
"The Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine is a first-class coffee maker."
The Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine is a first-class coffee maker, giving you the chance to make your coffees the way you want to, in a barista style. The Barista Express has been manufactured by Breville to provide you with the finest quality coffee and freedom of control. It’s a hands-on coffee machine, so don’t be overwhelmed by the number of features on offer because these are what make this coffee machine significant. This espresso machine is aimed coffee connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike, priced at between $550 and $530; it’s certainly an investment in coffee making needs. The BES870XL is the newer model of this range, so it benefits from all the mod-cons you’d expect from such a technical machine. Breville has manufactured the Barista Express using innovative ideas to provide great results.
Design
The appearance of the Barista Express coffee maker is undeniably striking. It features a timeless design, suitable for both traditional and more modern style kitchens. The BES870XL comes in a top-quality stainless-steel finish, showing off its style in a sleek design. This espresso machine is larger than other models on the market, weighing 23 pounds and measuring 13.25 x 12.5 x 15.75 inches. It takes up a lot of room on the countertop but will undoubtedly take pride of place and become the talking point of any room. The Breville BES870XL also comes with non-slip feet so it won’t slide across the countertop when it’s making your coffee for you. The water reservoir sits at the back of the coffee maker, giving it a much sleeker look overall while still maintaining excellent functionality.
The main features of the Barista Express, such as the grinder and milk frother, are all integrated into the overall design. This means you have access to everything you need on the machine itself, rather than having to buy each additional piece separately, saving you money and showing off Breville’s reliability as a manufacturer.
Coffee Customization
Packed full of innovative features, the Breville BES870XL Barista Express espresso machine appears to have it all. Not only can this coffee maker create a delicious espresso in less than 60 seconds, but its technical qualities make it a cut above the rest. You can brew either a single or double shot espresso with the BES870XL depending on what strength of coffee you’re after, and as you’re the barista, it’s entirely up to you which one you choose! This espresso machine has a 54mm stainless-steel portafilter so that you can professionally pour your coffee through the spouts. It also comes with a 15 Bar Italian Pump with a 1600-watt Thermo coil heating system which, albeit a bit of a mouthful to say, does a sterling job in heating a perfect cup of coffee with the right amount of pressure to give you a creamy and delicious result. The Barista Express also comes with a pre-heating function, so if you’re in a rush in the mornings and don’t have time to go through the whole process of making a coffee, you can efficiently heat a pre-made one and take it with you.
The BES870XL Barista Express also comes with dose-control grinding, so you can grind the beans just before extraction to the exact amount that gives a full, rich flavor. The integrated grinder is a considerable plus point on this coffee machine, allowing you to grind the precise amount of coffee beans ideal for your taste. Furthermore, this espresso machine also has a grind size dial, so you’re able to control the size of grind and tailor it to what you prefer. It also has a digital temperature control to ensure the coffee-in-progress is kept at the optimum temperature, so your espresso tastes excellent every single time.
The other great thing about the Barista Express coffee machine is that you can also make a variety of milky coffees with it, thanks to the integrated milk frother. The steam wand used for milk texturing swivels the full 360 degrees, making it extremely handy to use and gives the milk that velvety texture all coffee lovers adore. The steam wand can also be used for micro-foam milk texturing, meaning you can follow your artistic streak and dabble in some latte art if you so desire! The Barista Express also comes with a small milk pot included, so you don’t have to buy it separately, which is another bonus.
Ease of Use
With such a top-quality coffee machine, it can be assumed that time and effort must go into maintaining its quality. However, the cleanliness of the Breville BES870XL is surprisingly easy to keep on top of. There is a hidden storage tray on the Barista Express which stores the filters and a cleaning kit, which is very useful to know. This espresso machine has a ‘clean me’ light that comes on when a cleaning cycle is needed, a fantastic indicator on a fantastic coffee maker. This makes it so much easier to know when the automated clean is required and certainly helps in sustaining the longevity of the product by keeping it clean. The BES870XL also includes the tools necessary to clean the filters, meaning clogging up of the inside of the machine is minimized. Also, day-to-day cleaning of each of the compartments is recommended to keep this coffee machine in top-quality condition. The removable parts like the water tank and the filters can be easily cleaned manually, and the inside can be cleaned when the indicator light comes on.
This Barista Express coffee maker comes with a large 67 fl. oz water reservoir, which can be removed easily to refill when needed and is easy to detach thanks to its comfortable handle. Although some customers have stated that the water tank does need refilling quite often, it’s plenty big enough to provide you with plenty of delicious coffees before this is needed. It’s just something to bear in mind, like with all the best coffee machines. The drip-tray on this espresso machine is easy to remove to clean or fit different sized mugs underneath and pops up with an indicator when it’s full and needs to be emptied.
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Final Thoughts
Overall, the Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine is certainly one to consider buying if you’re looking for a coffee machine that’s exceptional quality and gives you the hands-on experience of coffee making. There’s no question you can customize all the coffees you make with the Barista Express, from a luxurious latte to a frothy flat white, the possibilities are endless. The flexibility this machine gives its user is paramount to other coffee machines, and although it may look complicated to work, it’s easy to use and fully functional. Although it is expensive, the BES870XL will bring barista-style coffee straight into your home and gives you many options to choose from. This espresso machine comes highly recommended and is professional, classy and nothing short of supreme.