Terra Kaffe TK-02 review

Espresso with body for an automatic, and a drip coffee that can run flat and lukewarm7.8/10

The espresso is the reason to buy the TK-02, and drink quality is widely liked. Shots come out with crema, body and a flavor that follows the beans. Beard's found "more body and more flavor than a lot of other bean-to-cup machines I've tried"1, and a saved recipe comes back very close each morning.

The drip coffee is where the cups disagree. The machine brews it at lower pressure with its own grind setting, and Techie Dani says it "tastes like a pourover to me"2. Coffeeness found the same drink "rather flat and watery"3, and MacRumors got a short, coolish mug that cooled further once cream went in.

Heat is the recurring caveat. Nothing here comes out piping hot, though temperature, strength, volume and pressure can all be changed, and there is a low-temperature brew for pouring over ice. The grinder has less range than the rest of the menu: Coffeeness counted "only five grind settings"4.

One tap on the screen, with schedules and profiles kept in the app6.9/10

Daily use is a tap on a touchscreen, and that part is praised almost everywhere. You scroll to one of the 12 drinks, press go, and the machine grinds, doses, brews and froths5. The water tank, drip tray and grounds bin all come out of the front, which suits low cabinets and tight counters6.

Ease still divides opinion overall, because of what sits around that tap. Seattle Coffee Gear reports that it "takes about 5 minutes to come up to temperature"7 before the first drink. Individual user profiles and the auto on and off schedule are only in the app, so a phone becomes part of the morning8.

The app itself is well liked. It can wake the machine on a schedule, have a cup waiting, and update the machine over Wi-Fi. Beard's hit occasional connection dropouts that needed a restart.

It is not a quiet machine. Coffeeness heard clunks as it gets ready and says "the grinder registered 90 dB on my phone app"9. Two smaller quirks: the grounds tray will not open with the spout set too low, and a double shot from pre-ground coffee grinds whole beans for its second half.

Smooth foam set by a side dial, from a small plastic carafe that pours a little cool7.3/10

The milk system is widely liked for the foam itself. It is smooth and thick with few large bubbles, on dairy and on oat or almond alike. A physical dial on the side of the machine sets the froth level and gives real control over texture.

That dial has to be turned while the drink is pouring, which Seattle Coffee Gear finds awkward10. Milk drinks also come out cooler than some want. Coffeeness makes heat its one complaint about the foam, and Beard's noticed the same out of the box11.

The 20 fl oz / 590 mL carafe draws the remaining criticism. It is plastic and looks cheap to Coffeeness and Joe Varacalli, and its hose plugs in underneath the dispenser at an awkward angle. It does go straight back in the fridge between drinks, and the hose will draw from any other container you prefer.

On-screen prompts for every cycle, a hose to wash by hand and a brew group sealed inside5.7/10

Upkeep divides opinion, and the split is between what the machine does and what it leaves to you. It prompts each cleaning job on the screen with a how-to, rinses itself, and asks for a steamer rinse once the carafe is unplugged. Each part is labeled as dishwasher-safe or not.

All that rinsing uses water. The 75 fl oz / 2.2 L tank empties faster than its size suggests, the drip tray fills quickly and the grounds bin is not far behind. The tray is long and shallow, so it is awkward to carry to a small sink without spilling. The milk hose is yours to clean by hand12.

The brew group cannot be removed. The machine cleans it internally, which spares you a job, but Coffeeness and Joe Varacalli would both prefer to be able to reach it13.

Magnetic doors and a solid feel, in a matte shell that is plastic throughout8.8/10

Build is consistently praised for how it feels in use. The doors close on magnets, the parts feel solid out of the box and nothing feels loose. It takes most of a counter's depth and still fits under the cabinets.

The material is the objection. The shell is matte plastic with a few metal details, and Review Kitchens says that "can feel underwhelming at this price point"14. The milk unit feels like the most delicate part.

There is no cup warmer. Evidence on the long run is thin, so the praise here is for fit and feel, not for years of service.

A steal to some at $1,995, with a filter only the maker sells6.9/10

At $1,995, value divides opinion. Coffeeness calls it "an absolute steal for the price"15, and Uly & Max rate the coffee on par with more expensive Jura machines. Others like the machine and still call it pricey, with the advice to do your research first.

Running costs deserve a look. The water filter is proprietary, and replacements come only from the manufacturer16. Descaler and cleaning tablets are in the box, and The Quality Edit points to "a 2-year or 5,000-brew warranty"17. Review Kitchens expects repairs outside that cover to be on the expensive side.

Our verdict

Buy the TK-02 if you want strong espresso, lattes and a drip-style mug from one touchscreen, and you will use the app for schedules and profiles. Skip it if you want very hot coffee, a metal body for the money or a machine that needs little attention. Before you commit, check that the drip coffee suits you, since that is the drink most likely to disappoint. Once it is home, raise the drink temperature and set the wake-up schedule so the warm-up is done before you reach the kitchen.