My father had a coffee machine that he loaded with beans and water the night before, and then at a set time it ground the coffee and brewed it. He liked it so much he owned spares in case they stopped making them. When it started up in the morning it sounded like an air raid siren if you were in the kitchen. 😆 I am sure coffee aficionados would poo-poo the grinder that was in it, but it made an 80 year old man happy and it was an upgrade from Folgers. I would happily sit with him today, if I could, and have a cup of his coffee.
One note about the carafe: unlike any other SS carafe I’ve used on other home brewers, when you take the lid off this one you can actually fit your hand inside to scrub it properly. Makes it really nice to do a deep clean with confidence that I’ve gotten everything
Note: I wouldn't actually scrub it. A gentle brush with a plastic brush is all that's needed. It has a coating on the steel you don't really want to rub off. To get off coffee stains, fill with boiling water and a little dishwasher powder (or espresso machine cleaner, same thing really), leave for an hour, then the stains fall off easily.
do you find that the coffee has a metallic-type taste with ss carafe similar to steel mugs? I don’t like stainless steel mugs for that reason and think i’d prefer the glass version if that’s the case
One of the great things about this channel is watching these videos as a novice, understanding nothing, then coming back after discovering (and buying) specialty coffee equipment off the back of these videos and it all making sense. You’ve been a great guide James.
I don't know who was responsible for the camera work during the auto start confession, but they should get some sort of an Award. that whole scene had me rolling. This guy is amazing at anything coffee.
I've gone down the TH-cam rabbit hole... I've been watching James for hours now. Learned a lot. Probably should have been doing something else but here I am.
I'm kinda relieved you admitted to using the autobrew feature because every time I grind my coffee the night before I feel the coffee community judging me haha
It's this weird feeling that somebody was passing your window seeing you grind those beans and thinking 'this stupid piece of shit betrayed us once again.'
The main thing is do whatever works for you. It’s your home. The coffee community cannot tell you what to do in your personal space. In a professional setting, however, you are open to criticism.
I sometimes keep my coffee on auto brew but instead of coffee it's black tea and instead of auto brew it's a mug of boiling water and instead of me it's a random guy in england
I'm impressed they spent 2 years getting it right since they originally sent a unit for you to evaluate. It's nice to see them spending so much time to release a well finished product.
"they had problems with the hard water in London and spent time tweaking it". I'm genuinely surprised that a mainstream/mass company put so much care into their product.
Just grabbed one a few days ago along with the Breville Smart Grinder Pro thanks to this video. Even on my first try with budget friendly beans (Starbucks Espresso Roast), just using the labeled drip setting on the grinder, and "gold" on the brewer... Quite possibly one of the best cups of coffee i've had thus far, without any doubt the best made in a house. My girlfriend said it was the first time she's ever enjoyed black coffee in her life. She brought me a cup this morning and I swore there was sweetener added but she ensured me it was only black. If you were anything like me and grew up with only Walmart's mid-tier drip or Keurigs around... I cannot understate the difference in upgrading to something like this will make. I can't wait to actually dial in the settings with a bag of quality beans to see what this thing can actually do. Worth every penny, thanks James!
We're had ours for a couple of years and love it. Psired with a Niche Zero, amazing! We use hario v60 filters.would be interested to hear what other filters people use.
@@paulmason6860 I'm using Filtropa No.4 paper filters with mine and the results are excellent. Smooth, clear coffee. Delicious! I also agree with everything that Reilly said. I'm in love with my Sage smart grinder and precision brewer combination.
I bought one of these on the strength of James’s review and - crucially - the timer facility. I typically brew 500ml to 30g of light roasted washed Sidamo and was initially a bit disappointed with a succession of very insipid brews, despite grinding on the finer side of medium-fine. I was using the Gold setting and the problem, I think, was this setting seems to be optimised for a full batch of fuller roasted coffee and the flow rate was just too high for a relatively small batch of lighter grind. I switched to My Brew and slowed the flow rate down to the medium setting. Later I also extended the bloom time to 45 secs and whacked the brew temperature up a couple of degrees. These tweaks have transformed the output beyond all comparison and I’m really pleased with the brews now. That controllability is the USP here, as James makes clear in the video. Cracking machine that allows you to think through and solve any problems.
Love this brewer. Have had it for 2 years now and it is the best. I think my favorite setting that you didn’t talk about us the fact that you can do “single serving” brews directly into a cup. I use a travel mug for work every day and it’s great to not have to wash the carafe in the morning and my mug in the evening. Great review!
I live in Dallas Texas and own a Breville Precision Coffee Machine. I’ve been using it for about a year. I have the carafe version. I also have the Breville Smart Coffee Grinder Pro for grinding beans. I live with my son who is remotely attending Mechanical Engineering at University of Texas Austin so we only need a couple of cups in the morning. We seldom use the carafe. We use the cone with paper filters and brew directly into a cup. We do use the custom brew setting as we prefer a slightly lower brew temperature than the gold setting. My water for brewing comes from a Berkey Canister water purifier. The Breville coffee grinder and maker make really great coffee. Both are working reliably. The water tank develops condensation on the inside of the tank after brewing so I usually take the lid off to let the condensation vent off before replacing the lid. I am very fond of the automatic descaling notification which helps me insure I don’t forget the rescaling. Enjoy your shows.
Yes, I bought one a month ago. It has been fantastic thus far. Cleaning the conical basket IS a good idea, thank you for that advice. I agree that you should use paper filters (Avoid the metal basket filter) I found that it not only affects the taste of the coffee but it leaves a noticeable amount of grounds through into the carafe (despite the grind level). Thanks for the honest review James!
I bought one after seeing this, along with the Smart Grinder Pro. It makes fantastic coffee and the auto start has made my 4:30 and 5am starts to the day so much nicer.
Would you mind sharing what settings you use on both grinder and brewer? I have had it for about a week and haven’t been able to make even one palatable batch. HELP A FELLOW COFFEE NERD
@@jordanbell6238 Cone filter Gold setting Fill it to '4 cups' Assuming you have the same grinder, set on 50 with a grind time of 12 seconds. Makes exactly 2 full mugs. Tweek from there.
Great review. Been using this myself for just over a year now on the other side of the pond. Consistently great brews with my V60 attachment. I too have enjoyed the "waking up to coffee" timer...to hear that you're doing it too simply makes me feel better about it. Thank you for sharing, James. -Jeff
I love this machine! I have the Breville version in Canada and have been using it for nearly two years. I have all the same (not so concerning) concerns! And now, I have been tuned in to this wonderful channel.
I found a breville convection toaster oven at a thrift store, and I love it. I use it to treat small metal pieces in my shop. This brewing machine I would use for its intended purpose Love your channel!
If you use this Brewer for an extended period of time, you'll run into issues with mold in the thermal carafe cap. The cap is hollow and cannot be properly accessed to clean. If you search, you'll find long time users discussing this issue. Consider pinning a comment or updating your review because it's a serious issue with another wise great brewer.
Oof, sending a new carafe is nice and all, but it's terrible design when the only solution to a problem is to scrap it and get a new one. Not at all sustainable or cost efficient at all.
This review sold me on the brewer. I've been using a secondhand Cuisinart drip brewer that was made in the mid 90s since I started toying with coffee and have been looking to upgrade for quite some time. It won't be here until the new year but that just makes me all the more excited to start the year off right.
Just found your videos today, never knew how much there was to coffee making. Your way of explaining things is great and very trustworthy, thank you and I will continue enjoying your videos about coffee products 👍
I am a V60 pour over guy. After watching your review I purchased the Breville Precision brewer. So far I love it. I make both servings at one time now using the cone shaped filter and the carafe. I also purchased the pour over attachment but I’ve only used that a few times. So, Virtuoso+ grinder and Breville Precision Brewer. Thanks James!
I have one of these for the office. The removable water tank would be an absolute game changer for me since we're brewing 50oz each time. We also noticed a difference between the cone shaped basket and the flat bottom. We're using the gold filter basket to old a smaller paper filter inside. It gives us an in-between solution for brewing quality. All in all, it is so much better than the Bonavita... The extra money is absolutely worth it.
That's actually a very impressive home grade machine. I'm not a filter coffee fan, but I wouldn't hesitate to get one of these for my home if family members preferred that style of coffee. I also really appreciate that you're able to get past the whole coffee snob culture and talk about how useful a timer function can be. In our house the correlation would be my wife frothing her milk in the cup for her caffe latte instead of in a pitcher (oh, horror of horrors!). I find so much of the coffee culture snobbery here in the US to be very frustrating, especially with its love of single origin over blends (which to me is like trying to convince people that just eating the meat out of a cheeseburger is better than enjoying what a good cook has done in putting a tasty sandwich together). Coffee is a part of daily life, it doesn't always have to served in a golden cup by virgin unicorns, and mediocre coffee is always better than no coffee :)
THIS is what I love about youtube! I'm learning things about making coffee I had no idea existed. I never really liked coffee when I was young but it's grown on me.
Dearest James, The way you edit your videos matched with your personality is quite possibly the funniest thing I’ve ever experienced. P.S. I also really enjoy what you have to say about coffee Sincerely, Zachary Hersey
Use a dedicated water bottle, preferably the specific volume of coffee you typically brew, to fill the tank. That way you never have to think about measurements on the tank, and it virtually eliminates spillage during filling.
I can make a carafe at 6am and it will just be turning ambient temp 24 hours later. This is what I love. Hate me for leaving coffee out but I’m not gonna brew every morning. I’ll have hot coffee when it brews and make iced coffee next day.
Could not be more British: Grey shirt, grey watch, grey hair, grey machine, grey walls, grey table.... but hey I have funky glasses ;) Enjoying the content tyvm.
We bought one of these about a year ago, and love it so much! I was looking at the amazon page, seeking the best paper filters, and one of the reviews there mentioned this review, so I came to see what you had to say. You have confirmed my happiness with this coffee maker!! I initially bought this because we love all of our Breville products so much, and this did not disappoint. Your review is fantastic, although perhaps I love it so because of my own confirmation bias being fed here. :-) Thank you!
That was one of my favourite reviews so far. Thanks. I think the amount of time you've had it has fed into how good the review was. With regards to another comparable brewer, the Behmor Brazen would be worth checking out. It has a different and, as far as I'm aware of, unique approach to water heating and water dispersion. It's essentially a temperature controlled kettle on top of a solenoid connected to a shower screen. But I don't think I could bear to watch you discuss the aesthetics... Regarding the pre-ground: lol. That's the personal value of convenience!
I did buy this based on this review and the fact that you were using it for 2 years and had very little complaints about it. After 2 failed cheaper brewers, an espresso/brewer machine and a cheap as chips own-brand failed on me, I got fed up and just went for this one despite the expense. This may seem a little cliche but after 7 mornings of failed auto-coffee making, and a very angry partner, I am extremely happy with the machine. Interestingly, when I ordered the machine I obviously didnt remember all the details of this review, namely the brew basket customization and anything after that point, I just remembered you'd been using it for 2 years and had very little complaints. Happy with the purchase. great review, good machine.
James you are way too honest, refreshing reviews that I always appreciate 👍 I pre-grind my filter coffee at home and take it to work to brew as my Niche is better than the work grinder ... you’re not walking alone ☕️
I put this on my Amazon wish list several weeks ago, and it's totally the timer function I'm interested in. I love my Barista Express, but those gym mornings, when I want to roll out of bed and caffeinate at 4:45am ... yeah, I could live with a little oxidation.
Grinding the night before is much much more acceptable than buying pre-ground coffee haha. I have been eyeing this machine for a while now., maybe it's time to finally get one.
Just took delivery of one of these to upgrade our morning coffee routine (christmas present). The purchase was heavily influenced by this video! Looking forward to cracking it open and enjoying freshly brewed delicious coffee!
To answer your question, I am not a fan of the coffee carafe lid. I feel like old coffee gets stuck in the lid and I'm not convinced a simple rinse get's it all out. I agree, a removable water reservoir would be fantastic. I would have prefered an all stainless steel brew basket, but that's me being picky. Coming from a daily V60 or Aeropress user, I'm used to just rinsing or throwing the item in the dishwasher. With this machine, you really need to regularly use Urnex (or something similar) to deep clean it.
@@IMelkor42 you misunderstood. They made it work well ALL THE WAY up until London's hard water. You can tell it how hard your water is so it will work just as well with water all over the UK.
Sage/Breville should be very thankful to you. Your positive review as a universally acknowledged coffee expert is kind of a huge endorsement for this product.
I use an Alexa enabled smart plug with my technivorm. Not quite the same level of programmability and options like basket v cone v pour over, but it solves the main use case which is timer programmability. And the beauty is... if I hit snooze or get up early... then I don’t have to rely on a timer. It goes when I want it go!
Want to add that Medically speaking it takes hours for different parts of human sensory organs to fully "wake up" (the smell is the exception since our brain doesn't dial it down when we go into sleep mode). So people kinda need to do blind taste themselves to determine if they can taste a large difference between pregrind or a la minute since our brain aren't that fussy when we just wake up.
Oh James, you sounds like a kid that confess his shameful sins to a group of friend. But that humbleness of yours is why I love your channel so much. I just know recently that there are tons of coffee dripper variant on the market, started from V60, the most popular one, to kalita wave, origami, blue bottle, and coffee dripper that you can grab at Japanese dollar store. I wonder if you can make a video to break down how those drippers different from each other and find the best way to use them, or maybe the better one among others. Thank you before, and otsukare
I’ve had one for about a month now and am very happy with it. The coffee is makes is significantly better than any other brewer I’ve owned or used. Your comments about the non-removable water reservoir and imperial volume labeling ring true, though. I feel like a caveman when I try (I have the US version) to measure water in ounces using the tank, so I weigh my water separately and pour it in. Could definitely be improved in that regard.
I have had it for several months and in terms of quality it is very good, the only difference is that I have a glass coffee pot. As for the cons, I feel the same as you. And one more little thing about this equipment and your channel ... I got this coffee brewer as a gift and it is thanks to you and your channel that the final decision was made to get this model.
just got one of these for christmas, finding out that it made our coffee that much better I have since dove head first into the rabbit hole that is better tasting coffee. oh boy im in love
I’m just ‘getting into’ coffee and I have been enjoying your videos, just bought an AeroPress last week and have been blown away by it. Your video comparing against the delter press made my mind up. Thanks again and keep up the great work. Best wishes from Glasgow.
James Hoffmann I don’t want to be a coffee snob, I just don’t believe coffee being sold in the major coffee shops offers good value in comparison to what I’ve been able to make over the last couple of days, whether it be a latte or an Americano. I just want a decent cup of coffee and can’t believe a £30 industrial syringe has delivered that. Down the rabbit hole we go!!🤣
Enjoy all your videos and love this brewer. I don't have one, but all the features and your stamp of approval make it a no brainer. Setting a timer on a coffee maker is definitely OK. Just spoiling our ourselves in a different way.
Outstanding review!! We have had one for 2 years (to replace an OXO, which was ok too and less $$). Hesitated to spend so much, but so happy we did!! Really agree with all the pluses and criticisms. We've run it like crazy at home all this year through the pandemic. Still fantastic. Can you share your preferred settings for "My Brew" function??
I have the US version here. One annoying thing I’ve come across is while making a single cup. Occasionally, the automatic drip stop will either fail to return to the position to stop or start. In single cup, this means sometimes you just can’t stop it from dripping. We made the mistake of once using the carafe with the smaller volume. The drip stop wouldn’t move from the down position, effectively locking the carafe in place. Typically unplugging, waiting a while, and plugging back in cycles it, but it’s still annoying. But in a year of ownership and daily use, it’s only happened three times.
August 2021 - I’ve had this brewer (USA version) for a couple of years and would agree with every point articulated by James. I don’t use it much anymore since purchasing the ECM Synchronika and the Caedo grinder, and my wife prefers the speed and simplicity of a Keurig which, honestly, makes,a decent cup also.
Okay. I purchsed one of these about two weeks ago - partially based on seeing this video along with other research. I have been more than satisfied. I have yet to use it with the flat bottomed filter but have used most the other features. It is wonderful. Don't know what to say that wasn't said in the video or the other comments but I've enjoyed it. To spend this amount of money on any brewer, you have to really love and appreciate coffee and how it's brewed.
Just got my own one of these brewers. I'm a little in love. Actually im very in love. It makes my heart flutter. Actually that may be caffeine overdose ...
Crafting a good cup coffee before having coffee has always haunted me, making my coffee brewing experience so much less enjoyable... UNTIL NOW! THANK YOU!
I'm horrible at making coffee in the morning. It's the catch-22 of coffee: being unable to make a good cup of coffee without having a cup of coffee first. The only solution to that is to have a machine brew the first cup for you. Genious!
I have this brewer and love it. I've been using the flat bottom filter but I have a metal cone one too that I'll try next time to see the difference. I do prefer the "strong" brew option and that could be because of using the flat bottom filter and it not being able to extract as much from the coffee. I also use the ice coffee function on it in the summer, it brews much stronger so it doesn't taste diluted when poured over ice.
here’s one of the most sophisticated coffee experts I’ve seen on the web and turns out he’s okay with drinking just like the rest of us. Screw the flavor, have it readying in the morning and that does it
I love my Breville Precision Brewer. I have used it every day now for almost two years. I hate that I forget that it is capable of doing so many things (pour over, cold brew, etc.,.). I think my complaints with it are: (1) As you stated, the water tank is not removable. If they can make they water tank removable on the Breville Barista Express espresso machine, they can make it removable on this product as well. (2) I am not a fan of the lid to the carafe. There are times where it seems to have become super glued to the carafe. Perhaps it's just pressure in the carafe? I don't know. Edit: I'm also the same way about grinding coffee the night before. I know I'm missing out, but, if I'm honest with myself I know I really wouldn't notice the difference.
grinding fresh beans before brewing will always result in a tastier cup of coffee. let’s say it takes 2 minutes to weigh out and freshly grind your coffee beans in the morning the biggest argument is convenience - “you say it only takes an extra 2 minutes right? then instead of turning on the tv with your remote, why not get up and turn the tv on manually if it’s only two minutes?” that argument is flawed because: • the extra 2 minutes you spend grinding your beans in the morning, while less convenient, provides you with a much tastier cup of coffee (convenient BUT decline in coffee quality) • turning on the tv with a remote control instead of spending the extra two minutes to get up and turn on the tv manually (convenient PLUS no change in the tv quality) at the end of the day, it’s widely understood that instant coffee is more often than not inferior in taste compared to freshly ground coffee, but hey, like you said, it’s up for each person to decide.
I have watched so many of your videos, and quite frankly, I will stick with my normal pour over manually. You have great videos and I have learned a lot, but I am retired now so having a coffee ready when I open my eyes is not an issue any longer.
My mother got up before my father so he would have his coffee when he woke up! She sometimes would wake up even earlier and bake pastry to go with the coffee! It was the 50s!!! Unfortunately, I do not have a man in my life so I am only creative for myself.
I've been using this brewer for a year, in the states, and love it. Detachable water res would be nice but I just keep a pitcher on the counter for the brewer and kettle.
Thank you for the videos, I only came across your channel a couple of months ago. Your detailed explanations and the fact you will point out the pros and cons are a pleasant surprise compared to some channels where they have clearly been supplied the product or are getting paid. My 20-year-old Saeco Royal Professional let out the magic smoke a few months ago, so in urgent need of coffee, I rushed and bought a Breville Barista Express $400 below list because I assume they were discontinuing. It really falls into the kitchen appliance category, 10% of the time I manage to or it manages to over or under extract and it is only a single boiler. The biggest annoyance is the portafilter is not a standard size - 54 mm making it difficult to access other portafilters and high-quality bottomless baskets. Please keep up the good work as I am gaining useful knowledge from your presentations.
My father had a coffee machine that he loaded with beans and water the night before, and then at a set time it ground the coffee and brewed it. He liked it so much he owned spares in case they stopped making them. When it started up in the morning it sounded like an air raid siren if you were in the kitchen. 😆 I am sure coffee aficionados would poo-poo the grinder that was in it, but it made an 80 year old man happy and it was an upgrade from Folgers. I would happily sit with him today, if I could, and have a cup of his coffee.
what machine was it, if you don't mind answering
He passed away years ago, but I THINK it was a Cuisinart. There was always a spare in the pantry.
Wow, that hit home. Sounds a bit like my mom who passed away a few years back. I'd give anything to sit and have another cup of coffee with her.
Dude... that hit me right in the feels.
Enjoyed this and thanks for reminding it's not just about spending thousands on kit but about what you like and who you share it with 🙂
"I'm not the most perceptive coffee taster at 6 in the morning" AMEN.
Come 715 however...
I'm at my most perceptive at 4 in the morning, the hour at which I fully accept that my insomnia's gonna last.
@@sirocco2810 Facts
The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup
One note about the carafe: unlike any other SS carafe I’ve used on other home brewers, when you take the lid off this one you can actually fit your hand inside to scrub it properly. Makes it really nice to do a deep clean with confidence that I’ve gotten everything
Thanks for this note. This fact pushed me over the edge to purchase this brewer.
Note: I wouldn't actually scrub it. A gentle brush with a plastic brush is all that's needed. It has a coating on the steel you don't really want to rub off.
To get off coffee stains, fill with boiling water and a little dishwasher powder (or espresso machine cleaner, same thing really), leave for an hour, then the stains fall off easily.
do you find that the coffee has a metallic-type taste with ss carafe similar to steel mugs? I don’t like stainless steel mugs for that reason and think i’d prefer the glass version if that’s the case
Drop a dishwasher pod into the pot. Add boiling water put on the lid. Wait an hour. Pot will be spotless.
A removable water tank is a necessity for me.
One of the great things about this channel is watching these videos as a novice, understanding nothing, then coming back after discovering (and buying) specialty coffee equipment off the back of these videos and it all making sense. You’ve been a great guide James.
Same here - & I like his straight forwardness :)
Same here - & I like his straight forwardness :)
I want someone to look at me the same way this man looks at coffee makers. With beautiful articulation and great concern.
Richard Keister I’m already halfway there, considering when most people look at me they tend to be greatly concerned
gastronomic nerds are the absolute most charming souls
Richard Keister why are you gay
Blue Finger why not
Oh God, yes.
I can imagine the headlines now: "Former World Barista Champion Uses Ground Coffee Which is More Than 18 Seconds Old!"
Ready the pitchforks...
I like to grind as close to brewing as possible. In fact, sometimes I pour over whole beans and grind them afterwards. Doesn’t get fresher than that!
Haha this actually made me laugh. Thanks!
At the exact moment he admitted to using 8 hour old coffee, somewhere in the world, a hipster shaved his mustache and got a corporate job.
@@doryman3 get the hell out Scot
James looks like a sage product 😂
He should design something similar and make it the same colors except for one pop color stripe design with the red and Call it the Hoffman.
yo, but he does though.
This is my favorite comment about the Hoff. 😂
I read this exactly when he said "I looks like a Save product". Perfect timing. 😆
This made me laugh far more than it should.
I don't know who was responsible for the camera work during the auto start confession, but they should get some sort of an Award. that whole scene had me rolling. This guy is amazing at anything coffee.
That was a zoom made in post production
Just a zoom in post.
I really like the way James Hoffman explains his opinions about a product and his integrity in presenting these opinions.
So do I, especially the way he gets a kick back on the ones he " likes" 🤷♂️
rob b such as?
@@livelongandprosper70 still waiting for your answer.
The camera panning in on James during his "confession" was hilarious.
6:28 no panning, zooming
@@dushk0 Thank you for correcting me!
I've gone down the TH-cam rabbit hole... I've been watching James for hours now. Learned a lot. Probably should have been doing something else but here I am.
I love James' fear of a coffeeforums invasion at admitting he sometimes grinds beans the night before
I'm kinda relieved you admitted to using the autobrew feature because every time I grind my coffee the night before I feel the coffee community judging me haha
It's this weird feeling that somebody was passing your window seeing you grind those beans and thinking 'this stupid piece of shit betrayed us once again.'
The same here. I'm afraid to admit to p.m. grinding for autobrew convenience in fear of friends berating me in group chat
Having the smell of fresh brewed coffee to wake you up in the morning is worth ten times the taste difference!
The main thing is do whatever works for you. It’s your home. The coffee community cannot tell you what to do in your personal space. In a professional setting, however, you are open to criticism.
I sometimes keep my coffee on auto brew but instead of coffee it's black tea and instead of auto brew it's a mug of boiling water and instead of me it's a random guy in england
I'm impressed they spent 2 years getting it right since they originally sent a unit for you to evaluate. It's nice to see them spending so much time to release a well finished product.
But they still have problems with it dumping coffee all over the counter according to the reviews. For a $300+ coffee pot, that should never happen.
"they had problems with the hard water in London and spent time tweaking it". I'm genuinely surprised that a mainstream/mass company put so much care into their product.
Just grabbed one a few days ago along with the Breville Smart Grinder Pro thanks to this video. Even on my first try with budget friendly beans (Starbucks Espresso Roast), just using the labeled drip setting on the grinder, and "gold" on the brewer... Quite possibly one of the best cups of coffee i've had thus far, without any doubt the best made in a house. My girlfriend said it was the first time she's ever enjoyed black coffee in her life. She brought me a cup this morning and I swore there was sweetener added but she ensured me it was only black. If you were anything like me and grew up with only Walmart's mid-tier drip or Keurigs around... I cannot understate the difference in upgrading to something like this will make. I can't wait to actually dial in the settings with a bag of quality beans to see what this thing can actually do. Worth every penny, thanks James!
We're had ours for a couple of years and love it. Psired with a Niche Zero, amazing! We use hario v60 filters.would be interested to hear what other filters people use.
@@paulmason6860 I'm using Filtropa No.4 paper filters with mine and the results are excellent. Smooth, clear coffee. Delicious! I also agree with everything that Reilly said. I'm in love with my Sage smart grinder and precision brewer combination.
*cannot _overstate_ the difference
I bought one of these on the strength of James’s review and - crucially - the timer facility. I typically brew 500ml to 30g of light roasted washed Sidamo and was initially a bit disappointed with a succession of very insipid brews, despite grinding on the finer side of medium-fine. I was using the Gold setting and the problem, I think, was this setting seems to be optimised for a full batch of fuller roasted coffee and the flow rate was just too high for a relatively small batch of lighter grind. I switched to My Brew and slowed the flow rate down to the medium setting. Later I also extended the bloom time to 45 secs and whacked the brew temperature up a couple of degrees. These tweaks have transformed the output beyond all comparison and I’m really pleased with the brews now. That controllability is the USP here, as James makes clear in the video. Cracking machine that allows you to think through and solve any problems.
Amazing point. Thank you
Should the grind be espresso level fine for this type of machine? Many thanks
@@990v6no, it should be ground as you would for filter coffee, commonly described as medium fine.
Separating morning coffee and coffee for appreciation was one of my learnings this year. Makes your mornings efficient and lighter on the wallet.
Hey I like that idea thanks for the tip
Don’t ask me to make coffee until I’ve had my coffee
Coffee is the solution! No , it really is A SOLUTION!😃😁
😆
@@thalesnemo2841 Is it a solution? I always thought it was a suspension. I'm not sure, I studied physics not chemistry.
@@jayhom5385
It’s a solution. A suspension can be filtered out .
@@thalesnemo2841 how fine of a filter have you tried, though...?
Love this brewer. Have had it for 2 years now and it is the best. I think my favorite setting that you didn’t talk about us the fact that you can do “single serving” brews directly into a cup. I use a travel mug for work every day and it’s great to not have to wash the carafe in the morning and my mug in the evening. Great review!
That's just amazing
Oh…that is great info!! Gratitude!
This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!
That's great 👍🏽 thanks
I live in Dallas Texas and own a Breville Precision Coffee Machine. I’ve been using it for about a year. I have the carafe version. I also have the Breville Smart Coffee Grinder Pro for grinding beans. I live with my son who is remotely attending Mechanical Engineering at University of Texas Austin so we only need a couple of cups in the morning. We seldom use the carafe. We use the cone with paper filters and brew directly into a cup. We do use the custom brew setting as we prefer a slightly lower brew temperature than the gold setting.
My water for brewing comes from a Berkey Canister water purifier.
The Breville coffee grinder and maker make really great coffee. Both are working reliably.
The water tank develops condensation on the inside of the tank after brewing so I usually take the lid off to let the condensation vent off before replacing the lid.
I am very fond of the automatic descaling notification which helps me insure I don’t forget the rescaling.
Enjoy your shows.
This was a very helpful review, thank you.
Berkey for the win! My family drinks so much water now.
Thanks for your candor on the morning’s first coffee, James. Real talk.
Gosh that makes me feel much better than I should to know your dirty, dirty, pre-ground secrets. Thank you!
Nothing wrong with pre ground coffee, if you get to know which day a roaster grinds their coffee...
@@hannahmoyse1690 true! But really, what we are all after is an ASMR video of James huskily admitting to all his coffee hipster faux pas.
Yes, I bought one a month ago. It has been fantastic thus far. Cleaning the conical basket IS a good idea, thank you for that advice. I agree that you should use paper filters (Avoid the metal basket filter) I found that it not only affects the taste of the coffee but it leaves a noticeable amount of grounds through into the carafe (despite the grind level). Thanks for the honest review James!
I bought one after seeing this, along with the Smart Grinder Pro. It makes fantastic coffee and the auto start has made my 4:30 and 5am starts to the day so much nicer.
Would you mind sharing what settings you use on both grinder and brewer? I have had it for about a week and haven’t been able to make even one palatable batch. HELP A FELLOW COFFEE NERD
@@jordanbell6238
Cone filter
Gold setting
Fill it to '4 cups'
Assuming you have the same grinder, set on 50 with a grind time of 12 seconds.
Makes exactly 2 full mugs.
Tweek from there.
@@-STONECYPHER- is your internal burr set at 6 (standard) ?
@@jordanbell6238 yes
Great review. Been using this myself for just over a year now on the other side of the pond. Consistently great brews with my V60 attachment. I too have enjoyed the "waking up to coffee" timer...to hear that you're doing it too simply makes me feel better about it. Thank you for sharing, James. -Jeff
I don't know how I stumbled upon your channel (new aeropress just popped up in my feed) but your reviews are fantastic! Thanks for doing these.
I love this machine! I have the Breville version in Canada and have been using it for nearly two years. I have all the same (not so concerning) concerns! And now, I have been tuned in to this wonderful channel.
“Thinks this is the machine for me. Sees price. I’m okay with bad coffee.” Great breakdown and review.
I'm a simple guy. I like coffee therefore I like James Hoffmann.
I found a breville convection toaster oven at a thrift store, and I love it. I use it to treat small metal pieces in my shop.
This brewing machine I would use for its intended purpose
Love your channel!
The smell. Of fresh brewed coffee, awakens ones 😊 smile. Elizabeth
thanks elizabeth
Thank you for the review, your eloquence is refreshing in the reviewers sea. Your videos are efficient, useful and highly satisfying to watch.
If you use this Brewer for an extended period of time, you'll run into issues with mold in the thermal carafe cap. The cap is hollow and cannot be properly accessed to clean. If you search, you'll find long time users discussing this issue. Consider pinning a comment or updating your review because it's a serious issue with another wise great brewer.
That sounds… disgusting. has there been a reaction by sage? Do they do refunds for it?
Oof, sending a new carafe is nice and all, but it's terrible design when the only solution to a problem is to scrap it and get a new one. Not at all sustainable or cost efficient at all.
They are all that way. Drives me crazy. I have a Hario that is the same way. I might try boiling the lid but eventually I will have to replace it.
After reading many reddit comments apparently soaking it in espresso machine cleaner for 30 mins or so clears the issue up instantly.
@@doctormoobbc thank you! I just purchased this and screenshot this in case I run into this issue.
This review sold me on the brewer. I've been using a secondhand Cuisinart drip brewer that was made in the mid 90s since I started toying with coffee and have been looking to upgrade for quite some time. It won't be here until the new year but that just makes me all the more excited to start the year off right.
Just found your videos today, never knew how much there was to coffee making. Your way of explaining things is great and very trustworthy, thank you and I will continue enjoying your videos about coffee products 👍
I am a V60 pour over guy. After watching your review I purchased the Breville Precision brewer. So far I love it. I make both servings at one time now using the cone shaped filter and the carafe. I also purchased the pour over attachment but I’ve only used that a few times. So, Virtuoso+ grinder and Breville Precision Brewer. Thanks James!
I have one of these for the office. The removable water tank would be an absolute game changer for me since we're brewing 50oz each time. We also noticed a difference between the cone shaped basket and the flat bottom. We're using the gold filter basket to old a smaller paper filter inside. It gives us an in-between solution for brewing quality.
All in all, it is so much better than the Bonavita... The extra money is absolutely worth it.
That's actually a very impressive home grade machine. I'm not a filter coffee fan, but I wouldn't hesitate to get one of these for my home if family members preferred that style of coffee. I also really appreciate that you're able to get past the whole coffee snob culture and talk about how useful a timer function can be. In our house the correlation would be my wife frothing her milk in the cup for her caffe latte instead of in a pitcher (oh, horror of horrors!). I find so much of the coffee culture snobbery here in the US to be very frustrating, especially with its love of single origin over blends (which to me is like trying to convince people that just eating the meat out of a cheeseburger is better than enjoying what a good cook has done in putting a tasty sandwich together). Coffee is a part of daily life, it doesn't always have to served in a golden cup by virgin unicorns, and mediocre coffee is always better than no coffee :)
How do you make filter less coffee? Like Turkish style?
@mordecaibilshan6534 presumably they mean paper filterless, e.g., espresso, especially as they talked about a cafe latte
Just wanted to say I've just bought one of these on the merit of this video alone and I'm extremely happy with it! Thank you!
THIS is what I love about youtube! I'm learning things about making coffee I had no idea existed. I never really liked coffee when I was young but it's grown on me.
Dearest James,
The way you edit your videos matched with your personality is quite possibly the funniest thing I’ve ever experienced.
P.S. I also really enjoy what you have to say about coffee
Sincerely,
Zachary Hersey
I would have never even considered this vs the moccamaster. Thanks for the detailed and thoughtful review.
Use a dedicated water bottle, preferably the specific volume of coffee you typically brew, to fill the tank. That way you never have to think about measurements on the tank, and it virtually eliminates spillage during filling.
Underrated comment
Or - even better - use a marker pen to denote each mug's worth of water
I can make a carafe at 6am and it will just be turning ambient temp 24 hours later. This is what I love. Hate me for leaving coffee out but I’m not gonna brew every morning. I’ll have hot coffee when it brews and make iced coffee next day.
Could not be more British: Grey shirt, grey watch, grey hair, grey machine, grey walls, grey table.... but hey I have funky glasses ;) Enjoying the content tyvm.
Almighty Ohm grey coffee maker.
Peek generally it's grEy in England and grAy in America (US, I'm not sure about Canada)
@@rachellamb2564 oh it's grey as well in Canada, we're definitely part of the Commonwealth.
Don't forget the self loathing, regarding pre ground coffee
I’ll bet he has a severe hangover as well
Clear, consise, and something for my Christmas list
James: BRILLIANT! Just enough tech to be credible and useful, yet practical and honest in human terms. BRAVO!
We bought one of these about a year ago, and love it so much! I was looking at the amazon page, seeking the best paper filters, and one of the reviews there mentioned this review, so I came to see what you had to say. You have confirmed my happiness with this coffee maker!! I initially bought this because we love all of our Breville products so much, and this did not disappoint. Your review is fantastic, although perhaps I love it so because of my own confirmation bias being fed here. :-) Thank you!
That was one of my favourite reviews so far. Thanks. I think the amount of time you've had it has fed into how good the review was.
With regards to another comparable brewer, the Behmor Brazen would be worth checking out. It has a different and, as far as I'm aware of, unique approach to water heating and water dispersion. It's essentially a temperature controlled kettle on top of a solenoid connected to a shower screen. But I don't think I could bear to watch you discuss the aesthetics...
Regarding the pre-ground: lol. That's the personal value of convenience!
Love the lighting, wow'ed me as soon as the video started.
That "naughty confession" was a gem
I did buy this based on this review and the fact that you were using it for 2 years and had very little complaints about it. After 2 failed cheaper brewers, an espresso/brewer machine and a cheap as chips own-brand failed on me, I got fed up and just went for this one despite the expense.
This may seem a little cliche but after 7 mornings of failed auto-coffee making, and a very angry partner, I am extremely happy with the machine. Interestingly, when I ordered the machine I obviously didnt remember all the details of this review, namely the brew basket customization and anything after that point, I just remembered you'd been using it for 2 years and had very little complaints.
Happy with the purchase. great review, good machine.
James you are way too honest, refreshing reviews that I always appreciate 👍 I pre-grind my filter coffee at home and take it to work to brew as my Niche is better than the work grinder ... you’re not walking alone ☕️
Well done, my friend! Normally, it is the other way around, people are used to steal coffee from work and are brewing it at home, I am afraid ;-)
I put this on my Amazon wish list several weeks ago, and it's totally the timer function I'm interested in. I love my Barista Express, but those gym mornings, when I want to roll out of bed and caffeinate at 4:45am ... yeah, I could live with a little oxidation.
Grinding the night before is much much more acceptable than buying pre-ground coffee haha. I have been eyeing this machine for a while now., maybe it's time to finally get one.
Just love listening to your reviews… so candid and so down to earth. Thank you!
Just took delivery of one of these to upgrade our morning coffee routine (christmas present). The purchase was heavily influenced by this video! Looking forward to cracking it open and enjoying freshly brewed delicious coffee!
I've owned the Breville Precision Brewer for almost a year. I love it just as much today as I did the first day I owned it.
To answer your question, I am not a fan of the coffee carafe lid. I feel like old coffee gets stuck in the lid and I'm not convinced a simple rinse get's it all out. I agree, a removable water reservoir would be fantastic. I would have prefered an all stainless steel brew basket, but that's me being picky.
Coming from a daily V60 or Aeropress user, I'm used to just rinsing or throwing the item in the dishwasher. With this machine, you really need to regularly use Urnex (or something similar) to deep clean it.
the fact that they delayed production due to hard water is a good sign.
The fact that they tuned it to London's water is typical... Nowhere else on this Island drinking coffee...
@@IMelkor42 you misunderstood. They made it work well ALL THE WAY up until London's hard water. You can tell it how hard your water is so it will work just as well with water all over the UK.
@@BJMonkey I was being a bit sarcastic. Cool that they did that, though! Cheers
Sage/Breville should be very thankful to you. Your positive review as a universally acknowledged coffee expert is kind of a huge endorsement for this product.
This is why i love James's content. Its because his a practical realist which makes him less/not a snob.
I use an Alexa enabled smart plug with my technivorm. Not quite the same level of programmability and options like basket v cone v pour over, but it solves the main use case which is timer programmability. And the beauty is... if I hit snooze or get up early... then I don’t have to rely on a timer. It goes when I want it go!
You what???
Don’t you have to use a switch in the technivorm
There is no shame here james! When I wake up I would like my coffee ready to go
Want to add that Medically speaking it takes hours for different parts of human sensory organs to fully "wake up" (the smell is the exception since our brain doesn't dial it down when we go into sleep mode). So people kinda need to do blind taste themselves to determine if they can taste a large difference between pregrind or a la minute since our brain aren't that fussy when we just wake up.
@@jackywchen
my brain is as fussy as it gets when I wake up haha
Love your honesty and straight forward approach
Very nice looking brewer. I have been using the Breville (Sage) dosing burr grinder since 2012, wonderful machine. Great brand Australia 👍👍
Oh James, you sounds like a kid that confess his shameful sins to a group of friend. But that humbleness of yours is why I love your channel so much.
I just know recently that there are tons of coffee dripper variant on the market, started from V60, the most popular one, to kalita wave, origami, blue bottle, and coffee dripper that you can grab at Japanese dollar store. I wonder if you can make a video to break down how those drippers different from each other and find the best way to use them, or maybe the better one among others.
Thank you before, and otsukare
I’ve had one for about a month now and am very happy with it. The coffee is makes is significantly better than any other brewer I’ve owned or used. Your comments about the non-removable water reservoir and imperial volume labeling ring true, though. I feel like a caveman when I try (I have the US version) to measure water in ounces using the tank, so I weigh my water separately and pour it in. Could definitely be improved in that regard.
Im not even a coffee drinker, but ive been binging your videos for a couple days and Ive gotta say im loving them.
I have had it for several months and in terms of quality it is very good, the only difference is that I have a glass coffee pot. As for the cons, I feel the same as you. And one more little thing about this equipment and your channel ... I got this coffee brewer as a gift and it is thanks to you and your channel that the final decision was made to get this model.
Huh.. it’s okay to use a programmable coffee maker.. okay let me set my timer. Thanks for another great video James! Cheers!
That slow zoom-in for your preground confession 👌🏻
I much appreciate the honest description of your relationship with the company.
just got one of these for christmas, finding out that it made our coffee that much better I have since dove head first into the rabbit hole that is better tasting coffee. oh boy im in love
I’m just ‘getting into’ coffee and I have been enjoying your videos, just bought an AeroPress last week and have been blown away by it. Your video comparing against the delter press made my mind up. Thanks again and keep up the great work. Best wishes from Glasgow.
Thanks Robert! I hope to drag you further down the rabbit hole of great coffee!
James Hoffmann I don’t want to be a coffee snob, I just don’t believe coffee being sold in the major coffee shops offers good value in comparison to what I’ve been able to make over the last couple of days, whether it be a latte or an Americano. I just want a decent cup of coffee and can’t believe a £30 industrial syringe has delivered that.
Down the rabbit hole we go!!🤣
I THOUGHT I was a coffee snob. I’m just a guy who likes coffee, as it turns out.
He's a pro. Don't compare yourself with a pro.
The realest comment ever!
Thank you. After watching your review, I bought one and it’s made life at home under COVID easier.
Enjoy all your videos and love this brewer. I don't have one, but all the features and your stamp of approval make it a no brainer. Setting a timer on a coffee maker is definitely OK. Just spoiling our ourselves in a different way.
It's massive! Would love a mini version.
Outstanding review!! We have had one for 2 years (to replace an OXO, which was ok too and less $$). Hesitated to spend so much, but so happy we did!!
Really agree with all the pluses and criticisms. We've run it like crazy at home all this year through the pandemic. Still fantastic.
Can you share your preferred settings for "My Brew" function??
Thank you James! About to buy my very first coffee-maker at home and with this video I have locked down my selection.
Really enjoying my sage brewer, thank you for Reccomendation James!
I have the US version here. One annoying thing I’ve come across is while making a single cup. Occasionally, the automatic drip stop will either fail to return to the position to stop or start. In single cup, this means sometimes you just can’t stop it from dripping. We made the mistake of once using the carafe with the smaller volume. The drip stop wouldn’t move from the down position, effectively locking the carafe in place. Typically unplugging, waiting a while, and plugging back in cycles it, but it’s still annoying. But in a year of ownership and daily use, it’s only happened three times.
Have you tried using the Hario adapter for single cup? I like that much better for making coffee just for myself.
That whisper confession was amazing
August 2021 - I’ve had this brewer (USA version) for a couple of years and would agree with every point articulated by James. I don’t use it much anymore since purchasing the ECM Synchronika and the Caedo grinder, and my wife prefers the speed and simplicity of a Keurig which, honestly, makes,a decent cup also.
Okay. I purchsed one of these about two weeks ago - partially based on seeing this video along with other research. I have been more than satisfied. I have yet to use it with the flat bottomed filter but have used most the other features. It is wonderful. Don't know what to say that wasn't said in the video or the other comments but I've enjoyed it. To spend this amount of money on any brewer, you have to really love and appreciate coffee and how it's brewed.
Just got my own one of these brewers. I'm a little in love. Actually im very in love. It makes my heart flutter. Actually that may be caffeine overdose ...
Crafting a good cup coffee before having coffee has always haunted me, making my coffee brewing experience so much less enjoyable... UNTIL NOW! THANK YOU!
I'm horrible at making coffee in the morning. It's the catch-22 of coffee: being unable to make a good cup of coffee without having a cup of coffee first. The only solution to that is to have a machine brew the first cup for you. Genious!
Uoouuuuouo
I love that you appreciate a fair cup of coffee first thing. Love your work mate.
I have this brewer and love it. I've been using the flat bottom filter but I have a metal cone one too that I'll try next time to see the difference. I do prefer the "strong" brew option and that could be because of using the flat bottom filter and it not being able to extract as much from the coffee. I also use the ice coffee function on it in the summer, it brews much stronger so it doesn't taste diluted when poured over ice.
Wouldn't mind seeing more reviews of prosumer appliances, especially espresso machines. Thanks
A new video explaining how to use My Brew settings with different roasts would be great!
I am obsessed with this video - in my mind, this 6am coffee he describes is just so impossibly and perfectly pure and satisfying. I must taste it.
Mine came yesterday! Based on your recommendation and I love it after three pots so far.
Annapolis MD USA
here’s one of the most sophisticated coffee experts I’ve seen on the web and turns out he’s okay with drinking just like the rest of us. Screw the flavor, have it readying in the morning and that does it
I love my Breville Precision Brewer. I have used it every day now for almost two years. I hate that I forget that it is capable of doing so many things (pour over, cold brew, etc.,.). I think my complaints with it are: (1) As you stated, the water tank is not removable. If they can make they water tank removable on the Breville Barista Express espresso machine, they can make it removable on this product as well. (2) I am not a fan of the lid to the carafe. There are times where it seems to have become super glued to the carafe. Perhaps it's just pressure in the carafe? I don't know. Edit: I'm also the same way about grinding coffee the night before. I know I'm missing out, but, if I'm honest with myself I know I really wouldn't notice the difference.
grinding fresh beans before brewing will always result in a tastier cup of coffee.
let’s say it takes 2 minutes to weigh out and freshly grind your coffee beans in the morning
the biggest argument is convenience - “you say it only takes an extra 2 minutes right? then instead of turning on the tv with your remote, why not get up and turn the tv on manually if it’s only two minutes?”
that argument is flawed because:
• the extra 2 minutes you spend grinding your beans in the morning, while less convenient, provides you with a much tastier cup of coffee (convenient BUT decline in coffee quality)
• turning on the tv with a remote control instead of spending the extra two minutes to get up and turn on the tv manually
(convenient PLUS no change in the tv quality)
at the end of the day, it’s widely understood that instant coffee is more often than not inferior in taste compared to freshly ground coffee, but hey, like you said, it’s up for each person to decide.
I have watched so many of your videos, and quite frankly, I will stick with my normal pour over manually. You have great videos and I have learned a lot, but I am retired now so having a coffee ready when I open my eyes is not an issue any longer.
I really loved this video. I was even drinking my coffee as I watched. Thank you.
Loved the slow zoom during the confession of your shameful secret
Let's face it, who wouldn't want to have a freshly brewed cup of coffee ready to go when you wake up? That's the dream.
That's what Butlers are for.
My mother got up before my father so he would have his coffee when he woke up! She sometimes would wake up even earlier and bake pastry to go with the coffee! It was the 50s!!! Unfortunately, I do not have a man in my life so I am only creative for myself.
I've been using this brewer for a year, in the states, and love it. Detachable water res would be nice but I just keep a pitcher on the counter for the brewer and kettle.
Thank you for the videos, I only came across your channel a couple of months ago. Your detailed explanations and the fact you will point out the pros and cons are a pleasant surprise compared to some channels where they have clearly been supplied the product or are getting paid. My 20-year-old Saeco Royal Professional let out the magic smoke a few months ago, so in urgent need of coffee, I rushed and bought a Breville Barista Express $400 below list because I assume they were discontinuing. It really falls into the kitchen appliance category, 10% of the time I manage to or it manages to over or under extract and it is only a single boiler. The biggest annoyance is the portafilter is not a standard size - 54 mm making it difficult to access other portafilters and high-quality bottomless baskets. Please keep up the good work as I am gaining useful knowledge from your presentations.