Jura A1 Terra Kaffe Tk02 Impressions
- Coffee & Espresso Quality+1 pts
Espresso has a solid body and good crema
- Drinks, Sizes & Customization+1 pts
I’ve been looking for my second superautomatic espresso machine, specifically one that can froth milk, and I wanted to stay around the $1.5K price point to move up from my Jura A1. I read a lot of reviews on here and was considering the E6, but I didn’t want to spend the money on an S or Z series. The TK-02 caught my attention because of its design and larger brew system, but I planned to wait until Terra Kaffe had time to fix initial firmware issues like ghost brewing and temperature problems. I figured I’d try it and use their 30-day trial if I wasn’t impressed. After a week, here are my thoughts, your experience may vary. What I like: * The design and interface are definitely strong points. * Design is subjective, but I think the sleek, modern look is great on a countertop, and the overall design theme carries over nicely to the app. * I love the user-friendly touches like magnetic parts, front-loading features, and an easy-to-navigate interface right out of the box—setup was a breeze. * The complaints I’ve seen about the LCD screen seem overblown; this is easily the best screen I’ve used on a superauto, aside from some commercial machines. Even the Z10 touchscreen at my office feels outdated, laggy, and confusing, though it makes great coffee. * Build quality: nice matte finish, thick and heavier plastic compared to my A1, stainless steel drip tray, and a premium feel overall, which I expect at this price. It has a similar aesthetic to the new Xbloom Studio. * Espresso has a solid body and good crema, which might be thanks to the v30 firmware update improving flow rate and extraction. It doesn’t go up to 16 grams like some Jura models, but a friend of mine says it tastes very close to his S8. I’m impressed with the flavor at my settings of 14 grams and a 2-ounce extraction, though I also give myself credit for using fresh beans. * Drip coffee taste: this is the closest thing to drip coffee from a superauto I’ve seen. It’s definitely more than just a “coffee” function that other machines have. * Milk frothing is solid and produces decent microfoam with one-touch operation. * Firmware updates: this has the potential to be the coolest feature and is a big step up from simple WiFi connectivity. If Terra Kaffe keeps pushing updates to add features and improve the experience, I feel like I’ll get great value from the machine. What I don’t like: * Startup and shutoff times are slow compared to my A1, but the autowake feature helps avoid waiting. * I’d like to see less water used during startup—the TK-02 can wake and brew without the startup cycle, so I think they could optimize that. I don’t mind the water usage at shutdown since I want that rinse for a closed brew unit. * Some small UX/UI annoyances: there’s no way to confirm a drink selection, so I sometimes accidentally start brewing, and you can’t assign an espresso profile to a specific drink. * Auto-off is fixed at 5 hours, which is too short for my preference. I hope they change that in the next update. * I’d like a rubber stopper in the drip tray where the milk hose goes so it doesn’t slide in too far. Overall, at this price point and without going up to the $2K+ range, I was actually quite pleased with what I got. There’s a lot of value for first-time or second-time superauto owners thanks to the user-friendly experience and the right amount of customization. For me, I’m satisfied so far and plan to keep it! Ultimately, what matters is that you’re happy with your purchase. I’m giving my A1 to my parents for now and will post an update if my opinion changes. [Image link omitted]
- Interface, App & Automation0 pts
Startup and shutoff times are slow compared to my A1, but the autowake feature helps avoid waiting.
- Reliability, Leaks & Safety-1 pts
I planned to wait until Terra Kaffe had time to fix initial firmware issues like ghost brewing and temperature problems.
- Size, Fit & Ergonomics+1 pts
Build quality: nice matte finish, thick and heavier plastic compared to my A1, stainless steel drip tray, and a premium feel overall