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Best Home espresso Machine Value for Money

owning an espresso machine can provide convenience, cost savings, customization, quality, and sustainability benefits that may make it a worthwhile investment for some people.

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Overview

The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, BES870XL, is a highly regarded home espresso machine that offers a range of features and functionality for coffee lovers.
The machine comes with a range of accessories, including a portafilter, tamper, and milk jug, making it a comprehensive all-in-one package for home baristas. However, there is a learning curve for beginners, as it may take some practice to get the perfect shot.

The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, BES870XL, is a solid choice for home espresso enthusiasts who want a machine with a built-in grinder, customizable shot settings, and the ability to make cafe-quality drinks at home. While it may be a bit expensive compared to other home espresso machines on the market, its features and functionality make it a worthwhile investment for coffee lovers.

How to use the Breville Barista Express

Using the Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, BES870XL, involves several steps, including filling the water tank, adding coffee beans to the grinder, tamping the coffee grounds, and extracting the shot. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use the machine:

1. For first time use: Prime the water filter for 5min then place it in the water tank
2. Fill the water tank with fresh water and ensure it is securely in place.
3. Turn on the machine and wait for it to heat up. The machine will indicate when it’s ready to use.
4. Add coffee beans to the grinder hopper and adjust the grind size as desired using the grind size dial. set it to 7
5. Use the portafilter to measure the appropriate amount of coffee grounds for a single or double shot.
6. Tamp the coffee grounds using the tamper provided and attach the portafilter to the group head.
7. Place a cup or shot glass under the spout.
8. Select the single or double shot button and wait for the machine to extract the espresso shot.
9. Use the steam wand to froth milk, if desired, and add to the espresso shot to make a latte or cappuccino.
10. See our below additional Tips for setup, grind size, amount of coffee, pulling a shot, and etc.

Note: It’s important to clean the machine regularly, including the portafilter, group head, and steam wand, to ensure optimal performance and longevity of the machine. Breville recommends descaling the machine every three months or when prompted by the machine. You can refer to the user manual for more information on cleaning and maintenance.

Here is a great YouTube video on unboxing and setting up the machine for the first time.

Pros & Cons

Customer support

Breville is generally known for their good customer support. They offer a one-year limited warranty on their products, which covers defects in materials and workmanship. They also have a customer support team that is available via phone, email, or live chat to assist with any questions or issues that customers may have.
Additionally, Breville offers a range of resources on their website, including user manuals, troubleshooting guides, and video tutorials. They also have a dedicated YouTube channel with instructional videos on how to use and maintain their products.

Overall, Breville has a good reputation for customer support and provides multiple channels of assistance to their customers.

Breville Barista Express specifications

Here are the specifications for the Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, BES870XL:

• Dimensions: 13.25″ (W) x 12.5″ (D) x 15.75″ (H)
• Weight: 23 pounds
• Water tank capacity: 67 oz
• Bean hopper capacity: 8 oz
• Conical burr grinder with adjustable grind size
• Dose control grinder allows you to grind the exact amount of coffee needed for a single or double shot
• Thermocoil heating system with PID temperature control
• Pre-infusion function gradually increases water pressure to ensure an even extraction
• 15 bar Italian pump pressure
• Dedicated steam wand for frothing milk
• Hot water dispenser for making tea or Americanos
• Programmable shot volume and manual override option
• Removable drip tray and cleaning alert
• The portafilter size for the Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, BES870XL, is 54mm. This is a standard size for home espresso machines and is compatible with many different types of espresso baskets, including single and double-shot baskets. The portafilter itself is made of stainless steel and comes with a spout and handle for easy handling and pouring.
• 1-year limited warranty

Note that the specifications may vary slightly depending on the region and model.

Additional TIPs

We do recommend few accessories to improve the flavor and extraction:

• A 54mm bottomless portafilter with unpressurized basket to see your extraction in real-time.
• A coffee scale to accurately weigh your dosage of beans before grinding, and to ensure that you are getting a good ratio of input to output. A 1:2 ratio is ideal (e.g., 16-17 grams of coffee should yield around 30-34 grams of brewed coffee).
• Adjust the grinder burr setting from the default of 6 to 2 (inside the grinder)
• A rubber tamp mat to minimize the mess.
• A 54mm calibrated tamper for consistency of tamp application, have a tamp pressure of about 30-35 pounds, set grind level to 7 and draw a 26-second extraction if not using a scale.
• You may have to increase the temperature by 4 degrees to improve extraction
• Start with Manual Operation Mode, Just press and hold the pull shot button for the duration of extraction (e.g., 26-seconds to pull a shot)
• Clean the machine at least once a month by following the manufacturer’s instructions
• Have some patience and experiment to get the best out of this machine, and you’ll be amazed with the results.
• Adjust your grind-level, If you change your coffee/roast to ensure a better outcome
• Here is a great YouTube video on unboxing and setting up the machine for the first time.