[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I am replacing a small cheap espresso machine, and the upgrade is so nice. The grinder is really quiet and the settings allow for a wide range of grind sizes. I find that I am able to get the perfect espresso range when extracting. The controls and buttons are a little overwhelming when first opening the box since everything is just an icon, but you quickly learn them and then it is a breeze! I have been making myself an iced white chocolate mocha each morning, and it saves me a lot of time and $$ in the long run over frequent Starbucks runs. I really like this Espresso machine and would defiantly recommend it!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I love this espresso machine! I upgraded from a low end machine and I love the easiness and features of this product. It brews and froths well. All espresso machines get messy and there is definitely some cleaning while using. The only thing that I think could be improved is the steam wand. It needs to be able to angle more. I seem to always spill milk when I am done steaming. Besides that I love it!! This is one of my favorite purchases this year!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] the expresso machine is great but the water is not very hot. average temp on most expresso machine is 172 degree and yours is at the best 132 degree..over all we like the KITCHENAID.. the gauge meter is lazy and has a problem moving off its rest point. it moved one time when we first used it.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Kitchen Aid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder is what coffee dreams are made of! First off, when I got this machine, I had never made espresso before and knew absolutely NOTHING about how to use the machine. I can’t even make a pot of regular coffee. I’ve always been a coffee pod girl, throw the pod in the machine and press start. That’s all I knew how to do. With that being said, I was able to successfully make a delicious cup of espresso on the very first day I had this machine, without even having to watch a YouTube tutorial! That says a lot about the ease of using this machine. Clean up is super easy also. I just rinse out the portafilter and use the paper towel that dried it with to wipe off the machine. The milk steamer is a little more difficult but you just use a lightly soapy cloth and you’re good to go! I love how the coffee bean grinder is built-in and you don’t have to guess how much to grind. The machine adjusts the amount for you! Another great feature is the fact that you can adjust the temp of your espresso. If I’m in the mood for an iced coffee, I brew on the lowest temp setting. If I’m wanting hot espresso, I brew at the highest temp. You can also use the milk steamer to heat your coffee cup before you brew to get an even hotter cup of espresso! All in all, I think this espresso machine is great! Very easy to use and clean! If you’re a regular at your local coffee shop, it will definitely pay for itself!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] First off, I would like to say I have really had espresso at a family members house who has one of the machines that make it out of pods. I do like my coffee, latte, and capichinos so that's why I thought I would give this a shot since I had the opportunity was given to me. First thing I noticied is that the coffee grinder is silent. I couldn't believe it. Even I don't use this all the time for the espresso portion, I would keep it out for fresh coffee grounds for my actual coffee/iced coffee maker. I played with it for a few hours this morning making multiple drinks for me and my wife. Made an iced latte, a capichino, and just a couple espresso shots. There is a learning curve to this. Leaning how to compact the grounds, figuring out what cups to use for the grinder, and how to apply the ingredients. The recipe book is very helpful but YouTube and chatgpt also helps. Used chatgpt to figure out what size grinds to set it at for what drink. Don't expect to love it right away when you first get it but once you figure it out, it's great. Cleaning everything seems easy. Everything being removable and stainless steel makes it easy.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Easy to use, makes piping hot espresso beverages. My family and I have been having a blast making all kinds of drinks. From espresso martinis to iced lattes and even delicious cappuccinos! Minimal noise, perfect addition to our coffee bar. Easy to clean, grinds the beans well and makes a delicious cup every single time!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] My husband and I enjoy several cups of coffee per day (living that WFH life) and, after spending time in Spain last year, have come to appreciate espresso over the watered down coffee-water of our Keurig. We had previously moved over to using a Nespresso, but were thrilled to have been gifted this espresso machine from Kitchenaid. We care so much more now about enjoying one good cup of coffee instead of several weaker ones. First off, this machine is a beast. It’s so heavy and has quite a large footprint, so ensure you have the counter or cart space to accommodate that. It’s quite solid and clearly very well built. The accessories are also durable and thoughtfully complementary to the machine. There’s a hidden storage tray behind the drip tray that can be hard to find, but is quite clever and handy. The portafilter is heavy and feels good in your hand. There are four included filter baskets to suit all different grinds and sizes. What’s truly impressive is the absolute customization you can use in your production process to create the perfect cup of coffee tailored to your needs. Changing the texture of the grind, setting the volume of the grounds, the temperature of the water, the crema, all of it is at your fingertips! The catch-22 is that, if you’re like us, you might not have a background in the barista arts, so there’s a sharp learning curve in interpreting the settings to obtain the ideal result. My husband and I devoted a few hours to watching instructional YouTube videos to learn the techniques and vocabulary to adjust the settings to our liking. We still have a ways to go, but we’re enjoying the experience and trial and error of customizing the exact flavour/intensity. Some of my favourite features: this machine is quite fast! The water reservoir is gigantic, but designed in such a way that isn’t bulky. The “deck” of the machine has under lighting so you can clearly see what you’re doing while you’re doing it. The milk frother/steam wand is fantastic and easy to learn! I’ve already made delicious lattes that far exceed the coffee we were producing before with the pod machines. Some of my concerns: my husband and I were very frustrated with the manual. One basic thing it was missing was a page simply listing out and showing the contents of the box, which is something almost every other electronic device we’ve used had come with. Better visual/image instructions would be helpful, especially for the initial setup and preparation process. We found it quite frustrating to interpret the terms without an image explaining what each buttton and item was. We did figure it out, but it took an unnecessarily long time to do so. This is not a simple machine, so if you’re looking for something basic, this isn’t it. But if you’re willing to invest the time to learn, this machine will produce coffee shop-like results. Truth be told, we’re still learning how to use this. If you have barista experience, I’m sure this machine would exceed your expectations with its features and performance, but if you’re new to pulling espresso, be prepared to invest a significant amount of time and effort into learning the process. Buy a bag of cheaper beans in the beginning to get the hang of how to use the machine well and try out the settings to find out what suits your personal tastes. All in all we’re incredibly pleased with this machine. We probably never would have invested in a high quality espresso maker before we received this, but now we can’t imagine being without one. Absolutely well worth it and a solid investment for any coffee lover.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I received this Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder about a month ago. The instructions booklet could use some work. I had trouble finding the tray with some of the parts and the directions didn’t always show the next step clearly. In spite of this and with zero experience with espresso machines, I figured out how to grind the beans, brew the espresso, and steam the milk. I’m still working on the settings for the ultimate espresso but the results so far have been great. I’ve tried several of the recipes in the booklet and a few from internet searches with great results. It’s time to invite friends over for coffee and pastries. As any espresso machine would, this one makes noise during its various processes, so be warned if you’re making morning coffee and have light sleepers. I think this a great start for a first espresso machine.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Absolutely love my KitchenAid semi-automatic espresso machine with burr grinder! The built-in grinder gives me fresh, consistent grounds every time, and I can easily adjust the grind size for different beans. The brewing process is smooth and precise—heats up quickly, delivers rich, full-bodied espresso with perfect crema, and lets me steam milk to café quality. It’s easy to use, looks stunning on my counter, and has completely upgraded my morning coffee ritual.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I’ve been using the KitchenAid KES6551 for a while now, and overall, I’m really impressed. It’s a beautifully built, solid machine that feels professional without being intimidating. The controls are simple, each button is clearly labeled, and I never feel overwhelmed when using it. One of the biggest standouts for me is how quiet it is. The grinder and brewing process barely make any noise — it even has a Quiet Mark certification. I also have to point out how incredibly clean the grinding is. There’s practically no static, so I don’t get coffee grounds flying everywhere. That’s honestly very impressive — almost no mess at all. The built-in burr grinder automatically doses the right amount of beans depending on whether I’m pulling a single or double shot. The large bean hopper is easy to remove with a simple twist and lift, making it effortless to empty, swap, or refill with fresh beans. I also love the 58 mm flat-base portafilter. It’s heavy and feels great in the hand, and the flat bottom means I can set it right on the counter to tamp evenly. Compared to other well-known brands that only offer a 54 mm portafilter, the 58 mm really does feel like a professional upgrade. The water tank is another win — a generous 2.5 L, so I don’t need to refill constantly. It’s quick to heat up, too. From switching it on to being ready to brew, it’s about a minute. There are also three temperature options to choose from, which is a nice touch. The steam wand is powerful, heating and frothing milk very quickly, and it’s easy to control for microfoam. Now, for the one issue I’ve noticed: after brewing, when I remove the portafilter, the coffee puck often sticks to the group head instead of coming out with the portafilter. It doesn’t seem to matter what grind size I use — it just tends to stay up there. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it does mean I have to knock it out separately every time. Overall, I’m very happy with this machine. It looks great, feels professional, and makes consistently excellent espresso without much noise or mess. If you’re looking for a semi-automatic espresso machine that’s user-friendly but still delivers a café-quality experience, this is a fantastic choice — just be prepared to deal with the occasional stubborn coffee puck.