Buying this machine was my first step into the world of espresso. From my experience, there is a bit of a learning curve with espresso, milk steaming, and this machine in particular. You'll need some time, patience, and maybe a few extra accessories to get the most out of it. After a few months of pulling inconsistent (sour/bitter) shots and watching a lot of videos, I am finally able to make some tasty drinks with this machine. Overall, I am satisfied with the KitchenAid machine for the price point. I'd recommend purchasing one, but wait for a sale.Lessons Learned:Grinder/Beans - To get the most out of this machine, you will want to have a nice burr grinder (> $100) and a scale. It will take a little bit of tweaking to dial in the correct grind size for your beans. My OXO grinder has worked okay, but I wish it had a bit more nuance with the finer espresso settings. I pre weigh my beans (18-18.5 grams) on a scale before grinding. I usually need to shake and restart the grinder to get all of grinds out. I've personally had much better results with medium-dark roast coffee (Illy, Peet's) than the specialty light-medium roast coffee that I use for pour-over/drip coffee. Use freshly roasted beans for the best results.Puck Prep - While the included tamper is fairly nice, I found that my puck prep was creating the greatest inconsistency. I had a hard time getting the grinds evenly distributed/flat and I'd often spill some of my grinds while prepping. My finished puck would sometimes turn out soupy or I could very clearly see evidence of channelling in the puck. I eventually decided to order a few accessories to help with my puck prep and they have been a game-changer! Now every puck is perfect, the espresso tastes much better, and my group head is staying much cleaner! I purchased a 58mm Espresso Tamper Set (Spring-loaded Tamper, Adjustable Depth Distributor Leveler, Magnetic Dosing Funnel, Reusable Puck Screen) and a 9 x 0.40mm WDT Tool on Amazon (linked below and pictured). Both are fairly inexpensive. KitchenAid should consider including tools like these in the box (and adjust the price as needed) because it make a huge difference with your end result. My opinion of the machine and experience completely changed after using the extra puck prep tools.- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCKWXPKP?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC248XG1?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_detailsWater/Temp - One of the first things I adjusted when I got the machine was the water temp. I turned mine to the hottest setting (see manual). I found the default setting was not hot enough. Before I pull a shot, I typically run a cycle of water without the portafilter attached. This gives me a chance to warm up my glass/cup and make sure the group head is warm and clear of any grinds. Some people recommend pre-warming the portafilter as well for best results. I also run a cycle of water after pulling my shot to keep the group head clean.Milk Steaming - This has also taken a lot of practice and I still have a ways to go with my latte art, but I feel like I've recently turned a corner. The steam wand is probably the weakest part of the machine. It is not super powerful, uses one hole, and requires the most skill/technique. I'd recommend using whole milk and I've personally been able to texture the milk better when using less than the recommended amount of milk in the pitcher. You'll want to watch some videos to get a better handle on the technique, but keep in mind most people are using more powerful steam wands in their videos.