KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder, KES6551 - Stainless Steel

Exactly what my wife was looking for. Very easy to use and is used daily in our house.

I enjoy a nice cup of coffee every once in a while. My fiancé drinks it every morning, though, and we were both thrilled to add this espresso machine to our kitchen appliances. Not only does it have a stainless steel finish, which matches most of our other appliances, but it makes fantastic coffee drinks. Plus, we love KitchenAid devices. They hold up well and we’ve never really had one fail on us. The unboxing process was a bit cumbersome as there were a lot of pieces and parts included. The machine itself is all one piece and no assembly is required, but there are a lot of parts that are wrapped up with tape and plastic that have to be unwrapped before you can start using it. Many years ago we had a ‘fancy’ coffee drink maker, but it used coffee pods instead of coffee beans. So, this machine presented a whole new adventure to us. In fact, we had to purchase whole coffee beans since we only had ground coffee at home when this machine arrived. The truth is that you could probably use pre-ground coffee and just press it, but the freshly ground coffee just tastes so much better. So, the first thing you do is grind your beans into a powder. You have the ability to select how fine or coarse you want your coffee grounds to be. Once you have your coffee grounded up, you press it into a firm disk inside the portafilter and put the entire assembly under the Group Head to brew the espresso. This part of the process isn’t difficult, and within just a few minutes, you can have your fancy coffee. There are various settings to go through to fine-tune your drink how you want it. You have the option to steam milk if you want and, of course, you can add different flavors to your coffee. To me, this is a great way to have a premium coffee drink at home. The only downside is the clean-up. It’s a fairly messy process — especially if you make the steamed milk. The machine doesn’t take up too much more space than a full-size coffee maker does. And, as an added benefit, there are rollers on the back so that you can slide it in and out on a counter easily.

I am writing this review for the KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine, With Burr Grinder (Model KES6551). As always, I like to cover the shipping of a product before getting into the meat of the review. For me, shipping practices will almost certainly reveal what you can expect from the product itself. In this case, KitchenAid did an outstanding job of making sure the espresso machine was very well protected against the unfortunately common shipping disasters we have to deal with. The machine arrived in great condition. Things were looking pretty good at this point. It was apparent that the team members who designed the shipping container were well experienced at unpacking products, and it shows in how easy it was to extricate the KitchenAid from the box. They utilized a very clever handle design and it made this a very easy process. After getting it out of the box, there was the normal removal of all plastic, cardboard and tape. Only took a few minutes. As I inspected the espresso machine, I noticed immediately the departure from the traditional round hopper used almost universally by other companies who utilize a hopper that is not contained within the machine itself. Rather it is a rectangular hopper. Not good or bad, but interesting. The KES65517 is brushed stainless steel and has a rather minimalistic (yet pleasingly modern) look to it. There is a lack of the usual knobs one typically sees, and instead functions are controlled by push buttons. Again, neither good nor bad, but interesting. After inspecting it and making sure that all the parts were accounted for, it was time to put everything together. I will say that if you have ever owned a semi-automatic espresso machine before, assembly will be rather simple as well as easy. Just to be safe, I washed the appropriate components before assembly. I was pleased by how large the water reservoir is… much larger than other machines I have used. This is really a big plus because I don’t like having to refill the water every other day or so. Now, I’m not sure why KitchenAid decided to do so, but the tamper, in my opinion, is really out of touch with the overall quality of the KES6551. I’m not sure what the handle is made of, but I believe it is plastic. And the handle is really small. I can’t figure out for the life of me why they chose to do this. The tamper is one of the components that truly adds to the overall experience of brewing an espresso. This particular tamper subtracts from the experience by making it feel so, well, cheap. Perhaps they were trying to create a different ambience, but for the life of me I can’t figure out what ambience they are trying to create. It looks like something you would get at the dollar store. But anyway, assembly was easy enough, and it was time to try out the machine. The functions available are inline with the minimalist style of the KitchenAid, that is, the only brewing choices available are single and double espresso. And to me, this is good, because it is, after all, an espresso machine. I like the purity of it. Some machines try to incorporate Americano coffee or some other such brews into the mix, but if I wanted regular coffee, I’d just use a regular coffee maker. I decided to stick to the same formula I use on my other espresso machines and went with a finer grind and a larger dose. This is where ease of use comes into play with the KitchenAid. The controls layout is almost instinctual, following a rather fluid design with the process… the Grind button, Mode, Temperature, Dose and Brew buttons… they take the process in order with no hunting back and forth. There is even a pressure gauge to make sure brewing pressure stays within the target range while brewing. So, after making the appropriate choices, I hit the Brew button and waited to see what the KES6551 was going to deliver. I was happily surprised as it was an almost perfect espresso… in my book. What a “perfect” espresso looks like or tastes like is dependent upon who you ask, and this review is not intended to lecture anyone on what a perfect espresso is. But as far as the process is concerned, everything was good. Everything from the initial drop time to the crema, it was all good. But as we all know, espresso really is a very personal creative experience, and in the end, it is left up to each individual brewer to determine the best grind and dosage to suit their own unique taste. And this is where the ability of the KitchenAid comes into play. There are 15 settings for the grind coarseness, from very coarse to very fine. Somewhere in there should be a setting to please almost anyone. The dose ranges (according to my measurements) range from +/-8g to +/-21g. Again, this is a wide enough range to suit probably anyone’s taste. After some more experimentation, I came up with my own perfect combination, and I have been enjoying the KitchenAid ever since. I don’t want to forget the frothing wand, or steam wand as others might call it. This is by far the best froth steamer I have ever used. The amount of steam, the rapid delivery and the pressure all combine to make frothing with the KES6551 a perfectly delightful experience. In very little time the steam wand froths the milk and heats it up to the perfect temperature and consistency. I have been using the KitchenAid to froth even when using a different machine to brew. Now, there are a couple or so things that I would like to comment on. The KitchenAid espresso machine is on the market as an upper-range semiautomatic espresso machine. However, there are some rather lower-range aspects that are really out of place for a machine at this price point. Although it doesn’t affect the espresso itself, the quality of the aesthetic build is a bit lacking. I have the brushed stainless-steel model, which looks really good in my kitchen, but the “KitchenAid” logo at the base of the machine has been machine-stamped, giving it the appearance of a rather low-end product. The logo is not crisp and clean, but more like something you would see on a cheaper store-brand machine. Also, as I mentioned before, the tamper is not what I would expect, especially from KitchenAid. I grew up with my mom using KitchenAid appliances. They were always top-notch machines and were the envy of all her friends. The machines were of such good quality that she owned and used her KitchenAid mixer for over 50 years. It was passed down to one of her granddaughters who is still using it to this day. It may be worn, but nothing about it was cheap. That’s why I’m so disappointed with the machine-stamped logo and the cheap looking tamper. Just so out of line with what I have always expected from KitchenAid. One final thing I want to mention is the storage area behind the drip tray. What a strange place to store the filter baskets and cleaning tools. It works, I guess. But I much rather keep them on top like I do with my other espresso machines. Overall, other than the couple of things I just mentioned, the KitchenAid KES6551 semi-automatic espresso machine is wonderful. Easy to use, easy to clean, and easy to brew. You can’t ask for anything more than that. And because it works exactly as you would expect and will deliver a very personally-crafted espresso, and in spite of the aesthetic downfalls, I can’t help but give the KitchenAid espresso machine a Five-Star rating, along with my willingness to HIGHLY recommend it to my friends and family.

I love coffee, but up until now I had been intimidated to try making my own espresso and learning the ins and outs of pulling a good shot. This Kitchen Aid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine has changed everything for me. I have learned what it takes to make a decadent shot of espresso and have been making all kinds of concoctions while trying out different beans every day just because I can now. I’ll admit, I was still confused about the process after reading the manuals provided but luckily Kitchen Aid and Best Buy both provide easy to follow instructional videos that helped get me going and I highly recommend watching those. The manuals are very detailed and provide additional necessary info about the machine, so definitely don’t skip them. Once the machine is up and running, there is a trial-and-error period of figuring out the grind to quantity size that pulls a shot within the depicted “espresso range.” The booklet gives details on how to adjust depending on the pressure pointer’s direction. I suggest using a single shot for this to waste less beans in the process. The bean hopper has an airtight lid which means all the beans loaded into it remain fresh. The top burr can be customized beyond the standard settings to get eight finer grind sizes. The machine is surprisingly low profile at just over a foot all around and the internal storage, overhead space, and drip tray help keep all of its components neatly stored within its space. There are two wheels in the back that make it easy to move back and forth and clean around it. It is extraordinarily easy and quick to wipe down clean after each use and the drip tray shows when it needs to be drained and cleaned. The froth wand simply gets cleaned by spraying it into the drip down tray, I also clean it while cleaning out the group head by running hot water through and keeping the froth wand underneath it and then wiping both with a cloth. Once the tray displays it is full, I drain, wash, and then dry it. I find making espresso is both incredibly messy and easy to clean. And when you are well-caffeinated, nothing is really that much of a chore. The machine heats up as soon as it is turned on, coming to temp in about a minute. There are three temperature settings for shot. I chose warm or hot for my hot lattes and mochas and the lowest temperature to make iced drinks. Kitchen Aid includes 4 basket options, two single-walled and two double-walled. The manual explains uses for each and the dose each holds in grams. Also included are the Portafilter, tamper, stainless steel milk pitcher, and a two-sided bristle brush. There is one water filter for the water tank included that should last two months. This espresso machine is honestly perfect for coffee aficionados. It is easy to learn with for beginners and perfect for those already versed in pulling espresso shots. It pulls full-bodied, aromatic, crema-rich shots that are better than what a coffee-shop provides and froths/steams milk all faster than it takes for my coffee maker to finish brewing. It’s hard not to look like you are an actor in a cheesy commercial when you sit all alone actually savoring every sip with a slow blink and a smile because that is how good this machine works.

Just pulling this unit out of the box felt magical, not even gonna lie, i have 4 espresso machines, my household drinks more coffee than we would ever admit to.... and honestly this is by far the cream of the crop when it comes to full featured midranged affordable espresso machines. we have only had this machine for a small amount of time, but it is quickly becoming a top favorite. Coming from smaller lines of espresso machines, some with steam wands some without, some with grinders some without. This one wins hands down for features, quietness, quick cleanup. I have to say this machine was a little intimidating to look at when we got it in place on our coffee station, however after glanzing through the more technical manual and then following the smaller quick start guide the initial run was pretty fast and smooth, a few dials to adjust but out of the gate using the defaults shown in manual for dial settings etc, seem to be on point and made the first run pretty easy. In my opinion this machine is as nice as you think it is and can be maintained in many ways (and should be) I would highly suggest reading the smaller quicksetup guide first, run the machine through, get the general idea and then read the larger manual for care and maintenance etc. and go from there. The machine in general is fantastic, from the very large water tank in the back to the super quiet grinder, you will not be disappointed here at all. There are so many features and options I don't even know where to start here, ... This unit lets you adjust everything from the coffee beans' grind size all the way up to the temperature of the coffee. Watch your pressure gauge as you fill your cup, giving you the ability to adjust and make slight changes to maintain that perfect ratio for perfect pours everytime. I could type here all day about how great this machine is so i'll wrap it up, at the end of the day this machine is beautiful looking, the features are bar none on par with anything you could want on a machine at this price and it gives you a perfect shot of espresso without much fuss. pros: The machine itself, honestly i can't get over how nice this is, it just really pops out and draws your attention to it The grinder, quiet, quick, adjustable sized grinds The machine features adjustable temps, sizes, plus steam or hot water A hidden compartment houses 3 additional filters (2, single wall (1 & 2 cup) and 2, double wall (1 & 2 cup) filters as well as a wire brush Additionally the unit ships with a 12 oz milk pitcher, heavy tamper, 1 water filter & 1 priming pump Features a 2.5L Water Tank Capacity, and movable Steam Wand, as well as a removable bean hopper This machine is Quick to heat, you will surprised by how fast to pour you receive w/this unit Cons I really couldnt pinpoint anything i disliked about this machine, everything just worked. I didn't have to make many adjustments from my initial dials that i set from reading the manual to get the pressure at that right spot. Cleanup was minimal, and the use of the machine after the first run was pretty quick to pickup on and use. Overall this is a great machine, the price is affordable for a mid level espresso machine, we all know they can reach into the thousands and this for me sits at a great price point for a higher end type machine with mid range price. If you are a coffee lover and are looking for a nice upgrade for your homes coffee station, you should really check this out. KitchenAid nails another product in my book.

The KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder (model KES6551) is a great purchase for java enthusiasts who are looking for coffee shop quality in their espresso drinks at home. The machine is easy to set up, relatively intuitive, has a variety of settings to appeal to the tastes of different coffee drinkers, and gives you the ability to make barista style drinks without having to leave home. KitchenAid offers the machine with a two-year warranty which should give buyers peace of mind regarding the build quality of the unit. Someone shopping at this price point is most likely an experienced user and already knows this but, a burr grinder is usually more desirable because of the precision and consistency it offers in grinding beans which is an important part of the whole brewing process. Everything is nicely packaged and well protected for shipping. The machine setup is very simple. The instructions are clear and easy to understand. The machine comes fully assembled with tape holding removable pieces in place. The tape leaves no residue which is appreciated. The instructions say the machine needs to be primed prior to the first use and could require multiple attempts, but it worked on the first try. Installation of the filter requires a five minute soaking. The removable items require a hand wash prior to using. Overall, set up is a pretty straightforward and quick process.  There is a removable water container that sits on the back of the machine with a convenient handle for easier access. It holds enough water to make about 6 to 8 coffee drinks depending on the size and type of beverages made. The built-in grinder can be used for freshly ground espresso drinks. The bean hopper is also removable which makes cleaning very simple. The machine features a steaming wand for making lattes and cappuccinos as well as a hot water option for my favorite drink: an Americano. My first attempt at a drink was an Americano prior to purchasing whole beans and I just used espresso ground coffee I already had on hand. I scooped out a typical amount of coffee, tamped it down, inserted and locked the portafilter, and pressed the start button (looks like the “play” arrow on music devices) to brew the espresso. There is a gauge that lets you know if you have correctly tamped the espresso. The owners manual offers tips on using the gauge to make adjustments to the grind of the beans which alters the pressure generated and displayed on the gauge. After brewing the espresso shots, hot water is added to finish the drink. There is a nozzle for the hot water on the right corner of the machine near where the espresso is brewed. I have owned another espresso machine and I would say the taste of the drink I made with the KitchenAid was similar to previous Americanos I have made. One downside to the KitchenAid is that the hot water feature shuts off after a certain amount of time rather than allowing me to fill it to my preferred level. I also felt the water was not very hot (even though I was using the highest temperature setting) and turned lukewarm before I had finished my drink. The next attempt was after I purchased fresh beans and I chose to make a latte. The grinder works well, is quieter than I expected, and after moving the switch to either one shot or two, it fills the portafilter up to the perfect level without having to manually measure the grounds as I do when I have pre-ground espresso. A bit of the mountain of grounds that tends to pile up during the grinding process seemed to spill each time I removed the portafilter to tamp down the grounds which made a mess on the counter and spill tray. The tamper is heavy duty and worked well. After using the tamper, the next step is the same as with the Americano: insert and lock the portafilter, then press “play” to brew. Once the espresso is brewed, you fill about ? of the small silver pitcher, included with the machine, with milk of your choosing. I have used 2%, half & half, almond milk, and oat milk. All work well. Holding the pitcher with the steaming wand dipped in the milk, you steam the milk until the liquid is about double. I have to say this is one thing that felt a bit awkward. I wasn’t sure exactly how to hold it so it was working most efficiently. I felt like sometimes I had the wand too deep in the milk and sometimes it wasn’t deep enough. I was unsure exactly when to turn it off, and one time I made a big mess as I pushed the limit a bit and it overflowed. My other espresso machine has an auto steam function which has given me a new appreciation for that feature. When finished frothing, it is important to wipe down the steaming wand with a cloth and do a quick 2 to 3 second release of steam to clean it. “Above and beyond” features I appreciate about this espresso machine: - There is a small drawer on the bottom of the machine that conveniently holds the extra filter basket accessories when they are not being used.  - When the drip tray becomes filled with water there is a pop up that says “full” to let you know to dump it before it overflows. - The espresso gauge that lets you know you have a good grind and have tamped the beans sufficiently resulting in the perfect espresso extraction is very helpful in getting a perfect cup of coffee.  - The ability to adjust the grind size is nice if you have both mild and bold roast drinkers in the house. - While I of course haven’t had to use it yet, there is a clean cycle feature to help keep the machine running smoothly. Things that feel a little “clunky” on this espresso machine: - Sometimes when pressing the brew start/stop button, nothing would happen. It was due to the flashing heating light. It is surprising that there would need to be wait time between grinding and brewing since grinding wouldn’t seem to need heat, but maybe I am missing something. - The hot water spout is in a spot where I feel I need to place the cup just so or the water will end up outside the cup. - The hot water turns off by itself, assuming you are using a smaller mug. We have very few mugs that would be full if I didn’t add more water. Not a deal breaker, but makes me wonder if I would prefer not having an automatic shut off. - Unlike the hot water spout, I wish the steam wand DID have an automatic shut off. I made a big mess when I took a chance and turned it off a little too late. Bottom line, this is a well made and easy to use espresso machine with some incredible features that would cut down on daily stops at a coffee shop for people who want barista inspired drinks. After about a week of using it, I feel like it will take a few more attempts and patience to find the perfect settings for my tastes. This model may not be for someone who wants an espresso machine that is able to crank out a fancy espresso drink with minimal effort or conversely who doesn’t drink lattes and is happy with a simple cup of joe. The price point is typical for machines with similar features and while it may seem like a big investment, if it decreases the number of stops for coffee it should pay for itself rather quickly.

Positive notes: - The automated grinding option works very well. It's clean and easy to use with very little spillage. The only time you have to worry about spill over of your grind espresso beans is when you pack a very full shot. It's very easy to select the coarseness of your grind and also how much espresso you want ground up. - Providing 4 options for espresso cups is very helpful. Two are single walled and two are double walled with the single or double shot option. - Once you get the settings correct for grind coarseness, volume and the right cup to brew it makes a pretty good cup of espresso. The pressure gauge is a nice touch because it lets you know why your espresso is not good. You can then reference the directions to make a better cup of espresso! - I like that it shares some basic recipes that you can practice and perfect for different espresso drinks. Also, the set up directions and troubleshooting directions for a better cup are easy to follow. Areas to prepare for: - Takes a little bit of know how to set up. Need to read the directions and pay attention to some of the extra steps required for full machine setup. - Requires a little know how to get the right shot of espresso. You will need to play with the coarseness and the type of espresso cup you use to achieve the right pressure. May require a couple poor cups of espresso before you achieve the right one with the correct consistency and crema. Might need to be adjusted each time you use a different level of shot, either one or two shots. - I think the milk frothing option is difficult. If you have never frothed or heated milk with a wand before you will need to look up directions on a website or on YouTube. The directions for how to froth milk are provided but they are vague on timing to achieve desired temperature and milk foam. With practice you will eventually learn but it depends how much time you want to take to learn and if it it something you are interested in. You may get frustrated and give up, especially if you are rushing in the morning. - I don't think this machine is for someone that is looking for an easy espresso machine purchase. It requires a little know how and to understand a little about what you are looking for. We used to own a machine that was smaller and fully automated and I think that was a great learning tool that helped us be set for an upgrade. And this machine is a fantastic upgrade, believe me! Overall I think this is a very good product, it's sleek, looks good on the counter top and make a good cup of espresso. However you will need to spend a little bit of time getting the perfect cup as there are customizable options that can either give you a great cup or a poor cup. I think this should be someone's second espresso machine they buy, after they are ready to customize the drinks they make more. If you are looking for a very easy espresso machine I would recommend another product. However, this product is still very good for the right person. Winter's coming and this will make it a lot more bearable! Highly recommended? Indeed!

I had the opportunity to try out this KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Maching with built in Burr Grinder and I must say I was pleasantly surprised considering KitchenAid is a top appliance brand, I would not have thought of them as a coffee/espressor brand. The one thing I love is that my entire kitchen is now KitchenAid stainless steel. Enough of how great this espresso machine complements my kitchen. Unboxing this machine is well built does not feel cheap by any means. It’s built like a commercial machine. Set up was extremely easy just remove the plastic coverings and plug in. Clean up was also extremely easy. Another major plus with this machine is the large water container, which holds 2.5L. The built in Burr is a plus so you don’t have to worry about having to have a separate grinder you just place the beans in the hopper and select the number of cups and coarse of the grind. The selections are pretty easy to read and maneuver if you are use to making different types of espresso based drinks. You select your grind strength then you press the buttons for frothing, temperature and drip. I made espresso just to taste how well it grinded and followed the directions for tamping and the temp strength. It came out similar to the automatic coffee machine we have at work which is a great compliment. I then tried making my favorite specialty drink for the weekends a Cappucino, during the week its a pot of coffee on the go. It was a lot of fun trying out the different setting with temp, frothing, tamping and different grind strengths without the cost. My favorite was double espresso, high temp. The machine comes with a thermometer to measure the temp so you can make the perfect cup consistently. I highly recommend this home specialty drink espresso machine if you are like me who likes to experiment so the semi-automatic is the way to go.

I have never used an espresso machine prior to using this one, and having this in a home is such a treasure! This KitchenAid Espresso Machine is a sleek, highly-useful (even for tasks not related to coffee making!) and feature-rich kitchen appliance; a must have for cafe-drink lovers! The build quality of everything on and in the machine is phenomenal! All elements have satisfying, high-quality hefts and weight to them, the buttons are tactile and responsive with indicator lights, and the stainless steel used on the exterior-facing elements looks fantastic and are built to last! The instruction guides or videos are a must when setting this machine up; the quick start guide and the owner’s manual paired together cover everything you need to know about the machine clearly and concisely (such as installing the water tank/filter, priming the machine with water, etc.). It won’t require much reading which is nice, and the steps to assemble and prep the machine are very low stakes/easy! I would only say this has a slight learning curve; it took me around 40 minutes from the start of setup to have my first cup of espresso! It may take some testing beyond the 40 minutes to produce a correct espresso brew to your liking though! Getting to the fun part, using the machine! The machine is “semi-automatic”, meaning you have to move the coffee beans through the “espresso making” process, from bean grinding into the included portable and swappable handheld “portafilter”, tamping the coffee grounds to evenly distribute the grounds using the included tamper, then pouring (filtering) heated water through the concentrated grounds to create your espresso! The built-in (and very impressive) burr grinder grinds the coffee beans perfectly to your liking, and to the exact amount you specify on the grinding knob! This is an extremely satisfying step to watch! The actual espresso pouring step has temperature settings and output amount settings as well, and is very easy to initiate! There is also a steaming option using the built-in movable steam head (this works great for steaming or frothing milk!), as well as a hot-water spout for quick access to hot water! The heating elements are very quick to heat, and the steaming/hot water features are extremely convenient for not just espresso-making, but also for making hot chocolate, tea, etc.! I’m happy to report as well that running the machine, from grinding, to steaming and to pouring espresso is only around a quiet to occasional moderate noise level, and the device is extremely easy to clean, as all parts are disassemblable! A few important final things to note! First off, the top of the unit, which is flat, open space and has no warning imagery or signage on it, gets very hot during and after use, so be careful to not place flammable things on this surface or burn yourself! Second, if you happen to spill liquids onto the flat, non-grated surface behind the metal pour surface tray (like I did, oops!), liquids can seep into and get stuck between cracks in the machine, where it is extremely difficult to get between to clean. The stainless steel exterior is also a major fingerprint magnet and might require extra cleaning to buff out fingerprints after use. None of these impact usability in any significant ways though!