Here’s a detailed overview of the Breville Barista Express (BES870 / BES870XL) — how it works, its strengths & weaknesses, and whether it might be a good pick depending on your needs.
What It Is / Key Features
The Barista Express is a semi-automatic espresso machine with a built-in grinder. It aims to give you “bean-to-espresso” capability in one machine, without having to buy a separate grinder. Key features include:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Built-in Grinder | Conical burr grinder integrated into the machine. Offers multiple grind settings so you can adjust coarseness/fine-ness. |
| Grind Amount Control | You can control how much is ground per shot. There’s a dose control dial. Usually a “hands-free grinder cradle” which allows grinding directly into the portafilter. |
| Pump Pressure & Pre-Infusion | 15-bar Italian pump; low-pressure pre-infusion helps wet the coffee puck before full pressure to get more even extraction. |
| Temperature Control | Uses a digital thermocoil heating system and PID control to help maintain stable brewing temperature. |
| Water Reservoir | Removable tank (~1.75 litres / about 67 oz depending on model) so it’s easier to refill and clean. |
| Steam Wand | A steam wand for frothing milk (cappuccinos, lattes etc). It’s manual (not automatic milk textures) so requires some technique. |
| Accessories | It comes with portafilters, different filter baskets (single wall, double wall), a tamper, milk jug etc. |
Pros — What People Like
These are the strengths people frequently point out:
- All-in-one convenience — You don’t have to buy a separate grinder; this helps with cost and space. Great value given what you get.
- Good espresso quality — With proper dialing in (grind, dose, tamp), it gives shots that many find very satisfying — rich, with decent crema.
- Fairly good milk frothing — The steam wand isn’t pro-grade, but it’s good enough for home users to get nice steamed milk and some micro-foam once you gain practice.
- Temperature stability — PID + thermocoil help avoid big temperature swings. Helps make results more consistent shot to shot.
- Useful extras & build quality — Stainless steel parts, removable tanks, good accessories, thoughtful design features (portafilter size, “clean me” lights etc).
Cons / Things to Be Aware Of
The Barista Express is not perfect; here are the trade-offs and things users warn about:
| Potential Issue | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Not simultaneous brew + steam | Because of its heating system (thermocoil + single boiler arrangement), you can’t brew espresso and steam milk at the same time. You generally brew first, then steam. |
| Steam wand strength & speed | The wand is adequate, but not super powerful; making good micro-foam takes time & practice. Some users wish it was faster or stronger. |
| Built-in grinder limitations | The grinder is pretty good, but compared with high-end standalone grinders it may lack some fine control, or be less durable if heavily used. Also some grind settings might be too coarse or fine for certain beans / roasts. There’s also noise and mess (grounds spilling) to manage. |
| Learning curve | To get consistent, great shots, you need to learn how to adjust grind, dose, tamp, etc. It’s not a pure “push-button” machine. For a beginner, initial setup & trial & error may take time. |
| Price / cost of ownership | It’s not cheap; plus you’ll need good beans, filters, descaling, cleaning etc. Also replacement parts (filters, water filters) can add up. |
| Space / footprint | Though compact for what it is, it still takes up counter space. Water tank is at the back, sometimes awkward to refill if placed against a wall. |
Who It’s Good For
Here’s who might get the most value from the Barista Express:
- Someone who wants espresso and milk drinks (latte, cappuccino etc.) at home, with relatively high quality, but without spending huge amounts on separate grinder + machine.
- A person who doesn’t mind learning & tweaking — enjoying the process of dialing in grind, adjusting dosage, getting good milk texture.
- If you don’t need to brew & steam simultaneously, or are okay with that limitation.
- If you want a more compact (but still fairly feature-rich) setup rather than full commercial / dual boiler machines.
It may be less ideal if:
- You want a machine that can brew and steam at the same time (for speed or convenience).
- You want ultra-fine control or very high speed milk frothing (some pro machines do better in those areas).
- You want the lowest cost / least maintenance — this machine demands regular cleaning, descaling, using good beans etc.
My Verdict
If I were purchasing today, the Barista Express would be one of the top picks for a home espresso setup — especially if I value both convenience (built-in grinder) and quality. The trade-offs are acceptable if I’m willing to invest some time to learn and maintain it. For many home users it strikes a good balance between cost, performance, and usability.
