KitchenAid KF3 KES8453BM Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with Built-In Grinder

Choosing a coffee maker can mean prioritizing a straightforward daily cup or wanting espresso, milk drinks and iced options from one machine. The KitchenAid KF3 is aimed at the latter, with automatic drink preparation and a built-in grinder for a more varied home coffee routine.

This Black Matte model is the KES8453BM. It combines 15+ hot and over-ice drink options with an Auto Milk System, iced settings brew at a lower temperature, and cold drinks are recommended over ice.

Specifications

• Name: KitchenAid KF3 KES8453BM
• Type: Fully automatic espresso machine
• Capacity: 1.8 litres
• Colour and finish: Black Matte, matte exterior
• Dimensions: 47D x 19.6W x 36.1H centimetres
• Weight: 10.12 kg
• Drink options: 15+ hot and iced recipes
• Display: 2.4-inch (6 cm) colour touchscreen
• Included: 1.8L water tank, water filter, 2 cleaning tablets, coffee spoon and milk hose

The controls let you personalize drink strength, size and temperature, while up to four user profiles can keep preferences ready for different household members. The built-in burr grinder adjusts its grind and dose to the beans, and a bypass chute is available when you want to use ground coffee instead. For milk drinks, the Auto Milk System adjusts texture and volume for the selected recipe.

Getting the most from it

The KF3 makes sense for a kitchen where people want more than one style of coffee without setting up a separate grinder and espresso machine. A morning espresso or Americano can be followed by an iced coffee later in the day, with selections made through the touchscreen. It is also designed to simplify milk-based drinks such as cappuccinos and flat whites, rather than asking the user to froth milk manually.

Its 1.8-litre water tank and compact design help frame it as an everyday countertop appliance, but the listed dimensions are worth comparing with the space available. The lower-temperature over-ice settings are intended to help preserve flavour as coffee cools, the manufacturer recommends pouring cold drinks over ice. That is a useful distinction from simply chilling a standard hot brew.

Usage tips

Use the recipe controls to adjust strength, volume and temperature to suit the drink, and switch to the ground-coffee bypass when you want a different coffee without using the beans in the grinder. The machine rinses itself briefly when switched on, but that does not remove the need for ongoing care: cleaning cycles and descaling programmes are part of its maintenance routine. The milk hose and Auto Milk System also make the included cleaning tablets relevant to regular upkeep.

Buyers describe the drinks positively and appreciate the routine cleaning features, though comments on reliability are mixed. Some report trouble-free use, while others mention freezing or the machine stopping altogether. These are individual experiences, not a guarantee of how a particular unit will perform, but they are worth weighing alongside the convenience features.

Buying verdict

It's a good fit if you want espresso, iced coffee and automatic milk drinks from one bean-to-cup machine, with controls for tailoring each cup. Compared with a basic coffee maker, it offers a broader espresso-focused menu, compared with a more hands-on setup, much of the grinding and milk preparation is automated. If your main need is simply brewed coffee, that menu and countertop footprint may be more than your routine calls for.