sorry to be so offtopic but does anybody know of a way to get back into an instagram account?? I was dumb lost my password. I appreciate any tips you can offer me.
@Waylon Peyton Thanks for your reply. I got to the site on google and I'm in the hacking process now. I see it takes a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
If you want to skip all the chatter and watching him drink a cup of coffee, here's the full review, read it to save you some time: He loves having a machine at home and this one is a good one, but he doesn't like: 1) takes a little too long to warm up. 2) single boiler only allow you to make coffee or steam milk but not both simultaneously 3) water tank is on the small side. 4) top of the machine cup warmer does not actually warm cups 5) grinder measurement is not precise enough Other good things: 1) integrated grinder is really convenient 2) pull out tray and storage is convenient 3) easy to use, pretty automatic. He bought a fancy tamper that he really likes.
@@calicones That works well too and I sometimes use that method, but you end up dumping a lot of water in the drip tray when it switches back to brew head. I'm lazy about cleaning the drip tray until it's almost too late. Cups upside down takes no switching between steam want and brew head and I almost always have cups on the machine. I've even run the cup under hot water in the sink if i've forgotten to put out the cups.
I have one 3 months now and find it excellent, coming from a quick mill anita and mazer grinder. One tip though that i don't see mentioned.... at least on mine. There is an instruction leaflet for changing the filter stuck on the inside of the water tank facing out. Over time it will disintegrate and potentially get into the system and clog it up. One of the first things to do is take it off.
I've had this machine for 2 yrs. I recommend, when you run the water through the first time, run it into the mug you're going to use. Now, you have a WARM MUG! Then pour water out before you put espresso and frothed milk into it. I descale every 2 months. It's a great machine for $500. I'd expect it to take 20-30 seconds to ' make steam'... Kids these days. LOL
Nice review! I have had mine for nearly four years and it still is going strong. The cleaning procedure is rather simple and today I had to run vinegar through the machine for the first time to get the wand calcium deposits out and return it to full steam. I’ve likely saved hundreds of dollars not going to get coffee out. BTw- for someone who works on a computer all day, I actually love the analog dials over the digital version IMHO.
I've had this machine for 7 years. It has been bomb proof and gives me the will to go on living every morning. Good quality fresh coffee beans is important.
damn really? everyone has something different to say, some say it blew up after a week, I never know what to decide on cause all reviews are so different
@@davedaspade It probably makes about 1000 double shots a year for me. More when friends are over for dinner or coffee. It has been doing this now for eight years.
just got one for my boyfriend’s birthday… i’m a barista and he’s addicted to coffee so i’m excited for him to have a perfect coffee to start his day!! x
just bought this thing in quarantine because it doesn't look like we're going to be going back to the office anytime soon and I'm about done with drip coffee at this point
The "Weird Noise" after turning off the steamer is the machine lowering it's temperature for brewing. The steam temp is hotter than is conducive for a great brew so the machine cools itself.
Nice review. One thing tho. Ive had breville machines for years now and learnt early on not to engage the group head into the machine to the full lock position. Just move the handle to about perpendicular to the machine. If you go right to the ends of the slots it puts pressure on the plastic molding and the little tabs it slots into can break off. Not going right to the end of the slot creates a bit of room for the parts to expand when under pressure during extraction too which I think creates less stress on the plastic molding making it last much longer. Just my 2 cents. This also only happend on my 1st machine, and Im on my 4th now so breville may have fixed the issue 😂 sick machines tho. Had our last one about 8 years now and still going strong bar a few minor issues.
1. Heat the portafilter. Run a full shot in the morning with no coffee to heat a cup and the portafilter. A cold portafilter pulls sour shots. 2. Buy a scale. I like 18.5 grams of beans and 39 grams espresso in 20-25 seconds after the first drop. I weigh each shot so i get exacts. I never fill the portafilter with beans. 3. Turn up the boiler temp, it comes at lower temp than needed. 4. Buy a leveler it’s the best $15 purchase to level your coffee exactly the same every time before you tamp. 5. I use a little funnel on my portafilter when I’m grinding so i don’t spill coffee everywhere.
Had mine for nearly 3 years now, bought as factory second in Melbourne; absolutely brilliant thing. Mostly espresso blacks, tastes superb. The seal rings have been replaced twice, make sure to keep a couple spare. Have used cleaning + descaling on schedule. All up saved a small fortune on pods, much better for the environment.
I’ve had mine for 9 months now and absolutely love it. I’ve saved so much $ and made delicious coffees. I do struggle to dial it in when I get new beans but once I’ve figured it out it’s prime.
Sarah, try to always use the same beans brand & flavor. I'm lucky enough to have a factory 5 minutes from home. They roast beans every day and I buy just enough beans to have a 10 days supply. I rarely change any settings on my machine.
@@Marcus_Caius I am working on figuring out my favourite beans in my city. I’m slowly trying different roasteries. Eventually I will stick with one place.
It uses a thermoblock that's why it's making those weird pulsing sounds. I've tailored my workflow so I'm not standing there waiting for it to produce steam. Great machine, I love it.
Sometimes. If you put the distributor to its deepest setting, it acts kind of like a tamper. The Real Sprometheus did a video on this and they are actually quite similar.
No, you don't. Tamping is all about consistency. The whole "30 lbs of pressure" is a myth. It's simply about making a consistent puck shot after shot. And this distribution tool does not have a tamper on the opposite side (some do, but this one doesn't).
Hi we have the same machine. The steam will take a while if you haven’t cleaned it and there is a build of lime scale in the pipe. Try descaling and cleaning the filters and it should steam fine.
To understand the noises and the delays, you would have to study fluid and thermo dynamics. Have you ever heard a steam engine powered locomotive. An espresso machine is a miniature steam locomotive. It has to release pressure otherwise all the gaskets and "O" rings would be under constant pressure and that would shorten their life.
I second the recommendation for Hoon’s Coffee on TH-cam. He is a Barista Express surgeon. Further, I wholeheartedly endorse this machine. If you are as frequent a coffee shop visitor as I was you will pay for this in three months or less, and be drinking better coffee. There are so many things you can do with this machine you are limited only by your imagination. Besides, while it comes in three colors ( last I checked) the stainless steel one looks magnificent on my kitchen counter. As Hoon says, “Cheers.” ( Disclaimer: I was not paid to endorse Hoon’s Coffee, nor was any honorarium deposited in an offshore bank account in my name.)
Wondering what you think of this machine's i was thinking of buying it when I read several comments complaining how it broke in a year or so and how you can't repaire once it does!
@@TheHadeelMohammad I have had no issues with it once I learned the tricks of the trade from Hoon; tamping, grinding, dialing it in, etc. I maintain it exactly according to the directions which are clear and easy to follow. ( one exception, however, and maybe it was me. When you are doing the descaling you do not fill the reservoir, only use the amount specified, 32 oz., I think it is.). Hoon also has some tips on his site. Also, do not use RO water, the machine needs minerals. Spring water is good. Order, or buy, extra descaling packets and cleaning tablets. It is not a frequent task but you want to stay on top of it. I could not be happier with this piece of VITAL equipment. WARNING!!!!! Once you get good at this you will be looking for a double boiler and other extras. It is like boats, once you have one you want a bigger one. Generally, your kitchen space will dictate. Hoon has a good video on a recent comparison he made and I was thinking of going with that machine until he pointed out the measurements. ( I was going to take this one to my office or give it to my daughter, not abandon it. I have six other coffee makers, everything from a Moka pot, to Turkish , to French Press, to Bodum pour over, and AeroPress. ) You cannot beat this machine for the money. I paid for it in Starbucks savings alone in less than three months. Good luck...
@@TheHadeelMohammad Incidentally, I recommend a separate burr grinder. I have a Breville with 60 settings. The one with the Breville Express is good and I use it all the time for the machine, but if you are making coffee for more than a couple people and you do not want to be a barista while everyone else drinks their coffee, it comes in handy for using other methods. Yes, I use many of the settings.
Great video, thanks for following up, helped me make a buying decision. One minor thing, there is something up with the DOF/AF on your camera that is changing the focal length constantly, kind of annoying/eye straining.
Don’t you also tamp after using the distribution tool? I have had my Breville Barista Express for about 4 months and agree with your review of pros and cons. You cannot beat this machine for the price and I really look forward to my morning coffee routine now! Recommend you consider a dosing funnel - less mess!
Hey Gail, i am about to buy it.. but i hesitate because of the quality level it can produce a good espresso.. i am a student so it would be quite a big purchase.. would you mind telling me your opinion?
Thanks, I super appreciated this review. I'm planning to buy this over the weekend and I wanted to go through some ACTUAL user experience to make sure I wasn't making a spur-of-the-moment splurge. :)
I had a delonghi distinta and had the same negative opinions. The problem is with the time for switching between steaming and extraction (it goes through a cycle of purging and re-filling the water in the boiler) Whichever step you choose to do first will often result in a cooler than expected coffee. But for the price and value, its probably bang for the buck.
I brought one 4 years ago and its just sprung a leak, I contacted Sage/Breville for spares and no reply. I went on the Breville web site only to find that spares for my machine are no longer available. Having said that it makes great coffee, looks great and the grinder is fairly consistent .
If you call or email they are very responsive. My ancient Duo-temp started having steam issues and they are giving me a re-manufactured one for $149 and they paid the shipping for sending back the old machine and shipping the new (remanufactured) one back to me. They also gave me a 25% discount on any new machine up to $1,000.00 if I wanted to buy one. Again with free shiping.
Breville support is usually very good. They've been very quick when I've had to contact them over the years. I've had Breville machines for more than 20 years.
I'm happy you guys got it. Best machine for the $. Since I got it almost 2 years ago, I rarely go to coffee shops. My shots/drinks are in par with them. But fresh roast works best for me. Have you guys tried roasting your own beans?
Hi George, the noise you mentioned is due to the heater, which also occurs after you use the steam wand. The noise will be there right after the machine needs to be reheated. Nice video, nice review👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Love the vid! Thanks so much dude! But... Coffee Distribution tool? Where you get that? Also ps there different sizes? What size do you need for your machine?
George, thank you for the great video! Really down to Earth, realistic, and authentic. May I ask, what's the diameter of the coffee distributor you have? Is it 53 mm? About to buy the same device.
Hey George. Good video. Can I just point out that the next model up, the Barista Pro, is much faster both with start-up and steam production. It's ready to go with both in about 5 seconds. Also the steam production is significantly better as it uses a 4-hole wand rather than the 1-hole of the Barista Express. Also the dosing is better as it has a digital timer with half-second increments and finer adjustments for the grinder. The Pro is slightly more expensive but, having owned both machines, i thought it was worth the upgrade. Having said that, the Barista Express is definitely the best value machine in the market and it's capable of making great coffee -- and isn't that the most important thing?
I just found an express in black for $500 usd... Do you think it's worth the 300 savings or going to the pro. I was going for the pro and then walked into a store and found the Express looking at me and bought it spur of the moment but I can return it
I've had both, just went back to the express. Depends on your preferences. Pro has 30 grind settings & a super quick warm up, & is quicker when milk frothing. I'm mainly drinking black coffee, so it's not as relevant anymore. Express has a gauge, to get that extraction just right, & less going on digitally, also looks better in my opinion. I didn't pay the extra $ this time around, but, I have done so in the past, go wrong either way. Hope this helps.
The first con about the steam is simply limit by budget. Duo boiler? Double the budget. And it auto purge, you don’t have the pain to manually cool the water temp
Actually watched your unboxing the day I received my machine as gift from the wife, was good to see this follow-up.. I already ordered the scale and coffee press based on beville review I saw.
Since I moved abroad (from Italy) I felt the need of an espresso machine, because coffee is so expensive in the rest of Europe! Can't have a good espresso every morning at a coffee shop
Would you still recommend this in 2022? I found a used one for sale at 480 usd. I'm in Thailand, so new ones are quite expensive. The Barista Pro is about double that at $1,000 (new).
Just bought my Barista Express and getting to grips without being too anal. I heat my cups in the microwave….simple! Would like to see George’s videos about setup and some tips on creating the optimum for home brewing. Thanks for a good clean, minimal chat, and straight forward approach.
I bought mine in Feb and used the single wall/double shot. I use Vitorria Mountain Grown Blend (maybe too poor quality?) and could only get a decent shot with the setting at 1. By June it was already playing up and I couldn't get any pressure. After The Good Guys taking their sweet time to get it fixed, it's still not working well. I've kept it to the new settings of 9/8 and the pressure dial doesn't move at all. I can only get a decent coffee using the dual wall filter. Totally over this coffee machine.
Sorry you're having trouble with it. I've had my machine for about a year and a half. I had pressure issues at the beginning until I changed the grind setting inside the machine. If you open up the hopper, there is another piece you can pull out and adjust to get a finer grind setting. There are videos on TH-cam to show how to change it. I hope that helps.
Try different beans. Make sure they are fresh. If you have a good local roaster, that will help. Even with good quality beans, you'll sometimes get a variety you just can't get to work well. Use the single wall baskets, you'll have a much easier time telling if a particular adjustment makes a difference. Double walled covers up some imperfections but makes it much harder to diagnose the source of problems with shots.
Oh, I switched to campos coffee beans, got a bit of training from a barista buddy and it's working fine now. Strange as my coffee machine won't even make a good coffee with pre ground Vitoria coffee?! I read an article somewhere that this brand isn't good for this machine.
Just following up on my earlier comment...I got a barista buddy to show me how to use my coffee machine and she recommended I change beans. It worked for a while but then the pressure started playing up again. It's back in with The Good Guys for a second repair within 12 months and will be out of warranty once they've taken their sweet ass time fixing it again. My best friend also has the same issues with her Breville Barista :( Breville won't refund it until the machine has been repaired 3 times but I will be out of warranty by then. An expensive purchase for a coffee machine I've not even had the benefit of using for 4-5 months out of the past 12 months!
No. They crap out on you at the 1 year mark or earlier. Go read the reviews on Brevilles own website. Yes they could have deleted those comments but they didn't. So you know those are true. As for the steam wand there is a reason for that. The boiler has to heat up hotter than it usually spits out water to make your espresso. All espresso machines are like this. There is a delay as it boils to steam.
It really depends on the coffee you use. For Lavazza coffee, I use grind size 6 inside the grinder, and a 2 on the dial on the side of the machine. I found that this makes really good coffee :-)
I am actually debating to either get this or the barista touch. Thank you so much for this review because it did help make up my mind. I am also subscribed to the juicy vlogs and i do enjoy watching you guys ☺️ HI LUCY!!! this video just came up when i searched for breville barista so that only means that you are doing something right ☺️ awesome video ❤️
The touch is more high tech which is fun to play around with, however when it comes to practice and the art of making coffee, the barista express feels more authentic if you understand what I mean. I am however in the same dilemma as you are
That loud noise it the water pump. My friends keurig started making the same noise after being stored for a long time. Typically, the pump should be quiet. If you’re under warranty, maybe seek a replacement.
I actually follow you and Lucy at the Juicy Vlog. So happened that I am thinking of getting this machine so thought Of doing a search on YT. Voila - found you here reviewing the same machine that I am interested in. I am getting close to getting this machine. Great review and thanks!
Thanks for the video. Do you recommend getting extra warranty in this machine? My mate is suggesting it so sure it will break but it cost usd100 for extra 3 years
I always forget that ypu have your own channel! I am already subscribed to THE JUICU VLOG, THE LUCY VLOG AND JUICY REACTS. Sorry George! I subscribed now and hit the bell button. Powerrrr! ❤
Wow it makes a noise when you turn it on, steam didn't take long to get there. Oh it made a noise again making your coffee. Good job there More George I couldn't help myself Govt rules on Covid is driving me nuts. I couldn't help myself so hope I didn't offend ya mate. I just purchased one got it for a great price at $465.00 AUD Cheers
Hi! Great video! One question, you never mention the amount water dispensed by the machine itself into the drip tray? I found the drip tray to fill up quite quickly - about 5 lattes and the tray is almost full and that is without pouring any water into the tray myself. What is your experience?
clean the steam wand with the provided cleaning tool, also remove the end and soak in water. I've had the previous model to 11 years and it has now only starting to fail...
Hope you found this video useful! Buy the Barista Express - amzn.to/2WkGvq0
(affiliate link)
Nice. Be safe! Cheers!
Are you gonna do a cleaning video because I got one and don't know how to doe that
sorry to be so offtopic but does anybody know of a way to get back into an instagram account??
I was dumb lost my password. I appreciate any tips you can offer me.
@Cullen Luka Instablaster :)
@Waylon Peyton Thanks for your reply. I got to the site on google and I'm in the hacking process now.
I see it takes a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
If you want to skip all the chatter and watching him drink a cup of coffee, here's the full review, read it to save you some time:
He loves having a machine at home and this one is a good one, but he doesn't like:
1) takes a little too long to warm up.
2) single boiler only allow you to make coffee or steam milk but not both simultaneously
3) water tank is on the small side.
4) top of the machine cup warmer does not actually warm cups
5) grinder measurement is not precise enough
Other good things:
1) integrated grinder is really convenient
2) pull out tray and storage is convenient
3) easy to use, pretty automatic.
He bought a fancy tamper that he really likes.
Thank you!!! I hate watching videos that take too long to get to the damn point
appreciate.
I went straight to you after the 1 line
His video was short actually and to the point
@@ahmedbounce3053 people are just impatient it seems
To warm your cups, don't stack them, also set them upside down so they hold in the heat. They'll be much warmer.
Warm them up with boiling water, works even better!
Or just put them into the microwave with some water.
or just give it a quick spray with the steam wand
@@calicones That works well too and I sometimes use that method, but you end up dumping a lot of water in the drip tray when it switches back to brew head. I'm lazy about cleaning the drip tray until it's almost too late. Cups upside down takes no switching between steam want and brew head and I almost always have cups on the machine. I've even run the cup under hot water in the sink if i've forgotten to put out the cups.
@@darkoresnik75 Haha, yep totally with you on not changing the drip tray until it's about to overflow
We’ve had ours for 7 years of everyday use. No performance issues. Solid!
Same here. Have had ours for a few years. Zero issues. Just keep maintaining it
7 years, Wow 👌🏽 thanks for sharing that! ❤ it means it is very durable and will last ... which is Super important to me before I make the investment.
Exact same on my end. Old reliable
What beans do you use? I’ve heard if you use the wrong kind it can ruin the grinder
I have one 3 months now and find it excellent, coming from a quick mill anita and mazer grinder. One tip though that i don't see mentioned.... at least on mine. There is an instruction leaflet for changing the filter stuck on the inside of the water tank facing out. Over time it will disintegrate and potentially get into the system and clog it up. One of the first things to do is take it off.
I've had this machine for 2 yrs. I recommend, when you run the water through the first time, run it into the mug you're going to use. Now, you have a WARM MUG! Then pour water out before you put espresso and frothed milk into it. I descale every 2 months. It's a great machine for $500. I'd expect it to take 20-30 seconds to ' make steam'... Kids these days. LOL
Nice review! I have had mine for nearly four years and it still is going strong. The cleaning procedure is rather simple and today I had to run vinegar through the machine for the first time to get the wand calcium deposits out and return it to full steam. I’ve likely saved hundreds of dollars not going to get coffee out. BTw- for someone who works on a computer all day, I actually love the analog dials over the digital version IMHO.
I've had this machine for 7 years. It has been bomb proof and gives me the will to go on living every morning. Good quality fresh coffee beans is important.
damn really? everyone has something different to say, some say it blew up after a week, I never know what to decide on cause all reviews are so different
7 years no way
@@DeeSnutts January it will be 8 years...
@@larryfisher7056 Did it survive? lol
@@davedaspade It probably makes about 1000 double shots a year for me. More when friends are over for dinner or coffee. It has been doing this now for eight years.
just got one for my boyfriend’s birthday… i’m a barista and he’s addicted to coffee so i’m excited for him to have a perfect coffee to start his day!! x
I still have my amazing express since 2014 new... just upgraded portafilter to bottomless and a wire distributor...AMAZING. used daily. So fun
just bought this thing in quarantine because it doesn't look like we're going to be going back to the office anytime soon and I'm about done with drip coffee at this point
The "Weird Noise" after turning off the steamer is the machine lowering it's temperature for brewing. The steam temp is hotter than is conducive for a great brew so the machine cools itself.
Nice review. One thing tho. Ive had breville machines for years now and learnt early on not to engage the group head into the machine to the full lock position. Just move the handle to about perpendicular to the machine. If you go right to the ends of the slots it puts pressure on the plastic molding and the little tabs it slots into can break off. Not going right to the end of the slot creates a bit of room for the parts to expand when under pressure during extraction too which I think creates less stress on the plastic molding making it last much longer. Just my 2 cents. This also only happend on my 1st machine, and Im on my 4th now so breville may have fixed the issue 😂 sick machines tho. Had our last one about 8 years now and still going strong bar a few minor issues.
We got a Breville Barista Express during quarantine and we love it! Wish we bought it sooner rather than wasting money on Starbucks everyday
starbucks is really wasting money...
@@ll8709 but i have plenty of money
1. Heat the portafilter. Run a full shot in the morning with no coffee to heat a cup and the portafilter. A cold portafilter pulls sour shots.
2. Buy a scale. I like 18.5 grams of beans and 39 grams espresso in 20-25 seconds after the first drop. I weigh each shot so i get exacts. I never fill the portafilter with beans.
3. Turn up the boiler temp, it comes at lower temp than needed.
4. Buy a leveler it’s the best $15 purchase to level your coffee exactly the same every time before you tamp.
5. I use a little funnel on my portafilter when I’m grinding so i don’t spill coffee everywhere.
How do you turn up the boiler temp?
You mean the bean hopper not the portafilter with beans
@@mjk2374 you have to go in program mode and then -4 is single shot and +4 is double shot temp
Can you also give link to the extra devices you have like scales, grind distributor (or whatever it's called), and others. Thanks for the video!
Had mine for nearly 3 years now, bought as factory second in Melbourne; absolutely brilliant thing. Mostly espresso blacks, tastes superb.
The seal rings have been replaced twice, make sure to keep a couple spare. Have used cleaning + descaling on schedule. All up saved a small fortune on pods, much better for the environment.
I’ve had mine for 9 months now and absolutely love it. I’ve saved so much $ and made delicious coffees. I do struggle to dial it in when I get new beans but once I’ve figured it out it’s prime.
Sarah, try to always use the same beans brand & flavor. I'm lucky enough to have a factory 5 minutes from home. They roast beans every day and I buy just enough beans to have a 10 days supply. I rarely change any settings on my machine.
@@Marcus_Caius I am working on figuring out my favourite beans in my city. I’m slowly trying different roasteries. Eventually I will stick with one place.
It uses a thermoblock that's why it's making those weird pulsing sounds. I've tailored my workflow so I'm not standing there waiting for it to produce steam. Great machine, I love it.
Just a quick tip even tho u have used the distributor you still need to tamp the coffee :)
Sometimes. If you put the distributor to its deepest setting, it acts kind of like a tamper. The Real Sprometheus did a video on this and they are actually quite similar.
correct. but if you using OCD one, not.
You can also just flip it over and use it to tamp
No, you don't. Tamping is all about consistency. The whole "30 lbs of pressure" is a myth. It's simply about making a consistent puck shot after shot. And this distribution tool does not have a tamper on the opposite side (some do, but this one doesn't).
Yes I still tamp! Sorry if I didn't mention that in the video 😊
Hi we have the same machine. The steam will take a while if you haven’t cleaned it and there is a build of lime scale in the pipe. Try descaling and cleaning the filters and it should steam fine.
To understand the noises and the delays, you would have to study fluid and thermo dynamics.
Have you ever heard a steam engine powered locomotive. An espresso machine is a miniature steam locomotive. It has to release pressure otherwise all the gaskets and "O" rings would be under constant pressure and that would shorten their life.
Mine is arriving in a few days, and after watching this video and a few others, I'll be ready.
It took me 3-4 weeks for totally dial it in. But it was my first machine ever. Be patient.
I've had this in my basket for ages and your video is the sign I needed to purchase
I second the recommendation for Hoon’s Coffee on TH-cam. He is a Barista Express surgeon.
Further, I wholeheartedly endorse this machine. If you are as frequent a coffee shop visitor as I was you will pay for this in three months or less, and be drinking better coffee. There are so many things you can do with this machine you are limited only by your imagination. Besides, while it comes in three colors ( last I checked) the stainless steel one looks magnificent on my kitchen counter. As Hoon says, “Cheers.” ( Disclaimer: I was not paid to endorse Hoon’s Coffee, nor was any honorarium deposited in an offshore bank account in my name.)
Wondering what you think of this machine's i was thinking of buying it when I read several comments complaining how it broke in a year or so and how you can't repaire once it does!
@@TheHadeelMohammad I have had no issues with it once I learned the tricks of the trade from Hoon; tamping, grinding, dialing it in, etc. I maintain it exactly according to the directions which are clear and easy to follow. ( one exception, however, and maybe it was me. When you are doing the descaling you do not fill the reservoir, only use the amount specified, 32 oz., I think it is.). Hoon also has some tips on his site. Also, do not use RO water, the machine needs minerals. Spring water is good. Order, or buy, extra descaling packets and cleaning tablets. It is not a frequent task but you want to stay on top of it. I could not be happier with this piece of VITAL equipment. WARNING!!!!! Once you get good at this you will be looking for a double boiler and other extras. It is like boats, once you have one you want a bigger one. Generally, your kitchen space will dictate. Hoon has a good video on a recent comparison he made and I was thinking of going with that machine until he pointed out the measurements. ( I was going to take this one to my office or give it to my daughter, not abandon it. I have six other coffee makers, everything from a Moka pot, to Turkish , to French Press, to Bodum pour over, and AeroPress. ) You cannot beat this machine for the money. I paid for it in Starbucks savings alone in less than three months. Good luck...
@@TheHadeelMohammad Incidentally, I recommend a separate burr grinder. I have a Breville with 60 settings. The one with the Breville Express is good and I use it all the time for the machine, but if you are making coffee for more than a couple people and you do not want to be a barista while everyone else drinks their coffee, it comes in handy for using other methods. Yes, I use many of the settings.
That was a very honest review, George. Glad that you're also back with a new vlog. 👍
Great video, thanks for following up, helped me make a buying decision. One minor thing, there is something up with the DOF/AF on your camera that is changing the focal length constantly, kind of annoying/eye straining.
Don’t you also tamp after using the distribution tool? I have had my Breville Barista Express for about 4 months and agree with your review of pros and cons. You cannot beat this machine for the price and I really look forward to my morning coffee routine now! Recommend you consider a dosing funnel - less mess!
Yes I do tamp ☺️
Do you tamp first or after leveling ?
Hey Gail, i am about to buy it.. but i hesitate because of the quality level it can produce a good espresso.. i am a student so it would be quite a big purchase.. would you mind telling me your opinion?
@@bewatter3014 For the price, it CAN NOT be beaten. It’s one of the best for $600. I would get it!
@@brittanysmathers7274 Level first and then tamp.
Had this machine for a year and it's great. For the price you cannot lose.
Thanks, I super appreciated this review. I'm planning to buy this over the weekend and I wanted to go through some ACTUAL user experience to make sure I wasn't making a spur-of-the-moment splurge. :)
I had a delonghi distinta and had the same negative opinions. The problem is with the time for switching between steaming and extraction (it goes through a cycle of purging and re-filling the water in the boiler) Whichever step you choose to do first will often result in a cooler than expected coffee. But for the price and value, its probably bang for the buck.
To warm your cups, try turning them upside down,thereby capturing any heat coming off the machine.
I brought one 4 years ago and its just sprung a leak, I contacted Sage/Breville for spares and no reply. I went on the Breville web site only to find that spares for my machine are no longer available. Having said that it makes great coffee, looks great and the grinder is fairly consistent .
If you call or email they are very responsive. My ancient Duo-temp started having steam issues and they are giving me a re-manufactured one for $149 and they paid the shipping for sending back the old machine and shipping the new (remanufactured) one back to me. They also gave me a 25% discount on any new machine up to $1,000.00 if I wanted to buy one. Again with free shiping.
Breville support is usually very good. They've been very quick when I've had to contact them over the years. I've had Breville machines for more than 20 years.
I have this machine, it’s 2-3 years and still working well. Thank you for great video and commentary. #Subbed
Super detailed! Thanks so much for sharing the pros, cons, and tips!!
Try a low pressure basket for it, if you don't use one already. You can then use a very fine grind.
Thank you. For sure there are better machines etc. but like you said is a great setup for home use.
I'm happy you guys got it. Best machine for the $. Since I got it almost 2 years ago, I rarely go to coffee shops. My shots/drinks are in par with them. But fresh roast works best for me. Have you guys tried roasting your own beans?
I bought this machine second hand for £140!from someone. Really like it
The sage brand comes with the coffee Distribution which is Magnetic and sticks to machine
I bought one couple of days ago and didnt got any distributor. I got a tamp but I will be ordering distributor online.
Do I miss something?
Hi thank you for your video, I am about to buy my first new coffee maker and the Breville is on the top of my list. Love your work.
Hi George, the noise you mentioned is due to the heater, which also occurs after you use the steam wand. The noise will be there right after the machine needs to be reheated. Nice video, nice review👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Love the vid! Thanks so much dude! But... Coffee Distribution tool? Where you get that? Also ps there different sizes? What size do you need for your machine?
Hi! Just watched your video. Try warming up your machine for 20-30 mins first before turning on the steam wand. But overall, thank you for your video!
George, thank you for the great video! Really down to Earth, realistic, and authentic. May I ask, what's the diameter of the coffee distributor you have? Is it 53 mm? About to buy the same device.
I actually love the sound it was making when it starts or when you turn off the steamer though.
Great review! Thank you!
Me too! Made me feel like I was at a café!
Hey George. Good video. Can I just point out that the next model up, the Barista Pro, is much faster both with start-up and steam production. It's ready to go with both in about 5 seconds. Also the steam production is significantly better as it uses a 4-hole wand rather than the 1-hole of the Barista Express. Also the dosing is better as it has a digital timer with half-second increments and finer adjustments for the grinder. The Pro is slightly more expensive but, having owned both machines, i thought it was worth the upgrade.
Having said that, the Barista Express is definitely the best value machine in the market and it's capable of making great coffee -- and isn't that the most important thing?
I just found an express in black for $500 usd... Do you think it's worth the 300 savings or going to the pro. I was going for the pro and then walked into a store and found the Express looking at me and bought it spur of the moment but I can return it
I've had both, just went back to the express. Depends on your preferences. Pro has 30 grind settings & a super quick warm up, & is quicker when milk frothing. I'm mainly drinking black coffee, so it's not as relevant anymore. Express has a gauge, to get that extraction just right, & less going on digitally, also looks better in my opinion. I didn't pay the extra $ this time around, but, I have done so in the past, go wrong either way. Hope this helps.
Well he didnt clean the steam wand so thats why and the sound was the boiler feffiling
Awesome video do you still have your Espresso maker?
The first con about the steam is simply limit by budget. Duo boiler? Double the budget. And it auto purge, you don’t have the pain to manually cool the water temp
Actually watched your unboxing the day I received my machine as gift from the wife, was good to see this follow-up.. I already ordered the scale and coffee press based on beville review I saw.
Finally, more More George! Maybe you can have Chores with George on your next vlog. 😁🧹🧽
Nice video! Just bought on Amazon- cannot wait to get!! Just started following ya!! Nice job!!
Since I moved abroad (from Italy) I felt the need of an espresso machine, because coffee is so expensive in the rest of Europe! Can't have a good espresso every morning at a coffee shop
I'm thinking of getting one of these. Cool video! Also where did you buy your palm tamper?
About warming up the cups... I believe you're supposed to put the cups upside down on top of the coffee machine, not just put it on top like that.
Great video. Thankyou. I love mine . If you get one, learn how to dial it in properly. Dosnt take too long and your coffee will be amazing.
I just bought that distribution tool oh my god I'm glad I watched this video. Cheers!
Can you share the link
Just bought one and I cant wait. Thanks!
what is that gadget called that helps you to level off the coffee beans perfectly? loved it!
The Razor👍
When I die I want to go quietly in my sleep like my grandpa did. Not kicking and screaming like the passengers in his car.
Cheers mate
Would you still recommend this in 2022? I found a used one for sale at 480 usd. I'm in Thailand, so new ones are quite expensive. The Barista Pro is about double that at $1,000 (new).
Nice video, Top Machine I love mine, I use the hot water function to warm the cups up loads quicker.
I think would be great if you did a cleaning the express machine
Just bought my Barista Express and getting to grips without being too anal. I heat my cups in the microwave….simple! Would like to see George’s videos about setup and some tips on creating the optimum for home brewing. Thanks for a good clean, minimal chat, and straight forward approach.
Getting to grips without being too what? LMAO is there like another meaning to that word I'm not aware of 🤣
So the dual boiler would solve your steamer “issue” straight away 🙃
and another thousand bucks
sticksomechopsunderthegrill yupp and problem solved. Didn’t say it would come in cheap
I bought mine in Feb and used the single wall/double shot. I use Vitorria Mountain Grown Blend (maybe too poor quality?) and could only get a decent shot with the setting at 1. By June it was already playing up and I couldn't get any pressure. After The Good Guys taking their sweet time to get it fixed, it's still not working well. I've kept it to the new settings of 9/8 and the pressure dial doesn't move at all. I can only get a decent coffee using the dual wall filter. Totally over this coffee machine.
Sorry you're having trouble with it. I've had my machine for about a year and a half. I had pressure issues at the beginning until I changed the grind setting inside the machine. If you open up the hopper, there is another piece you can pull out and adjust to get a finer grind setting. There are videos on TH-cam to show how to change it. I hope that helps.
Try different beans. Make sure they are fresh. If you have a good local roaster, that will help. Even with good quality beans, you'll sometimes get a variety you just can't get to work well. Use the single wall baskets, you'll have a much easier time telling if a particular adjustment makes a difference. Double walled covers up some imperfections but makes it much harder to diagnose the source of problems with shots.
Oh, I switched to campos coffee beans, got a bit of training from a barista buddy and it's working fine now. Strange as my coffee machine won't even make a good coffee with pre ground Vitoria coffee?! I read an article somewhere that this brand isn't good for this machine.
Just following up on my earlier comment...I got a barista buddy to show me how to use my coffee machine and she recommended I change beans. It worked for a while but then the pressure started playing up again. It's back in with The Good Guys for a second repair within 12 months and will be out of warranty once they've taken their sweet ass time fixing it again. My best friend also has the same issues with her Breville Barista :( Breville won't refund it until the machine has been repaired 3 times but I will be out of warranty by then. An expensive purchase for a coffee machine I've not even had the benefit of using for 4-5 months out of the past 12 months!
@@JanetMacCallum thank you for posting this
George... coffee distribution tool? Where do we find this and... do you use a Tamper also? Some of these machines had a built in Tamper?
The camera focus wobble is really distracting. I recommend using manual focus in video if your camera doesn't do autofocus well.
Decent review thanks.
P.S.- when your filming you may want to set manual focus as your camera keeps trying to find a focus point when you move about.
I am in between choosing this machine over Gaggia Classic Pro and a good grinder!
No. They crap out on you at the 1 year mark or earlier. Go read the reviews on Brevilles own website. Yes they could have deleted those comments but they didn't. So you know those are true. As for the steam wand there is a reason for that. The boiler has to heat up hotter than it usually spits out water to make your espresso. All espresso machines are like this. There is a delay as it boils to steam.
I've had mine 3 years and still going strong.
And I watched this video after six months.❤️
Great vid...machine just went on sale in US from 699 to 599
Thank you for this video! Do you mind sharing what settings you have chosen for both the grind size and amount? Thank you!
It really depends on the coffee you use. For Lavazza coffee, I use grind size 6 inside the grinder, and a 2 on the dial on the side of the machine. I found that this makes really good coffee :-)
Great review. If I ever decide on a espresso machine, I have to get that tamper. It’s brilliant!
Can you post a link to the coffee distribution tool you have? Thanks great video!
Thanks for this review. This among other reviews has helped us choose this machine.
I am actually debating to either get this or the barista touch. Thank you so much for this review because it did help make up my mind. I am also subscribed to the juicy vlogs and i do enjoy watching you guys ☺️ HI LUCY!!! this video just came up when i searched for breville barista so that only means that you are doing something right ☺️ awesome video ❤️
The touch is more high tech which is fun to play around with, however when it comes to practice and the art of making coffee, the barista express feels more authentic if you understand what I mean. I am however in the same dilemma as you are
Which one did you end up getting? How do you like it?
Hi great review. I had a question regarding the grinder. Can it be used to grind for pour over V60. Thanks 👍
That loud noise it the water pump. My friends keurig started making the same noise after being stored for a long time. Typically, the pump should be quiet. If you’re under warranty, maybe seek a replacement.
I actually follow you and Lucy at the Juicy Vlog. So happened that I am thinking of getting this machine so thought Of doing a search on YT. Voila - found you here reviewing the same machine that I am interested in. I am getting close to getting this machine.
Great review and thanks!
Ah! At last! A coffee review without being anally retentive!!!
Had this demo'd for me and I was shocked how good the Mocha was. Getting one this weekend
How does it go making coffees more like a capa with a full mug say 400ml?
Thanks for the video.
Do you recommend getting extra warranty in this machine? My mate is suggesting it so sure it will break but it cost usd100 for extra 3 years
Hi there, George! Appreciate ur videos! Can you LINK to that specific coffee distributor thingamabob? Thanks!
Where did you purchase the coffee distribution tool and mugs? Looks awesome!
I always forget that ypu have your own channel! I am already subscribed to THE JUICU VLOG, THE LUCY VLOG AND JUICY REACTS. Sorry George! I subscribed now and hit the bell button. Powerrrr! ❤
Have you got a link to the distributor you use? Cheers!
Wow it makes a noise when you turn it on, steam didn't take long to get there. Oh it made a noise again making your coffee. Good job there More George I couldn't help myself Govt rules on Covid is driving me nuts. I couldn't help myself so hope I didn't offend ya mate. I just purchased one got it for a great price at $465.00 AUD Cheers
That weird noise with the steam wand is it purging that steaming hot water so when you go back to pulling your shot it doesn't burn the s#*t out of it
What kind of Tony’s estate did you use?
I’ll be getting one in black in a month or two. Thanks for the review.
fun fact. descaler is citric acid. should be cheap, but mysteriously it's not
Can I suggest turning your cups upside down and letting the machine warm up for 10 to 15mins. Cups will definitely be warm.
How big is that table you store it on? I'm tight on space in my kitchen on my countertops, so having a dedicated table would solve that issue!
Hi George, may I ask you where did you find your coffee distribution tool ? any reference to share ? thanks a lot !
Lazada here in the Philippines 😊
Hi! Great video! One question, you never mention the amount water dispensed by the machine itself into the drip tray? I found the drip tray to fill up quite quickly - about 5 lattes and the tray is almost full and that is without pouring any water into the tray myself. What is your experience?
How long it takes (sec) until the coffee is in your cup?
clean the steam wand with the provided cleaning tool, also remove the end and soak in water. I've had the previous model to 11 years and it has now only starting to fail...