I love this Espresso Machine, I've had it for a couple weeks now and I've made MANY lattes!! My keurig machine has not been used in days I actually want to get rid of it because my drinks from my Kitchen Aid espresso machine are way better. The kitchen aid espresso machine is great quality , it's heavy , durable & pretty. It's super easy to use the buttons to make a espresso shot & to froth the milk. My espresso shots come out with a beautiful color crema after & I like how I froth my own milk manually because I like to make my milk extra hot. I also use milk alternatives like coconut or almond milk and I like how I froth it myself so I can get the perfect amount of froth for my preferences. The damper is heavy & great quality, so is the handle that holds the grounds- it's so heavy it feels so high quality. I once had a delonghi completely automatic espresso machine that is priced at like $900 something and I love this espresso machine way more. I returned the delonghi one because I wasn't satisfied. With kitchen aid semi automatic espresso machine I'm 100% satisfied & I'm keeping this thing! Only complaint is water tray at bottom fills up fast , like every 3 lattes about.... still over all love & reccomend (: Read more

Buying this machine was my first step into the world of espresso. From my experience, there is a bit of a learning curve with espresso, milk steaming, and this machine in particular. You'll need some time, patience, and maybe a few extra accessories to get the most out of it. After a few months of pulling inconsistent (sour/bitter) shots and watching a lot of videos, I am finally able to make some tasty drinks with this machine. Overall, I am satisfied with the KitchenAid machine for the price point. I'd recommend purchasing one, but wait for a sale. Lessons Learned: Grinder/Beans - To get the most out of this machine, you will want to have a nice burr grinder (> $100) and a scale. It will take a little bit of tweaking to dial in the correct grind size for your beans. My OXO grinder has worked okay, but I wish it had a bit more nuance with the finer espresso settings. I pre weigh my beans (18-18.5 grams) on a scale before grinding. I usually need to shake and restart the grinder to get all of grinds out. I've personally had much better results with medium-dark roast coffee (Illy, Peet's) than the specialty light-medium roast coffee that I use for pour-over/drip coffee. Use freshly roasted beans for the best results. Puck Prep - While the included tamper is fairly nice, I found that my puck prep was creating the greatest inconsistency. I had a hard time getting the grinds evenly distributed/flat and I'd often spill some of my grinds while prepping. My finished puck would sometimes turn out soupy or I could very clearly see evidence of channelling in the puck. I eventually decided to order a few accessories to help with my puck prep and they have been a game-changer! Now every puck is perfect, the espresso tastes much better, and my group head is staying much cleaner! I purchased a 58mm Espresso Tamper Set (Spring-loaded Tamper, Adjustable Depth Distributor Leveler, Magnetic Dosing Funnel, Reusable Puck Screen) and a 9 x 0.40mm WDT Tool on Amazon (linked below and pictured). Both are fairly inexpensive. KitchenAid should consider including tools like these in the box (and adjust the price as needed) because it make a huge difference with your end result. My opinion of the machine and experience completely changed after using the extra puck prep tools. - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCKWXPKP?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC248XG1?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details Water/Temp - One of the first things I adjusted when I got the machine was the water temp. I turned mine to the hottest setting (see manual). I found the default setting was not hot enough. Before I pull a shot, I typically run a cycle of water without the portafilter attached. This gives me a chance to warm up my glass/cup and make sure the group head is warm and clear of any grinds. Some people recommend pre-warming the portafilter as well for best results. I also run a cycle of water after pulling my shot to keep the group head clean. Milk Steaming - This has also taken a lot of practice and I still have a ways to go with my latte art, but I feel like I've recently turned a corner. The steam wand is probably the weakest part of the machine. It is not super powerful, uses one hole, and requires the most skill/technique. I'd recommend using whole milk and I've personally been able to texture the milk better when using less than the recommended amount of milk in the pitcher. You'll want to watch some videos to get a better handle on the technique, but keep in mind most people are using more powerful steam wands in their videos. Read more

I am a huge Kitchenaid fan and have countertop and major appliances and have continued to purchase this brand. However I regret to say I should have listened to the reviews. Out of the box - it didn’t work. All lights flashing and trouble shooting guide (manual) and online video says to unplug aloft ten minutes and restart. Various this out three times without success. Video and manual says it needs to be returned and to contact customer service. This experience was mentioned in a couple of other reviews and I wish I’d listened. What a shame. I will look for a more traditional espresso manufacturer that has decades of engineering behind them and try again. Read more