Breville Barista Express Review

Hello everyone and welcome back to Tick n' Sip!

     As a recent gift for my birthday, I received a Breville Barista Express espresso machine. First off, let me just say that this is a wonderful machine that has exceeded my expectations in every way. 

     I have had this particular machine for a little over a month now. When I first purchased it, I had some issues that I thought could have been with the machine. Everything worked okay, but for some reason, the pressure gauge was not reaching the proper "espresso range." I had tried many of the tips such as adjusting the grind size and grind amount but to no avail. I thought for a long while of what could be wrong and I came to the conclusion that it could be older beans. I try not to keep older coffee in my house, especially being that I consume several coffee beverages per day, but I had purchased coffee from Trader Joe's a few months ago that had never been opened, and it was what I had laying around the house for coffee when I set up my machine. I did decide to buy some freshly roasted coffee from a local coffeehouse to use in my machine and it made all the difference. I did discover that this machine can be kind of picky in what it likes. I could see it being easy to use for most amateur baristas, but I can honestly say that it won't be as forgiving without fresh coffee beans. 

      I do have prior barista experience, which helps a bit, but the machine works wonders. This machine is much better than any of the previous machines I have tried, especially for the price range. It is what I would call a semi-automatic machine. Making espresso beverages in this machine is a manual process from grinding the coffee, to tamping, pulling shots, and steaming milk, but it is a nice feature to have the convenience of an automatic espresso machine in just being able to press a button as opposed to having to use a lever such as the older fashioned espresso machines. The only downside to this machine is that it contains a single boiler, making it impossible to brew espresso while steaming milk. The machine is convenient in so many aspects. It features a bean hopper with a built-in adjustable burr grinder and a magnetic tamp. The steam wand is easy to clean and works relatively fast for having a single boiler. The drip tray also has some built-in features to notify you when it needs to be cleaned of excess liquid. Behind the drip tray sits a hidden tray that allows you to store the machine's tools as well as the extra portafilters that it comes with.

     Now on to drink quality. When used with fresh coffee and prepared properly, the machine pulls great shots of espresso with a full body and a rich, yet thick crema. The steam wand works wonders in creating the perfect steamed milk with the perfect thick paint texture, perfect for latte art. I have made everything from straight espresso shots to lattes and cappuccinos and everything in between with this machine and it makes a consistently good cup of coffee every single time. For home use, I couldn't recommend this machine more. Currently, it retails at Bed Bath and Beyond for $488.99 as well as other retailers, which is a steal for a machine of this quality under $1000. Thank you all so much for reading and your continued support with my blog. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

- Noah Payne Founder and Editor of Tick n' Sip