KitchenAid KF4 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine review: a well-built, consistent coffee machine with a few quirks

As T3’s Home Editor, I’ve tried my fair share of bean to cup coffee machines, and I have to say that the KitchenAid KF4 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine is the easiest and cleanest model I’ve ever tried.

KitchenAid is best known for its collection of stand mixers, but it has since become known for its coffee makers. Its first coffee brewer was launched back in 2014, but 2024 was a big year for KitchenAid with the brand launching a full range of fully automatic bean-to-cup coffee machines.

One of KitchenAid’s newest models, the KitchenAid KF4 joined the line-up in 2026 as a mid-range option. I’ve spent the past month testing the KitchenAid KF4, and it’s made my morning coffees exceptionally more tasty, although it does have some quirks under its hood.

KitchenAid KF4 review: price and availability

The KitchenAid KF4 is available to buy for £899 / $1,299 at KitchenAid and select retailers like John Lewis. It comes in matte black or porcelain white, as well as a two year guarantee and 10 year reparability.

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KitchenAid KF4 review: unboxing and set up

The KitchenAid KF4 arrived in a large cardboard box which contained the main espresso machine, 1.8-litre water tank, milk container with hose and lid, water filter, cleaning tablets and a coffee spoon. It came assembled so it didn’t require much set up other than removing packaging and stickers.

To use the KitchenAid KF4, I simply added the water filter into the water tank before filling it up. After turning it on via the on/off button on the side, the KitchenAid KF4’s screen takes you through the entire machine and explains all the controls, making it extremely beginner friendly.

Before its first use, the KitchenAid KF4 runs through the water filter and cleans it out, before pulling four shots of espresso. The screen will then prompt you to empty the drip tray and puck box, but then you’re ready to go.

KitchenAid KF4 review: design and features

Measuring 36cm in height, 19.5cm in width and 47cm in depth, and weighing 9kg, the KitchenAid KF4 isn’t a small machine by any means, but it doesn’t take up a huge amount of space. It’s more long than it is bulky, so take this into account if you have shallow countertops.

As a fully automatic espresso machine, the KitchenAid KF4 makes pre-programmed coffees. It has over 20 hot and over-ice recipes available, including lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, americanos, and iced coffees. When you select your drink, the KitchenAid KF4 offers recommended settings, but you can also personalise them by strength, temperature and volume, which you can then save as a pre-set.

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At the back of the KitchenAid KF4 is its large water tank. At the top is a conical burr grinder where you can store and grind your own coffee beans, and a small container next to it for pre-ground coffee. Using its Intelligrind system, the KitchenAid KF4 detects beans and automatically adjusts its settings to bean type, roast and dose. It also has Quiet Grinding technology so it’s not too loud.

The KitchenAid KF4 has a 8.8cm colour touchscreen at the front. It’s easy to use, intuitive and displays drink options, user profiles, cleaning cycles and settings. The screen talks you through every aspect of the brewing process, and pops up with reminders to clean your machine, add more beans, refill the tank and so on.

The drip tray and puck box slots in at the bottom of the machine. It’s spacious, although due to the rigorous cleaning that the KitchenAid KF4 goes through, the drip tray can fill up quite quickly.

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Speaking of cleaning, the KitchenAid KF4 goes through a lengthy cleaning process every time you use it. When you turn it on, it has a quick rinse before making your drink. If you make milky coffees, the KitchenAid KF4 will prompt you to clean the milk system which it does by flushing out the tubes in the drip tray, although you’ll have to manually clean the container. When you turn the KitchenAid KF4 off, the machine has another rinse and cools itself down.

As an automatic machine, the KitchenAid KF4 froths your milk for you, so latte art isn’t really an option with this model. It uses AutoMilk technology to adjust to your milk’s texture and volume. The container connects to the machine via its milk hose in the container lid, and the side of the coffee dispenser.

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KitchenAid KF4 review: performance

KitchenAid never misses when it comes to design, and the KitchenAid KF4 is a perfect example of that. I tried the black version and I loved the look of it, with its black and silver detailings. Everything was packed away neatly, including the tank, built-in grinder and drip tray, although the separate milk container felt like a bit of an afterthought.

The touchscreen controls were great to use, and extremely easy. Beginners and experts will definitely be able to use the KitchenAid KF4, as its controls are extremely intuitive and self-explanatory. Setting user profiles was quick and simple – although you can only set four – and there was a good amount of drink options.

As a latte lover, I enjoyed the latte macchiato setting on the KitchenAid KF4. The machine had automatic settings for the drink, but I customised its strength, temperature and amount of milk, and received tasty results. Its flat white setting was also impressive, as was its iced espresso which the KitchenAid KF4 brews at a lower temperature to avoid over-extraction and dilution.

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The built-in grinder was quick and surprisingly quiet. I found it ground coffee beans exceptionally well, and I had consistent espresso flavour and strength every time. I also tried the KitchenAid KF4 with pre-ground coffee and enjoyed the results, too, although I’d recommend using the grinder as it performs the best.

One quirk I found with the KitchenAid KF4 was if you pick a double shot drink, it grinds and dispenses them one at a time. This isn’t something I’d experienced before with a coffee machine, and I couldn’t – and still can’t – decide if I liked that method. The plus is that you get consistently pulled double shots which are strong and rich in flavour, but the negative is that it takes more time to make your drink.

The KitchenAid KF4 heated up very quickly and produced a lot of steam. I found it to heat milk well but it doesn’t froth as expertly as I’d like for lattes. While it doesn’t have an option to change milk type, its AutoMilk system worked very well with both dairy and plant-based milks.

What I was most impressed by was the KitchenAid KF4’s cleaning processes. Easily the most hygienic coffee machine I’ve ever used, the KitchenAid KF4 cleans itself regularly and even takes time to cool itself down. It does all the cleaning for you, and explains everything along the way, too.

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KitchenAid KF4 review: verdict

I don’t have many negative things to say about the KitchenAid KF4, because I thoroughly enjoyed using it. Its touchscreen and overall design is stylish, tidy and intuitive, plus the fact that it’s a fully automatic machine means it leaves no room for error.

I’m used to semi-automatic machines where I have to be more involved in the grind and milk settings, so using the KitchenAid KF4 felt like I was having a break! It took care of absolutely everything, and made consistently delicious coffees every time. Its shot pulling, while odd at first, just proves how precise the KitchenAid KF4 is.

At £899 / $1,299, the KitchenAid KF4 isn’t cheap, but it could be the only coffee machine you could ever need.

KitchenAid KF4 review: alternatives to consider

Another automatic bean to cup coffee machine – and another from KitchenAid – is the KitchenAid KF8. A step up from the KitchenAid KF4 (or I suppose, four steps up), the KF8 looks beautiful, and has a lot of coffee options and settings to play with. The JURA E8 makes tasty and reliable coffee, and it has a much slimmer and more compact style than the KitchenAid KF4.