Terra Kaffe TK-02 Review: Perfect Espresso at the Touch of a Button?

I’ve been meaning to write a Terra Kaffe TK-02 review ever since the machine first showed up. I mean, from everything I’ve heard, this fully automatic espresso machine is pretty fantastic.

With that in mind, I’ve finally found time to take a look at the much-hyped TK-02.

Fortunately, the Terra Kaffe TK-02 is now available from Amazon and Seattle Coffee Gear, which should help the company sell more machines. So, I went ahead and bought one to test out for you.

I’ve spent the last few days putting this baby through its paces, and I’ve got lots to say. So, let’s get right to it and take a look at what this fancy super automatic espresso machine is all about!

Terra Kaffe TK-02 Review Overview

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Terra Kaffe has been in business since 2017. Apparently, the company was launched by a bunch of baristas, chefs, designers and other creative types, which makes sense when you look at the Terra Kaffe TK-02.

I mean, calling this machine stylish would be the understatement of the century!

Personally, I don’t think I’ve seen a more attractive coffee maker in the last couple of years, although Terra Kaffe has certainly taken a page out of the Fellow style manual. Or maybe it’s the other way around.

Anyway, looks aside, the Terra Kaffe TK-02 has consistently impressed reviewers. And from my experience using it, this machine isn’t just capable of brewing espresso and drip coffee. It’s also user-friendly to the max and super smart. Oh, and the cherry on top? The Terra Kaffe TK-02 costs just $1,695.00.

Sure, that’s a lot of money to spend on a coffee machine. Still, when you compare the TK-02’s asking price with that of, say, a Jura coffee maker, the Terra Kaffe seems downright cheap.

Before getting my hands on the thing I had a sneaking suspicion that the TK-02 would soon make it onto my list of the best super automatic espresso machines. And having now spent a few days playing with the Terra Kaffe, I can confirm that I was right.

After all, it ticks almost all the right boxes in terms of design, construction and performance. Plus, the Terra Kaffe TK-02 is a thoroughly modern smart coffee maker, with a tricked-out app and all the bells and whistles you could wish for.

Terra Kaffe TK-02 Features

Let’s continue this initial Terra Kaffe TK-02 review by taking a closer look at all the machine’s standout features.

Size and Design

As I already pointed out, there’s no question that the TK-02 is a gorgeous machine to behold. Sure, its contemporary aesthetic might not appeal to everyone, but the manufacturer obviously put a lot of time and energy into the design process.

Featuring clean lines and a modern, boxy vibe, the Terra Kaffe TK-02 is a study in cool minimalism. Rather than a crowded control panel with tons of buttons, there’s a simple and elegant touchscreen display featuring a drink list. Other than that, there’s a small dial on the side and a transparent bean hopper up top.

Incidentally, the Terra Kaffe TK-02 is far from diminutive – it’ll demand attention once it’s sitting in your kitchen. Moreover, the machine isn’t exactly compact, standing 14.3 inches (36.3 centimeters) tall and weighing 29 pounds (13 kilograms).

As for materials, you won’t be surprised to hear that the machine is mainly plastic, given its asking price. Still, there are some classy metal components here and there.

User Interface

The 5-inch (12.7-centimeter) Terra Kaffe touchscreen interface is certainly in keeping with the “cool and modern” vibe we’ve got going on here.

Rather than opting for fancy color drink icons, Tera Kaffe has kept things nice and simple with white text on a black background. This makes the user interface very approachable, seeing as there’s just a list of drinks.

Of course, once you make a selection, you’re able to go down a customization rabbit hole. However, the whole process is very intuitive and easy to navigate. In my experience, the user manual wasn’t necessary at all. Still, if you’ve never used a super automatic before, it might be a good idea to take a few minutes to read the thing.

Specialty Drinks

The Terra Kaffe TK-02 comes “fully loaded” with around 10 specialty drink options. All the usual culprits are here, including flat white, cortado and latte. However, you’re able to customize everything to your heart’s content, meaning you can create your own mega menu of drinks.

When it comes to espresso preparation, you’re able to adjust loads of parameters, including dose, grind size and temperature. And of course, you can dial in the amount of milk foam you’d like in your cappuccino.

Finally, the TK-02 offers a brewed drip coffee that’s unlike most “coffee” options on super automatics. I’ll get into the details of that a little later.

Grinder

The Terra Kaffe TK-02 is equipped with a stainless steel conical burr grinder. There are only five grind settings to choose from, which I find rather surprising. Still, the grinder is calibrated for espresso preparation, so perhaps the manufacturer felt like more settings would be overkill.

What’s really exciting is that the grinder adjusts itself electronically, based on bean weight and drink type. Seriously, that’s the kind of feature you’ll usually only see on really expensive machines.

With all that said, I must mention the fact that the TK-02 is rather noisy. There are all kinds of clunky sounds as it’s getting ready, and the grinder registered 90 dB on my phone app.

Hybrid Brew Unit

Remember earlier when I said I’d get into the details of the TK-02’s drip coffee function? Well, the time is upon us!

You see, this special espresso machine has a so-called “Hybrid Brew Unit” that’s capable of brewing both espresso and drip coffee. For the latter option, the machine adjusts the brewing process completely, reducing pressure and extending the extraction time.

This way, the Terra Kaffe TK-02 can gently pulse water through coffee grounds, producing a pretty close approximation of true drip coffee. To be honest, I didn’t love the Terra Kaffe drip coffee. It wasn’t terrible or anything, just rather flat and watery. With that in mind, I’d recommend brewing an americano instead.

One thing that concerns me slightly is the fact that you can’t remove the brew group. Then again, I used to worry about that with Jura machines until I conducted my year-long Jura A1 test.

Anyway, Terra Kaffe provides special backflushing tablets, and the machine requires that you perform the brew unit cleaning function on a regular basis. To be honest, I think that’ll keep the brew unit in good shape.

Milk Foam

I always prefer an integrated milk system to a cappuccinatore. Still, beggars can’t be choosers, right? Anyway, as far as I can gather, the TK-02 is capable of producing very acceptable milk foam for your favorite coffee drinks.

The milk system comprises a hose that attaches to the dispensing unit and a rather cheap-looking plastic milk carafe. Then again, you could make your life easier and simply drop the pipe into a pitcher of milk. Trust me, cleanup will be a lot easier.

Before I forget, I should circle back to that dial on the side of the machine. Actually, this is a really cool feature that allows you to fine-tune your milk foam in real time. In my opinion, that’s way cooler than having two or three menu options for milk froth consistency.

My only complaint about the Terra Kaffe milk foam is that it really isn’t hot enough. Plus, there’s no way to increase the temperature. Hopefully that’ll be something the manufacturer addresses in future updates.

Water Tank

I love that the Terra Kaffe water tank is hidden behind a door on the front of the machine. That’s just such a great design choice, and makes it easy to remove the reservoir for filling or cleaning. While I’m on the subject, the waste bin for used grounds is located next door, so you won’t ever have to move the machine around.

The 75-ounce (2.2-liter) water tank isn’t exactly huge, but nor is it the smallest I’ve ever come across. With that said, the machine’s drip tray is absolutely enormous, so I recommend removing it slowly and carefully.

You’ll get a proprietary water filter in the box, with replacements only available directly from the manufacturer. Sure, that’s a little annoying, but you can always just fill the tank with filtered water. Remember: You have choices!

Terra Kaffe App

For those of you who love remote controlled coffee makers, the Terra Kaffe app will knock your socks off. Seriously, you can do everything from your phone, including set the machine to wake or sleep at specific times and even program the TK-02 to start brewing at a scheduled time each day.

Fortunately, you can also access all these features via the machine’s touchscreen interface. That’s actually refreshing, seeing as not everyone wants to fiddle around with their phone to make coffee.

Then again, the app gives you access to quite a few drinks that aren’t on the machine’s touchscreen menu, including iced coffee, macchiato and cortado.

Incidentally, the Terra Kaffe TK-02 can also connect to your WiFi, allowing it to regularly update its software. From what I can gather, the manufacturer is constantly trying to make the TK-02 better, meaning you can expect meaningful changes and additions with each major update.

How to Use the Terra Kaffe TK-02

I won’t get into every detail of the Terra Kaffe settings here. Rather, I’ll leave that to the Terra Kaffe user manual. Still, I can give you an idea of what to expect when you’re first setting up the machine.

For starters, you’ll need to plug the machine in. Once that’s done, install the water filter, add fresh water to the reservoir and pour coffee beans into the hopper. Now it’s time to power up the machine, which will guide you through initial setup via the display.

Once you’re ready to make espresso drinks, you can simply tap any drink on the menu and the machine will start brewing. Oh, and if you’re making a milk-based drink, be sure to attach the milk hose to the spout and milk container.

As you already know, you can customize your espresso to your heart’s content – either using the touchscreen or the Terra Kaffe app.

Best Coffee for the Terra Kaffe TK-02

My Observations

Once I’d unboxed the machine, filled the water tank and added my Coffeeness Espresso Blend to the bean hopper, I switched the thing on and waited for it to get ready. I will say that the Terra Kaffe takes its sweet time in this regard, but that’s just a minor complaint.

As I mentioned earlier, I was thoroughly impressed by the machine’s elegant and intuitive user interface. Plus, the TK-02 is very friendly, offering cute prompts here and there whenever you need to fill the water tank or empty the waste bin.

I was also very impressed by the level of customization on offer when it comes to dialing in your espresso. I played around with a bunch of different settings, and it wasn’t long before I found the sweet spot for my coffee.

In terms of cup quality, the Terra Kaffe TK-02 did a marvelous job of highlighting the chocolate and hazelnut notes in my espresso beans. Oh, and the machine will always ask you if you want to save your settings for next time, which is a very nice touch.

As for milk-based drinks, the TK-02 is a true marvel. The dial on the side of the machine gives you an incredible amount of control over the consistency of your milk froth, and you’re able to adjust the amount of milk for any drink. Heck, I even managed to whip up a pretty fantastic oat milk latte.

Incidentally, the TK-02 will always ask whether you want to add an extra shot to your drink, and yes – the machine doses and grinds twice instead of running water through the puck a second time.

Terra Kaffe TK-02 Cleaning

This fully automatic makes it easy on you when it comes to maintenance. The TK-02 will alert you when anything needs to be taken care of, and even offers helpful tutorials along the way.

There are plenty of automatic rinsing and flushing cycles, and if you want to flush the milk system after each use, you have the option. As I mentioned earlier, the manufacturer supplies backflushing tablets for the brew group, which will require special attention on a regular basis.

Other than that, everything is very straightforward. If you want to learn  more about taking care of a super automatic, check out my guide to cleaning and descaling coffee machines.

Terra Kaffe Super Automatic Espresso Machine Specifications

Terra Kaffe TK-02 vs Other Super Automatic Espresso Machines

Let’s take a quick look at how the Terra Kaffe TK-02 measures up in comparison with a couple of other top-notch super automatics.

TK-02 vs Jura Z10

Regular Coffeness readers know that the Jura Z10 is one of my favorite super automatics. And for good reason – this incredible machine is about as sophisticated and versatile as it gets.

Still, I wonder whether Jura is a little worried about the Terra Kaffe TK-02. I mean, for a fraction of the $3,999.00 Jura Z10 asking price, the TK-02 offers the same electronic grinder with five settings, cold espresso, incredible app functionality and more.

See Also: Jura Coffee Machine Reviews

TK-02 vs Miele CM 6360

In comparison with this Terra Kaffe super automatic espresso machine, the Miele CM 6360 seems positively old fashioned. Especially when looking at the Miele’s user interface and clunky app. Plus, at $2,799.00, this is an expensive proposition.

Still, the Miele CM 6360 is a true workhorse that’s built like a tank. Plus, it produces espresso and really hot milk foam of exceptional quality. Personally, I’ll always love this most unfashionable of machines.

See Also: Miele CM 6360 Review

Terra Kaffe TK-02 vs Others Comparison Chart

Verdict: TK-02 Review

It seems to me that Terra Kaffe has really raised the bar with the TK-02. And in my opinion, this beautiful and versatile automatic espresso machine is an absolute steal for the price.

I had a great time testing out the Terra Kaffe TK-02, and found it to be extremely well conceived. What’s more, it produces quite exceptional espresso and milk foam. Sure, the milk could be hotter and the drip coffee option feels redundant. However, I can recommend this machine to anyone who wants a cutting edge coffee machine in their kitchen.

TK-02 Terra Kaffe Review FAQ