Review KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine KES6403 

Great review really, and thank you for declaring the lack of information on some aspects where many would just say inaccurate information. I can take this chance to clarify the two points related to the filter baskets and the water purge after steaming. Pressurized (double wall) filter baskets are made to foolproof the espresso brewing process. The idea is to raise the pressure enough by throttling the flow through a small hole, which allows for a wider range of grind size and makes puck prep less important. It would produce good shots with good crema every time, and it takes very little experience to make drinkable espresso. So when they say these baskets are for pre-ground coffee, they really mean for coffee that is ground with unknown grind size. On the other hand, non pressurized filter baskets (single wall) are intended for experienced users with good grinders. These filter baskets allow for finer grind size which enhances the extraction and flavor. The downside is the need for a decent grinder and experience. 1. Grind size and extraction time become major parameters that make or break the shot (look up dialing in espresso by James Hoffmann). 2. Puck prep becomes very important and can also make or break the shot; proper distribution and tamping will be required to prevent channeling. Channeling is when water finds a path of least resistance and goes through it on account of water flow throughout the rest of the puck. This area becomes over extracted and the rest of the puck will be under extracted. The result would be an unbalanced and unpleasant espresso shot. So when they say these filters are for freshly ground coffee, they mean for coffee where the grind size is controllable. In single boiler machines, the same boiler is used to produce steam and therefore, much higher temperature is needed. When the steaming is done, preparing espresso right after that would be a disaster. So what the machine does after steaming is first, it releases the steam pressure through a relief valve (you can hear that in the video) and once the pressure is low enough, it purges water through the boiler down to the drip tray to bring it back to espresso temperature and prepare the machine to brew espresso again. I hope this comment will fill the gaps in this great review. Cheers!

The pressurized filters for the pre-ground coffee are there so you can use almost any grind size they're way more forgiving than the single wall with lots of holes in it. It's there to make life easier if the grind is not perfect for your particular machine. That's why it's there. For example that bustello pre-ground coffee you have you want to use the pressurized filter for that.

Pressure vs non pressurized baskets has to do not with the freshness of the coffee, but with the ability to grind to match the requirements of the non pressurized basket. In other words you must grind finer and more accurately to use non pressurized. For pressurized basket you can use grind more like drip since the single hole develops the pressure the lack of grind creates. Also, the water you find after a shot may be the fact that better machines have a solenoid to release water from puck after shot. Not sure if this machine has…but that is my guess.

For the filter baskets; one set is pressurized and one set is non-pressurized. It’s not really about fresh vs non-fresh. It’s about the grind of the coffee. The pressurized baskets are for pre-ground espresso. It compensates for unevenness/coarseness of the grind. Non-pressurized is for regular espresso beans that you grind yourself.

Just found this machine on clearance for $100. I am hopeful it will be good for iced lattes and coffees, as a starter espresso machine. I'm a total newbie, so if it produces a half decent product, I'm not picky. Thank you for your honest review and instructions. Very helpful to me! 😊

A thing that I like to use when frothing the milk is a beverage thermometer. The one I got is from Taylor and it comes with a clip that you clip it to the frothing pitcher with. I shoot for 140F and it goes to 142-143 but I always stop the steam before 145. The frothed milk seems sweeter when frothed to that temp. Also hold the tip of the frothing wand just below the surface of the milk and at an angle to help get a bit of a roll going on. As the milk expands then you can push the tip of the frothing wand deeper in the milk.

Hello, so I just bought the machine and watched the review. You’re probably the only person that has done a great and thorough review. I keep on pulling sour shots with my fresh coffee, have you’ve run into these problems as well?

Thanks for your honest comments on this machine. I was stoked based on the reviews for this machine. I replaced a Delonghi ECP3220 which had a few issues but gave us 3 years of good service, going to gift it to a friend who doesn't mind the issues. However, I am displeased with the quality of the coffee of this machine. It's worse than the Delonghi which was half the price. Biggest issues: -Not hard to adjust settings. but with the highest water temp setting, it's still warm espresso at best. Unacceptable. -I'm grinding my own coffee beans and have tried different things, crema is poor and coffee taste overall is not that good. Maybe I need to use the "double-walled" filter basket, but this still doesn't solve the issue of the temperature. -Look at reviews, most have received an incentive to leave a comment. This tells me we are not getting accurate reviews of this product. I was convinced by the mid-tier price and nice features, but I think I'm going to return it. Pros: -Everything about it, on paper, is great. Nice, heavy duty portafilter that's flat and can fit a true double-shot. Included frothing jug. Tamper is heavy and the machine overall has a great fit and finish. If only it made great coffee it'd be a 10/10! But the poor coffee quality is a deal-breaker. the Delonghi I had was much more forgiving and made superior coffee.

You pulled a 18 second shot - if I'm not wrong you time it when it starts to flow (15 seconds) until it starts to drip (33-34 seconds). So it was nearly enough... just slightly finer grind or more pressure on tamp would have been better for non pressurized filter. For the pressurized filters you wouldn't have any control on the shot-length regardless of grind size or tamp. You can only clog/strain the machine by tamping too hard. Also, the frother isn't a panorello so you cannot produce froth unless you use the correct technique. I can tell you had the frother way too far down in the milk because of the sound it makes. It should be making a "tsk" sound over and over as it froths the milk until the milk is about 100F then you want to roll the milk by angling the frother just right. Watch a few videos of people making latte art with real frothers and pay close attention to the sound and motion of the milk.

my reseearch on these, and I have never used one so salt before consuming...is that the steam system depressurizes to save the seals, thats why it dumps water into the drip tray. I learned this looking at videos about the Gaggia Classic, you need to manually decompress the steam wand into the drip tray when done.

I just purchased this espresso machine, and I am having problems with the overflow of water in the filter after making the espresso. You mention that there is better product for the price. Could you please share some other options?

Great demo, review and comments. I finally spent my Saturday morning making a decision as to return this unit after struggling with no creama from my shots ground at 4 different settings over the past 2 months. Now I see that my Cuisinart DBM-8, grinder doesn't grind a fine enough grade for this machine. Although, my old Breville 800 ESXL; which I have used for years always gave me a nice creama from grounds from the same Cuisinart grinder. I compared the pre-ground coffee Cafe Bustelo expresso vs my Cusinart finely fresh ground Starbucks expresso. As in the demo, the coffee ran through much too fast with the freshly ground Starbucks and I never got much creama. The pre-ground Cafe Bustelo expresso took longer to express and gave me a nice creama. Which means I'd have to only use pre-ground coffee with this unit or buy another coffee grinder. I prefer to freshly grind my beans. Also, I believe I tamp with enough recommended pressure, but the puck was inconsistent after several attempts when using the freshly ground beans. Finally, I was fortunate enough to get the bonus purchase which included the milk dispenser. Unfortunately, it takes too many extra steps to clean it for the limited amount of froth it yielded. And using the manual steam wand didn't give me much froth and I think it scorched the milk. I love my KitchenAid appliances, but with only 2 days left to return it to the store, we are going to have to depart company.

a number of machines dump hot water through the wand in order to cool the machines down, as steam wands operate at higher temperatures than espresso extraction wants.

I saw that the water ejected after steaming, is to pull down water temperature to be able to brew a new shot of espresso without need to flush it before pulling another shot, its not to clean the steam wand.

Hello! And thanks for your video! Just yesterday I acquired this machine here in Colombia and it caught my attention as to why the drip tray fills with water every time you make an espresso or use the Steam. Do you know the reason for this?

Excellent video. No one could have given better instructions.and done a better video.

Thank you for your information, i was so close to buy one but i changed my mind 👍🏻🤘🏻

Pretty sure they sell espresso “pods” that are in tea bag like pouches. Single hole because the mesh on the bag catches the grounds instead of the basket

Thank you for the thorough and awesome review. I just bought this machine and am learning how to use it. Checked out a few videos and yours was the most comprehensive. Thank you so much. I was shocked when I heard the constant knocking /booming sound during the milk frothing process. But I noticed yours made the same sound. I owned a Delonghi Stilosa and Mr. Coffee One touch Coffeehouse before and never heard this type of noise. Is it normal? Thank you for your insight in advance.

Thank you for the demo. Better than the manual.

Really good and thorough review - thank you. My question is one around temperatures; you mentioned the temperature of the water used to make your espresso was perhaps not hot enough (for you). You then said the temperature of the milk is perhaps too hot when looking to add foam. Possibly trying to see the good in all, but would you think that the two together (I sometimes like added milk/lattes) works, as far as combined temperature goes? I've got the opportunity of purchasing this machine for £330 GBP and am trying to workout if saving £300 (instead of buying the Sage Barista Pro, or Nespresso Creatista Pro) is a real saving, or my sacrificing a better espresso (Barista pro) or true convenience (Creatista Pro) - Thoughts?

Did you have issues with the stainless steel plate vibrating so bad that it moves your espresso cup? I have to hold my espresso cup in place in order for it to stay put, otherwise espresso misses the cup. I also noticed a crack in my machine today and I have no idea how it happened, as it stays in the same place every day. Super disappointed because I’ve only had this machine for 9 months. Wishing I would’ve gotten a breville instead.

We just got ours, and for some reason the light water keeps blinking… We checked the water tank several times and cleaned the steam wand. We have not been able to use it at all :(

I just got this machine but haven’t tried it yet. I also plan on going to Starbucks and having them grind coffee for me. Since you said they didn’t do a good job, what do you recommend I ask them to do? I’m very new to this whole process

I got one and I'm happy but for the temperature, it seems to only get medium hot despite being set to Max.

Hi, thanks for the review! I am wondering if you have found an aftermarket portafilter that fits on this machine? Cause I would like to have a bottomless portafilter if possible. Thanks in advance!

What is the brew temperature on the machine? I read that its on the low side doesnt brew at ideal temps?

Hi there, brand new out of the box and the water light is blinking and won't pump water. Any suggestions?

Hi! Great presentation. But i would like to know if it is possible to use E.S.E. pods with this machine? Are there filter basket also for E.S.E available? What about water filter. Does this coffee machine use/is it possible to use any water filter to make water softer? Thanks

Is the inside of the portafilte plastic or steal? Or which one is better for health, plastic vs steal? Thanks.

Once you use the ground coffee do you through it out or can you re-use it?

Just bought one and the water light keeps blinking from the start lol

Great video Micheal, thanks for sharing. I don’t drink Expresso but it looks good for all the people who do drink it.

What's the difference between the KES6404?

Thank you for doing a thorough review. I learned a lot from your video. Awesomeeee👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

The water temperature is great (hot coffee)

Hi friend, We need to make a professional sales video .Could you do that? How to work with you? Looking forward to your reply. Leon

Thank you, much appreciated!

I must say nice review man 🤘🏽👏🏽

Wow thank for you this. I got one as a gift and I really thought I was doing it all wrong because the milk didn't froth and the coffee got cold waiting for it to froth. My $40.00 Mr. Coffee works just as good if not better! And really coffee shouldn't be this complicated.

Bought this machine in July this year, The two holes in the black portafilter-inlay are not well separated, the two outlets sprinkle espresso all over the place. Called KitchenAid for replacement iportafilter-inlay under warranry::: Horrible service from KitchenAid in Europe. Coffee mug vibrates heaily (even moves) on the sinc tray. Machine performs, but cannot really recommend this machine.

dude those are pressurized baskets .. its for beginner's

Nice set up but honestly way to complicated for me first thing in the morning. I have a Keurig and I set it up the night before and once it heats up I just press the cup size button and I have coffee.

The big question is: What is the pressure tank made of? Because aluminum is not so stable and our livers cannot metabolize it, under pressure the material will get into the water, therefore the coffee ... if you drink that every day, then after a while, that will cause several problems ...

Thank you for this review. I now know I do NOT want to purchase this machine.

Ахахах 😂 😂 😂 спасибо поржал.. Профессионал 😅

It didn’t froth because the milk was only 1%.

Thanks for the review. I am glad that I didn't buy the machine.

garbage chinese thermoblock machine.just buy a gaggia classic or even better a rancilio silvia or profitec go