KF6 (KES8556SX)

I think you’d be very happy with a KF7. Excellent coffee, easy maintenance, and the additional milk capability will be nice for when you have guests over and want to serve drinks to guests. Also, I find the UI to be much better on the KF7/8 vs the KF6. The KF6 is still a great machine though.

Both my Philips and KitchenAid had explicit instructions in their manuals on what can only be described as a break in period. What would you like to call making and dumping 10 shots, followed by not adjusting the grinder for X period of time?

Don't overlook Kitchen Aid KF 6, 7 or 8 that are made in the same Swiss factory as Miele and Jura. Great results for what you are looking for. Consider this post as paying it forward!

If it produces the same quality espresso with the same dose size as the KF6, KF7, and KF8 models, I think a lot of folks are going to jump on the less expensive models. If the grinder can adjust grind size automatically per drink without the need to run the grinder and waste a shot first, that is a pretty nice upgrade. Will need to wait and see if the machine can actually do this and what intelligrinder actually means. One unfortunate thing is there is no cold foam option. That really woule have added to any iced coffee style drink. Of course there is no swappable bean hopper. It was one of the reasons I went with the KF8 but ended up never actually using it. I think I might have swapped hoppers like three times since owning the machine. Having to waste a full dose of coffee when switching hoppers each time kind of made it not worth the effort.

a lungo is a long espresso. Just program a espresso for something longer. The KA will offer a better grind and largest dose of all those machines. Not sure why you'd want to stop a americano half way. You can program the water amount to be less if that is what you are looking for. I like stronger americanos, as close to 1:1 as possible

The KitchenAid in insiders pass.  Cheapest one is $800.   Other than that the Delonghi and Philips is about the same.   Delonghi usually clogs before you get the espresso to open.  The Philips might grind better than older models but it's a smaller 11g dose which means smaller cup but maybe better flavor. 

KitchenAid will make better milk then the jura e series.   The espresso is comparable to jura.  One isnt better than the other. Ka $800-1200

The KitchenAid machines on the insider pass deals is a no braner.  These machines don't appreciate with time. I wrote a long review on them a year ago.  It's 98% adjustable compared to jura being 100%. I think they killed it and 1200 or less a no brainer.  

The KF6 and Evo are very similar in espresso quality.  The KF6 doses higher but the Evo has a better grinder, no pressurized crema fluffer, and can actually be dialed in to the SCA standard extraction time of 20-30.  It's a difficult choice for sure.  just don't get the Phillips and you'll be fine.

I love my KF6 for espresso drinks but have not dialed in the right recipe of beans and grind on black coffee? Any recommendations?

All three Kitchenaid models offer swappable hoppers similar to the Rivelia. Given your drink preferences, the KF6 would be more than adequate.