Breville Barista Express review — an all-in-one espresso machine that teaches you as you go
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine (BES870XL)
Researched by the WhyToBuyThis team · Updated November 2026 · How we choose
The short answer
Grinder, steady temperature and a gentle pre-infusion in one machine. The easiest way to get every part of a shot right, if you're willing to learn.
Price: $499.95
Price may change on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This won't cost you anything extra.
Our verdict
The Barista Express puts the three things that decide an espresso shot into one machine: a conical burr grinder that grinds straight into the portafilter, digital PID temperature control that holds the water near 200°F, and a low-pressure pre-infusion before the full-pressure extraction. It's one of the best-known home espresso machines on Amazon for exactly that reason.
It is a hands-on, semi-automatic machine, not a push-button one. You still dose, tamp and dial in the grind yourself, and the pressure gauge on the front tells you whether you're close. Expect a learning week. If you want café-style espresso and milk drinks at home and you're happy to learn, it's the simplest way to get every part of the shot right with one appliance.
Watch: why espresso goes wrong
Why Your Espresso Tastes Sour (It's Not the Beans). More on our YouTube channel
Who it's for
A great fit if
- First-time home baristas who want to learn real espresso
- Latte and cappuccino drinkers (manual steam wand)
- Anyone tired of stale pre-ground coffee
- Kitchens with room for one machine, not a machine plus a grinder
Skip it if
- You want one-button drinks with no learning curve
- You mostly drink drip or pour-over coffee
- You make several milk drinks back to back for a crowd
- You already own a high-end grinder you love
How it fixes the three problems
Grind: fresh every shot
A conical burr grinder with 16 settings is built in and grinds straight into the portafilter, seconds before brewing. A dose dial sets how much it grinds.
Temperature: held steady
Digital PID control keeps the water at about 200°F, so shots don't swing sour or harsh as the heater cycles on and off.
Flow: a gentle start
Every shot starts with low-pressure pre-infusion that wets the puck evenly, then ramps to full pressure. That's the fix for channeling.
Feedback: a live gauge
The pressure gauge on the front shows, as the shot runs, whether your grind is too coarse or too fine. You learn in days instead of guessing for months.
The catch
It's a learning machine. Your first shots will likely run sour or bitter while you find the right grind and dose, and tamping and cleaning are done by hand. Brewing and steaming share one heating system, so you pull the shot, then steam the milk, rather than both at once.
Skip it if you want push-button drinks with zero learning: a super-automatic or capsule machine suits that better.
Key specs
| Pump | 15 bar Italian pump; low-pressure pre-infusion, then 9 bar extraction |
|---|---|
| Temperature control | Thermocoil heating with digital PID, water at about 200°F |
| Grinder | Built-in conical burr grinder, 16 grind settings |
| Portafilter | 54 mm stainless steel |
| Filter baskets | Single wall and dual wall, 1-cup and 2-cup |
| Shot control | 1 shot, 2 shot or manual |
| Milk | Manual steam wand |
| Water tank | 67 oz, removable |
| Bean hopper | 8 oz (about half a pound) |
| Power | 1600 W, 110–120 V |
| Size | About 12.5 x 13.2 x 15.8 in (W x D x H) |
| Weight | About 23 lb |
| Warranty | 1-year limited (US) |
From Breville's Barista Express product page and major US espresso retailers. Check the Amazon listing for your exact color and version.
Your first good shot
- 1Rinse the water tank, fit the water filter, and fill the tank with fresh cold water.
- 2Let the machine heat up, then run a little water through the group head and the steam wand with no coffee, to warm everything through.
- 3Grind into the 2-cup single-wall basket. Breville's ideal dose is 18 g, and the Razor tool trims the puck to the right height.
- 4Tamp level and firm, lock in the portafilter, and press the 2-cup button.
- 5Watch the gauge and aim for the middle espresso range. A fast, sour shot with low pressure means grind finer; a slow, bitter shot with high pressure means grind coarser.
- 6Change one thing at a time, grind first, and give yourself a week.
What's in the box
- 54 mm stainless steel portafilter
- 1-cup and 2-cup filter baskets, single wall and dual wall
- Integrated tamper and coffee scoop
- Razor dose trimming tool
- Stainless steel milk jug
- Water filter holder and water filter
- Cleaning disc, cleaning tablets, brush, tool and Allen key
Questions people ask
New to home espresso? Read our espresso buying guide first.
Ready to check it out?
See the latest price and full details on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This won't cost you anything extra.