Acts of service resonate with me as my love language, so marrying my husband was the perfect choice. Nearly every morning, he thoughtfully brings me a steaming cup of coffee in bed, timing it perfectly to avoid it getting cold. I’m truly fortunate.
Making great coffee swiftly and silently in a household full of sleeping people presents its challenges. Why are coffee grinders notoriously loud? And why does brewing espresso at home seem more complicated than baristas make it appear?
In the past, affordable and dependable espresso machines for home use were scarce. Fortunately, that’s changed—now, crafting a delicious espresso shot in your own kitchen is simpler than ever. KitchenAid has recently joined the home espresso market with its line of semi-automatic and fully automatic espresso machines.
These machines are compact, with features like a whole bean hopper, a notably quiet built-in grinder, a steam wand for milk frothing, and the capability to create various espresso-based beverages. With the semi-automatic model, you manually handle grinding, dosing, and tamping for pulling shots. The fully automatic version includes a touchscreen, reducing the need for manual intervention.
Sarah Crowder, Art Director at Simply Recipes and a passionate coffee aficionado juggling motherhood, tested the new KitchenAid fully automatic espresso machine at her home:
“I wish this existed when my kids were babies, both because the burr grinder is impressively quiet, barely disturbing a sleeping infant, and because I could’ve had an Americano ready within two minutes at any given moment.
“The fully automatic model provided on-screen instructions for setup and preparing my first drink. Typically, integrating a new appliance into daily life proves challenging, but this time I didn’t even need the manual.”
“While my preference is whole beans, I appreciate the pre-ground coffee bypass chute, allowing me to make decaf drinks in the evening without emptying and refilling the bean hopper. I foresee many dessert mochas and espresso martinis in my future.”
Investing in a good espresso machine is worthwhile, and KitchenAid’s new line is surely a great option.
PURCHASE: Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine
- Price: $699.99
- Available colors: Porcelain White, Brushed Stainless Steel, Cast Iron Black, Candy Apple Red, and Juniper
PURCHASE: Fully Automatic Espresso Machine
- Price: $1,199.99 to $1,999.99
- Available colors: Porcelain White, Stainless Steel, Cast Iron Black, and Juniper
