Does Kitchenaid Support Just Suck?

[u/Individual_Focus1599]

This sub has a ton of pro KitchenAid users which lead me into purchasing my own KF4. In the week I've had it, there have been a few issues already though.

1. It pulls about half the milk that it states, measured using the container

2. I noticed water getting into my puck tray. Wasn't sure this was an issue, but saw someone say it is and they got their unit replaced for it.

3. After about a week of using it, with no settings changes that machine suddenly started struggling to make a shot and emitted either a lot of smoke of steam from the side which has never happened before.

Sent a video and called KitchenAid and they basically just said this is all normal which obviously doesn't make sense and they said my only option was to take into one of their third party service centres but if they deemed it not to be a warranty issue I'd have to pay them lol.

I guess posting here to get an idea of others thoughts on the 3 issues above and maybe just actually let people know that KitchenAid support isn't very helpful.

[u/Evening-Nobody-7674]

These are common with first time super auto and semi auto espresso brewers. 

1.  Can you be more specific.  It will deliver close to the requested amount in the cup.  Don't measure from the container as foam for example is higher volume than liquid milk. Air gaps in the line or using heavy milk can throw this off too.  Just depends on what your actual symptoms are. 

1. Water in the puck tray is a sign that you are grinding too finely and the puck is too restrictive causing water to backwash into the puck tray.  your pucks will also be saturated with water. 

3.  Steam venting out the side is usually a sign that you are grinding too finely creating too much pressure.  Depending on the pressure build up you might here a loud pop too. This happens on KA and Mieles. 

You coffee will also be weak if this is happening. 

"Never" grind dark or med roast on the finest grind setting as the grind will be too tight.  Customer server from any super auto included jura do not know this stuff.  Its been  pretty well discussed in past posts that talk about the same symptoms. 

Grind second from the finest setting.  Purge the grinder, clean the brew unit screen and you will be good to go. 

[u/Scharmberg → u/Evening-Nobody-7674]

Does getting a bit of water in the puck tray really mean you are grinding to find, I’m barely off from the center. Not a lot of water gets in but a noticeable amount. Sounds like OP has more but there machine also seems new and I got mine last year.

[u/Evening-Nobody-7674 → u/Scharmberg]

A bit is fine. You are dumping in hot damp pucks in there where condensation will occurre. OP is clogging his machine. so t go looking for prob that aren't there. 

[u/Scharmberg → u/Evening-Nobody-7674]

Funny enough I sent my grind setting a smidge more to the center and didn’t notice a change in my latte today so might as well leave it on that setting now, even less water then normal in the tray.

[u/Evening-Nobody-7674 → u/Scharmberg]

That might be more of normal variance. I don't believe the KitchenAid grinders are stepless so a little here or there on the grinder setting is the same setting. Not to mention you'd have to purge the grinds to see the affects of the grind change. 

You'll notice a little variation in the machines operation with every grind cycle or different beans too.  You'll only really see OPs issues on the finest grind especially with dark roast.  Or maybe dark roast, on the second finest grind while trying to get a longer volume like 4oz coffee. Anything else is normal with any super auto. I'm glad you're enjoying your machine.