If you’ve been dreaming of making cafe-quality espresso at home without investing thousands of dollars in professional equipment, the Breville BES870XL Barista Express is one of the best machines you can buy. Combining an integrated conical burr grinder, precise temperature control, and a powerful steam wand, this all-in-one espresso machine is designed to help beginners and experienced coffee lovers brew exceptional espresso in less than a minute.
After spending time learning its features and considering long-term ownership, it’s easy to understand why this model has remained one of the most recommended home espresso machines for years. While it does require regular cleaning and maintenance, the quality of coffee it produces easily rivals drinks from many coffee shops.
Breville BES870XL Barista Express Features
Integrated Precision Conical Burr Grinder
One of the biggest advantages of the Barista Express is its built-in precision conical burr grinder. Instead of using pre-ground coffee that loses freshness quickly, the machine grinds beans directly into the portafilter.
The grinder offers adjustable grind settings, allowing you to fine-tune extraction depending on your coffee beans. Whether you’re using light, medium, or dark roast beans, you can dial in the perfect grind for better flavor and aroma.
Bean-to-Espresso in Under One Minute
Breville’s Barista Series is designed to take you from whole beans to a freshly brewed espresso in under one minute. Since grinding and brewing happen within the same machine, the coffee retains more natural oils and flavors.
This convenience makes it perfect for busy mornings without sacrificing coffee quality.
Low Pressure Pre-Infusion
The machine begins extraction with low-pressure pre-infusion before gradually increasing to full pressure.
This process evenly saturates the coffee grounds, resulting in balanced extraction, reduced channeling, and richer espresso with excellent crema.
Digital PID Temperature Control
Temperature consistency plays a major role in espresso quality.
The Barista Express uses Digital PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) temperature control to maintain water at the ideal brewing temperature throughout extraction.
This helps produce sweeter, more balanced espresso while avoiding bitter or sour flavors caused by inconsistent temperatures.
Adjustable Grind Size Dial
Different coffee beans require different grind sizes.
The intuitive grind size dial allows users to quickly adjust the fineness of the grind, making it easy to experiment until the espresso tastes exactly the way you like it.
Powerful Steam Wand for Microfoam
The manual steam wand produces rich, silky microfoam that’s ideal for cappuccinos, flat whites, and lattes.
Because milk texturing is done manually, users can practice creating beautiful latte art while enjoying better texture and sweeter milk.
Built-in Grinding Cradle
The innovative grinding cradle allows coffee to be dispensed directly into the portafilter.
This reduces mess while ensuring the correct amount of freshly ground coffee every time.
Large Capacity
The machine includes:
- 67-ounce removable water tank
- ½-pound bean hopper
- Single and double shot options
- Adjustable grind amount
- Manual shot override
These features make it suitable for both occasional coffee drinkers and households with multiple espresso lovers.
Premium Accessories Included
Breville includes nearly everything needed to start brewing immediately:
- Razor Dose Trimming Tool
- 54mm Stainless Steel Portafilter
- Single & Dual Wall Filter Baskets
- Coffee Scoop
- Integrated Tamper
- Stainless Steel Milk Jug
- Cleaning Disc
- Cleaning Tablets
- Cleaning Brush
- Allen Key
- Water Filter & Holder
Build Quality
Finished in brushed stainless steel, the Barista Express looks premium and feels solid.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 13.8 × 12.5 × 15.9 inches
- Weight: 22.1 pounds
- Power: 1600 Watts
- Voltage: 120 Volts
- Warranty: 1-Year Limited Warranty
Breville BES870XL Barista Express Price in the US
The Breville BES870XL has a manufacturer’s listing price of $669.99, but it is currently available for $499.95 during a limited-time Amazon offer.
Get Offer – Buy on Amazon
Considering that it combines a quality espresso machine and a precision burr grinder into one appliance, the current discounted price represents excellent value for coffee enthusiasts.
Breville BES870XL Barista Express Review
After spending considerable time evaluating this machine and considering long-term ownership experiences, I can confidently say the Breville Barista Express delivers far more than I expected for its price.
The first thing that impressed me was the quality of the espresso. Once I adjusted the grind size and dialed in the extraction, the machine consistently produced rich espresso with thick crema and excellent flavor. Freshly grinding beans immediately before brewing makes a noticeable difference compared to pre-ground coffee.
The integrated grinder performs exceptionally well for a built-in system. It delivers consistent grounds and offers enough adjustment to accommodate different coffee beans. I rarely felt the need for a separate grinder.
The steam wand also exceeded my expectations. It creates smooth microfoam suitable for latte art, although beginners should expect a small learning curve. After a few practice sessions, steaming milk becomes second nature.
One of my favorite aspects is how much money it can save. If you regularly purchase lattes or cappuccinos from coffee shops, this machine can easily pay for itself within a year. Even after accounting for coffee beans, milk, water filters, and cleaning supplies, homemade drinks cost significantly less.
However, this isn’t a machine you can ignore after brewing. Proper maintenance is essential for keeping it performing like new.
Every day, I recommend wiping and purging the steam wand immediately after use. Running a blank shot through the group head helps remove coffee residue and keeps flavors clean.
Changing the water filter every two months (or every 60 uses) helps reduce scale buildup while improving coffee taste. Weekly cleaning of the drip tray, portafilter, filter baskets, grinder, and hopper only takes about five minutes but greatly extends the machine’s lifespan.
One important tip is never allowing the water reservoir to run dry. Doing so can damage the internal pump.
Like many espresso machines, certain components such as O-rings eventually wear out and require replacement. Some owners have also experienced a buzzing noise or water leaking underneath the machine after several months of use, often related to the solenoid valve. Fortunately, Breville’s customer support is generally responsive during the warranty period, and replacement parts remain widely available if repairs become necessary later.
Overall, I found the Barista Express extremely rewarding to use. It offers enough manual control to learn proper espresso-making while remaining approachable for beginners. Paired with freshly roasted beans, the coffee quality is genuinely impressive and difficult to beat at this price.
Breville BES870XL Barista Express Pros and Cons
Pros
- Excellent espresso quality with rich crema
- Built-in precision conical burr grinder
- Digital PID temperature control
- Low-pressure pre-infusion improves extraction
- Powerful manual steam wand for silky microfoam
- Adjustable grind size and shot customization
- Attractive brushed stainless steel finish
- Comprehensive accessory package included
- Saves money compared to daily coffee shop visits
- Great value during promotional pricing
Cons
- Requires regular cleaning and maintenance
- Steam wand is manual rather than automatic
- Water filters require periodic replacement
Should You Buy Breville BES870XL Barista Express?
If you’re serious about making high-quality espresso at home, the answer is yes.
The Breville Barista Express offers an outstanding combination of performance, build quality, customization, and value. It is especially ideal for people who:
- Want cafe-quality espresso at home.
- Drink multiple lattes or cappuccinos every week.
- Want an integrated grinder instead of buying separate equipment.
- Enjoy learning the craft of espresso making.
- Prefer long-term savings over daily coffee shop visits.
However, if you’re looking for a completely automatic coffee machine with one-touch drinks and minimal maintenance, you may prefer a super-automatic espresso machine instead.
Final Verdict
The Breville BES870XL Barista Express continues to be one of the best home espresso machines in its class. It strikes an excellent balance between affordability and professional-level performance, delivering outstanding espresso, consistent grinding, and excellent milk texturing capabilities.
Yes, it requires regular maintenance and a little patience while learning the basics, but the reward is exceptional coffee every single day. With proper care, this machine can serve you reliably for years while saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars on cafe visits.
Rating: 4.8/5
For anyone ready to step into the world of home espresso, the Breville Barista Express remains one of the smartest investments you can make.
FAQs
Q1. Is the Breville BES870XL Barista Express good for beginners?
Yes. Although it has a slight learning curve, its built-in grinder, intuitive controls, and detailed manual make it an excellent choice for beginners who want to learn espresso making.
Q2. Does the Breville BES870XL come with a built-in grinder?
Yes. It features an integrated precision conical burr grinder that grinds coffee beans directly into the portafilter for maximum freshness and flavor.
Q3. How often should I clean the Breville Barista Express?
You should wipe and purge the steam wand after every use, clean the drip tray and removable parts weekly, and replace the water filter every 60 uses or about every two months.
Q4. Is the Breville BES870XL worth the price?
Absolutely. If you regularly buy espresso drinks or lattes from coffee shops, the machine can pay for itself over time while delivering cafe-quality coffee at home.
Q5. What is the current price of the Breville BES870XL in the US?
The machine has a list price of $669.99, but it is currently available for around $499.95 during a limited-time Amazon offer, making it an excellent value for home baristas.
Via: (Amazon)
Note: Product details, pricing, and availability may change over time. While we try to keep information accurate, please verify details from the official website before purchasing. Some content may be assisted by AI tools like ChatGPT, and some articles may contain affiliate links that may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. Reviews, opinions, and feature highlights are based on official specifications and publicly available information at the time of writing.
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