I have the same machine as you do, I almost did the same everything you do. Scale the beans, scale the espresso coming out, counting the time. Although I steam milk first and then brew the coffee. It is great to see someone is doing the same thing. For latte art, there are a lot of great videos from Dritan Alsela on RU-vid. I made my latte art much much better by watching his video and practice again and again. Thank you for your video. Made me more confident on what I am doing as I study everything by myself.
Pretty bang on with the pressure for that espresso shot, it's a good budget machine for entry level home coffee, beats paying for a sh!tty one at a random cafe.
Over time it pays for itself not only money wise (£.50 of beans for an espresso vs £3.50 for a bad one at a coffee shop), but also in the joy of making amazing coffee for yourself, your friends and family.
Regarding “the mountain” of grounds during grinding: I gently tap the portafilter handle as the ground coffee falls into the basket. This distributes the grounds more evenly into the basket, almost completely prevents overflow, reducing waste. No need to overflow unnecessarily and waste perfectly good coffee. At almost $20/pound, I want to use ALL my coffee! Love my BE 870XL, almost 2 years old now, being used daily to make 2 16 oz lattes with 3 double shots total. Perform “clean me” cleanings & vinegar/water descaling religiously, and replace filter every other month. Use Full Circle descaler every sixth month. Fingers crossed.* VERY lucky to have wonderful, soft, Sierra municipal water. Thanks EBMUD! *Pulled off the group head “shower screen” for the first time this month, and was surprised to see how much grime had collected within the group head. Despite, as I said, religious cleaning with the tablets & descaling. Plus, I ALWAYS run a pre-pull double shot before my espresso pulls AND wipe the screen of grounds & oils before running a post-pulls double rinse shot. Doing my damdest to ensure a long life of excellent home lattes & espresso. If anyone has any other good maintenance tricks they’d like to share, I’m all ears! I’m sure the greater home barista group would appreciate it too! Thanks.
I'd go for the house blend myself, that's my favourite. They also have an espresso blend now that is good, but I'm a house blend guy. Funny cos it's usually the cheapest wherever you get your coffee, but roasters have also usually been making it for the longest time and are roasting it to perfection cos of all that experience.
@@homecafecharlie thanks for the reply will check them out and thanks for the video just bought the same machine as you got some Costa ones from tesco yesterday what were roasted in December and they were horrible haha
instead of storing the beans in the machine, store them somewhere else and weight the 18 grams of beans first, drop in the machine and grind everything... this way you reduce the mess of weighting the ground coffee
Best video I've watched describing how to use this machine. Thanks for all the helpful tips, especially about using a slightly coarser grind for dark roasted beans and the appropriate tamping pressure.
I’m an amateur barista and only work in the summer on weekends for festivals and I work this machine. Never knew about the specifics but everyone seemed fine with how I made their expressos and americanos. I never learned how to make the lattes cause instructions about the steamer were hard to understand and the customers didn’t really know how one was made as well. Our expresso machine is just chilling and collecting dust cause I don’t like coffee and my family doesn’t drink strong drinks everyday. However I really want to practice now 😔 but without wasting expresso beans
It takes a little practice but you'll get it! Dust that thing off and give it another try!!! Make sure to descale it first though if it's been in the cupboard for a long time 😉
Thanks a lot mate! My technique for steaming is really bad 😅 I want to make a latte but I ended up always making a cappuccino 😂 but I like it and it tastes good, I will try your technique and I hope it works with me too, thanks again ❤️
I had been getting trouble producing latte art quality milk with this machine and the first one I did right after watching your video was just perfect! (ok, maybe not perfect, but definitely the best I ever did). Thank you!
I can tell that he definitely worked at a coffee shop before. Finally, review by someone who actually knows basics of how to use espresso machine 👏👏 Although you can practice more on latte art 😎👍
Question: I love drinking a FULL cup of coffee as I get ready in the morning. Will I have to drink 10 of these little sips to be satisfied? Anyway I can make 1 large cup? I just bought this machine after taking back the Nespresso.
An espresso machine isn't really designed to make one cup. It's supposed to be a small but super strong drink! You can use the hot water function on the BE to make an Americano, which will dilute the strong espresso and make a full cup of coffee out of it 😉
I just got one of theses machines for Christmas 🎄, I love lattes , I can’t wait to follow your instructions and get my latte the way I like it . Thank you, great video.
Very nice video! I have the same machine (the german version, GASTROBACK 42612 S) - but I have issues to get an extraction longer than ~19 seconds. I have tried out many blends from local roasters with all possible grind adjustments but unfortunately it doesn't work. Did you adjust the amount of water to get to the 30-40 seconds in your video?
Hi Phillip. Do you mean that your machine cuts off or that it blondes before 20 seconds? It could be that you don't have enough coffee in the portafilter, as some coffees will create less or more resistance depending on how oily they are. Another thing could be that your grinder needs an adjustment on the inner ring. Check your user manual, there should be a but about taking out the grinder and manual adjusting the outer ring height that will shift the whole spectrum of coffee grinds one way or another. I did that shortly after getting my machine and moved it down 2 notches finer and it gave me a lot more control over espresso. Good luck and let us know how it works out for you!
Thanks for your video and your knowledge. It has been very helpful. Off coffee topic......has anyone every told you that you sound like Chris Martin from Coldplay. haha.
Hello, you’ve removed the porta filter basket very easily (2:23) how did you do that? Mine is fitted in so tightly that I needed to use a knife to force it out...Thank you
There is a retention ring inside the portafilter that stops it falling out by accident. I've heard people say that if you remove that, the basket will just drop out. I never had to do that but if you try it let me know if it works!
thank you very much for an informative video - it has confirmed that, for me, an automatic machine is going to be a better purchase - I love good coffee but could not be done with so much work. I was considering a Delonghi bean to cup but shall probably buy a Nespresso Virtuo
JaneGuit if you truly love good coffee, avoid the automatics like the plague! I’m not saying this to be mean or arrogant. I have NEVER had good espresso from an automatic. I’ve had passable lattes that were good (and better than just plain coffee, in my opinion), but nowhere NEAR what truly good espresso should be. I’ve used auto machines in the US and Europe, and they all make a drink far below what you can make with a machine like the Breville. It simply isn’t close. Now I’m someone who has made my own espresso for 30 years now. But most of that tenure was with a truly crappy and cheap Krups single boiler, $40 machine. But I like really good espresso. (I even have a camping double-boiler espresso machine for campstove use. Lattes in the backcountry!) So I was FINALLY ready to graduate to a prosumer machine and quickly found myself falling down the rabbit hole. Ratcheting up and up in price to over $2,000, I learned I had to then buy a $700-$900 grinder?!!!! And a gram scale... and a $40 tamper? NO WAY! This was getting totally out of control. I found the Breville 870XL for $540 2 years ago and love it. But my main point is this: Making the highest quality home espresso custom for YOU isn’t that hard. Within a week, you’d be able to make good coffee. You don’t need a gram scale - I’ve never used one. I now mix dark and light roast beans ( reg & decaf too) for my very own personal great custom cup. So.Damn.Good! So anyone out there wanting truly good espresso, avoid the overpriced automatics, save $ and enjoy the best espresso around!
Useful video thanks. Do you change the water in the tank every day ? I only use mine at weekends so wondering whats best. If I empty it will it affect the filter that comes with it. Thanks
It makes a small difference. I try to clean out daily but sometimes I'm in a rush and I use yesterdays water. Not in the summer though, that tastes gross!
Great video, and just what I was looking for! I struggled for years trying to make latte art on a Delonghi Kmix (upgraded boiler and pump) and it was almost impossible. This Breville machine looks incredible, especially the gauges.
It does a good job and it's a good entry point. The steam arm is weak but that allows people new to espresso to slow down the whole process and practice without spraying milk everywhere.
I appreciate this video. Just got this machine for Christmas. What extraction time should I be looking for? I hear everything from 20 to 30 seconds from the start of the machine. I had it dialed in to 25 to 27 seconds with my last coffee with a grind setting of 3 at 18grams. I switched coffee this morning and the extraction time jumped to 36 seconds at a grind setting of 3. I guess with the new darker roast I should bump that setting up to about 6 to get the extract time down right?
Hey there! I also got one of these for Christmas, and I would say you're thinking in the right direction of easing up the grind size (maybe one step at a time rather than straight from 3 to 6 though). One thing I've found helpful in regards to the tamp vs extraction time is to make the silver edge of the tap line right up with the top of my portafilter to ensure consistency each time. I'm not very good with steaming on this thing yet, but I've gotten pretty consistent espresso shots!
Yeah switching coffee you always need to readjust. It's a pain but most coffees have different densities, different amounts of oil on the beans etc. Part of the process my friend.
I would say with the coffee out. The amount will change depending on the coffee (different densities) so weigh out 18g and adjust the grind amount timer accordingly for the next time.
is the foamer pimped? haven't watched the full video but would be really thankful if someone knows. i'm thinking about buying this machine if the foamer has enough power
The steam arm is pretty good - it's not on a level with commercial level machines but that's a given at this price range. I upgraded before I started to get good at latte art but I;ve seen some really amazing art with this machine.
Stumbled across your video while looking for info / reviews of the Breville barista express. I noticed the video is from 2016 but still thought that maybe you could enlighten me. I am currently living in Japan and considering a purchase so I was just wondering where you bought yours, if you had any problems, and if so, what you did to make it work in Japan because As far as i know the only models sold here are not made for Japanese electrical outlets so I'm guessing a step up/down converter is needed. Cheers!
Great question. I bought mine from someone who shipped it over from Canada, and I bought a 120-100v transformer from Bic Camera (it was about 15,000 yen). It's expensive but if you wanna get into espresso you need one. It can run on the lower voltage but over time you'll damage the machine and it won't be covered by warranty. I hope that helps
@@homecafecharlie Wow, Thanks for the super speedy reply & info, great help. I guess I'll do a little research on converters and longevity of machines run though them, Cheers!
When you pull your shot do you time it from the point you push the button? Or do you time it from when the first drip comes out? Please help I want maximum consistency. Which is proper?
You can put the scale beneath the cup. For 18 grams of beans you can go with a ratio 2:1 and go for 40grams total. Its easier using the scale under the cup.
So true, though there isn't much clearance space so with a small espresso cup that'll work, but with my bigger cup it won't fit while extracting. Good point though, definitely weigh the shots if you can while they are being extracted!
Great review! Question: On that particular machine, can you make something that approximates regular coffee? Would that be an "Americano" with a couple shots of espresso and then adding hot water? Or is that something that would be better served on a regular coffee machine of some sort? There's always my trusty French Press if needed. Just wondering how much flexibility that machine has.
l84Cabo hi! I ve bought this machine. And there is no problem on making americano. Just double espresso and hotnwater. You get a perfect and creamy americano
Yes, if you flip the knob to hot water, it will por out exactly 8oz of hot water which you can add to a double shot of espresso for an amazing americano.
Hi. Thanks for the video. I’ve got a general question I suppose for these kinds of machines.. where would be the best placement for it in the kitchen? On a coffee island or next to the sink (not so esthetique but maybe more practical)? Do you feel like needing the sink before, during or after the use?
Thanks for the great vids! I Just got a nice Espresso machine, and got the Breville Pro Grinder... Also got a calibrated Tamp, but almost every single time I pull my shot, my right drip spout on the portafilter lags behind. Or drips, while the left side is a nice smooth flow. And the right side often stops before the left. Any ideas on how to fix this? I pull about 1 3/4 - 2 oz shot, at about 26-28 seconds.
That happens sometimes - try making sure you tamp as level as you can. Could be channelling or could be the machine being level on the counter as well.
wildcats1865 I’d echo the leveling issue. Probably the machine just not being level. Check that first. (My kitchen floor, for example, happens to dip down and is very un-level right where my machine is located. Long story...) And even if that isn’t the cause, I don’t think it matters. It’s just a two-sided spout, so who cares if espresso only comes out of one side? Maybe a malformed plastic insert, or burr on the portafilter? Shouldn’t make a difference either way.
Hi there, I hope you can help me. I turn my Barista Express on and the "grind amount" and "filter size" dial´s lights start flashing. Do you have any dea of what does it mean? Thank you!
Do we need to empty the bean hopper and water tank every day ? And do we need to clean the machine very day and turn the power off every time afer we finish making coffee? Thank you.
A couple of friends have told me not to buy a Breville machine, as it won’t last more than 2-3 years. Anyone else has anything to add about that? And thanks for the video, this is the most in-depth I’ve seen around here.
I adore all things Breville! We have several of their various machines and have gotten amazing service out of all of them. Also their customer service is prompt and caring, something that’s of high value to me when I purchase a machine. The coffee that comes out of this Brevell is just terrific but I had to put some time into learning to use it properly, and that seems only reasonable.
Great video. I have the Sage version of this machine. One thing, why don’t you just weigh the beans out at 18g then grind them all in one go? It’ll save you having to remeasure ground coffee 👍🏻
Thank you for this. I just got my machine today. I wish I had watched this first because I went thru 6 or 7 shots before I got a good one! I will definitely try weighing out.
Good video....can you help. Our coffee beans keep going sticky and clumping together so cannot grind. Thought it was the beans so tried all different sorts. Same thing. Is there a leak where steam is coming up????
Hi, I bought a new barista express and just tried my first shot. I am not able to pull any shots at all. I see that the pressure gauge is not moving at all. The machine makes a noise but nothing is comng out to the cups. Any thoughts?
Just came across your video because I'm interested in buying the exact same machine. Are you using an U.S. Model (120 V)? If yes, are you using a step-up transformer to compensate for the slightly lower voltage in Japan?
Yes I got the transformer from Bic Camera for about 17,000 yen. It's necessary - without it you damage the parts and there's a high probability the machine will die within a few months!
Thank you, that was educational. Just got one of these machines, am new to making espressos - looking forward to applying some of the elements from this video.
hi please if you dont mind i have exactly same your machine and i wanna know more about steaming the milk cause i think breville barista express have some issues about it. i tried alot to fuoghming the milk but i have nothing. please and thanks very much.
Good job James [ except that last minute spill, girlfriend/wife giggle behinde camera ]! I just did ordered one of those from BestBuy, $ 200 off the reg.price - I'm talking in Canada $ 549 special Easter pricing. From what I read grinder and programing have to be adjusted with every new blend of beans. Have a great time with machine and that lady of yours Lol
Hi I also live in Japan. I would really like to know if you are using a voltage converter for the Barista Express machine in the video. I am about to order one from the US but it is 120V output and Japan is only 100V. Any help would be much appreciated.
Minette Visser Look for Sage or Solis. They are all from the same manufacturer but are differently branded. I have a Solis Infuse & Grind Pro 115, which is the same as this machine.
Sorry for the late reply. Yes I use a voltage converter. If I didn't the machine would run at a different rate and it will cause problems over time. First machine I had died in 6 months, couldn't pull a shot on it. So frustrating...
I have the same machine and I can’t get my brew pressure as high as your and I don’t know why. I use fresh beans and measure the coffee and purge the machine before I pull the shot.
Hey, I have the exact same machine and tried it for the first time today. Of course it's going to take some practice but my main problems were that the coffee itself just wasn't all that hot. I steamed the milk to the point you said (when you can't hold your hand on it for too long), but when drinking it it was more luke warm rather than hot. Also, the milk steamer made a really ear piercing hiss as I was using it. it didn't last too long but for a few seconds it was really high pitched, almost to the point where I thought I should stop it. Any advice please? Thanks
Hey David. Thanks for watching the vid. That loud hiss is normal and it's usually the vibration of the pitcher. It should only be for a split second, so make sure you are lowering the wand under the surface of the milk to start with - vibrations reduce once their is some air in the milk. As for the heat, you can make it hotter by all means. Just be careful not to scald the milk, which happens at about 82 °C (180 °F). If you don't know what that feels like (and lets be honest, none of us do), you can get a milk thermometer like this one for £3 that sticks in the jug: amzn.to/2Dgd3Kk I hope this helps you out ^^
Great video and tutorial. Just picked up one of these machines and man is espresso coffee so much more interesting and sophisticated compared to the pour over drip coffee I've had most of my life.
@@Peter_Joseph I'm loving it! It's been a bit challenging to learn how to use it, but challenging in a good way. I've also been able to get some good quality beans which make a massive difference. Hope you enjoy it too!!
I don't know why I can't get nice painted looks milk frothy at all . No matter what I was trying that, I still didn't get no frothy ( maybe very end of 3,4 drop milk only ) I am using same as Breville Espresso Machine ( without coffee grinder) Is that my steamer wrong ? or what ? Even I do 1min or so keep steaming before making milk froth..... If you have any advice , appreciate that.
It's really tough. I'm planning to make a video about milk frothing techniques on home machines. First remember you don't need nearly as much frothing as you think you need. I only do it for like a second now, maybe less. Stay consistent, get the vortex right (1cm to the right or left, then tilt 3 degrees) and early into the steaming process. Good luck and keep trying!
I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. How do I get it up t the right temp? No matter what I try it just doesn’t get warm enough and leave sme with a gross coffee
Home Cafe hello thanks for the reply. Yes steamer works perfectly! Bought the machine brand new, so could contact the supplier we bought it from (reputable thank god!)
If you live in the States and you want a couple good brands. Pretty average prices for espresso roasts. Not cheap but not enough to hurt your wallet too badly. I regularly order from Bird Rock Coffee or Cafe Virtuoso. Both make a beautiful medium roast espresso. Also, do yourself a favor and get a calibrated tamper. It really really helps you learn the proper pressure when you're beginning to learn how to make a great espresso.
I haven't had access to this machine for a few years so I forget, but there should be a pressure zone marked on the machine. I prefer it a little on the high end of the sweet spot.
The temperature isn't as important when it comes to burying the tip. I do that to stop air from going in, and after that all I'm doing is steaming (heating), so I check temperature after. Thanks for the comment and I hope the video was helpful :D
You need a good grinder, but any coffee will work. With this level of machine I'd recommend city roast or darker as lighter roasts don't come out so well with entry level grinders or machines.
Of course! I often use almond milk. Different alternative milks have different ideal temperatures. For example if you heat oat milk too much it gets thick, slimy and gross (like porridge). I'll do a video on alternative milks soon!
Hello, I am very interested in buying this coffee machine but after reading some comments I have the doubt. I read that after a few months the grinder fails or the coffee machine loses pressure in addition to the grinder being inaccurate. Your comment would be very helpful. It is a great purchase for me and I would bring it from a trip so I have to make sure it works correctly.
It really depends on two things: 1. Coffee machine fail rates and 2. User error. I messed up my first coffee machine by being an idiot and using white distilled vinegar to clean out the boiler. BAD IDEA. Totally my fault, and most people on the internet don't admit that they have done something wrong. Coffee machines require maintenance, which is why it is more of a hobby than just a purchasing decision. Having said that some machines do fail, but usually the warranty will cover this kind of stuff. Just make sure you're well aware that you'll need to do a few things to keep your machine clean and functioning normally. If you do that, they will serve you well for years.
Yes, absolutely necessary! Without it it will still work and you may think it is fine, but over time it will damage the internal parts for your machine and you'll be losing function within 6 months to a year. Bic Camera sells a 1600W transformer which should be enough for most home espresso machines, including the Barista Express. I hope this helps!
I'm planning to do a video on alternative milk steaming for lattes. My recent favourite is Oatly's Barista Blend Oat milk or hazelnut milk (surprisingly delicious). Subscribe if you wanna see the vid when it comes out
Well. I don't know why I can't get nice painted looks milk frothy at all . No matter what I was trying that, I still didn't get no frothy ( maybe very end of 3,4 drop milk only ) I am using same as Breville Espresso Machine ( without coffee grinder) Is that my steamer wrong ? or what ? Even I do 1min or so keep steaming before making milk froth..... If you have any advice , appreciate that.
Amazing that this machine works at all. I've had four Breville 860's, one after the other as warranty replacements, a couple DOA and none of which worked as they should, albeit the last one was useable with shortcomings for several years until the grinder died. When you consider that a decent espresso grinder weighs 8-10 pounds or more, and the internal Breville one is perhaps 8 ounces, it's surprising it held up at all, albeit the grind setting dial in my last one made no change to the grind fineness whatsoever. If you must buy a Breville, buy the one without the grinder, and buy a decent separate one. Also keep in mind in the unlikely event your machine does last a few years before needing a replacement part, it's not likely Breville parts will be available to fix it. The better Italian machines, and not necessarily the most expensive ones, make parts available for decades, so a much better investment.
