KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder, 2.5L, Cast Iron Black, KES6551BK

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.

This is my first serious espresso machine - I've been using an old on the stove "machina". and a Braun drip coffee maker for many years . The Kitchen aid semi looks gorgeous on the counter I favor the juniper color (one star) it is easy to use (2 stars) Grinds beautifully and quietly (3 stars ) Foams the milk like a charm (4 stars) and brews a great cup of espresso (5 stars) It holds 2.5 liters of water so it's ready when you are and holds about half a pound of beans but can easily be switched for a new type ( decaf etc.) All in all, its changed my "coffee game" I am NOT a barista, but this makes me feel like one !

It's so pretty and can make good shots. However, it leaked all over and ruined my table it was sitting on. I've had terrible luck trying to buy espresso machines lately in the $500 range. I thought this one would be it, but then I saw it leaked everywhere. I really trusted Kitchenaid and this was a huge disappointment. It affects how I view the brand at this point... Is this just some Chinese piece of junk that they slapped their logo on? It doesn't seem to be well thought out. I feel like I could get something better rolling the dice on Temu at this point.

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.

Six months in, we love the machine, especially how quiet it is. We needed a dosing funnel to keep the grounds from overflowing onto the base. Once we had that, it's an excellent machine that typically makes 7 or 8 cups a day. So far it's a workhorse. The espresso is outstanding, consistent and way better than the Gaggia Classic machine it replaced (which we used daily for 15 years -- so no diss on Gaggia) The grind is consistent and the espresso is really good and consistent. As long as it's reliable, I'm glad we bought this machine. It's very quiet both for the grind and making espresso. Seems solid and the build quality is very good. The main issue with it (and why it's not a five) is the complex setup. Please make sure you go to YouTube and watch the setup videos, multiple times. It's not a plug and play device. You have to follow specific instructions perfectly to get it to make really good coffee. The documentation is really bad, most of the parts in the box aren't described and don't mention all the steps required to set the machine up. Bad! KitchenAid, clean up your act. The only other beef I have with it, is you have to empty the post brew overflow tank long before the main water tank is empty (I'm a product manager and that's a big miss). Go through the effort to set the machine up correctly and deal with the shortcomings, I suspect you'll have a machine you'll love. Make sure you buy a 58mm espresso funnel so you don't have to clean grounds off the machine all the time.

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.

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!

Loving it so far, makes great latte

—- follow up / edit 2 —- I finally had an opportunity to call Support (I've been super busy, and that's on me for not trying before) and they were incredibly helpful in diagnosing the issue and getting it fixed. Although I managed to (presumably) pop a gasket KitchenAid was quick to help me fix the issue, so their reputation for long-lasting products is still well deserved. —- follow up / edit —- I was wrong. This doesn’t last as long as cheap Phillis and Saeco units. Do not expect the legendary mixer quality from this early foray into espresso. Dropped this from 4 stars to 2. After a few months it died. A change of beans resulted in a way overtamped / too finely ground / too oily puck that saw the pressure hit the red zone. I didn’t know at that second how to abort, and something popped. Now, I get water in the tray and low pressure trying to draw an espresso. I’ve never had this happen with more mature brands like De’longhi or Jura, nor did it happen with a cheap Saeco unit used by dozens of people daily in an office environment. This was a disappointment and KitchenAid should ask AI to review their design. Over pressure valves are super ancient and required on pressure cookers. The engineering team on this product needs to be fired. —- original review —- I have super automatic machines where you press a button, and a latte comes out. They tend to be very expensive, and maintenance of the milk system ends up costing more than the machine in the long run. I have semi automatic machines where you have to do your own tamping and puck removal, and make/add your own milk. They're usually cheaper and more durable because there's a lot fewer things that can go wrong. Comparing this only to the semi automatic machines I've owned, it's on the lower end. At launch, the price was $999.99. I'm glad to see they've dropped it to $699.99 because it's now a better deal than it's competitors in the 'cheaper' semi-automatic category where you'll see products by Philips and Saeco. My experience with both brands has been very poor with machines regularly breaking down in relatively low-use small office environments. My kitchenaid mixer has lasted many years, and their lifetimes are usually measured in decades. I hope they brought the same energy to their foray into coffee, but time will have to be the judge on that matter. The tamping process isn't great. I much prefer the "assisted tamping" on the De'Longhi machines, and doing it manually on this machine really feels like a chore by comparison. For many, the 40% discount compared to the machines with assisted tamping might more than make up for it, and then there's my friend's elderly father who came to Canada from Italy scoffs at things like assisted tamping and super automatics, so if you want to "be more authentic", maybe it's a good thing. The 2.5L water reservoir is huge. But is that a good thing? If you've seen what happens to a water tank when "non-essential" workers don't use it for a couple months, you might believe most manufacturers when they say if your water has been sitting in the tank for more than 24 / 48 hours, pour it out, rinse the tank, and refill. The limit is probably closer to 7 days, but there's definitely such a thing as "too big" for water tanks. Puck ejection from the portafilter is fairly consistent. Usually 1-2 hard knocks is all it takes. There's some technique to it though, so if it's your first manual espresso machine you might need a half dozen knocks to make progress while you learn how hard and how fast to hit. Grinder works well. Something pretty common with every machine I've used (manual or super automatic) is that you should only change grind size by ONE notch at a time, and ONLY while it's grinding (so start a cup, as it starts grinding change it up or down 1 notch). If you don't follow that advice, my experience is that you should expect problems. The machine seems to self prime over the first few cups. That's great compared to the convoluted series of undocumented steps some of the machines I've used require you to follow that involve pulsing the steam want. Common advice on all machines is to draw an espresso shot through an empty portafilter before making your espresso for the best possible cup. It'll make sure the pump is fully primed, and that there's minimal heat loss to the metal portafilter. If you follow all the advice/tricks that are common to most machines, this KitchenAid does a very good job. You'll have to play with dose size, grind size, and temperature to get the right combination for the beans you pick. On my older De'Longhi super automatic this was actually a real pain because you had to adjust the amount of water dispensed every time you changed anything. If you plan to try different beans, my advice is to put the package the beans came in beside the machine and take a picture after you find the sweet spot. Maybe even print and laminate in a coffee recipe book, or get really fancy and mock up the controls in MS Paint or photoshop. On every machine I use now, manual or super automatic, I recommend the same thing: get a dedicated milk frother. They're much easier and basically free to clean, and the milk/steam system has been the weakest point on every single machine I've used. At $700, the temperature control is easy and works as expected, the grinder and control over fineness of the grinds works well, the tank is easy to fill and slip on the machine (but if you slide it under a counter, this becomes more challenging), the tamping is less than idea, the portafilter is easy to use and wash/rinse, and the steam wand works. Though I can't speak to service life yet, I'm fairly confident it won't be worse than Philips and Saeco units.

Taste of real coffee, espresso range depending on grinding coffee beans.