inexpensive Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine BES878BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel

inexpensive Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine BES878BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel 

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Customer reviews

P The Critic
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Espresso Maker I've Used
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2021
Color: Brushed Stainless SteelVerified Purchase
I've had a few different espresso machines over the last decade, and have tried and returned a couple as well. This one is, by far, my favorite machine for several reasons. Throughout the review I will reference differences primarily with the Barista Express, as that is one that I had for some time as well.
The overall appearance of the machine looks good. I have the stainless steel version, and it looks sharp and well built. Breville is the only company I know that has the magnetic tamper holder underneath the top of the unit, and it's a nice touch. A place to put the tamper, and always know where it is. Also, the tamper is a nice metal one, rather than the thin, light plastic many other brands use.
I also like that most, if not all, of what comes in contact with hot liquids is metal rather than plastic (though the portafilter does have some plastic, but I use a naked bottom portafilter as stated below). I kind of like the ease of the automatic machines that grind, tamp, and pull the shot, but the plastic group head makes me a bit uncomfortable. I try to minimize hot foods and liquids contacting plastic as much as possible. If plastic particles can leach out of water bottles, then heated plastics most likely will leach more.
As far as performance, I will touch on the grinder, pulling of the shots, hot water spout, and very importantly, the steam wand:
I have seen some complaints about Breville's grinders, and I don't understand why. Granted, I do believe that most of the complaints come from people who are much more advanced in their coffee preparation and understanding than I am. Nevertheless, I do find the grinder to do a good job. It has fine adjustments that you make with the dial on the left of the machine, plus larger scale adjustments that you can make with the grinder itself under where the bean hopper sits. I wouldn't say the larger adjustments are super easy, but definitely doable if you follow the directions. I've made a single adjustment on the grinder itself and only rely on the fine adjustments other than that. As a side note, I saw on an instructional video by another reviewer that you want to make the fine adjustments while grinding to prevent getting anything stuck. I'm not sure if this is necessary but I do it just in case.
I am impressed by how little of a mess the grinding makes. The dosage amount and grind size is consistent once I dialed everything in and left it there. Plus it's easy to switch from single to double dose.
Pulling shots is rather straight forward as well, but does take time getting things right. As far as getting it right, that's more dependent on the size and dosing of the grinds as well as the tamping force, but you see the results during the shot pull. I don't use the included portafilter because I've always liked the appearance of the naked bottom portafilters, so I found one on Amazon that's sized for this machine. The naked bottom ones look cool pulling the shot, but make a bit more of a mess than the standard portafilter, and are a little less forgiving than the included one.
With a fairly good grind size and amount, you can get good consistent shots. With my Barista Express, I noticed that the second pull was usually more bitter and not as good tasting as the first shot, if pulled within a few minutes of each other. With this machine, I can pull a double shot, steam the milk, then pull another double shot without any issues or difference in taste. The Barista Pro also has the three second heat up time vs the thirty second or so on the Barista Express, which isn't a huge deal itself but I believe the newer heating unit is more advanced and allows for the better second pull.
The hot water spout is angled and can dispense right into the cup after the shot is pulled without having to move the cup to a different location. Also, I like the angled spout versus the one on the Barista Express.
As far as the steam wand, it doesn't seem like there is much advertised or discussed about the improvements of the steam wand versus the Barista Express, but in my opinion, it is far more powerful. I had a lot of difficulty getting the correct texture of milk for latte art, but with the Barista Pro, the steam wand seems much more powerful, faster to steam the milk, and can more easily achieve that proper texture and consistency for good latte art (my latte art isn't very good, but I'm going to blame that on my skills rather than the steamer). For fairness, I will say that my skills have improved some since having the Barista Express, but I definitely feel a significant difference with this steam wand. Such that I feel that alone makes it worth the increased price compared to the Barista Express.
I have also tried an automatic machine. I would say that the automatic machines are easier to use, less of a learning curve (though there is still somewhat of a learning curve) and most give you the option to make a regular drip coffee as well. They don't usually have as good a shot pull or taste as a unit like this one, and personally I like the "artsy" part of going from grind to shot manually.
To conclude, I would definitely recommend this machine to anybody who is looking for very good espresso drinks that are better than what you will usually find in coffee shops, at the comfort of your home. If you're willing to learn how to use the steam wand well for lattes and cappuccinos, I feel this machine is better than the Barista Touch, and better than other machines in this price range. Within a few months, the machine pays for itself versus getting a latte a few times a week at a coffee shop.
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StrandedMoose
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Beginner to Intermediate Espresso Fans
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2022
Color: Brushed Stainless SteelVerified Purchase
This is a very well-engineered Espresso machine that is a great place for any beginner, and even the intermediate barista. This is probably one of the best machines you can get under the $1000+ range from my research.

Like any espresso machine, it takes a lot of coffee and trial and error to get used to it. This is because you need to find the optimal pull time and grind size for each bean that you use. I highly recommend Nicoletti Old School Roast for latte-based drinks. For those, I use an internal burr of 4 and grind size of 9 or 10.

You can find excellent tutorials on YouTube specifying how to perfect the espresso pull for your bean of choice. The video "How to Dial In Breville Barista Pro" by Lifestyle Labs makes it very easy. However, you can also just use the preset values to get decent results. I wish that Breville had an official course on how to use it for complete beginners, because I was totally lost when I received mine.

After a lot of trial and error, I now am making oat milk lattes that taste exponentially better than anything I can buy at a coffee shop, for a fraction of the price. I currently use Elmhurst Oat Milk and Elmhurt Barista Edition because it's the only oat milk on the market that isn't filled with gums or oils.

My oat milk lattes are on par with any whole milk latte from the local coffee stores. Needless to say, I'm very happy with this machine.

Pros
- Easy to use, intuitive interface
- Very easy to clean
- Very easy to descale/service
- Visually appealing
- All necessary components in one chassis
- One button push for excellent single or double shot drinks

Cons
- Can't steam milk and pull espresso at the same time (all pros recommend doing this, so it's a bit silly that this unit can't).
- Steam takes significant time to generate. It also spits out water first, watering down your milk. Whereas Higher end espresso machines will instantly shoot steam that is pre-heated in a chamber)
- Grinder is not as precise as many high end grinders; There are no half sizes so it is difficult to fine tune at a certain point. My understanding is that it's not as powerful either and beans often get stuck in the hopper so you often need to tap on the hopper to make sure all the beans grind.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Well built and makes great espresso
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2024
Color: Brushed Stainless SteelVerified Purchase
5 star for sure. The machine is well built and great quality. I’m a big fan of Breville and own many of their products. It’s a great value also and not hard to use at all. Those that are lazy might disagree but I would rather take 5 minutes out of my morning to make my own espresso drink for just pennies compared to what coffee house’s charge for the same quality product. That’s not an exaggeration, it takes me literally 5 minutes for the whole espresso making process. That include grinding the coffee beans and steaming the milk, 5 minutes. You waist a lot longer driving to a coffee shop, waiting in line to order and waiting in line behind people also waiting on their coffee. Also, do the math, if you buy a coffee, just one coffee, for 5 or 6 dollars and that is a low end price at a coffee shop per day you can expect to spend $1,825 to $2,190 a year. A Barista Pro at 600 or 800 dollars, depending on if you catch them on sale, will pay for itself in a matter of months and my first machine lasted 7 years before the boiler gave in. That’s literally thousands of dollars saved not buying 1 cup of coffee per day at a coffee house and getting the same quality drink. I, with no doubt, will keep purchasing Breville espresso machines as long as they keep making the same quality machines at the reasonable prices they have now.
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stacey gold
5.0 out of 5 stars An incredible espresso machine!
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024
Color: Black TruffleVerified Purchase
I love my new Breville! I am pretty new to the coffee scene and only have used automatic drip machines in the past. I decided to take the plunge into the real coffee world and buy this beauty. It’s very easy to operate even for a novice like myself. After some simple trial and error, I have become a true barista and I look forward to my delicious cup every morning. Do yourself a favor, invest in this amazing appliance. I promise you won’t regret it!
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Catherine W.
5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I needed!
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2024
Color: Damson BlueVerified Purchase
I recently became an espresso enthusiast and was looking for a machine that would grind, brew, and steam. This machine does it all for me!! After much research and quite a few YouTube tutorials I narrowed it down to this Breville and I have no regrets. There was A LOT poured down the drain due to operator error 🙄; however, I finally have found my “dial in” numbers and enjoy at least a cup or three a day!!

The quality is excellent, it looks amazing and is easy to use and clean.
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Joe Mama
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Customer Service
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2024
Color: Damson BlueVerified Purchase
I purchased a Pro about a month ago. It started to make a buzzing sound after pulling a shot. I contacted customer service and we video chatted about my issue. I was able to pull a shot in real time and show that there was a problem. I was sent a return label for the malfunctioning machine and was shipped out a brand new machine within 2 days. No problems, no fuss. One of the best customer service experiences I’ve had in a long time.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Faster milk Steamer and quicker brewing.
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2024
Color: Brushed Stainless SteelVerified Purchase
Has a learning curve in order to find correct grind for coffee beans and brewing length. Had to adjust many times until I found it just right for me. Our other Breville espresso machine gave up after 6 years. Leaking, not heating and no longer steaming milk. Looked to repairing it but we had already had it repaired once for heating element and $200+. This new Breville is so much quicker. Did buy the 5-year insurance for this one.
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Hatricia
5.0 out of 5 stars Really great, exactly what I wanted!
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2024
Color: Black TruffleVerified Purchase
I have always wanted an espresso machine, but could never justify the cost of a decent one. Especially one that would be easy to use, low maintenance, and wouldn't take too much time to use.

My drink of choice is usually a caramel macchiato from Starbucks, but it's expensive, and the quality isn't always consistent. So with the amount of times I find myself in the drive through every week, and how often I end up with a drink that doesn't even taste good, I finally decided to just get this. Also on work from home days I don't want to get up to go out just for coffee.

I was able to do the Amazon payments option, and when I calculated how much I'm probably spending at Starbucks a few times a week, it was close to what I'd pay for this machine each month (terrible I know), so it would be more than worth it. Plus now I could have coffee on weekends or days when I work remote.

When I got it, I did spend quite a lot of time at first figuring out what all the parts were so I didn't mess it up, but after the first two shots I realized how easy it was going to be to use. I think after 3-4 shots I had both the grind time and size just about perfect and have not had a bad one since.

It's quick to make my coffee in the morning before work, I can just run the pieces under hot water to rinse off, and then I'm done. I have used it every day since I got it about a week ago, and today I did a more thorough cleaning, and even that only took about 5 minutes.

I am really happy I splurged on this, it was a big investment for me, but it's been everything I wanted so far.
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William
5.0 out of 5 stars A coffee snob.
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2024
Color: Red Velvet CakeVerified Purchase
This is a great personal coffee experience. Spend the money on coffee with a roast date, not expires date. Buy whole beans. Always.
There is a learning curve using this machine but that is part of the fun. Also purchase a coffee funnel and some puck filters.
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Heather Foxman
5.0 out of 5 stars Breville came thru in the end :-)
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2021
Color: Brushed Stainless SteelVerified Purchase
I have had my Breville for 2.5 years and overall it has been a great experience. The machine is very easy to use - a beginner can make an excellent latte in minutes - but you can also play with various features to suit your particular espresso and latte style. I especially like how this machine heats up immediately - no waiting for coffee! Want it now? You got it! NEW feature - the small funnel that comes with it now keeps all the grounds in when. it comes out of the grinder so no mess - fabulous! How am I able to compare the new machine with the slightly older one? Well . . . I have been very happy with this machine . . until just recently - I cannot tell a lie - we had a rocky spell, Breville and I. But as they came thru for me I the end, I have raised my review back up to a 5. technically, due to the fact that it happened, perhaps I should have put a 4.5, but that isn't possible. What happened was my machine just stopped working. I called support and the representative did a video chat with me to try to fix it on the spot. It was great that they could run me thru the different "fixit things" to try right over the phone, but eventually it became obvious that it needed something more than advanced cleaning. They were very prompt - they sent me a box to ship it in just like a day - super fast. A couple days later they then sent an e-mail with a quote and I decided to spend the money because I really really love this machine. It wasn't cheap - but shipping was included so really not bad over all. And I wanted the professionals fixing it, not me trying this and that off of a DIY YouTube video and getting no where. So they fixed it and sent it back super fast - BUT - sadly, in their haste to get it back quickly to me, the technicians shipped it in a wet condition, and when it arrived it stunk and had rust marks on the face plate! Yikes. I was very very upset as it was not at all in that condition when I sent I to them. I had waited a couple days to send it and let the machine dry out on purpose. I can only think that it was an inexperienced technician who was trying to get it back to me super fast who made this mistake, and hopefully they are taking steps so this never happens to anyone else again! Initially they did not offer me any sort of compensation for this mistake - even tho having these blemishes was really upsetting and really spoiled the art factor of this machine - cause really - it is beautiful looking - it isn't just an old coffee maker - it is a show piece in your home! I have mine proudly on display and serve coffee to all my guests! It looks fantastic on my counter! So when they did nothing for me I wrote my review detailing what had happened and lowered my rating to a 3. And then magically, someone at Breville either listened to what I told the representatives, or saw my review or I don't know - but they suddenly did the right thing and approved a replacement machine! At no cost to me. I was ecstatic. Breville did right by me. It actually brings tears to my eyes cause I bought my original machine with money my Dad left me when he passed away. Otherwise it was really out of my price range. So thank you Breville - you warmed my heart and corrected your mistake and for that I give you 5 stars! You did the right and ethical thing. You can trust this company.