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Brand New
Breville Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine BES876BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
Original price was: $649.00.$499.00Current price is: $499.00.
| Brand | Breville |
| Capacity | 2 Liters |
| Color | Brushed Stainless Steel |
| Product Dimensions | 12.5″D x 14.5″W x 16.5″H |
| Special Feature | Manual |
My previous fully automatic machine died, repair was $700+ and they no longer had electronic parts. I had to get another machine and quickly. I was a grizzly bear without my coffee! I selected the Barista Express Impress. (Couldn't they find a better name?)
As far as this machine, it is more difficult than making drip coffee in your Keurig. It is designed to give you the tools to make the best coffee that you ever had. However, you need to learn how to use it. It takes a lot of time to master because you have control of parameters I did not know existed.
The machine has a nice set of tools for maintenance and daily use. The tool tray attaches to the rear of the drip tray and is easily reached by pulling out the drip tray. The machine senses how much coffee to grind and automatically adjusts to grind the correct amount of beans. On several occasions, the beans stuck in the grinder, so I had to manually grind to get the correct level. No big deal but it mess up the level of beans to grind and it takes several cups of coffee to get it right again. I think that is why there are a lot of complaints about the grind level changing. I have learned to "bump" the bean hopper to free the beans before there are problems. If you listen, you can hear the grinder start to run free. I think Breville needs to redesign the hopper so beans flow freely. That is the only real criticism I have found.
There are some things you need to know. First off, the beans you choose are extremely important. They affect the coffee more than anything else. Second, you control the coffee grind. You get to choose exactly how fine you grind. That is a major factor in making coffee. Third, you get to control the brewing temperature. I haven't figured out how yet, but I am happy with the brew as it is.
When I make a latte, I use the microwave oven to heat the milk. If you want latte art, you will need to use the milk frother. I tried it a few times and it works well. There is a lot to clean, so I don't use it.
There are a few problems. My machine would only grind as I was holding the grind button. I unplugged the machine and it worked correctly when I plugged it back in. The machine stopped brewing. The pump would run with a noise that sounded like the machine would explode. When I turned the machine around to get the serial number (it was not on the back like Support told me--I think it is on the machine underside), I realized that I had run out of water! There is no water low sensor, so it is easy for the machine to run dry. Since a dry pump will fail very quickly, this is a major oversight.
The machine needs to be descaled regularly, especially if you live in a hard water area. Cleaning supplies are too expensive so I buy citric acid in bulk and generic cleaning tablets. Both work well. My water used to come from a reverse osmosis filter but I no longer have that luxury. I think I need to start buying water from one of those water stores that are popping up all over.
On the whole, the machine makes an excellent cup but it takes knowledge and time to learn.
The first day, took several presses of the “dose” button to get my green okay light. I thought it was supposed to remember the correct dosage for the same beans but the 2nd day, it over-filled the portafilter. That gave me a chance to test the “razor” and it was simple to use. Since then the dosage has been perfect on the first try. Something I learned from the Breville videos is that start to finish, the extraction should take about 30 seconds or you need to adjust the grind. I used my iPhone to time that. 1st day was about 20 seconds, but the expresso still tasted way better than my Nespresso shots, so I just went with that and adjusted the grind by a couple of clicks (making it finer). Next day, the extraction took 25 seconds, so I adjusted the grind again by a couple of clicks. Extraction took 30 seconds and had a great crema.
I should mention that I always used 2 shots on my Nespresso machine and about 10-12 ounces of unsweetened almond milk to make a latte. I also used probably 10 packets of Stevia in the Raw to get past the bitter taste. Over the years, I’ve tried most of the Nespresso original coffees and my favorites are the Italian ones. With the Lavazza coffee (also 2 shots) and my new Breville, I’ve cut that back to 4 packets and it’s perfect. Something else I noticed is that the the Lavazza is not very bitter (I just like my latte on the sweeter side) but I noticed a lot of nuance in the taste of my expresso shot. I’m not an expresso expert, so I don’t know the correct terms. But the latte tasted very, very fresh, light with just a hint of bitterness.
I haven’t used the steaming wand and I’m not in any hurry to learn that. I’ve always put my almond milk in the microwave for about 90 seconds (with the Stevia in it) and used a $15 frother wand to whip it up. Then I pour that into the expresso. I don’t do art. I have the Nespresso frother and some 3rd party one I bought. They don’t do any better than the wand and are more work to clean up. I also only drink lattes or cappuccinos (when I over-froth!) and am actually not a coffee drinker. I drink tea the rest of the day.
My criteria for upgrading machines were 1) improved taste in my lattes, 2) same ease of use as the Nespresso and 3) same or lower costs to make my lattes. I probably spend $50/month on Nespresso coffee and it looks like I can spend $10-$20 on the Lavazza or close to that amount if I want to try some local brewers (and I will). The Breville machine is (when on sale) twice the cost of a Nespresso. But spread that over 5 years and it’s not much of a factor. Ease of cleanup and setup is about the same. Filling up the water tank on the Breville is a tad more work than the Nespresso and will slosh out if you’re not careful. I’d say if you factor in putting water in and warming up the Nespresso machine, it took me about 4-5 minutes to make a Nespresso latte. Factor in the dosing time and the Breville takes me 7-8 minutes. Close enough.
Am I happy with it? Heck, YES!!!! I’d give my Nespresso machine 4/10 stars. I didn’t have to get in the car and drive to a coffee shop each day. I knew I was trading quality for (some) cost and convenience. I’d give my Breville 8.5/10 stars. The expresso shots just taste so wonderful. I know some people go down a rabbit hole trying to get a perfect expresso shot. I rank wanting to do that right next to improving (or even doing) latte art. :-). I couldn’t be more pleased with this new setup.
Good-
- The biggest differential relative to others is preparation speed. The grinder setup means you get a fresh, polished and perfectly measured puck in just ~20 seconds almost every time, and in the rare occasions where it is slightly off, a few more seconds of correction is enough. For those of you that enjoy the quality of freshly ground coffee but don’t enjoy the laborious dosing/grinding/spreading/pressing, this machine is the answer to your prayers.
- The resulting espresso is smooth, thick and creamy. I’m able to use lighter roasts (my preference) without issue.
- Practical compact design. All parts and tools are neatly contained and accessible, fitting into a relatively tight corner of my kitchen.
- Sealed hopper lid helps preserve freshness of beans.
- Easy clean cycle. Just a couple button pushes and a few descaler runs and it’s all fresh to go. The drip tray is also very easy to pull off and dump.
- Good activated carbon water filter ensures the quality of the second most important ingredient after your beans.
Could improve:
- No low water indicator. Sometimes you’re caught off guard dry in the middle of a brew.
- Inability to take on larger mugs. You can only comfortably fit in regular sized mugs.
- Heating cycle for steamer starts with a few water squirts. I personally use these to wet the rag I’ll use to clean the wand, or just water down the milk a tad, but it feels unnecessary.
Overall I think you’ll be a happy owner. If you can afford it and you like dependable good quality coffee and appliances, go for it.
PS> It’s been a few more months now and I can report that the grinder broke. Repair was straightforward: wrote an email, got a special padded box in the mail, sent it off and got a fixed machine in about a week. This is all to say that their warranty also seems to work well.
I decided on the Breville Impress since it was a new just released product and featured easy clean up and a built in tamper for uniform repeatability.
After cleaning all the parts, letting it properly warm up and pulling a couple of empty shots, I put some Seattle's Best Portside Blend whole beans in the hopper. I had previously reset the grinder from 6 to 4 and chosen 16 for the grind size.
I pressed the dose button, used the tamper and pressed it again to see the green light indicating the grinding and amount were just right. The coffee looked like a fine powder, but it can be set even finer. I moved the portafilter and pressed the double shot button.
Frothy espresso poured into two small red cups. The espresso was delicious, as good or better than I have ever had before. My wife agreed with me and we tried it two more times. The three beautiful small round pucks came loose with a single tap and the final rinse with clean-up was done in a minute.
Now, I should wait until tomorrow morning to repeat the experience.
Would recommend this machine to anyone wanting to step up from pod machines but still having convenience if wanted.
1 YEAR UPDATE
Faultless coffee making for the first year of ownership. I make 2-3 cups a day and, apart from descaling (when indicated), the Breville has needed no maintenance or repair. I tend to use the same beans and the grind / tamp has been very consistent, with little adjustment needed from batch to batch. The tamp indicator is still a bit touchy but easy to forgive given the overall convenience. Review upgraded to five stars!
This machine really eliminates a lot of the guess work. I wasn't looking to make a daily coffee into a hobby. I just want a fast way to have a tasty drink to bring to work. The Impress system is fantastic. I prefer single shots while my partner prefers doubles, and it remembers settings for both, so you do not have to change the settings between users. I reset the auto dosing whenever I open a new bag of beans and within a few runs, it is all dialed in. The grinder has
The included accessories are well thought out. The razor tool, for trimming coffee off a portafilter that has been filled too high, is made of thick metal. The tool for unscrewing the shower screen and cleaning the milk nozzle are also excellent inclusions. A trial set of cleaning chemicals is nice for starting off, but the full sized Breville descale powder and cleaning tablets are pricier than the just-as-good generic ones.
While I was intrigued by the faster heating, Baratza burrs, and auto milk frothing of the Touch Impress, I didn't really like the idea of having to swipe through menus on a resistive touch screen to make coffee. The reviews seemed to be plagued with error code issues and crashing. The physical buttons and indicator lights seem like they'll stand the test of time a little better. If Breville released an upgraded model with those features but no touch screen, I'd be all over it.
I live in the Southwest with very hard water, I would’ve appreciated the ability to adjust the descale reminder frequency like you can on the Breville Touch models. Having used the machine for about 6 weeks now, I have found it already necessary to descale the machine despite the light not turning on. The only non-Touch model that seems to have this feature is the classic Oracle.
Another quip has been the clearance between the portafilter and the drip tray. Anything besides a low-profile mug simply won't fit under the portafilter without removing the drip tray. This could be improved by getting a bottomless portafilter for an additional inch of clearance, but having a slightly higher profile machine would be nice.
Overall, I am very pleased with this machine. Give it a shot if you want high quality coffee with a little more handholding than the completely manual machines.
I am familiar with the high quality of Breville products and so I was not surprised with this one’s quality and build. If you are a beginner I highly recommend this product!
The Impress feature is a game-changer—it makes achieving the perfect espresso so much easier. The integrated grinder is super precise, and the tamper ensures a consistent shot every time. The steam wand is powerful and allows me to create silky microfoam for lattes and cappuccinos.
Brewing high-quality espresso at home has never been this convenient or enjoyable. Whether you're a seasoned barista or just starting out, this machine gives you all the tools to make café-quality coffee at home. Worth every penny!
I did get the 3 year protection, as you should with high dollar items. Cause, we not stupid over here. Protect your investments.
My partner and I make 2-3 lattes a day and only need to refill the water every couple of days. The milk steamer is quite loud, making it hard to talk over, but the process is quick enough that it’s not a big issue. I’ve just accepted that’s how it is.
Before first use, the machine requires some cleaning, so be prepared for that. Also, make sure to dial it in properly, as getting the right settings takes some trial and error. Expect to waste a bit of coffee in the process. The YouTube video “How to Dial in Intelligent Dosing” by Tom’s Coffee Corner really helped me get it right.
Overall, a solid machine that delivers great coffee at home while saving money.
pounced when it was on sale. The machine runs as expected and the espresso is absolutely delicious. For anyone wanting this machine, go for it! Once you have your beans and grind settings dialed in, it’s a very simple process to brew and go. Use your resources (instruction manual, YouTube, Reddit, etc) and don’t be discouraged. It will be worth it!
This machine isn’t a good option for someone just wanting a simple process. It is good for someone wanting to dip their toes into this world and someone who is determined to have delectable espresso brewed at home. The type of beans you use do matter and if you try different beans, you have to adjust the grind settings to the new beans for your machine to dose accurately.
I had been shopping for an espresso machine for a while, and was mostly looking at saving for a more expensive machine, but this seemed like a great choice to just get something earlier. This makes great coffee and is easy enough to use that it isn't completely overwhelming for novice users. With the integrated tamping and grinder, it's nice that it's a "one thing on the counter" setup with a relatively compact package.
There are occasional quirks and various light flashings, but nothing that hasn't been solved by just taking a few minutes to read the manual and do what the machine asks you to do (e.g. backflushing, descaling, brush cleaning the grinder), and a little bit of diligence has kept everything working smoothly. Some more persistent quirks are maybe just preferences; we removed the black plastic fitting from the portafilter and prefer to run an empty shot before preparing a drink to warm the portafilter. You can also warm it by just attaching the empty portafilter to the group head, and letting it sit turned on for 15-20 minutes.
Spend the money on some good quality medium/dark roast coffee and you'll be pleasantly surprised how good of a shot this can pull. We did buy some Lavazzo beans from Costco because we couldn't resist the pricing, but I think after we finally finish our first 2lb bag this week we'll stick to better quality beans. It has been a joy every time we have recently roasted beans from a good vendor in the machine.
We'll see how things look long term, but after about 10 weeks of almost daily usage we still like our machine quite a lot.
This coffee machine gives you the chance to convert your morning coffee routine into an art.
The automatic tamper is fantastic. I was doubtful of the green light telling you it is the perfect amount, but I LOVE it. it did take me a few uses to get it how I wanted, but after that, not a single issue. I do not have the mess from the grounds all over my counter.
The steaming wand works well. Does exactly what it should, but the wand on the previous machine was great as well. After messing around with my grind preference and amount, it is beyond easy to use this. And the quality of the espresso is great for a home machine.
I like tha auto tamper feature as it automates and controls the pressure of the grind. There are a few features to control if you are new to espresso machines. The grind needs to be set correctly to achieve the right pressure extraction. This can change every time a new bean is used. The tamp is automatic so this is controlled unlike the machines without the tamper. All other aspects of this product work very well. The frother is also good. I don’t use the manual dose, but allow the machine to control. This machine should last a long time with proper cleaning and care. It is important to clean the machine when the light comes on and to descale. The only negative is I purchased the color black on this second machine. My first machine was stainless. The black paint has started to wear off and I would probably only purchase the full stainless.
The grinder is self correcting; when you use the tamper it will tell you if you're short grounds or over. If it's short, it will grind exactly what you need for a full shot and you can tamp again. I love that feature! Perfect shot every time.
The steamer is pretty loud but that is the only negative thing I have to say about this machine.
Highly recommend it
So easy to use and maintain! Highly recommend! Delicious coffee … easy and fast. Do not hesitate !!! It’s wonderful!
Very happy with the tamper feature on this unit as it keeps the area cleaner as well as doing a great job of filling the portafilter to the appropriate amount.
The machine is designed well and very high quality.
What I love is it takes the guessing of how much espresso you need as it has the tamper in it and will tell you if you have too much or too little grounded espresso, however, sometimes I’ve noticed I have to add a little extra to get the right shot and tamp it more then once. So it’s a plus and a negative for me on the plus side I feel I was less espresso this way but it also has a manual option if you like but the downside is you can’t see how much espresso has come out since it’s covered. I’m not sure how other machines at but I find I’m having to run a clean cycle a lot more then say the express my sister has. I don’t know if it’s timed for how many times you run a shot but since owning this for the last 4 months I’ve had to run one descaling and 4 clean cycles. I also have a filter that sits on top the portafilter to prevent grinds from going into the machine so I don’t know if that causes more on issue.
Steaming milk, I’m still working on latte art side of things but it heats my milk with no issues just a lot more foam then I like and wish I could steam more milk at once then what’s on the allowed amount of steam pitcher they give you.
Over all it’s a great machine and love that I got it as I haven’t stopped off at a coffee shop unless it’s to buy coffee beans.
I’m glad I got this over the ninja Lux as I sat for months looking at this one or the ninja lux.
Nice Color, well built machine, no more coffee grounds spill, easy to setup.
So this is my 2nd breville barista. The first one went on to go about 14 years. She is still working but I believe the temperature sensor inside the machine is broken, making it steam after 15mins idle…. But I loved that machine. Minimum of 4 shots a day for the whole 14 years. Hope this one last as long!
The new one has that chute thingy that makes way less coffee ground spill which is awesome! The tamper works flawlessly so far and the auto ground amount work better than I thought it would. After maybe 5-6 coffee, it’s always spot on with the quantity. Had the machine for 3 months now.
The paint finish (blue) is really nice, it even comes with a transparent protector plastic piece to but over the blue part of the tray to help minimize cup marks on the machine. Well thought!
Easy to clean, built in cleaning timer so you don’t forget to get the machine clean.
Hope I get another 14 years out of this one!