Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine For The Home Barista

Welcome to FactsFanatics. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you) from links found within these pages if you choose to buy something.

For many, the dream of crafting a café-quality latte or a rich, aromatic home espresso feels just out of reach, especially given the cost involved, especially when aiming for a smooth texture. The complexity of traditional espresso machines can be intimidating, while pod-based systems often fail to deliver that authentic, third-wave specialty coffee experience.

The Breville Barista Touch aims to bridge this gap, promising the quality of a good espresso machine with the simplicity of an automatic one. Its popularity among home baristas and coffee enthusiasts stems mainly from its compact size, portability, and efficient internal design, making it especially appealing to those with small kitchens or limited counter space.

This machine is designed for the aspiring home barista who craves helpful, delicious espresso and specialty coffee without a steep learning curve, making the experience more fun. , making it an excellent job for aspiring baristas. It combines a built-in grinder, a rapid-heating system, and an intuitive touchscreen to guide you from whole beans to a finished drink in under 2 minutes. But does it live up to its promises?

In this comprehensive review, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the fresh Breville Barista Touch, including how to measure your ingredients accurately. We’ll look at its key features, evaluate its performance, and compare it to other popular machines on the market. By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of whether this home machine is the right investment for your kitchen counter.

Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine

Integrated Coffee Grinder, Jug, Programmable, Water Filter

Check price

Unboxing and Initial Setup

The unboxing experience for the Breville Barista Touch reflects the product's premium nature. The appliance is securely packed and well-protected. It weighs nearly 22 pounds, feels substantial and well-made, and is crafted primarily from brushed stainless steel.

Inside the box, you’ll find everything you need to start brewing immediately:

The Barista Touch machine with a 1/2 lb bean hopper and 67 oz water tank.
A 54mm stainless steel portafilter.
Four filter baskets: single- and double-wall versions for both single- and double-shot applications. (Single-wall baskets are for freshly ground beans, while dual-wall baskets are for pre-ground coffee).
A 480ml (16 oz) stainless steel milk jug.
The Razor™ precision dose trimming tool.
A ClaroSwiss water filter and a water hardness test strip.
A complete cleaning kit, including tablets and tools.

Setting up the machine is straightforward, thanks to the clear instructions in the user manual and the guided setup on the touchscreen. The process involves washing the parts, installing the water filter, filling the water tank and bean hopper, and running an initial flush cycle. The touchscreen and manual assist guide users step-by-step through the setup process, making it nearly foolproof, even for complete beginners making espresso.

Breville-Barista-Express-Espresso-Machine

Design and Build

The Breville Barista Touch stands out not just for its advanced features but also for its robust and stylish design. Crafted primarily from brushed stainless steel, the machine feels solid, making it a centerpiece on any kitchen counter. The stainless steel body isn’t just about looks—it’s engineered for durability and easy cleaning with a simple wipe-down, ensuring your good Breville espresso machine stays looking great even after hundreds of uses.

A key highlight is the generously sized water tank, which holds enough water to brew multiple drinks before needing a refill, along with cleaning tablets for maintenance. This means you can enjoy several delicious cups of coffee at home without constantly running to the sink. The water tank is conveniently removable, making it easy to fill and clean, and it fits snugly at the back of the machine for a streamlined look.

On top, the bean hopper is easy to access and can hold a substantial amount of beans, so you’re always ready to brew. The hopper is also simple to remove and clean, helping to maintain the freshness and flavor of your coffee. The portafilter, a crucial part of the espresso-making process, is sturdy and fits securely into the group head. Tamping is pretty intuitive, and for those who like a bit more control, the Barista Touch offers a manual override option that lets you adjust the tamping pressure to suit your preferred extraction.

The thoughtful engineering extends to the right side of the machine, where you’ll find the steam wand and hot water dispenser. This location makes it easy to steam milk for lattes or dispense hot water for Americanos without crowding your workspace. The steam wand is powerful and responsive, giving you the flexibility to create everything from silky microfoam for latte art to a thicker froth for cappuccinos.

Breville’s attention to detail is evident in the included accessories, such as the coffee scoop and cleaning brush, which are both practical and easy to store, helping make good espresso without any trouble. The knock box is another brilliant addition, making it simple to rid the portafilter of used coffee grounds. The drip tray features a removable plastic insert that can be cleaned in the dishwasher, helping you keep your Breville Barista Express tidy with minimal effort.

Maintenance is straightforward, with most components designed for easy removal and cleaning. The machine’s build quality and thoughtful design make it a popular choice among coffee enthusiasts who want to enjoy great coffee at home without hassle, often surpassing the performance of commercial machines. Whether you’re crafting a single espresso, a creamy latte, or a bold americano, the Barista Touch offers a user-friendly process and consistently delicious results.

In summary, the Breville Barista Touch combines sleek engineering with practical features, making it a standout choice for anyone serious about their coffee. Its sturdy construction, intuitive layout, and easy maintenance ensure that it not only looks good on your shelf but also delivers exceptional performance cup after cup.

Key Features That Set The Breville Coffee Machine Apart

The Breville Barista Touch is packed with features designed to simplify the espresso-making process while still giving you control over the final product.

Intuitive Touchscreen Interface

The standout feature is its vibrant, full-color touchscreen. This is your command center for everything the machine does. It comes pre-programmed with five café favorites: espresso, Americano, latte, flat white, and cappuccino.

Tap your desired drink, and the screen walks you through the three simple steps—Grind, Brew, and Milk—in the correct order to ensure optimal results, where you can write your preference. You can also save up to eight personalized drink creations, complete with custom icons, so your perfect coffee is always just a touch away.

Integrated Conical Burr Grinder

A quality grinder is essential for excellent espresso, and the Barista Touch has one built in. The integrated steel conical burr grinder offers 30 different grind size settings, allowing you to fine-tune the grind for different fresh coffee beans and achieve the ideal extraction.

These settings are suited to a wide range of beans and user preferences, ensuring optimal results for any coffee style. Dose control is automatic, delivering the precise amount of coffee for a single or double shot directly into the portafilter.

Automated Milk Frothing

For many, perfecting milk texture is the most challenging part of making lattes and cappuccinos. The Barista Touch eliminates this challenge with its automatic steam wand. You place the milk jug under the wand on the temperature sensor, select your desired temperature and texture on the screen, and the machine does the rest. It consistently produces silky, microfoam milk perfect for latte art, and purges the wand automatically afterward for easy cleaning.

Performance: From Bean to Coffee Cup

A machine’s features are only as good as the coffee it produces. The Barista Touch delivers consistent results reliably. Here’s how the Breville Barista Touch performs in the key areas.

When it comes to espresso quality, the performance can’t be beat for the price or category.

In terms of overall performance, many users have found the machine easy to use and capable of producing high-quality coffee.

Espresso Quality

The Barista Touch excels at producing rich, flavorful espresso shots. It uses what Breville calls the “4 Keys Formula” for a quality brew:

Ideal Dose: The grinder delivers a consistent 18-22g dose.
Precise Temperature: A Digital Temperature Control (PID) system ensures the water is at the optimal temperature for extraction.
Optimal Pressure: Low-pressure pre-infusion gradually increases pressure at the start of the extraction, helping pull out flavors more evenly. Properly tamped coffee grounds in the portafilter are essential for achieving optimal pressure and ensuring even extraction.
Sufficient Steam: The machine produces the high-pressure steam needed for texturing milk.

The ThermoJet heating system is another highlight, bringing the machine to the ideal extraction temperature in just three seconds. This means no more long waits for your machine to warm up in the morning. The resulting espresso shots have a thick, stable crema and a well-balanced flavor profile, rivaling what you’d get at a good coffee shop.

Milk Frothing Capabilities

The automated steam wand with a pump is a game-changer. It allows you to program both the temperature (from 110°F to 170°F) and the texture (from fine microfoam for lattes to a thicker froth for cappuccinos). For many beginners, milk frothing can be hard, especially when trying to master the proper technique and achieve the ideal texture, but the automated wand simplifies the process.

In testing, the machine consistently created perfectly textured milk with minimal effort. Users can figure out the best milk texture for their drinks by experimenting with the different settings. The automatic purge function is a thoughtful touch, keeping the wand clean and ready for subsequent use. This feature makes it incredibly easy for beginners to achieve results that would otherwise require significant practice.

Ease of Use

This is where the Barista Touch truly shines. The combination of the touchscreen, automatic grinding, and automated milk frothing makes the entire process incredibly user-friendly. The machine pushes hot water through the coffee grounds to extract espresso, ensuring consistent results every time. Even someone with zero barista experience can make a high-quality latte in under two minutes.

For best results, watch the pressure gauge and extraction time during brewing and steaming. The machine provides real-time feedback on grind size and extraction time, helping you dial in the perfect shot. Learning to work with the machine's settings allows you to optimize your coffee and get the most out of each brew. This guided process demystifies espresso making and empowers users to experiment and improve their skills.

Cleaning and Maintenance of the Water Tank

Breville has made cleaning the Barista Touch as simple as possible. The touchscreen provides alerts when it’s time to run a cleaning cycle or descale the machine, and it guides you through the process step by step. For additional help, users can watch videos online for step-by-step cleaning and maintenance instructions.

Daily maintenance is minimal:

Wipe the steam wand after each use (following the automatic purge).
Rinse the portafilter and filter basket.
Empty the drip tray as needed. The drip tray is dishwasher safe, making it easy to clean on the top shelf. One user tip is to place the empty milk jug under the steam wand during the purge cycle to catch the water, which reduces how often you need to empty the drip tray.

Periodic cleaning involves running a cleaning cycle with the provided tablets and descaling the machine. The ClaroSwiss water filter helps reduce scale buildup, extending the time between descaling cycles.

It is expected that you descale the machine every 2-3 months, as recommended by the manufacturer, though actual intervals may vary based on usage. Proper maintenance is key to the machine’s longevity, and Breville’s guided cleaning makes it easy to stay on top of.

Comparison with Similar Espresso Machines

How does the Barista Touch stack up against its competitors?

When comparing the Barista Touch to Nespresso machines, the Barista Touch brand offers greater versatility and higher-quality espresso. Unlike Nespresso, which relies on pre-packaged capsules and limits customization, the Barista Touch allows users to adjust grind size, milk texture, and shot volume for a more personalized coffee experience.

Additionally, the Barista Touch has fewer problems than some competing machines. While minor inconveniences may occur, it has proven reliable and free of significant faults, making it a solid choice for both beginners and experienced users.

Breville Barista Express

The Barista Express is one of Breville’s most popular models and the predecessor to the Touch. It offers a more manual experience, with analog dials and a pressure gauge rather than a touchscreen. While it produces espresso of similarly excellent quality, it has a steeper learning curve, particularly for milk frothing, which is entirely manual.

The Barista Touch is the better choice for those who prioritize convenience and ease of use, especially if you want to upgrade from simpler machines. Its automated features and intuitive interface work in your favor by streamlining workflows and making it easier to achieve consistent results over the long term.

De'Longhi La Specialista

The De’Longhi La Specialista is another all-in-one machine in a similar price range. It features a “Smart Tamping Station” that simplifies the tamping process. However, its milk frothing is manual, and it lacks the Barista Touch's intuitive touchscreen interface. Many customer reviews mention the ease of use and convenience of the Barista Touch compared to the De’Longhi. While a solid machine, the Breville offers a more streamlined and user-friendly experience from start to finish.

The Pros and Cons

After extensive review, here’s a summary of the Breville Barista Touch’s strengths and weaknesses, which you can share with your friends.

Pros:

Outstanding Ease of Use: The touchscreen interface makes it incredibly simple to make a wide variety of coffee drinks.
Excellent Coffee Quality: Produces rich espresso and perfectly textured milk.
Fast Heat-Up Time: The 3-second ThermoJet heating system means it's ready to go almost instantly.
High-Quality Construction: The stainless steel build is both durable and stylish.
Highly Customizable: Allows you to adjust and save drink parameters to your exact preferences.
All-in-One Design: The integrated grinder saves counter space and streamlines the workflow.

Cons:

High Price Point: It's a significant investment for a home coffee machine.
Grinder Limitations: While good, the integrated grinder isn't as powerful as a high-end standalone grinder. Switching between different types of beans can be cumbersome, as you need to empty the hopper first.
Potential for Malfunctions: Like any complex electronic device, some users have reported malfunctions, though it comes with a 2-year limited warranty.

Is the Breville Barista Touch Right for You?

The Breville Barista Touch is an exceptional machine that successfully blends the quality of a semi-automatic with the convenience of a super-automatic, much like machines developed years ago. Many users have figured out how to make café-quality drinks at home with the Barista Touch, making it an ideal choice for the coffee lover who wants to enjoy authentic, barista-style beverages at home without dedicating months to mastering the craft.

A recent review from January highlights continued customer satisfaction and the machine’s reliability. If you value simplicity, speed, and consistency, and are willing to invest in a serious deal for a premium product in the middle of the price range, The Barista Touch is well worth the expense. It empowers you to create your favorite drinks every time, ideally. It even helps you learn the fundamentals of espresso making along the way, making it a shared experience for the family.

For the purist who wants complete manual control over every variable or prefers a French press, the budget-conscious buyer, there might be better options that sell at a lower price. But what matters most is finding a machine that fits your needs and preferences. For the vast majority of home users looking to elevate their coffee game, the Breville Barista Touch offers an unbeatable combination of performance, convenience, and style. It makes the art of espresso accessible to everyone, turning your kitchen into your favorite new café.

For a long time, my mornings involved either a trip to the local coffeehouse or a disappointing brew from the cheap espresso machine I had at home. I was drinking so much coffee, but never getting the quality I craved. After a few months of research, I decided to invest in a quality machine. My search led me to the Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, and after using it for a while, I can say it's absolutely fantastic. It promised a significant upgrade over other machines in its price range, and it certainly delivered.

The first thing I noticed was the integrated conical burr grinder. This espresso maker lets me use incredibly fresh beans, and the auto grind feature delivers the perfect dose directly into the portafilter. The machine also features digital temp control (PID), which ensures optimal extraction temperature for a balanced espresso roast. This attention to detail, starting with the low-pressure pre-infusion that gently soaks the grounds, makes a huge difference in the final taste. It’s clear this is a great machine designed for people who care about their coffee.

Learning to create cafe-quality drinks was my next goal. The process of steaming milk was a breeze with the powerful steam wand. The machine includes a stainless steel steaming pitcher, which helps you gauge the temperature. After a little practice, I was consistently creating smooth microfoam for lattes and cappuccinos. Getting that perfect milk texture is key, and this machine does an excellent job. I felt like I was working with a professional setup, a step down from the Barista Pro, but perfect for home use. The provided toolkit even includes an Allen key for maintenance.

From the first single shot I pulled to the perfect cup I now make every morning, this machine has transformed my routine. I no longer feel the need to visit a coffee shop because I can create beverages that are just as good, if not better, right in my own kitchen. For anyone looking to elevate their home coffee experience without compromise, I genuinely believe this is the best machine for the job. It has been a game-changer. The Breville Barista Express delivers an excellent cup of coffee every time.

Thank you for reading!

Your friend,

Kelly

🫘⚙️ 💧🌡️🔥📏 ☕️🥇✨ 💪

#Breville #BaristaExpress #Espresso #HomeBarista #CoffeeLovers #LatteArt #ThirdWaveCoffee #CoffeeTime #Caffeine #KitchenAppliances.

Amazon Prime offers a wide range of products designed to cater to diverse customer needs, all with the added benefit of fast, reliable delivery. From household essentials and groceries to electronics, clothing, and entertainment, Prime members get access to exclusive deals and discounts across various categories.

Additionally, Prime membership includes access to services like Prime Video for streaming movies and TV shows, Amazon Music for ad-free music, and Prime Reading for eBooks and magazines. This comprehensive suite of benefits makes Amazon Prime a convenient and value-packed option for millions of customers worldwide.