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Before I begin this review, I think it’s important to lay all of my morning beverage cards on the table. I live in L.A. and very stereotypically drink a lot of matcha. But as much as I adore my green powder, when running two companies, there are days when my body craves a bit more of a jolt – something that matches my love for wellness without compromising on taste or quality.
With friends raving about their new favorite obsession –Terra Kaffe espresso machines – I couldn't help but get curious. Their minimalist espresso machines feel like they belong in a Pinterest-perfect kitchen — the kind that grind fresh beans and deliver a perfect cup at the push of a button. My husband is a die-hard caffeine fiend, and after seeing countless "romanticize your life" and "little luxury" trends online, investing in something that brings a touch of café magic to our mornings felt like a no-brainer. But have you ever had the pleasure of getting coffee straight from your phone? No, I’m not talking about ordering from the Starbucks or Blue Bottle app. I mean, going from “tap” to steaming mug right in your kitchen. Terra Kaffe lets me do just that, all before I’ve even muttered a word or taken my first steps for the day!
We like
- Customizable quality coffee
- Sleek and modern design
- Brewing coffee via app every morning
- Fantastic milk frother
- Ability to adjust ground size, temperature, and dose
- Drip coffee available
We don't like
- Loud self-clean function that startles our dogs (but if you put the machine to sleep after each use, this won’t happen)
- Tricky and tedious milk hose function (sometimes we just use a traditional frother as an alternative)
- Uses a lot of water
- No access to brew compartment (hard to know if it's absolutely clean)
What’s All the (Coffee) Buzz About?
Let's talk design, starting with the fact that I opted for the TK-02 model — Terra Kaffe’s latest addition to their lineup. It’s available in both black and white, and I chose the black model because it offered a beautiful contrast to our wood, black, and white cabinetry and countertop stone. This model combines sleek aesthetics with serious functionality, making it a standout addition to any countertop.
What really sets this machine apart is its ability to craft over 100,000 variations of custom drinks. Yep, you read that right — whether you're a purist who sticks to straight espresso or someone who loves experimenting with flavors and textures, this machine offers endless possibilities. And when it comes to milk, Terra Kaffe has made it ridiculously convenient. The milk carafe can be stored right in the fridge, so it's always ready when you need it — no more dealing with a separate frother or reheating milk (my husband is ever so grateful).
At $1,595, the TK-02 is definitely an investment, but it’s designed to deliver value over time. If you’re not fully convinced by the end of this review, just know that it comes with a 30-day/150-brew trial, so you have plenty of opportunities to decide if it’s the right fit for your daily coffee ritual. Plus, Terra Kaffe offers a 2-year or 5,000-brew warranty, which gives you peace of mind that this isn’t just another high-tech home gadget destined to collect dust.
As I mentioned, my decision to adopt the TK-02 was all about bringing a touch of luxury and practicality to my morning routine, and so far, this machine is proving it’s more than worth the hype.
The Daily Grind Never Tasted So Good
Now, onto the part that truly matters: the coffee. This is where the Terra Kaffe really shines. The coffee it makes is delicious — leagues better than any of the other automatic machines I’ve tried, like Nespresso. It delivers high-quality, fresh coffee, whether you're craving a bold espresso or a silky latte. And it even makes a simple drip coffee — something most machines don’t offer without some manual effort for those low-pressure brews. I know I already mentioned that the TK-02 can make over 100,000 drink variations, but just in case that stat didn’t settle in the first time — it can make over 100,000 drink variations!
Another feature that helps me execute more manual customization is the TK-02’s side-doser feature, which lets me add my own pre-ground coffee. I am obsessed with this component because it means I can still enjoy coffee beans from my local coffee spot. Sometimes I also opt for decaf in the afternoon, so I use another area of the machine to get my decaf brew.
The milk frothing is also impressive; it creates a creamy, microfoam texture that isn’t just a pile of sad bubbles (which, let’s be honest, is a big problem with some other machines). However, achieving the perfect froth requires a bit of effort— but we’ll get to that later.
A Tech-Infused Brew
When it comes to matching the precision of a skilled barista, high-tech coffee might just be the new way to go. The TK-02’s screen interface is intuitive and modern, allowing for full customization of your drink — from the number of espresso shots to the grind size, dose, and temperature. If you opt to use some pre-ground coffee, note that pressing the 2-shot button with pre-ground coffee results in a mixed brew, as the machine grinds whole beans for the second shot instead of pulling both from your chosen pre-ground option. It even has a hot water feature for making tea and a steamed milk option that my kids absolutely love for their hot chocolate. If I ever want to customize my drink further, and am unsure how to, or if I have any questions in general, the “How” button serves as a handy guide, perfect for those groggy mornings when I need a little extra help jump-starting my brew.
The machine also pairs with a Terra Kaffe app, bringing even more convenience to my day. I can control the TK-02 from my phone, which allows me to check little things like the waste bin level. My favorite app feature that has been a game-changer to me and my husband's day-to-day is that I can schedule my daily morning brew from bed, so it’s ready before I’ve even taken my first steps or spoken my first works for the day. It truly doesn’t get more convenient than that.
A Clean Start
Cleaning is usually the part no one wants to think about, but Terra Kaffe has made it fairly manageable for us. The self-cleaning function is great, but for a quick heads up: it’s loud. The steam cleaning can produce a hissing sound that might startle you — or in our case, startle the dogs. And it does use a fair amount of water, using about half a cup every time it cleans itself, which means frequent refills of the water tank. The milk hose can be tricky to attach and requires a bit of a routine: pouring the milk, plugging in the hose, frothing, then cleaning up after. If you’re making just one coffee a day, it might feel like a bit of a chore, but for more regular use, it’s just part of the process.
One downside is that you can’t access the brew compartment for little repairs or just to check that everything’s clean, which triggers my paranoia about mold. But given that the machine does have a self-clean function, I suppose I can learn to let that fear go. It's crucial to manually put the machine to sleep and place a cup underneath after brewing; otherwise, it has a mind of its own and might start its self-cleaning process unexpectedly.
I have to say the Terra Kaffe is easier to use and keep clean than any other machine I’ve tried that delivers this level of coffee quality, despite its few quirk. Once you get familiar with its unique mechanisms, it’s hard to imagine starting the day without it. If you’re looking for a little luxury that adds some magic to your mornings, this machine might just be your new favorite obsession too.
