Breville Barista Express IMPRESS Review!

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Breville has long been the king of home espresso, and ESPECIALLY integrated grinder home espresso machines. This brand new machine is a refresh of the ever-popular barista express, which adds in helpful tamping and dosing features to ease the learning curve of making espresso at home. Is it worth checking out? In this review of the Breville Barista Express Impress espresso machine, we find out!

#coffee #espresso #espressomachine

Filming Setup

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[LifestyleLab_]

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)

[rtpjr]

I've owned the BE for a little over 3 months and really enjoy it. Your conclusion on the steamer was spot on. I'm still working on getting the milk consistency perfected to allow for latte art. I've tried other tips but the pressure isn't high enough to support them. Overall I'm super satisfied with the BE Impress as a first time espresso machine purchaser. I can finally say my wife enjoys my home cappuccino over store bought drinks.

[AuthenTech]

Such a high quality review, well done 👍

[GrayeWilliams]

I just brought out my express from summer storage today, gave it a clean, and pulled my first shot of the fall. This looks like a good choice for anyone shopping new, but Breville is a victim of their own success: only when my express is well and truly dead will I replace it.

Anyone reading this on the fence as to whether to get a Breville… do it. The brand, on the whole, is a delight.

[shahidnaeem]

Excellent review. You are one of the best product reviewers I have come across. Thanks.

[Dimelo_Orion]

Thanks for covering all the topics on the Impress. I like your content because you get to the point. Thanks for mentioning the difference of the impress and barista pro.

[jaix]

Awesome review as always man! I was really hoping Breville were going to include this new tamping feature on the Barista Pro because as you mentioned it is a much better and more efficient machine. If they upgraded the Pro to have the lever tamping and the pressure gauge I really think they'd be on a winner for the sub 1K machine mainstream (non specialist) market.

[johnday]

I already have a Bambino Plus and have been considering purchasing a separate grinder. This has got me thinking... I could use the Bambino to manage the milk frothing, but I could use the Impress for the grind and brew operation. Overkill perhaps. The Impress is on sale here in Aus. I suspect a dedicated grinder will yield better results, but the automation component makes this super appealing. Great review BTW!

[evergreen]

With this being the type of machine sold at big box stores or recommended regularly online as "the best espresso machine" by food/bev/lifestyle etc... publications, it will end up being a great buy for many beginners unfamiliar with the hobby. Seems to be a sweet spot between semi and fully auto with a significant price savings over the latter.

[mser]

Your videos are always so well done. Great job and honest and good job with the review.

[kurtcrean]

Had my original express for nearly a year now and it's a trooper! This version would have saved a lot of headaches while learning, but I think I'll go for a barista pro or something like that in the future for the speed making multiple drinks. I have enjoyed tinkering a bit but that puck prep is enticing.

[SK-yrrv]

I wanted to buy a Lelit Mara X with a Giota grinder after the Breville Barista express, but my girlfriend doesn't want to go through the whole procedure. She works from home a lot and it has to go a bit faster. I definitely didn't want a fully automatic machine. So today we bought the Breville Barista express impress for 622€ (it was on sale in Germany). I think it's a good compromise. The milk steam
nozzle of the express is really weak, but you can live with it. We drink maybe three cappucinos a day. Great review. Thanks

[Icipher]

Great review. Since Breville didn't add the thermojet feature to the Impress, it sounds like the one to wait for is a revised Barista Pro if they ever add the new puck prep and tamping features. I like the look of the pro but I wish it had the added tamping features.

[DavidDLee]

Completely agree with your conclusion, especially the slower steaming performance. A missing variable steam valve goes along with this conclusion.
Worth mentioning that the Bambino Plus also has the superior steaming capability at a lower price point.

[TheDisneyPixar]

Curious who this machine is aimed towards considering its got an auto tamping solution but not the auto milk steaming from the Bambino or touch models. If you truly require help with tamping, then why are you left to your own devices with a fully manual steam wand?

[Pip-pxwq]

Love your review as I am researching which machine to buy for a family member, so this is helpful. My Barista Pro has suddenly started to make a horrendously loud noise lately, along with vibrating the glass along so it’s hitting the group head. Luckily only just still under warranty so hope to get something done to fix it 🤞

[rimbank]

Looking at buying a new coffee machine and the choice is perplexing. Your review is excellent and very helpful. I make 6 plus coffees in the first part of the day and like everything BUT the slow steam heating you mention. I'll look at the pro you mention that improves on this. I love good coffee at home and use my machine daily and often. What to buy? I do like the grinder built in and auto tampering as my wife makes the coffees first thing and needs easy. But the slow steam on our present machine is low. You mention 75 seconds that's a lot. I have CFS/ME and standing wrecks me. The PRO you mention might be the better choice. Also I couldn't work out what the difference was between Express and Impress for which I came here. Thanks for clearing that up. The other plus in the grind and tampering option is less mess I'm guessing too. Thanks for the help and great review. About to search for your PRO review. How important is the right tampering. I don't find it hard to tamper evenly and the right pressure to let coffee though am I missing something?

[CashFruit]

I just want to make coffee at home that’s as good as coffee shops, as a former barista I know that we don’t hand stir the espresso grinds. I feel like this machine is good enough for me as a moderate coffee snob! 😊

[JonesBoula]

Grinder was my biggest issue with barista express. After getting sette 270, my shots were consistent and I was really happy with my setup. 2500 double-shot espressos later, I decided to replace BBE with Gaggia Classic and honestly, I regret it. Bambino plus would be better choice.

I don't believe that couple extra grind settings will make a difference in this model.

I would still recommend separate grinder/ bambino for espresso hobbyist.

[Gary_OC]

Great explanation. You nailed it from a high level user point.