Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine – Brushed Stainless Steel

Skip the café queues with this space-saving espresso machine from Breville. While many manual machines require you to grind your coffee in a separate grinder, this machine borrows functionality from automatic machines by having an integrated grinder.

The symmetrical control panel contains buttons for both single and double shots. Equipped with a pre-infusion function, the machine will slowly saturate your packed coffee grounds with short jets of water to produce the perfect crema. There are 18 different grind settings to choose from, catering to any roast you bring home. A pressure gauge will help you optimise the profile of your cup.

As its name suggests, the Barista Express provides you with all the tools for pumping out quality espresso. Available in Brushed Stainless Steel, Cranberry Red, or Black Sesame, there’s a finish to suit any kitchen backdrop.

One drawback of having a grinder separate to your machine is that ground coffee can sit inside the grinder and lose its vitality prior to extraction. An integrated grinder means your coffee is extracted immediately after it is ground, preserving all the oils for a rich crema. There’s a unique grind setting to accommodate every type of roast.

This machine features buttons for producing both single and double shots. A single shot of coffee is 30 ml, so a double shot will give you a 60 ml of espresso for when you need that 3 PM pick-me-up. You can select your setting and then walk away, as the machine will automatically stop once the appropriate volume has been extracted.

Forget the idea that water can only dilute. This coffee machine is programmed to release small spurts of water prior to the pouring of each shot. Although subtle, this process of pre-infusion primes your ground coffee for optimum espresso extraction, resulting in a richer cup of coffee that is crowned with a full, flavoursome crema.

While pressure itself is not a variable in producing a fine cup of coffee, an awareness of how much pressure is behind your extraction will allow you to become more consistent in your brewing. By looking at the pressure gauge on your machine, you will know if your grounds are appropriately compressed or if you need to change your grind setting.

Key Features

• Barista Express espresso machine
• 250 g bean capacity
• Programmable or manual coffee settings
• Integrated conical burr grinder
• Hands free grinding cradle
• Preset and adjustable dose control
• PID temperature control
• Low pressure pre-infusion
• Dedicated hot water outlet for long blacks
• Multi access swivel steam wand
• 2L Water tank with a water filtration system
• 1700W high power fast heat up and high pressure steam
• Large range of included accessories
• Model number BES870BSS
• Weight 12.5 kg
• Dimensions 320 mm wide, 300 mm deep, 380 mm high
• 1 year manufacturer warranty