Breville BES870XL Coffee Machine: Full Review and Guide

The Breville BES870XL coffee machine, also known as the Barista Express, is one of the most popular models in the home espresso machine segment with an integrated grinder. This machine stands out for its high-quality build, customizable settings, and ease of use, making it a favorite among home baristas and coffee enthusiasts.

But what makes this model so attractive? In this comprehensive review, we'll explore the features, functions, and advantages of the Breville BES870XL, along with tips on how to use and maintain it.

1. Introduction to the World of Breville BES870XL

Breville is an Australian company that has been producing high-end kitchen appliances for over 80 years. One of the company’s main focuses is coffee machines, and the BES870XL is one of their best creations. The machine is designed for those who not only want to make a cup of coffee but also enjoy the process, exploring different flavors and the aromatic nuances of freshly ground beans.

What is a Coffee Machine with a Grinder?

The main advantage of the Breville BES870XL is its built-in grinder. This feature allows you to grind beans right before brewing your espresso, which is crucial for achieving maximum freshness and flavor. Essentially, you have the full process at your fingertips—from grinding to extraction.

2. Design and Package: Everything You Need for a Barista Experience

At first glance, it’s clear that the Breville BES870XL is a well-designed and solidly built appliance. Its sleek stainless steel body makes it both durable and visually appealing.

What’s included in the package?

*Espresso machine with an integrated grinder: The main unit with automatic grinding and coffee extraction functions.

*Portafilter: A metal filter with dual handles for easy use.

*Manual tamper: For evenly pressing ground coffee into the portafilter, ensuring proper pressure during extraction.

*Water tank: A removable 2-liter reservoir with a water filter.

*Milk frothing jug: A metal jug used for frothing milk.

*Cleaning tools: Brushes and special cleaning accessories are included.

Overall, the BES870XL comes with all the necessary tools to let you brew coffee at a professional barista level.

3 Key Features: Technology for Flavor Enhancement

The Breville BES870XL is a semi-automatic espresso machine, meaning it combines manual controls with automatic processes for brewing espresso. Let’s take a closer look at the key technologies and features:

1.Built-in Conical Burr Grinder
The built-in grinder features 16 grind settings, allowing you to choose the grind size depending on the type of coffee you want to brew. The finer the grind, the more intense the espresso flavor. Freshly ground beans ensure maximum aroma, which is impossible to achieve with pre-ground coffee.

2. 15-Bar Pressure
The powerful 15-bar pump creates the optimal conditions for coffee extraction. Pressure at this level ensures that all the flavors and essential oils are extracted from the coffee, resulting in a rich and deep taste.

3. ThermoCoil Heating System
One of the key features of this model is the built-in heating system that ensures water reaches the perfect extraction temperature (around 93°C/200°F). This technology provides precise temperature control, which is crucial for achieving the ideal espresso.

4. Pre-Infusion Function
Before full extraction begins, the machine pre-infuses the ground coffee with a small amount of water, helping to evenly distribute the coffee and ensure a smoother and more consistent extraction.

5. Manual Milk Frother
The Breville BES870XL comes with a steam wand that allows you to manually froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes. With this feature, you can create drinks like latte macchiatos or cappuccinos with perfectly frothed and textured milk foam.

4. Control and Customization Options

One of the major benefits of the Breville BES870XL is its versatility and the ability to customize each aspect of the coffee-making process.

1. Automatic and Manual Modes
The coffee machine offers two operation modes: automatic and manual. In automatic mode, you can select the volume of the drink, and the machine will handle everything from grinding to extraction. In manual mode, you have full control over the process, from the amount of ground coffee to the extraction time.

2. Adjustable Shot Volume
You can choose between making a single or double espresso shot, as well as set parameters for individual volume customization.

3. Temperature and Pressure Adjustments
Temperature and pressure settings can be adjusted to match your preferences. This allows you to experiment with different coffee beans and brewing methods, opening up new flavor possibilities.

5. Maintenance and Cleaning

One aspect often overlooked when choosing a coffee machine is maintenance. However, to ensure the machine’s longevity and keep coffee quality high, proper care is essential.

Cleaning Process:

*Daily Cleaning: After each use, it’s recommended to clean the portafilter and steam wand.
*Grinder Cleaning: Regularly clean the grinder to avoid the buildup of old coffee residues, which can negatively affect the taste.
*Descaling: Occasionally, you will need to descale the machine using special descaling solutions.
*Replacing Filters: It's important to replace the water filter in time to avoid mineral deposits.

Ease of Maintenance
The Breville BES870XL is designed for easy maintenance. For instance, the removable water tank is easy to take out and clean, and the maintenance indicators let you know when it's time for cleaning.

6. Who is the Breville BES870XL For?

The Breville BES870XL is perfect for those who appreciate the authentic taste of espresso and want to control every step of the brewing process. It’s also an excellent choice for those who love experimenting with different coffee beans and brewing methods. With its built-in grinder and customizable settings, this machine meets the needs of both beginners and experienced baristas.

Conclusion: Why You Should Buy the Breville BES870XL

The Breville BES870XL is the ideal coffee machine for those who want full control over the brewing process and enjoy high-quality coffee at home.

check price on Amazon

Pros and Cons of the Breville BES870XL Coffee Machine: A Detailed Review

The Breville BES870XL Barista Express coffee machine is a highly popular choice among coffee enthusiasts, thanks to its advanced functionality, customizable settings, and high-quality build. However, like any machine, it has its strengths and weaknesses. In this review, we'll take a closer look at the pros and cons of this model to help you make an informed decision.

Pros

1. Built-in Conical Burr Grinder
One of the standout features of the Breville BES870XL is its built-in coffee grinder. The conical burr grinder allows you to grind coffee beans right before brewing, which is essential for maximizing the freshness and flavor of your espresso. The machine offers 16 different grind settings, so you can adjust the grind size based on your preference and the type of beans you're using. Freshly ground beans make a significant difference in the taste and aroma of your coffee.

2. Adjustable Brewing Parameters
The BES870XL provides a high level of customization, allowing you to control almost every aspect of the brewing process, including:
*Grind Size: The built-in grinder gives you control over the grind size, from coarse to fine.
*Water Temperature: You can precisely control the water temperature to optimize coffee extraction, ensuring the best flavor.
*Water Pressure: With a 15-bar pressure pump, you can achieve a rich and flavorful extraction, and you can also tweak the pressure to suit your beans.
*Shot Volume: You can brew a single or double shot of espresso or customize the volume to your liking.

This level of customization is ideal for people who enjoy experimenting with different coffee beans and brewing methods.

3. High-Quality Build and Stylish Design
The Breville BES870XL is constructed from durable stainless steel, ensuring its longevity while giving it a professional, sleek appearance. The design fits well in modern or minimalist kitchens, and the metallic finish adds a touch of sophistication. The sturdy construction makes the machine robust and resistant to wear and tear.

4. Pre-Infusion Function
This feature enhances the quality of coffee extraction. Before full brewing begins, the machine applies a small amount of water to the coffee grounds, allowing them to expand and settle evenly in the portafilter. This results in a more balanced extraction and brings out the full aroma and flavor of the coffee beans. The pre-infusion function ensures better consistency in every cup.

5. Manual Steam Wand for Frothing Milk
The BES870XL comes with a steam wand that allows you to manually froth milk for drinks like cappuccinos, lattes, and macchiatos. This feature gives you full control over the milk texture, allowing you to create silky microfoam for latte art or thick froth for a cappuccino. It’s perfect for those who love experimenting with different milk textures and want to master their barista skills.

6. Compact Design
Despite its many functions and features, the Breville BES870XL has a relatively compact design. It doesn’t take up much counter space, making it a great choice for smaller kitchens or those with limited space. Its compactness adds to its versatility, especially if you don’t have a lot of room but still want a high-quality coffee machine.

7. Ease of Use
The machine features an intuitive control panel with easy-to-understand buttons and analog dials, making it user-friendly even for beginners. Although the BES870XL offers many customizable options, its interface is simple and not overwhelming, allowing users to get accustomed to the machine relatively quickly.

8. All-in-One Appliance
The BES870XL combines multiple features into one machine: it has a built-in grinder, manual frother, and the ability to adjust pressure and temperature. This "all-in-one" approach eliminates the need to purchase separate grinders or milk frothers, making it a cost-effective solution for coffee enthusiasts looking for a professional-grade machine at home.

Cons

1. High Price
The Breville BES870XL is a premium product, and its price is higher compared to many other home espresso machines. While it offers excellent features like the built-in grinder and high-pressure pump, the cost might be prohibitive for beginners or casual coffee drinkers. However, for those who are passionate about coffee and want a versatile machine, it offers good value for the investment.

2. Manual Milk Frother
Unlike fully automatic coffee machines, such as the DeLonghi Dinamica or Jura models, the Breville BES870XL requires manual intervention when frothing milk. The manual steam wand takes practice to master and might be inconvenient for users who prefer a completely automated coffee-making process. It requires time and skill to achieve the perfect milk texture, which could be a drawback for those seeking more convenience.

3. Regular Maintenance and Cleaning
As with any coffee machine that has an integrated grinder, the Breville BES870XL requires regular maintenance. You'll need to clean the grinder to prevent coffee grounds from building up, wipe down the steam wand after every use, and occasionally descale the machine. For users not accustomed to regularly maintaining a coffee machine, this could be seen as an inconvenience. However, the machine does have an indicator to remind you when cleaning is necessary, making the process easier to manage.

4. Noise Level
The BES870XL can be quite noisy, especially when the grinder and steam wand are in use. For users who prefer a quieter appliance, this could be a downside. The noise level is particularly noticeable early in the morning when the surroundings are still quiet, and the sound of the machine can be disruptive.

5. Learning Curve
While the machine offers many settings and customization options, there’s a bit of a learning curve to mastering the BES870XL. Especially for users who are new to espresso machines, it may take time to learn how to properly use the grinder, adjust the shot volume, and steam milk effectively. This makes the machine less suitable for those looking for a plug-and-play solution, and better for coffee enthusiasts willing to spend time mastering it.

6. No Automatic Cleaning System
Unlike high-end fully automatic machines like those from Jura or Philips, the Breville BES870XL doesn’t have an automatic cleaning system. This means that users must manually clean and maintain the steam wand, grinder, and portafilter, adding an extra step to the coffee-making process. For those who value convenience, this could be a drawback.

Conclusion

The Breville BES870XL is a powerful and flexible coffee machine, ideal for those who are serious about coffee and enjoy having full control over the brewing process. It offers a high level of customization, making it suitable for experimenting with different beans, grind sizes, and milk textures, all while delivering professional-level results at home.

However, these benefits come with the trade-offs of a higher price, the need for regular maintenance, and a learning curve to master all of its features. If you're willing to invest the time and effort into learning how to use and care for the Breville BES870XL, it can become an essential tool for creating high-quality, café-style coffee from the comfort of your home.