I’m a coffee lover, no doubt about it, have been for a long time and always will be. However, I have recently re-discovered my passion for espresso — after a few years of sorta forgetting about it — and I’ve been pretty much obsessed. But it gets very expensive buying these incredible drinks from coffee shops everyday, and quite time consuming waiting in line. So, I decided I would get my own machine and start making them at home.
That really was a great decision but it also came with the initial headaches of trying to find the best espresso machine for my needs. There are so many different types out there and the prices range from “way too cheap to get a decent cup” all the way to “breaking the bank expensive” and everything in between.
I knew I didn’t need one that was top of the line but I also didn’t want a piece of crap that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy. Therefore, I decided to research the best options in the mid-range prices in order to get a good machine that would do everything I wanted/needed at a reasonable price.
So, What is the Best Home Espresso Machine in 2022?
Spoiler Alert: After much research, I went with the “Breville BES870BSXL The Barista Express Coffee Machine” and I absolutely freaking LOVE it!
As they say, it creates cafe quality coffee at home, and I 100% agree. You truly can make great tasting espresso super fast without any hassle whatsoever. I think it is just as good as you can get at any coffee shop (if not better) but a lot more convenient, and a heck of a lot less expensive. It’s simply amazing!
Okay, I’ve done enough blabbing about my experience, so let me give you some information about the Breville BES870BSXL and what makes it so great…
At the time of writing the Barista Express Coffee Machine is the #1 best seller in semi-automatic espresso machines on Amazon, and I can definitely see why.
The Quick Specs of this Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine:
- 15 Bar Italian Pump
- Purge function automatically adjusts water temperature after steam for optimal espresso extraction
- Stainless steel conical burr grinder with 1/2 lb. sealed bean hopper
- 1600W thermocoil heating system
- Large removable water tank
Breville BES870BSXL Description
– Color: Black Sesame
– Style: Espresso Machine
– Great crema from fresh beans (fresh is best!)
– Dual wall filters (Included dual wall filters provide great practice for aspiring baristas)
– Single wall filters (Included single wall filters give more challenge for the masters of espresso)
– Barista Express portafilter with commercial style spouts
– Easy filling for the portafilter directly from the integrated burr grinder
– Convenient storage compartment for the filters
– Cleaning kit
When it comes to coffee the “freshness” can literally be measured in mere minutes. After even a few minutes have passed, ground beans are starting to lose their flavor. Grinding beans every time you want a high quality, fresh espresso takes time. Which is why it often becomes a trade-off between great taste and convenience for most people. However, the Breville Barista Express solves this problem by delivering fresh and superior quality espresso at a an incredible speed. You can go from beans to espresso in about a minute, and this is done completely in the comfort of your own home.
It’s no secret that espresso making is infamous for being both an art and a science in one, and this requires you to carefully adjust all of the inputs such as grind size, grind amount, temp, pressure, etc… But you can be a complete beginner, aspiring barista, or full blown expert and still pull off the perfect shot from a Breville Barista Express!
For the beginning espresso makers, it includes two dual-wall, pressurized filters that regulate pressure and help optimize the extraction. For the more experienced “barista” types, it comes with two single-wall, non-pressurized filters that give you more room to experiment with different grind sizes, amounts, tamping pressure, and more. This means the Breville BES870BSXL can serve as a crash-course or a continuation study in the art of espresso making.
It has an integrated burr grinder, a 15 bar Italian pump, and a thermocoil heating system that assures accurate regulation of water temperature for a full-flavored espresso. The pre-brewing function and flat shower head ensures the water is optimally distributed through the coffee puck. The Breville BES870BSXL barista express also has multiple other great features; such as a cup warmer on the top of the machine and a feature that removes excess water from the filter basket after coffee extraction, so the used grounds form a dry puck for quicker cleanup. It also boasts a stainless steel 360-degree swivel action steam wand for lattes and cappuccinos.
To me, it’s quite obvious that the Breville Barista Express is made with high-quality materials and built very sturdy. Plus, the no-slip feet keep it from sliding across the counter when the burr grinder is going. It is also housed in a sleek stainless steel casing, which makes it attractive and a timeless addition to your kitchen. The whole unit is really easy to clean and comes with a hidden storage compartment for the cleaning tools (included) and an easily removable drip tray. It’s truly impressive if you ask me!
The Barista Express Coffee Machine Features
- Integrated conical burr grinder and half-pound bean hopper: stainless steel conical burrs optimize extraction of flavor from the bean by maximizing the surface area of the grinds. Use freshly ground beans for every shot for more full espresso flavor. Hopper has locking system for easy removal, storage and transfer of coffee beans.
- Grind size and grind amount selector dials: choose among grind settings from fine to coarse and adjust the amount of freshly ground espresso dosed into the filter basket.
- Filter size button: indicate whether you are using a single- or double-wall filter basket and the grinder will dispense the required amount of ground coffee for the appropriate filter type.
- 54mm tamper: for expert tamping control. With magnetized storage, but removable for easy tamping.
- Hands-free grinding cradle: push portafilter into cradle and freshly ground espresso will be dispensed directly into the filter. Grinder automatically stops when the indicated amount has been dispensed.
- 54mm stainless steel portafilter: with commercial style spouts.
- 67 ounce removable water tank: top-fill tank with replaceable water filter to reduce impurities and scale.
- Volumetric control: preset 1 and 2 cup volumes, manual over-ride, or re-programmable shot volumes.
- Espresso pressure gauge: monitors espresso extraction pressure.
- Thermocoil heating system: integrated stainless steel water coil accurately controls water temperature.
- Clean me light: indicates when a cleaning cycle is required. Cleaning kit included.
- 360-degree swivel action steam wand: for effortless milk texturing.
- Auto purge function: automatically adjusts water temperature after steam for optimal espresso extraction temperature.
- Removable drip tray: partitioned for both wet and dry spills, with ‘Empty me!’ indicator for when it’s full.
Final Review of the Breville BES870BSXL Barista Express Coffee Machine
I think if you’ve made it this far then you would know it’s no secret how much I love this espresso maker. I truly don’t have anything particularly negative to say. It does everything I want it to do (plus more) and makes an excellent cup of espresso without breaking the bank. Yes, of course, there are some better machines out there, but they are expensive. I don’t think you will find a better machine at anywhere near this price, and you really don’t need anything more than what this one has to offer if you are simply looking at an espresso machine for your home.
So, to make myself very clear, I will end with this…
My Breville BES870BSXL Review is 100% positive. I think the Barista Express Coffee Machine is a great buy and would recommend it to my own friends and family without hesitation.
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