The KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine is excellent — and now I think all manual machines should feature flat-bottomed porta filters

07 May 2026, 06:42 by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/max-langridge · TechRadar

TechRadar Verdict

Combining gorgeous design and perfect results, the KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine is a highly capable coffee maker that will appeal to anyone keen on a more hands-on approach to brewing delicious coffee. Its biggest selling point is its flat-bottomed porta filter, which makes tamping ground coffee an absolute breeze. The controls are easy to learn and master, and while determining the ideal grind and dosage amounts takes some trial and error, once you’ve settled on them, you’ll be rewarded with an excellent shot time after time.

Pros

+Controls are easy to master
+Grinder is quiet in use
+Flat-bottom porta filter is a stroke of design genius
+Excellent espresso shots and frothed milk
+Very good looking

Cons

-Expensive for its feature set

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KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine two-minute review

In a crowded market where there are so many fantastic coffee machines, the KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine stands out by being one of the better-looking options on the market. Not only does it look premium, but it feels it too. This machine is solidly built, and the supplied accessories including the removable bean hopper, porta filter and tamper, have a decent amount of weight to them, further adding to the overall premiumness of the machine.

It’s available in a range of colors, but I feel my review unit in Porcelain (white) will be the easiest to match with kitchen decor (although I have to admit taking a fancy to the Juniper green, too).

If you want to get hands-on with your coffee-making process, it makes the process easier by way of a flat-bottom porta filter that I think should become customary on all coffee machines of this type. This design choice is a stroke of genius, giving you a far greater ability to apply a good amount of tamping pressure, essential for extracting a good shot of espresso.

While it does have ‘semi-automatic’ in its name, this only really applies to the amount of coffee grounds it will dispense into the porta filter. You decide how much that is, the grind size and, if you want milk with your coffee, that’s a manual process too.

Figuring out the optimal settings for your personal taste will, therefore, require some trial and error, but if you’re considering buying a coffee machine like this one, that’s likely something you’ve already considered and are happy to get involved with.

Some assistance is given, such as an ideal window of pressure shown in a pressure gauge, so you’ll know if you’ve put the right amount of coffee and applied the right amount of pressure when tamping. Once you’ve completed these steps, the KitchenAid Semi-Auto produces a wonderful shot of espresso. Taking all of this into account, I consider it to be one of the best bean-to-cup coffee makers.

It’s not short of competition in terms of price and features, and there are other models that offer greater usability, such as smart tamping and dosing systems — the De’Longhi La Specialista Touch, for example. Despite that, I think it’s competitively priced and can regularly be found with a discount, which only adds to its value.

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