Breville BES870 Barista Express Review
Summary: Make delicious café-like coffees from the comfort of your own home with the Breville BES870 Barista Express!
4.5
Home café
Looking for that perfect café inspired coffee from the comfort of your own home? Well look no further because we may have the solution for you. The Breville BES870, better known as the Barista Express, has earned its reputation as one of the most popular entry-level espresso machines for home baristas. Its appeal lies in the clever all-in-one design with an integrated conical burr grinder paired with a semi-automatic espresso system, wrapped in a compact brushed stainless-steel body that looks sharp on any kitchen bench. So yes, aesthetically it looks smart but how does it operate and more importantly, how does it taste? Read on!
Key Features
- Manual coffee machine with stainless steel accents
- Compatible with fresh coffee beans
- 1850 Watt power, 15 Bar pump, 2 Litre water tank
- 18 adjustable grind settings plus dose control
- Micro foam steam wand for hand-textured milk
Unboxing
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Once unboxed, the Breville BES870 Barista Express feels solid and durable, yet its footprint (Height 407mm x Depth 313mm x Width 338mm with a weight of 12.5kg) is small enough for kitchens where space is at a premium. Inside, it runs on a 15-bar Italian pump and a Thermocoil heating system, which delivers quick heat-up times and relatively stable water temperature. Breville also includes a low-pressure pre-infusion phase, gently wetting the coffee puck before full extraction to enhance flavor balance and crema. The removable 67-ounce (1.98 litre) water tank is generous for a machine of this size.
The built-in grinder is the BES870’s standout feature. With 16 primary grind settings (and more available via the top burr), it removes the need for a separate grinder and makes dialing in espresso more approachable. The machine includes both single- and dual-wall (pressurized and non-pressurized) portafilter baskets, supporting users from complete beginners to those aiming for café-quality shots.
Setup
To use the Breville BES870 Barista Express, you need to wash the accessories, soak the filter for 5-minutes, wash and then place it into the water tank before filling it up. You then start by grinding fresh beans directly into the portafilter with the built‑in conical burr grinder, adjusting the grind size and dose to suit your taste. After tamping the grounds evenly, lock the portafilter into the group head and pull a single or double shot, keeping an eye on the pressure gauge for optimal extraction. If you’re making milk‑based drinks, you then use the steam wand to texture milk to your preferred level of creaminess before pouring it into your espresso for a café‑style result.
There is a necessary learning curve such as grind size, dose and tamping that all needs to be balanced but once mastered, the machine produces consistently satisfying espresso. Instructions are serviceable, however I did find myself looking at your YouTube tutorials for that extra layer of confidence. Also, the front-mounted pressure gauge is invaluable, helping users monitor extraction and fine-tune their technique in real-time. Further, the stainless-steel steam wand is capable of producing silky microfoam suitable for latte art. It is not as powerful as commercial-grade, dual-boiler machines but with a little practice and patience, it delivers excellent results for cappuccinos, flat whites and lattes very well.
With that said, Breville has designed the Barista Express to be beginner-friendly while still offering room to experiment. Cleaning is straightforward thanks to a removable drip tray (with an “Empty Me!” indicator), a purge function for the steam wand and built-in cleaning cycle alerts. The grinder can be noisy and the machine does demand regular upkeep to prevent mineral buildup, but these are small trade-offs for the performance it delivers.
The Coffee
As you become more experienced in using the Breville BES870 Barista Express, your coffees will begin to taste better and better that as mentioned, you need to find that perfect balance. With that said, there are so many different coffee beans available, you also need to find your favourite, however if you have a favourite coffee shop, many of them will sell beans or let you know where you can go. The other element is the Barista factor because while the Breville BES870 Barista Express makes the entire process as easy as possible, there is a learning curve in finding what is the best setting for you … but that’s all part of your new coffee journey. We tried a handful of different beans with the Breville BES870 Barista Express and found one that both my wife and I really enjoyed, so yes the coffee does taste considerably better than a pod machine and also quite a few cafés.
Final Thoughts?
The Breville Barista Express strikes an impressive balance between convenience, performance and price. It won’t rival professional or prosumer machines in ultimate precision or raw power, but for anyone starting their espresso journey and wanting a high-quality, reliable machine straight out of the box, it remains one of the most reliable and rewarding options available. Just be warned that there is a learning curve but if you’re willing and ready, you will become the Barista of your home.
Recommended!
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