I've been watching a lot of TH-cam videos on this machine and others and trying to learn more about them. This is the level of nerd I've been looking for. I'm thrilled to have found your channel. What I've learned is there is so much that goes into the perfect shot of espresso. Finding thorough instructions on perfecting the perfect shot has been a challenge. I'm still shopping for a "first machine," and so far, this is at the top of the list. I think. That said, I am the type of person who, when I take on something new, will fully immerse myself and try my best to master it. I am not thrilled about the idea of an automatic machine that I will never learn how to properly pull a great shot without using its features. But I also don't know where to start with machines and the techniques for pulling espressos. And while the budget is always a consideration, I don't mind spending the money on a good machine the first time if it will last me. All this said, is this the machine you'd recommend for someone like me or is there something else I should also consider?
If you already say that you want to learn more about machines and techniques you'll likely get bored with this device quickly. It probably is better than any normal "all-rounder" but still limits you in a thousand ways and personally, I think it looks a little generic too.
@@pilotbum I'm by no means someone to give out recommendations. It depends a lot on your budget and preferences. You should primarily focus on a good grinder, get one at 300€ or more. I have the niche zero which is very popular and I love it. My first espresso machine was a thermoblock, the ascaso dream PID. It's alright, but I wanted a lever machine, so now I have an Odyssey Argos. There is a huge variety in machines
@@Kimba33 Thanks. I have a Breville grinder, which I believe is a good grinder. But your first comment was what I really needed to hear. I appreciate the feedback.
Really enjoy your style of review. You clearly know way more than me in the coffee sector however you dont make me feel like a total idiot while explaining it. Well done.
Thanks for this review. I’m often asked by friends who want to “start” getting into coffee/espresso and want some thing good/better, but don’t want to faff about- what machine/setup should they get. I think this guy here checks many boxes.
Lance, First... Great review. At about 6:40 you say it has 30 options (steps) for grinding. When you adjust grind you find that it does change from say upper 12 to mid 12 and lower 12 so basically this is stepless. Is it as fine a change as a high end grinder? No, but it does increase the grind adjustment. At 9:40, the Cafe Creme isn't on the US model. A11:00 you talk about saving grind size. You can not save a different grind size for a single or double shot basket. Also saving a drink will not save the single or double size basket. If my wife has made a single shot drink and I choose my saved "double Shot" Americano, I will have to change the basket size because it doesn't change. Running a FB Page for this machine and numerous contacts with Breville Techs has taught me a lot about it.
Yes I'll be honest. In my time using it, performance was my main target. I always manually pull my shots. And Lindsey always makes a flat white. So I didn't do due diligence with the programs. As for the machine's capabilities, I've got about 4 months of experience with it and stand by those assertions hahaha
I'm definitely getting one! I've heard positive things from others, and your insights steered me away from more traditional options like Rocket or Profitec. The user-friendly aspect is a huge plus, especially when my mother-in-law visits us in Tuscany. I can show her once, and she'll be able to make any coffee she fancies.
Ok your review convinced me to buy the Barista Touch Impress. Couldn’t buy on Amazon as the extended warranty is by Assure. So I went directly to Breville so I could get their 3 year extended warranty. Sorry as you convinced me! Will keep my Bambino Plus until I’m sure I didn’t get one of duds from reviews on Amazon. Thank you so much !! Hope I can use your ArtPresso open bottom portafilter. I love your videos as you are super knowledgable and honest!❤
I have this machine, too - only for about a week. The "dud" things seem to have been easy fixes (read: generally user error/oversight) so far. The Error09 complaint seems to occur when there's insufficient water level in the tank (frothing), or, when the machine shares a power outlet with something else (USA situation). I've also had a couple "!" warnings onscreen when the frothing mug vibrated itself off the temperature sensor - replacing it stopped the warning. All of those were during automatic frothing. I encountered only one concerning issue during manual frothing: I think I accidentally made contact between the wand and the wall of the frothing mug and received a small shock/zap (and dropped the whole mug - oops!). That probably isn't supposed to happen. No intention of trying to replicate that experience. Not sure what to do next, because this machine suits my curious-beginner skill level.
2:32 It's actually the other way around - light roasts weigh more (for a given volume). 18g of a light roast would take up less volume then 18g of a dark roast.
I have the Barista Touch now and want a new machine, just because. NOT thinking bout price just what I want. Looking at this one for sure AND the Oracle and Oracle Touch. My brother has had the Oracle for a long time and really likes it so, I'm watching a lot of tutorials.
I have the Bambino Plus and Pro Grinder now, upgrading to this machine now. Looking forward to it as I learned how to do everything and now want it easy. I am most excited about the programmed milk types for the auto heating/frothing as we have several varieties in my household.
Obviously you are a coffee aficionado coupled with your knowledge on the mechanisms of coffee equipment is so impressive and intimidating accolades and thanks for the excellent content
Texture test is not what I needed with headphones on before my morning coffee 😂🙃 For real though, amazing review! Super detailed in all the right areas
Very cool. I bought an Oracle Touch about 3 years ago and this seems much more advanced. Breville is doing a great job in the market between super automatic and prosumer
@@TechEtrix I had trouble after doing a full descale. It would not come back up to temp. Breville fixed it under warranty. They even sent me the shipping box cut to fit my machine perfectly. No problems since then.
I miss the summary/wrap up section that is normally at the end of videos. I would have been interested in hearing your closing remarks on how you felt about the setup overall.
I had this machine for a while but had to return in the end after getting frustrated with shot inconsistency. Every time, I got the green (proper volume) feedback from the machine upon tamping, but shot times varied significantly each time. Suspecting a bad dose sensor, I even got the unit replaced by Breville, but not much changed with the replacement machine as well. I had this behavior with a variety of medium roast coffees. For anyone who cares enough about good espresso, I'd say the Impress system is not the magic bullet. It may get close enough for some, but certainly doesn't completely replicate proper weighing and puck prep processes IMO.
@@LanceHedrick Yes, I tried shaking. I also got Breville’s dosing funnel, you also pointed out, to do proper WDT before tamping. I think the issue is with the resolution of dosing sensor more than puck prep. I had nearly 1 gram variation between grinds from same coffee that showed green mark. If volumetric dosing would’ve been more accurate (~0.2 grams variability), then the machine could’ve gotten away with lacking of proper puck prep. But inconsistent dosing kills it.
I've had the same issue. I haven't been shaking the portafilter though, hopefully that will solve the issue and save my sanity. Although it also doesn't seem to remember grind volume... I have to grind and tamp 4 or 5 times minimum every brew. That doesn't bother me unless it isn't normal behaviour. I've been considering getting a WDT and cone myself, but if I have to prep the puck myself then why did I buy this machine?
OK, I came back because I thought an update was only fair. I contacted Sage support about this and they sent an engineer out to look at my machine... it turns out there was a problem with the outer burr, after replacement it works exactly as in this and other videos and is an actual joy to use. Instead of grinding and tamping half a dozen times and having all manner of consistency issues like floating pucks and agressive channeling, I grind once, WDT tamp and get a pretty much perfect shot every time. If you are having to grind and tamp over and over despite dialling in properly or experiencing grind times that are very slow (about .5g/s) you should contact support. I've seen a few others with this issue across the web, and suspect they had a bad batch of upper burrs.
I watched this video right before going to bed last night... found the machine on marketplace and picked it up today - almost half of retail price if you include tax. Super exciting! If only I remembered to get some beans too..
Thanks for the wdt tip. Our's is always on the edge of making a good cup of espresso, it will over or under shoot the shot and get it perfect once in a while. The second pull is usually better. It's not the machine for a tweaker like me. I hope the wdt trick will help with the consistency!
Having upgraded from sage barista pro to lelit mara x last year - the difference is incredible especially around consistency! On the sage it’s a guessing game.
After having used various manual options; AeroPress, Moka pot, Hario V60 switch, V60 dripper, etc., I am soon going for the Touch Impress, easier, consistent and less fuss......
We had a Creatista Pro with the same steam wand system. We found if the bottom of the jug is flat you can use a different brand jug. If the jug bottom is raised then it will burn the milk. However if you place the edge of the jug in the sensor it will steam properly.
Not my cup, but nonetheless quite excited to see this new trend growing within manufacturers to make quality extraction accessible to all users. The absence of it made my wife go back to pods, I am sure history could have been different with these new concepts. Thinking also of the new Eureka UI on their future grinders. Great to see Breville implementing better burrs as well! On a personal note, very excited to see where your project with them will be going! Would be awesome if it could be an affordable Slayer dual boiler. Even better if you could setup profile (like a decent).
I dialed in my Niche for the rather quite good Guatemalan peaberry medium roast from Trader Joes, and my wife made a really good coffee at first attempt from a Flair 58. I have a Normcore tamp which is bullet proof, and a thin screen which extracts nicely with a wide variety of doses.
Breville incorporating the Etzinger designed burrs from Baratza has been a long long time coming. I wish they'd put the M2 burrs in the barista express as well though. Then maybe they can even use the Sette's S2 burrs in these more high end models to differentiate the products.
Bought an express a few weeks back and it has the exact same burr as the one shown in this video. Would I be able to tell by eye if it is the old one or the bratza one?
I bought the impress touch and after 1 week and a half of intense dialing with different coffees and following the guidance of the machine, I returned it as all the coffee were sour. All of them. I think due to the lack of temperature that it was 168 F while in the barista pro that I have is 202 F. I will probably order the Oracle as the milk system is very important to me. The milk system in the impress touch was working quite well. Hope this comment will help. Maybe it was a problem in the unit I got and not in all the impress barista line.
Thanks Richard. I tried but didn’t work. I returned it and now I am using ECM machine. E61 type and a LX grinder. Super happy and super good coffee with the challenges that you always have as a coffee lover but with good results. The Barista Pro that I have at the office is working very well. So maybe this model is not as good as others or maybe the one that I got from Breville was not working well. Maybe the thermocoil was not working well.
I have the non touch barista impress, and its good to see they fixed the fact that you cannot use the dosing funnel with there portafilter.. I used a bottemless one now because the standerd one doesnt fit with the dosing funnel.
Lance. I spot a Unica pro to your left. I cannot wait for your review. I am in contact with Markus but still sitting on the fence. So so looking forward to it.
great video. just got this machine and brought a few extras, but i am not skilled in grinding and time but wanted to play with it. i think the auto mode is doing a better job than me. haha. but at least i have the option to play with manual mode as well.
My barista express I bought last month has the exact same burr in the grinder as the one shown in this video. Also, if youre getting tossed up between the 16 settings of grind on tue express and the 30 settings on brevilles stand alone or higher end units just know that you can still do half settings and get the exact same results as having 30 settings. The end points are literally exactly the same, and you have full control over all spots between.
I had both the barista touch (not the impress) and the barista express and I prefer the express. The touch screen is fiddly and I don't like the instant water heating as the only way to heat the portafilter is to run it under a hot water source. the express let you get the portafilter heated up to a nice full temperature without doing anything. I feel like I always got better coffee out of the express which is odd given the price difference. I also think you are paying extra for the touchscreen which means less money going into making better coffee but I could be wrong there.
Hey Lance ,loving the sage/breville products for the price ,good to hear that they have improved the burrs,was the only weak link (I had a dose control pro,struggled at times dialling in) Only have a bambino + and a niche zero Really happy with them 🙏🏼
2:32 Light roasted beans are denser than dark roasted beans. Therefore, light roast should be heavier than dark roast if they are the same volume instead of what you mentioned.
@@LanceHedricklight roasts take up less space in the basket than an equivalent weight of dark roasts because they are denser. 17g of each roast type will result in a fuller basket for dark, less full for light. Switched from light to dark last week and the basket was nearly overflowing at the same weight.
I owned the first touch machine and the water was not hot enough for me. The espresso was great but it was cold. It made perfect steamed milk every time.
Great video! Thanks for all the information Lance! I've had this machine for about a month now and I'm seeing some significant inconsistencies with it. The machine is supposed to remember your grind amount from the last time, yet when I extract, sometimes it'll do 25 seconds, the next time it'll do 35 seconds! I also notice that my shower screen is almost always dirty with coffee grounds after extraction. Am I not putting in enough coffee into the basket? Or is there too much space between the coffee bed and the shower screen? Regardless, I would have thought the automatic tamping system would take care of that and leave me with the necessary amount in my basket each time! Any ideas what could be causing this? I also find that after tamping, the coffee bed is not perfectly flat. There is coffee coming up the sides of the bed in the basket. I almost want to use another tamper to fix it before going to extract. I fear this machine is trying to do a lot of things automatically and it's missing the mark... or needs further refinement (ie. a Gen2). The milk frothing system has been great so far. No concerns there.
Dang Lance, your automatically steamed milk looked really good, better than I've got on most attempts. What milk are you using? It also helps to pour into another pitcher to incorporate the milk top to bottom. I'm sure this'll be a go to video for lots of people, so kudos to you for covering it. Cheers!
Lance, just love your channel - have learned a ton! Definitely subscribed. :-) I have a new Breville Express Impress - you mentioned in the video the pre-infusion on that machine. I am curious - when timing your shot do you include the pre-infusion time or start timing when the machine goes to full pressure?
Lance, as always. Love your format. I always appreciate that, like your other product reviews, this is much more than a review. It's a lesson in espresso as well. Have a fantastic day!
I've had this cheap 5-bar almost-espresso machine I bought a few months ago while looking for something to heat and froth milk to accompany my moka pot drinks. I found this machine for cheaper than any actual milk frother, and it had a steam wand built in. So, if the coffee sucks, I still managed to get a milk steamer. I'd never gotten along with home cappuccino set-ups. Particularly on my budget. This particular machine was made by Salter, of all brands, and it is the only thing that really hits the spot and has allowed me to truly save my money and avoid buying coffee out. It is super cheap, like GBP 35, but I am really impressed. I'd love to see your review if you'd ever consider it!
I was waiting for you review on this unit, but I’ve couldn’t wait 😂 The question I have is my wife like the cafe Crema and I love espresso And there is a big difference between grind settings. What would you suggest is the best way to keep both of us happy to get the best drink possible.
Years ago when I made the argument that weight is not always the best measurement for espresso dosing, the online espresso community thoroughly rejected my points and assumed I had no idea what I was talking about. I appreciate you saying this, because you cannot be dismissed as easily.
Hey Lance thanks for the info that this channel provides, really helpful. A Question if I may: After using a Sage (Breville) Oracle for the last 8 years (and after a few repairs!) I think it's time to move on. After looking at your content, I am unsure as to whether to go for The Sage Dynamic Duo or the new Sage Barista Touch Impress. Both here in the UK are similar in price £1200-£1300. Your thoughts and any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work. Best J
Hey Lance, great videos loves the work. I’m looking at upgrading from the Nespresso pod machine and have been looking at this machine for awhile. Would it be better going this one or the Brevell barista touch? Thanks
Hey man, I have the Barista Pro… I’m getting 30 second pull on medium roast, lots of crema but only 28g of coffee from 18g. I’m on grind setting 3. Do I need to make it more coarse ? Confused! Love the channel ☕️
Hi I'm just curious whether you're able to get the right amount of coffee into the portafilter first go or is it always low/trim? I've yet to have one on my machine where it's ready to just pull a shot. Only had the machine for 4 days but I thought it would have auto adjusted by now. It's always needing me to trim.
Hey Lance you said there are aftermarket hoppers with bellows can you let us know which one works with the touch impress as I have one for the smart grinder pro but it does not fit the touch impress thanks
This is an amazing review! Thank you so much. I actually just picked up this machine. Is it possible to get that true silky milky texture from the automatic setting or would that need to be achieved through manual steaming? Lets use 3% dairy milk as an example.
Interesting comments about head space. Would you say that the correct dose amount is whatever results in the right head space for the basket? Is there a different desired head space for different roast levels?
Would be interested in your thoughts as to why thermoblocks haven't been widely adopted in the prosumer space yet. For heat up time, footprint and standyby energy usage you'd think it would be an obvious choice. Or maybe an e61 single boiler wirh thermoblock steam wand? Strange to me that only Ascaso seem to be pushing it
Hi Lance Great video. I use the machine manually. My problem with this machine is that there is a big difference between two grind sizes. For example, turning the dial from size 18 to 17 makes a massive difference to extraction times, which means that you have to make fine adjustments between those sizes. However, those fine adjustments are not shown on the screen (eg 17.3), so you have no idea what exact grind size you have used. I tend to switch between different types of coffee and when I go back to a coffee, there is no way to know what was the optimal grind size I identified in the past. Could you or anyone reading this please help?
Speaking of baskets, I actually prefer my Breville basket to my IMS. The taste, to my palate, isn't hugely different but the Breville basket isn't as finicky.
Love your quick bias disclosure here. But I'm pretty much done with Breville until they can come up with a total redesign of the interior to make them less of a maintenance nightmare as well as making them easy for companies that do repairs to work on them. I live in Seattle, one of the premier coffee places in the world, and we only have one place that will even touch a Breville machine. And right now, they're not touching most as they can't get needed spare parts from Breville. So instead of coming out with new (and top-secret) stuff, maybe they should fix some of the current problems first.
@@clarks888I actually found a guy in Tacoma who’s amazing with Brevilles and most other machines if interested. He works on his own so prices are quite reasonable. I’m done with folks from SCG.
@@LatteDude1 that’s awesome, would definitely take the name. I had an issue with my Mozzafiato that SCG covered under warranty within a few months of ownership, but it took two rounds of it being with them for extended periods, plus a lot of hand-holding by me to troubleshoot when they should be the experts.
Honestly all the makers of espresso have similar issues. Is not like with Italian or German machines there are tons of service centers. I will say that they could definitely improve the quality of components to minimize some issues but then again that would increase the price so I am pretty sure we would hate that too. To me the value of breville is in its automatic features and usability
I have the more expensive oracle touch and find it infuriatingly inconsistent. It’s sold as basically full automatic. Am I mad for wanting to pick up one of these
Hi Laance, I've this machine for about a month now, I'm still experimenting trough the features. I have some trouble getting a real good milk texture with the autosteaming; I can do it manually no problem but when I autosteam I'm getting big bubbles and not silky smooth at all. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong, do you have any tips? Grazie
I wanted to like this machine but the hot water is not hot enough. The max I get is about 162 degrees Fahrenheit which isn’t enough for americanos. I’m not paying this amount of money to heat my coffee up in a microwave.
Not much comment about 54mm vs 58mm portafilter? I've always avoided Breville for this reason (even though it's a local company and it's great that they're doing well) I've never been able to get a decent extraction from the 54mm basket on the one they have at work (an older version of this same machine) - but that could also be because of the auto-tamp and no way to WDT the puck.
@@LanceHedrick it's probably the auto puck press then, channels like crazy, I struggle to get a decent shot out of it (the one at my work, which is an older model).
I bought this machine on Amazon a couple of months ago. It worked great for a few days until the intelligent impress tamping function stopped working. I ended up sending it back for a refund… still on the lookout for another option.
Hi Lance. You used the Breville dosing funnel . I have seen Videos and reports that the Touch Impress does not recognize the PF with the funnel on which you don’t seem to have . Is there something you had to do to allow the sensor to recognize the dosing funnel? Thanks
I don't know a ton about coffee yet, but the eloquence of this presentation is astounding. Just non-stop high quality information, well done.
One tonne of coffee.
Now you know a ton
Probably the best video I've seen this year: informative, well-edited, honest, and importantly, not pretentious at all.
I've been watching a lot of TH-cam videos on this machine and others and trying to learn more about them. This is the level of nerd I've been looking for. I'm thrilled to have found your channel. What I've learned is there is so much that goes into the perfect shot of espresso. Finding thorough instructions on perfecting the perfect shot has been a challenge.
I'm still shopping for a "first machine," and so far, this is at the top of the list. I think. That said, I am the type of person who, when I take on something new, will fully immerse myself and try my best to master it. I am not thrilled about the idea of an automatic machine that I will never learn how to properly pull a great shot without using its features. But I also don't know where to start with machines and the techniques for pulling espressos. And while the budget is always a consideration, I don't mind spending the money on a good machine the first time if it will last me.
All this said, is this the machine you'd recommend for someone like me or is there something else I should also consider?
What you end up getting?
If you already say that you want to learn more about machines and techniques you'll likely get bored with this device quickly. It probably is better than any normal "all-rounder" but still limits you in a thousand ways and personally, I think it looks a little generic too.
@@Kimba33 Do you have a recommendation?
@@pilotbum I'm by no means someone to give out recommendations. It depends a lot on your budget and preferences. You should primarily focus on a good grinder, get one at 300€ or more. I have the niche zero which is very popular and I love it. My first espresso machine was a thermoblock, the ascaso dream PID. It's alright, but I wanted a lever machine, so now I have an Odyssey Argos. There is a huge variety in machines
@@Kimba33 Thanks. I have a Breville grinder, which I believe is a good grinder. But your first comment was what I really needed to hear. I appreciate the feedback.
Undoubtedly the best review of this product on TH-cam. Great analysis. Treated how you would a La Marzocco…
Hi Lance, great to see that you're supporting the great coffee for everyone mission (not only snobbish enthusiasts)❤
I don't often reply to videos, but this review is exactly what I was looking for. Told me everything I needed to know. Thanks for the great review!
Bought this machine a few weeks ago…my first espresso machine and I love it! So easy and makes great drinks.
Really enjoy your style of review. You clearly know way more than me in the coffee sector however you dont make me feel like a total idiot while explaining it. Well done.
Thanks for this review. I’m often asked by friends who want to “start” getting into coffee/espresso and want some thing good/better, but don’t want to faff about- what machine/setup should they get. I think this guy here checks many boxes.
enjoyed every single minute of this video. What a work! so much info packed in only 30 minutes. Excellent showcase for this machine
Sage are really doing really well at providing super machines that allows both auto modes and the chance to go deep into the coffee world 🤗
Lance, First... Great review. At about 6:40 you say it has 30 options (steps) for grinding. When you adjust grind you find that it does change from say upper 12 to mid 12 and lower 12 so basically this is stepless. Is it as fine a change as a high end grinder? No, but it does increase the grind adjustment.
At 9:40, the Cafe Creme isn't on the US model.
A11:00 you talk about saving grind size. You can not save a different grind size for a single or double shot basket. Also saving a drink will not save the single or double size basket. If my wife has made a single shot drink and I choose my saved "double Shot" Americano, I will have to change the basket size because it doesn't change.
Running a FB Page for this machine and numerous contacts with Breville Techs has taught me a lot about it.
Yes I'll be honest. In my time using it, performance was my main target. I always manually pull my shots. And Lindsey always makes a flat white. So I didn't do due diligence with the programs.
As for the machine's capabilities, I've got about 4 months of experience with it and stand by those assertions hahaha
@@LanceHedrick I love the machine! I've had mine since late July.
I'm definitely getting one! I've heard positive things from others, and your insights steered me away from more traditional options like Rocket or Profitec. The user-friendly aspect is a huge plus, especially when my mother-in-law visits us in Tuscany. I can show her once, and she'll be able to make any coffee she fancies.
Ok your review convinced me to buy the Barista Touch Impress.
Couldn’t buy on Amazon as the extended warranty is by Assure. So I went directly to Breville so I could get their 3 year extended warranty. Sorry as you convinced me! Will keep my Bambino Plus until I’m sure I didn’t get one of duds from reviews on Amazon. Thank you so much !! Hope I can use your ArtPresso open bottom portafilter.
I love your videos as you are super knowledgable and honest!❤
I have this machine, too - only for about a week. The "dud" things seem to have been easy fixes (read: generally user error/oversight) so far. The Error09 complaint seems to occur when there's insufficient water level in the tank (frothing), or, when the machine shares a power outlet with something else (USA situation). I've also had a couple "!" warnings onscreen when the frothing mug vibrated itself off the temperature sensor - replacing it stopped the warning. All of those were during automatic frothing. I encountered only one concerning issue during manual frothing: I think I accidentally made contact between the wand and the wall of the frothing mug and received a small shock/zap (and dropped the whole mug - oops!). That probably isn't supposed to happen. No intention of trying to replicate that experience. Not sure what to do next, because this machine suits my curious-beginner skill level.
2:32 It's actually the other way around - light roasts weigh more (for a given volume). 18g of a light roast would take up less volume then 18g of a dark roast.
Yep. Mess up there
Big up for just owning it!@@LanceHedrick
@@NAAjine😂 obviously anyone would
I have the Barista Touch now and want a new machine, just because. NOT thinking bout price just what I want. Looking at this one for sure AND the Oracle and Oracle Touch. My brother has had the Oracle for a long time and really likes it so, I'm watching a lot of tutorials.
I have the Bambino Plus and Pro Grinder now, upgrading to this machine now. Looking forward to it as I learned how to do everything and now want it easy.
I am most excited about the programmed milk types for the auto heating/frothing as we have several varieties in my household.
Awesome machine for those who don’t want the hassle but do want the taste. Thanks for the video 👍🏻 Now I just need some more money 😅
Obviously you are a coffee aficionado coupled with your knowledge on the mechanisms of coffee equipment is so impressive and intimidating accolades and thanks for the excellent content
Texture test is not what I needed with headphones on before my morning coffee 😂🙃
For real though, amazing review! Super detailed in all the right areas
Very cool. I bought an Oracle Touch about 3 years ago and this seems much more advanced. Breville is doing a great job in the market between super automatic and prosumer
How is your Oracle Touch holding up? Any repairs needed so far? I‘ve heard some horror stories about longevity of the Oracle Touch…
@@TechEtrix I had trouble after doing a full descale. It would not come back up to temp. Breville fixed it under warranty. They even sent me the shipping box cut to fit my machine perfectly. No problems since then.
I miss the summary/wrap up section that is normally at the end of videos. I would have been interested in hearing your closing remarks on how you felt about the setup overall.
I had this machine for a while but had to return in the end after getting frustrated with shot inconsistency. Every time, I got the green (proper volume) feedback from the machine upon tamping, but shot times varied significantly each time. Suspecting a bad dose sensor, I even got the unit replaced by Breville, but not much changed with the replacement machine as well. I had this behavior with a variety of medium roast coffees.
For anyone who cares enough about good espresso, I'd say the Impress system is not the magic bullet. It may get close enough for some, but certainly doesn't completely replicate proper weighing and puck prep processes IMO.
Did you shake the portafilter to settle grounds? There is a reason I show this technique.
@@LanceHedrick Yes, I tried shaking. I also got Breville’s dosing funnel, you also pointed out, to do proper WDT before tamping.
I think the issue is with the resolution of dosing sensor more than puck prep. I had nearly 1 gram variation between grinds from same coffee that showed green mark. If volumetric dosing would’ve been more accurate (~0.2 grams variability), then the machine could’ve gotten away with lacking of proper puck prep. But inconsistent dosing kills it.
I've had the same issue. I haven't been shaking the portafilter though, hopefully that will solve the issue and save my sanity. Although it also doesn't seem to remember grind volume... I have to grind and tamp 4 or 5 times minimum every brew. That doesn't bother me unless it isn't normal behaviour.
I've been considering getting a WDT and cone myself, but if I have to prep the puck myself then why did I buy this machine?
OK, I came back because I thought an update was only fair. I contacted Sage support about this and they sent an engineer out to look at my machine... it turns out there was a problem with the outer burr, after replacement it works exactly as in this and other videos and is an actual joy to use. Instead of grinding and tamping half a dozen times and having all manner of consistency issues like floating pucks and agressive channeling, I grind once, WDT tamp and get a pretty much perfect shot every time.
If you are having to grind and tamp over and over despite dialling in properly or experiencing grind times that are very slow (about .5g/s) you should contact support. I've seen a few others with this issue across the web, and suspect they had a bad batch of upper burrs.
I watched this video right before going to bed last night... found the machine on marketplace and picked it up today - almost half of retail price if you include tax. Super exciting! If only I remembered to get some beans too..
Thanks for the wdt tip. Our's is always on the edge of making a good cup of espresso, it will over or under shoot the shot and get it perfect once in a while. The second pull is usually better. It's not the machine for a tweaker like me. I hope the wdt trick will help with the consistency!
Having upgraded from sage barista pro to lelit mara x last year - the difference is incredible especially around consistency! On the sage it’s a guessing game.
Was thinking about an upgrade to Lelit or La marzocco linea mini, but the latter is so ugly, Lelit are somewhat better designed
After having used various manual options; AeroPress, Moka pot, Hario V60 switch, V60 dripper, etc., I am soon going for the Touch Impress, easier, consistent and less fuss......
Thanks! I went with this one over the Pro and others; this helped with my decision making.
Thanks Lance for the great review, love your videos❤️, just broke down and bought one and we are thrilled 😊
We had a Creatista Pro with the same steam wand system. We found if the bottom of the jug is flat you can use a different brand jug. If the jug bottom is raised then it will burn the milk. However if you place the edge of the jug in the sensor it will steam properly.
Not my cup, but nonetheless quite excited to see this new trend growing within manufacturers to make quality extraction accessible to all users. The absence of it made my wife go back to pods, I am sure history could have been different with these new concepts. Thinking also of the new Eureka UI on their future grinders.
Great to see Breville implementing better burrs as well!
On a personal note, very excited to see where your project with them will be going! Would be awesome if it could be an affordable Slayer dual boiler. Even better if you could setup profile (like a decent).
I dialed in my Niche for the rather quite good Guatemalan peaberry medium roast from Trader Joes, and my wife made a really good coffee at first attempt from a Flair 58. I have a Normcore tamp which is bullet proof, and a thin screen which extracts nicely with a wide variety of doses.
Next Breville machine, 2 Thermojets (brew and steam), integrated scales for grind and brew, adjustable tamp weight, WiFi for updates? 😉
Breville incorporating the Etzinger designed burrs from Baratza has been a long long time coming. I wish they'd put the M2 burrs in the barista express as well though. Then maybe they can even use the Sette's S2 burrs in these more high end models to differentiate the products.
A sette with weight in a Breville could be a Jura competitor.
Bought an express a few weeks back and it has the exact same burr as the one shown in this video. Would I be able to tell by eye if it is the old one or the bratza one?
@@sethfrancissimracing7558yep, 5 vs 6 spikes - pentagonal vs hexagonal
I bought the impress touch and after 1 week and a half of intense dialing with different coffees and following the guidance of the machine, I returned it as all the coffee were sour. All of them. I think due to the lack of temperature that it was 168 F while in the barista pro that I have is 202 F. I will probably order the Oracle as the milk system is very important to me. The milk system in the impress touch was working quite well. Hope this comment will help. Maybe it was a problem in the unit I got and not in all the impress barista line.
Did you try adjusting the water temperature? The machine has (I think) 5 settings, but they're not specific numeric temperatures.
Thanks Richard. I tried but didn’t work. I returned it and now I am using ECM machine. E61 type and a LX grinder. Super happy and super good coffee with the challenges that you always have as a coffee lover but with good results. The Barista Pro that I have at the office is working very well. So maybe this model is not as good as others or maybe the one that I got from Breville was not working well. Maybe the thermocoil was not working well.
Thanks for the video! Not sure if you guys have it or not but a polarizer on the lens can help prevent reflections on instrument gauges!
I think that will just kill the image on the screen as well..
FYI, Breville's website lists the "default" water temp as 93 (to confirm your temp readings).
I have the non touch barista impress, and its good to see they fixed the fact that you cannot use the dosing funnel with there portafilter.. I used a bottemless one now because the standerd one doesnt fit with the dosing funnel.
Lance. I spot a Unica pro to your left. I cannot wait for your review. I am in contact with Markus but still sitting on the fence. So so looking forward to it.
Awesome informative review. Many thanks.
great video. just got this machine and brought a few extras, but i am not skilled in grinding and time but wanted to play with it. i think the auto mode is doing a better job than me. haha. but at least i have the option to play with manual mode as well.
My barista express I bought last month has the exact same burr in the grinder as the one shown in this video. Also, if youre getting tossed up between the 16 settings of grind on tue express and the 30 settings on brevilles stand alone or higher end units just know that you can still do half settings and get the exact same results as having 30 settings. The end points are literally exactly the same, and you have full control over all spots between.
Thanks Lance! Enjoyed your review. Will definitely consider this machine ❤
Excellent review and walk-through. Thanks...convinced me to buy one.
I had both the barista touch (not the impress) and the barista express and I prefer the express. The touch screen is fiddly and I don't like the instant water heating as the only way to heat the portafilter is to run it under a hot water source. the express let you get the portafilter heated up to a nice full temperature without doing anything. I feel like I always got better coffee out of the express which is odd given the price difference. I also think you are paying extra for the touchscreen which means less money going into making better coffee but I could be wrong there.
Hey Lance ,loving the sage/breville products for the price ,good to hear that they have improved the burrs,was the only weak link (I had a dose control pro,struggled at times dialling in)
Only have a bambino + and a niche zero
Really happy with them 🙏🏼
2:32 Light roasted beans are denser than dark roasted beans. Therefore, light roast should be heavier than dark roast if they are the same volume instead of what you mentioned.
@@LanceHedricklight roasts take up less space in the basket than an equivalent weight of dark roasts because they are denser. 17g of each roast type will result in a fuller basket for dark, less full for light.
Switched from light to dark last week and the basket was nearly overflowing at the same weight.
Yep. Idk what I was thinking. Apologies for the faux pas!
Fantastic review as always 👊🏽
Thoughts on the Profitec Go?
I owned the first touch machine and the water was not hot enough for me. The espresso was great but it was cold. It made perfect steamed milk every time.
Great video! Thanks for all the information Lance!
I've had this machine for about a month now and I'm seeing some significant inconsistencies with it. The machine is supposed to remember your grind amount from the last time, yet when I extract, sometimes it'll do 25 seconds, the next time it'll do 35 seconds! I also notice that my shower screen is almost always dirty with coffee grounds after extraction. Am I not putting in enough coffee into the basket? Or is there too much space between the coffee bed and the shower screen? Regardless, I would have thought the automatic tamping system would take care of that and leave me with the necessary amount in my basket each time! Any ideas what could be causing this? I also find that after tamping, the coffee bed is not perfectly flat. There is coffee coming up the sides of the bed in the basket. I almost want to use another tamper to fix it before going to extract.
I fear this machine is trying to do a lot of things automatically and it's missing the mark... or needs further refinement (ie. a Gen2).
The milk frothing system has been great so far. No concerns there.
Dang Lance, your automatically steamed milk looked really good, better than I've got on most attempts. What milk are you using? It also helps to pour into another pitcher to incorporate the milk top to bottom. I'm sure this'll be a go to video for lots of people, so kudos to you for covering it. Cheers!
Ha! I wonder if it has to do with spout location?
How long does this machine last? I have seen reviews about screen errors, fuses blowing after descaling, not brewing, etc.
I thought I had a good English vocabulary until I started watching these coffee machine videos a day ago. Burr, tamp, puck, portafilter wth
i usually do acupuncture right before making a coffee. Now I can do it next to my Sage.
This is what I have been looking at, super helpful thank you a bunch.
Lance, just love your channel - have learned a ton! Definitely subscribed. :-)
I have a new Breville Express Impress - you mentioned in the video the pre-infusion on that machine. I am curious - when timing your shot do you include the pre-infusion time or start timing when the machine goes to full pressure?
wow I never saw this coming! nice review
Can’t wait to see what you think of the crazily priced Oracle Jet
Lance, as always. Love your format. I always appreciate that, like your other product reviews, this is much more than a review. It's a lesson in espresso as well.
Have a fantastic day!
I've had this cheap 5-bar almost-espresso machine I bought a few months ago while looking for something to heat and froth milk to accompany my moka pot drinks. I found this machine for cheaper than any actual milk frother, and it had a steam wand built in. So, if the coffee sucks, I still managed to get a milk steamer.
I'd never gotten along with home cappuccino set-ups. Particularly on my budget.
This particular machine was made by Salter, of all brands, and it is the only thing that really hits the spot and has allowed me to truly save my money and avoid buying coffee out.
It is super cheap, like GBP 35, but I am really impressed. I'd love to see your review if you'd ever consider it!
Appreciated this thorough demonstration
I was waiting for you review on this unit, but I’ve couldn’t wait 😂
The question I have is my wife like the cafe Crema and I love espresso And there is a big difference between grind settings. What would you suggest is the best way to keep both of us happy to get the best drink possible.
Great points about basket volume variations by type of bean / roast level
Years ago when I made the argument that weight is not always the best measurement for espresso dosing, the online espresso community thoroughly rejected my points and assumed I had no idea what I was talking about. I appreciate you saying this, because you cannot be dismissed as easily.
Hey Lance thanks for the info that this channel provides, really helpful. A Question if I may: After using a Sage (Breville) Oracle for the last 8 years (and after a few repairs!) I think it's time to move on. After looking at your content, I am unsure as to whether to go for The Sage Dynamic Duo or the new Sage Barista Touch Impress. Both here in the UK are similar in price £1200-£1300. Your thoughts and any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work. Best J
Awesome video. i just bought this. Can't wait to get it.
just an amazing video. Lance your mastery is sublime!
Hey Lance, great videos loves the work. I’m looking at upgrading from the Nespresso pod machine and have been looking at this machine for awhile. Would it be better going this one or the Brevell barista touch? Thanks
I've found who creates them mugs at 16:38 but can't find out how to buy them! Any help please?
Hey man, I have the Barista Pro… I’m getting 30 second pull on medium roast, lots of crema but only 28g of coffee from 18g. I’m on grind setting 3. Do I need to make it more coarse ? Confused! Love the channel ☕️
Hi I'm just curious whether you're able to get the right amount of coffee into the portafilter first go or is it always low/trim? I've yet to have one on my machine where it's ready to just pull a shot. Only had the machine for 4 days but I thought it would have auto adjusted by now. It's always needing me to trim.
I just love my DeLonghi Magnifica S!
Great, I've been waiting for this review. Thanks
Hey Lance you said there are aftermarket hoppers with bellows can you let us know which one works with the touch impress as I have one for the smart grinder pro but it does not fit the touch impress thanks
What to pick? Sage Barista Pro or Touch Impress?
Great detailed review, you just got a sub
This is an amazing review! Thank you so much. I actually just picked up this machine. Is it possible to get that true silky milky texture from the automatic setting or would that need to be achieved through manual steaming? Lets use 3% dairy milk as an example.
Interesting comments about head space. Would you say that the correct dose amount is whatever results in the right head space for the basket? Is there a different desired head space for different roast levels?
I just got my Touch Impress. It does not come with a Cafe Crème recipe here in the states.
Another in depth review Lance 👍
Brilliant review, demo and information ! Best video on barista touch that I have seen ! Thanks
Would be interested in your thoughts as to why thermoblocks haven't been widely adopted in the prosumer space yet. For heat up time, footprint and standyby energy usage you'd think it would be an obvious choice. Or maybe an e61 single boiler wirh thermoblock steam wand? Strange to me that only Ascaso seem to be pushing it
Hi Lance
Great video.
I use the machine manually.
My problem with this machine is that there is a big difference between two grind sizes. For example, turning the dial from size 18 to 17 makes a massive difference to extraction times, which means that you have to make fine adjustments between those sizes. However, those fine adjustments are not shown on the screen (eg 17.3), so you have no idea what exact grind size you have used. I tend to switch between different types of coffee and when I go back to a coffee, there is no way to know what was the optimal grind size I identified in the past. Could you or anyone reading this please help?
Automation is great but i do enjoy the process of perfecting a process manually. Kinda like roasting. It takes effort and attention.
If this system is set up volumetrically, is using a puck screen after grinding and tamping recommended or should it be avoided?
I'd be grateful for the answer to this one, too. Good question.
When will you get your paws on a Odyssey Argos to review?! Can't wait for that one
love that all black milk pourer - link please!!
Speaking of baskets, I actually prefer my Breville basket to my IMS. The taste, to my palate, isn't hugely different but the Breville basket isn't as finicky.
this looks spectacularly contrived
Love your quick bias disclosure here. But I'm pretty much done with Breville until they can come up with a total redesign of the interior to make them less of a maintenance nightmare as well as making them easy for companies that do repairs to work on them. I live in Seattle, one of the premier coffee places in the world, and we only have one place that will even touch a Breville machine. And right now, they're not touching most as they can't get needed spare parts from Breville. So instead of coming out with new (and top-secret) stuff, maybe they should fix some of the current problems first.
I live in Seattle too, and when looking to upgrade from a ten year old Barista Express, local support and maintenance was a top consideration.
@@clarks888I actually found a guy in Tacoma who’s amazing with Brevilles and most other machines if interested. He works on his own so prices are quite reasonable. I’m done with folks from SCG.
@@LatteDude1 that’s awesome, would definitely take the name. I had an issue with my Mozzafiato that SCG covered under warranty within a few months of ownership, but it took two rounds of it being with them for extended periods, plus a lot of hand-holding by me to troubleshoot when they should be the experts.
Honestly all the makers of espresso have similar issues. Is not like with Italian or German machines there are tons of service centers. I will say that they could definitely improve the quality of components to minimize some issues but then again that would increase the price so I am pretty sure we would hate that too. To me the value of breville is in its automatic features and usability
I have the more expensive oracle touch and find it infuriatingly inconsistent. It’s sold as basically full automatic. Am I mad for wanting to pick up one of these
Hi Laance, I've this machine for about a month now, I'm still experimenting trough the features. I have some trouble getting a real good milk texture with the autosteaming; I can do it manually no problem but when I autosteam I'm getting big bubbles and not silky smooth at all. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong, do you have any tips? Grazie
I wanted to like this machine but the hot water is not hot enough. The max I get is about 162 degrees Fahrenheit which isn’t enough for americanos.
I’m not paying this amount of money to heat my coffee up in a microwave.
Same issue here..
I can't believe Lance prefers Van Patten's espresso machine to mine...
Not much comment about 54mm vs 58mm portafilter?
I've always avoided Breville for this reason (even though it's a local company and it's great that they're doing well) I've never been able to get a decent extraction from the 54mm basket on the one they have at work (an older version of this same machine) - but that could also be because of the auto-tamp and no way to WDT the puck.
That doesn't make sense. Overall, I really enjoy 54mm. Very odd you're struggling. The deeper bed gives you much much more forgiveness than 58mm.
@@LanceHedrick it's probably the auto puck press then, channels like crazy, I struggle to get a decent shot out of it (the one at my work, which is an older model).
@celticdr yeah. Definitely need to shake the portafilter as I show in the video prior to tamp
I bought this machine on Amazon a couple of months ago. It worked great for a few days until the intelligent impress tamping function stopped working. I ended up sending it back for a refund… still on the lookout for another option.
Hi Lance. You used the Breville dosing funnel . I have seen
Videos and reports that the Touch Impress does not recognize the PF with the funnel on which you don’t seem to have . Is there something you had to do to allow the sensor to recognize the dosing funnel? Thanks
Okay should I upgrade from my gaggia classic? My wife doesn’t use it cuz of the hassle this seems like it would just be perfect
Do you have a review on the oracle jet?
How does the compare to the new Oracle Jet? Will you be reviewing the Jet, Lance?
Thanks, Lance. A thorough review as always. 👌🏼