Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL Review: Works Like a Pro!
Brewing a perfect shot of espresso at home can feel like a daunting task, a skill reserved for seasoned baristas in bustling cafés. But what if you could bring that experience—what the industry calls “third wave specialty coffee”—directly to your kitchen countertop? This is precisely the promise of the Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL. It’s an all-in-one powerhouse designed to take you from whole beans to a beautiful, balanced espresso in under a minute, empowering you to create café-quality drinks from the comfort of your home.
The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL is a semi-automatic machine that puts the control in your hands, blending the convenience of an integrated grinder with the precise controls needed for a truly professional brew. It follows what Breville refers to as the “4 Keys Formula”: a perfectly dosed grind, precise temperature control, optimal water pressure, and manual microfoam milk texturing. We’ll delve into each of these points to understand how this machine demystifies the art of espresso and helps you become your favorite barista.
The 4 Keys to Third Wave Coffee
The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL is built on a simple yet profound principle: that four key elements are necessary to create a truly exceptional cup of espresso. By integrating these four elements into a single, compact espresso machine, Breville makes the journey from a novice home brewer to a skilled home barista both accessible and exciting. The machine is semi-automatic, meaning it assists you with crucial technical elements while still giving you the creative freedom to master the process. This balance is what makes the Barista Express such a popular choice among enthusiasts.
Manual Microfoam Milk Texturing: The Art of the Latte
For those who love milk-based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, the steam wand is just as important as the espresso shot itself. The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL features a powerful steam wand that allows you to texture milk to create “microfoam manually.” Unlike thick, bubbly foam, microfoam has a silky, velvety texture that enhances the flavor of your coffee and is the key ingredient for creating intricate latte art. The manual control gives you the freedom to practice and perfect your technique, transforming your daily cup into a work of art. The brushed stainless steel finish of the machine also adds a professional touch to your brewing station, looking as good as the coffee it produces.
Precise Espresso Extraction: The PID Difference
Temperature stability is a silent hero in espresso brewing. A single degree in temperature fluctuation can dramatically alter the taste of your coffee, turning a sweet, balanced shot into a bitter or sour one. This is where the machine’s digital temperature control, or PID, comes into play. PID, which stands for Proportional, Integral, Derivative, is a sophisticated control loop that measures and regulates the water temperature with incredible precision. While older espresso machines often used pressurestats that allowed for a wide temperature swing, the Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL PID ensures that water is delivered at precisely the right temperature, guaranteeing optimal espresso extraction and consistency from one shot to the next.
From Bean to Cup in Under a Minute: The Barista Series Advantage
The integrated grinder is more than just a convenience; it’s a design philosophy. The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL is part of the Barista Series, which is all about streamlining the espresso-making process.
By going from whole roasted beans to a perfectly ground and extracted shot in less than a minute, this machine makes third-wave coffee accessible even on the busiest of mornings. The grind size dial is simple and intuitive, offering a wide range of settings to accommodate any type of bean or brewing style. The innovative grinding cradle is a small detail that has a huge impact on workflow, making the entire process feel seamless and professional, not messy and complicated. It’s an all-in-one approach that respects both your time and your pursuit of the perfect cup.
Durability and Design: Built for the Home Barista
The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL is not only a functional masterpiece but also an aesthetically pleasing addition to your kitchen. The sleek, brushed stainless steel finish is durable, easy to clean, and complements any kitchen décor. It’s a machine built to last, designed with the home barista in mind—someone who is passionate about coffee and will use their equipment regularly.
The thoughtful design, from the intuitive controls to the innovative features, demonstrates a deep understanding of what it takes to create a great cup of coffee and the desire to make that experience enjoyable and repeatable.
Mastering the Perfect Shot: The Science of Breville's Technology
The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL isn’t just a simple espresso maker; it’s a semi-automatic machine that integrates professional-grade technology to assist you in creating the perfect shot. The combination of the low-pressure pre-infusion and the PID temperature control is what truly sets it apart. The pre-infusion stage, with its gentle soaking of the coffee puck, prevents inconsistencies in the extraction process that can lead to a watery or over-extracted shot.
By ensuring the coffee is uniformly saturated before the full 9 bars of pressure are applied, the machine sets the stage for a perfect, even extraction. The PID then maintains this ideal temperature throughout the shot, eliminating the variable of heat and allowing you to focus on other elements of your craft, like grind size and tamping pressure.
Optimal Water Pressure: Unlocking a Balanced Cup
The extraction process is where the magic happens, and proper water pressure is a non-negotiable part of that magic. The Breville Barista Express addresses this with a feature called low-pressure pre-infusion.
At the start of the extraction, the machine gently soaks the coffee puck with low pressure. This gradual introduction of water helps to evenly saturate the coffee grounds, ensuring that all the flavors are drawn out uniformly when the pressure increases. This process is crucial for preventing “channeling,” where water finds a path of least resistance through the coffee puck, leading to uneven and unpleasant flavors. The result is a more balanced, rich, and full-bodied shot of espresso.
Dose Control Grinding: The Foundation of Flavor
Any experienced coffee connoisseur will tell you that the flavor of your espresso begins with the grinder. The Barista Express features a high-quality integrated conical burr grinder that grinds your beans on demand, ensuring you’re always working with the freshest possible grounds. This integrated approach is a game-changer for many home brewers, eliminating the need for a separate, bulky grinder and creating a streamlined workflow.
The machine’s innovative grinding cradle allows you to grind directly into the portafilter, minimizing mess and ensuring that every single ground is accounted for in your dose. You have the power to control both the grind size and the amount, allowing you to fine-tune your espresso to your preferred taste, regardless of the roast.
The Art of the Latte: Texturing Milk Like a Pro
The powerful steam wand on the Breville espresso machine is your tool for unlocking the delicious potential of milk. Unlike some automatic machines that produce stiff, unappealing foam, the Barista Express allows you to manually texture your milk. This manual control is essential for creating microfoam—a silky, smooth milk that integrates perfectly with espresso to create a sweet, balanced latte. The process of texturing milk is an art form in itself, and the Breville Barista Express gives you the power to practice and develop this skill. With some patience and practice, you’ll be able to create the creamy swirls and delicate designs that are the hallmark of true café-quality beverages.
Final Thoughts
The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL is a truly exceptional all-in-one appliance for anyone serious about elevating their coffee game. It expertly balances convenience with control, giving you the tools to explore the world of third-wave specialty coffee without the steep learning curve of a commercial setup. From the precision of the integrated conical burr grinder to the consistency provided by its PID temperature control and low-pressure pre-infusion, every feature is designed to help you brew a better cup.
The manual steam wand allows you to hone your milk texturing skills, transforming a simple latte into a personal work of art. This machine is a semi-automatic marvel that provides a gateway into the world of professional-quality espresso, proving that with the right equipment, third-wave coffee is not just a trend—it’s a delicious reality you can enjoy at home every day.
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL isn’t your type? Check out our recommended Best Espresso Machines.
FAQs
How do you clean the Breville Barista Express?
The machine has a built-in cleaning cycle that should be run periodically. The “Clean Me” light will flash to indicate when it’s needed. The process involves using a cleaning tablet with a special cleaning disc and running a specific cycle. Regular maintenance also includes daily purging of the steam wand and cleaning the portafilter and group head.
Is the integrated grinder good enough for a perfect espresso?
What is PID and why is it important for espresso?
PID stands for Proportional, Integral, Derivative. It is a digital controller that regulates the water temperature in the espresso machine. It’s crucial because it keeps the brewing temperature stable and precise, preventing the wild temperature fluctuations that can cause your espresso to taste sour or bitter.
