Breville Barista Espresso Machine

 Breville Barista Espresso Machine

If you are looking for a home espresso machine that can deliver cafe-quality coffee with minimal fuss, you might want to consider the Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel, BES870XL. This machine is designed to grind, dose and extract all in one, allowing you to create third wave specialty coffee at home from bean to espresso in less than a minute. In this blog post, I will review some of the features and benefits of this machine and share my personal experience with it.

The Breville Barista Express has an integrated conical burr grinder with 16 grind settings that can deliver the right amount of coffee on demand for maximum flavor. The grinder is also adjustable so you can fine-tune the grind size according to your preference and the type of beans you use. The machine comes with a 54 mm stainless steel portafilter that can hold up to 18 g of freshly ground beans for a full-bodied espresso. The portafilter also has dual and single wall filters that can accommodate different levels of pressure and skill.

One of the key features of this machine is its thermocoil heating system with PID temperature control that ensures optimal water temperature for espresso extraction. The machine also has a low pressure pre-infusion function that gently expands the coffee grounds before applying high pressure (9 bar) for a balanced and smooth extraction. The extraction process is controlled by a simple interface that lets you choose between one or two shots or manual control over how much espresso ends up in your cup.

Another feature that I love about this machine is its powerful steam wand that can create silky microfoam milk for latte art. The steam wand has a 360 degree swivel action that gives you flexibility and control over how you texture your milk. The machine also has a large water tank (67 oz) that can be easily removed and refilled, a removable drip tray with an indicator for when it's full, and a cleaning alert system that tells you when it's time to run a cleaning cycle.

The Breville Barista Express comes with several accessories that make your coffee making experience more enjoyable and convenient. These include:

- A dosing funnel attachment that prevents coffee grinds from overflowing and reduces mess and waste.
- A razor dose trimming tool that helps you level off the excess coffee from your portafilter for consistent extraction.
- A stainless steel milk jug for steaming milk.
- A knock box mini for knocking out tightly packed coffee pucks from your portafilter without damaging it.
- A coffee scoop, an integrated tamper, a water filter holder and filter, a cleaning disc and tablets, a cleaning brush, tool and Allen key.

I have been using this machine for about six months now and I am very happy with it. It makes delicious espresso every time with rich crema and complex flavors. It is easy to use once you get familiar with its functions and settings. It is also easy to clean and maintain thanks to its self-cleaning function and removable parts. It looks sleek and stylish on my kitchen counter with its brushed stainless steel finish.

The only downside I can think of is that it takes some practice and experimentation to get the perfect grind size, dose amount, tamping pressure, extraction time and milk texture for your desired drink. But once you master these skills, you will be able to enjoy cafe-quality coffee at home anytime.

Overall, I highly recommend the Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine if you are looking for an all-in-one solution for making great espresso at home. It is well worth the investment if you love coffee as much as I do.