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Breville Infuser Espresso Machine BES840XL, Brushed Stainless Steel
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Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Breville |
Color | Stainless Steel |
Product Dimensions | 10.12"D x 12.28"W x 13.15"H |
Special Feature | Jug,Programmable,Water Filter |
Coffee Maker Type | Espresso Machine |
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About this item
- Pre-infusion function applies low water pressure at the start of the extraction to gently expand grinds for an even extraction
- 1600w thermocoil heating system with integrated stainless steel water coil accurately controls water temperature
- Auto purge function automatically adjusts water temperature after steam for optimal espresso extraction temperature.15 bar Italian pump provides complete volumetric control - preset, manual over-ride or re-programmable volumes
- Accessories: single & dual wall filter baskets, coffee scoop, stainless steel jug, cleaning disc & tablets, cleaning tool, water filter with holder. Please note: There is a "Black Plastic" insert inside the stainless steel bowl of the portafilter, th
- Please review the trouble shooting steps under product details for remedies for common faced for hustle free of the product
Customer ratings by feature
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From the manufacturer
![BES840XL](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media-library-service-media/98bf1273-48dc-457b-b3ef-d59dc277a238.__CR0,0,1464,600_PT0_SX1464_V1___.jpg)
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Not All Coffees Are the Same
Control the volume of each pour at the touch of a button and choose between 1 or 2 shots
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Maximize Flavor Potential
Low pressure pre-infusion & digital PID temperature control guides you to the right extraction
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Silky Smooth Microfoam
Powerful steam wands turn milk into smooth microfoam with silky texture ready for pouring latte art
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With Built-in Pressure Gauge
Delivers optimal espresso flavor in every cup
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Make Routine Maintenance Low-Maintenance
Our machines let you know when they need a little upkeep with cleaning and drip tray alerts
![BES840XL](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media-library-service-media/1b7620d1-50e5-46a0-b9fc-9994e049bc92.__CR0,0,1464,600_PT0_SX1464_V1___.png)
![4 Keys Formula](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media-library-service-media/650d35cb-1209-4697-af31-c6505f39a76d.__CR0,0,1464,600_PT0_SX1464_V1___.png)
Choose your machine
| Barista-Style | |
| Microfoam | |
Auto MilQ | | |
Built-In Grinder | ||
3 Second Heat Up | | |
Assisted Tamping |
| Barista-Style | |
| Microfoam | |
Auto MilQ | ||
Built-In Grinder | | |
3 Second Heat Up | ||
Assisted Tamping |
| Barista-Style | |
| Microfoam | |
Auto MilQ | ||
Built-In Grinder | | |
3 Second Heat Up | ||
Assisted Tamping | |
| Barista-Style | |
| Microfoam | |
Auto MilQ | ||
Built-In Grinder | | |
3 Second Heat Up | | |
Assisted Tamping |
Product information
Brand | Breville |
---|---|
Color | Stainless Steel |
Product Dimensions | 10.12"D x 12.28"W x 13.15"H |
Special Feature | Jug,Programmable,Water Filter |
Coffee Maker Type | Espresso Machine |
Filter Type | Reusable |
Style | Espresso Machine |
Specific Uses For Product | Espresso |
Recommended Uses For Product | Espresso-based beverages |
Exterior Finish | Stainless Steel |
Included Components | Filter |
Operation Mode | Manual |
Voltage | 110120 Volts |
Model Name | BES840XL |
Number of Items | 1 |
Human Interface Input | Buttons |
Package Type | Standard Packaging |
Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
Manufacture Year | 2018 |
Global Trade Identification Number | 00021614054371 |
Manufacturer | HWI/Breville USA |
UPC | 021614054371 |
Item Weight | 17.42 pounds |
ASIN | B0089SSOR6 |
Country of Origin | China |
Item model number | BES840XL |
Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #201,066 in Home & Kitchen (See Top 100 in Home & Kitchen) #76 in Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | June 27, 2012 |
Warranty & Support
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Breville Infuser Espresso Machine BES840XL, Brushed Stainless Steel
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Videos
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The Breville Infuser: Make a latte at home
Breville USA
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Product Description
Breville Infuser Espresso Machine BES840XL, Brushed Stainless Steel
Compare with similar items
This Item Breville Infuser Espresso Machine BES840XL, Brushed Stainless Steel | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | $599.95$599.95 | $299.95$299.95 | $899.95$899.95 | $399.95$399.95 | $900.00$900.00 | -9% $499.99$499.99 List: $549.69 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Friday, Jul 26 | Get it as soon as Friday, Jul 26 | Get it as soon as Friday, Jul 26 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Jul 23 | Get it as soon as Monday, Jul 22 | Get it as soon as Friday, Jul 26 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Easy to use | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 |
Blending power | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
Easy to clean | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.1 | — | 4.4 | 4.2 |
Flavor | — | 4.3 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 4.3 |
Value for money | — | — | 3.0 | — | 3.6 | 4.2 |
Sold By | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Seattle Coffee Gear | CASABREWS |
capacity | 61 ounces | 47 fluid ounces | 2 liters | 54 ounces | 74 fluid ounces | 92 fluid ounces |
material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene | Stainless Steel |
input interface | buttons | buttons | buttons | buttons | buttons | buttons |
voltage | 110120 volts | 120 volts | 120 volts | 120 volts | — | 120 volts |
wattage | 1650 watts | 1560 watts | 1600 watts | 1450 watts | 1100 watts | 1500 watts |
model name | BES840XL | the Bambino® Brushed Stainless Steel | the Barista Express® Impress | Dedica Maestro Plus | Silvia | 5700Gense |
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality, ease of use, value, and appearance of the coffee maker. They mention that it makes good espresso, the instructions are straight forward, and that it's worth the price. Some appreciate the modern design and the water reservoir is cleverly designed. That said, opinions are mixed on performance, pressure gauge, temperature control, and speed.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the quality of the coffee maker. They mention that it produces rich espresso, and that it consistently makes very good coffee. Some say that it's a great little espresso machine that makes great espresso double-shots with 0.5" of crema and satin. They also say that the coffee is noticeably better than that from a Krups Espresseria.
"...It tastes great and easy to get an excellent microfoam. I highly recommend that you give it a try...." Read more
"...This machine makes it easier to make really good espresso, but it requires a good amount of work and calibration from you in order to do it correctly..." Read more
"...Have great cappuccino’s and latte’s EVERY time. Extracted at 9 bars to perfection, every time!!19...." Read more
"...Paired with a Bartza Sette 270, it made great espresso double-shots with 0.5" of crema and satin smooth micro-foamed milk for latte's...." Read more
Customers find the coffee maker fairly easy to use, simple, and convenient. They also say the instructions are straight forward and the machine is way easier than wand-frothing. Customers also mention that the steam wAND is very easy to manipulate and there's plenty of room on the platform for it. They appreciate the programmable dosing buttons and the ability to change brew temp. They say the learning curve was definitely worth it.
"...A plus is that the tray design is very easy to remove and install .. it is really no big deal at all." Read more
"...3. This machine shows you where you need to be in the dial. Really simple. The challenge for me was getting the grind size and tamping right...." Read more
"...espresso machine but all things considered, the Infuser is simple to use and maintain; it takes relatively little room on the counter and makes a..." Read more
"...It's also really easy to operate and I love that you can re-program the one- and two-shot volume to draw your own size of shot...." Read more
Customers like the value of the coffee maker. They say it's worth the price, an affordable espresso machine that will save them loads of money down the road. They also say the quality matches the price.
"...great machine for the beginner up through intermediate user at a very good price...." Read more
"...Everything I mentioned here is reviewed separately.6. Value for money?..." Read more
"First and foremost, this is an absolutely fantastic home espresso machine for the price...." Read more
"...It will taste watery, sometimes a bit bitter, and just not really worth the money. You'll spend a couple hundred bucks and be totally disappointed...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the coffee maker. They mention that it has a modern design, and the water reservoir is cleverly designed with deep V grooves. They also appreciate the shiny stainless head on the tamper and heavy stainless pitcher. The espresso is balanced, sweet, and rich. The pressure gauge looks cool, but is totally unnecessary. Overall, most are happy with the quality and the daily payoff of this product.
"...I highly recommend that you give it a try.The pressure gauge looks cool, but is totally unnecessary...." Read more
"...It was beautiful and I wanted to cry.Apparently, shots pull more consistently in double shot cups than they do in single shot cups...." Read more
"...First off, it's a beautiful-looking machine and it looks great on the kitchen counter. Also, Breville's packaging is Apple levels of gorgeous...." Read more
"...but once you get the hang of it, you will be shocked on how beautiful the shots are and the flavor complexities you'll pick up using the non-..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the coffee maker. Some mention it does pretty well, produces fantastic results, and the milk frother works well. However, others say that it has not lasted 15 months, leaks all the time, and has a short service life.
"...How good? 100% of the time. Zero failures. My ~$50 WDT tool is sitting here, useless and un-needed...." Read more
"I bought my first BES840XL Infuser back in Feb 2018. For 3.5 yr it worked perfectly, then died...." Read more
"...The pressure gauge looks cool, but is totally unnecessary...." Read more
"...BCG800XL Smart Grinder and I have to say that The Infuser is a LOT more consistent now than it used to be...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the pressure gauge. Some mention that it's nice, helpful, and key to learning the proper prep technique. However, others say that the steamer has lower pressure than anticipated, and the machine can't reach the correct pressure zone. Some customers also mention that the shot pressure seems inconsistent.
"...Tamp pressure makes a difference, but since I have no way to measure my tamp, I would say start on the lighter side and watch your pressure gauge...." Read more
"...5. 9 bars pressure is key. Even with this machine I couldn’t initially resolve the challenge of getting the pointer in range on the display dial)...." Read more
"...The steam has slightly lower pressure, so it takes somewhat longer to steam milk, but it is able to make foamed milk with the exact same quality as..." Read more
"...The pressure gauge is nice. It's not a needed feature, but it's certainly nice...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the temperature control of the coffee maker. Some mention that the piece that will not leak provides better control, keeps the coffee hot for a very long time, and has an 8 degree C temperature range. However, others say that the water doesn't get hot enough, it needs to have time to get hot, and the temperature is more inconsistent than expected.
"...4. Built-in temperature control, which means more consistent espresso results...." Read more
"...While this machine doesn't have a temperature control, it does allow you to adjust your temp 4 degrees in either direction in the manual programming...." Read more
"...No water lines needed. Standard power outlet, too. The top gets warm and fuzzy so you can keep your cup on it..." Read more
"...- The temperature of the espresso is also very controlled, and it's not as hot as your regular cup of Joe.-..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the speed of the coffee maker. Some mention that it's fast, easy to use, and produces great results. However, others say that the frothing is a bit slow, it takes longer to steam milk, and it takes too long to heat milk.
"...It is super efficient. Space wise really goes under the cabinet on a standard countertop in the US. No water lines needed...." Read more
"...2-3 espresso drinks a day with the Infuser and am EXTREMELY satisfied with its performance...." Read more
"...drinkable espresso after a few hours of trial, but my shots were coming out way too fast (15-20 seconds), when I knew perfect shots should be around..." Read more
"...--> Way easier than wand-frothing: faster to make, easier to clean-up...." Read more
Reviews with images
![1000 cups later: Definitely the machine for counter space and/or don’t want to plunk down big bucks.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/transparent-pixel._V192234675_.gif)
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One thing I want to say upfront, ALWAYS run an empty shot before making your espresso. The first shot runs about 20 degrees below the optimal 200 degrees and will result in an under-extracted espresso. It is also good to heat up your grouphead, portafilter and cup. It makes a very very good espresso that probably can only be beat by a $2.000+ machine. I used a non-pressurized filter on my previous machine, but noticed that the shots with the infuser brought some of the subtle tasted characteristics from my coffee beans. It is important to use a good quality conical burr grinder in order to grinds that are fine enough to use with a non-pressurized filter. I use the Breville smart grinder pro. I think this is a better way to go rather then getting the Breville Barista Express with the built-in grinder, for numerous reasons. One is that it is more flexible than the built-in one, which only has 30 settings. The smart pro has 60 settings so you can use it to get coarse grinds for a French press and other coffee makers. It is also much easier to clean and allows you to upgrade to a more advance espresso machine without having to buy a new grinder.
The steaming wand works very well after a small bit of practice. There are some videos on youtube that are helpful. After some research it seemed the best milk to use is grassfed whole milk. So I bought organic grassfeed whole milk, and wow it is the way to go. It tastes great and easy to get an excellent microfoam. I highly recommend that you give it a try.
The pressure gauge looks cool, but is totally unnecessary. I wish the tamper were a heavier all metal construction, though this lighter one is needed to use the magnetic holder, which is convenient. The tamper words oaky, so I will just have to get used to it. Overall this is a great machine at this price.
update: 13December:
thought I would address of common complaints I've noticed in some reviews. One being that it uses too much water and that the drip trays fills up to fast. Both are due to the fact that the steam wand purges (through the back of the tray) hot water after use, which is good so that if you pull another shot the water won't be too hot. To me, it's not a big deal to refill it. As far as the tray filling up, just do what I do ... empty the tray each time you use it. It is very simple and only takes a few seconds. A plus is that the tray design is very easy to remove and install .. it is really no big deal at all.
**Why You Should Buy This Machine Over Cheaper Ones**
Simply put, this machine offers professional-quality features packed into an entry-level machine, and will produce a far better quality espresso than cheaper machines like the Mr Coffee. If you are considering getting into espresso, don't waste your time with cheaper stuff or else you will likely be disappointed with the results or just find yourself upgrading everything in a couple of months. A POOR ESPRESSO DUE TO "CHEAP" EQUIPMENT IS WORSE THAN A CHEAP CUP OF COFFEE. Understand that "cheap" is relative here. This is an expensive drink to make, but it's worth the money to be able to make a great drink.
1. My perfect pulls taste EXACTLY like coffee-shop quality (at least to me). I can make a Caramel Macciato and it tastes and looks better than Starbucks. ISN'T THAT WHY YOU'RE WANTING AN ESPRESSO MACHINE? Let's face it, most of you are wanting lattes and cappuccinos that taste good so you don't need to spend five bucks a day at the coffee shop. You aren't just slugging back straight shots of black espresso and writing down the subtle flavor notes to share with your friends. YOU WILL NOT GET THIS KIND OF QUALITY WITH CHEAP MACHINES. It will taste watery, sometimes a bit bitter, and just not really worth the money. You'll spend a couple hundred bucks and be totally disappointed. This machine is expensive, but at least I feel like I'm actually getting good espresso out of it. and I have zero desire to return to another coffee shop when I can make it just as good at home.
2. This is the only unit for under $500 that will let you make decent latte art with the milk steaming wand. Other cheaper units simply do not have enough power to make your milk the right consistency. Again, it goes back to the quality of the drink. Do you want to pay $300 for a really mediocre espresso every day, or pay a little more money and have a really good espresso every day? You can get better units for milk steaming, but if you're looking for a standalone unit that also does great milk, this is it. If you aren't drinking lattes, then it won't matter much to you. But trust me when I say that well-steamed milk makes or breaks your latte/cappuccino. Perfectly steamed milk is sweet, frothy, and creamy. Poorly steamed milk tastes like it was microwaved, or just plain warm milk. Yuck.
3. The pressure gauge and pre-infusion (pushing a little water into the espresso before the real pull starts happening) make this a great tool to learn how to make proper espresso. The gauge is immensely helpful and helps you understand what you are doing wrong, and when you're doing things really right. Few things are as satisfying as making a perfect espresso and seeing the gauge sit in the perfect spot.
4. Built-in temperature control, which means more consistent espresso results. Cheaper units that don't have one are not really worth the money in my opinion. A poorly-made espresso is terrible, and you can honestly make a better drink with a $10 french press and a $50 grinder.
Finally, you need to understand that espresso is actually kind of difficult to make if you've never done it before. This isn't a Keurig, this isn't the same machine that Starbucks uses (theirs cost almost as much as your house does). You aren't going to make a perfect pull of espresso your first time. It took me TEN shots before I made anything even remotely drinkable, and then I went through half a pound of coffee beans before I pulled my first GOOD shot. This machine makes it easier to make really good espresso, but it requires a good amount of work and calibration from you in order to do it correctly. However, once you figure it out, it's really easy to do it right every time.
In my opinion, this is the "sweet spot" of espresso making. You can make a really great cup of espresso with this machine at an affordable cost. Any more money and you are paying MUCH more to slightly increase the quality of the drink, but it's not the night and day comparison between this machine and a $200 Costco or Mr Coffee espresso maker. Highly recommend!
**If you're an owner of this machine, the following might be helpful**
The biggest difficulties that I ran into while trying to figure out how to make espresso were:
1. Grinding the coffee to the perfect size
2. Realizing that the Single Shot cups are terrible, save yourself heartache and use the Double Shot (not double walled)
3. Getting my shot to pull for the correct time (25-30 seconds)
**Grind Size**
This was the most confusing part to me, because I had it in my head that I SHOULD be able to grind all of my beans on the absolute finest setting on the Smart Grinder Pro, which was why I spent all the money on the nice grinder, right? I had seen a couple of videos where people were using my same setup and grinding down to a 1 or 2 setting on the grinder and pulling perfect shots in the Infuser.
THIS IS WRONG.
Clear your mind completely about grind, and realize that it has more to do with the perfect grind for your particular coffee rather than the grind number itself. Using Lavazza Super Crema, I could not go finer than a 17 on the grinder or else the machine would max out the pressure and I would get just a few drips of disgusting sour water. Using fresh coffee beans from a local roaster, I was able to go much finer on the grind, and actually a 17 was too coarse for that coffee and ended up ruining the shots. It's okay if you have to use a 17 or 18 with some coffees. You're buying a nice grinder because those 17 and 18 grinds are perfectly consistent, which means the pressurized hot water will evenly distribute rather than find a weak spot to channel and ruin your shot of espresso.
See what I'm talking about? This is not a Keurig. You will need to calibrate your grind for each new coffee you try, which can either be a huge pain or a lot of fun, depending on why you're buying this machine. I found it fun, but I'm also glad that I took an entire day to play around with this machine. Once I figured it out, I was blown away with the quality of the espresso that came out.
**Single Shot and Double Shot cups + Shot Pull Time**
This is where I found success after a lot of failure. See, I don't drink a ton of espresso in one sitting. I'm perfectly content with a small latte consisting of a single shot of espresso. I actually put the double shot cups in a drawer, because I didn't think I would be using them. I was pulling drinkable espresso after a few hours of trial, but my shots were coming out way too fast (15-20 seconds), when I knew perfect shots should be around 30 seconds from the time you push the button. A helpful user online told me to ditch the single shot cups and switch to double shot, because of how finicky the former cups seemed to be. So I switched over to the single-walled double shot cup, and my first pull was ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. It poured like golden honey, ran a perfect 30 seconds, and had amazing crema. It was beautiful and I wanted to cry.
Apparently, shots pull more consistently in double shot cups than they do in single shot cups. Note that I'm talking about the size of the cup (single vs double shot) and not the double-WALLED cups, which are garbage and meant to be used with pre-ground espresso.
Anyway, do yourself a favor and just use the double shot, single-walled cup. If you only want a single shot of espresso, move the cup over so you only catch liquid from one of the cups. You will waste coffee, but it will be so much, much more consistent and better-tasting than if you use the single-shot cup. I now pull nearly-perfect shots every time, where before I was doing 2/5 if I was lucky. Best piece of advice anybody gave me.
![Customer image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/transparent-pixel._V192234675_.gif)
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2018
**Why You Should Buy This Machine Over Cheaper Ones**
Simply put, this machine offers professional-quality features packed into an entry-level machine, and will produce a far better quality espresso than cheaper machines like the Mr Coffee. If you are considering getting into espresso, don't waste your time with cheaper stuff or else you will likely be disappointed with the results or just find yourself upgrading everything in a couple of months. A POOR ESPRESSO DUE TO "CHEAP" EQUIPMENT IS WORSE THAN A CHEAP CUP OF COFFEE. Understand that "cheap" is relative here. This is an expensive drink to make, but it's worth the money to be able to make a great drink.
1. My perfect pulls taste EXACTLY like coffee-shop quality (at least to me). I can make a Caramel Macciato and it tastes and looks better than Starbucks. ISN'T THAT WHY YOU'RE WANTING AN ESPRESSO MACHINE? Let's face it, most of you are wanting lattes and cappuccinos that taste good so you don't need to spend five bucks a day at the coffee shop. You aren't just slugging back straight shots of black espresso and writing down the subtle flavor notes to share with your friends. YOU WILL NOT GET THIS KIND OF QUALITY WITH CHEAP MACHINES. It will taste watery, sometimes a bit bitter, and just not really worth the money. You'll spend a couple hundred bucks and be totally disappointed. This machine is expensive, but at least I feel like I'm actually getting good espresso out of it. and I have zero desire to return to another coffee shop when I can make it just as good at home.
2. This is the only unit for under $500 that will let you make decent latte art with the milk steaming wand. Other cheaper units simply do not have enough power to make your milk the right consistency. Again, it goes back to the quality of the drink. Do you want to pay $300 for a really mediocre espresso every day, or pay a little more money and have a really good espresso every day? You can get better units for milk steaming, but if you're looking for a standalone unit that also does great milk, this is it. If you aren't drinking lattes, then it won't matter much to you. But trust me when I say that well-steamed milk makes or breaks your latte/cappuccino. Perfectly steamed milk is sweet, frothy, and creamy. Poorly steamed milk tastes like it was microwaved, or just plain warm milk. Yuck.
3. The pressure gauge and pre-infusion (pushing a little water into the espresso before the real pull starts happening) make this a great tool to learn how to make proper espresso. The gauge is immensely helpful and helps you understand what you are doing wrong, and when you're doing things really right. Few things are as satisfying as making a perfect espresso and seeing the gauge sit in the perfect spot.
4. Built-in temperature control, which means more consistent espresso results. Cheaper units that don't have one are not really worth the money in my opinion. A poorly-made espresso is terrible, and you can honestly make a better drink with a $10 french press and a $50 grinder.
Finally, you need to understand that espresso is actually kind of difficult to make if you've never done it before. This isn't a Keurig, this isn't the same machine that Starbucks uses (theirs cost almost as much as your house does). You aren't going to make a perfect pull of espresso your first time. It took me TEN shots before I made anything even remotely drinkable, and then I went through half a pound of coffee beans before I pulled my first GOOD shot. This machine makes it easier to make really good espresso, but it requires a good amount of work and calibration from you in order to do it correctly. However, once you figure it out, it's really easy to do it right every time.
In my opinion, this is the "sweet spot" of espresso making. You can make a really great cup of espresso with this machine at an affordable cost. Any more money and you are paying MUCH more to slightly increase the quality of the drink, but it's not the night and day comparison between this machine and a $200 Costco or Mr Coffee espresso maker. Highly recommend!
**If you're an owner of this machine, the following might be helpful**
The biggest difficulties that I ran into while trying to figure out how to make espresso were:
1. Grinding the coffee to the perfect size
2. Realizing that the Single Shot cups are terrible, save yourself heartache and use the Double Shot (not double walled)
3. Getting my shot to pull for the correct time (25-30 seconds)
**Grind Size**
This was the most confusing part to me, because I had it in my head that I SHOULD be able to grind all of my beans on the absolute finest setting on the Smart Grinder Pro, which was why I spent all the money on the nice grinder, right? I had seen a couple of videos where people were using my same setup and grinding down to a 1 or 2 setting on the grinder and pulling perfect shots in the Infuser.
THIS IS WRONG.
Clear your mind completely about grind, and realize that it has more to do with the perfect grind for your particular coffee rather than the grind number itself. Using Lavazza Super Crema, I could not go finer than a 17 on the grinder or else the machine would max out the pressure and I would get just a few drips of disgusting sour water. Using fresh coffee beans from a local roaster, I was able to go much finer on the grind, and actually a 17 was too coarse for that coffee and ended up ruining the shots. It's okay if you have to use a 17 or 18 with some coffees. You're buying a nice grinder because those 17 and 18 grinds are perfectly consistent, which means the pressurized hot water will evenly distribute rather than find a weak spot to channel and ruin your shot of espresso.
See what I'm talking about? This is not a Keurig. You will need to calibrate your grind for each new coffee you try, which can either be a huge pain or a lot of fun, depending on why you're buying this machine. I found it fun, but I'm also glad that I took an entire day to play around with this machine. Once I figured it out, I was blown away with the quality of the espresso that came out.
**Single Shot and Double Shot cups + Shot Pull Time**
This is where I found success after a lot of failure. See, I don't drink a ton of espresso in one sitting. I'm perfectly content with a small latte consisting of a single shot of espresso. I actually put the double shot cups in a drawer, because I didn't think I would be using them. I was pulling drinkable espresso after a few hours of trial, but my shots were coming out way too fast (15-20 seconds), when I knew perfect shots should be around 30 seconds from the time you push the button. A helpful user online told me to ditch the single shot cups and switch to double shot, because of how finicky the former cups seemed to be. So I switched over to the single-walled double shot cup, and my first pull was ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. It poured like golden honey, ran a perfect 30 seconds, and had amazing crema. It was beautiful and I wanted to cry.
Apparently, shots pull more consistently in double shot cups than they do in single shot cups. Note that I'm talking about the size of the cup (single vs double shot) and not the double-WALLED cups, which are garbage and meant to be used with pre-ground espresso.
Anyway, do yourself a favor and just use the double shot, single-walled cup. If you only want a single shot of espresso, move the cup over so you only catch liquid from one of the cups. You will waste coffee, but it will be so much, much more consistent and better-tasting than if you use the single-shot cup. I now pull nearly-perfect shots every time, where before I was doing 2/5 if I was lucky. Best piece of advice anybody gave me.
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TL;DR: It's worth the money, go ahead and buy it.
Pros:
Most important - The shot is rich and tasty and it makes good crema on the top.
It's consistent. The volume of the shot produced has very little variation unless I change the amount of grind or how much I pack it.*
It was easy to tweak the default settings to adjust the shot for my personal tastes.
It's hot. I hate lukewarm coffee and the machine makes hot drinks. The water from the onboard spout is hot enough to make tea with.
I use filtered water and perhaps because of this I have had no issues with scale. The machine indicates when it needs to be run through a cleaning cycle and I have cleaned it as required. It's automated and takes only a few minutes. I run the steamer for a few seconds after using it and I have never had a problem with it clogging.
The stainless steel exterior makes it easy to keep clean.
Cons:
It's a single boiler so it takes 10-15 seconds for the steamer to get going and it's not super powerful. (Even so, it does a good job at steaming. I have no problem getting micro foam of the consistency I like. I can make latte art if I want to, but I'm way too manly for that, so I don't.)
The steamer wand is placed on the machine is a way that is slightly awkward to use. It's a bit short and located under the machine instead of beside it. I'm 6'2", my girlfriend is 5'4" and she says I don't know what I'm talking about and it's fine where it is.
I have it set for long shots and it takes awhile for it to pull the shot. Not a big deal unless you have a line up of family wanting drinks - all the family always want drinks because the machine makes coffee shop quality drinks. I list this as a con because I end up tied to the machine at family functions instead of eating chips and guacamole.
It's a water pig. About a third of the water used ends up in the tray. The tray is full of nooks and crannies and so unlike the exterior, it's hard to clean.
The water reservoir is at the back of the machine which means you have pull it out from the wall to fill. I'm lazy and even the smallest effort is taxing. Normal people won't be bothered by this.
* I have the espresso maker paired with the Breville Smart Grinder Pro. It's brilliant and has also worked flawlessly for three years. It delivers very consistent grinds both in terms of volume and grain size and it's super easy to adjust both to your taste. Buy it also, it's worth the money. Be warned however, friends will start suggesting that you meet at your home for coffee rather than going to a coffee shop. No exaggeration.
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The manual says the Breville is ready to make shots after a minute or two. I find that’s not the case. Although the water gets to temperature quickly, the head and portafilter do not. There are two ways I use to bring the head and portafilter to temperature. One is to run a bunch of empty shots through to warm things up. The other is to wait a half an hour for the machine to heat the head and portafilter. Waiting does a better job so if I have the time that’s what I do.
I usually make Caffe Americano so I need hot water. The water spout on the machine is rather pathetic and it empties the tank quickly so I don’t use it. I use a kettle on the stove for the water to steep the mug and complete the Americano. For me this is a much better solution than buying the dual tank Breville which is more than twice the price and takes up more counter space. Dairy is my mortal enemy so I have yet to use the steam wand.
The machine has one gauge that appears to measure the pressure between the pump and the head. It displays a range which indicates under extraction on the low side and over extraction on the high side. I adjust the dose and grind to target the middle of the range. My pallet cannot detect a difference in the quality of the coffee between my old, very expensive commercial espresso maker and the Breville.
The Breville includes a couple of baskets to be used with normal ground coffee. My take on this is that if you can’t be bothered to get a decent grinder and learn how to use it, you are probably better off getting a French press or a filter setup. They make excellent coffee and are considerably easier on the pocketbook.
There is a float in the drip tray that pops up when the tray needs to be emptied. I find that if I wait until the float pops up that it’s harder to get the tray to the sink without spilling. I tend to empty the tray more often to avoid spills.
I found that the manual is very readable and does a good job of emphasizing the factors important to getting good results. I’m not going to comment on the process of cleaning the machine because I haven’t owned it long enough to make any sort of judgment on the matter.
Provided with the machine is a tamper which can be stored in a receptacle on the machine. The tamp should be consistent and between 30 and 40 pounds. I find that the handle on the provided tamper is too small for this purpose. There are plenty of better tampers available on Amazon and elsewhere starting under ten dollars. I have one on the way. The tamper for my old machine has a diameter too large for use with the Breville. If you purchase a tamper be sure to check that it’s the correct diameter for your machine.
I can’t believe how good this machine is for it’s very modest cost. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for an espresso maker for low volume use.
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The awkward - It lacks a head warming features you get in Professional machines but I just run a few single shots with the portafilter in place, without coffee, at startup.
The bad - The tamper looks cool in its magnetic docking station but I find it the most uncomfortable tamper that I have ever used and none of my other tampers (yes I have gone through a few espresso machines) fit it. Yes I knew they wouldn't fit. Will I buy another tamper? May be. Is it a deal killer? Not in the least. I have an el cheapo aluminium one that I might get a friend to turn down to 53mm.
Consideration - you will need a good coffee grinder with micro adjustments for tuning and a good sources of freshly roasted espresso coffee. I have a professional commercial coffee grinder (totally overkill but I got it so cheap but not ideal due to its size) and a superfine roastery close by with whom I am on first name basis (oh and they view Breville as a maker of good quality consumer espresso machines).
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Simple machine with not too many bells and whistles but makes delicious and easy Espresso.
This Breville is just the right size and will not take all your counter space. With a medium water reservoir in the back and a small filter to removed some minerals. There is only a few buttons like on/off, a program button to adjust the amount of water coffee to your liking and 1 and 2 cups buttons. You also have a switch on the side to operate the steam wand for the milk on the weekend mornings.
It warms up really quickly (about 15-20 seconds) and is ready for the family morning rush. It does have a pressure gauge that will indicate if your coffee grind is too coarse or too fine but since I get it from a reputable local coffee shop I rarely watch it. The maintenance is easy with only 1 filter in the water tank and you must use a tablet with a rinsing cycle occasionally. This one allows for filtered water who result in less maintenance (I highly recommend it). There is an overflow bin who must be cleaned regularly but it is rather easy and very quick.