Terra Kaffe TK02 Review

[@jermcee]

I was one of the first ones to get it. Lasted a week before I sent it back. Milk based drinks are barely warm. Cleaning the milk tubing is also a little bit of a pain compared to some other super automatics. Drip coffee does not taste anything like a traditional drip coffee. Even has a bit of crema on top. Finally I tested the espresso by itself and it's sour. Likely due to under extraction.

[@JoeyVaracalli]

Interesting I would say you probably didn’t take the time to dial in the espresso using the espresso profile button but can’t say for sure. I haven’t had that issue but the less hot milk is basically a problem for any machine that is sucking in milk and spitting it out with a tube. They did add a function to increase the temp of the milk but idk I just don’t drink milk based beverages all that much

[@sergioalvarez193]

I got mine about a month ago and I've enjoyed the functionality and ease of use. It has definitely increased my coffee intake. I'm coming from a Nespresso brew unit and wanted the upgrade to something with less waste. I have noticed that the coffee is not as hot as I'm used to, but it forces me to just enjoy the cup in that moment. I remember visiting Europe and I noticed that their lattes where not as hot as I was used too so maybe it's an American thing to drink it super hot, but who knows I may just be justifying the machine... I'm new to this, but have enjoy the machine so far.. Also can you make a settings video. I want to be able to pull the perfect shot.

[@FunWithTheBugs]

Curious if you paid for this machine or if Terra Kaffe supplied it to you.

[@JoeyVaracalli]

I paid for this machine waited a long long time

[@ashleyz0525]

Hi! I can’t get the discount friend code to work

[@JoeyVaracalli]

Interesting let me take a look at that. Are you trying to order the 02 or the 01

[@ashleyz0525]

@@JoeyVaracalli Thank you! Trying to order the 2

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@@ashleyz0525 yeah I don’t think they are discounting that one I’ll see if they will give me a special code though that would be cool

[@ashleyz0525]

Much appreciated 🎉

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@@ashleyz0525 new discount code JOE100

[@kellybaird6630]

Hi Joe please post your settings. I just got one coming from a nespresso but I don’t love the taste so would love your settings. Thanks for what you do!

[@JoeyVaracalli]

Will do

[@rd9d9]

@@JoeyVaracalli patiently waiting for your settings. :)

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@@rd9d9 sorry 😢 I know I’m terrible I really keep trying to get this video done and things just keep popping up.

[@JC-JC20]

if you can't open the brewer how do you know it doesn't fail and drop coffee grind every where and get wet and moldy? my tk1 gets so nasty inside if i don't clean it every few days. one time i didnt clean before going away for a week and it was white mold everywhere. How can we know for sure on this one??

[@sharialatorre6494]

Got TK02 for Xmas and still figuring things out. Want to know if you can brew a pre ground drink when there are beans in the hopper. Doesn’t seem like it. Has to be one or the other?

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@@sharialatorre6494 I thought there was a separate section for that. In the hopper area. Sorry as a reviewer I don’t keep machines long so I don’t have it any more to check

[@NicDragna]

Thanks for the review! I love the machine...brewed over 350 shots since January lol.. My biggest concern right now is the water it spits out before every shot. I'm sure it's part of the pre infusion but didn't that water ruin the shot? It is enough to add to the volume of my shot, which I track to find that ratio of time vs volume out. I always wait for it to go before putting my cup, which of annoying.

[@planetfabulous5833]

Joe, I just saw you on TV! I was like I know that guy! Congrats on becoming famous! Merry Christmas!

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@@planetfabulous5833 I was on tv? Where was that at? Do you have a link

[@zizibe218]

Hi Joe, can you show us how to descale this machine? the directions on the descale packet shows different directions vs the machine...

[@djhuguito3261]

Does this pull a better expresso then the Gaggia Magenta plus?

[@hakim100]

Have you used something like the Jura z10, does this compare or even make better coffee and esspresso?

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@@hakim100 I haven’t used that model of jura but I have used the email nine and I’d say it’s very compatible to that

[@MurielHaverland]

change the filter? How often

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@@MurielHaverland I use ro water so no need to use the filter

[@emanuelesteves2818]

Are there enough drink options compared to other machines

[@JoeyVaracalli]

Yeah tons of options

[@jcsibal]

Can anyone do a comparison with something highly rated like a Jura Z10? For some reason Terra Kaffe is not in the usual comparison video reviews to the other well known superautomatic machines.

[@JoeyVaracalli]

I unfortunately don’t have a jura z10 but I plan to do a comparison with the Delonghi magnifica evo

[@piwinter]

Thank you for the review! I owe a TK-01 and am overall happy with it. I was just thinking about a TK-02 but the fact that you don't have access to the brewing unit is no-go for me. The TK-01 allows you to take the brewing unit out and rinse it clean etc. I can tell you that there's a good chance you will have a little mold in some corners of the brew unit or the space it's in if you don't clean it for a couple of weeks. It's coffee and you have water & heat involved in the process. I don't understand why they would seal it off?!! 😕

[@JoeyVaracalli]

Yeah it’s definitely a complaint of mine not sure why they did that. I will say they seem like they took a lot of time and effort on making sure the self cleaning works well but it’s still dumb cause mold can grow

[@jslopez93]

Great review! Loving our Tk-02 a to address the heat issue I just use my old nespresso frother (adds a little mystique to the coffee creation steps). Please do share your settings so I can just leverage your expertise :)

[@hlf_coder6272]

A frother? That's sacrilegious. You want STEAMED milk, not frothed milk. Frothers just insert a bunch of air into the milk instead of steam. That's why you don't get the velvety texture or sweetness. It's like the difference between real maple syrup and Aunt Jemima. I've gotta say, reading these comments have pretty much demonstrated for who this machine is targeted. Think I'm gonna pass.

[@SaroSports]

My machine makes a clicking noise is that normal????

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@@SaroSports when does it do it. It can make a clicking noise when tamping or turning on

[@RVSquaredSteve]

Thanks for the review, but at 15:45, that broke the deal for me. I make nothing but Lattes/Caps, and seeing that ridiculous mess as it purges/cleans itself would drive me nuts after the first time! I've never been a fan of a milk-carafe system and this, unfortunately, falls right into the others. So for our traveling, the Nespresso Creatista Pro lives on.

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@@RVSquaredSteve yeah it can be annoying for sure

[@johnc.325]

Surprised you have so few cons. The Reddit reviews have been savage.

[@JoeyVaracalli]

Yeah I mean it’s a super automatic that works super well for super automatic people. If I was comparing this to a breville barista pro it would be a different story. If you’re expecting the same level of espresso as something with a non pressurized filter basket u will be very sad and upset.

[@johnc.325]

@@JoeyVaracalli I think you're mischaracterizing the Reddit reactions; the people that pre-ordered this device *are* super automatic people, and are judging it thusly. The coffee snobs aren't buying this thing. It's A-OK that you're cool with it (as with all things, mileage varies), but I'd certainly expect more out of a $1500 machine than room temp lattes, which was a super-common complaint. I'd advise anyone considering this machine to spend time on Reddit exploring reactions from average folks that want that auto experience, because the consensus scans very differently than where you landed.

[@robb8513]

We love the machine and the coffee is nice and strong (based on our customization). For those that want to retain or build on the drink temperature, I strongly recommend buying an Ember Mug. This makes the milk based drinks nice and hot! For Joe - I am trying to find your recommendations on customizing the espresso profile - please advise. Thanks!

[@JoeyVaracalli]

will do. ill do it live today :) hopefully you can join in on the fun.

[@Spur5000]

I use my ember mug with my TK-02 and it is perfect

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@@Spur5000 great combo I love my ember mug but I need a new one the old one is going on me

[@BrandonArnold0]

I really don’t understand the shrill negative reviewers. I believe I understand coffee. I have lived on V60 and multi-thousand-dollar espresso machines for a decade. You are a true knuckle-dragging autist if that is what you’re comparing this to. In my opinion, for super-automatics, this thing is f-jng awesome for the convenience.

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@@BrandonArnold0 ohhh I’m not comparing this to a tradition non pressurized filter basket espresso machine. Or anything like an e61 espresso machine. I’m pretty sure I mention that in this video but compared to a jura or Delonghi it competes very well.

[@BrandonArnold0]

@@JoeyVaracalliI know! I enjoyed your review, I’m aimlessly responding to comments lol

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@ thanks i appreciate it

[@johnbabayan666]

Not an honest review. This is a very bad machine. Problematic and the company is a terrible company. I have one and mine is already broken 2 months in. Half the time your coffee comes out so bad. There are way better machines.

[@JoeyVaracalli]

I can agree there are better machines. IV met with the company many times I don’t believe they are Ill intended. It’s a startup so u may have some problems but in my experience they are great at working through them. No one has a better interface no one. Reach out to them and see if they will fix the problem if they don’t let me know and I’ll change my review

[@dieselkid10]

@@JoeyVaracalliStart up? They’ve already been in a business multiple years! I hated that they had a promo and would not respect the TK2 promo. Also their company is complete trash from Alibaba copy cat machines and charge 2.5-3x more. No thanks.

[@jared781]

What are some better machines out there?

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@@jared781 depends on what you are looking for. The machine that’s been on my counter top for years is the lelit Bianca. I definitely don’t expect people to pay and learn to use something like that. If you want the closest thing to super automatic but still make cafe quality (non pressurized shots of espresso) go with the breville oracle or impress touch amzn.to/3vWAtkq amzn.to/4aFh9aj

[@jared781]

@@JoeyVaracalli sorry should have clarified. I was referring to super automatic machines like the one reviewed in this video

[@BobBobSacamano]

They claim 9 bars of pressure while most other espresso machine claim 15 bars. Any difference in quality between 9 bars of pressure and 15 bars of pressure?

[@JoeyVaracalli]

9 bars is much better its the pressure that espresso has been made at for a very long its kind of the standard. bigger numbers aren't always better

[@Billbucks1]

Just sold mine. The zero access to the brew unit was a complete deal breaker. Kinda disappointed that you didn't go a little deeper into how big of a con that this is and the problems that it will 100% cause in the very near future. You, of all people, know the ins and outs of these machines and the issues zero access will cause. There is no way this machine is in the 9s, and you know it.

[@JoeyVaracalli]

Yeah I’ll double check so far no issues with it but I do think that will cause issues down the road. I know the jura I had had many problems because of it but I just opened the back anyways and cleaned it out no problem

[@Billbucks1]

​@JoeyVaracalli truly appreciate the reply.. I love your reviews and will continue to watch. I really wanted to keep this machine after such a long wait, but I just didn't feel comfortable with the almost certain mold problems down the road. I hope my first message didn't come across the wrong way. Wasn't trying to be a %&%$. Congratulations on your new addition 🙏 I wish you and your family all the best.

[@JoeyVaracalli]

no problem at all bill I actually had a lot of concerns in the comments about this so I sent that to the head of marketing to review@@Billbucks1

[@steevthetech]

Too many cons for us. Returned and we were really excited for it too.

[@BobBobSacamano]

Can you elaborate on the cons?

[@steevthetech]

@@BobBobSacamanothe burning plastic smell for two weeks was noxious and didn’t allow for a great smelling espresso experience. The machine is LOUD, lots of clicks, etc. The milk carafe is a pain to clean and same for the tube. The tube pushes the carafe off of the tray. Cleaning that tube is a pain and we are a latte drinking house. The amount of water is using when the machine is turned on and off is crazy. Everyday we needed to fill the water tank and empty the drip tray. That water filter is just getting wasted with tossed out water. The touch screen is nice but interface needs polishing. Should be able to add a shot during the first shot, etc. Latte macchiato is backwards in brew steps. Most importantly the coffee and milk doesn’t get hot enough. Their fix is to run water through the system a few times to heat it up. More wasted water. I was bummed to send it back cause we waited so long but for a machine at this price point there were too many issues. The top gets way too hot, maybe where the burning plastic smell comes from.

[@JoeyVaracalli]

yeah im not a fan of the milk carafe. and you are right it uses a lot of water but its mostly to keep the machine clean so its kind of a catch 22 with removing the ability to not clean the brew unit @@steevthetech

[@steevthetech]

@@JoeyVaracalliand I want access to the brew unit. it seems like a way to keep us paying for a warranty or service. Add to that, I brought these issues up to TK and it was crickets.

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@@steevthetech yeah I agree with you on the brew unit. It’s a con on my list for a reason. I think I would need to do a long term review to make an evaluation on it better though. I can tell a lot of effort went into the brew unit on this one.

[@Poorlydrawnhouse]

I typically go to Perkins or Dennys 5-7 days a week to get coffee since my drip pot broke back in 2016. Is this a good option to replace? The video was kind of long so I didn’t watch it

[@beniieremie1823]

How much did they pay you Joe? 😅

[@JoeyVaracalli]

Zero amount. I do get payed for referrals but I get payed like that for any review so it really doesn’t make a difference I have gave machines very bad scores and some machines great scores. I have always been partial to the company because I really love the design language and user interface which is something that almost every other company lacks heavily in my opinion

[@user-et3kk4tn4s]

Hey bud. I am not seeing your settings preferences. Greta video!

[@carrscoffee]

Congrats on the new born ..... as a single dad of three boys and my 4yr old I have full custody of ...your days of sleeping are over 😂😂😂😂😂. Good luck bro!!

[@JoeyVaracalli]

Ahahahahahhahahaa yeah espresso so much espresso

[@carrscoffee]

@@JoeyVaracalli yes sir

[@mjventresca]

You’re not a fan of the steam pitcher but you’re awkwardly steaming … a half gallon milk box? lol

[@JoeyVaracalli]

It sucks from the milk carton it doesn’t steam milk in the carton lol. You can also just use a cup and put some milk in it.

[@carpenter_kessel_compass]

Not Worth the Investment - Poor Reliability and Customer Service I bought the TK2 less than a year ago, and while the coffee is good, the machine is unreliable. Mine broke, and despite being under warranty, Terra Kaffe refused a replacement, only offering repair. They even forgot to include the link for the shipping label, adding unnecessary hassle. For a high-end machine, I expected better support and reliability. Don’t waste your time or money on the TK2 - I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

[@Debbie-kt2lk]

Your code JOE100 doesn’t work anymore. Do you have anything code?

[@JoeyVaracalli]

@@Debbie-kt2lk terrakaffe.refr.cc/joevaracalli