top of page
image.png

Our Rating:

5.0

Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine Review 

Ranked #1

Best Espresso Machine (2025)

Authors: Linh G, Paige L, Kevin W, Jordan E

Introduction

The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine has captured our rank #1 crown for 2025 because it transforms any kitchen into a miniature café, blending pro‑grade flavor control with a learning‑friendly design that we put through daily, hands‑on use for months of espresso‑fueled mornings!

Breville calls this an “espresso school in a box,” and after living with it we understand why: every element, from the built‑in conical burr grinder to the hissing manual steam wand, teaches core barista skills while consistently pulling shots that rival our favorite shops!

Design and Build Quality

The Barista Express is engineered to feel less like a kitchen appliance and more like a piece of professional cafe equipment.
 

  • Premium Construction: The moment you unbox the machine, the quality is undeniable. The chassis is wrapped in beautiful, brushed stainless steel that feels incredibly rigid and durable. This isn't a flimsy, plastic-heavy machine; its substantial 23-pound weight keeps it firmly planted on the counter, even when locking in the heavy portafilter. From the first day we used it, we knew this was a machine built to last for years of daily service.
     

  • Thoughtful Footprint: Despite its professional feel, the machine is smartly designed for home kitchens. At just under 16 inches tall, it fits perfectly under standard kitchen cabinets, a crucial detail that many other high-performance machines overlook. It strikes the perfect balance between having a commanding presence and respecting your valuable counter space.
     

  • Elegant Finishes: The Breville comes in 2 finishes, Brushed Stainless Steel (BES870XL) and a sleek Black Sesame (BES870BSXL) finish. It offers a modern, sophisticated alternative that looks absolutely stunning in any kitchen decor, adding a touch of understated elegance.
     

  • Commercial-Style Portafilter: The 54mm portafilter is made of stainless steel and has a satisfying heft, weighing nearly a full pound. This isn't just for show; the heavy-duty construction is essential for maintaining thermal stability, ensuring the water temperature remains consistent from the machine to the coffee grounds for a perfect extraction every time.

User Interface & Ergonomics

Breville has obsessed over the daily user experience, and it shows in every dial, button, and component.
 

  • Intuitive Control Panel: The Barista Express features a clear, tactile interface with physical buttons and dials, all centered around a prominent pressure gauge. There are no confusing menus or touch screens. The controls for grind size, dose amount, and single or double shots are logically laid out, allowing you to develop a smooth and efficient workflow from day one.
     

  • Clever Bean Hopper: The half-pound capacity bean hopper has a brilliant locking mechanism. This feature, which we used constantly during our testing, allows you to remove the entire hopper to swap beans or for cleaning, even when it’s completely full, without spilling a single bean!
     

  • Water Reservoir: The large 67-ounce water tank is a marvel of convenient design. It's easily removable from the back, and the lid flips up to act as a handle, making trips to the sink effortless. It also includes an integrated holder for a charcoal water filter, improving the taste of your coffee and reducing scale buildup.
     

  • "Empty Me!" Drip Tray: The high-capacity drip tray is exceptionally well-designed. A clever mechanical sign flips up to let you know when it's time to empty it—a small but incredibly helpful feature. Inside, a divider keeps coffee grounds and wastewater separate for tidier cleanup, and sliding it out reveals a hidden storage tray for all your cleaning tools and accessories.
     

  • Magnetic Tamper Dock: The included 54mm tamper stores neatly in its own integrated, magnetic dock right on the machine. This keeps this essential tool off the counter but always within arm's reach, reinforcing the feeling of a self-contained, professional workstation.

The Grinder

The built-in grinder is the heart of the machine's all-in-one value, delivering fresh, café-quality grounds on demand.
 

  • Stainless Steel Conical Burrs: The machine features a high-quality stainless steel conical burr grinder, the same type found in excellent standalone grinders. Conical burrs are prized for their ability to produce a consistent grind size, which is absolutely essential for a balanced and flavorful espresso extraction. In our daily grind-and-brew routine, we found the integrated conical burr grinder to be exceptionally capable and consistent.
     

  • Dose Control: The Barista Express gives you complete control over your dose. You can use the automatic dosing function, which grinds a timed amount of coffee directly into the portafilter, or switch to manual mode by simply pressing and holding the cradle for full control. This flexibility is perfect for both beginners who want repeatability and experts who prefer to dose by weight.
     

  • Grind Settings: A large dial on the side of the machine offers 16 distinct grind settings, providing a wide range to dial in any type of coffee bean, from dark to light roasts. For advanced users, the upper burr is also adjustable, unlocking micro-adjustments that allow you to absolutely perfect your grind for even the most demanding single-origin beans.
     

  • Clean and Tidy Grinding: To ensure a mess-free experience, the machine includes the Breville Dosing Funnel™ attachment. This simple but effective collar sits on the portafilter and prevents grounds from spilling over the sides, saving coffee and making cleanup practically nonexistent. It’s a fantastic addition that shows Breville listens to its users.

The Extraction

This is where the Barista Express truly shines, combining commercial-grade features to produce exceptional espresso.
 

  • Thermocoil with PID Control: The machine uses a 1600W Thermocoil heating system with integrated PID digital temperature control. This advanced system flash-heats water on demand and continuously makes micro-adjustments to hold the temperature at a precise 200°F. This stability is the secret to unlocking perfectly balanced flavor and avoiding the bitter or sour notes caused by temperature swings in lesser machines.
     

  • Low-Pressure Pre-Infusion: Just like the professional machines in your favorite cafe, the extraction process begins with a gentle, low-pressure pre-infusion. This step saturates the coffee grounds evenly, settling the puck and preventing channeling, which can ruin a shot. Our hands-on testing confirmed that this feature is critical for achieving a consistently rich and syrupy extraction.
     

  • 9-Bar Extraction Pressure: After pre-infusion, the machine ramps up to the industry-standard 9 bars of pressure for the main extraction. An over-pressure valve (OPV) ensures the pressure never exceeds this optimal level, giving you a layer of forgiveness and ensuring a balanced, beautiful shot, even when you're still learning.
     

  • Pressure Gauge: The large analog pressure gauge provides real-time visual feedback, guiding you toward the optimal extraction range. For beginners, it’s an wonderful starting tool for understanding how grind size and tamp pressure affect the shot, helping you learn to dial in your espresso like a pro. 

Milk & Steam Wand

The powerful manual steam wand transforms the machine into a true latte and cappuccino powerhouse.
 

  • Manual Steam Wand: The Barista Express is equipped with a high-pressure manual steam wand mounted on a 360-degree swivel joint. This gives you the flexibility to texture milk at any angle, just like a professional barista. The wand produces a powerful, focused jet of steam that makes creating microfoam a joy.
     

  • Creating Silky Microfoam: The performance of this steam wand is astonishingly good! It has more than enough power to create the silky, velvety microfoam required for high-quality milk drinks and is essential for pouring beautiful latte art. After countless practice sessions in our kitchen, our team was able to consistently produce cafe-quality foam that integrated perfectly for a smooth, delicious mouthfeel.
     

  • A Rewarding Skill: While there is a learning curve, mastering the manual steam wand is an incredibly rewarding part of the espresso journey. It’s a true skill, and the feeling of pouring your own perfect latte art is something you simply can’t get from an automatic machine. This feature alone makes the Barista Express an "espresso school" in a box.

Accessories 

A key reason the Barista Express secures its #1 rank is the incredible suite of high-quality accessories included right in the box.
 

  • A True Starter Kit: Breville includes everything you need to start making amazing coffee from day one. This isn't just a machine; it's a complete kit. You get the heavy stainless steel portafilter, four different filter baskets (both single and dual wall), the magnetic tamper, a stainless steel milk jug, and a full cleaning kit.
     

  • Razor™ Dose Trimming Tool: This patented and exclusive Breville tool is a game-changer for consistency. After tamping, you use the Razor™ to trim the coffee puck to the perfect height, ensuring a precise dose every single time. It’s a brilliant tool that removes guesswork and helps you pull perfect shots repeatedly.
     

  • Unbeatable Value: With other machines, you would have to spend a significant amount of extra money and time researching and buying a separate grinder, tamper, and milk jug. The Barista Express eliminates all of that hassle and hidden cost, delivering unparalleled value and a seamless out-of-the-box experience.

Conclusion: Top Winning Rank!

image.png

The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine earns its #1 ranking by masterfully blending professional-grade performance with a thoughtful, user-focused design. It’s a machine that grows with you, teaching you the art of espresso with its hands-on controls while providing the precision of PID temperature and 9-bar pressure to guarantee exceptional results. The powerful steam wand, the high-quality integrated grinder, and the complete set of included accessories create a package of unbeatable value!
 

Breville has engineered an espresso machine that is the perfect entry point into the deeply rewarding world of specialty coffee. After living with it, mastering its features, and enjoying countless cafe-quality drinks, it is clear that this machine redefines what's possible at home. For anyone seeking the absolute best in performance, design, and value in 2025, the Breville Barista Express is the clear and triumphant choice! 🎉☕️🎉

Where to Buy?​​

Affiliate link(s), may earn us a commission. Thank you!💖

Breville Espresso Machine 

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.  Some links on this page are affiliate links! Thank You!💖Learn More
bottom of page