Semi-Auto Espresso Machine, Burr Grinder, 2.5L, Stainless Steel | Integrated Burr Grinder for Fresh Grounds, Smart Dosing for Ideal Volume, Multi-Angle Steam Wand, Model KES6551SX

This is fantastic. I drink several espressos a day and this beauty can keep up. The espresso gauge works great, the espresso bean grinding is effortless, clean, and so easy. We used another big brand and it was okay, but this machine makes wonderful espresso, with multiple temperature controls, distinct features that make it easy and simple to make your favorite espresso drink. The frothing is thick and foamy, the tamper is well made with slight weight (you may want to upgrade to a heavier tamper if you prefer). The espresso is smooth, silky, and yummy. The pressure pulls the flavors and oils through the entire process leaving you enjoying your favorite espresso all the way to the end, with a clean empty cup. Definitely worth it. The machine is metal, the espresso handle is heavy duty, all of the components are well made.

I spent 16months looking at this machine—dreaming of it before I purchased. Literally LOVE this machine. I use fresh air roasted beans, vanilla bean sugar, starbucks vanilla syrup, Kemps 2%milk. Took a few months until new grinder. Makes espresso perfect. Amazing value at discount. Designers put thought into this for under counter space, design and even for clean up. Frother is top tier better than any brand. Its sleek, crisp and innovative. I push it hard 3-5 times a day. DO NOT use tap water, just use filtered bottled water so no purging machine for 2months(if used every other day). Just remove filter from water tank to use filtered bottled water(NO SPRING WATER). Do not leave machine "unused" for 2+ weeks, then clean water will smell, if used ovbiously no smell. Ease of use is extremely easy, i recommend for everyone. DO NOT FORGET TO PRIME FIRST #1 Rule. Or Prime every 2 weeks because you can. Purge every 2 weeks because you can. Clean water tank every 2 weeks because you can. This is a tool not a toy. Pretty sure all the bad reviews are paid actors or amateurs. Water does not spill/leak everywhere, its the drip tray over flowing. Rinse drip tray everyday or after every 4 espresso makes. You will 100% need some tools and this goes for ALL home espresso brands not just kitchen aid, so dont think another brand is going to save you. Its actually going to be worse because other brand portafilters are only (54mm). Kitchen-aids, is professional size (58mm). Most home espresso machine grinders are to small in mm(40mm)(42mm)(44mm) so not every bean works and will grind to fine on max course. I wasted many beans. So no matter what you will have to buy a df54mm or df64mm coffee grinder to make "ANY" coffee bean you want instead of guessing. I myself have saved a $1000 since I can make it myself now. The set up below is for kitchenaid semi-automatic espresso machine(non negotiable)— 1. df54mm grinder. 2. 58.5mm Espresso Tamper—6 Adjustable Pressure Settings. 3. A set of 0.2mm Ultra-Thin Coffee Espresso Filter Screen. 4. Electronic Coffee Scale. 5. Dosing Ring. 6. Espresso Distribution Tool 7. One 2.5oz-One 4oz Espresso Shot glass for weighing espresso. 8. 20oz Stainless steel froth cup if you want extra foam like me(do not have to). The rest you can figure out. You're all extremely welcome for this review that you wont even find a video on the internet for.

I was so excited to use this when I got it. All was working great but as I leave the machine sitting there through the day to night, puddle of water would be sitting on my counter. It seems that water is leaking out from the sides and under the machine for the 2 mornings since I got this machine (checked that water tank was sitting in properly and was good and drip tray not over flowed). Total junk and will be returning for refund.

…and now I can get my fix right in the comfort of my own home! First things first, this review is after about a week of having the machine. So to start, the thing looks gorgeous. Got the Juniper color and it’s beautiful. Definitely not as green as the pictures, but still not the typical stainless, black or white (not saying they’re bad, they’re not - the white is a looker as well). The machine is very well made, KitchenAid quality abounds - lots of metal with some heavy plastic thrown in, like with the grinder and the drip tray. But it looks nice, feels better and screams premium. Pulling a shot is pretty straight forward - grind, tamp, pull, froth, enjoy! The grinder is awesome - very quiet compared to other grinders. Play with the grind settings, amount and grind size to find your ideal settings. It’s fun to figure out how to get your kitchen to taste like your favorite coffee shop - and here’s the keys to the kingdom. Follow these suggestions and you’re sure to make a quality espresso every time. First, use actual espresso beans. Do not use oily beans - they will clog your grinder as oil and “dust” do not mix. If you use regular coffee beans that are oily, you will not understand why your grinder is clogged and you’ll leave bad reviews. Your beans should look matte, not shiny. Thank me later. Second, tamp hard, make sure that the espresso grounds are nice and tight, the pressure gauge (and your mania about not enough pressure will thank you). When done right, you’ll hit that halfway mark in the ideal pressure range, every. single. time. The frother is decent, use it, make some mistakes and find your groove - you’re probably not an expert when you open this thing, but a little patience and common sense will go a long way. All in all, this machine was worth the money - just take your time to understand how it works, how to use it and I am confident that you’ll be pulling great shots in no time flat.

I’m a beginner, but after a couple of test runs, I’ve finally mastered pulling a good espresso shot. The best part? I’m saving so much money by not hitting up cafes every week. The KitchenAid machine is absolutely gorgeous—I almost went with the Breville, but the look of this one really won me over. The sage green is stunning; it has a metallic finish that shifts between grey and green depending on the lighting. In darker settings, it looks more grey, while in bright spaces, it pops with a green hue. Functionally, it’s incredibly easy to use! I was nervous at first due to some negative reviews, but after three months, I’m totally obsessed. The espresso tastes great and the steam wand is powerful! I’ve noticed it might be getting a little louder, but I’m keeping an eye on it. I regularly run an empty puck, in hopes it will help with maintenance/longevity . I’ll updated if any issues pop up, but so far, I couldn’t be happier with my decision! Update: 05/07/26 I still love the look and style of this machine. Now that I have owned it for a year…. I am changing the star from 5 to 4. For how expensive it is….it has its quirks. I have nothing to compare it to. However, I don’t think it was built to a quality that would reflect the original 1200-800 price tag. If it is on sale, snag it! It brews an amazing espresso once you figure it out. I think it does best with a medium roast. I also use way more grinds on the dial than I would expect. So the espresso is great and the look and feel of this machine is still amazing! But biggest issue I have found is the grinder and the water gauge. If you are using the grinder, you HAVE to shake or tap the puck while it dispenses grounds. If the pile gets too high, it goes to the static gauge. Then it sprays the grounds everywhere….it honestly enrages me lol but if you occasionally use the spoolie to dust the inside and keep the grounds low, it helps prevent the spray. That has been my experience. If that doesn’t work, you have to pull the whole things apart, Which is a pain. They have directions on their website, because it is a common issue. The second biggest thing, that is just overall faulty and poor design, is the water gauge. It doesn’t recognize it’s low on water till it legit runs out. This has happened to me mid shot…. Multiple times. Which means you have to stay on top of filling the tank. It’s sounds like a silly complaint, but to have it not pull a full shot and waste your perfectly good grounds…. Is more than frustrating. It shouldn’t even attempt a shot of espresso, if it doesn’t have enough water. Overall, I got a good deal on Black Friday, so I don’t regret my purchase. I’m seriously obsessed with it overall and looovvvee my espresso machine. The lattes it makes is my favorite part of my day now haha However, if more established espresso brands are within $100 or so of the same price as this one, go for the established brand. I love the look of this machine, but functionally it has some issues. Hope this helps!

The KitchenAid Espresso Machine is a standout in the world of home espresso makers, offering a perfect blend of performance, design, and ease of use. With its sleek, modern aesthetic, it brings a touch of professional elegance to any kitchen. But it’s not just about looks—this machine delivers excellent espresso shots consistently, thanks to its powerful 15-bar pump and precise temperature control. The portafilter is sturdy, and the adjustable steam wand makes frothing milk a breeze, creating velvety microfoam ideal for lattes and cappuccinos. Additionally, the intuitive interface with clear controls ensures that even espresso beginners can create café-quality drinks without a steep learning curve. Cleaning is simple, with easy-to-remove parts, and the overall build feels premium and durable. Whether you’re a seasoned barista or a casual coffee enthusiast, the KitchenAid Espresso Machine delivers a delightful espresso experience, combining both style and substance in one impressive package.

I waited several months before reviewing this item. It was a splurge for me and I have not regretted it for a second. I researched everything around this price point and am so glad I went with the KitchenAid! I love the all-metal, high-quality build and the way it slides on its little wheels back and forth. It's semi-automatic, which for me makes me feel like I'm really making the coffee (fully auto feels like cheating and not so much of an experience, I'd probably go back to 100% manual first) but it's soooo easy to use that it's no problem when I'm in a hurry or sleepy. I weigh out beans for each cup because my husband and I like different coffees, and the grinder works great with way less mess than my old standalone burr grinder. The frother is easy to use and clean. We've switched beans many times and it doesn't take much effort to dial in and get the flavor right. The cleaning cycle takes a good bit of time but I only need to do that about every 6-8 weeks depending on usage. I'm just thrilled with this thing and still look forward to using it every morning.

Im a kitchenaid fan. I use my standing mixer all the time and have all sorts of attachments for it. I’ve also used several espresso machines. This one was not intuitive, the instructions were trash, and their were limited to no customer video walk through online. I followed the instructions to purge water through the system in the manual and then by following the video online because the manual instructions were awful. After I did that, I tried to run the machine, it then ran two super weak shots where the water was barely room temp even after adjusting the temp setting from the middle to the top setting. I looked up troubleshooting and nothing helped. In frustration I pushed the purge button which is front and center as I was pushing buttons to try to figure out why it wasn’t working. When I pushed the purge button it wouldn’t turn off. I even hard restarted it several times. I contacted kitchenaid customer support and they told me to do what I had already done. Also, did I mention It was also leaking!!!! After the first use, I didn’t try again until the morning and it had leaked. The water container was on correctly. Super disappointing. I was really excited for this. Oh well returned it and got a breville which worked perfect right out of the box. Take notes kitchenaid!

Ignore the bad reviews. This is a great machine on sale. Once you dial in the perfect bean at the right grind you get a perfect crema every time. For the leaking complaints...it stops after the rubber gasket of the water reservoir have enough time to soak and absorb properly.

Works like a professional machine-it’s so quiet you don’t wake up anyone in the am! Built tough with no crappy plastic Can’t say enough about it-it’s amazing and worth the cost Also learned to get espresso beans that aren’t oily-(no glossy look) just mat bean It won’t clog your grinder up!

EN GENERAL FUNCIONA BIEN PARA UN EXPRESO MEDIO, CONSUME MUCHA AGUA Y REQUIERE LIMPIAR CONSTANTENTEMENTE EN CADA PREPARACION. HAY QUE FAMILIARIZARSE CON EL FUCIONAMIENTO, SINO RESULTA COMPLICADO. COMO QUE EL PRECIO NO JUSTIFICA LA COMPRA.

Loving it so far, makes great latte