Breville BES880BSS Barista Touch Espresso Machine Review
The Breville BES880BSS Barista Touch is a top-of-the-line espresso machine that combines advanced features with intuitive touch-screen controls. Designed for coffee aficionados who want to enjoy café-quality beverages at home, this machine offers precise customization options and excellent performance. Its sleek, stainless steel design and innovative technology make it a standout choice for anyone serious about their coffee.
About the Brand
Breville is an Australian brand renowned for its high-quality kitchen appliances, particularly its coffee machines. Known for innovation and durability, Breville has a strong reputation among both home users and professional baristas. The Barista Touch is a testament to Breville’s commitment to combining functionality and style, providing users with a premium coffee experience that rivals that of a professional café.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Touch-Screen Interface: Easy-to-use touch screen allows for quick selection and customization of drinks.
- Built-In Grinder: Freshly grinds beans for each brew, ensuring optimal flavor.
- ThermoJet Heating System: Heats up in just 3 seconds, reducing wait time.
- Automatic Milk Frother: Creates perfect microfoam milk for lattes and cappuccinos.
- Customizable Settings: Save up to 8 personalized coffee settings for consistent results.
Cons:
- Price: Higher cost compared to other home espresso machines.
- Learning Curve: Advanced features may require some time to master for beginners.
Maintenance: Regular cleaning and maintenance are necessary to keep the machine in top condition.
Best Features
- Touch-Screen Interface: The intuitive touch screen simplifies the brewing process, allowing you to easily select your favorite drinks and customize settings such as coffee strength, milk texture, and temperature.
- Integrated Conical Burr Grinder: The built-in grinder with dose control ensures you get the right amount of freshly ground coffee for each brew, enhancing the flavor and aroma of your espresso.
- ThermoJet Heating System: This advanced heating system reaches the optimal extraction temperature in just 3 seconds, ensuring minimal wait time between brews.
- Automatic Microfoam Milk Texturing: The automatic steam wand allows you to adjust the milk temperature and texture to suit your taste, creating barista-quality microfoam for lattes and cappuccinos.
- Customizable Drink Settings: Save up to 8 personalized coffee settings, allowing you to quickly recreate your favorite drinks with consistent results.
Maintenance
Maintaining the Breville Barista Touch is crucial for ensuring its longevity and performance. Regular cleaning of the drip tray, milk frother, and grinder is essential to prevent build-up and ensure optimal functionality. The machine features a cleaning cycle that helps maintain the internal components. Descaling the machine periodically is recommended to remove mineral deposits and maintain the integrity of the heating system. The touch screen interface also provides maintenance alerts to guide you through necessary cleaning and upkeep.
Pricing
The Breville Barista Touch is priced at around $1,099 on Amazon, positioning it in the premium range of home espresso machines. This machine uses fresh coffee beans, ground by the integrated conical burr grinder, ensuring the freshest coffee possible. Unlike single-serve machines that rely on proprietary capsules, the Barista Touch offers flexibility and cost savings by using whole coffee beans. This not only enhances the flavor but also provides more control over the coffee quality and variety. Additionally, using fresh beans reduces waste and is more environmentally friendly compared to single-use capsules.
Conclusion
The Breville BES880BSS Barista Touch Espresso Machine is an excellent investment for serious coffee enthusiasts who want to enjoy café-quality beverages at home. Its touch-screen interface, built-in grinder, and automatic milk frother make it easy to create a wide range of customized coffee drinks. While the initial cost is higher, the machine’s advanced features, ease of use, and consistent performance justify the investment. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced barista, the Breville Barista Touch delivers exceptional coffee with every brew.