Breville Barista Express Review

The Breville Barista Express®

We know that making good espresso at home is a craft that can be incredibly rewarding. But we also know that with many different espresso machines out there on the market, it can be hard to find one that’s right for your lifestyle. If you have read our articles about coffee, you will realize how much we like this drink, and how much we care for a good coffee. With that in mind, we have been looking for the best home espresso machine. One that makes the best possible espresso but does not lead anyone to bankruptcy. After some research and some tests, we decide to bring you the Breville Barista Express BES870XL review.

The Barista Express is amongst the best semi-automatic espresso machines which can be easily used by beginners or highly customizable for experienced baristas. This espresso machine allows you to grind the beans right before extraction, and its interchangeable filters and a choice of automatic or manual operation ensure authentic café style results in no time at all.

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From bean to espresso in under a minute

In the world of coffee, freshness can be measured in seconds. By the time even five minutes has passed, ground beans have started to lose their flavor. Fresh espresso takes time, though, and oftentimes it becomes a tradeoff between taste and convenience. The Breville Barista Express solves this problem, delivering fresh, quality espresso at remarkable speed, thanks to its integrated burr grinder. Go from beans to espresso in under a minute, all in the comfort of your own home.

Built from high-quality materials so the resulting machine is as sturdy as possible. No-slip feet keep the machine from sliding across the counter when the burr grinder is activated. It’s housed in a sleek stainless steel casing, making it an attractive and timeless addition to any kitchen. The entire unit is easy to clean and comes with a hideaway storage compartment for the included cleaning tools, in addition to an easily removable drip tray.

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Product DNA

Espresso making is notorious for being both an art and a science. But even complete beginners and aspiring baristas can pull a perfect shot from the Breville Barista Express. For beginners, it comes with two dual-wall, pressurized filters that regulate pressure and help optimize the extraction. For more experienced baristas, the Barista Express includes two single-wall, non-pressurized filters that give you more room to experiment with different grind sizes, grind amounts, and tamping pressure.

In addition to its integrated burr grinder, the Breville Barista Express has an Italian-manufactured 15 bar pump and thermocoil heating system. This will ensure accurate regulation of water temperature for a full-flavored espresso. A pre-brew function and flat shower head make sure that the water is optimally distributed through the coffee puck. The Barista Express also has several helpful features. Such as a cup warmer on the top of the machine and a feature that removes excess water from the filter basket after coffee extraction. Lastly, it has a stainless steel 360 degree swivel-action steam wand for lattes and cappuccinos.

Product Information

Technical Specification

Product dimensions: 13.2 x 12.5 x 15.8 inches / 33.5 x 31.7 x 40.1 cm
Construction Materials: Brushed Stainless Steel
Item Weight: 23 pounds / 10.4 Kg
Shipping Weight: 28.2 pounds / 12.8 Kg
Item model number: BES870XL
Heating System: 1600W Thermocoil–Integrated stainless steel water path accurately controls water temperature
Power: 1600 Watts
Voltage: 110–120 Volts
Pre Infusion Function: Gradually increases water pressure to gently expand grinds for an even extraction
Purge Function: Automatically adjusts water temperatures after steam for optimal espresso temperature
Settings: Single or Double Shots. Adjustable Grind Amount & Manual over-ride

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Final thoughts

For us, the Breville Barista Express is one of the best espresso machines you can buy. Of course, you can find better machines on the market, but for 599$ is difficult to find a better alternative. If you are a complete beginner or an experienced barista and if you are looking for a new espresso machine for your home you should definitely take a look at the Breville Barista Express.