Is this the world's smartest coffee maker? I tried the Terra Kaffe TK-02

I’ve tried my fair share of smart coffee and espresso machines over the years, settling on the pod-based Keurig K-Supreme Smart coffee maker as my daily driver. The Terra Kaffe TK-02 blows it out of the water with full-flavored bean or pre-ground coffee brewing in a completely automated process. Its pro-level extraction is delicious and speedy enough to give the best coffee makers a run for their money. This super automatic all-in-one system blends convenience, smarts, and quality into a sleek tower that's easy to maintain and access.

It stands out for its unique ability to create your own beverages and host individual user espresso profiles. I've experienced its skills firsthand with excellent temperature control and the ability to extract a wide range of flavors from the same bag of beans. But at $1,600, is the performance and smart features worth the splurge? Read on to find out.

TK-02 Super Automatic Espresso Machine: now $1,599 @ Terra Kaffe
This app-enabled super automatic machine crafts café-quality coffee at home at the press of a button. You can dial in espreso strength or create custom drink menus, personalize brew settings, and schedule morning java so you can wake up to a hot cup each morning.

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TK-02 review: Price and availability

The TK-02 is a mid-range machine at $1,599 or £999—double the $799 price tag of its predecessor, the TK-01. The TK-02 is a better-built machine loaded with more features like app compatibility, drip coffee, and a precision metal milk frothing dial. That's definitely not cheap, like the compact espresso makers that cost under $300. Still, it is nowhere near as pricey as the $3,000 models, which still require you to control temperature and pressure. It comes in two matte colorways, either black or white. 

TK-02 review: Design

After removing the TK-02 from the box I couldn't help but compare it to one of the best gaming PCs sitting in our office at any given time. Its rectangular computer tower-like body drops backward, complete with knobs, transparent hoppers, and a large 5-inch touchscreen — the minimalist, matte-white aesthetic looks premium. Even better, the straightforward screen-based menu system and lack of excessive buttons, gauges, and knobs are welcoming to novices or someone who doesn't want to fuss around for a specialty coffee. 

These modern sensibilities will definitely lack the classic manual machine charm for enthusiasts. That said, the TK-02 is refreshingly compact compared to other bulky super-automatic machines on the market. It stands just under 17 inches tall and weighs about 29 pounds—not exactly portable, but it fits comfortably on most counters without overwhelming your kitchen. The clean lines and intuitive touchscreen make it feel more like a piece of modern art than a coffee machine, but it’s way more than just a pretty face.

I appreciate that every function and tray is accessible from the front and top of the machine. Each door is magnetic, so when you open the puck waste bin or water tank compartment, it closes securely. The clear plastic hoppers at the top are also magnetized to snap back into place to keep beans or grounds fresh. Only the power switch is located on the back so the TK-02 can be placed for the long run as you won't have to dive deep behind it to access certain nooks and crannies.

To get started, you just remove the tape, install the filter, and load up the hopper with beans (or pre-ground coffee on the smaller tray in front of the bean hopper). The machine uses fresh beans for every brew, eliminating the need for single-use pods, which is a huge plus for anyone looking to reduce their waste. It also has an energy-saving mode, automatically switching to a clock face in standby when it’s not in use. You get a view of drink options from the built-in screen or the phone app, as well as brew status once it starts a job.

TK-02 review: Performance

Aside from the simplified interface on the built-in touchscreen, you can use the app to create an automated brew schedule to wake up to coffee at specific times or pull up maintenance stats. This lets you view how many waste pucks are built up, tray fill levels, and alerts you to clean the system each day. If you use the milk carafe for cream-based drinks, you get cleaning instructions as it will clean the nozzle. Still, the milk tubing and hose is a PITA to remove since it latches on so tightly here, and cleaning it could be easier. Overall the machine is built sharp and easy to keep running clean for minimal effort.

Just select a drink, its strength, and the serving and you'll get a perfectly brewed beverage without dialing in pressure or worrying about the grind. You can set everything from grind size and coffee shot strength to the temperature of your drink. I found the customization options impressive, though not overwhelming. For those who want a quick cup, you can easily stick with the pre-set options, but if you’re the type to tweak every detail of your brew, you’ll appreciate the granular profile control this machine offers in the app. Each user can create their own espresso profile to optimize their strength and flavor.

When it comes to brewing, the TK-02 is a powerhouse. The built-in grinder features five settings, with one being the finest and five being the coarsest. This comes up short compared to similar mid-range models like the eight options on the De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro my colleague Millie tested. Still, this is enough to cover a range of drinks from espresso to Americano. The grind consistency is solid, and the machine lets you adjust for single or double shots. Most of the process is dead silent at 15 decibels while dripping water and coffee. However, it gets as loud as 35 decibels when it grinds up the beans and puffs out the hot water, which isn't noticeable from an adjacent room.

The TK-02 heats up unbelievably quickly, warming up from a cold start consistently in 45 seconds. Making Americanos, Lattes, and the like takes just under two minutes so you can have them on demand. Like Millie, I stuck with the finer settings for my espressos and found that the flavor was consistently rich, with a good balance of acidity and sweetness. You can see the layers properly align for milk-based drinks like Latte Machiatos and taste the difference between milk foam versus creamier textures. The extensive list is as follows but only 10 will show on the menu at a given time: 

• Americano
• Cortado
• Espresso
• Latte
• Iced Coffee
• Macchiato
• Cappuccino
• Flat White
• Latte Macchiato
• Hot Water
• Drip
• Steamed Milk

These are just the default drinks it ships with as you can create your own drinks complete with dosage and liquid volume adjustments. Unlike most bean-to-cup coffee makers, there's virtually no fiddling with grind size and volume to reach a perfect extraction out of the box. The system is intelligent enough to brew cups full of flavor as if pressed by a local coffee shop. It readily pumped out latte after espresso with a thick, foamy cream where needed and a well-balanced flavor profile.

You have to attach the included carafe for milk-based beverages. There are three milk steaming options with this machine which you can switch between using the physical metal knob on the righthand side. These are traditional hot milk, a middling froth, and a well-aerated micro-foam. The automatic milk dispenser pumps the base through a tube and texturizes it as it dispenses into your mug. You'll automatically be reminded to clean your nozzle so you don't build up grime. It's not as pretty as having a little leaf of latte art on your coffee, but it is pragmatic when you just need your fix. 

As a hybrid brew unit, the TK-02 can switch between espresso-based drinks & drip coffee. Drip coffee (also used for the Iced Coffee mode) takes some time to make as the process is slower at around three and a half minutes on average. It's well worth it as the flavor it extracts and infuses into your beverage is rich and makes for an especially bold iced coffee when brewed at lower temperatures.

Should you buy the TK-02?

There are some relatively minor nitpicks I have, like in how the tank drains quickly (just four drinks) and how the milk carafe is a bit cumbersome. For the most part though, the TK-02 is the coffee machine for everyone thanks to its smarts. The built-in automation eliminates the most tedious parts of brewing flavorful coffee so anyone can quickly order up a delicious drink and go about their day. Enthusiasts willing to forego manual controls can dive deep into the digital settings to adjust dosage, pressure, brew temperatures, and more. 

It’s not the cheapest machine out there, but if you value both aesthetics and performance—and you’re tired of dealing with manual controls and pods—it’s a worthy investment. Plus, it’s rare to find a fully automatic espresso machine that doesn’t sacrifice quality for convenience. Not only can you schedule it to wake up to cafe-quality specialty coffee without lifting a finger, but the machine even shows you how much money you save with each cup. This pulls a perfect shot every time. You just have to deal with the frequent water tank refills and cleanup.