The Breville Barista Express is a high-end espresso machine designed for coffee enthusiasts who crave café-quality espresso in the comfort of their own kitchen. This semi-automatic machine combines user-friendly features with advanced technology, making it easier than ever to craft the perfect espresso shot, frothy cappuccino, or smooth latte. Whether you’re a seasoned barista or a beginner looking to up your coffee game, the Barista Express Impress offers a blend of precision, convenience, and design that promises a superior coffee experience.
In this review, we’ll explore the key features of the Breville Barista Express Impress, highlight its pros and cons, and provide guidance on whether this machine is the right fit for your home coffee setup.
Overview
The Breville Barista Express Impress is the evolution of Breville’s popular Barista Express, but with enhanced features that make it even easier to achieve professional results at home. The standout feature is the Impress Puck System, which assists in precise dosing, tamping, and automatically adjusting the grind for perfect espresso extraction every time. This system is designed to take the guesswork out of espresso making, ensuring consistency for beginners and efficiency for experienced home baristas.
In addition to its conical burr grinder, which grinds coffee directly into the portafilter, the machine boasts a powerful steam wand for milk frothing, a pressure gauge for optimal extraction, and precise temperature control, all housed in a sleek, stainless steel body.
Key Features
1. Impress Puck System
The Impress Puck System is a game-changer for home espresso machines. This feature automatically adjusts the grind size based on your previous dose and grind, ensuring you achieve the perfect 22-gram dose of coffee each time. It also helps with tamping, applying a precise 10kg of pressure, followed by a 7-degree twist to polish the puck. This ensures even extraction and removes much of the human error that can occur during the espresso-making process.
2. Integrated Conical Burr Grinder
One of the standout features of the Barista Express Impress is its built-in grinder. The stainless steel conical burr grinder offers 25 different grind settings, allowing you to fine-tune the grind size to suit your coffee beans and espresso preferences. The grinder delivers freshly ground coffee directly into the portafilter, preserving the beans’ aroma and flavor for the freshest espresso.
3. Thermocoil Heating System and PID Temperature Control
The machine features Breville’s Thermocoil heating system, which provides precise temperature control, ensuring your water reaches the optimal temperature for espresso extraction (around 200°F). The PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) control system maintains stable temperatures during brewing, which is crucial for achieving balanced espresso with rich flavor and crema.
4. 15-Bar Italian Pump
The Barista Express Impress uses a 15-bar Italian pump, which provides the pressure necessary to extract the perfect shot of espresso. This pressure is essential for extracting the oils and rich flavors from the coffee beans, delivering a smooth, well-rounded shot.
5. Manual and Automatic Modes
For beginners, the Breville Barista Express Impress offers semi-automatic features that simplify the espresso-making process, such as the automated tamping system and grind adjustment. For more experienced users, the machine also allows for manual operation, so you can control the extraction time and steam the milk to your preference.
6. Powerful Steam Wand
The machine is equipped with a powerful steam wand, perfect for creating microfoam milk for lattes, cappuccinos, or flat whites. This steam wand is designed for both beginners and experienced baristas, allowing you to practice latte art or simply enjoy creamy, frothy milk.
7. Stainless Steel Build and Design
The Barista Express Impress features a sleek, brushed stainless steel design that is both durable and aesthetically pleasing. It’s designed to fit in most kitchen spaces while offering the look and feel of a professional-grade espresso machine.
8. 1.7-Liter Water Tank
The removable 1.7-liter water tank provides enough capacity for several espresso shots and steamed milk drinks without needing to refill constantly. It also has a built-in water filter to ensure your water is clean, which can improve the taste of your espresso.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
1. Impress Puck System
The Impress Puck System takes much of the guesswork out of making espresso. By automating the dosing, tamping, and adjusting the grind size, it ensures consistent results for beginners and saves time for experienced users.
2. Built-In Grinder
The integrated grinder with 25 settings allows for precise control over the grind size, ensuring that you can tailor your espresso to your preferred strength and flavor profile.
3. High-Quality Espresso
With precise temperature control, a 15-bar pressure pump, and the built-in grinder, the machine delivers consistently high-quality espresso with rich crema and balanced flavors.
4. Semi-Automatic Functionality
For those who enjoy hands-on espresso making but still want a bit of guidance, the semi-automatic features (like the automated tamping and grind size adjustments) strike a perfect balance between control and convenience.
5. Powerful Steam Wand
The powerful steam wand produces excellent microfoam for cappuccinos and lattes, and it’s versatile enough to allow for advanced latte art. The steam pressure is strong and consistent, ideal for frothing milk to the perfect texture.
6. Durable Build
The stainless steel construction is not only sleek but also durable. The machine is built to last and has a professional look that complements most kitchen designs.
7. Large Water Tank
The 1.7-liter water tank reduces the need for frequent refilling, and the built-in filter ensures that your water is always clean, contributing to the overall taste of your espresso.
Cons:
1. Learning Curve
Despite its semi-automatic features, there’s still a learning curve, especially for users new to espresso machines. While the Impress Puck System helps with dosing and tamping, learning how to froth milk properly and get the right extraction times may take some practice.
2. Large Footprint
The machine is relatively large and may take up significant counter space, which could be an issue for those with smaller kitchens. If space is a concern, it’s important to measure your counter area before purchasing.
3. Price
The Breville Barista Express Impress comes with a premium price tag. While it offers excellent value for what it provides, it may be too expensive for casual coffee drinkers or those who only make espresso occasionally.
4. No Dual Boiler
The machine uses a single boiler, meaning you can’t brew espresso and steam milk simultaneously. While this isn’t a dealbreaker for most, it can be an inconvenience if you’re making multiple drinks in a short amount of time.
5. Manual Intervention Still Required
Although the Impress Puck System automates tamping and dosing, you still need to manually start the extraction process and steam milk. Some users may prefer a fully automatic machine that handles all steps.
Buying Guide: What to Consider Before Purchasing
1. Your Skill Level
If you’re a beginner, the Barista Express Impress offers helpful features like automatic tamping and grind adjustment, making it easier to learn the art of espresso making. However, more experienced users will appreciate the flexibility to control the brewing process manually.
2. Kitchen Space
This machine is not compact, so make sure you have enough countertop space to accommodate its larger footprint. If you have a small kitchen, consider where the machine will fit and whether you’re willing to sacrifice counter space.
3. Budget
This is a premium espresso machine with a price to match. If you’re committed to making high-quality espresso at home, it’s a worthy investment. However, if you’re a casual coffee drinker, you might want to consider more affordable options.
4. Milk Frothing Needs
If you enjoy milk-based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, the steam wand on the Barista Express Impress will suit your needs well. It’s powerful enough for advanced latte art but still user-friendly for beginners.
Conclusion
The Breville Barista Express Impress is an excellent option for coffee enthusiasts who want a balance of control, convenience, and quality in their home espresso setup. The Impress Puck System is particularly helpful for beginners or those who want consistent results without having to master every step of the espresso-making process. The built-in grinder, steam wand, and high-quality extraction make this machine stand out as a premium choice for serious coffee lovers.
While the machine has a higher price point and a learning curve, the combination of user-friendly features and advanced technology makes it a worthy investment for anyone looking to enjoy café-quality espresso at home. Whether you’re pulling a single shot or frothing milk for a latte, the Barista Express Impress delivers excellent results that will elevate your coffee game.
