Breville the Barista Express™
$264.99
$549.95
52% off
Reference Price
Condition: Factory Reconditioned; Open Box
Color: Cranberry Red
Top positive review
933 people found this helpful
Best Entry-level Home Espresso Machine
By Maddle on Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2018
I absolutely love this machine. With as many lattes as I drink, this will easily pay for itself within a year, inclouding the cost of beans, milk and cleaning products. Notes: Make sure to keep up with all the regular maintenance. Ever day after I've made my coffee, I wipe the steam wand, purge it, then wipe again. Make sure to get into all the crevices around the tip and you'll never need to use the pin to clean out the tip. Once I've done that and poured my steamed milk, I purge the showerhead by pulling one shot into the empty mug (no filters). This keeps the showerhead clean of coffee debris and keeps the coffee tasting pure. REMEMBER TO CHANGE YOUR WATER FILTERS. The filters should be changed every 60 uses or 2 months, whichever comes first. This wolill reduce how often you need to descale the machine, prolong it's useful life and provide better tasting coffees. You will still need to descale the machine every so often. The manual included is very helpful for keeping up with the maintenance (as well as pulling shots, making drinks and other useful tips) and you can also find instructions on their website should you misplace the manual. Gold tone makes pretty inexpensive replacement filters specific to this machine and they're available here on Amazon. I use them and am pretty happy with the results. Do not let the water run out. Ever. This could cause serious damage to the machine. If you forget once or twice, you'll probably be just fine but check the water reservoir at least 1-2 times per week. Clean the machine parts at least once a week. You may need to empty and rinse the drip tray 1-2 times a week (depending on frequency of use) but take it out and hand wash at least once a week. This is a good time to wash the tools and tool bin as well. Also, dont forget to take the coffee filters out of the portafilter and wash those as well. Over time, residue can build up underneath there. Also, the spouts in the portafiler twist off so you can clean them better. Clean out your parts, get in those crevices regularly and you'll be just fine. Don't forget to clean the hopper and grinder. You should clean it out every time you switch to a new bean or at least every few pounds of coffee. The instructions in the manual are pretty easy and straight forward. I also use a clean, dry towel to wipe any remaining coffee and oils from both the grinder parts and the hopper. Do not wash in warm water as you could risk it not drying well and rusting or not being lubricated enough and over heating. Just use the included brush and clean, dry paper towels. You could also vacuum out residual coffee from the grinder to assist in cleaning, but I don't usually need to. Also, remember that the stainless exterior is stainless plating. This means it can wear over time and not look as nice. The best way to handle this is to wipe it down with a damp cloth (once daily then more detailed once a week) and follow it up by drying it with a clean towel. This will prolong the exterior appearance. Also during your weekly cleaning, be sure to look under where the coffee and steam come out and clean around there. Milk, coffee and residue steam can splatter and build up so be sure to clean it as well. The weekly cleaning sound intensive but really takes maybe 5 minutes. Common issues: Keep in mind certain o-rings will need to be replaced over time. This is noted by Breville in the manual and on the website. There are two main places where you need to replace these: around the tip of the portafilter (where the spouts connect) and where the portafilter connects to pull shots. Another common issue is that the machine will make a loud "buzzing" sound and/or leak water out of the bottom of the machine. This is a common issue and, when it does occur, usually happens around 6 months to a year. This generally occurs due to a broken solenoid valve. If your product is still under warranty, take a video and contact their customer service. Maybe suggest it's a solenoid valve and they are usually very good about fixing or replacing the machines and parts. If it is no longer under warranty and they will not resolve the issue (because sometimes they still will after the warranty period), there are many repair services that can fix this. If you are especially handy and brave enough to fix it yourself, you can usually find the replacement parts fairly cheaply online (not just the valve, but really ANY part that may need to be replaced). Again, if it's still under warranty do not go this route, as it will void any existing warranty. Also, if you don't know what you're doing, you could do more damage than good. All-in-all, this is an amazing machine for this price point. There is a reason this machine is so popular and highly rated. There's a lot of customization available to you and it is a very good quality machine. I would not suggest any product below this machine and price point for your first machine as you'll likely be very disappointed in the results. Eventually you may want to upgrade to a more robust multi-thousand dollar machine, but this is great for the majority of consumers and is super user friendly. Use higher quality beans directly from the roasters and learn how to use the machine and make drinks and you'll be very happy with it. The quality is truly amazing for such a low cost espresso machine. Side note: Whole Latte Love on YouTube is a great resource for additional reviews, tips and tricks and maintenance for this machine (and many more). It's also a great resource on how to pull shots, steam milk, pick types of milk and make many different types of drinks when you're just starting out or want to up your coffee game.
Top critical review
857 people found this helpful
Reliable God shots for about 2 years, now it's dying...
By Pierre Gourmet on Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2015
Purchased November 2013. ORIGINAL REVIEW (September 2015): This machine has just enough functionality for me to consistently pull God shots as long as my beans are fresh and I choose the right grind. I have had this machine for nearly two years pulling 1-2 shots a day, and it has been quite reliable until now. I maintain and clean it regularly. However, recently it has started to vibrate loudly when I am pulling shots, and I think the pump may be failing. Many other people in online forums have complained of buzzing noises just before their unit failed. I am contacting Breville to see if they can help me identify and fix the problem. I paid over half a grand for this machine, so I'm hoping they can help! If you spend over $500 on an espresso machine, I imagine you want it to last at least 5 years if not 10. UPDATE # 1 (November 2015): Breville replaced my machine with a refurbished machine (Certified Remanufactured). UPDATE # 2 (December 2015): Replacement machine 1 started sharing the same problems as the original. Over the past few days it has also started to make rattling noises and sometimes it cannot generate sufficient pressure. As before, I have been decalcifying monthly and using the water filters, even pre-filtering the water before I put it in. I have also been cleaning the unit with the tablets whenever the Clean Me light turns on. UPDATE # 3: (January 2016): Received replacement machine 2 (certified remanufactured) from Breville. Machine makes loud rattling noises but works OK. UPDATE # 4 (March 2016): I have received two replacement machines under warranty after the original machine and the first replacement stopped working due to a manufacturing or design defect. The third machine (replacement machine 2) has now also stopped working. I have done the backflush cleaning with the tablets every time the Clean Me light comes on. I have decalcified (with vinegar) on a monthly basis without fail. I have pre-filtered the water with a high-end Stage 4 filter before putting it in the tank, and I have even used the carbon filter in the tank too. I am afraid I now must update my review to 1 star. Breville has great customer service, but this particular machine design is not one I would recommend if you plan on making espressos for more than a few months. You can find videos of my failing machines and the rattling noises on YouTube. Description of the symptoms: Sounds: - “Wao-wao wao-wao” whining sounds, especially during pre-infusion, and usually occurring the instant I touch the button - Uncharacteristic rattling, sometimes right when I press the button, and also sometimes during the “extraction” phase Sights: - No water exiting into cup, regardless of whether there are grounds or not in the portafilter, and regardless of how many times I press the button - Pressure shown as zero or very low on pressure gauge - Small amounts of steam squirting out of the steam wand when I’m making coffee - Water collection tray fills with water although no water comes out the portafilter, indicating that perhaps that the water may be leaking into the bottom of the machine. UPDATE # 5 (April 2016): I again contacted Breville, and they agreed to take the machine in for repair. They agreed to pay the shipping costs. Once again, bravo for the good customer service! UPDATE # 6 (May 2016): I received the repaired machine, but found immediately that the repair had been unsuccessful! Makes you wonder if they actually tried to fix it, or if they just did routine maintenance and sent it right back. I again contacted Breville, and they agreed to examine the machine a second time. UPDATE # 7 (June 2016): The machine was returned again, but the grinder was returned broken (or not reassembled properly). I can no longer change the grind size by turning the knob. No matter which grind size I select, I always get coarse grinds. I carried out a thorough cleaning of the grinder to be sure, to no effect. I contacted Breville, who refused to service or replace the unit due to the out of warranty status, but instead offered me a 35% discount off the purchase of a new machine under $1000. I insisted and posted several videos of the problem on YouTube. I even tried taking apart the grinder myself to fix it, but Breville wouldn't give me a parts list or assembly diagram, so I couldn't really figure it out on my own. UPDATE # 8 (July 2016): I kept insisting, and finally (miraculously), Breville agreed to send me a replacement (certified remanufactured) machine. Thank you, Breville, for accepting responsibility for the quality and workmanship of your products! I am now using Dezcal instead of vinegar for decalcifying. Otherwise, I will maintain this machine well (as before) and see how it goes. Wish me luck!
Sort by:
Filter by:
Best Entry-level Home Espresso Machine
By Maddle - Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2018
Verified Amazon Purchase
I absolutely love this machine. With as many lattes as I drink, this will easily pay for itself within a year, inclouding the cost of beans, milk and cleaning products. Notes: Make sure to keep up with all the regular maintenance. Ever day after I've made my coffee, I wipe the steam wand, purge it, then wipe again. Make sure to get into all the crevices around the tip and you'll never need to use the pin to clean out the tip. Once I've done that and poured my steamed milk, I purge the showerhead by pulling one shot into the empty mug (no filters). This keeps the showerhead clean of coffee debris and keeps the coffee tasting pure. REMEMBER TO CHANGE YOUR WATER FILTERS. The filters should be changed every 60 uses or 2 months, whichever comes first. This wolill reduce how often you need to descale the machine, prolong it's useful life and provide better tasting coffees. You will still need to descale the machine every so often. The manual included is very helpful for keeping up with the maintenance (as well as pulling shots, making drinks and other useful tips) and you can also find instructions on their website should you misplace the manual. Gold tone makes pretty inexpensive replacement filters specific to this machine and they're available here on Amazon. I use them and am pretty happy with the results. Do not let the water run out. Ever. This could cause serious damage to the machine. If you forget once or twice, you'll probably be just fine but check the water reservoir at least 1-2 times per week. Clean the machine parts at least once a week. You may need to empty and rinse the drip tray 1-2 times a week (depending on frequency of use) but take it out and hand wash at least once a week. This is a good time to wash the tools and tool bin as well. Also, dont forget to take the coffee filters out of the portafilter and wash those as well. Over time, residue can build up underneath there. Also, the spouts in the portafiler twist off so you can clean them better. Clean out your parts, get in those crevices regularly and you'll be just fine. Don't forget to clean the hopper and grinder. You should clean it out every time you switch to a new bean or at least every few pounds of coffee. The instructions in the manual are pretty easy and straight forward. I also use a clean, dry towel to wipe any remaining coffee and oils from both the grinder parts and the hopper. Do not wash in warm water as you could risk it not drying well and rusting or not being lubricated enough and over heating. Just use the included brush and clean, dry paper towels. You could also vacuum out residual coffee from the grinder to assist in cleaning, but I don't usually need to. Also, remember that the stainless exterior is stainless plating. This means it can wear over time and not look as nice. The best way to handle this is to wipe it down with a damp cloth (once daily then more detailed once a week) and follow it up by drying it with a clean towel. This will prolong the exterior appearance. Also during your weekly cleaning, be sure to look under where the coffee and steam come out and clean around there. Milk, coffee and residue steam can splatter and build up so be sure to clean it as well. The weekly cleaning sound intensive but really takes maybe 5 minutes. Common issues: Keep in mind certain o-rings will need to be replaced over time. This is noted by Breville in the manual and on the website. There are two main places where you need to replace these: around the tip of the portafilter (where the spouts connect) and where the portafilter connects to pull shots. Another common issue is that the machine will make a loud "buzzing" sound and/or leak water out of the bottom of the machine. This is a common issue and, when it does occur, usually happens around 6 months to a year. This generally occurs due to a broken solenoid valve. If your product is still under warranty, take a video and contact their customer service. Maybe suggest it's a solenoid valve and they are usually very good about fixing or replacing the machines and parts. If it is no longer under warranty and they will not resolve the issue (because sometimes they still will after the warranty period), there are many repair services that can fix this. If you are especially handy and brave enough to fix it yourself, you can usually find the replacement parts fairly cheaply online (not just the valve, but really ANY part that may need to be replaced). Again, if it's still under warranty do not go this route, as it will void any existing warranty. Also, if you don't know what you're doing, you could do more damage than good. All-in-all, this is an amazing machine for this price point. There is a reason this machine is so popular and highly rated. There's a lot of customization available to you and it is a very good quality machine. I would not suggest any product below this machine and price point for your first machine as you'll likely be very disappointed in the results. Eventually you may want to upgrade to a more robust multi-thousand dollar machine, but this is great for the majority of consumers and is super user friendly. Use higher quality beans directly from the roasters and learn how to use the machine and make drinks and you'll be very happy with it. The quality is truly amazing for such a low cost espresso machine. Side note: Whole Latte Love on YouTube is a great resource for additional reviews, tips and tricks and maintenance for this machine (and many more). It's also a great resource on how to pull shots, steam milk, pick types of milk and make many different types of drinks when you're just starting out or want to up your coffee game.
Love it! Pros and Cons + Tips
By Amazonian - Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2016
Verified Amazon Purchase
Update May 2024: I purchased this machine in 2015. I've had it almost 9 years. It's now starting to have issues - the 1 cup pour does not stop at automatically any longer, and a few weeks later, the 2 cup pour started doing the same. I'll look into repair, but this is probably it for the machine. Update July 2023: Still going strong!! Using it daily! I've followed their cleaning guide and decalcification guidelines and have had no issues! Update June 2nd 2019: Still use it daily, and it's working well! It's now been almost 4 years! (Time flies when you're drinking good coffee :) Update August-6-17: Still going strong after almost two years! Original Review and Tips: I love this thing. I've been using it multiple times a day for almost a year I think. Every day it makes amazing espresso, and as long as I keep it clean it preforms beautifully. This thing is also easier to maintain and requires less cleaning than other cheaper espresso machines I've tried. A tip for anyone looking to make actual espresso at home, I recommend looking for a local roastery in your area. I use to buy bulk beans online like many people, but once I tried local whole beans and found a blend I liked, the difference was amazing. Bean choice is very important if you actually want to enjoy your espresso! A few tips I picked up for using this machine: 1. A few people complained about the grind amount knob not going low enough. To counteract this, I changed the cup size to "Single" and increased the grind amount by turning the knob to the right. This gives me the perfect amount of ground coffee every time. 2. If the machine keeps going over or under on the pressure gauge, try cleaning the grinder. And remember to clean the grouphead with those desolvable tablets when the clean me light comes on! 3. You can get cheap replacement cleaning tablets here on amazon. I chose Urnex Cafiza Espresso Machine Cleaning Tablets here on amazon, and they work great! 4. You do not need to order a separate tamper, the one included is perfect. 5. The included frothing cup is small but works for me. Some might need a bigger one. 6. Do not underestimate the need for a burr grinder. Trying to make good espresso without one is like trying to hammer a nail with an inflatable hammer! Some of the features I love (Pros)* 1) The grinder. I know many would rather use a separate burr grinder, but this thing works perfectly fine, and is easy to clean. Many complained about the coffee machine heating up the beans too much if you leave them inside the hopper, but I actually store my beans in a special container outside of the hopper, and use the included the scoop to pour in the beans when I grind them. 2) The frother is amazing. Much much better than cheaper machines. 3) Clean me light is awesome. Always reminds me to keep up on this things maintenance, and helps prolong the life. 4) The Stainless steel is beautiful. (It is not 100% stainless on the outside though, a little bit of plastic, see cons.) 5) The pressure gauge. Absolutely invaluable in making good tasting espresso. I would not recommend buying any machine without one. It really helps with learning and getting it right! 6) The included tamper is perfect. 7) Creates perfect pucks of coffee to dump out in the trash. 8) The hot water dispenser is an awesome addition! 9) Is an all-in-one, meaning I don't need to buy a separate grinder! 10) Just makes good coffee. 11) Great manual included for lots of useful information. 12) Has an automated cleaning cycle to clean the insides of the grouphead. Awesome! 14) Includes a beautiful copper dosing tool. 15) Includes tools to clean out the filters. Some things that bother me (Cons)* 1)The top of the machine is plastic. 2) The bottom sides of the machine is plastic 3) The water tank needs to be refilled often, and it also thick plastic. 4) The bottom water catcher thing (sorry) needs to be emptied often, but its not too bad. 5) The coffee grind separator doesn't really seem to help much, but it does help keep it out of the water below and little bit, which keeps it from smelling! 6) Expensive, but to me, was a very worthwhile investment for how much coffee I was buying from the shop. 7) Can't seem to find inexpensive filters for the water tank, however, I use filtered water instead of tap. 8) The Lowest grind amount is too much on the "double" setting. QC Should have caught this! But not a deal breaker. See above for workaround. *Might add more later as I think of them! This thing is also great for making sweet frappicinos and iced drinks. For caramel flavored drinks I use Hershey's Caramel Syrup (Edit: I now make my own caramel syrup! It's super easy!) For vanilla flavored drinks I use Torani Vanilla Syrup that I get cheaply from a bulk wholesale store in my town. For my sweet drink of choice I mix the two, add a double shot of espresso, 2% milk, and top with whipped cream and caramel syrup. Nothing beats a great espresso in the morning! Added tons of pictures. Edit: It seems quite a few people had problems with the machine dying on them, If your machine died on your please comment on this review with any information you think may help, such as the level of maintenance you preformed while your machine was working, the brand of water filters and cleaning tablets you used, etc. Maybe we can find a common cause of this defect!
HIGHLY recommend
By Mike & Jenny - Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2024
Verified Amazon Purchase
I did a lot of research before deciding on this brand and model, but I've been so impressed from the very beginning. It took some time to tune in (as will any espresso machine), and as a complete novice learning on this machine, I had my frustrations, but the machine is so intuitive and there are so many helpful videos out there I quickly got the hang of it. The grinder seems excellent (given it doesn't cost hundreds on its own), everything you need comes in the box (and good quality accessories too), and it's just such a perfect little home use espresso maker when you're not trying to churn out lots of coffees back to back (given the single motor, you can't steam milk while pulling a shot, so not nearly as fast as the commercial or more expensive machines if you want efficiency in making lots of coffees, but that's not my use case). I love how tunable the machine is yet how automated it can be if you choose so (don't have to time your shots, etc.). For home use a few times a day, I really can't say enough good things about how perfect this machine is, especially at such a relatively affordable price point compared to the other highly rated options out there. That said, I'm about 16 months in to ownership and it started to act up. I ran the clean, and then the descale, and just generally tried some troubleshooting, and I kept having intermittent issues. But I knew from reviews that this is generally a long lasting machine and this shouldn't be anywhere near end of life for it (or it wouldn't be getting nearly this good of a review from me). Some people said Breville was helpful, even after the warranty period, so I did some research, though I identified which component may be going bad, and reached out to see if they would send me a replacement part. To my utter amazement, they instead sent me the packaging to ship my machine to them and have it repaired at no cost to me months past the end of my warranty. Huge kudos to Breville; this further confirms what I believed, that this product should last for years and Breville stands by the quality of their product. Seriously, making coffees for one household? Not a professional barista? Just love good coffee and want to be able to make that consistently? This is the one.
Amazing espresso machine for home use
By HV - Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2025
Verified Amazon Purchase
This machine makes café-quality espresso right at home. It’s easy to use once you get the hang of grinding and tamping. The steam wand works great for lattes and cappuccinos, and the build quality feels premium. It’s a bit of a learning curve at first, but the results are worth it.
From Bean to Bliss: A Cafe Quality Home Espresso!
By nls - Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2025
Verified Amazon Purchase
Why I Purchased: The espresso machine was purchased to provide coffee shop-quality drinks at home during COVID. It was recommended based on web reviews, and the features suited our needs with a built-in grinder. Pros: All-in-One Functionality: The integrated grinder included with the machine is efficient. Freshly ground beans have a noticeable difference in flavor, and it minimizes countertop clutter. It is convenient for grinding two types of coffee beans and grinds. Cafe-Quality at Home: This machine produces rich, flavorful espresso shots with crema. Intuitive and Customizable: The Barista Express is user-friendly and allows adjustments to grind size (even micro adjustments), dose, and extraction time for optimal results. Cons: Learning Curve: Mastering espresso with this machine requires time and practice, with some initial imperfect shots. Noise: The grinder can be loud, which may be disruptive for light sleepers or kids during nap times. Maintenance: Regular cleaning and maintenance are required to keep the machine functioning well, adding extra effort to the routine. Final Summary & Recommendation (5 Stars): The Breville Barista Express is an effective espresso machine that enhances the home coffee experience. Its integrated grinder, ability to produce high-quality espresso, and customizable settings are beneficial. Despite the learning curve and noise issues, the machine's capabilities outweigh these drawbacks. For those seeking quality, customized coffee drinks at home, the Barista Express is a worthwhile investment.
Pleasantly Surprised, New Hobby, Great Espresso Drinks
By CoachRichard - Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2018
Verified Amazon Purchase
Just to couch this right...we are coffee snobs. We buy fresh-roasted beans (Ruta Maya Whole Bean Organic Coffee Dark Roast), we use a French Press to make our morning coffee--actually, own 5 of them and a Moka pot. We've been looking at automated espresso machines for about 10 years, but the price was higher than we were willing to pay for automation, especially when others we know had multiple mechanical failures with high-quality brands. I watched a number of videos related to making espresso with these machines, then discovered the Breville BES870XL Barista Express. I was a little skeptical of the process, thinking I am too busy; however, I found the craft interesting so I decided to dive in. The machine has been easy to set up, easy to manage, easy to use. We follow the manual and do all the cleanings when prompted. My 18-year-old is doing a gap year before college and he watched the videos and is now all in and able to make great espresso drinks with great crema and sweet tasting espresso. We now make these espresso drinks at home: espresso, americano, flat white, cafe' mocha and cafe' latte.' The Unit: It is compact, fits nicely on a typical counter underneath a cabinet. It has nice quality cords, handles, and accessories. It isn't connected to a water supply, so you need to remove the water bin (has a handle) to go fill it up. We keep a water pitcher with a funnel nearby to lessen the need to remove the water bin on the back. You need to empty and clean the tray at the bottom (we do it about twice a week). We placed ours on a countertop about 4 feet from our sink on a dry use cabinet near our refrigerator with a filtered water tap. Our Use: We've now owned it for over 4 months, including two automated cleaning cycles (with tablets) and have had no mechanical failures, but we are diligent about the hygiene of the group head. We make about 3-10 Espresso drinks every day, as a family of three. We hit our ability stride in about a day. We watched a bunch of videos to make sure we understood the machine and the craft. We have a knock box, but we use it to store a few items. Instead, we knock the pucks in the sink (disposal) hitting it against a soft plastic DANCO disposal stuffer/guard DANCO Disposal Genie Garbage Disposal Strainer and Splash Guard, Red (10451). This item is nice and soft so it won't hurt the portafilter when you knock it. To fill the water bin, we use a 1-liter water carafe (with chalkboard label) like this one: Anchor Hocking Water or Wine Carafe, 1 Liter with Chalkboard Label (Pack of 2 Bottles with Chalkboard Label). We got a set of two for about $6 at our local supermarket/grocer. We also purchased this espresso shot and measuring glass set on Amazon (Espresso Shot & Measuring Glass for Baristas 2oz 1,8 x 1,8 x 2,6 inch for Single Shot of Ristrettos and Espresso) which we use, but beware, you can lose some crema when you pour out of here into your cup. This machine is for you if: - you like coffee drinks, - you like the art of making things, - you are okay cleaning and managing things, - you think coffee puck machines were forged in the fires of hell, - you already enjoy making coffee with a French Press, - you enjoy the sweetness of the crema on top of an espresso, - you love espresso drinks. This machine is not for you if: - you aren't fastidious, - you don't enjoy managing and maintaining your tools, - you think Keurig drinks taste good, - you have no taste buds, - you think Starbucks and Peet's coffee taste burned, - you get your "good" coffee from McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts. We enjoyed the Breville quality so much we also bought their countertop oven when our previous toaster oven died. About us: I am a mid-50's product/solution designer and business consultant, my wife is a middle-school teacher and my son is a college-bound, gap year student/athlete. We love coffee.
Reliable God shots for about 2 years, now it's dying...
By Pierre Gourmet - Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2015
Verified Amazon Purchase
Purchased November 2013. ORIGINAL REVIEW (September 2015): This machine has just enough functionality for me to consistently pull God shots as long as my beans are fresh and I choose the right grind. I have had this machine for nearly two years pulling 1-2 shots a day, and it has been quite reliable until now. I maintain and clean it regularly. However, recently it has started to vibrate loudly when I am pulling shots, and I think the pump may be failing. Many other people in online forums have complained of buzzing noises just before their unit failed. I am contacting Breville to see if they can help me identify and fix the problem. I paid over half a grand for this machine, so I'm hoping they can help! If you spend over $500 on an espresso machine, I imagine you want it to last at least 5 years if not 10. UPDATE # 1 (November 2015): Breville replaced my machine with a refurbished machine (Certified Remanufactured). UPDATE # 2 (December 2015): Replacement machine 1 started sharing the same problems as the original. Over the past few days it has also started to make rattling noises and sometimes it cannot generate sufficient pressure. As before, I have been decalcifying monthly and using the water filters, even pre-filtering the water before I put it in. I have also been cleaning the unit with the tablets whenever the Clean Me light turns on. UPDATE # 3: (January 2016): Received replacement machine 2 (certified remanufactured) from Breville. Machine makes loud rattling noises but works OK. UPDATE # 4 (March 2016): I have received two replacement machines under warranty after the original machine and the first replacement stopped working due to a manufacturing or design defect. The third machine (replacement machine 2) has now also stopped working. I have done the backflush cleaning with the tablets every time the Clean Me light comes on. I have decalcified (with vinegar) on a monthly basis without fail. I have pre-filtered the water with a high-end Stage 4 filter before putting it in the tank, and I have even used the carbon filter in the tank too. I am afraid I now must update my review to 1 star. Breville has great customer service, but this particular machine design is not one I would recommend if you plan on making espressos for more than a few months. You can find videos of my failing machines and the rattling noises on YouTube. Description of the symptoms: Sounds: - “Wao-wao wao-wao” whining sounds, especially during pre-infusion, and usually occurring the instant I touch the button - Uncharacteristic rattling, sometimes right when I press the button, and also sometimes during the “extraction” phase Sights: - No water exiting into cup, regardless of whether there are grounds or not in the portafilter, and regardless of how many times I press the button - Pressure shown as zero or very low on pressure gauge - Small amounts of steam squirting out of the steam wand when I’m making coffee - Water collection tray fills with water although no water comes out the portafilter, indicating that perhaps that the water may be leaking into the bottom of the machine. UPDATE # 5 (April 2016): I again contacted Breville, and they agreed to take the machine in for repair. They agreed to pay the shipping costs. Once again, bravo for the good customer service! UPDATE # 6 (May 2016): I received the repaired machine, but found immediately that the repair had been unsuccessful! Makes you wonder if they actually tried to fix it, or if they just did routine maintenance and sent it right back. I again contacted Breville, and they agreed to examine the machine a second time. UPDATE # 7 (June 2016): The machine was returned again, but the grinder was returned broken (or not reassembled properly). I can no longer change the grind size by turning the knob. No matter which grind size I select, I always get coarse grinds. I carried out a thorough cleaning of the grinder to be sure, to no effect. I contacted Breville, who refused to service or replace the unit due to the out of warranty status, but instead offered me a 35% discount off the purchase of a new machine under $1000. I insisted and posted several videos of the problem on YouTube. I even tried taking apart the grinder myself to fix it, but Breville wouldn't give me a parts list or assembly diagram, so I couldn't really figure it out on my own. UPDATE # 8 (July 2016): I kept insisting, and finally (miraculously), Breville agreed to send me a replacement (certified remanufactured) machine. Thank you, Breville, for accepting responsibility for the quality and workmanship of your products! I am now using Dezcal instead of vinegar for decalcifying. Otherwise, I will maintain this machine well (as before) and see how it goes. Wish me luck!
For those with Starbucks habit - I make my same daily iced venti latte for probably 90% savings
By JC - Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2022
Verified Amazon Purchase
Okay so it takes me around 15 minutes but I clean everything completely every time (filter, tray, etc.) and I haven't learned how to make 100% consistent pull on shots (gauge at same pressure), but I was really surprised by how I can make exact same Latte they make me at Starbucks with same flavor. I have had this machine in my Amazon cart for 4-5 years (I think it has been pretty much the same machine for better part of a decade but may be mistaken). I figure that must say something about design and this is echoed in most reviews I watched. The last straw that made me buy it on Prime Day discount a month ago was that price of my daily Starbucks drink (iced venti vanilla latte) shot up from $5 something to nearly $7. I was reluctant previously because I figured it would take a bunch of time to make myself, be a pain to clean up and I probably couldn't make it taste the same as the Sbux I enjoy... I was mostly wrong on all these counts. When I bought the machine, I found the Sbux Espresso Roast whole beans (around $13 for 18 oz) and Sbux vanilla flavor (around $25 for pack of four 12 oz bottles). I set up the machine in less than 20 minutes and took me only a few tries to get the grind setting (I like 5 ). I use the filter that arrives pre-installed (double wall double shot) and presto my pulls are generally in the middle of the correct pressure range. So I make a three shot venti Iced Latte drink with about half the Vanilla Sbux normally uses (3 pump equivalent) and since I make same drink for my 18yo daughter I do three double shot grinds and pulls to make the two drinks (bonus = bonding with daughter over coffee at home). In the month I have owned and used this machine, I have made those same two drinks every morning in re-usable sbux venti Ice drink cups I bought for few bucks and have gone through two and change bags of beans and two and change bottles of syrup for two triple venti drinks every day for a month = 62 drinks (not counting a few hot lattes and straight shot espressos I experimented with). Buying those same 62 drinks at Sbux would have cost $415 (not count tip I always leave so actually closer to $500 for 62 triple venti Ice lattes at Sbux costing nearly $7 each + tip. So I figure I when just considering supplies I used $30 in beans and syrup and at around $4 per gallon, I have used maybe another $20 in Milk so $50 total in supplies about vs. around $500 for buying the drinks at Sbux including tip means I paying 10% what I used to and have saved $450 ($150 less than I paid for the machine) in a single month on the drinks for me and my daughter. As I started off saying, it does take me 15 minutes from start to finish of cleanup to make those two drinks but it could be half that without cleanup every time but I also never wait in a drive through line. I am very happy with this and really enjoy the smell of the beans and process of making the drinks. You do need to watch the beans level (the hopper is small) and the water tank is also small - I have run out of both beans mid-grind and water mid-brew by not paying attention but otherwise this machine is pretty straight forward. I did experiment with steaming milk and wasn't a big deal but you can't really steam that much milk at a time with small carafe and steam wand (made more for 8 oz. mug drink vs. venti hot latte I think, but I mostly like iced drinks. Anyway the steam worked fine and the espresso also tastes great straight and gets good crema (spelling?) if that's your thing. Anyway I would recommend this machine for sure to someone like me and I wish I bought it years ago. Cheers!
READ my review and you will be GLAD you did - no really, I put some time into this just for YOU =)
By VR - Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2018
Verified Amazon Purchase
Despite some of the negative criticism sprinkled throughout this review, keep in mind that (1) I am giving this machine 5 stars, and now that I have spent a few weeks getting to know it (intimately), I love it - so much, that if a burglar broke into my house and stole it, I would order another one the same day - I have not been back to Starbucks since. All that being said, you NEED to read this review so that your machine does not frustrate you and so that you get the most out of it. Read on my coffee-loving friend: 1. I am a guy, who knew nothing about espresso machines before this. I am very mechanically inclined and don't usually read instructions. This was different - this machine is NOT self-explanatory and you NEED to read the instructions (which are well written, and even include a troubleshooting section). Don't get frustrated with this machine until/unless you have read (all) the instructions. 2. This is not a 'stand-alone' purchase ... this machine costs around $500 (give or take), you need to invest another $100 right from the start (preferably at the same time) to get the most out of it, enjoy it to the fullest, and not get unreasonably frustrated by making your own lattes and mochas. 3. The other things you REALLY should order at the same time (and all are available on Amazon) are: a. ($29) 100-pack disposable 20oz. cups with lids and sleeves (sold by Yes!fresh). Trust me, you want to get these. It's only $0.29 per cup and are far more convenient that trying to clean out a million dirty coffee cups from your car/office each week. These are worth twice what they cost in the long run. And when your friends are over, you need not 'loan' them a nice coffee cup to go (which you may never see again) - just give them a paper cup to take with them. b. ($5-15 for 25 oz. / $20-30 for 64 oz.) Torani syrups and sauces, AND the pump tops that go with them (always sold separately). IF you drink the same thing on a regular basis (like I do) such as a white chocolate peppermint mocha, buy the 64 oz. white chocolate sauce and not the smaller 25 oz. bottle. c. ($14) Amazon Basics Cotton Washcloth - 24 pack - grey (the grey matches the espresso machine, but the color doesn't matter). Again, trust me, you want a nicely folded stack of these sitting next to the machine - you will use 1 each time you make espresso, and then it will be dirty and needs to be washed. At my house (3 people using the machine) we bought two 24-packs because we make so much coffee - two 24-packs is not too many for our house (I'm thinking about buying a third pack). d. ($10 for pair of single shot size, $15 for pair of double shot size) Set of double-walled espresso shot glasses. Do NOT buy the rounded ones (ie: Cutehom espresso coffee cups) because they will not pour very well and drip all over the place (down the side) each time - very frustrating. Buy the JoyJolt Javaah Double Walled Espresso Glasses instead - you'll be glad you did in the long run. And, if you're planning to make mostly double-shot lattes/mochas, buy a set of Dragon Glassware 6 oz Espresso Cups (also double-walled) so that you don't have to keep fidgeting with the single shot cups to keep them in the right spot under the coffee dispenser. It's important to buy double-walled glasses for two reasons. First, it keeps the espresso hot while you're steaming your milk, second, it keeps you from burning your fingers when pouring the espresso into your coffee cup. e. ($15) Breville BCB100 Barista-Style Coffee Knock Box. Again, TRUST me, you want this right next to your machine - the coffee grounds will start piling up quickly and you don't want your portafilter anywhere near a garbage can. This thing is a must. 4. Space requirements: This machine (and all that you want to go with it) will take some counter space - allow AT LEAST 34-inches of counter width to accommodate - slightly more is even better. You will from my picture, this is a 34-inch setup, and there is no room to spare. 5. Making espresso. After you read the instructions, here are some tips that they don't include to help avoid frustration: a. When the beans are grinding, lightly knock on the top of the hopper lid (just like knocking on a door) so that the beans keep feeding down to the grinder (sometimes they get hung up - a light knock each time keeps this from happening). Do NOT overfill the portafilter (after tamping) or it will jam coffee grounds into the water outlet and could possibly damage the portafilter or locking guide. After the grounds are tamped down in the filter cup, the silver part of the tamper should be just hidden beneath the rim of the portafilter (the machine includes a tool you can use if you accidentally overfill the filter cup, but after a short while, you'll figure out how much to grind each time and the tool will not be necessary). b. You ALWAYS want to watch the pressure gauge when making espresso. It NEEDS to be in the dark grey area of the pressure gauge (and ideally in/near the middle of the grey area) during the brew cycle, otherwise you are not making good espresso - rather, you are making either watered down espresso (not enough pressure) or not enough espresso which is too rich (too much pressure). There are two key things that affect pressure: the fineness at which the coffee is ground (which is adjustable) and the volume of grounds in the portafilter (also adjustable). Although there is a one or two shot size setting, I have found it best to do two, 1-shot grinds, tamping down the grounds in-between each single-shot grind. I have the grind (volume) setting on the 4th click setting, and I have the grind (fineness) setting on either 2 or 3 (play around and see what gives you the best results). IF the pressure is too low, then either your coffee is ground too coarsely, or your have not tamped it down tight enough, or the filter is not filled with enough coffee grounds, or a combination of any/all of these things. IF the pressure is too high, then either your coffee is ground too finely, or you have tamped down the grounds too hard (tightly), or a combination of the two. c. IF using two, single-shot espresso glasses to collect a double-shot brew, keep an eye on them during the brew cycle and make sure they are centered under the espresso being dispensed (this can be avoided by using a double-shot size collection cup). d. IF making a mocha or other syrup/sauce drink, pre-mix the espresso and syrup in the glass and stir thoroughly before adding the steamed milk. e. Steaming milk is 1/2-art, and 1/2-science (seriously), and it does not come naturally. If you've never worked at a coffee shop and been trained to steam milk, do yourself a favor and watch a few good (short) YouTube videos on the proper way to steam milk. You will THANK yourself for taking 5-10 minutes on You Tube and learning the proper way to steam milk (and things to avoid). Understanding the steaming process will allow you to control the amount of foam on top and not make big mess. f. Before you steam your milk, VENT the steam wand to remove the residual water from the boiler line (you don't want a few teaspoons of water in your milk). Vent the line, then turn the steam off ... wait 5 full seconds ... then insert the steam wand into the milk, then turn the steam back on. Hold the handle with your left hand, and place your right hand underneath the stainless steel milk steaming cup, when the cup is too hot for your right hand to touch (I mean really to hot to hold), keep the steam wand in and start counting along with the pump (which sounds like a metronome in the background ... dit ... dit ... dit ... dit ...). For a semi-hot latte/mocha keep the steam wand in the milk for 30 double-dits (don't start counting until after you can non longer touch the bottom with your right hand ... "and-one, and two, and three" and so on until you get to 30 (the equivalent of 60 single dits). For hot (but still drinkable) count to 40 double-dits, and for very-hot, 50 double-dits. Anything above 60 and you risk burning the milk (which will ruin the flavor and you will need to toss it out and start over). When finished, turn the steam off, and remove the steam wand from the milk about 3-5 seconds before it finishes blowing steam (to avoid having milk sucked back up into the steam line). g. After you steam your milk, VENT the steam wand again to remove any milk that inadvertently got sucked up into the steam wand line and prevent any from making its way into the boiler. IF milk makes its way back into the boiler unit (because you failed to vent the line after use) you will DESTROY the boiler (permanently), in that, the milk cannot be cleaned out, will burn during the next use, and every cup of milk you steam in the future will have a burnt-milk smell/flavor - yuck! DO yourself a favor and vent the steam line religiously after each use - and make sure others who use your machine know that they can ruin it if they don't do so also! (there goes $500!) h. The bottom tray is easy to remove, empty and clean (comes apart in 3 pieces). You should empty this every 2-4 days of use because it fills up despite you not pouring liquid into it - reason is, each time you finish using the steam wand or hot water dispenser, the machine auto-vents out the line from the boiler into the bottom tray (sneaky little devil) ... so even though you don't realize it, it's filling up a little with each use. (Fun fact - the hot water dispenser can be used for instant hot water to make tea!). 6. Cleaning up. a. I unfold a clean washcloth each time I make espresso. When you tamp down the grounds, it will help avoid damaging/scratching your counter, and will catch the spill-over grounds (there will always be some spill-over). b. When finished, use hot water (from your kitchen sink) to rinse the espresso cup(s), milk steaming cup, portafilter and filter insert (remove the filter cup from the portafilter each time you clean them), then use another clean washcloth to set them out to dry upon. c. The washcloth used to make espresso: fold it in half, twice (into a square), and use the hot water dispenser (on the machine) to get one corner of the square wet with hot (boiling hot) water, then fold the square into a triangle so that the boiling water corner is exposed, then fold that triangle into another triangle around the steam wand and thoroughly clean the steam wand. It will take a little time and firm pressure - make sure the wand is clean so that you don't get nasty milk residue build up on your steam wand. 7. Keeping things stocked: a. Milk. If your family uses milk for other things (cereal, baking, etc.) and up until now you have been a '1-gallon at a time' household, it's time to go up to a 2-gallon at a time household. Trust me - once you (and others in your house) discover the delicious lattes/mochas which are quick at hand, the milk will begin to disappear quickly (my house is now a 3-gallon at a time household with 3 people regularly using the machine). b. Keep a spare box of to-go cups/lids on hand, when you open it, order another one - it is not cost prohibitive and you never want to be out of to-go cups in the morning. c. Keep a spare bag of coffee beans on hand - also not cost prohibitive and if you run out of beans, well, there's no reason to ever run out of beans. d. Keep a spare bottle of your favorite syrups/sauces. If you run out, all the fun is over. 8. Quirks and tips. a. Keep a close eye (and refill often - like every morning) the water tank in the back (you need not pull it off each time, just take a 4-cup measuring cup and refill it when it gets 1/2-way down). Reason being, the machine is not smart like a Keurig - it has no sensor telling it when the water is out and it will run itself (to its peril) dry when the water runs out - this is not particularly good for the machine or the pumps. b. Use top quality beans - I recommend buying 1 lb. bags of Starbucks Espresso Roast beans - whole, NEVER pre-ground. WHY would you spend $600 on a coffee bar setup and then use crap beans or pre-ground (aka: not fresh) coffee? When you use top quality Starbucks beans (I have no financial interest in Starbucks by the by - so if you prefer something else like Pete's or Dutch Bros., fine - but make sure you're buying whole bean bags of their Espresso Roast). 2-4 double-shot lattes/mochas per day will go through a 1 lb. bag of beans every 1-2 weeks. c. Transitioning to decaf beans...? Nope, not easy, nor was the machine set up for an easy transition. To transition from regular espresso beans to decaf beans you must unlock the bean hopper and remove it - then pour the regular beans into a ziplock bag, then take your vacuum cleaner (I'm not joking) and vacuum out the remaining regular beans from the grinding gear mechanism, then replace the (empty) hopper - lock it in place, then fill it with decaf beans. We did this once at my house ... and will never do it again. I hope you enjoyed my review and it helps you make awesome lattes and mochas!
Full-featured, high quality home machine, but, if I had to do over again...
By Matt K - Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2020
Verified Amazon Purchase
This is the first espresso machine I've ever owned. I purchased it this Spring (2020) because, like many of you, I needed to stop going out. I didn't know much about home brewing espresso, but I have lots of Breville products, and I thought this would be a good entry-level machine., I liked that it had all of the features I needed in a one-stop solution, but would still allow me to make "real" espresso, not the stuff that shoots of a pod, which I typically dislike. Armed with nothing more than the instructions it came with, power, water, and beans, I was able to brew espresso good enough to keep me from going into withdrawal, but typically not delicious, and appreciably less enjoyable than my favorite baristas in my favorite cafes. I also wasted a lot of beans in the process. After about 10 days of this bumbling around, I decided to start researching how to get better performance, learning a lot of coffee science along the way, and over the next few months, my technique and results improved, but ultimately plateaued at a point where I felt my home-brewed espresso was now generally better than my favorite baristas - but still not consistent - one day I could make a perfect shot, with all of the lovely sweetness and velvety texture of great espresso, with little or no extraction defect, but then the next day, doing the exact same thing, would get something uneven and over- or under- extracted, and not as good. I was not exactly sure what the variable was, but I suspected it was the grind consistency, since by now I had become very practiced at everything else. The obvious issues with the grinder are that there is a limited range of adjustment, and as you get to a good fineness for your beans, there will be popcorning - the phenomenon of the beans bouncing off the burrs before passing through; those popcorned beans will be ground more coarsely than the beans that were packed into the grinder by the weight of the beans sitting on top of them. Also, while the machine has a hopper that encourages you store beans in it, that's a terrible idea; it's better to store the beans in an airtight cannister or, if they came from a nice roaster, in their resealable, airtight bags with one-way gas valves. I find that beans that are well-packed like that do not have to be brewed within two weeks of roast, as some coffee trainers say, but rather, can last up to 5 weeks from their roast date, and still be very good, with the peak time for brewing being 7-15 days after roast. Back to popcorning: because the beans will grind differently based upon whether they're at the bottom or top of the pile, this would theoretically render every dose you grind prone to unevenness. This is not a defect of the Barista Express. This is just something in the nature of conical burr grinders. Some craft builders have figured out how to build-in flow control (including the grinder that I now use, which I'll come to that). But you can also be your own flow-control. And that's how I hacked this to get slightly better consistency. I adjusted the grinder to be so fine that it would give me an espresso grind, even feeding only one or two beans at a time, and then did that. In so doing, my grind was more consistent from top to bottom, and my extraction improved significantly. But it was still not totally consistent. And, it makes grinding very labor intensive to feed beans one or two at a time - it makes it take 3-4x as long, and you can't do anything else. The other thing too - and I learned this early in the adventure - is that you can't rely on the built-in dosing settings for the grinder. Just forget about these. Even if you don't want to go crazy and hand-feed the machine like I do, you need to get a scale. Measure your beans one shot at a time. The dosing volume controls on the machine are not volumetric; they just control how long the grinder runs. Good espresso requires adherence to a brew recipe with a known mass of beans and that can only be done by weighing them. You could take your portafilter and weigh it after the machine dispensed your grind, but this will invariably lead to waste. Now, 8 months into my new hobby, I treated myself to a new grinder - one you've definitely seen if you watch coffee videos on the internet all day. Now that I use this grinder instead of the built-in grinder, I am not having any problems. In my last 30 shots, 29 have been perfectly-extracted (meaning no channeling, no dead spots, just nice even extraction at the correct pressure levels, resulting in a shot that gets all of the sweetness out of the bean, and little to no bitter or sour flavor) and the 1 that wasn't was because I used the wrong grinder setting. Mea culpa. Oops. That's the kind of consistency I'm looking for. What does this tell me? The coffee brewing function of this machine is top-notch. The group head, shower screen, thermoblock, all of it performs at a professional level, and with the right grind, you can make supremely good espresso on this machine, and do anything you want with it. Drink it straight; make a milk-drink; make an Americano, hot, iced, or whatever you want. Also, the controls are very intuitive, and the build quality is high, as you would expect from Breville. As for maintenance: espresso machines are high maintenance. They require regular cleaning and decaling. But Breville has made it a snap. It takes maybe 10 minutes to descale, every other month, with normal daily usage. A monthly cleaning cycle is so simple it practically runs itself. I also take off the shower screen and make sure it hasn't accumulated too much grit, every few days. That's not necessary - it can go weeks without cleaning and still work, but I am a bit of a perfectionist, as you may have gathered. I've talked about brewing and grinding, but not steaming. As for steaming: it works fine. I know that there are commercial or prosumer models with slightly more sophisticated steam wands. Because this has a single thermoblock, it is not able to brew and steam at once, in fact, the steam cycle takes quite a while to wind itself up. So you have a Hobbson's choice: steam first, and wait for the temperature to come back down to where it is appropriate for brewing; or brew first, then steam, while your shot goes cold. I don't make a lot of milk drinks, and if you are, it's less important if the shot cools a little. But it just makes the process slower. But once it's running, the steam wand textures milk very nicely. This isn't the most important feature for me, because I drink mostly espresso or Americano, rather than milk drinks. But if you drink mostly milk drinks, then keep this in mind that there are machines with better wands, and better ability to transition from brewing to steaming, out there. The steam knob on this machine also activates a hot water dispenser, which is very helpful. It automatically cuts off after delivering the right amount of water to make an Americano; two cycles will give me enough to brew a quick cup of tea when I don't want to wait to boil a kettle on the range. That is a plus. However, the steam control, although it rotates, is not a volumetric control, it's just an on-off; you can't dial in more or less steam by opening and closing it more. So would I recommend this machine? I would say I recommend the Breville family, more than I recommend this particular machine. Because the espresso-brewing is 5-star, but the grinder is only 2 or 3 star, and I am so happy no longer need to use it. If I knew then, what I know now, I would not have gotten an all-in-one machine. I could have gotten a better grinder, and a smaller, lower-cost Breville, like The Infuser, or a larger machine that focuses only on the brew and steam functions, like the amazing Dual Boiler, which might be my next machine. Before I knew better, I liked the space-saving and cost-effectiveness of an all-in-one. But the all-in-one is not going to let you chase perfection in your espresso. So depending on what your wants, needs, budget, and counter space requirements are, you might want to look at other machines in the Breville line, that have the same great controls, fit and finish, customer support, that you would expect from Breville, but that aren't trying to be the jack-of-all-trades. If you do get this machine, it has almost everything to get up and running (except the water and beans) but I do recommend some accessories: 1. A 54mm bottomless portafilter so you can see your extraction in real time -- this is KEY to learning about extraction defects 2. A drip scale -- or any slim-profile kitchen scale that measure to 0.10s of a gram, so you can accurately weigh your dosage of beans before grinding, and also test your flow rate and mass of your finished product, to ensure that you are getting a good ratio of input to output. These are a MUST. Without seeing the extraction, and without being able to measure your dosage, you will not be able to make anything resembling tasty espresso from this machine. Some other things are optional but helpful: - A rubber tamp mat to protect your counter and limit the mess; - A 54mm distributor tool to quickly and easily get a nice well-prepared puck. You can do this by hand, but the tool makes it easier, faster, and less messy. The Breville distributor tool that it comes with is useless. - A 54mm calibrated tamper, so you know that your tamp application is consistent every time. The built-in tamper is adequate, there's nothing wrong with it, it's not useless, but it doesn't give you any guidance for that all-important consistency. - Lots of replacement filters, cleaning tablets, and descaler. This machine is not deficient because it doesn't have all of these things (it actually does come with maintenace tools, and starter packs of cleaning tablets and descaler which is really great). It's a very complete package. Great instruction booklet, and all of the nice packaging you would expect from a great company like Breville. In conclusion: There are many people for whom this probably is the right machine. For me, it's not quite perfect because the grinding function is not as good as the brewing function, and it was bringing down the quality of my results. In hindsight, I should have gotten the Infuser or the Dual Boiler, and a separate grinder. I only started to achieve really consistently great results when I was able to stop using the built-in grinder. But that does prove how good this machine is at brewing. I don't think it's possible to improve much on that.
Show more reviews