Kaufmann was born in Munich and began studying mathematics, halfway through his degree transferring to the Munich Academy of Music and Theatre to study singing. He began his career at the opera houses of Saarbrücken and Stuttgart and later became a member of Zürich Opera. He now sings in opera houses around the world. His exceptionally wide repertory includes Siegmund (Die Walküre) and Parsifal for the Metropolitan Opera, New York, Lohengrin for Bayreuth Festival, Bavarian State Opera and La Scala, Milan, Bacchus (Ariadne auf Naxos), Don José (Carmen) and Don Carlo for Salzburg Festival, Werther and Dick Johnson (La fanciulla del West) for Vienna State Opera, Cavaradossi (Tosca) for La Scala, Metropolitan Opera and Bavarian State Opera, Don Alvaro (La forza del destino) and Manrico (Il trovatore) for Bavarian State Opera and Ruggero (La Rondine), Don José (Carmen), Alfredo (La Traviata), Cavaradossi (Tosca), Don Carlo, Maurizio (Adriana Lecouvreur) and Chevalier des Grieux (Manon Lescaut) for the Royal Opera House. 

Kaufmann performs extensively in concert. His discography includes five solo albums for Decca and for Sony Winterreise and a disc of Verdi arias. His numerous awards include Best Male Singer and Readers’ Award at the 2013 International Opera Awards. He was made a Bavarian Kammersänger in 2013.