Customer reviews from Kitchen Aid
KitchenAid - Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with 15 bars of pressure - Brushed Stainless Steel
Average customer rating
4.7
(131 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 131 reviews
5 Stars
112
4 Stars
11
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
3
1 Star
3
90%of customers recommend this product.
(
28 out of
31)
Customer Reviews for KitchenAid - Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with 15 bars of pressure - Brushed Stainless Steel
Customer Rating
5
Makes amazing espresso
on March 13, 2024
Posted by: sarahs1553
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The kitchaid espresso machine works great. It is easy to use and the espresso machine makes a great espresso. It’s smooth and enjoyable. Well worth it.
Written by a customer while visiting influenster.com
Customer Rating
4
Game Changer!!
on March 12, 2024
Posted by: gioluc
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The KitchenAid KF8 espresso machine is a game-changer, seamlessly blending innovation with functionality. Its fully automatic features make brewing a breeze, and the customizable settings ensure a perfect cup every time. The sleek design adds a touch of elegance to any kitchen. However, the initial setup might be a bit complex for beginners. Overall, the KF8 is a top-tier investment for coffee enthusiasts seeking convenience and quality in their daily brews.
Written by a customer while visiting influenster.com
Customer Rating
5
Size
on March 12, 2024
Posted by: austine10
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I just received my espresso machine and didn't realize how big it is.if you're interested in buying this make sure you have enough kitchen space. I have to make room so I can use this bad boy😆
Written by a customer while visiting influenster.com
Customer Rating
5
Best coffee machine
on April 1, 2024
Posted by: yazminr52
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Turns on quickly heats water and froths milk very fast the coffee flavor is amazing is like having your own coffee shop at home I love it because it’s very sturdy and good quality also is very easy to clean don’t have to wash nothing just get a damp cloth and wipe it down. I will definitely recommend.
Written by a customer while visiting influenster.com
Customer Rating
4
Coffee nerds rejoice!
on March 26, 2024
Posted by: moirar7
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] A lot of self-proclaimed coffee nerds are hesitant to use automatic espresso machines, and historically that has been for good reason. Auto machines, we say, are clunky. They’re loud. They don’t give us enough control over the product. And most importantly, they just don’t make good coffee. So, as a self-proclaimed coffee nerd myself, I was fully prepared to write a scathing critique of the new Kitchenaid KF8 fully automated espresso machine. However, after using it for a week, I am confident in saying that it’s honestly a top-tier machine for most average use cases. It delivers quality espresso and steamed milk, and the machine itself is intuitive, charming, and has a lot of nice design touches that make it perfect for the everyday user.
It’s immediately apparent while using the machine that one of the primary design goals is ease of use. The KF8 sports an elegant physical design, with carefully concealed internal parts that are nevertheless easy to refill, maintain, and clean. The water reservoir and coffee bean hopper are flush with the outer shell, and yet simple to access. The user interface is intuitive and, simply put, very useful. You can create custom profiles, as well as drinks within each profile, if you have multiple users that prefer slightly different coffee strengths, coffee to milk ratios, or temperatures. The interface reminds you about routine maintenance like flushing the group head and refilling the water and bean reservoirs, and even visually walks you through the task. It also activates a self-cleaning after a few minutes of inactivity. Used water and coffee grounds are deposited in an easy-to-remove tray that can be dumped in the sink and compost. It’s also quieter than many other espresso machines.
One small challenge is the clearance between the drip tray and group head: it’s quite small. I was able to fit an 8 oz. mug under it with little difficulty, but to brew directly into a taller or large mug, you’d have to hold it under the brewer. This isn’t a huge problem, as the machine doesn’t need a spare hand to operate, but it is a bit annoying. Aside from that, the KF8 is really nice togma use. It feels… holistic? All of the physical and digital elements of the machine just fit and work together so seamlessly.
The espresso itself is very good for an automatic machine; it manages to bring out both the subtle characteristics of light-roasted coffees and the body of dark roasts. The milk steamer is interesting; the milk is stored in an external reservoir that feeds into the grouphead via a tube. While not capable of producing milk quite as silky as what could be made with a traditional steam wand by a talented barista, it’s also not spewing out a burnt and foamy mess like some other machines. It’s definitely better steamed milk than you’ll get at any big-chain coffee shop.
One downside of not having a standalone steam wand, though, is a lack of versatility; you can’t steam liquids independent of the machine’s brewing functions. I also wonder why the reservoir is separate when the rest of the components are so cleverly integrated inside the machine; my only guess is it’s so you can refrigerate the milk in the reservoir, but it’s an interesting choice that somehow doesn’t jive with the rest of the design.
Design nitpicks aside, the machine produces delicious espresso and adequately textured milk. I would recommend keeping the coffee set at ‘strong’ and the temperature at ‘hot’. In my experience, anything less than ‘strong’ resulted in slightly watery and underextracted coffee, and the ‘hot’ temperature setting is perfectly drinkable. It’s also quick - like, very quick! I’m not sure how the mechanics of their flash-steamer and brewer work, but the machine comes up to temp within a minute, and does not need an always-on internal boiler. I’ve used manual espresso machines that either need to be ‘always-on’ or require 10 minutes to bring the boiler reservoir up to temp. The KF8 was a nice change of pace to some of these other home machines.
As a final testament to the machine’s quality, I’ll say this: as a self-described coffee nerd who has several manual brewers at home, I unabashedly used the KF8 for all my coffee the whole week. It’s quick, it’s intuitive, it’s elegant, and it’s delicious. I’m not sure what more you’d want in an automatic machine designed for the casual everyday coffee drinker.
It’s immediately apparent while using the machine that one of the primary design goals is ease of use. The KF8 sports an elegant physical design, with carefully concealed internal parts that are nevertheless easy to refill, maintain, and clean. The water reservoir and coffee bean hopper are flush with the outer shell, and yet simple to access. The user interface is intuitive and, simply put, very useful. You can create custom profiles, as well as drinks within each profile, if you have multiple users that prefer slightly different coffee strengths, coffee to milk ratios, or temperatures. The interface reminds you about routine maintenance like flushing the group head and refilling the water and bean reservoirs, and even visually walks you through the task. It also activates a self-cleaning after a few minutes of inactivity. Used water and coffee grounds are deposited in an easy-to-remove tray that can be dumped in the sink and compost. It’s also quieter than many other espresso machines.
One small challenge is the clearance between the drip tray and group head: it’s quite small. I was able to fit an 8 oz. mug under it with little difficulty, but to brew directly into a taller or large mug, you’d have to hold it under the brewer. This isn’t a huge problem, as the machine doesn’t need a spare hand to operate, but it is a bit annoying. Aside from that, the KF8 is really nice togma use. It feels… holistic? All of the physical and digital elements of the machine just fit and work together so seamlessly.
The espresso itself is very good for an automatic machine; it manages to bring out both the subtle characteristics of light-roasted coffees and the body of dark roasts. The milk steamer is interesting; the milk is stored in an external reservoir that feeds into the grouphead via a tube. While not capable of producing milk quite as silky as what could be made with a traditional steam wand by a talented barista, it’s also not spewing out a burnt and foamy mess like some other machines. It’s definitely better steamed milk than you’ll get at any big-chain coffee shop.
One downside of not having a standalone steam wand, though, is a lack of versatility; you can’t steam liquids independent of the machine’s brewing functions. I also wonder why the reservoir is separate when the rest of the components are so cleverly integrated inside the machine; my only guess is it’s so you can refrigerate the milk in the reservoir, but it’s an interesting choice that somehow doesn’t jive with the rest of the design.
Design nitpicks aside, the machine produces delicious espresso and adequately textured milk. I would recommend keeping the coffee set at ‘strong’ and the temperature at ‘hot’. In my experience, anything less than ‘strong’ resulted in slightly watery and underextracted coffee, and the ‘hot’ temperature setting is perfectly drinkable. It’s also quick - like, very quick! I’m not sure how the mechanics of their flash-steamer and brewer work, but the machine comes up to temp within a minute, and does not need an always-on internal boiler. I’ve used manual espresso machines that either need to be ‘always-on’ or require 10 minutes to bring the boiler reservoir up to temp. The KF8 was a nice change of pace to some of these other home machines.
As a final testament to the machine’s quality, I’ll say this: as a self-described coffee nerd who has several manual brewers at home, I unabashedly used the KF8 for all my coffee the whole week. It’s quick, it’s intuitive, it’s elegant, and it’s delicious. I’m not sure what more you’d want in an automatic machine designed for the casual everyday coffee drinker.
Written by a customer while visiting influenster.com
Customer Rating
5
Great machine
on March 16, 2024
Posted by: jennah19
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] AMAZING!! Not going to lie it took me a while to really figure out how to use it but now I use it daily. Coffee flavor is delicious and the cleaning process is so easy. There's so many different drinks you can make with this.
Written by a customer while visiting influenster.com
Customer Rating
5
No more wasting money on mediocre coffee
on March 24, 2024
Posted by: emilyo269
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] When first opening this, it looks overwhelming but after a few short minutes of playing around it’s so user friendly!! There are so many drink options and they are all customizable! You can become your own barista, find your perfect coffee, save it to your profile and get the exact same results every time (unlike coffee shops)! The dairy function is great and it has a quick self cleaning mode after using it so it doesn’t get nasty inside the machine! This espresso machine is absolutely amazing! I will save so much money not going to mediocre coffee shops!
Written by a customer while visiting influenster.com
Customer Rating
5
At home barista!
on April 13, 2024
Posted by: sairap11
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This machine makes me feel like I own my personal coffee shop. It is an absolute beauty and I’ve never had anything like it before. First off, it’s a touch screen and allows you to choose what kind of coffee you’d like. Once you find your favorite, you are able to customize it to your liking and then add it to your personal profile. Insane.
Some things to keep in mind are the size of the machine. It does take up a lot of counter space and needs extra space around it so you can access the side door for the coffee grinder, the water filter on the other side, and the top where the coffee goes. Since it’s such a big machine, the cleaning process may take a little longer but it is totally worth it.
Overall, I’m obsessed with it and love the coffee aroma that lingers after I make my coffee. I love that it came with a booklet full of drink ideas to recreate. P.S. if you are an espresso martini type of gal, this machine will become your new bff.
Written by a customer while visiting influenster.com