KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine KF2 with 6 Hot and Iced Coffee Options | Built-In Grinder | Steam Wand, Black Matte KES8452

Amazon CustomerUnited States

Low effort, cafe quality espresso at home!

I’ve owned several espresso machines over the years, including higher-end pod systems, and the KitchenAid K2 honestly surprised me in the best way. It looks incredibly sleek and professional on the counter — very much that “small café at home” vibe — and so far the actual espresso quality has absolutely lived up to the appearance. I’ve tested the single and double espresso settings, the iced coffee mode, and the milk steamer, and everything has worked beautifully right out of the box. The espresso comes out rich, smooth, and cafe-quality with a really nice crema. Honestly, the drinks taste like something I picked up from a local espresso stand, except I’m making them in my kitchen with almost no effort. One of my favorite features is that it stores whole beans and grinds fresh for every shot. You can absolutely taste the difference compared to pre-ground coffee or capsule machines. I’ve been using a well known name brand organic medium roast beans and have been seriously impressed with the flavor this machine pulls out of them. Even better, I haven’t had any issues with grounds ending up in my espresso shots, which is something I’ve experienced with some other machines. The K2 also lets you adjust the strength with three intensity settings (low, medium, and strong), which is nice depending on the beans or type of drink you want. The milk steamer was another huge win. I previously used a Nespresso Creatista, which already has a pretty decent steam wand, but the K2’s steamer is noticeably more powerful and heated my milk almost twice as fast. That alone impressed me. It creates great foam, heats evenly, and feels much more like using a true espresso machine rather than an appliance trying to imitate one. If you make lattes or cappuccinos regularly, this machine really shines there. That said, there are a couple quirks worth mentioning. The biggest one is how it handles double shots. Instead of grinding enough beans for a double and pulling both shots together, it literally grinds, pulls one shot, then repeats the entire process for the second shot. It works fine and the espresso tastes excellent, but it does make the process slower than expected. It feels like something that could have been designed a little differently on a machine in this price range. Minor complaint overall, but definitely noticeable if you make larger drinks frequently. The machine is also larger than I expected. It’s narrow and visually compact from the front, but it takes up almost the full depth of my counter. The drip tray is enormous and runs nearly the full length/depth of the machine, which makes it slightly awkward to carry and empty. On the flip side, the larger tray means you aren’t constantly running to the sink after every couple drinks. The used coffee grounds are collected in a removable container integrated into the drip tray assembly, which is convenient, although mine was already full after about six shots. Given how much espresso I drink daily, I’ll probably be emptying it every day. Overall, I genuinely love this machine. At around $799, it actually feels reasonably priced for the quality, features, and overall experience you’re getting. It feels premium, makes genuinely excellent espresso, steams milk quickly and effectively, and looks beautiful sitting on the counter. Most importantly, it has already made me want to use it constantly, which is probably the best review I can give an espresso machine. A few design choices could be improved, but none of them are dealbreakers for me. If you want a fully automatic espresso machine that delivers fresh-ground, coffee shop-quality espresso at home with very little effort, the KitchenAid K2 is a fantastic option.

Sue JKUnited States

Makes fantastic coffee, easy to use

I have been using this KitchenAid fully automatic Espresso/Coffee machine for a little over a month now and am completely impressed. First this has a sleek design that looks nice on the counter tops without taking up too much horizontal space. It has the look of a mini coffee shop right on your counter. It is a lot longer than it is wide which I appreciate but you do have to keep in mind that you will have to rotate the machine sideways in order to add water which you add from the back. I wish this had little wheels to move on the bottom for me to more easily rotate to add water but it does not. The water container on the back is clear and easy to see the water levels, it also has clear marking lines so that you can see how much you have added. You place the beans in the top of the machine by removing a section of the top lid. You can also use ground coffee however I have not tried out that feature as I only use whole beans. The grind is good on this but you can't adjust the grind other than 1,2 or 3 bean for strength as far as I can tell. The machine will let you know when it is out of water, beans or the collection tray for used coffee/ water needs to be changed. There is a drawer in the front bottom to remove used coffee grinds and water collected. Very easy to clean out. The button to turn it on is on the side. When you first turn this on in the morning it will go through a quick clean out cycle that takes a few seconds before it's ready to go. You then select how you would like to make your cup of joe. This is incredibly easy to learn to use and isn't complicated at all. You can chose espresso, coffee, over ice, hot water or steam, then you go down and chose one or two cups, one two or three bean, and you are ready to go. I drink my coffee black however I like to drink it more like an Americana so I make my coffee and then add a cup of water. You are able to stop the water mid stream if you only want half a cup or less. The little want to the side moves out to add your water, or froth your milk. I love how easy this is to make exactly what you want and customize to your own liking, plus it only takes a few minutes. I've played around with this quite a bit to make some wonderful creations experimenting to see if I would like something more than my usual cup. This does make some noise when grinding and brewing, and you can hear it going for sure but as far as coffee machines this is on the quieter side. This seems very well made and so far I've been pleasantly pleased. I love that it comes from the KitchenAid brand as that is a brand I've used for many years and have grown to love and trust. I feel like this will work for many years to come. Overall I'm super happy that I got this machine and while it is in fact expensive at the current list price of $799.99 it does end up saving me a lot of money from going out to buy coffee every morning in just a few short months of use. I do think this is a very good value for the price and have no regrets on getting this.

Yolanda O.United States

Produces Rich, Café-Quality Coffee and Specialty Drinks With Surprisingly Easy Setup

Summary: Excellent fully automatic espresso machine that is surprisingly easy to use while still producing rich, flavorful coffee and espresso drinks. The built-in Intelligrind system, customizable settings, and one-touch drink options make this much more premium and convenient than standard home coffee makers. Expensive upfront, but easily worth it for frequent coffee and cappuccino /latte drinkers. Review: I am not personally a coffee or espresso connoisseur, but my partner is and both my partner and I have been extremely satisfied with the quality of the coffee and espresso this machine produces. The drinks taste rich, smooth, and far more rich and refined than what we were getting from standard single-serve coffee machines (or from the popular coffee place everyone goes to). The standout feature for me is absolutely the built-in Intelligrind grinder system. The machine automatically detects the bean type and roast level and adjusts the grind and dosing accordingly, so you get consistently good flavor without having to manually figure out complicated settings yourself. That makes this especially great for people who want high-quality espresso drinks without needing professional barista knowledge. Another thing I appreciate is how easy the machine is to use despite all the features it offers. Setup was straightforward, and most functions are extremely intuitive. You can customize drink strength, choose between one or two cups, and quickly switch between coffee, espresso, iced drinks, and milk-based drinks with simple button controls. You can also make it more or less bold with the touch of a button! The variety of drink options is also impressive. We’ve used it for standard coffee, espresso, iced coffee, and lattes using the steam wand/frother. The over-ice setting is especially nice because it helps preserve the flavor instead of creating watered-down iced coffee. One feature I did not expect to appreciate as much as I do is the quieter grinding system. Compared to many coffee machines and grinders, this one is noticeably quieter and much less disruptive in the mornings. The machine also is surprisingly compact for everything it offers. It looks and performs like what it is: a premium and high-end machine without taking over the kitchen counter, and the matte black finish gives it a sleek, modern appearance. The upfront cost is definitely significant, but when you factor in the price of buying coffee /lattes daily you figure it’s worthwhile because we are making far fewer trips to coffee shops and no longer buying specialty coffees outside the home regularly. Over time, I this will pay for itself. Overall, this is an excellent automatic espresso machine for someone who wants convenience, customization, and consistently great coffee without needing advanced espresso-making experience.

bd reviewsUnited States

Cafe quality coffee in a surprisingly slim and simple package

I am very impressed with this espresso machine. Initially, I was concerned it would be too much work for certain members of the family to use, but it turns out that was a non-issue. The setup is straightforward and the instructions are very clear. The daily routine for making an espresso or specialized drink is incredibly simple, making it accessible for everyone in the house. The machine handles the heavy lifting for you. Periodically you just need to add beans and water, and the system provides clear reminders when levels are low. Maintenance involves sliding out the bottom tray to empty the water and the used grounds container. This part of the process is perhaps the only weak point, as the tray can be a bit unwieldy if you let it get too full; emptying it frequently makes it much easier to manage. The grinds and water are housed in the same tray, though the grinds have their own internal container. Making drinks is a breeze: you simply select your beverage (espresso, coffee, iced, or steam), choose the volume and strength, and hit start. The flavor is clearly superior to the pod-based machines I have used in the past, provided you use high-quality beans. The steam wand also performs exceptionally well with more force than other machines I have owned. It took a moment to realize that you have to select steam as a drink option and hit start to activate the wand, but once figured out, it works perfectly. Regarding the noise level, while this is billed as a quiet machine, you should still expect a certain amount of noise during the grinding phase. I do not have experience with other fully automatic machines to compare it against, but the sound is definitely noticeable during that brief period when the beans are being processed. It is not a major drawback, but something to be aware of if you are expecting total silence. The narrow design is a huge advantage as I have very limited counter space at my coffee station; this machine fits where most other automatics simply would not. Plusses: Very slim, space-saving footprint. Extremely easy to use with intuitive controls. High-quality built-in grinder and strong steam wand performance. Excellent flavor profile that beats out pod-based systems. Clear alerts for water, beans, and maintenance needs. Negatives: The combined water and grounds tray can be a bit awkward to carry and empty. Steam wand activation is slightly unintuitive at first. Grinding noise is noticeable despite the quiet marketing. Final verdict: 5 stars. Despite minor handling quirks with the drip tray and the expected noise of a grinder, the espresso quality and the compact design make this a fantastic addition to the kitchen. It is definitely a keeper.