I spent my Christmas 2009 reviewing expresso machines. I had just returned from a trip to Europe and finally was going to fold and get an expresso machine. I missed the expresso from Italy and France. 1oz of crema delight.So, I liked the Breville from all the reviews but was worried about some of the negativity on the "wet puck" I had read. All the reviews mentioned excellent coffee though, so it was on my short list.
Then I saw the Breville BES860XL, also known as the Barista Express Programmable Expresso. From the looks you can tell this unit has exchanged the hot water dispenser for a bean grinder. This unit is a fully automatic expresso machine with the super automatic feature of grinding a pre-measure of beans for your brew. Note, it is not a super automatic machine as you still need to manually mount the portafilter into the group head, and clean the filter afterwards. This is as automatic as you will want to go if you want to really control your coffee.
But, let me walk you through the pleasure:
1. the box. this has excellent graphics -even as you open, the getting started guide and pictures guide you along. The unit removes easily.
2. The tamper is magnetically held in place on the front of the machine -you can use it in place or remove for manual tamping.
3. New: -there is a dry puck feature now for all the fussy reviews -this removes excess water so you get, a dry puck
an excellent burr grinder -you can dismantle this for cleaning, and it has a wide range of control
for those that previously complained about the "cheat" dual wall filters -the unit comes with single and double dual wall AND single wall filters
there is a hideaway storage tray to hold all the small goodies
4. Steaming -excellent steam temperature and pressure -works very well with the provided frothing jug, very minimal excess water to start
5. The real test. I am using the dual wall filters, and the Illy whole expresso beans I got from Italy were made into pure heavenly expresso. Nice crema. This is the real thing.
This is one finely engineered machine. From a mechanically inclined electrical engineer to the folks at Breville: you have created an exceptionally functional piece that does the job. Did I mention it is beautiful on the counter as well? I have it on an island, no bad sides.
Drawbacks: none. BUT, when making a real expresso shot, make sure you pre-warm your demitasse. Otherwise the expresso will heat up your cup and your coffee will not be hot. I run a water cycle first into my cup to heat up the group head and the cup.
In my opinion this is the best buy in the market under $1500. At the office, daily I use a super automatic machine that is at that top end.
The major selling points of the Barista Express are:
(1) patented dual-wall filters to help novices make a respectable cup of espresso without a lot of fuss. Breville has also included regular (single-walled) filters to allow a user the freedom to craft a cup of espresso like a professional barista would.
(2) the integrated burr grinder
A burr grinder (as opposed to a blade grinder) is ideally suited for grinding coffee beans because they generate less frictional heat than a conventional blade grinder. (Excessive heat degrades the quality of coffee beans. See Breville BCG450XL Conical Burr Grinder)
(3) coffeehouse-quality espresso right in your own home in under 2 minutes flat.
My experience with Breville Barista Express has been mostly positive. I'm especially impressed by how easy it is to make a delicious-tasting cup of espresso! Here's a detailed assessment:
Single-Wall and Dual-Wall Filters
Breville has included 2 types of filter: (1) the single-wall filter and (2) the double-wall filter. Each type of filter comes in 2 sizes (single-shot and double-shot) -for a total of 4 filters.
> Single-Wall Filter (Non-Pressurized Filter)
With the single-wall filter, getting the tamp pressure and grind size just right are of paramount importance for making a good cup of espresso. Under-extraction results in a watered-down espresso with little creama (foam head). The espresso will also taste a little sour. Over-extraction, on the other hand, makes the espresso overly bitter. I'll tell you, I have ruined many a cup of coffee because of under-extraction or over-extraction. Getting it right will take a lot of patience, practice, and experimentation.
> Dual-Wall Filter (Pressurized Filter)
I really appreciate the dual-wall filters Breville has included in the package for a beginner who is unsure of the "right" ground size or tamp pressure to use. The dual-wall filter helps to give a beginner a leg up on making a good cup of espresso without having to worry too much about the intricacies involving coffee ground size and tamp pressure.
A commonly reported problem that's noteworthy is that the single hole on the lower wall sometimes gets clogged up (although I haven't encountered the problem thus far). Breville advises the use of a pin to unclog the filter.
Coffee Temperature
The ideal temperature of the water for extraction is between 195 F to 202 F. However, the water temperature reaches only roughly 185 F on my machine. There are no adjustments that allow you to increase/decrease the temperature of the water.
Bean Hopper & Conical Burr Grinder
The bean hopper coffee that feeds the burr grinder has a supposed 8oz capacity. In practice, I find that it will only hold about 6 oz (it takes about half of a 12-oz bag of Peets coffee). A real plus to the hopper is the edges of its lid are lined with rubber to ensure a tight-fitting and airtight seal, so the coffee beans won't degrade as a result of oxidation.
The grind size of the burr grinder is adjustable, from very fine (for espresso and Turkish coffee) to coarse (recommended for espresso extraction with a dual-wall filter). The grinder delivers very evenly ground coffee (no lumps).
The only complaint I have about the hopper is as it empties out, the coffee beans in it occasionally need a little help to make them fall into the chute leading to the burr grinder. This happens more often with "oily" coffee beans.
Magnetic Tamper
The magnetic tamper allows you to either (i) tamp on the counter (like a professional barista does) or (ii) do your tamping "on board" (with the tamper magnetically affixed to the machine). I really like that you're able to store the tamper on board when it's not in use, so it's within easy reach and it won't get lost.
Programmable
I like how easy it is to program the amount of espresso dispensed into both the Single Shot and Double Shot buttons. For example, to program the Double Shot button, all you do is press the Program button, press Double Shot button, and press Double Shot button again to stop the extraction once you get the desired amount of espresso. Thereon, the Double Shot button will dispense the preprogrammed amount of espresso every time you push it.
Steam Wand
The steam wand produces perfectly textured milk. You can use an included attachment if more froth is desired.
Design
The Barista Express is a beautifully designed machine that simply oozes class and quality. The exterior is stainless steel except for the water tank, the bean hopper, the drip tray, the knobs, and a few other smaller parts (all of which are made of plastic).
Easy Cleanup
Clean-up is easy:
> Give the portafilter a good tap to expel the ground. The ground should pop right out (the used ground should resemble a brownie if you've gotten the grind size and tamp pressure right). Give both the filter basket and the portafilter a quick rinse and you're done.
> Empty the drip tray when it says "Empty me" (a small float atop the drip tray gets upturned to display an "Empty me" sign when the drip tray is just about full) -a very nice touch.
> Make sure the steam wand is wiped down immediately after use.
Get Started Right Away
Everything you need to get started right away is included: filter baskets, milk jug, tamper, carbon water filter, and frother attachment. You probably want to get some espresso cups and a thermometer if you don't have them already.
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Despite a couple of issues, I like the Barista Express. Would I recommend it? Well, it depends.
If you're looking for an convenient, no-brainer way to make good cup of espresso (or any espresso-based beverage, such as Latte, Cappuccino, and Mocha) the Barista Express may be your ticket. It consistently churns out a good cup of espresso when you use the dual-wall filter, which works in tandem with the preprogrammed dual-wall settings. In addition, the burr grinder, which doesn't normally come integrated in professional machines, is a definite plus.
However, if you're into the art of making espresso (like a true barista), there are other good machines within the same price range you might want to look at first (one of the most popular machines is the Silvia Rancilio Espresso Machine).
There you have it. The above are some important considerations you might want to take into account before you make a purchase decision.
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[Update October 5, 2011]
4 months after I acquired this espresso machine, it began leaking water. The water must have shorted out the electronics because the unit stopped working altogether shortly after. For months, my machine fell by the wayside, until I contacted Breville about getting it fixed. I was pleasantly surprised at how promptly they responded and how helpful the customer representative was. About 1 week after I contacted them, I received a brand new unit. Great job on the customer service, Breville -Thank you. You've definitely won me over.
Buy Breville BES860XL Barista Express Espresso Machine with Grinder Now
I agree with most of the reviews below but wanted to add a few words about my experience with this machine:I made a cursory read-through of the manual and having never owned a machine like this, but certainly having purchased a lot of coffee shop espressos across the globe, I thought I could jump right in and make some great drinks. Well, in part true, but I hit a point where I almost returned it. I started off with the double-wall filter and it made a very decent shot. Then I figured I try out the single wall filter. 2 weeks later and after joining the ranks of Corn-holio, I hit the jackpot.
During the first 2 weeks, I went from a moderate grind and a middle grind amount to the finest setting and about 2/3 away around the grind amount dial. I even far exceeded the recommended tamping pressure. The result was always an under extracted and bitter shot. Most of the time the puck was wet on top and a bit messy to clean up. Each time I pressed the double-shot button, the pressure wouldn't even rise into the darker colored scale. No matter how fine the grind, or how hard I tamped the coffee the result was the same. I thought maybe it was the bean I chose or just a lousy grinder. Nope.
The day before yesterday I decided to read through the manual very carefully and try doing what they say step by step, not just what the cartoon correction diagram showed. I pre-heated the cup by running hot water through the filter and portafilter, thereby warming it. Then I immediately dried the portafilter/single-wall filter and filled it with freshly ground coffee. I added some coffee, pressed it down lightly into the filter with my fingers and added more. Then I tamped it with about 20 pounds of pressure. When finished, the tamper's stainless rim near the bottom was not completely recessed in the portafilter, leaving it filled to within 1/8". After cleaning the rim thoroughly I simply attached the group head and pressed the pre-programmed double shot. Killer espresso like ones I've had in the finest Italian shops. Cleanup was a dream because the puck was nearly dry it just popped out. Wow. Cleaning between shots is important reheating is as well. If you follow these (Breville's) directions you will be more than pleased with this machine. I now feel like I got my $600 worth.
I changed a few things all at once, so I can't necessarily put my finger on exactly what changed the output. Pre-heating and filling the single-wall filter to an after-tamped level near the top seems to be the key. I love this machine now. As with the other reviews, I think the "clean me" light comes on with just a pre-set number of cycles since I too use filtered water and clean incessantly. The machine is heavy, solid and well laid out. Watch out while filling the reservoir so as not to get even a few drops close to the hopper jamming problems and a difficult clean. I don't like leaving the tamper in the magnetic mount to tamp my coffee, but it's a great place to store it. The wand for frothing is fantastic, but I normally prefer straight espresso. My lovely wife prefers cappuccino and we're now working on some good cup art, no longer worrying about trying to nail the perfect shot. I do recommend this machine, but I highly recommend reading the directions word for word, front to back in the manual and adhering to their advice. Breville designed it and they know how to get the best results. With practice, you too will snub your nose at Starbucks from now on.
Best of luck.
Read Best Reviews of Breville BES860XL Barista Express Espresso Machine with Grinder Here
We have had our Breville unit for several months now. It has given good, reliable service and makes a terrific shot. I take capuccino (and the steam wand frother is very easy -the best manual frother I have used), and my lovely wife takes americanos. We use the "barista" filters rather than the Senseo-style "beginner" filters. The included pressure gauge makes it very easy to "sight in" your favorite shot by varying the grind and tamp till you find what you like.The pump assembly, heating block, and user interface are terrific. The buttons have a nice feel, everything about the machine's style radiates solidity. It is a pleasure to use. The waste reservoir in the base is large enough for several days' coffee drinking, and is easy and simple to empty. The convenient hidden compartment behind it is a great place to stash the extras and cleaning tablets.
The grinder is indeed adjustable and delivers consistent sized grind when it is working. But there are several problems with it -it's obviously Breville's first attempt. First, the bean reservoir has very shallow sides -they are not sloped enough for most beans to autofeed, so we often end up pulling the top open and stirring the beans with our fingers, to get them to feed down into the grinder. Second, the grinder *will* jam if you use oily beans -which is too bad as we like a very dark roast. Mixing oily and dry roasts 1:1 seems to be OK, except... Third, the grinder *will* jam if you get even a little bit of water in it, which is inevitable if you fill the tank in-place on the back of the device. The molding at the top of the machine seems custom designed to direct otherwise-harmless drops of water straight down into the grinder where they will do the most damage.
The worst thing about the grinder is that it is a bitch and a half to clean. You can disassemble it -at least as far as getting the stator blades out from around the burr -but the part that jams is the feed paddles that push grounds out of the area under the grinder, into the top of the chute that feeds the espresso head in its holder (as pictured). That part is nearly impossible to get to. When the grinder jams, I vacuum out the coffee beans and grounds with the blade head on our vacuum cleaner (incidentally, Dyson vacuums rock), then go after it with a combination of toothpicks, pipe cleaners, and dust-free canned "air". This generally happens in the morning, so I wake up the kids with the vacuum, and then everyone's in a bad mood -the kids want sleep and/or breakfast, I want my coffee, and I'm rooting around with a toothpick cursing the designers.
We do run the clean cycle when the "clean me" light comes on, but I suspect it is on a fixed timer -we user reverse-osmosis water, shouldn't have any boiler-scale issues at all.
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UPDATE: After 10 months of non-heavy 3-4 times a week use, I got up one morning to find water leaking from the bottom of the machine, covering my counter top. I contacted Breville's CS; they didn't hassle me at all. They requested my receipt and serial number (stamped on the bottom of the unit), and emailed me a link to a Breville-paid FedEx Ground shipping label. A week later I received a brand-new machine. My biggest hassle was of my own doing for not keeping the original box. They have GREAT customer service.August 20, 2012--UPDATE #2: Two weeks ago, my warranty replacement did the same thing as my first unit (water leakage from the thermoblock's gasket). Personally, I think it's a manufacturing defect as I always used filtered water, descaled and cleaned my machine as it was required. IMHO, the one year warranty on these machines is lame, considering what these cost.
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I didn't like coffee of any kind until 5 years ago when I tried a drink from Seattle's Best. Then I was hooked. I had to clone this recipe at home; but attempting to make my own Raspberry Mocha Kiss from plain ol' coffee brewed in my $15 Mr. Coffee proved to be a failure. Now, I'm happy to say, I truly can make my own at home, all because of this stainless steel espresso machine made by Breville.
I agree with most of the other reviewers here --this is a great machine. From the moment you cut the package sealing tape on the box, the entire experience exudes class. Even the box flaps are beautiful with a large full color picture of a cappuccino on high-gloss cardboard. The directions start on the box flaps as far as unpacking it, and there is also a full manual and smaller quick-start guides to making the espresso and cleaning the machine. All the components are packaged well and the small number of parts needed for assembly fit together perfectly. You get everything you need except the coffee beans and shot glasses.
My sister-in-law owns a local coffee shop which, of course, has commercial-grade espresso machines. She saw my Breville and was impressed with the quality build for a home-use machine.
I admit after I had it assembled and ready-to-go, I was a bit overwhelmed that a coffee novice like me would be able to make a mocha or latte. I just stood there and stared at it for 3 days before I had the nerve to plug it in. But thanks to Breville for including the double-wall filters for us beginners it wasn't that hard. You get a total of 4 filters, dual wall for novices like me, and single wall for more experienced baristas. Single and double shot of each style.
A stainless steel pitcher is also included for steaming and frothing the milk. I used skim milk and the high steam output heated and made the milk into foam in no time at all.
My first two espresso's did not turn out. Third time was charm for me I hadn't tamped with enough pressure on the first two I made. If you are new at making espresso, make sure you go to Breville's web site and watch the videos there are several that will help you with whatever trouble-shooting problem you may have.
I'm amazed at how quiet it is...even the grinder hardly makes any noise...when the machine pressurizes, it's quiet....I have 2 cats and neither one ran to hide under the bed when I turned the power button on. The steamer is the noisiest component but it's not annoyingly loud.
Breville's Customer Service has been supportive and quick to respond to my questions. I had a couple questions late Sunday night so I emailed them, and by Monday morning I had a response in my Inbox.
Yes, this espresso machine is an investment. But if you visit Starbucks often, it will soon pay for itself, plus there's the convenience factor of not having to go out for a treat.
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