Welcome to Skimm Tested, a series where we put viral products to the test and give you our honest, unfiltered reviews.
What I Tested…
Terra Kaffe’s Connected Super Automatic Espresso Machine, otherwise known as TK-02. ($1,595)
Why I Tested…
How I Tested...
I replaced my old machine with Terra Kaffe’s TK-02 and tested different espresso drinks every morning for a week.
Test Results...
Design. The box this machine ships in is huge, but the machine itself is a reasonable size. It’s a little on the boxy side, but only because it hides all the clunky bells and whistles, like the water and coffee bean compartments, waste bin, and grinder. A soft light turns on when the machine is in use, which is nice if you’re making a double-shot in the wee hours of the morning. I also love that you can raise or lower the dispenser spout to minimize splatters or spillage. Does it take up counter space? Yes. Does it look sleek and minimalist? Also yes.
Ease of use. Terra Kaffe has an app you can download to create customized drinks, schedule pours, and sleep or wake your machine — all from your phone. New drinks you create via the app show up immediately on the machine’s menu. However, I did have issues creating new iced coffee beverages. After doing a bit of research, it looks like the iced coffee feature is a new update — so, in the meantime, I’ve been running two shots of espresso into a glass filled with ice and milk. Keep in mind that it sometimes takes a bit to pour the second espresso shot. Otherwise, the machine as a whole is pretty self-explanatory, thanks to its easy-to-read touchscreen and labeled compartments.
Customizable drinks. I really like how you can customize every part of your beverage, from the size of the coffee grind (if you’re using whole beans) to the amount of milk or water down to the tenth of an ounce. You can also get creative with your names. My current favorite is my “F***, it’s Monday” latte, which includes three shots of espresso topped with steamed milk. If you’re not sure what you like, you can take their coffee quiz.
Self-cleaning. Whenever you make a milk-based drink the TK-02 will ask if you want it to self-clean the internal milk system, while the external compartment — aka, where you actually pour the milk — must be cleaned by hand. The machine also steam-cleans itself when you first turn it on and right before you put it to sleep. As someone who never cleaned her old machine, this is a huge plus. That being said, I highly recommend placing a bowl or cup underneath the dispenser to prevent spillage in case the machine decides to enter 'sleep' mode on its own (which happens more often than you'd think.)
Alerts. I really love how communicative this machine is. While it doesn’t speak to you (a good thing), it does share messages on its screen whenever daily maintenance is needed, like emptying the waste bin, filling up the water reservoir, cleaning out the milk dispenser, or updating your machine’s software.
Sidenotes...
Coffee subscription. Terra Kaffe gives you the option to purchase a monthly subscription for their rotating selection of freshly roasted beans — so your cup always runneth over. If you want to start with one, I highly recommend adding a bag of Classico House Blend beans to your cart to kickstart your TK-02 journey. It’s delicious and strong.
Price tag. Let’s face it, this machine is pricey. But the cool thing is that the Terra Kaffe app shows you how much money you’re actually saving by opting for an at-home coffee instead of purchasing one at a coffee shop. So far, I’ve saved $52 in six days. I have a feeling I’ll be saving a lot more in the long run.
The Fine Details...
Terra Kaffe’s TK-02 Connected Super Automatic Espresso Machine ($1,595).
Includes app download via a QR code and milk carafe.
Free delivery.
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