This lets the coffee even out and settle, which both creates a more consistent shot, and can correct for some small errors in tamping technique. We turned the “Steam/Hot Water” dial, located on the right side of the machine, to the “Steam” position. Once we achieved a flat surface, we trimmed the coffee puck to the right level for the machine by rotating the “Razor” precision tool back and forth in the portafilter. There are more tips in the manual for texturing milk. There’s also a “Clean/Descale” light that will flash when it’s time for a cleaning cycle. Offering a great quality shot, a capable steam wand, and an espresso-worthy grinder built right in, the. This is CoffeeGeek's First Look at the Breville Barista Express, model number BES870XL. It does include very detailed instructions that guide you through the process, so it's not confusing, just time consuming. The Barista Express has more customizable settings than the Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista, which allows for more control over the final espresso shot. The tagline on the manufacturer site reads “From bean to espresso in under a minute.” While we didn’t find the process to be quite that quick, making one or two shots of espresso only takes about three minutes including grinding, tamping, and extracting time. The tamper can then be reattached to the machine for convenient storage. Get easy-to-follow, delicious recipes delivered right to your inbox. When compared to other coffee machines on the market, the Barista Express is loaded with … The word barista comes from Italian, where it does mean a male or female “bartender”. The first time using it, there are a few extra steps required, including cleaning and flushing the machine. For instance, when the drip tray gets full, a small yellow sign pops up that says “Empty me.” We found this to be very useful because it’s easy to forget to dump out the drip tray after every use. For those wanting cafe-quality espresso at home without spending thousands of dollars Breville makes the two most compelling options: the Bambino Plus and the Barista Express.The difference between these two machines comes down to grinding and milk steaming. We tested the quality of espresso, convenience, mechanics, setup, and cleanup. The Spruce Eats uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. However, seeing as it produces the kind of quality drinks we'd expect from much more expensive professional level machines, this represents a great value to the espresso aficionado that wants a brew at home option. It is a low-cost option, retailing at around $250. When the machine needs a cleaning cycle, a cleaning disc and cleaning tablet will be required and are also included. However, you might be wondering, our Breville barista express review, or you can tell Breville bes870xl review are the same, in fact, it is the same one machine review, here it is. We then turned the dial back to the off position. Breville the Barista Express BES870XL has more surprises for you. Founded in Sydney in 1932, they are best known for their quality home appliances and, most specifically, coffee machines. Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our That means your espresso shot sits out in the air for a bit while you're prepping the milk. It truly makes the best coffee, just like in the cafes. Next, we filled the hopper, located on top of the machine, with fresh, whole coffee beans (it can hold a half-pound at a time). Then, we pressed the “Filter Size” button to choose between the 1-cup or 2-cup option. Beyond pulling amazing espresso shots, the Barista Express also has a steam wand for making coffee shop drinks including macchiatos, cappuccinos, lattes, and beyond. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. It takes a bit of practice to master the Breville's steam wand, but it rewards you with cafe quality milk. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. This allowed us to adjust the grind size, grind amount, and tamp to get the perfect espresso shot. This machine is semi-automatic and therefore makes the process of making espresso drinks very simple. If this is the case you'll find a much better value in a super-automatic machine. The Barista Express really lost points for its descaling process. However, if you neglect it a thick and stubborn residue can quickly build up. Privacy | Cookies | Terms, The world's most in-depth and scientific product reviews, A perfect choice for those that don't mind putting in a little work to get the best tasting shot. After we figured out our settings, each drink we made was effortlessly delicious. We then placed the portafilter into the grinding cradle, where the coffee grounds came out, located underneath the hopper. The Steam wand is fairly easy to clean if you're diligent about purging and wiping it off right after each use. It really is an actual barista express, based on the features. Let us know! The machine will stop automatically, and the espresso is ready to enjoy. Video Review: Breville … The Breville Barista Express changed the home espresso game with it's built in grinder and PID regulated temperature control. Next, we turned the wand toward the machine’s drip tray as water may spurt out of the wand. Seeing as this machine produced the best espresso we tested, some may not mind this additional labor and learning curve. It will stop automatically, but it can be stopped earlier by pushing and releasing the portafilter. When this same light is illuminated and stays lit, it signifies it’s time for descaling, which is a more involved cleaning process detailed in the manual. The barista express 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. The Breville also comes with a coffee grinder to enjoy freshly ground beans. Running it will rinse out residual coffee. It requires mixing up a tincture of half water and half vinegar and manually flushing the machine with it. It truly makes the best coffee, just like in the cafes. For all intents and purposes, we think a straight shot or a latte made well with the Barista Express is going to match the expectations one would have walking into a coffee shop. We set the grind size (the manual recommends 5) and the grind amount (the manual recommends dialing to the 3 o’clock position). Also as you grind your own beans, the flavour and freshness of your coffees are the absolute best. We quickly turned it back to the “Steam/Hot Water” position. The Breville's initial setup was the most laborious of the bunch, taking us a full 35 minutes. I … That will hold the espresso's flavor while you wait for the steam wand to warm up and the milk to be prepped. The single basket corresponds with the 1-cup option and the dual basket with the 2-cup. Breville Barista Express Espresso machine and grinder (La Mesa) $50. Both the portafilter and the tamp that come with the Breville have a sturdiness and heft that feels very high quality. How can we improve GearLab? Takes time to learn the machine and its parts. To literally top it off, the Express' steam wand made some of the best and luxurious microfoam in our testing, allowing for an easy and high quality transformation from straight espresso to cappuccinos and lattes. The Barista Express certainly is not cheap. For the quality of espresso produced with this machine, it’s an excellent option for those who have a keen interest in espresso but are unwilling to spend thousands of dollars. We predict most users will feel confident and be pulling great shots after making 20-40 drinks on the machine. The tank holds up to 67 ounces, and we filled it up to the maximum line with cold, filtered water. Pros: All-in-one - The Barista Pro continues the line in excellent combo machines from Breville. This process took us about 30 minutes. The one small downside of the Barista Express' steam wand is the fact that the machine takes a minute to get the wand up to pressure after pulling a shot. The Barista Express by Breville is an affordable high-end home espresso machine that consistently delivers excellent espresso. Additionally, the tamper is detachable, which means we had more control over the amount of pressure used for compressing the espresso grounds. Breville BES870XL barista express is one of the best selling model by Breville. We have the brushed stainless steel finish, but it also comes in cranberry red and sesame black varieties, which look equally stunning. We were able to create good volume, high temperatures, and a smooth microfoam with the steam wand, which translated to excellent espresso drinks. We loved the customizable settings, seamless function, and convenient design. The quality of the espresso we extracted is partly due to the machine mechanics (the other part is thanks to the freshly roasted whole beans we selected). The barista express from bean to espresso in under a minute create great tasting espresso in less than a minute. By using The Spruce Eats, you accept our, Razor dose trimming tool, 54-mm stainless steel portafilter, single and dual wall filter baskets, coffee scoop, integrated tamper, stainless steel milk jug, cleaning disc and tablets, cleaning brush, tool, Allen key, water filter holder, and water filter, Breville Dual Boiler Espresso Machine Review, The 9 Best Espresso/Cappuccino Machines of 2020, Mr. Coffee ECMP50 Espresso/Cappuccino Maker Review, 6 Great Espresso Machines Under $100 in 2020, The 9 Best Coffee and Espresso Machine Combos of 2020, The 9 Best Coffee Makers with Grinders of 2020, DeLonghi EC 155 Manual Espresso Machine Review. The Barista Express is fairly fast and easy to use once you get the hang of it. We appreciate the fact that several features will inform when it’s time to clean out certain parts of the machine. Learn more about third wave specialty coffee. Offering a great quality shot, a capable steam wand, and an espresso-worthy grinder built right in, the Breville Barista Pro is one of the best all-in-one espresso machines around. It also comes with a list of cleaning tools that are useful for deep cleanings. The Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista is another espresso machine on the market that we tested. We have reviewed Breville BES870XL in our labs and tested its various features one by one. Overall, this process was pretty painless. Are you on a first name basis with the local barista? Though this is only required a few times a year, we found it to be quite annoying. It also takes a bit of time to get used to the machine and dial in exactly how to grind and tamp to get a great shot. The Breville's pressure gauge clearly lets you know if you've ground and tamped properly, or if something has gone awry. To use the steam wand, we first filled the milk jug with cold milk just below the “V” at the bottom of the spout.