Terra Kaffe TK-01 Review: Super-Automatic Espresso Machine

What I like about the Terra Kaffe TK-01 is that this machine brews it all — a bold espresso shot, Americano, or a classic cappuccino. The machine has a user-friendly interface and plenty of customizable settings. One of the first things I noticed about Terra Kaffe TK-01 is its Apple-like design. 

In my Terra Kaffe TK-01 review, I rated its design, ease of use, and coffee flavor, so you can decide if this is the espresso machine to elevate your brewing performance.

Summary: Terra Kaffe TK-01

• A super-automatic espresso machine that brews coffee with a press of a button
  
• Plenty of customizable options let you make the perfect brew
  
• Automatic milk steaming via a tube

We love it! Easy to set up, easy to use, we love that it self-cleans after every use. Delicious coffee made to order!

– Customer Review

SEE ON SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

The Terra Kaffee TK-01 Espresso Machine Review

Terra Kaffee is a relative newcomer to the world of espresso machines. In 2018, the company was founded as a start-up in Berlin, but it is now based in Brooklyn, New York (1). The company aimed to create a more sustainable coffee brewing system that reduces waste without sacrificing flavor. 

How We Rated It

• Design
• Features
• Ease of Use
• Coffee Flavor
• Value for Money

4.1

• SEE ON TERRA KAFFE

Terra Kaffe markets the machine as a sustainable replacement for pod devices under the slogan, “Great coffee doesn’t grow in pods.” 

In general, Terra Kaffe emphasizes sustainability and seems to target a younger generation of coffee enthusiasts. Here’s how the machine worked when we put it to the test.

Design – 4/5

When it comes to TK-01’s design, you’ll either love it or hate it. There’s no in-between. I think this machine’s sleek and minimalistic design is sure to appeal to the younger crowd. It has clean lines and is available in black and white options. For me, the plastic feels durable, and the white version didn’t suffer any scratches.

The front of the machine is what makes this device resemble Apple products. It’s minimalistic, with clean lines. There’s a driptray at the bottom, a square nozzle in the middle, and a screen above it. The nozzle moves up and down and has a clearance of 5.5 in, so you can fit most mugs.

It’s not the most compact espresso machine I have seen and tested, with the dimensions 17.3″ (D) x 10.6″ (W) x 14″ (H), but it’s not the largest either. The 12 oz bean hopper (on the top), grinder, pre-ground doser, and cup warmer are located on top.  

The espresso machine has two compartments on the sides. One side houses a 57 oz water reservoir and milk adjustment wheel (more on that later), and the other side houses the waste bin and the brewer. 

Ideally, you should open this compartment every few days, if not daily, to clean the inside or refill the water tank. You need plenty of horizontal space to open the compartment doors, so you can’t store the Terra Kaffe TK-01 in between other appliances. 

Features – 4.5/5

Interested in the main features of the Terra Kaffe espresso machine? One thing is sure: you’ll get a top-notch espresso with just a button press.

Let’s dive in.

The Grinder

Most superautomatic espresso machines that I’ve tried come with a built-in grinder, including Terra Kaffe TK-01. The stainless steel burr grinder has multiple settings, where 1 is the finest and 5 is the coarsest (2). My advice is to go straight to 1 when grinding for espresso. 

Most built-in grinders that I’ve tried are incapable of grinding fine enough for espresso. However, that’s the price you pay for convenience. Luckily, there are ways to get around this and not let the inadequate grind ruin your shot (check the espresso flavor below). 

Additionally, you can use pre-ground coffee by using a spot inserted inside the hopper.

Customization

For me, customization is a huge factor when it comes to super-automatic machines. Unlike manual or semi-automatic, you don’t have control over the brewing process. For example, if you have a semi-automatic machine, you have to get the grind right, dose, distribute, tamp, and more. All of this determines the coffee flavor. With super-automatic machines, you’re at the mercy of the machine. There aren’t many parameters you can adjust to get a better shot.

With a TK-01 espresso machine, I liked that I have a lot of control over the coffee’s flavor and strength. But during my tests, there was no warning when the water receptacle was low, so only a partial cup of coffee was brewed.

You can clearly see the available drinks and their adjustable parameters on the touchscreen. 

Each drink has different settings you can adjust:

• Espresso — Adjust water amount, brewing temperature, dose from 7 g to 12 g, and pressure. You can run this automatic espresso machine at high pressure or low pressure. Low pressure produces better extraction and compensates for the grind.
• Americano — Top three settings are the same as for espresso (water, brewing temperature, and the dose). You can adjust how much water the machine automatically dispenses into your Americano.
• Cappuccino and latte — Choose your preferred milk amount setting. 

Milk Frothing

Terra Kaffe TK-01 has an innovative milk frothing system comprising a carafe and a tube. It works with all milk types (3), and to start, you must fill the carafe with milk. Secondly, attach one end of the tube to the hole of the carafe lid. Lastly, attach the other end to the machine’s spout (4). TK-01 draws the milk out of the carafe, steams it, and automatically dispenses it into the carafe. 

I found that there’s another way to use the milk frothing system is to use the open-ended hose. Connect the hooked end to the spout, and insert the other end straight into your cup. I didn’t use the carafe this way, which means less cleaning. 

You can adjust the milk froth using the milk frothing dial located inside the left door. Although Terra Kaffe offers adjustable milk frothing options, opening the door whenever we want to change the froth is a pain. Other super-automatic machines let you do this from the display.

Overall, I had no complaints about the milk foam. It’s better than what you get in many coffee shops nowadays. However, the Terra Kaffe TK-01 espresso machine dispenses hot water before steaming the milk to clean out the steam nozzles. You have to remember to move your cup from under the spout, or you’ll have water in your freshly brewed espresso.

Ease of Use – 4/5

I found the TK-01 espresso machine easy to use thanks to the intuitive touchscreen interface.

All I had to do was press a button, and the drink was ready in a minute.

Cleaning and Maintenance

I feel like I need to put a lot of effort into cleaning, even on a daily basis. In my experience, I had to run a milk cleaning cycle once a day when I make milk-based drinks. In case you forget, the TK-01 espresso machine will automatically remind you to run this cycle half an hour after frothing the milk. You must connect the milk tube to the drip tray and choose the milk cleaning option from the menu.

I also had to wipe the front of the machine daily because it tends to accumulate a lot of splashes. I easily did this with a damp cloth. Also, I empty the drip tray as needed.

Weekly cleaning includes emptying out the waste bin. I also had to rinse it off, or it’ll remain muddy. I recommend that you take out the brewer and also rinse it once a week. Otherwise, you’ll have buildup, and the machine won’t pour well. None of the TK-01 parts are dishwasher-safe, so I had to clean them manually.

Finally, you have to run a brewer cleaning and descaling cycle every 200 to 400 brews (5). 

Coffee Flavor – 4/5

I’ll be honest: this isn’t the best espresso I ever had. The espresso I brewed lacked some sweetness and acidity, but we noticed chocolatey, caramel, and citrus tones and a nice body. However, for a superautomatic machine, I found the flavor to be excellent.

Here are which parameters produced the best espresso results for me:

• Water — 25 ml
• Temperature — 203 degrees
• Coffee dose — 12 g
• Pressure — Low bar

Overall, I found the espresso quality is decent compared to the amount of work needed. Also, with milk-based drinks, it is really good.

Value for Money – 4/5

I think TK-01 offers good value for money. It’s priced below $1,000, which is considered affordable. Features that make the price worth it are the dual brewing system, adjustable grind settings, automatic milk frothing, customizable drink options, and compatibility with whole bean and pre-ground coffee. I was able to try out a wide range of coffee drinks and maximize the value I can get from the machine.

Moreover, the TK-01 comes with an integrated grinder, so there’s no need for a separate grinder purchase.

Do Not Buy Terra Kaffe TK-01 If…

• You want easier maintenance — When comparing Terra Kaffe vs. Philips 3200 LatteGo maintenance, Philips is the winner. In fact, the 3200 LatteGo is one of the easiest-to-clean super-automatic machines we use. It has an AquaClean filter, so you don’t have to descale for an impressive 5,000 shots (that’s years of making coffee). The milk frothing system doesn’t use any tubes or wands but is a carafe you easily detach from the machine and pop in the dishwasher.
• You want smart technology — If you want to control an espresso machine from your phone, you may want to wait for the Terra Kaffe TK-02. You can dial in shots and create custom drinks straight from your phone.

The Verdict

Terra Kaffe TK-01 does all the work for you. There’s no need to use coffee pods, but you can brew coffee with a button. The machine is stylish, modern, and durable and makes fine espresso. 

SEE ON TERRA KAFFE

Plenty of customizable brewing options ensure you’ll have coffee suited to your preferences. The interface is user-friendly, and the machine will be a visually appealing addition to your kitchen. Overall, this is a practical choice for coffee lovers, providing long-term value for money.