Breville Barista Express (BES870) Review
Why You'll Love It
The Breville Barista Express has earned a loyal following because it simplifies one of the biggest hurdles in home espresso: getting everything you need in one machine. With a built-in grinder, steam wand, and manual controls, it offers a genuine espresso experience without requiring a separate shopping list of accessories.
If you've been curious about making lattes and cappuccinos at home but don't want to dive straight into prosumer equipment, this machine hits a sweet spot. It gives you room to learn and improve without feeling overwhelmed on day one, especially when mastering the art of microfoam for lattes.
What Stands Out
The integrated conical burr grinder is still one of the Barista Express's biggest strengths. With 16 grind settings and on-demand dosing, you can go from whole beans to espresso in minutes.
Another standout feature is the combination of low-pressure pre-infusion and PID temperature control, enhancing the quality of each espresso shot. The machine gradually builds pressure before extraction, using the pressure gauge, and maintains stable brewing temperatures, helping to produce more balanced shots with better consistency.
Ease of Use
There's definitely a learning curve, but it's a manageable one. You'll spend the first couple of weeks adjusting grind settings, experimenting with doses, and learning to steam milk.
The good news is that the Barista Express is forgiving enough for beginners while offering enough control to keep the process interesting as your skills develop with the portafilter.
Performance
In everyday use, the Barista Express consistently produces rich espresso shots with good crema when paired with fresh beans and a bit of practice. Many owners appreciate that it delivers café-style drinks without a lot of guesswork once dialed in. Reviews also frequently praise its milk-steaming capabilities for lattes and cappuccinos, making it a top choice among home espresso machines.
The built-in grinder isn't perfect, but it's more than capable for most home users.
Build Quality and Design
The stainless steel exterior gives the machine a solid, polished appearance that fits comfortably into most kitchens, making it an attractive home espresso machine. At roughly 16 inches tall and 13 inches wide, it's substantial without being oversized.
Practical touches like the magnetic tamper storage and removable water tank make day-to-day use easier.
Who It's Best For
- Great for making microfoam for lattes and cappuccinos. Coffee lovers who want to learn to make espresso at home can benefit from the Barista Pro, which combines a grinder and espresso machine in one unit.
- Consider something else if you’re looking for a machine without a built-in grinder or if you prefer a separate bean hopper setup. You already own a high-end grinder or want extensive control over every aspect of extraction and milk steaming.
Things to Consider
- The grinder and pump can be noisy.
- Warm-up time is relatively quick thanks to the Thermocoil heating system in this home espresso machine.
- The water tank is easy to remove and refill, but still requires regular attention.
- Backflushing and routine cleaning of the group head are part of ownership.
- It takes up moderate counter space due to its all-in-one design.
Espresso Store Take
I've had the opportunity to work with the Breville Barista Express, and I understand why it remains one of the most frequently recommended home espresso machines. It strikes a nice balance between convenience and involvement. You get the satisfaction of grinding, dosing, tamping, and steaming milk yourself, but without having to build a separate espresso setup from scratch.
The trade-off is that as your skills develop, you may eventually wish for a more capable standalone grinder or a machine with additional control. But for someone who wants to learn the fundamentals of espresso and make consistently good drinks at home, the Barista Express remains one of the most approachable places to start.
The Bottom Line
The Breville Barista Express remains popular because it balances capability, convenience, and approachability. It's not the last espresso machine every enthusiast will own, but it may be the one that turns espresso from an occasional treat into an enjoyable daily ritual.