The Breville BES870XL Barista Express
The Barista Express by Breville is a premium, comprehensive espresso machine offering extensive control over grinding and brewing processes. While it represents a significant investment in a coffee maker, its price is relatively affordable when compared to other machines offering similar features.
Features:
Product Name: The Barista Express
Product Brand: Breville
MPN: BES870XL
Price: $699.95
Product Dimensions: 12.5 x 15.9 x 13.8 in.
Capacity: 4 Pounds
Item Weight: 23 Pounds
Material: Brushed Stainless steel, Black sesame
Wattage: 1600 watts
Water Tank Capacity: 67 ounces
Extraction Pressure: 9 bars
Brews with: Whole beans
Warm up time: 1 minute
Warranty: 2 year
The Breville Barista Express combines versatility, durability, and a stylish design. While there might be a slight learning curve, brewing rich espresso shots becomes effortless with its café-worthy group head. The integrated steam wand allows for the creation of delicious lattes and cappuccinos, and its advanced capabilities even enable the crafting of microfoam designs on the drink’s surface, reminiscent of a skilled barista. Paulo Asi advises, “If you’re trying to make microfoam at home, be sure to heat up the milk first, then run the milk frother. It won’t work if it’s not heated up.”
Equipped with conical burrs in its bean grinder, The Barista Express offers a stronger and more consistent grind compared to steel blade grinders. The user-friendly dial allows you to select the coarseness of your grind, ideally on the finer side for espresso.
While The Barista Express comes with a relatively higher price tag, its exceptional quality justifies the cost. The machine has garnered praise from numerous satisfied customers, consistently delivering excellent espresso drinks with a rich crema every time.
Once you’re set to brew, The Barista Express seamlessly transitions into mostly automatic mode. It precisely grinds and dispenses the ideal amount of coffee into the portafilter. Following a firm tamp and level using the provided tools, you simply secure the portafilter in place, press a button, and voila – piping hot espresso is ready. Employing a distinctive approach, it initiates with a low-pressure pre-infusion for color extraction, succeeded by the traditional high-pressure extraction (approximately nine times the air pressure at sea level) to yield crema and the quintessential espresso essence.
Equipped with presets for both single and double shots of coffee and water, the machine caters to the discerning palate by offering precise adjustments. With 16 grind fineness options, the flexibility to regulate coffee dispensing between 18 and 22 grams per double shot, and the ability to opt for complete manual control over water quantity, it ensures tailored brewing experiences.
Adjacent to the coffee dispenser and brewing head lies The Barista Express’s standout feature: its frother. This versatile tool excels at steaming and frothing milk to perfection, crafting either a light and airy texture for a cappuccino or a denser froth for a latte. What sets it apart is its flexible, rotatable nozzle, allowing you to froth milk while your espresso brews, all while maintaining a tidy workspace. In our lab tests, while the espresso initially leaned towards acidity compared to machines using the same beans, the addition of frothed milk transformed the resulting cappuccino into a delightful indulgence.
In terms of aesthetics, The Barista Express boasts a sleek and sophisticated design. I tested the model with a brushed stainless-steel finish, although it’s also available in the equally striking Black Sesame variant. Upon powering it on for the first time, the illuminated control panel stood out, a thoughtful feature for early risers brewing coffee before dawn. Crafted with precision, every component fits together seamlessly, ensuring a secure construction. Notably, none of the test shots contained any gritty residues, indicative of a high-quality filter and a snug fit. The generous capacity is another plus: with a 67-ounce water tank and a half-pound bean hopper, it can theoretically produce over two dozen shots before requiring a refill.
The Barista Express proudly touts its ability to go “from bean to espresso in under a minute,” a claim that holds true. In our lab tests, the entire process was completed in a swift 45 seconds, though at home, it took closer to three minutes. Nevertheless, the simplicity and remarkable speed of achieving such high-quality results remain impressive.
Due to the abundance of components included with this machine, it requires some time (and a thorough perusal of the manual) to acquaint oneself with its various parts. Prior to use, cleaning and flushing the machine is necessary, followed by soaking its filter for five minutes. While this process is relatively straightforward, it can evoke impatience to dive straight into the caffeine experience.
Maintaining The Barista Express entails a degree of effort, as it necessitates disassembly and cleaning immediately after each use to prevent more challenging cleaning tasks later on. Rinsing the portafilter and basket with hot water to eliminate coffee ground oils and wiping any residue off the steam wand before the milk dries are essential steps. Caution is advised, as both items may be hot to the touch and A final word of advice: no part of this machine should go in the dishwasher.
Pros: + Incredible value for money
+ All-in-one machine
+ Customizable settings
+ Stylish design
+ A fully automatic
+ Built-in conical burr grinder
+ Heats up in less than a minute
Cons: – Grinder is rather limiting
– Cleaning is complicated
– On the pricier side
– No display screen to make programming intuitive
Ultimate Decision
Buy it!
For aficionados of authentic espresso, cappuccino, or latte, Breville’s The Barista Express is the ultimate choice. With its superior coffee, adaptable features, and practical all-in-one construction, its price is more than justified.
Kitchen Stitch 