Why the Breville Barista Express BES860XL is the BEST All-In-One Espresso Machine

• Excellent All-Around Performance – Sure, you can go spend 2 grand on a top of the line grinder and machine, but for most people with normal needs and normal kitchens, the Breville Barista Express is the best value for your money. I did a lot of research before I bought mine, and there wasn’t even a close second.
• Integrated Burr Grinder & Bean Hopper - Most machines require the purchase of a separate grinder. This one is built in with a bean hopper at the top. Just pour your beans in and you’re ready to go all week long.
• Small Footprint – It takes up relatively little space considering the features included. I have a small kitchen in a townhouse and this fits unobtrusively on a small part of the counter.
• Solid, Metal Construction – It’s built like a tank (a really fancy, sports car looking tank)
• Solid Industry Reputation of Breville – Breville has a reputation of quality and a name that is sure to be around for a long time.

Watch my Video Overview of the Breville Barista Express

Product Information

With its integrated conical burr grinder and dosing control, The Barista Express delivers the optimum path from espresso bean to thick crema in less than two minutes. Non-pressurized cafe style single-wall filters allow for experimentation of grind size, grind amoung and tamping pressure to explore the art of espresso. Pressurized dual-walled filters help beginners by delivering smooth crema every time. The integrated tamper with magnetized lock in storage allows you to tamp to your preference while attached to the machine or the counter

• 15 Bar Italian-designed Thermoblock Pump
• Sealed bean hopper with 8oz capacity
• Integrated conical burr grinder
• Removable 67oz water tank with water filtration system
• Programmable or manual settings

DeLonghi EC702 15-Bar-Pump Espresso Maker

Pros

• Excellent entry-level espresso machine
• Best espresso machine in the <$200 range
• Convenient, compact size

Cons

• No integrated burr grinder (You’ll have to buy a separate one like the Breville BCG800XL Smart Grinder)
• Small size requires use of shot glasses for pulling shots (regular coffee cups don’t fit under the portafilter)

Café Modena Espresso Machine

Pros

• Extremely simple to use
• Excellent entry-level espresso machine
• In the <$200 range
• Solid, Metal construction
• Compact size

Cons

• No integrated burr grinder (You’ll have to buy a separate one like the Breville BCG800XL Smart Grinder)