KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine KF7 with Milk Attachment KES8557SX Stainless Steel

Pros: 1. Great flavored espressos. I had seen reviews that said that this made a "weak-ass" espresso. I completely disagree. My first espresso was made on the 3-bean setting due to reviews and it was super-strong. I had to dial back my subsequent espressos to 2-bean - and this was with Lavazza Dek Decaf. 2. Rich, thick crema on the espresso and straight coffee. 3. More than hot enough (I had read other reviews saying the temp was lukewarm, I think they must have had a faulty machine). 4. Remarkably quiet. No more waking others in the house up with loud grinding in the morning. 5. Exceptional build quality. 6. Simplified, menu-driven cleaning. 7. Large storable milk container. If you eschew carbs like me, use half and half or diluted heavy whipping cream. Big step up from milk. 8. Rollers on the bottom allow you to easily pull the machine out toward the front of the counter. 9. Swappable bean bins. One for full-strength in the AM and one for in the afternoon (you'll need to buy the extra bin) 10. Creates a solid medium-large puck. 11. If you have an RO system that is in good working condition, you can probably skip the filters. 12. Four user profiles and a simple user interface. Cons: 1. Medium-tall coffee cups only. Not travel mug friendly. You can use a travel mug, but you'll have to futz with the mug as it fills. 2. Expensive for only 20 drink options. Though they are admittedly strong options. The De'Longhi Eletta Explore has lots more options and is probably a better option if variety is a high priority. 3. Large. Very large. 4. Unlike other premium Super Espresso machines, there is no granular control of the coffee volume output. Single and Double - that's it. Update: After 3 month of usage, the bottom bracket of the spout holder broke into three pieces. I am currently dealing with Asurion to have it replaced. Overall still a stellar machine though coffee could be hotter, but I am now concerned with longevity. I removed and cleaned the spout probably 6-10 times during the period I owned the machine. One day I noticed that there were two pieces of plastic on the metal grate. I initially thought they had come from the spout, but on further inspection found that the base plate for the spout had cracked - possibly weakened by heat stress? Read more

We upgraded from a Phillips 4300 and this machine is a complete game changer and well worth the extra few hundred dollars. The user interface and screen are much nicer and easier to use. The machine also prompts you when to do all maintenance and cleanings, which is super helpful. The brew unit is easy to remove and clean there are way less nooks and crannies to worry about. It also stores way more water in the reservoir, same with the disposed pucks container. Not to mention there was no break-in period, Unlike the Phillips, which took forever to dial-in. The drinks taste amazing and are much hotter than what the Phillips was able to produce. As far as the milk frothing and warming goes, I have no issues. The texture is amazing. I also appreciate how large the milk container is and how easy it is to use. The fact that it’s “separate”, unlike the Phillips, doesn’t really matter because you’re gonna put the milk container from either device in the fridge anyways. The only difference is there is one extra step in attaching the hose to the KitchenAid. Which I feel is a fair trade-off given how much larger the milk container is and it’s easier to clean. Also, the bean hopper is great because it never jams which I’ve had nothing but issues with the Phillips. It’s also super easy to remove to replace the beans. I have just enough clearance under my cabinets (18” from countertop to cabinet) to remove the bean hopper. Lastly, it’s way quieter. I’m running out of good things to say at this point. I’m no espresso snob by any means but I love this machine. Oh…and the kitchenaid just looks way nicer. Read more

Love a fresh ground cup of coffee! Tastes so much better than pods. My main complaint is that I have to make a double drink to get a full sized cup of anything. I’ve changed the settings, but even maxed out I still don’t get a full cup. Drinks are not hot enough, too. I still need to heat in the microwave. This is true for black coffee, so not related to milk temp as others have said. Also, a screw fell out of the brew head the first time I pulled this out gently to clean. No idea where it came from and hoping this still works in the morning! Read more

The Automac coffee machine is a sleek and user-friendly appliance that delivers consistently rich and flavorful coffee. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to brew a variety of coffee types, from espresso to cappuccino. The machine heats up quickly and features a powerful pump for optimal extraction. Maintenance is simple with removable components and a self-cleaning function. Overall, the Automac offers excellent value for money, making it a great choice for coffee enthusiasts looking for convenience and quality in their daily brew. Read more

Works beautifully right out of the box. My issue with espresso machines in that past has always been the temperature of the drink. I will admit that I like my drinks to be hotter than is recommended by the experts but I think that might be a cultural thing. This machine gets plenty hot for my liking. It certainly gets hotter than my pod machines and my manual espresso machine. No notes. I highly recommend this for the ease of use, ease of cleaning, and quality of brew. All the drinks are great. I say it's a good value for the money. Read more

I’ve had this coffee maker for almost a year now and we absolutely love it! You throw in some lavazza coffee beans and you have a perfect cup of coffee. If I had to do it again I would have purchased the 8 so I could use heavy whipping cream instead of milk in the steamer. Read more

After three morning's use the machine quit grinding and went into nonstop cleaning mode. Upon opening the brewing door I found detached parts laying inside. When it did work, I found it to be unnecessarily time consuming what with having to empty the coffee pucks and tray and run the milk tube rinse cycle soon after each brewing. This machine is too troublesome even when working. Luckily, Amazon makes returning items easy. Read more