Product Review: Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL, Brushed Stainless Steel
Introduction
If you’re looking to bring commercial-style espresso into your kitchen, the Breville Barista Express (also known as the Barista Express BES870XL) is a top contender. This semi-automatic, stainless steel espresso machine with an integrated grinder is built for home baristas who want control over extraction, grind size, and milk texturing without paying for a commercial setup. Whether you want to buy Breville Barista Express online, compare the Breville Barista Express price, or find the best Barista Express deals, this review covers what matters most.
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What is this product?
Overview
The Breville Barista Express (model BES870XL) is a compact, durable, and user-friendly espresso machine with grinder. It combines a built-in conical burr grinder, precise temperature control (PID), and a powerful steam wand to help home users pull café-quality shots and hand-texture microfoam for lattes and cappuccinos. This stainless steel espresso machine aims to shorten the learning curve for beginners while offering advanced controls for hobbyist baristas.
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Key Features
From “About This Item”
- All-in-one design: The Barista Series delivers third wave specialty coffee at home using the 4 keys formula — dose, grind, tamp, and extract — to go from beans to espresso in under one minute.
- Dose Control Grinding: Integrated precision conical burr grinder grinds on demand to deliver the right amount of freshly ground coffee directly into the portafilter for your preferred taste with any roast of bean.
- Optimal Water Pressure: Low pressure pre-infusion gradually increases pressure at the start and helps ensure all the flavors are drawn out evenly during extraction for a balanced tasting cup.
- Free coffee offer: Receive 2 free bags of specialty coffee when you purchase and register any Breville coffee machine; T and Cs apply.
- Precise Espresso Extraction: Digital temperature control (PID) delivers water at precisely the right temperature, ensuring optimal espresso extraction.
- Manual Microfoam Milk Texturing: The powerful steam wand performance allows you to hand texture microfoam milk that enhances flavor and enables creation of latte art.
- Grind Size Dial: Simple and intuitive, giving you control over the grind size no matter what type of bean you’re grinding.
Detailed Description
Product Description
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL, Brushed Stainless Steel. This model blends a high-quality, commercial-style portafilter and professional steam wand with an integrated conical burr grinder to create a compact, reliable home espresso solution. The brushed stainless steel finish looks great on a counter and the machine’s build quality gives lasting performance for daily use.
If you’re searching for a compact stainless steel espresso machine with grinder for home kitchens, the Barista Express offers that balance of footprint and functionality. It’s often recommended as the best semi-automatic starter machine for those who want to learn how to use Breville Barista Express BES870XL for beginners and progress toward dialing in shots with confidence.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Integrated grinder: Freshly ground beans on demand—no separate grinder needed.
- Temperature and pressure control: PID and low-pressure pre-infusion for consistent extractions.
- Microfoam capability: Powerful steam wand for latte art and silky milk texture.
- Durable build: Stainless steel construction and commercial-style portafilter.
- Great for learning: Excellent platform for beginners and enthusiasts to learn dialling in espresso and milk texturing.
Cons
- It’s semi-automatic, so hands-on technique is required—less automated than capsule machines.
- Grinder is good but not as adjustable as some standalone high-end grinders for very precise dialing.
- Relatively compact water reservoir requires refills for frequent multi-cup use.
Who Should Buy This Product
Ideal Buyer Profiles
- Beginners wanting a reliable guide: If you want a beginner guide to dialing in espresso on Barista Express and learn how to use a semi-automatic machine, this is a great choice.
- Home baristas who value convenience: Those seeking an espresso machine with grinder that saves counter space and eliminates a separate grinder.
- People who want milk drinks: If you want to make lattes and cappuccinos, the steam wand and milk frothing capabilities are strong selling points—see our Barista Express milk frothing tips for lattes and cappuccinos below.
- Shoppers looking for deals: If you’re hunting for Barista Express discount or Breville BES870XL for sale, check Amazon for current Barista Express best price and possible free shipping Barista Express offers.
Comparison with Similar Products
Vs. Higher-End Single Units
Compared to dedicated commercial grinders + espresso machines, the Barista Express offers convenience and cost savings but slightly less grind precision than top-tier standalone grinders. Against fully automatic super-automatic machines, the Barista Express gives more control and better espresso quality when dialed in, but requires practice.
Vs. Other Home Semi-Automatics
- Pros over budget semi-automatics: Built-in grinder, PID temperature control, and commercial portafilter.
- Where it trails expensive prosumer machines: Extractor stability and ultra-precise dosing for competition-level shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I dial in grind size on the Barista Express?
Start with a medium-fine setting and adjust by observing extraction time: a 25–30 second shot is a good target. See our quick tip below for Barista Express grind size settings for espresso shots.
What’s the best way to froth milk on this machine?
Use cold whole milk, purge the wand, introduce steam to create a whirlpool, and finish with microfoam. Practice is key—refer to Barista Express milk frothing tips for lattes and cappuccinos.
How do I clean and descale the Breville BES870XL?
Follow Breville’s step-by-step cleaning and descaling instructions: backflush the group head with the included cleaning disc and powder weekly, remove and clean the portafilter and basket, and run a descaling solution through the boiler as recommended. See cleaning and descaling Breville BES870XL step-by-step for details.
Final Verdict
The Breville Barista Express (Barista Express BES870XL) is a standout choice for anyone who wants a durable, semi-automatic, built-in conical burr grinder espresso machine that performs well in a home environment. It’s particularly well-suited to beginners who want to learn how to make café-quality drinks and to enthusiasts who appreciate hands-on control. If you’re ready to purchase BES870XL or are comparing Breville Barista Express refurbished options, checking current Breville Barista Express price and Breville BES870XL warranty policy on Amazon is a smart next step.
Product link: Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL, Brushed Stainless Steel