm). Kitchen-aids, is professional size (58mm). Most home espresso machine grinders are to small in mm(40mm)(42mm)(44mm) so not every bean works and will grind to fine on max course. I wasted many beans. So no matter what you will have to buy a df54mm or df64mm coffee grinder to make "ANY" coffee bean you want instead of guessing. I myself have saved a $1000 since I can make it myself now. The set up below is for kitchenaid semi-automatic espresso machine(non negotiable)— 1. df54mm grinder. 2. 58.5mm Espresso Tamper—6 Adjustable Pressure Settings. 3. A set of 0.2mm Ultra-Thin Coffee Espresso Filter Screen. 4. Electronic Coffee Scale. 5. Dosing Ring. 6. Espresso Distribution Tool 7. One 2.5oz-One 4oz Espresso Shot glass for weighing espresso. 8. 20oz Stainless steel froth cup if you want extra foam like me(do not have to). The rest you can figure out. You're all extremely welcome for this review that you wont even find a video on the internet for.

…and now I can get my fix right in the comfort of my own home! First things first, this review is after about a week of having the machine. So to start, the thing looks gorgeous. Got the Juniper color and it’s beautiful. Definitely not as green as the pictures, but still not the typical stainless, black or white (not saying they’re bad, they’re not - the white is a looker as well). The machine is very well made, KitchenAid quality abounds - lots of metal with some heavy plastic thrown in, like with the grinder and the drip tray. But it looks nice, feels better and screams premium. Pulling a shot is pretty straight forward - grind, tamp, pull, froth, enjoy! The grinder is awesome - very quiet compared to other grinders. Play with the grind settings, amount and grind size to find your ideal settings. It’s fun to figure out how to get your kitchen to taste like your favorite coffee shop - and here’s the keys to the kingdom. Follow these suggestions and you’re sure to make a quality espresso every time. First, use actual espresso beans. Do not use oily beans - they will clog your grinder as oil and “dust” do not mix. If you use regular coffee beans that are oily, you will not understand why your grinder is clogged and you’ll leave bad reviews. Your beans should look matte, not shiny. Thank me later. Second, tamp hard, make sure that the espresso grounds are nice and tight, the pressure gauge (and your mania about not enough pressure will thank you). When done right, you’ll hit that halfway mark in the ideal pressure range, every. single. time. The frother is decent, use it, make some mistakes and find your groove - you’re probably not an expert when you open this thing, but a little patience and common sense will go a long way. All in all, this machine was worth the money - just take your time to understand how it works, how to use it and I am confident that you’ll be pulling great shots in no time flat.

We wanted to love this machine as it worked well for us, and made good coffee but unfortunately some rust stains appeared within a few weeks. They appear not only under the machine where coffee is made, but also on the sides of the machine. See pictures. These ARE not water or coffee stains, and They can not be removed with a soft wet sponge. Mineral oil, applied with a soft rag, in the direction of the grain, helps somewhat, but does not remove these stains. Our kitchen has many other brushed stainless steel, (mostly type 304), surfaces, sinks , and appliances. None of these other items shows any brown rust spots at all. I contacted Kitchen Aid customer service who responded they could not help as "aesthetics" are not covered under warranty. Seriously ? Aesthetics ? I expected much better from KitchenAid, both in terms of product quality and customer service. Additionally, i tried to leave a review on their website a week ago but unfortunately it does not appear publicly. This raises concerns about the transparency of their review process and gives the impression that negative reviews are being filtered out.

I waited several months before reviewing this item. It was a splurge for me and I have not regretted it for a second. I researched everything around this price point and am so glad I went with the KitchenAid! I love the all-metal, high-quality build and the way it slides on its little wheels back and forth. It's semi-automatic, which for me makes me feel like I'm really making the coffee (fully auto feels like cheating and not so much of an experience, I'd probably go back to 100% manual first) but it's soooo easy to use that it's no problem when I'm in a hurry or sleepy. I weigh out beans for each cup because my husband and I like different coffees, and the grinder works great with way less mess than my old standalone burr grinder. The frother is easy to use and clean. We've switched beans many times and it doesn't take much effort to dial in and get the flavor right. The cleaning cycle takes a good bit of time but I only need to do that about every 6-8 weeks depending on usage. I'm just thrilled with this thing and still look forward to using it every morning.

Lots of good similarly priced machines in this category but I went with this one mainly due to the counter footprint and stainless construction. I have a small kitchen and other more popular models I looked at were just too large. It's still a big machine but leaves me with some counter space to work with. I upgraded from a Delonghi ECP and the quality improvement is a world of difference going from ESE pods to fresh grounds. The frother is also significantly better and easily the best I've used. Setup instructions are a bit lacking so I watched a few videos for setup and was able to grind, brew and froth a drink fairly quickly. I really like how quiet the grinder is, the automatic configuration for settings and brewing, and how the water pitcher can be removed horizontally so the machine can be placed under a cabinet. I haven't had any issues with static while grinding as I'd seen in another review. I've been using the single-wall double basket with mid roast beans at about 75% of the finest grind setting and have been pulling shots with good crema. I saw a review about the grinder not going fine enough and would say that's a questionable claim. Retention seems to be quite low as well. My only complaints are about the accessories and drip tray. The portafilter is mainly plastic with plastic spouts which really detract from the overall quality and marketing about the build being fully stainless. One of my reasons for upgrading was to reduce plastic in the brewing process so that's pretty disappointing. A bottomless portafilter or one with stainless spouts would've been much better. The portafilter has a nice weight to it and seems solidly built but the plastic can't be removed. I would've also liked to see a puck screen and dosing funnel included as they're practically a necessity. The tamper is half plastic but works for now. The drip tray seems to accumulate a lot of water from the internal functioning. I've noticed it while the machine warms up or switches to steam mode. So expect to empty it frequently. Those things aside, it's a great machine so far and really makes an excellent espresso. Most of the accessories can be upgraded but it would've been nice if they included better ones. It also looks good next to my other KitchenAid appliances which are workhorses in my kitchen. I'm hoping this machine is as solidly built and will hold up to the same level of quality over time.

This is fantastic. I drink several espressos a day and this beauty can keep up. The espresso gauge works great, the espresso bean grinding is effortless, clean, and so easy. We used another big brand and it was okay, but this machine makes wonderful espresso, with multiple temperature controls, distinct features that make it easy and simple to make your favorite espresso drink. The frothing is thick and foamy, the tamper is well made with slight weight (you may want to upgrade to a heavier tamper if you prefer). The espresso is smooth, silky, and yummy. The pressure pulls the flavors and oils through the entire process leaving you enjoying your favorite espresso all the way to the end, with a clean empty cup. Definitely worth it. The machine is metal, the espresso handle is heavy duty, all of the components are well made.

The KitchenAid Espresso Machine is a standout in the world of home espresso makers, offering a perfect blend of performance, design, and ease of use. With its sleek, modern aesthetic, it brings a touch of professional elegance to any kitchen. But it’s not just about looks—this machine delivers excellent espresso shots consistently, thanks to its powerful 15-bar pump and precise temperature control. The portafilter is sturdy, and the adjustable steam wand makes frothing milk a breeze, creating velvety microfoam ideal for lattes and cappuccinos. Additionally, the intuitive interface with clear controls ensures that even espresso beginners can create café-quality drinks without a steep learning curve. Cleaning is simple, with easy-to-remove parts, and the overall build feels premium and durable. Whether you’re a seasoned barista or a casual coffee enthusiast, the KitchenAid Espresso Machine delivers a delightful espresso experience, combining both style and substance in one impressive package.

Im a kitchenaid fan. I use my standing mixer all the time and have all sorts of attachments for it. I’ve also used several espresso machines. This one was not intuitive, the instructions were trash, and their were limited to no customer video walk through online. I followed the instructions to purge water through the system in the manual and then by following the video online because the manual instructions were awful. After I did that, I tried to run the machine, it then ran two super weak shots where the water was barely room temp even after adjusting the temp setting from the middle to the top setting. I looked up troubleshooting and nothing helped. In frustration I pushed the purge button which is front and center as I was pushing buttons to try to figure out why it wasn’t working. When I pushed the purge button it wouldn’t turn off. I even hard restarted it several times. I contacted kitchenaid customer support and they told me to do what I had already done. Also, did I mention It was also leaking!!!! After the first use, I didn’t try again until the morning and it had leaked. The water container was on correctly. Super disappointing. I was really excited for this. Oh well returned it and got a breville which worked perfect right out of the box. Take notes kitchenaid!

Ignore the bad reviews. This is a great machine on sale. Once you dial in the perfect bean at the right grind you get a perfect crema every time. For the leaking complaints...it stops after the rubber gasket of the water reservoir have enough time to soak and absorb properly.

Works like a professional machine-it’s so quiet you don’t wake up anyone in the am! Built tough with no crappy plastic Can’t say enough about it-it’s amazing and worth the cost Also learned to get espresso beans that aren’t oily-(no glossy look) just mat bean It won’t clog your grinder up!

EN GENERAL FUNCIONA BIEN PARA UN EXPRESO MEDIO, CONSUME MUCHA AGUA Y REQUIERE LIMPIAR CONSTANTENTEMENTE EN CADA PREPARACION. HAY QUE FAMILIARIZARSE CON EL FUCIONAMIENTO, SINO RESULTA COMPLICADO. COMO QUE EL PRECIO NO JUSTIFICA LA COMPRA.

Loving it so far, makes great latte