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

Like most people, I start my day with coffee - but it's an expensive habit. I haven't made coffee at home before (outside of a Keurig) and everyone tells me to up my game I needed a proper coffee machine. The KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine (KES6551) is a natural next step. I'm now well on the way to Barista quality coffee at home. Initial Setup/Thoughts The box was large and heavy, and I worried the KitchenAid Espresso Machine wouldn't fit on my counter, but it has a surprisingly small footprint. The KitchenAid Espresso Machine looks super premium in brushed stainless steel - so it definitely looks the part. I was luck as it fits perfectly in a tiny nook between my fridge and cooktop (See photo). It's also easy to roll forward so you can access the water tank. KitchenAid have been smart with the design, there's storage under the drip basket for the filter baskets. First Use As a semi-automatic machine, the KitchenAid Espresso Machine is mostly fool proof. You select your grind size, temperature, shots and you're pretty much set to go. You do need to prime the water tank. The grinder is relatively quiet. As a novice, I was a little anxious first use but making coffee with this is easy. The hardest part was getting the steamed milk right, the steam wand moves but learning how to angle the milk steam jug the right way makes all the difference. I'll need to practice some more. The Coffee! Afficionados will say it's all about beans, grinding, etc. and they're right but it's also about the machine. I have to say I am impressed, the KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine makes very good espresso and it will only get better with practice. Verdict Honestly, this is better than a Keurig, gives you. more control, looks more premium and I dare say even better for the environment because you're not using single shot containers for every coffee. It's also going to work out cheaper for me in the long run. I honestly can't fault the machine.

This is the semi-automatic espresso machine I’ve been waiting for!! I recently got a Philips semi-automatic machine that was a big disappointment in many ways. You have to know less about making espresso with this machine, than with the Philips. I got this because I knew KitchenAid would make a great product and I was right. We also own a KitchenAid stand mixer which is the best of the best of the non-professional home mixers out there. Supposedly, Breville makes a great espresso machine. Everything I’ve read and heard points to their machines being the benchmark for home espresso enthusiasts. I wouldn't know, but I'm guessing this KitchenAid machine is darn close if not on par! I want to start talking about the built-in grinder first, because that was my main concern with these semi-automatics. The Philips espresso machine grinder was a disaster. It didn’t last one day without the need to clean it out, not to mention the huge mess it made in my kitchen. This KitchenAid grinder has been a BEAST! You set the grind size, set how much you want, and this little workhorse grinds QUICK, and most importantly, VERY quiet. There is also a light to show you the grounds as they fall into the portafilter. The coffee bean hopper has a lock that you turn when you want to remove it to clean the grinder. Also the top part of the burr grinder can be removed super easily for cleaning. There is a little metal handle you lift up that you can easily grab and turn to remove it. Oh I’m so happy this grinder was designed by a competent individual. Philips needs to take a page from their book. The one thing I will say is that I HIGHLY recommend getting a 58MM dosing funnel for the portafilter. If you want a double shot and have the grind amount set as much as it will grind, it’s a bout 18g, which overflows and gets messy, but it's a great amount for a double shot. You can grab the portafilter handle and gently shake it back and forth when grinding, but a dosing funnel makes it super easy and mess free. Now let’s get to the shot pulls. Oh my goodness, every single time has been perfect. Not too much messing around with it needed. Every time it’s done extracting, I get a nice tight puck for my knock box. With the Philips, it was a crap shoot and there was a lot of tweaking needed. One out of every 5 I would get a nice puck with that one, which tells you somethings not right. Not here, if you want a machine that is very forgiving and makes espresso pulling easy, this machine is it. The portafilter is nice and heavy and very solid. The portafilter tamper could be better, it’s pretty plain jane. I did like the calibrated tamper provided with the Philips. This KitchenAid makes tamper makes it harder to get an even press. That will come with time though if you're new to the game. The steam wand works great, no complaints so far. KitchenAid provides a small milk jug pitcher for you with this machine. Not much to say here, works great so far for when I want a latte or cappuccino. Make sure you clean it after every use. Another nice feature is the water tray. It pulls out so you can empty the water that builds up. There’s a nifty little red tab that lifts up so you know when it’s full. There is a storage tray that pulls out for the other portafilter baskets. (see photo) At first, I thought the storage tray got stuck when I put the machine together, and pushed it in. I learned there is little plastic hooks on the water tray that grab ahold of the front lip of the storage tray, effectively preventing it from getting stuck, and allowing you to pull it out. (see photo) This whole set up was very well designed. The water tank comes with a water filter cartridge, and the top of the water filter housing has a little date slider so you know when to change it. I believe the manual states that it should changed out every two months. The hot water spout works great for those of you who like Americanos. Not my thing, but I used it to see how it operated for review purposes. Again, same as the steam wand, not much to say here other than it does what it’s supposed to and provides hot water for your drinks. I’m extremely happy with this machine and kudos to KitchenAid for the very well designed set up here. This is now my third espresso machine and this is the best one by a landslide!

Welcome to the family! The KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder is an exciting new addition to your home coffee setup. Unboxing: The package is hefty; place it on a flat surface before opening. Inside, you'll find an accessories box containing the flat commercial-grade easy tamp porta filter, tamper, priming pump, and brush. Remove the accessories box, then lift the machine out of the shipping box using the two handles. Note: The handles are flimsy, so you might need to support the machine from underneath to prevent it from falling. Once the machine is out, remove the plastic wrapping, tape, and film holding the drip tray and attachments in place. Setup: Place the machine on a flat countertop and plug it in. Fill the water container to the 2.5L mark. Fill the priming pump with water, insert it into the filler hole in the back of the machine, and press down to prime the machine. Install the water container and ensure its fully seated to lock in place. Power on the machine. The water heating light will blink for about 20 seconds while the water heats up. Preparing Coffee: Fill the coffee bean container with your favorite blend (avoid oily beans as they can gum up the machine). Place the easy tamp porta filter into the grinder holder under the coffee bean container. Set the grind dial to the middle for a balanced grind. Use the middle buttons to choose between Espresso, Steam, or Hot Water. Tap the bottom button to select the desired water temperature (2 is a good choice for espresso). Choose between 1 or 2 cups and press the brew button on the far right to start brewing your espresso. Observe the range dial as the coffee brews. Ideally, the needle should be in the middle of the Espresso Range. This may take practice and patience. Making Cappuccinos or Lattes: Fill the included milk pitcher halfway with your desired milk. Tap the Mode button to switch from Espresso to Steam. Place the milk pitcher under the steam wand at an angle, resting the wand on the side of the pitcher. Froth the milk until it doubles in volume or reaches the desired temperature, indicated by a paper-tearing sound. Pour the steamed milk into your espresso and get creative with designs. With practice, you'll soon feel like your own Starbucks barista, whipping up all sorts of whimsical coffee beverages. Enjoy! Overall, the KitchAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder is a wonderful addition to your coffee making adventures. Be prepared to have lots of patience with it and learn all the machine can do. There will lots of maintenance involved in order to keep the machine running a peak performance. This may or may not be a deterrent for some. Word of advice, do not repeat do not press the Descaling Button that states Hold for 3 Seconds until the machine requires it. Otherwise the machine will go into a "locked out mode" and you will think your machine is broken right out if the box like I did. Thankfully, KitchenAid came to the rescue and indicated that no, the machine was not broken, however it was in a descaling mode and needs to finish this process in order to return to normal coffee brewing mode. Definitely a Suprise and a gotcha when I did exactly what I told you not to. Enjoy your Espresso Adventures with the KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder.

Comes with a great assortment of everything you could need to get started. A great option for someone looking to get into making espresso making at home.

This KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine is the third machine, and second from the KitchenAid brand, that I have reviewed through the Tech Insider Network. This latest KitchenAid machine makes it easy to brew great espresso at home, thanks to the easy adjustments to grind size, grind amount, and the inclusion of multiple portafilter types to get the most out of your coffee beans. #Unboxing and first impressions# Unboxing the KitchenAid Espresso Machine was very easy thanks to some thoughtful package design from the KitchenAid team. At the top of the box is a small tray-ish box full of the accessories and manuals. After removing that small box, KitchenAid has nice handles in a cardboard insert that let you easily lift this large machine out of the rest of the packaging (photos attached to this review). Much of the packaging is cardboard for easy recycling, but there were plastic bags and plenty of tape around the machine and other components to protect them in shipping. Total time from cutting the box open to full assembly and my first shot of espresso was about 20 minutes. This included rinsing all of the components in hot water and priming the pump. I like that the machine has hidden storage for your extra portafilter cups below the machine in a drawer hiding behind the drip/overflow tray. #The first shot and those that follow# One thing I really like about this KitchenAid machine is the inclusion of helpful tips on what settings to adjust based on the output you get from the maker, as well as the pressure gauge on the machine itself. My first pull, made with some not-so-fresh coffee beans, came out a little watery with just a ring of crema rather than a nice foamy layer. Using the guide in the manual, I adjusted my grind and dose sizes with the second pull, and got a modest pressure and crema even with these older beans. I eventually used the double wall filter insert for these beans and got a rich crema that made for some great cups of espresso. I purchased a fresh bag of espresso roast and got great pulls immediately with the single wall filter inserts. The milk steamer arm is very easy to use and clean, and conveniently can fold in or out to take up less space on the counter. There's a separate dispenser for hot water next to the portafilter mount, so you can get hot fresh water without fiddling with the steamer tube. #Conclusion# I think this KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso machine is a great step-up espresso machine for someone who is looking to 'graduate' from single cup makers or lower end espresso machines. You can make plenty of adjustments with this maker to squeeze the best espresso out of your coffee beans with this machine so you aren't beholden to the 'default' settings that a lower end machine might have. For someone who isn't quite ready to drop 4 figures on an espresso maker, this is an excellent machine that gives you more control over your espresso without committing to a pro-grade machine.

We've only had this machine for a few days, but we really like it thus far. We replaced a failing Breville BES870XL with a new one, but noticed the coffee grinder was much louder in the new model, so we decided to try this new KitchenAid model, and have been very pleased with it. The portafilter (the handle and coffee basket) and the tamper have a nice, heavy feel to them. We also like how you can easily set the temperature for the water. Pro Tip: to remove the coffee puck from the portafilter, tap it on the knock box at a 45 degree angle, and it will come out very easily.

The KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine (KES6551) is a really great espresso machine that offers a fully customizable grinding and brewing experience to let you discover your perfect espresso. Pros: • Super quiet burr grinder • Lots of controls to adjust grind • Tactile front panel buttons • Water temperature and shot volume adjustments • Pressure indicator to provide feedback about the size and quality of your espresso tamp • Easy to use frother • Sturdy water container construction with durable cast aluminum handle • Thoughtful component storage compartment below the machine behind the drip tray Cons: • Metal face shows fingerprints a bit and is not magnetic • Bean hopper has a shallow angle which may require you to push the beans into the grinder The review: I tested the KES6551 over more than a week before writing this review. At the start, I found that I was able to make a perfectly serviceable cup of coffee with the machine. After tweaking some settings and observing the changes, I was pouring masterpieces within a few days. Along the way, I learned a lot about how to find the right settings to make what I would consider ideal espresso. If it's not clear yet, I love how this machine allows me to dial in the perfect grind, water temperature, and brew time to produce my ideal cup of coffee But there's a lot more to love about this machine than its wide range of settings. Let me compare the benefits of the KES6551 to the drawbacks of my old machine. With my old all-in-one espresso machine, I found the burr grinder to be noisy and messy, spitting grounds all over the catch tray and countertop in front of the machine. By contrast, the burr grinder on the KitchenAid machine is so quiet I can carry on a conversation with my wife while it does its work and so tidy that I rarely spill grounds. When I do spill, it's only a tiny bit from my own clumsiness. My old espresso machine had a touch-sensitive black plastic front control panel that frequently failed to register touches, and barely offered customization, while the KitchenAid offers nicely tactile buttons and a ton of options for changing settings. My old machine never seemed to pull a full-extracted shot, leaving the coffee tasting decent and mild, but without the punchy qualities of a great espresso. The KitchenAid gives me a real chance to pull barista-quality shots that make me say "wow!" Finally, my old machine offered only a small amount of space underneath the portafilter when it was mounted in the group head. The KitchenAid's flat-bottomed portafilter gives me an extra couple of inches of clearance, allowing my large ceramic mugs to fit underneath. I am an adherent of the unadorned Americano, which means I like my coffee bold, dark and un-sugared. All I need to make a perfect cup is a nice strong double shot of espresso and about 16 ounces of hot water. In order to make this happen with the KES6551, I had to do some tweaking to the settings. After the first shot I pulled, I realized the pressure gauge wasn't getting up into the "espresso" range, and I also felt the high temperature water setting was causing a lot of bitterness in the coffee, so I went to work to figure out how to make my shots better. I dipped into the excellent KitchenAid manual, which explained the importance of both grind size and portafilter fullness. It showed me that the KitchenAid portafilter has a line that shows the ideal level for a tamped shot. I reduced the water temperature from level 3 to level 2, which produced a less bitter brew. I adjusted the grind size and portafilter fullness, and noticed the shots weren't as full as when I had a smaller puck with larger grind size, and there was very little crema. So I dipped back into the manual, which showed me how to extend the brew time of a shot by holding down the button to teach the machine my preferred water volume. After about 7 Americanos, having finally dialed in the perfect portafilter full of fine ground coffee, along with the proper water temperature and volume, I pulled my first "WOW" shot. The pressure needle went up to over the mid-point of the espresso range, the crema poured out rich and thick at the end of the shot, and the taste and smell was out of this world. This was coffee like I have only tasted from the hands (and 5-figure machine) of an expert. I am completely sold on the ability of this espresso machine to make an AMAZING cup of coffee, and I can't wait to keep experimenting with different roasts, grind size, water temperature, and more. The KitchenAid KES6551 is a great tool, and with a little time and effort, it can WOW you. Highly recommended.

So we've been coffee addicts for eternity and thought we had it right. Electric kettle to a glass pour-over. Nope, our story has changed. First things first. It IS a little daunting. There's a bunch of manuals to help you along. Full manual, quick start guide, and most important a plackard with the qr code to take you to the website which is WAAAAY better. Here you can get to truly understand your machine, where everything is and how to get started. I wish I had done that a week ago... ;) Going on the manual, things are just a bit mystifying and what filter is actually what. Hint: The doublewalls have a graphic printed on them that matches how they are labeled in the manual. Even if you get it wrong, you'll still make good coffee so don't worry too much. This expresso machine has it all really. A really nice burr grinder, hot water, milk frother too. You can make expressos, capuchinos, americanos oh so easily. You can change the temperature, grind size, dosage quickly and easily using the buttons. And it comes with a helpful guide on how these settings affect your brew... leading us to our new obsession. Testing all the variables, making one of the recipes in the included book etc. Without a DOUBT, the kitchenaid espresso machine is making better coffee than our previous setup. And it looks great next to our Kitchenaid mixer too!

I don't think I need to tell anyone too much about KitchenAid and their products, because let's be honest, they're just top-notch. So I find myself looking at the KES6551, a semi-automatic espresso machine with an integrated burr grinder, and wonder if I'm going to be able to find something to gripe at. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. As a big fan of espresso and coffee in general, I know my way around espresso machines. I can use a good old fashioned stove top manual espresso pot or a pod-based machine, and even commercial coffee and espresso makers. So when I first unpacked the KES6551, I was expecting big things. And you could say that my expectations were met, as this baby comes with all you could need. The box contains several types of accessories as a bunch of filter cups for different brews, a steel can for the frother, a couple of tools to clean it, a water filter, a "ground packer" and more. Basically, all you need to provide is water, coffee and a cup and you're all good to go. The machine itself is a sight to behold. It's heavy, it's big and takes a bit of counter space. It features a pressure gauge (for a decent espresso, you'll need at least 15 bars of pressure, which this machine achieves), a dial to choose the amount of espresso you wish to make, several buttons which allow you to switch modes around and a big water tank which is very easy to remove and clean. The first test I ran was for the burr grinder. I used beans from Lavazza (a medium roast) and dumped a decent amount into the container. I plopped the "portafilter" in and hit the button to ground the beans straight into it. The result was great, not too coarse but also not too fine. All this happened without making any kind of mess (which everyone will surely appreciate). After running plenty of water to clean out whatever might have lingered in the pipes from the manufacturing process, I decided to run a quick brew. It took a short amount of time and the result was fantastic. The espresso came out creamy and smelling like heaven. I frothed some almond milk (being lactose intolerant, I can't have the real deal) and topped my espresso off with it. The result was amazing. From the smell to the texture, everything was as it should be and all that with minimum effort. It's obvious that the engineers at KitchenAid put a lot of work into this. I tried some other things like double-shots, "iced" coffee and everything else I could think of, and I never did hit a snag or problem. Would I recommend the KES6551 KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine? Yes! Yes I would. This baby is now a staple in my kitchen and I wouldn't want it any other way. It's a beautiful machine that packs a lot of options and power in a sturdy and stylish design. The price might seem high, but don't forget: you get what you pay for and in the case of this espresso machine, you get excellence. Perfect 5 star.