KitchenAid K8 Espresso Machine Review: A Nearly Perfect High-End Coffee Maker (2024)

KitchenAid is a brand that continues to dominate kitchen countertops across the nation, thanks to its iconic stand mixer and various appliances. While the brand has offered coffee makers for several years, it only recently launched a formidable espresso machine lineup that can easily compete with more high-end brands. The collection includes three new fully automatic espresso machines: the KF8, KF7 and KF6. Additionally, there is a Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with a 2-in-1 built-in burr grinder.

Aside from being a coffee aficionado, my affinity for my stand mixer—a beloved wedding gift I received eight years ago—led me to test one of KitchenAid's newest machines. The K8 arrived in a huge box and, at 28 pounds, required an extra set of hands to lift it out and place it on my countertop. From there, setup was relatively quick, and I was soon able to make myself a celebratory mid-afternoon affogato. Since then, I have put the machine through its paces, brewing everything from lattes and cappuccinos to cortados and more, multiple times a day. My goal was to evaluate whether it competes with similar high-end machines and is worthy of its hefty price tag. Here’s my detailed review.

KitchenAid KF8 Automatic Espresso Machine Features

Hands-Free Coffee Making

I have used a semi-automatic espresso machine for years. While it produced a delicious latte, the machine required a significant amount of fiddling to get the settings just right. I also found myself reheating the milk multiple times before and after frothing it. That’s why I was thrilled to upgrade to an automatic machine that could potentially do all the work for me. I’m happy to report that the K8 is almost fully autonomous. You need to occasionally fill the 2.2 liter water tank, empty the drip tray and add beans to the hopper, but overall the user experience is seamless and smooth.

Once the machine completes its cleaning cycle, you’re greeted by a menu of beverages you’d find at your local coffee shop. Sure, there’s the classic Americano, espresso and latte, but you also have the option to brew a cappuccino, café au lait, ristretto and many more drinks you’d usually reserve for a café. You can also experiment and create fancier beverages, saving the recipe to your personalized menu for future use—a handy feature, especially if you’re picky like me about your coffee, but also too lazy to measure and time the steps every morning.

Thoughtful Design Features

This is where the KitchenAid team has focused most of its efforts. For starters, the machine is relatively sleek for an automatic espresso maker and easily slides into the space under a cabinet. The milk container is detachable, so once you’re done using it, you can place it back in your refrigerator or on the top shelf of your dishwasher, freeing up your counter. The bean hopper is installed inside the machine itself, taking up no additional external space. Plus, there are no accessories to be mindful of, except a measuring spoon that also doubles up as a water filter mounting aid.

As soon as you turn on the machine, it promptly runs a cleaning cycle. While this can seem a little annoying if you’re in a rush and just want to grab your coffee and dash out the door, I appreciate the machine putting in the effort for me as someone who’s not very diligent about cleaning their machine. These regular cleaning cycles also ensure that every cup of coffee is great-tasting and free of any nasty residues. The machine also runs a cleaning cycle on the milk frother after every use. Overall, these cleaning steps add to the time spent brewing a cup of coffee, but in the long run, they help keep your appliance in top condition. You’re also encouraged to run a deeper cleaning cycle every six months, but again, all you do is insert a cleaning tablet and the K8 does the rest of the work.

It All Comes Down To Taste

Eventually, even the most cleverly designed espresso machine is useless if you’re not enjoying your daily drinks. Thankfully, that hasn’t been the case with the KitchenAid K8. The level of customization offered is mind-boggling. You can specify the amount of coffee and milk for each beverage to get the proportions to suit your taste buds, and also choose whether you’d like the machine to dispense the espresso or milk first. (Personally, I prefer milk, followed by espresso, and the opposite is true for my partner.) Additionally, you can let the machine know if you’re using plant-based milk or regular milk, to which it froths the milk appropriately. As a previous semi-automatic espresso machine user, I also appreciate that the K8 grinds beans for you, taking the guesswork out of finding the right grind settings. The K8 has essentially proven to be a stand-in for a barista on my countertop.

Final Verdict

Is the K8 worth the eye-popping price tag? I do have a few gripes. For starters, the milk jug included is made of plastic and could easily crack when dropped. Sure, you can snag a replacement jug for $40, but I would have appreciated a more thoughtfully designed milk dispenser for a $2,000 machine. And when you’re promoted with a command on screen, you can’t opt out, but need to follow through, which can add to the overall time spent brewing a drink on especially busy mornings.

Aside from these minor issues, the K8 has a whole lot of features that are user-friendly and thoughtful. It looks, feels and performs like a high-end machine that’s built to last. If you’re considering investing in your daily coffee routine, an automatic machine like the K8 can elevate your coffee game and eventually save you a ton of money at coffee shops. I also appreciate that it comes from a trusted brand like KitchenAid. After all, I have been using my stand mixer for over eight years now, and I suspect I’ll be enjoying the K8 for equally as long.