Espresso lovers everywhere seem to be losing their marbles over the Breville Barista Express espresso machine, brushed stainless steel, bes870xl, large model, a mid-priced coffee maker, unrivaled in its category. You’re here because you’re considering buying it, but what if its not the right choice for you? Show
If you’re in the market for a good, mid-tier semi-automatic espresso machine, keep reading carefully. The BES870XL is a fantastic choice for some, but a terrible choice for others. Let’s dive deep into this Breville Barista Express review and find out which fence you sit on. SUMMARY: The Barista Express 
Is a Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine Right For You?We’re head over heels about this brewer. In fact, we think it’s one of the best Breville espresso machines to date. But it’s still not perfect for everyone. Before taking the plunge – have you considered whether this type of coffee machine is right for you? Are you willing to learn espresso brewing? If you’re new to making espresso at home, you’re going to want to make sure you can handle all of the bells and whistles that a more intermediate machine like this one can offer. There WILL be a learning curve. You need to understand espresso extraction, grinding, dosing, tamping, and frothing milk. But this is the fun part! Check out this espresso brewing tutorial where I actually use the Barista Express to pull espresso. If you already know how to operate semi-automatic espresso machines, you’ll be fine. The Barista Express is an easy machine to operate when it comes to semi-automatics. In fact, it’s easier than most. Semi-automatic machines require you to brew the shot. This is good as it means you control the outcome. If you’re just looking for quick and easy espresso without heading to the nearest coffee shop, you may want to consider an automatic model. These do everything for you. You push a button and out comes your drink. If you’re not happy with a semi-automatic, head to this page and look for something else. Or see how the Barista Express stacks up against other semi-automatic espresso machines of various prices in this video with Steven from Home Grounds: Ok, you’re still here? Let’s get into the review. You’ll soon have it sitting on your kitchen counter and be as excited as I was. The Breville BES870XL Barista Express Full ReviewLet’s dive into our detailed scan of this beautiful espresso machine. How We Rated It
Brewing Capability – 5/5Whether you’re an espresso newbie or an expert; you’ll be enjoying amazing quality espresso based drinks every day if you pick up the BES870XL. It’s rare for a coffee maker to meet the needs for both novices and experts (at the same time)…so let me explain. You get 4 filter baskets when with the Barista Express – pressurized and non-pressurized versions of a single and double filter. You could also call them single or double walled baskets. If you’re a novice, or just feeling lazy – start with the the pressurized baskets. These remove the need to perfectly dial in the shot by adjusting grind settings and grind amount. You’ll still have to tinker around but there is a larger margin for error. But you can see the pressure on the dial, and adjust accordingly. You’ll still be able to pull a great shot of espresso, even if you’re a beginner (1). The 1 and 2 cup buttons are going to be programmed for volume only. They are not set for a ’30 second’ shot or a ’20 second’ shot. Feeling Confident? – Step up to the plate brew with the non-pressurized baskets. You’ll need to dial in the shot, but once you do you’ll be brewing amazing quality espresso. The custom controls on the Express give you several ways of modifying your shot of espresso, so you can dial it in at a high level. The Dose control lets you vary the grind amount in each cup, between 19 and 22g of ground coffee, which defines the coffee-to-water ratio. The grind size control lets you choose from 16 levels of fineness, which affects the extraction (and flavor) of your espresso (2). “The ritual of setting up, pulling your first shot and adjusting your grind to get the very best out of that coffee is extremely satisfying”. ‘Make-Life-Easy’ Features – 5/5Ok – we already covered the fact that the Barista Express has a ‘lazy / newbie’ brewing mode above, which is a huge plus. But what other features does it have to enhance your brewing experience? How does it rate on the easy of use scale? Let’s start from the top (literally). The most obvious feature is the built-in conical burr coffee grinder and bean hopper. The bean hopper is easy to remove so you refill it or clean the burrs (more on that below). The in-built grinder will save you $300+ on buying an seperate espresso grinder. Breville is well known for building great coffee grinders. Stainless steel conical burrs and 16 grind settings allow you to fine-tune your grind size and dial in that perfect shot. It doesn’t get any fresher than dropping the beans right from the grinder into the portafilter. “A barista will quickly tell you that the most important ingredient to deliver an amazing espresso is to use fresh beans and to grind them as close to the time of use as possible” Ok, now let’s move further down and look at the display, the buttons, the programmability and how it all works. First up, you’ll decide if you want a single or double shot by choosing a filter basket (large or small), and selecting the filter size button. As I mentioned above, you can choose to ‘dial in’ your shot by using a non-pressurized basket, or go for ‘lazy mode’ by choosing a pressurized basket. Then you simply push your porta-filter into the grinding bracket. This hits a button and grinds the perfect amount of coffee into your filter. Remove the tamper and tamp your coffee. Lock in your porta-filter and let the machine start extracting by hitting the single or double cup button. The process to pull an amazing shot of espresso is easy…but gives you the option to tinker around to dial in your shot if you want to play around. Once you hit brew, the Express will begin with a ‘pre-infusion’ stage. This means that the machine will wet the coffee grounds and wait for 30-60 seconds before pulling the shot. It ensures the shot brewed is much better. The Express also includes several features that make your espresso journey better:
All in all, this machine proves itself to be an excellent jumping off point into more advanced barista skills. It even comes all these accessories to help you along: Ok, now that you are pulling a perfect, crema rich espresso into your pre-warmed cup: its time to deal with the milk. This video shows a good overview: Milk Frothing – 5/5Yes, this machine can help you make great cappuccino. You will need to learn how to steam and froth milk with the Barista Express. This is not an automatic machine that does everything for you. Those are for lazy people. BUT… in terms of frothing milk the Express, again, makes life easier. The stainless 360-degree wand makes it easy to find the right angle for your steaming pitcher, and whether you’re going for a head of milk froth for a cappuccino or silky microfoam for a latte, the infuser does a good job. Needless to say, it is one of the best latte machines. The wand with hot water nozzle swivels any direction you want it to. Handy. It uses a conventional thermoblock wand. Ultimately, this means YOU are in control and have to get the air into the foam, so be prepared to practice if its your first time. It can be a little challenging for total beginners but its the best option for those wanting to learn. It should only take you a handful of practice runs to master the art of the milk froth. Everyones Least Favourite Part – Cleaning – 4.5/5If you have to spend 3x the amount cleaning your machine than it takes you to make the darn coffee, a trip to the coffee shop begins to look better and better. Espresso machines are notorious for being heavily involved when it comes to cleaning. But not the Barista Express. Check Price Customers tend to love the small yet handy features built into the Express which make cleaning that little bit easier. To clean the burrs: just remove the bean hopper with one twist and you can access (and remove) the steel burrs. Same deal for the removable water tank and water filter – just flick your wrist to unlock it, remove it, clean it and refill it. It also has a built-in “clean me” light, and a ‘floaty thing’ in the drip tray (for lack of a better term) that tells you when its time to empty it. Again, simply pop and remove it for easy cleaning. The Express loses half a point because you’ll inevitably get some coffee grinds in your drip tray that will mix with water to create sludge. But this only happens because the built in coffee grinder exists. It’s inevitable, but not big deal. Related: How to Descale Breville Espresso Machine (Super Easy Steps) Reviewed item Manufacturer Breville Breville Breville Rancilio Gaggia Model Barista Express BES870XL Bambino Plus Infuser BES840XL Silvia M Classic Pro Product category Semi-automatic espresso machine Semi-automatic espresso machine Semi-automatic espresso machine Prosumer semi-automatic espresso machine Semi-automatic espresso machine Housing material Brushed Stainless Steel Brushed Stainless Steel Brushed Stainless Steel Brushed Stainless Steel Stainless Steel Color options Brushed Stainless steel, Black sesame Brushed Stainless steel, Black sesame Brushed Stainless steel, Black sesame, Cranberry red Brushed Stainless Steel, Black Brushed Stainless Steel Milk frother Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Built in grinder Yes No No No No User interface Buttons Buttons Buttons Buttons Buttons Water tank size 67 fl oz 64 fl oz 61 fl oz 67 fl oz 71 fl oz Boiler design Dual boiler Thermoblock Thermocoil Single boiler Single boiler Warm up time 1 minute 30 seconds 30 seconds 10 minutes 30 minutes Number of cups 8 7 6 8 9 Brews with Whole beans Ground coffee Ground coffee Ground coffee Ground coffee Pre-infusion aroma Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Auto shut off Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Dimensions 12 x 11 x 13.5 inches 7.6 x 12.5 x 12.2 inches 11.5 x 13.7 x 13.25 inches 9.25 x 11.25 x 13.7 inches 8 x 9.5 x 14.2 inches Customer review 4.5/5 4/5 4.5/5 5/5 4.5/5 Warranty 2 years 2 years 2 years 1 year 2 years SCA certified home brewer No No No No No Price $687.80 $499.95 $599.95 $865 $454.98 Build Quality – 4.5/5The quality build of this machine, which consists of Italian made parts, ensures that the espresso you are brewing is true to the finest tastes in Italy (4). Like the Barista Touch, she loses half a point here because of its a brushed stainless steel casing over plastic internals. But at its price point, nobody is going to sell you a fully stainless steel machine. They would go bankrupt. Customers seem to love how the Barista Express is built, and it comes with a one-year limited warranty for your peace of mind. Things we liked:
Things we didn’t like:
Don’t Buy The Barista Express If…
The VerdictFeatures like the integrated burr grinder, dosing and brewing abilities, and the ability to easily (and quickly) clean it make the Breville an excellent buy that will bring your home brewing to life. It’s a best seller all over the internet for good reason. I couldn’t resist myself – I ordered, and paid for it as soon as I had used it elsewhere. From its intermediate brewing challenges to its utterly smooth espresso production, the Breville Express is a machine that is designed to bring a spark of life to your home brewing adventures! SEE ON AMAZON Frequently Asked QuestionsYes, the Breville Barista Express is worth it for anyone who is ready to take their espresso-making prowess to the next level. The BE870XL provides much of the power of a professional machine, but at a lower price point than, for example, the Breville Oracle. It is a great espresso machine – a good pick for those looking to advance their espresso experience without breaking the bank. You can, but this is not a smart way to ‘hack’ to save money. Cheap grinders won’t grind properly for espresso extraction, so you’ll end up with terrible espresso, and you’ll still spend close to $300. If thats your plan, you may as well drink instant coffee; it’s cheaper. The Barista Express can make coffee in the form of an Americano, which is an espresso shot plus hot water (direct from its hot water spout). It cannot make drip or pour over coffee. We’ve selected the Breville BES870XL as our top pick in our review of Breville espresso machines. In addition to our own assessment of its features and capabilities, the response from hundreds of satisfied customers support the observation from the espresso-machine review: a ton of people love this thing! Can you make good espresso with Breville Barista Express?Overall, I think the Breville Barista Express brews espresso at the same level as the Bambino Plus. It's better because you can adjust the temperature (which you can't with the Bambino Plus) but worse since it brews at slightly too high pressure, which is a bit more likely to result in channeling. Is the Breville Barista Express good for beginners?This countertop espresso machine is worth a shot—as long as you're not a control freak about your coffee. Right out of the box, beginners can make good to very good espresso. Some of the trickier parts of espresso-making are automated, but users still feel like they're part of the process. Is the Breville Barista Express messy?Grinding and tamping can be messy business, but the Dosing Funnel™ attachment for the portafilter prevents coffee grinds from overflowing, to help reduce mess and waste. Made from BPA free materials and dishwasher safe. Less mess, less waste. Is Breville a good brand for espresso machine?“They are consistently a top performer, and they are also thoughtful in the details, making their machines user-friendly," says analyst Jamie (Kim) Ueda who has tested many of the Breville espresso machines on this list. For all of these reasons, we believe that Breville is a great home espresso machine brand. |
