The Breville BES820XL espresso machine is attractive, easy to use, and delivers great-tasting espresso. The greatest thing about the espresso machine is its programmable function – you can set it up to get the exact amount of espresso you want, and then from that point on you can just press a button and get the same amount every time.
If there’s another person using the machine that likes a weaker coffee than you, they can set up another program for their own preference. Then everybody’s happy! If you don’t want to use the programmable function, you can use it manually, which is a good option if you’ve got guests helping themselves.
How the Breville makes the perfect coffee
True espresso lovers know that a great crèma means a great espresso. The Breville helps you to get the perfect crèma with its 15-bar Triple-Prime pump, which comes with a thermoblock heating system. It increases the pressure in the machine by three bursts of hot water into the filter head, so air pockets are eliminated and you end up with perfect foam.
Also, a gauge is conveniently provided for you so you can play with the best combination of the right grind of espresso beans, the right packing pressure, and the right amount of coffee. If you get the combination just right, the gauge needle will point to “Optimum,” which means that you will get more crèma in your espresso. It is a very helpful feature given that we all have our favourite beans and grind and it means you’ll get the perfect coffee no matter what you use.
How does the steamer stack up?
Another convenient feature of the Breville is its excellent steam wand. Not only does it have a 360-degree swivel action which makes it very easy to use, it is easy to clean. Many espresso machines’ steam wands are hard to clean and don’t work well. This machine’s steam wand texturizes the milk beautifully and you’ll love the creamy froth on your lattés and cappuccinos that this machine creates.
The only downside is that it does have to be cleaned often. If you have problems with the steam wand, a good cleaning will usually do the trick. But, honestly, if you’re not cleaning your machine properly you’re going to get bad coffee no matter what machine you buy.
Are there any downsides I need to know about?
No machine is perfect, and the Breville has some areas that need improvement. The cup-warming plate doesn’t work that well. I’ve never used the cup-warmer on any espresso machine though; let’s face it – they’re too expensive to keep running 24/7. I would just use the machine’s hot water wand to warm up the mugs instead.
And you really have to play with the grind settings on your burr grinder to find the perfect grind. It can take several tries, but once you get it right, the results are perfect. You could go to a local coffee shop and have them grind it to their finest setting if you prefer, but it really is worth taking the time to get it right with your favourite blend. Like they say, no pain no gain.
What comes in the box?
The Breville machine comes with not only the unit itself, but extras that makes your purchase really worth it, including a stainless steel frothing pitcher and an easy-to-read user manual with recipes. The manual is clear and it’s possible to make a great latte immediately after buying without much headache. Perfect for beginners who love to make a latte every morning but don’t care too much about setting the machine. It’s so easy to use! And it shuts off automatically if left alone for more than three hours.
Where can I buy the machine at the best price?
It can be very difficult to find a quality machine like this in a bricks and mortar home goods store. This inherently makes Amazon the most ideal place to buy the Breville BES820XL (click here to go there now).
Not only will you have access to the product immediately at your fingertips, you will also find many addons and special offers that are discounted from their recommended shelf price. Chances are you’ll find the Breville offered with free shipping, thereby costing you no extra money for the luxury of shopping from home.