|
|||||
Frequently Bought Together
Product Features
|
Product Details
Would you like to give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
Commercial features and performance, in a domestic foot print. Espresso perfection requires precision temperature and pressure control, consistently, every time. At the heart of this machine is its dual stainless steel boiler heating system with electronic PID temperature control. The brew boiler, for the espresso shot, is adjustable (190 - 205 degrees F) for different bean roasts and origins, while a separate steam boiler offers instant and powerful steam on demand. So you can extract your shot at the right temperature, delivering optimal flavor, while simultaneously steaming your milk to cafe quality with the 3-hole tipped, 360-degree swivel steam wand. What's more, there is a Heat Exchanger (HX) and another element in the group head, ensuring the entire system maintains a consistent temperature.
The Dual Boiler also features an Over Pressure Valve (OPV) which limits the 15 Bar Italian pump throughout the extraction, preventing bitter flavors in the shot. It also offers a true low pressure pre-infusion, which gradually increases the pressure to gently expand the grinds for an even extraction.
But there's much more to this machine for the coffee geek. A temperature display in either Fahrenheit or Celsius; a preset/manual-override/programmable shot volume; and programmable pre-infusion duration and pre-infusion power. At the same time we’ve kept it simple with user-friendly features. An optional Auto Start setting preheats the machine at a programmed time; a top-fill 84 fl. oz (2.5L) water tank ensures easy access; and the dedicated hot water outlet makes it faster to pre-heat cups or prepare an Americano. There is also a shot clock and pressure gauge to help you improve your barista skills over time. All you'll need are some freshly ground beans and a bit of practice to rival the best cafe.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
79 of 90 people found the following review helpful
I don't even know where to start. I just got this "Lamborghini" of espresso machines, about 2 hours ago and after about 6 tries I pulled a perfect shot.
When I say perfect, I mean double-shot-single-wall-filter-14gr-30-lbs-of-tamper-pressure-200F-9-bars-30-second-extraction-2oz-full-of-crema PERFECT.
I have been using a BES820XL for quite some time and I was very happy with the quality and all my friends always said that my espresso was the best they've ever tried. True, my espresso has always been consistent and close to the coffee I drank throughout Italy.
UNTIL NOW.
I can't believe the difference this machine made. I mean the same coffee (same amount of coffee & same tamper pressure & 30 second extraction) tastes like it's not from the same beans. It tastes like dark chocolate with a very long finish and a delicious aftertaste. The same coffee pulled through BES820XL lacked the finish and wasn't as full-bodied.
The machine is a lot bigger than my BES820XL (I will try to upload a photo later) but it's pure sexinness. I don't even mind that my espresso cups don't fit on top of it when it's under the cupboards (my cabinets are hung a little low).
Besides the obvious difference in the looks between the two machines, this machine is a technological marvel. The PID controls alone are worth it. The PID controls let you keep the temperature pegged at 200F with just over a 1 degree variation. Instant steam means I never have to wait again or hear that pumping noise.
I love the wheels underneath. It makes it so easy to maneuver the machine on the counter. And I also love the fact that you can fill it up right through the top lid.
The ONLY disappointment is the weight of the included tamper. I mean it's great that you can store it right on the machine but for my big hands it's a bit small and too light. I will have to get another tamper (this machine usees a 58mm tamper as opposed to the 51mm on the BES820XL). I've been used to using a nice heavy tamper with a rosewood handle, so I'll probably look for the same one in 58mm.
In conclusion, I LOVE the BDB (Breville Dual Boiler).
I've only had it for 2 hours, so time will tell if it will continue to deliver the results. I will keep updating the review, so stay tuned.
***UPDATE***
I've uploaded 2 photos. On one of them you can see the difference in size between BES820XL (same size as BES830XL) and the new BES900XL.
***UPDATE***
Didn't even read the instructions until now, but it says to soak the water filter for 5 minutes before inserting. I didn't do it (hopefully it won't be an issue). And I just ordered the Smart Grinder Breville BCG800XL Smart Grinder will my wife kill me? We'll find out tonight. :)
***UPDATE***
This machine is MASSIVE. I don't know where to put it in my small kitchen... It's intruding into the cooking space. I might have to put it somewhere outside of the kitchen. I may have to get a bigger apartment to accommodate this espresso machine. I think in the new apartment I will have a separate coffee & wine room with just my coffee stuff and wine refrigerators, how cool would that be?
***UPDATE***
I keep on pulling perfect shots at 9 bars and get 2 oz in 30 seconds. I am using Lavazza "perfetto espresso" ground coffee, which seems to be the perfect grind size. The Smart Grinder should come in within a few days, but I don't see how it can get any better. The espresso I pulled (see the pictures I posted) is as perfect as I've ever had anywhere, even in coffee shops in Italy from freshly roasted and ground coffee.
***UPDATE***
Ran out of Lavazza "Il Perfetto Espresso" which was a perfect grind size. Opened a gold can of Lavazza and found the grind size to be too small - I tried pulling shots even with very little tamper pressure and the shots were coming out too slowly about 40 seconds. The Smart Grinder is coming in tomorrow so I am excited. I already bought the Lavazza and Illy whole beans. Will update my review tomorrow.
***UPDATE*** 11/23/2011
Received Breville's Smart Grinder (Breville BCG800XL Smart Grinder) today and started grinding my own coffee. I bought a 2.2 lb bag of Lavazza beans (Lavazza Super Crema Espresso Whole Bean Coffee, 2.2-Pound Bag) from Amazon, which was delivered super fast by the way.
I played with different settings on the grinder until I got to my double-shot-30-seconds-9-bars perfect shot. The coarsness setting is all the way to the right (the finest setting) and the amount setting is all the way to the left (when the amount setting is in the middle I got too many grinds which is an unnecessary waste of coffee).
The result left me speechless. I got so much crema that my eyes literally popped out of my head like in a cartoon. The taste and aroma were superb. I am finally "there". It doesn't get any better than this. You can have a $10,000 espresso machine and the best shot you'll make would be equal to my shot, because there is no room left for improvement.
BES900XL & BCG800XL are a match made in heaven.
***UPDATE*** 11/25/2011
I keep pulling perfect shots. I haven't had a single shot end up in the sink. I haven't even experimented with the pre-infusion or different temperature (I have it at 200F).
***UPDATE*** 11/27/2011
I just thought I'd say that this machine is not for someone who doesn't understand how the correctly pulled espresso shot is supposed to taste like. This machine is not "set it and forget it" type of machine. It's not a Nespresso or Keurig. To pull a perfect shot you absolutely HAVE TO make sure all the variables are correct and you have to know what you are doing, which means you HAVE TO do additional research on the following: 1. grind size 2. dosing 3. tamper pressure 4. temperature 5. extraction pressure 6. timing of the shot 7. type of bean, etc. If you are not sure what even one part of this means, please do your research BEFORE buying this machine! This machine does its magic only if you do the CORRECT PREP first!! I guarantee that if you pull a 10-second shot or a 50-second shot, you WILL BE disappointed even with your favorite coffee beans!!!
I also guarantee that if you do all the prep correctly you will be amazed at the quality of your espresso shots!!
I would really hate to see someone write a bad review of this machine because of their own mistakes in grind size, dosing and other variables.
***UPDATE*** 12/9/2011
I keep pulling perfect shots every single day. I did change the settings on the grinder to the finest (all the way to the right) and the amount is two ticks from the left between weaker and 0. If the amount is set to 0 it results in too much wasted coffee.
All in all, I am still extremely happy with BDB and the Smart Grinder.
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask me in the comments below.
***UPDATE*** 1/28/2012
Here is a quick update. I have not had a "sink shot" for 2 months straight. Every single shot I pull is absolutely perfect.
I went on a vacation to PR and stopped by a coffee shop, which had a La Marzocco Strada with 2 group heads. La Marzocco Strada is an incredible espresso machine with a hefty price tag and I just couldn't imagine how you can screw up a shot, yet the barista managed to screwed it up! I don't know whether it was his tamper pressure, grind size or something else but it was absolutely disgusting!! Even though I didn't even finish the coffee, it actually made me feel pretty good to be able to pull better shots than La Marzocco Strada! The moral of the story is, prep prep prep!!
***UPDATE*** 3/10/2012
I have been using this machine for almost 4 months. I have pulled probably close to 200 double shots.
The consistency of the machine is incredible. I haven't changed any settings in months and it still pulls perfect shots every time.
I haven't mentioned this before, but it is very important that your espresso cups are warm.
Here is a tip: the quickest way to warm up your espresso cups is to put a little bit of water in them and stick them in a microwave for 30 seconds while you are grinding the coffee.
When I say perfect, I mean double-shot-single-wall-filter-14gr-30-lbs-of-tamper-pressure-200F-9-bars-30-second-extraction-2oz-full-of-crema PERFECT.
I have been using a BES820XL for quite some time and I was very happy with the quality and all my friends always said that my espresso was the best they've ever tried. True, my espresso has always been consistent and close to the coffee I drank throughout Italy.
UNTIL NOW.
I can't believe the difference this machine made. I mean the same coffee (same amount of coffee & same tamper pressure & 30 second extraction) tastes like it's not from the same beans. It tastes like dark chocolate with a very long finish and a delicious aftertaste. The same coffee pulled through BES820XL lacked the finish and wasn't as full-bodied.
The machine is a lot bigger than my BES820XL (I will try to upload a photo later) but it's pure sexinness. I don't even mind that my espresso cups don't fit on top of it when it's under the cupboards (my cabinets are hung a little low).
Besides the obvious difference in the looks between the two machines, this machine is a technological marvel. The PID controls alone are worth it. The PID controls let you keep the temperature pegged at 200F with just over a 1 degree variation. Instant steam means I never have to wait again or hear that pumping noise.
I love the wheels underneath. It makes it so easy to maneuver the machine on the counter. And I also love the fact that you can fill it up right through the top lid.
The ONLY disappointment is the weight of the included tamper. I mean it's great that you can store it right on the machine but for my big hands it's a bit small and too light. I will have to get another tamper (this machine usees a 58mm tamper as opposed to the 51mm on the BES820XL). I've been used to using a nice heavy tamper with a rosewood handle, so I'll probably look for the same one in 58mm.
In conclusion, I LOVE the BDB (Breville Dual Boiler).
I've only had it for 2 hours, so time will tell if it will continue to deliver the results. I will keep updating the review, so stay tuned.
***UPDATE***
I've uploaded 2 photos. On one of them you can see the difference in size between BES820XL (same size as BES830XL) and the new BES900XL.
***UPDATE***
Didn't even read the instructions until now, but it says to soak the water filter for 5 minutes before inserting. I didn't do it (hopefully it won't be an issue). And I just ordered the Smart Grinder Breville BCG800XL Smart Grinder will my wife kill me? We'll find out tonight. :)
***UPDATE***
This machine is MASSIVE. I don't know where to put it in my small kitchen... It's intruding into the cooking space. I might have to put it somewhere outside of the kitchen. I may have to get a bigger apartment to accommodate this espresso machine. I think in the new apartment I will have a separate coffee & wine room with just my coffee stuff and wine refrigerators, how cool would that be?
***UPDATE***
I keep on pulling perfect shots at 9 bars and get 2 oz in 30 seconds. I am using Lavazza "perfetto espresso" ground coffee, which seems to be the perfect grind size. The Smart Grinder should come in within a few days, but I don't see how it can get any better. The espresso I pulled (see the pictures I posted) is as perfect as I've ever had anywhere, even in coffee shops in Italy from freshly roasted and ground coffee.
***UPDATE***
Ran out of Lavazza "Il Perfetto Espresso" which was a perfect grind size. Opened a gold can of Lavazza and found the grind size to be too small - I tried pulling shots even with very little tamper pressure and the shots were coming out too slowly about 40 seconds. The Smart Grinder is coming in tomorrow so I am excited. I already bought the Lavazza and Illy whole beans. Will update my review tomorrow.
***UPDATE*** 11/23/2011
Received Breville's Smart Grinder (Breville BCG800XL Smart Grinder) today and started grinding my own coffee. I bought a 2.2 lb bag of Lavazza beans (Lavazza Super Crema Espresso Whole Bean Coffee, 2.2-Pound Bag) from Amazon, which was delivered super fast by the way.
I played with different settings on the grinder until I got to my double-shot-30-seconds-9-bars perfect shot. The coarsness setting is all the way to the right (the finest setting) and the amount setting is all the way to the left (when the amount setting is in the middle I got too many grinds which is an unnecessary waste of coffee).
The result left me speechless. I got so much crema that my eyes literally popped out of my head like in a cartoon. The taste and aroma were superb. I am finally "there". It doesn't get any better than this. You can have a $10,000 espresso machine and the best shot you'll make would be equal to my shot, because there is no room left for improvement.
BES900XL & BCG800XL are a match made in heaven.
***UPDATE*** 11/25/2011
I keep pulling perfect shots. I haven't had a single shot end up in the sink. I haven't even experimented with the pre-infusion or different temperature (I have it at 200F).
***UPDATE*** 11/27/2011
I just thought I'd say that this machine is not for someone who doesn't understand how the correctly pulled espresso shot is supposed to taste like. This machine is not "set it and forget it" type of machine. It's not a Nespresso or Keurig. To pull a perfect shot you absolutely HAVE TO make sure all the variables are correct and you have to know what you are doing, which means you HAVE TO do additional research on the following: 1. grind size 2. dosing 3. tamper pressure 4. temperature 5. extraction pressure 6. timing of the shot 7. type of bean, etc. If you are not sure what even one part of this means, please do your research BEFORE buying this machine! This machine does its magic only if you do the CORRECT PREP first!! I guarantee that if you pull a 10-second shot or a 50-second shot, you WILL BE disappointed even with your favorite coffee beans!!!
I also guarantee that if you do all the prep correctly you will be amazed at the quality of your espresso shots!!
I would really hate to see someone write a bad review of this machine because of their own mistakes in grind size, dosing and other variables.
***UPDATE*** 12/9/2011
I keep pulling perfect shots every single day. I did change the settings on the grinder to the finest (all the way to the right) and the amount is two ticks from the left between weaker and 0. If the amount is set to 0 it results in too much wasted coffee.
All in all, I am still extremely happy with BDB and the Smart Grinder.
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask me in the comments below.
***UPDATE*** 1/28/2012
Here is a quick update. I have not had a "sink shot" for 2 months straight. Every single shot I pull is absolutely perfect.
I went on a vacation to PR and stopped by a coffee shop, which had a La Marzocco Strada with 2 group heads. La Marzocco Strada is an incredible espresso machine with a hefty price tag and I just couldn't imagine how you can screw up a shot, yet the barista managed to screwed it up! I don't know whether it was his tamper pressure, grind size or something else but it was absolutely disgusting!! Even though I didn't even finish the coffee, it actually made me feel pretty good to be able to pull better shots than La Marzocco Strada! The moral of the story is, prep prep prep!!
***UPDATE*** 3/10/2012
I have been using this machine for almost 4 months. I have pulled probably close to 200 double shots.
The consistency of the machine is incredible. I haven't changed any settings in months and it still pulls perfect shots every time.
I haven't mentioned this before, but it is very important that your espresso cups are warm.
Here is a tip: the quickest way to warm up your espresso cups is to put a little bit of water in them and stick them in a microwave for 30 seconds while you are grinding the coffee.
28 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Well, quite a bit judging from the latest espresso effort from Breville. Since I love espresso, this is going to be a lengthy review. My apologies.
If you would rather not read all my ramblings, the bottom line is this is a great consumer-level machine with some "prosumer" features. It is very user friendly and has an abundance of well thought-out convenience touches. My concerns are that it has to be professionally serviced every 4-5 years and that it lacks a proven track record regarding reliability. I think it's a good match for someone who wants a feature-rich machine that offers ease-of-use automation, but also the ability to take a hands-on approach should one desire. The brand name won't impress the "serious" espresso crowd, but it hits the mark where it counts - tasty espresso.
Full review:
Breville is one of my favorite small appliance companies since they spend a lot of time on the little things that make a difference when using their products. However, when it comes to espresso, I've not been satisfied with their products (I've tried their die-cast espresso machine and the Modena). Decent looks, decent price, but mediocre performance.
Their so-so past espresso efforts, plus the fact that they are a general kitchen appliance maker, never earned Breville much love among the "serious" espresso crowd. Their view is: want a juicer or toaster oven? Go for a Breville. Want an espresso machine? Go for one made in Italy.
Breville has made a big effort to change that perception with this machine. It is packed with features seen on prosumer-level machines: a PID (which allows precise temperature control), a heated group head, the ability to tweak a wide range of settings, and even a timer for start-up and shut-down. For me it's the best of both worlds - I can play with the settings when I feel so inclined, or just push a button when I want an espresso RIGHT NOW.
A big change from past models is the dual boiler setup. This means there is one boiler dedicated to brewing, and another dedicated for steaming milk. The benefits include the ability to steam and brew at the same time, faster recovery time, and more consistent temperature. According to Breville, the water comes into the steam boiler first, then goes to the brew boiler so you don't get a big influx of cold water that drops the temperature.
Other nice features include an automated cleaning cycle (more on that later) and a hot water dispenser. Little helpful touches abound, such as a cubby behind the drip tray to hold cleaning supplies and a wheel that pops up to help move the machine when you need to get to the back of the unit. It's indicative of the thought that Breville puts into their designs - clearly the people who design these products actually use them as well.
The overall design is similar to many of their other appliances. It looks like a Breville, with lit buttons and nicely shaped stainless throughout. Plastic, when used, looks and feels high quality. Very sleek looking, but to my eye it lacks the beauty of the high-end Italian machines. I'd say it's "handsome" rather than "gorgeous."
I paired this initially with a Breville Smart Grinder, but was not pleased with the results. I couldn't get the grind fine enough (I'm using the non-pressurized basket). It's important to note that I have NOT modified my grinder with the shims. If you get the shim kit (free from Breville) their Smart Grinder should be an OK choice. I had much better results with a Baratza Vario grinder. Remember, a great espresso starts with the grinder - don't bother spending good money on a machine unless you also budget for a good grinder.
After only a few failed experiments I was turning out very nice shots. Granted, you can get great shots from a much less expensive machine, but the Breville saves you from having to temperature surf or worry about other such variables. All you have to do is concentrate on the grind, dose and tamp.
My only quibble regarding shots was that occasionally the puck stuck to the shower screen. It's easy to dislodge (gently nudge it with your finger and it pops off) but was irritating. Nice dry puck.
The tamper included with the machine is OK. It has a standard 58mm portafilter so a third-party tamper is easy to get (my Rattleware 58mm worked great).
Steaming prowess seems quite good. I can't give you a detailed description of how a latte tastes since the idea of adding milk to espresso makes me cringe. But I had no problems foaming milk, and the results were judged excellent by friends who are willing to drink what I term milk-tainted espresso. The fact that I had no problems foaming milk speaks highly of how easy this machine is to use, since I lack much time using a steam wand. The steam control knob is graduated so you can easily change the steam volume; there is a nice plastic grip on the wand to prevent burned fingers; the wand has a ball joint for flexibility; and the steam itself is very dry. It does not have a double-insulated wand, so you have to make sure you clean it well after use or the milk bakes on (found that out the hard way).
The tanks are stainless steel. Any respectable espresso geek would sneer at that since copper or brass are preferred for holding uniform temperatures. But with the PID control and an heated group head, temperature fluctuations are nil. I don't see the tank material to be an issue at all.
The machine comes with 4 baskets (single and double in both pressurized and non-pressurized) plus a whole host of goodies including a frothing jug (and a rather nice one at that) and the cleaning supplies. The manual is clear, easy to understand, and a provides a great deal of helpful information to step you through the program options.
Now the bad parts. Let's start with cleaning. On the plus side, it offers an automated backflush system that is easy as pie to use - basically just push a button. It comes with a rubber insert to create a blind portafilter and 2 cleaning tablets. It will prompt you to run a cleaning cycle after roughly 200 shots, but you can also run it on-demand.
They also include enough water filters for one year (2 month replacement cycle). Filters cost $30 for a 6-pack at the Breville site (could not find them yet on Amazon). The other regular replacement item would be the group head gasket, as in all espresso machines. It is not yet available on the Breville site.
What concerns me is that you cannot - repeat CANNOT - descale this machine yourself. They state it has to be professionally descaled. The following quote is from the support section on the Breville website:
"To ensure a long life of optimal brewing and steaming performance, it is important the machine is serviced by an authorized Breville service agent when the `SERVICE' prompt scrolls across the LCD screen. The `SERVICE' prompt will appear after 6,000 cycles - approximately 4-5 years of regular use in a domestic environment. The frequency of this prompt will depend on your frequency of use."
I emailed Breville to find out the cost of the service and was told it would run $60 to $100. There are only a few service centers, however, and none anywhere near me. So that means boxing it up and shipping, which will add to the cost and trouble.
I don't care for that at all. I don't have confidence that the filters will reduce the scale to the point where it doesn't need to be removed for 3-4 years. Scale is an unavoidable issue in any machine that heats water. Having to pack up the machine and send it in for a "professional" descaling is going to be really irksome not only in terms of cost, but also in terms of potential shipping damage.
That's a big issue that you need to be willing to deal with should you buy this. I'd suggest checking with Breville to see if there is a service center near you before purchasing.
The other issue that nags at me is reliability. There's a lot of electronics in this puppy, and electronics have a way of needing expensive repairs. Plus, the guts of the machine (from pictures I've seen of tear-downs) is loaded with plastic rather than metal. The warranty is only 1 year. I would be more comfortable with at least a 3 year warranty given the price point of the unit. A 3+ year warranty tells me the manufacturer is confident that the unit will last. One year makes me a bit apprehensive.
Both those concerns tempted me to drop the rating, but I'm going to stick with 5 stars since it works well (right now at least), yields great shots, is easy to use, and was thoughtfully designed. Add those up and you get 5 stars in my book. I'll revise the rating down the road should problems occur.
I would rank this as one of the top choices in the $1000 to $1500 segment of the market. (I'd suggest the Gaggia Classic for the sub-$500 segment, the Crossland CC-1 or the Silvia for the $500 to $1000 segment; and the Rocket Giotto or the Quick Mill Andreja the $1,500+ segment). You get a lot of machine for your money and, if paired with a little practice and a good grinder, you can pull some very, very nice shots. Just don't put milk in them, OK?
If you would rather not read all my ramblings, the bottom line is this is a great consumer-level machine with some "prosumer" features. It is very user friendly and has an abundance of well thought-out convenience touches. My concerns are that it has to be professionally serviced every 4-5 years and that it lacks a proven track record regarding reliability. I think it's a good match for someone who wants a feature-rich machine that offers ease-of-use automation, but also the ability to take a hands-on approach should one desire. The brand name won't impress the "serious" espresso crowd, but it hits the mark where it counts - tasty espresso.
Full review:
Breville is one of my favorite small appliance companies since they spend a lot of time on the little things that make a difference when using their products. However, when it comes to espresso, I've not been satisfied with their products (I've tried their die-cast espresso machine and the Modena). Decent looks, decent price, but mediocre performance.
Their so-so past espresso efforts, plus the fact that they are a general kitchen appliance maker, never earned Breville much love among the "serious" espresso crowd. Their view is: want a juicer or toaster oven? Go for a Breville. Want an espresso machine? Go for one made in Italy.
Breville has made a big effort to change that perception with this machine. It is packed with features seen on prosumer-level machines: a PID (which allows precise temperature control), a heated group head, the ability to tweak a wide range of settings, and even a timer for start-up and shut-down. For me it's the best of both worlds - I can play with the settings when I feel so inclined, or just push a button when I want an espresso RIGHT NOW.
A big change from past models is the dual boiler setup. This means there is one boiler dedicated to brewing, and another dedicated for steaming milk. The benefits include the ability to steam and brew at the same time, faster recovery time, and more consistent temperature. According to Breville, the water comes into the steam boiler first, then goes to the brew boiler so you don't get a big influx of cold water that drops the temperature.
Other nice features include an automated cleaning cycle (more on that later) and a hot water dispenser. Little helpful touches abound, such as a cubby behind the drip tray to hold cleaning supplies and a wheel that pops up to help move the machine when you need to get to the back of the unit. It's indicative of the thought that Breville puts into their designs - clearly the people who design these products actually use them as well.
The overall design is similar to many of their other appliances. It looks like a Breville, with lit buttons and nicely shaped stainless throughout. Plastic, when used, looks and feels high quality. Very sleek looking, but to my eye it lacks the beauty of the high-end Italian machines. I'd say it's "handsome" rather than "gorgeous."
I paired this initially with a Breville Smart Grinder, but was not pleased with the results. I couldn't get the grind fine enough (I'm using the non-pressurized basket). It's important to note that I have NOT modified my grinder with the shims. If you get the shim kit (free from Breville) their Smart Grinder should be an OK choice. I had much better results with a Baratza Vario grinder. Remember, a great espresso starts with the grinder - don't bother spending good money on a machine unless you also budget for a good grinder.
After only a few failed experiments I was turning out very nice shots. Granted, you can get great shots from a much less expensive machine, but the Breville saves you from having to temperature surf or worry about other such variables. All you have to do is concentrate on the grind, dose and tamp.
My only quibble regarding shots was that occasionally the puck stuck to the shower screen. It's easy to dislodge (gently nudge it with your finger and it pops off) but was irritating. Nice dry puck.
The tamper included with the machine is OK. It has a standard 58mm portafilter so a third-party tamper is easy to get (my Rattleware 58mm worked great).
Steaming prowess seems quite good. I can't give you a detailed description of how a latte tastes since the idea of adding milk to espresso makes me cringe. But I had no problems foaming milk, and the results were judged excellent by friends who are willing to drink what I term milk-tainted espresso. The fact that I had no problems foaming milk speaks highly of how easy this machine is to use, since I lack much time using a steam wand. The steam control knob is graduated so you can easily change the steam volume; there is a nice plastic grip on the wand to prevent burned fingers; the wand has a ball joint for flexibility; and the steam itself is very dry. It does not have a double-insulated wand, so you have to make sure you clean it well after use or the milk bakes on (found that out the hard way).
The tanks are stainless steel. Any respectable espresso geek would sneer at that since copper or brass are preferred for holding uniform temperatures. But with the PID control and an heated group head, temperature fluctuations are nil. I don't see the tank material to be an issue at all.
The machine comes with 4 baskets (single and double in both pressurized and non-pressurized) plus a whole host of goodies including a frothing jug (and a rather nice one at that) and the cleaning supplies. The manual is clear, easy to understand, and a provides a great deal of helpful information to step you through the program options.
Now the bad parts. Let's start with cleaning. On the plus side, it offers an automated backflush system that is easy as pie to use - basically just push a button. It comes with a rubber insert to create a blind portafilter and 2 cleaning tablets. It will prompt you to run a cleaning cycle after roughly 200 shots, but you can also run it on-demand.
They also include enough water filters for one year (2 month replacement cycle). Filters cost $30 for a 6-pack at the Breville site (could not find them yet on Amazon). The other regular replacement item would be the group head gasket, as in all espresso machines. It is not yet available on the Breville site.
What concerns me is that you cannot - repeat CANNOT - descale this machine yourself. They state it has to be professionally descaled. The following quote is from the support section on the Breville website:
"To ensure a long life of optimal brewing and steaming performance, it is important the machine is serviced by an authorized Breville service agent when the `SERVICE' prompt scrolls across the LCD screen. The `SERVICE' prompt will appear after 6,000 cycles - approximately 4-5 years of regular use in a domestic environment. The frequency of this prompt will depend on your frequency of use."
I emailed Breville to find out the cost of the service and was told it would run $60 to $100. There are only a few service centers, however, and none anywhere near me. So that means boxing it up and shipping, which will add to the cost and trouble.
I don't care for that at all. I don't have confidence that the filters will reduce the scale to the point where it doesn't need to be removed for 3-4 years. Scale is an unavoidable issue in any machine that heats water. Having to pack up the machine and send it in for a "professional" descaling is going to be really irksome not only in terms of cost, but also in terms of potential shipping damage.
That's a big issue that you need to be willing to deal with should you buy this. I'd suggest checking with Breville to see if there is a service center near you before purchasing.
The other issue that nags at me is reliability. There's a lot of electronics in this puppy, and electronics have a way of needing expensive repairs. Plus, the guts of the machine (from pictures I've seen of tear-downs) is loaded with plastic rather than metal. The warranty is only 1 year. I would be more comfortable with at least a 3 year warranty given the price point of the unit. A 3+ year warranty tells me the manufacturer is confident that the unit will last. One year makes me a bit apprehensive.
Both those concerns tempted me to drop the rating, but I'm going to stick with 5 stars since it works well (right now at least), yields great shots, is easy to use, and was thoughtfully designed. Add those up and you get 5 stars in my book. I'll revise the rating down the road should problems occur.
I would rank this as one of the top choices in the $1000 to $1500 segment of the market. (I'd suggest the Gaggia Classic for the sub-$500 segment, the Crossland CC-1 or the Silvia for the $500 to $1000 segment; and the Rocket Giotto or the Quick Mill Andreja the $1,500+ segment). You get a lot of machine for your money and, if paired with a little practice and a good grinder, you can pull some very, very nice shots. Just don't put milk in them, OK?
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
My heart was set on a Rocket. I decided to try the Breville even though it didn't have the E61 group head nor the proven track record of quality. The group head is controlled by an element rather than the Rocket's mechanical E61 approach. I shy away from Breville because their products aren't great quality, but this machine is very well thought out:
Pros:
the drip tray tells you when it's time to empty so you don't accidentally overflow it; the tamp stores nicely with a magnetic insert; the choice between manual and the automatic volume buttons make pulling the shot easy; the PID temperature control on the group head lets me choose brew temp almost on the fly; the pressure gauge helps me adjust my grind and tamp; the lever action steam wand is much easier to use than a round knob; there is a wheel that drops down beneath the drip tray to make it easy to maneuver the machine on the counter; the water tank will overflow into the drip tray if you overfill; you can pour water from the boiler with the left knob (no lever, though not needed) for Americanos; you can program the machine to turn on at a specified time in the morning; you can pop up the lid in the front if you want to fill the water tank from the front rather than always needing to turn the machine to access the tank; the steel casing is easy to clean (though it shows finger prints); it is stable enough that the machine doesn't turn when you twist the portafilter in; the dual boiler for the steam wand makes milk frothing easy and quick; overall spacing and placement of controls works well; heats up fast, I can pull as many shots as I want with this machine, it can easily handle your dinner guests.
Cons:
It's not as pretty as the Rockets and some other machines; Brushed steel housing shows finger prints; 57mm [58mm: correction by Greg in comments] portafilter (no naked filter available yet); tamp is plastic and metal (though it works fine); Breville's poor quality history [Greg in the comments said he's been happy with Breville quality]; requires service every 4-5 years because you can't back flush [can't descale: correction by Greg in comments] it yourself (though, it's dual boiler rather than heat exchange so you have the option to use distilled water so you can cut down on mineral deposits); Noisy vibration pump (though, rotaries are a huge price increase); Did I mention it's Breville?
Grinder Requirements:
The machine requires a good grinder to get the most out of it. I have a step-less Mazzer Mini (apprx $500). Because of grinder quality I am able to dial in my shots to the exact extraction time. If you used a lower quality grinder you might have a hard time getting grind just right. The only reason I mention these grinders and their prices is to reinforce the fact that espresso machines are limited by grind quality. Uneven grinds are no problem with drip coffee but it will cause variations in espresso quality.
Summary:
I've decided to keep this machine rather than getting the Rocket. It saved me $1000 and I don't expect to keep it longer than 5 years. In addition, the automatic and manual shot buttons are convenient. With a Rocket you only have manual. Another con on the Rocket is that it you need to use a power cord timer if you want to start it at a certain time in the morning so it has a chance to heat up. The built in Breville timer takes care of that for you.
This Breville vs the Rancilio Silvia:
Would I personally recommend spending an extra $500 to get this machine rather than a Rancilio Silvia? Yes. This machine is larger than the Silvia, but it has a built in PID and pressure gauge. To get a PID installed on a Silvia will cost a minimum of $250 and you still won't have the pressure gauge or any of the automation features. The extra $500 in this case is worth every penny (provided the Breville PID works, of course).
=== Update 1/5/12 ===
According to Seattle Coffee Gear, Breville will be offering a bottomless portafilter for this machine in early 2012. Keep watch!
=== Update 3/20/12 ===
1) Purchased naked portafilter from Breville. Great learning tool. And it's messy when you mess up your shot preparation. Of course, that reinforces the learning experience.
2) Took a 2hr espresso class with Cole McBride at Visions Espresso in Seattle today. Learned I've been sloppy about dosing my shots and that it actually matters. Now I weigh my shots to help me correct grinder adjustment and consistency. I also learned to avoid some bad habits. If you live in an area where you can take a class I think it's definitely worth it. If you're in and around Seattle call Cole at Visions to get his class schedule.
Pros:
the drip tray tells you when it's time to empty so you don't accidentally overflow it; the tamp stores nicely with a magnetic insert; the choice between manual and the automatic volume buttons make pulling the shot easy; the PID temperature control on the group head lets me choose brew temp almost on the fly; the pressure gauge helps me adjust my grind and tamp; the lever action steam wand is much easier to use than a round knob; there is a wheel that drops down beneath the drip tray to make it easy to maneuver the machine on the counter; the water tank will overflow into the drip tray if you overfill; you can pour water from the boiler with the left knob (no lever, though not needed) for Americanos; you can program the machine to turn on at a specified time in the morning; you can pop up the lid in the front if you want to fill the water tank from the front rather than always needing to turn the machine to access the tank; the steel casing is easy to clean (though it shows finger prints); it is stable enough that the machine doesn't turn when you twist the portafilter in; the dual boiler for the steam wand makes milk frothing easy and quick; overall spacing and placement of controls works well; heats up fast, I can pull as many shots as I want with this machine, it can easily handle your dinner guests.
Cons:
It's not as pretty as the Rockets and some other machines; Brushed steel housing shows finger prints; 57mm [58mm: correction by Greg in comments] portafilter (no naked filter available yet); tamp is plastic and metal (though it works fine); Breville's poor quality history [Greg in the comments said he's been happy with Breville quality]; requires service every 4-5 years because you can't back flush [can't descale: correction by Greg in comments] it yourself (though, it's dual boiler rather than heat exchange so you have the option to use distilled water so you can cut down on mineral deposits); Noisy vibration pump (though, rotaries are a huge price increase); Did I mention it's Breville?
Grinder Requirements:
The machine requires a good grinder to get the most out of it. I have a step-less Mazzer Mini (apprx $500). Because of grinder quality I am able to dial in my shots to the exact extraction time. If you used a lower quality grinder you might have a hard time getting grind just right. The only reason I mention these grinders and their prices is to reinforce the fact that espresso machines are limited by grind quality. Uneven grinds are no problem with drip coffee but it will cause variations in espresso quality.
Summary:
I've decided to keep this machine rather than getting the Rocket. It saved me $1000 and I don't expect to keep it longer than 5 years. In addition, the automatic and manual shot buttons are convenient. With a Rocket you only have manual. Another con on the Rocket is that it you need to use a power cord timer if you want to start it at a certain time in the morning so it has a chance to heat up. The built in Breville timer takes care of that for you.
This Breville vs the Rancilio Silvia:
Would I personally recommend spending an extra $500 to get this machine rather than a Rancilio Silvia? Yes. This machine is larger than the Silvia, but it has a built in PID and pressure gauge. To get a PID installed on a Silvia will cost a minimum of $250 and you still won't have the pressure gauge or any of the automation features. The extra $500 in this case is worth every penny (provided the Breville PID works, of course).
=== Update 1/5/12 ===
According to Seattle Coffee Gear, Breville will be offering a bottomless portafilter for this machine in early 2012. Keep watch!
=== Update 3/20/12 ===
1) Purchased naked portafilter from Breville. Great learning tool. And it's messy when you mess up your shot preparation. Of course, that reinforces the learning experience.
2) Took a 2hr espresso class with Cole McBride at Visions Espresso in Seattle today. Learned I've been sloppy about dosing my shots and that it actually matters. Now I weigh my shots to help me correct grinder adjustment and consistency. I also learned to avoid some bad habits. If you live in an area where you can take a class I think it's definitely worth it. If you're in and around Seattle call Cole at Visions to get his class schedule.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Sets a new standard for "Prosumer"
I first began drinking cappuccinos when growing up in Hartford's South End (aka Little Italy) long before they became trendy, or the word yuppie even existed. Read more
Published 8 hours ago by Knest
Best Coffee I Ever Had
First off, a review of an espresso machine is worthless without context, so here is mine: I have spent the past three years using a De'Longhi BAR32 Retro 15 BAR Pump Espresso and... Read more
Published 13 days ago by Kevin Lund
excellent espresso after some tweaking
I have been playing around with my new BES900 for a couple weeks and have come to love it. My machine came with an uncalibrated OPV (over-pressure valve), which resulted in... Read more
Published 1 month ago by R. Pivaral
Work of Art!
This is exactly the type of machine I've been waiting for. Before purchasing I did my homework like everyone else writing reviews for this product and it was a dream come true. Read more
Published 2 months ago by grkgeorgy
Heaven in a cup!
I owned the Cafe Modena before this machine. This espresso maker is the coffeehouse killer! I just made my first latte on it, and it is one of the best cups I have ever had. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Anitta Peese
Wow, I'm impressed - great home espresso maker
When this espresso machine arrived at my house I had high hopes as it's pretty pricey for a home unit.
I have to say that it exceeded my hopes. Read more
I have to say that it exceeded my hopes. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Vic M
Best value product in the pro-sumer espresso range!
After researching most of the pro-sumer models on the market, I decided on the 900XLS as it represented all the features (and more) at a fraction of the cost of the more expensive... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Steve
It's pretty much perfect.
I did a lot of research before settling on this machine. From the $10k machines on down. I cross referenced Coffee Geek, other review sites, Amazon, Williams Sonoma, others. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Kevin M. Farnham
Breville actually pulled it off!
Wow! Very impressed! Before when you heard Breville and espresso machine in the same sentance you would run in the other direction. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jason Hilton
Initail Impression
I traded-in my Rancilio Silvia for this "affordable" double boiler and this here is my first impression. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Nantura11
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
