This fully automatic coffee machine has thought of everything

KitchenAid knows a thing or two about what's good in the kitchen, as they should, they've been creating quality appliances for over 100 years. The brand that makes the stand mixer every home cook deserves is now coming for coffee enthusiasts with a new range of coffee machines. 

The KitchenAid Espresso Coffee Machine set consists of four units – one semi-auto machine for the at-home barista who likes to get hands-on with their coffee and three fully-auto machines for those who prefer more of a low touch. Each a high-end unit in its own right, the entry price point is $999 for the Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder and the range peaks at $2599 for the KF8 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine. 

Of the new range, the KF8 stands out as the winner if you want a smart machine that does it all. I spent some time drinking coffee(s) with the KF8 and this is what stood out.

Buy it for $2599

It's got a good memory

Like any good barista, the KF8 will remember your order. It has 40+ coffee options including milk-based drinks, like hot chocolates and babyccinos, and hot water for tea. You can save up to six coffee orders, and customise each of them down to strength, temperature, body, milk type, the order you want your milk to be added and coffee volume, proving it's mind-numbingly easy to use.

Different beans, for different folks

The feature every household full of coffee purists will love is the portable bean hopper. With a simple click, the generously sized hopper can be removed and replaced with a spare if your bean preference is different to the rest in your household. You can buy additional hoppers for $59 so you never have to mix beans or settle for your partner's bitter coffee again. Simply store your beans in the container and attach it to the machine when it's your turn.

The machine also takes ground coffee. This is great for decaf drinkers who require a specific blend. Add a scoop of the ground coffee to the compartment at the top and bypass the grind step.

It makes two!

Select a double shot of coffee and you can either enjoy one super-strong coffee or make two single-shot cups at the same time. A helpful feature for the time-poor who can't wait 45 seconds for their turn to tap-and-go on their morning coffee.

Plant-based milks are accepted 

Sick of paying extra for your oat cappuccino? I am! The KF8 is compatible with plant-based milks and will adjust the temp to your milk type to create the perfect froth. The removable milk container can then be stored in the fridge to keep your milk fresh once you're done with the machine. Just like the hopper, you can purchase an extra milk container to interchange your milk varieties based on preference. 

Worried about milk cross-contamination? After each use, the machine cleans the milk hose (more on this below).

It's self-cleaning

Perhaps the most annoying part of owning a coffee machine is cleaning anything milk touches. With the press of a button, this machine will clean out the milk hose so you don't have to. But the smart cleaning features don't end there; there are eight cleaning options for the different sections of the machine. Because keeping tabs on what to clean and when is a job on its own, the machine will tell you exactly when you need to enter cleaning mode, and it will give you step-by-step instructions along the way.

The generously sized 2.2L water tank has a filter inside, which will need replacing every two to three months, but they're easy to source from the KitchenAid site. If that's all a bit too much, you can add filtered water to the tank and negate the need for the filter. Just be sure to let the machine know in the settings so it won't prompt you to change the filter.

Price

Before you wince at the price ($2599 when not on sale), allow me to put this into perspective with the theory I use to justify all my purchases – cost per use. If a regular coffee costs $4.50 (I'm being generous, yesterday I paid $6.10 for an oat cap) and you're having on average a coffee a day, you're spending $1642.50 a year on staying caffeinated. This doesn't include the days you need a second or the coffee dates where you're left with the bill. My point is that it all adds up. 577 coffees later and this machine has paid for itself.

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