Review: KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Milk Frother

For coffee lovers like ourselves, there are many wonderful ways to make our ideal brew at home. We became espresso lovers ever since our first real morning espresso in Paris over 30 years ago. It seemed so simple and elegant. That experience changed how we consumed our coffee. No longer where we consuming caffeine to stay awake. No way. Espresso became a morning ritual to be enjoyed with intent. It was then when I first heard my husband say “now that was made with love!”. A phrase that we often say when someone puts care into every aspect of something  even as simple as the humble single espresso. The perfect temperature and flavour served in an ideal espresso cup made by someone who takes great pride in what they do -- a lesson in appreciation. 

That set us on our life long coffee journey. It left a lasting impression and influenced how we try to do things on a daily basis. We admit to having several types of machines depending on our time, energy, and preferences. Our roast selection (and tea selection) takes up an entire 3-shelf cupboard.  Roast aside, we can make pretty much every hot bevvie to accommodate every caffeine fix. A bit of an obsession to create a perfect cup? Yes, we strive for deliciousness and to also accomodate our friends and family preferences.  We have tried a variety of ways to make coffee and espressos from one-button pod machines to french press and single pours. But a proper expresso machine was not something we had planned for mainly because they seemed to take up alot of counter space or just too darn fussy. Until now.

The KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Milk Frother recently came into the marketplace and at first glance, the compact size was very appealing. Given that it was made by KitchenAid, I was confident that it had the research, technology and high quality parts that would last a long, long time. I've had great success with other KitchenAid small appliances and their customer service in the past so that eased my mind as a worthy investment for espresso lovers. Also, it fits in nicely with my plans to continue to grown my KitchenAid collection as I replace older kitchen appliances that cannot be serviced anymore. 

We've had a few weeks to explore the new KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine (KES6404BM) to offer a few thoughts if you're considering this for your home. If you love the accuracy of a perfect brew but really don't want to overly fuss about it all, then this might just be for you. 

I admit that I’ve been intimidated by serious espresso machines and many also take up a lot of counter space. We’ve watched our friends make the most perfect espresso drinks but it always seems like such a production. When KitchenAid launched its newest innovation in the coffee industry it was worthy of a try. The brand has a solid track record of designing the most desirable, practical and beautiful kitchen appliances. I actually purchased my very first KitchenAid Stand Mixer just a couple of years ago and wondered why I had waited so long?! Game changer! Since then, I’ve been slowly replacing our small kitchen appliances with the KitchenAid collection including this latest machine.

So, what have we discovered with this new espresso machine?

First, what’s in the box? The base espresso machine comes with a milk froth attachment with this model (you can also get one without the attachment). It also has a detachable water tank that slides onto the back of the base machine for easy filling and emptying. It also comes with a commercial grade portafilter and tamper. There are four filter baskets to use for precision measurement. It also includes a steam wand, milk pitcher, scoop and cleaning brush. 

KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine and Burr Coffee Grinder bundle

The KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine is a substantial appliance. The hardware is solid and there’s weight to this machine. It’s not delicate by any means but is more compact than other high end machines. It’s as though I had the opportunity to sit down with someone at KitchenAid and they asked me everything I wanted in a machine for home use for everyday and not just to be hauled out for when we have company over for dinner. It checks off my boxes:  

• brews the right amount at the right temperature
• offers a variety of options that can cater to your preferences
• doesn’t take up a lot of counter space (that real estate is at a premium now)
• automatic shut off
• is easy to clean

Available Colours: This machine we have it in Matte Black. It also is available in Brush Stainless Steel, Charcoal Grey and Empire Red. 

Some interesting features...

15-bar Italian pump is built in that offers low and slow pressure that adds water to the coffee grounds. This helps to expand the grounded coffee to expand - believed to help offer the optimal flavour and crema.

There’s a dual, smart temperature sensor that helps to brew at the right temperatures. 

Along the top of the machine is a cup warmer space that heats up nicely when the machine is turned on. 

Dosing — whether you want one or two espresso shots, the machine has the two options as presets .

Milk Frother attachment automatically steams to the right temperature and the steaming wand offers more control on the desired temperature for a single cup.

Machine alerts you to when it needs a full clean.

The drip tray has a centre red indicator that floats to the top letting you know that any captured overflow water needs to be emptied. The drip tray can slide out to be emptied.

The water tank is removable with a handle  which makes it much easier to fill if you prefer to remove it from the base unit.

The electrical cord has a storage space underneath the machine for a cleaner look on the counter when not in use or if you don’t need all the length of a full cord. 

Some initial thoughts... 

It takes a few tries to adjust everything to your liking. But if you’re not that fussy then the default presets will work just fine to give you a decent espresso experience. But if you like precision you may appreciate the ability to adjust. 

Tamping the ground coffee into the flat based portafilter doesn’t need much physical pressure on your part. After the tamping it’s important to ensure the portafilter is locked into place. The pressure on this machine is so strong it will knock it out of the hold if not secure. Yes, it happened and I learned quickly. 

So, what’s the difference between the four baskets? 

There are two single dose baskets and two double walled dose baskets. If you were to freshly grind your coffee beans, say with the KitchenAid Burr Grinder (which I think is a great addition - more on that in a separate write up!) and immediately use then the shallow filter basket is what you would use. If using pre-ground coffee then you would use the double walled. The difference is in the bottom drip through and releasing flavours. Yes, that precise. 

 

I prefer to freshly grind our roasted coffee beans just before using this machine. The water drip through the grounds in a steady stream and quickly. However, when we used pre-ground roast it proved to be a trickier experience. We muddled through adjust the tamping the portafilter and basket to get a proper and timely flow. It may just be that the grounds were too fine or not fine enough when it was done at the roasters.  

Steaming milk vs using the milk frother: This was a big learning curve for me and to be honest it takes a few tries to get the desired outcome. If you’re looking to make a steamy latte then either will do the trick. But if you’re looking to get that foamy pillowy topping for a cappuccino you’ll need to play around a bit more I've tried several times and have not mastered it just yet.

The milk frother is great for if you are planning to make a few cups. What I do like about this particular attachment is that you can remove it and store in the fridge for the next day with your fresh dairy or non-dairy milk. So, less hassle of having to clean it each and every time you use it.

The steam wand is what I prefer if I’m just making one cup for myself. Note: be cautious using this feature with the stainless steel pitcher it came with. The pressure of the steam jets out steadily but it is HOT. Also, make sure you clean the steam wand immediately after using it otherwise milk will stick to it if you’ve let the steaming wand in for too long.  

Four icon buttons on the front of the machine are pretty straight forward to undestand. 

• First button includes three features: espresso, steam and hot water — select for your needs. If you're making an Americano, for example, select the espresso setting first then switch to the water setting to add the additional amount.
• Second button is to select a single or double espresso.
• Third button is the clean mode button - it will light up to let you know if there’s any built up. 
• Fourth button is a stop/ pause button.

There are several ways to customize the settings to your preference. Temperature settings from low, medium, and high options are available. Default (or factory settings) is set at medium out of the box. You can change the pre-programmed temperature and the amount of water per serving to your liking. The guide is useful in stepping you through these settings. 

Another thing I should mention is cleaning the portafilter. When I left it in the machine for too long, the grounds were stuck to the machine. If I removed the portafilter too quickly, then the coffee grounds got stuck within the basket when I tried to knock the used grounds out. Either way, I feel the need to immediately clean the machine so the used grounds wouldn't dry in place or clog up the machine. 

This isn’t a lazy person’s espresso machine by any means but once you get a grasp of everything it's like riding a bike. You won't forget. 

Another tip is to have amazing coffee beans handy. What’s the point in getting mediocre beans if you’ve got such a serious machine? And since it's wedding season, this is a good one to gift!

To learn more about the KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Milk Frother link here.