Master Your Daily Grind: Review of the Best Fully Automatic KitchenAid KF8 Espresso Machine
KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine KF8: A Game-Changer in Coffee-Making
The KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine KF8 is a premium bean-to-cup espresso machine that automates the entire coffee-making process, offering a surprising amount of control over your drinks. With its sleek design, advanced features, and exceptional performance, this machine is perfect for coffee enthusiasts who want to elevate their coffee game.
Key Features
- Automates the entire coffee-making process, from bean to cup
- Offers a range of customization options, including strength, body, temperature, and volume
- Can use both whole coffee beans and grounds
- Automatic milk frother with options for dairy and plant-based milk
- Quiet operation, earning the Quiet Mark seal of approval
- Large 2.5-liter water tank and 450g coffee bean hopper
- Touchscreen interface with clear instructions and illustrations
- Cleaning programs, including cleaning the milk system, purging coffee beans, and evaporating remaining water
Performance
The KF8 produces rich, well-extracted espresso consistently, with a creamy golden crema. The automatic milk frother works well, and the machine is particularly good at foaming plant milk. The quiet operation is a bonus, making it perfect for use in the morning or evening.
Value for Money
While the KF8 is an investment, it’s worth considering the quality and performance you get. With its advanced features, customization options, and ease of use, this machine is perfect for coffee enthusiasts who want to elevate their coffee game.
Specifications
- Price: $1,999.99 / £1,899 / AU$2,599
- Type: Automatic bean-to-cup
- Milk frother: Automatic
- Bars of pressure: 19
- Dimensions: 14.2 x 12.2 x 16.5 inches (36 x 31 x 42 cm)
Alternatives
If you’re not completely sold on the KF8, here are a couple of alternatives to consider:
- Breville Oracle Touch: A semi-automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine with a similar price point to the KF8.
- Ninja Luxe Café: An automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine with a lower price point than the KF8.
How I Tested the KF8
I tested the KF8 over the course of several days, making each type of drink available through the menu, making customizations, and saving them to a personal profile for re-use later. I used freshly roasted beans from a local coffee company in the KF8’s hopper, plus pre-ground espresso in the chute. I tested the milk system using full-fat dairy milk, barista oat milk, soya milk, and almond milk – all fresh and cold from the fridge.
