Are you tired of settling for mediocre coffee at home? Do you dream of brewing café-quality espresso in the comfort of your kitchen? Well, we have the answer for you. Introducing the Breville Barista Express Impress espresso machine, the ultimate tool for unleashing your inner barista. But does it really deliver on its promises? Let’s dive into our comprehensive review and find out.
At first glance, the Breville Barista Express Impress seems like a dream come true for espresso lovers. But does it live up to the hype? We’ll explore its features, performance, ease of use, and more to give you the full picture. Get ready to take your coffee game to new heights with this exceptional machine.
Key Takeaways:
- The Breville Barista Express Impress is a home espresso machine designed to produce café-quality coffee.
- It has a range of features, including a lever-actuated tamper and an intuitive user interface for easy customization.
- The machine’s shot quality is impressive, though there is some variability.
- Cleaning and maintenance are crucial for optimal performance.
- It is competitively priced for its performance, making it a solid investment for coffee enthusiasts.
Features of the Breville Barista Express Impress
The Breville Barista Express Impress is packed with impressive features that enhance the espresso-making experience. From precision dosing to customizable settings, this machine offers a range of functionalities to suit the needs of both beginners and advanced users.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the key features:
- Lever-actuated Tamper: The Barista Express Impress features a lever-actuated tamper that ensures a flat and polished puck of grounds, resulting in consistent extraction and optimal flavor.
- Volume Meter: With a built-in volume meter, this espresso machine allows you to measure the right amount of grounds in the portafilter. The handy widget removes excess grounds, and the “a bit more” button adds additional grounds if needed.
- Grinding and Dosing: The Impress offers automatic or customizable settings for grinding and dosing. It boasts a stainless steel conical burr grinder with 25 grind settings, allowing you to achieve your desired coffee grounds’ consistency for the perfect extraction.
- Pre-infusion and Extraction: This machine offers options for both pre-infusion and extraction customization. You can adjust the length and pressure of pre-infusion to maximize flavor extraction, while the extraction settings let you fine-tune the shot length to match your preferences.
- PID Temperature Control: The Barista Express Impress features PID temperature control, ensuring a consistent water temperature throughout the brewing process. This precise temperature control helps to extract the best flavor profiles from your coffee beans.
- Steam Wand: Froth milk like a professional barista with the steam wand feature, which allows you to create creamy and velvety microfoam for cappuccinos and lattes.
- Accessories: Along with the machine, you’ll receive accessories such as single and double wall filter baskets to accommodate different brewing needs. The cup height adjustment feature allows you to accommodate various cup sizes with ease.
These features make the Breville Barista Express Impress a versatile and user-friendly espresso machine that delivers excellent performance and customization options.
Performance and Shot Quality
When it comes to the performance of the Breville Barista Express Impress, it delivers good to very good espresso shots. However, there may be some variation from shot to shot, even when all variables are adjusted correctly. On average, the shot times, including pre-infusion, hover around 27 seconds, but the shot weight can vary.
One thing to note is that the shots produced by the Impress tend to be slightly longer than desired. Despite this, the overall shot quality is still impressive, especially for a home countertop machine. The Impress achieves a desirable 1:2 shot ratio and is capable of producing a beautiful crema.
To optimize the shot quality, users have the flexibility to adjust various parameters, including grind settings, dose, and extraction length. This allows for customization and experimentation, enabling users to fine-tune their coffee to their liking.
Note: The image above visually represents the shot quality achieved by the Breville Barista Express Impress.
Comparing Shot Quality
| Machine | Shot Quality |
|---|---|
| Breville Barista Express Impress | Good to very good, with some variation |
| Competitor A | Inconsistent, ranging from poor to excellent |
| Competitor B | Consistently excellent |
Table: Comparing shot quality of the Breville Barista Express Impress to its competitors.
The Breville Barista Express Impress holds its own when it comes to shot quality, offering a satisfying espresso experience with room for customization. While there may be some variation, the ability to adjust grind settings, dose, and extraction length provides ample control to achieve optimal shot quality.
Ease of Use and Customization Options
The Breville Barista Express Impress is designed with user-friendly features that make it accessible to beginners and offer customization options for more advanced users. The machine’s intuitive interface ensures a smooth and hassle-free coffee-making experience.
The clear labels and buttons on the interface allow users to easily select the filter basket size and the number of shots they desire. Whether you prefer automatic or manual dosing, the Impress accommodates both options to suit your personal preferences. This versatility allows you to take control of the brewing process and create a coffee experience tailored to your taste.
With adjustable grind size, dose, and extraction time, you can fine-tune your shot characteristics to achieve the perfect balance of flavor, strength, and aroma. The machine’s LED indicator scale provides real-time feedback on the dose, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
However, it’s important to note that the Barista Express Impress relies on time or volume for dosing rather than weight. While this may be limiting for advanced users who prefer a more precise approach, it still offers a wide range of customization options to enhance your coffee-making journey.
Key Points:
- The machine’s interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate.
- Clear labels and buttons allow for quick selection of filter basket size and number of shots.
- Automatic and manual dosing options cater to different preferences.
- Grind size, dose, and extraction time can be adjusted for personalized shot characteristics.
- The LED indicator scale provides real-time feedback on the dose.
- The machine relies on time or volume for dosing, which may limit precision for advanced users.
Design and Build Quality
The Breville Barista Express Impress is not only a powerhouse when it comes to coffee-making but also a stylish addition to any kitchen countertop. With its brushed stainless steel housing, this espresso machine exudes elegance, making it a visually appealing appliance that adds a touch of sophistication to your home. The classic vintage vibe of the Barista Express Impress is enhanced by the presence of a pressure gauge and well-labeled controls, giving you complete control over the brewing process.
The solid build quality of the Barista Express Impress is evident in every aspect of its construction. From the moment you hold it, you can feel the weight distribution is balanced, providing stability during operation. The high-end components used in its construction ensure durability, giving you peace of mind that your investment will last for years to come.
One standout feature of the Barista Express Impress is its well-designed removable water tank with a double-articulated handle. This makes filling and cleaning the tank a breeze, adding convenience to your coffee-making routine. Additionally, the machine boasts a spacious cup warmer, allowing you to keep your cups at the perfect temperature for that ultimate coffee experience.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Keeping your Breville Barista Express Impress in optimal condition requires regular cleaning and maintenance. By following a few simple steps, you can ensure that your machine continues to perform flawlessly, providing you with delicious coffee for years to come.
Cleaning the Removable Parts
To start, regularly empty and clean the removable water tank and drip tray. This helps prevent any build-up of impurities and maintains the machine’s cleanliness. Simply remove these parts, wash them with warm soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and dry before reassembling.
Next, focus on cleaning the grinder, dosing chamber, and portafilter. Coffee residue can accumulate in these areas over time and affect the taste of your brew. Use a small brush or toothbrush to scrub away any residue, ensuring a thorough clean. Avoid using soapy water or harsh cleaning agents on these parts, as they can leave behind unwanted flavors.
Maintaining the Steam Wand
The steam wand is an important part of your Barista Express Impress, allowing you to create perfectly frothed milk for various coffee beverages. After each use, purge the wand by opening the steam valve briefly to release any remaining steam. Then, wipe down the wand with a damp cloth to remove any milk residue. This prevents the build-up of dried milk, which can clog the wand and affect its performance.
Descaling and Cleaning Cycle
Periodically, it’s important to descale your machine to remove any mineral deposits that may have accumulated. The Impress comes with a cleaning cycle specifically designed for this purpose. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to perform the cycle and ensure that your machine is free from any build-up.
Regular cleaning and maintenance not only keep your Breville Barista Express Impress in optimal condition but also extend its lifespan, ensuring consistent performance and delicious coffee every time you brew.
Price and Availability
The Breville Barista Express Impress is available for purchase online and in select retail stores. The price of the machine varies depending on where you buy it and any current discounts or promotions. On Amazon, the price for the Barista Express Impress is $874. Best Buy and Williams-Sonoma sell it for $900. While the Barista Express Impress may not be the cheapest home espresso machine on the market, it offers great value for its features and performance.
Pros and Cons of the Breville Barista Express Impress
In our evaluation of the Breville Barista Express Impress, we have identified several pros and cons. These factors can help you make an informed decision about whether this espresso machine is right for you.
Pros
- Solid Shot Quality: The Breville Barista Express Impress delivers impressive shot quality, allowing you to enjoy café-worthy espresso in the comfort of your own home.
- User-Friendly Interface: With its intuitive controls and clear labels, the Impress is easy to use, making it suitable for beginners and enthusiasts alike.
- Intuitive Customization Options: This machine offers a range of customizable settings, allowing you to fine-tune your coffee to your preferred taste and strength.
- Durable Build Quality: Crafted with high-quality materials and components, the Impress boasts excellent durability, ensuring reliable performance over time.
Cons
- Variation in Shot Quality: Despite its solid performance, the Impress may exhibit some variation in shot quality from time to time, even with consistent adjustments.
- Limited Grind Settings: Although the machine offers 25 grind settings, some users may find the range somewhat restrictive for achieving their desired flavor profiles.
- Reliance on Time or Volume: The Impress measures extraction based on time or volume, rather than weight, which may not suit those who prefer precise control over the brewing process.
- Inconvenient Handle and Lack of Water Alert: While the double-articulated handle adds flexibility, it may take some getting used to. Additionally, the absence of a water alert feature may require you to monitor water levels more closely.
- Performance with Lower-Quality Beans: This machine may not perform as well with lower-quality or older coffee beans, potentially affecting the overall taste and consistency.
Conclusion
The Breville Barista Express Impress is a solid choice for home espresso enthusiasts who want to elevate their coffee-making experience. Despite having a few limitations and a learning curve, this machine offers impressive shot quality and user-friendly features. Its well-designed build and sleek appearance add a touch of elegance to any kitchen.
Priced competitively for its performance, the Barista Express Impress provides excellent value for money. With its intuitive customization options, you can tailor your coffee to suit your personal taste preferences. Whether you’re a beginner or a more advanced user, this machine offers the flexibility to experiment and create café-quality coffee at home.
To ensure consistent performance and longevity, regular cleaning and maintenance are essential. By following proper cleaning procedures and keeping the machine in optimal condition, you can continue to enjoy great-tasting coffee day after day.
In summary, the Breville Barista Express Impress is an impressive espresso machine that combines functionality, quality, and affordability. If you’re looking to take your home barista skills to the next level, this machine is definitely worth considering.