EASIEST ESPRESSO MACHINE? Breville Barista Express Impress Review
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2023
- Breville Barista Express Impress Review: How does it compare to the Breville Barista Express? Is it actually good at what it aims to do?
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Just recently was gifted one of these and I have never made an espresso in my life. This video & the comments have been very helpful. Thank you.
Great review & run-down on the Breville Expess Impress we purchased yesterday.
First shot turned out well.
Think I'll allow the Milk Frother to steam through a little longer before frothing.
Thanks so much, Kyle for the perfect demonstration on this machine.
I feel more confident on making my next coffee ☕️ 👌👌
Great video and excellent commentary! Thank you!
I've had my BBEI since January of 2023 (8 months) and use it almost daily. What I like is that it is super easy, right out of the box, to start making espresso with no experience. If you want a quick shot that you're just gonna ice down and add a bunch of flavorings it's pretty easy to get a "close enough" shot that you'll enjoy. I typically drink my espresso shot straight and have found it a bit more challenging to get that 'just right'.
But, the nice thing is that will a few accessories you can switch everything over to manual operation. I can manually dose using a dosing funnel, weigh the coffee, time my shot time to the proper pressure, and even adjust the water temp (I haven't actually done that, but through a complex series of button presses, it can be done). I now use a bottomless portafilter (both to accommodate the dosing funnel and so I can better see that the shot is working), I manually tamp, I do WDT, I weigh and time my shots, all the stuff you can do with a fancy machine.
I'm not at the point, yet, that I want/need a new grinder. The one included seems to be good enough.
What I'm saying is that for the "average" home barista this is a great way to ease into espresso. It's ideal for my adult children who don't want to mess with all the manual dosing/WDT/Tamping/timing/weighing, etc., but still affords me the option to do that. It's ideal for a family machine.
Love it I also do the same thinf. right out of the box I started to do everything manually weight 18g throw it in the built-in grinder use a bottomless portafilter with a dosing funnel, wdt, then I use my distribution tool, tamp and see the magic happen while i weight it and time it
Kyle~ Always love your videos and thank you for this one too! I don't know what your recording situation is doing all this by yourself I'm guessing. But I just thought I'd give a little tiny feedback anyway incase it helps. It'd be great to see your face focused a bit more when you talk and then focus on the machine after. I'm guessing that'll be a lot of walking back and forth or whatever it may be (using your phone). Or just have a higher aperture. You're always so engaging and I think that would've elevated this video even more than it already has~ Especially when it zoomed in for the smiley face thing haha Again, thank you so much!
I got one for my birthday and I am enjoying it. 😊. Learning to use all features and trying not to drink too many espressos in a day.
Great video Kyle!
Thanks!
Thanks for all the info, Kyle. I'm still very happy with my Flair Pro 2… but someday I may lean back towards an electric machine… and it's nice to know my options. I appreciate all you do here, man.
Thanks for watching!
Great review! I agree, DO NOT USE light roasts in this grinder.. (sorry for the dramatics). I stripped the motor in the first day of use while trying to get my preferred light roasts through it. It was a bit of a pain getting it exchanged, but it finally happened after 4-ish weeks.
First and foremost, thanks for your enthusiasm and energy. Your explanations are thorough and quite coincidentally "perfect for a beginner" to understand.
Mine arrives tomorrow and looking forward to the first brew.
My man Kyle is back!!
I’ve been back
We've had ours for nearly a year and find it a good option for semi-automated espresso.
Tip: You can purchase a second hopper+lid and exchange the hopper relatively easily in about 30 seconds (ie so you can switch between beans).
Strangely Breville don't publicize it (even although they seem to have designed it that way - you can lock off the hopper to easily switch it!).
Thanks. I'm JUST about to buy one but had concerns about switching from reg to decaf beans
I think this is a really unique machine and fills the niche (pun intended) of helping beginners learn the basics of espresso without leaving much room for error. I would love to see the impress system on the barista pro - that would be a no brainer recommendation for me for friends getting into espresso sub $1k as an all in one.
Agreed, it wound be a welcome addition. The average consumers biggest fault point is likely tamping and dosing.
The Breville Touch Impress which just came out recently is far more compelling to me than this one. I'll be grabbing it later this year. Great video!
Just subscribed. Love your videos. Can I ask about your frothing pitcher in this video? It’s totally gorgeous, but I can’t find it in any of your links in the description. Thanks!
Love the review, thanks for the amazing video! I've been on the hunt for an espresso machine and have come across this one quite a few times, but the price tag is a bit steep for someone just starting out...lol. Do you have any recommendations for beginners that won't break the bank? I spotted a machine called Ultima Cosa only for around $300 at Canadian Tire. Have you had any experience with that one? Would love to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for sharing the info! 👍🏻When you said the word “process”, I immediately knew you’re Canadian! 🤣🇨🇦
I started with the express, moved on to the Bianca. The Barista definitely was a great beginner machine and taught me how to make espresso and espresso beverages. My biggest issue was the steam wand power. I always felt it was lacking and took way too long to properly steam the milk.
It’s the thing most people urge to upgrade first - beyond the grinder
Dang son! I’ll buy a 2004 Honda civic instead of a Bianca! Or at least a used coffee house machine for that kind of money
@@joaniepeters2565 we all have different budgets and our own tolerances for discretionary spending.
Started on a delonghi and 4 machines later
Habe a syncjronika from ecm
@@joaniepeters2565either u get it or
Not.
As someone who bought this to try and get my family into espresso, I can confirm this is the ideal machine for those who complain about it taking too long to get their coffee or don't care about "work flow" or would look at you like you're speaking another language if you said WDT. Most beginner latte enthusiasts would get overwhelmed by dosing and tamping correctly resulting in a huge mess and bad shots. If you own a second home or frequently have guests over this is a way for them to make their own drinks without bugging you to make them one, an albeit much better one on something like a Bianca! As others have mentioned my biggest gripe was why not make this into the pro version and get a better steam wand and you'd address the biggest flaw with this machine and likely the type of consumer that would buy this
Thanks for watching Joel!
You are awesome! I'd love to view your take on the Breville Dual Boiler!
I’ve talked about it in the past a ton!
People talk so much about their potential on forums, it would be epic to see a big channel like yours do a review on a stock unit, than mod the heck ou of it and pit it against the flow profiling big guys, such as the Bianca, GS3, Slayer!
Love your work, I've been following your since your first videos!
Thanks for all the time and effort you put on the videos
I have had this machine for about 6 months. I think it is great - I'm definitely the target audience, I know very little about coffee - just what I like. I have a seperate grinder since I have to cater for 2 people - one likes darker roasts and for those I use the internal grinder. For myself I like the medium roasts. It does mean the auto dosing is a bit redundant as I have to manage each shot manually - but if you just use 1 type of coffee I think it's fantastic and works really well. I don't get frustrated with the speed of the milk steamer - in fact I like it as I use the time do a quick bit of clean up after pouring the shot.
Nice! Thanks for watching Dave
I just bought one, but I have hedged my bets by retaining my old grinder so I can tamp the coffee myself manually. I'm fine with the steam wand, my older machine was about the same speed, I'm a coffee enthusiast and have no barista aspirations
I really love this coffee maker, i have been using it for around 6 month now. A small tip: If you don't like the timed brewing, you hold down the brew button instead of just pressing it once, and press it again to stop brewing. There is no need to use the power button.
why do we have to hold button down for it to create coffee
Press 1 cup button, get one cup. Press 2 cup button, get 2 cups. If you want anything else, like Kyle in this video, you hold down the button. That way the machine pumps until you press again. @@roschmannrodrigues899
Very balanced, Thank you
Thanks for another great review! How do you think it compares to the oracle?
The oracle is a much more expensive machine!
@@KyleRowsell yes I know! But I was wondering if you think that extra money is giving you that much more as well! On first glance, this seems to do almost everything the Oracle does for way less money (and I own the Oracle)
thanks. What is the best setting for impress. creamy right taste
Hi, your videos are excellent, thanks for doing this. My wife and I really want this machine. However, we are on our second one in a week. We tested the pressure on both machines using a single wall filter with the cleaning tool inserted on top of it and ran just water through the filter. From other videos, including one by Breville, the pressue gauge should move to the upper limit on the pressure gauge. But, on both machines we've purchased, the pressure barely gets to the halway point. We have tried other tests with coffee, various burr and grind settings and when extracting a shot of coffee the pressure barely makes it into the black part of the pressure gauge. Are we just unlucky and have run into two straight faulty machines or are we missing something?
Thank you for a clear review. I noticed there is a tiny hole in the puck where the water went through. Does that mean the flow isn’t even through the puck? And if so what can I do about it?
If you are using the filter with just one hole ("dual wand"), your are using the wrong one for espresso. There is another one with "many holes".
to do WDT, I've seen people use a portafilter dosing funnel which u can buy so that you can take out the portafilter without making a mess.
That's what I use
Any “aftermarket” portafilters that can be used with the impress?
Would you recommend this over the Breville barista pro?
Great machine👌 but as you said the puck needs distribution to brew consistance shorts, but that auto feature is great for beginners 👌
Thanks for watching!
People keep saying that and it may just be me, but what beginner is buying a $900 machine?
I recently purchased the BBE, not the impress. Glad I did. Enjoyed the process of learning.
Does the BBEI have the second inside coffee grind size adjustment as well? I noticed it was not mentioned.
Also curious about shutting off the water for making the espresso. There is always 6 or more ml of water/espresso coming out after pressing the double shot button to stop. Maybe this is picky however I'm picky about such details.
Now time to learn latte art ...
Yes, there is an inner, adjustable burr.
Do you use a puck screen because i do i haven't tried it withbout it what do you recommend?
What’s the best grind set up ?
Definitely loving the thermojet on the Bambino Plus. This is my first set up paired with a Niche Zero and my third shot ever pulled in my life was legitimately decent... Five shots in and I had it perfectly dialed. I only have one wish, that Breville had put the 3 brew temp selector on the Bambino Plus. I got a medium roast that smells really good and makes a fantastic pour over, but it's always, without fail, a sour shot even when I pull it beautifully. Went throug 2 bags staying with the same coffee to practice on and then I went to a Panther 1985 as a darker roast and BAM balanced. Every Source I found says that's because the water temperature is probably not quite hot enough to extract light roasts (I'm assuming this Cuvée Emporium medium is just too light although it's NOT a light roast). This makes me sad because this coffee is so straightforward and I can get so close! Even fractionally higher temperature and it's probably would have been the perfect coffee to practice and dial-in with beautiful Crema, good full flavor so dialing in wasn't stressful and it was palatable even though it was Sour or when I ground too fine and it got a little bitter haha... I can't wait for the second iteration of the Bambino plus and I just really hope they add that manual temperature change. My machine and grinder together also take up a smaller footprint than this unit!
Couple ideas here for you as a fellow bambino owner when dealing with persistent sourness: 1) pre infusion saves everything... wish we had automatic unlimited pre infusion like the thermocoil folks do, but even with thermojets we can manually preinfuse quite a bit (I go until first drip and even then a bit more) by interrupting the shot when the pump starts to increase in pressure and then immediately restarting the shot. It's legitimately difficult to get a bad shot out when you preinfuse and let your grounds "steep" a bit... it also will decrease puck resistance in general, allowing you to grind finer and reduce sourness that way as well. 2) if you want to increase system heat, preheat your portafilter with a blank shot or two, then turn on the steaming element to superheat your thermojet, then switch back to the shot -- the water that thermojet fills up with immediately after will have a bit more heat to it. 3) yield more! This is easier to do when you pre infuse the bejeezus out of your coffee, but I typically am pulling 3:1 or 4:1 for lighter/more acidic beans. You could legitimately pull a shot... and then pull another one through the same grounds. Try a salami shot to understand what the coffee tastes like at different points in extraction.
But really, just try manual preinfusion out the wazoo. Trust me. Game changer.
I just noticed you have a Bambino Plus -- I'm not 100% sure my tip on manual pre infusion and interrupting shots works exactly the same because you've got a solenoid valve (unlike the standard Bambino), BUT maybe it will because you're not interrupting while there's actual pressure? Try it out and lmk what happens, would love to know
@kunalmishra9463 you know, I hadn't thought about interrupting it during preinfusion. On the Bambino plus as long as you press and hold the button instead of just pushing it and letting go, it will pre Infuse for a little while before ramping up pressure... I can't remember how many seconds though... I wouldn't be able to fully saturate the puck like you do Corner waiting for first drip but maybe if I let it go for as long as I can and then just hit the button again quickly after letting go it would work 🤔 then I could start the steam system before I pulled the shot. How long do you normally let it sit when you're trying to "preinfuse the bejesus or of it"? 😆
@@NoZenith Haha yeah I was inspired when I learned about blooming shots and pressure profiles with Lance Hedrick on the Decent, so that’s a good place to start in terms of learning some of the philosophy behind low pressure preinfusion and why it seems to save any amount of inconsistent puck prep. You *can* wait for 30s after first drip (and I will certainly do so for the lights roasts I pull) to let the espresso bloom, before pulling the full shot, but I find it unnecessary for almost all of my coffees (and indeed you have to be more careful not to burn darker roasts with this method and pull a little less/preinfuse less than usual).
The Bambino (and all of Breville’s thermojet machines) seem to be limited to a 10s max preinfusion, with 8s being the preset default. I don’t typically pull in manual mode anymore (in part because the need for exact, hyper consistency has disappeared… which I’m kind of a fan of if I’m being honest), but you can certainly “train” the single shot button to be only pre infusion by running it for 8-10s in pre infusion mode, then cancelling the shot, which is a tip I picked up from some Reddit threads about this. Your single shot button should then be functionally equivalent to a 8-10s preinfusion-only button, and after you run it several times and get to first drip, you can pull your normal shot.
One caveat I’ll offer about this technique is that I’ve been using it with a spouted, rather than bottomless portafilter since discovering it. This is because pre infusion degrades puck resistance and allows for more flow through the same level of fine grinding than a typical shot with the same grind. The longer a shot runs, the more flow increases near the tail end of a shot, which means the overall extraction is a little less “beautiful and gooey” (at the end, where it seems too fast) but certainly is so at the beginning. Not really an issue for taste, but does seem like it could make a little more of a mess on a bottomless, YMMV.
@@kunalmishra9463 that all makes sense for the most part I'm a little confused about how I would train single-shot but enough to actually pull a shot. I'm not sure if I can set it up to stop during preinfusion but I'll try that
Random question... I have a 15month old and he now at the point where he loves to unplug things.... If he unplugs the machine does it lose all oif the grind/dosing settings? lol
hi, I was just wondering how to get it into the expresso range I have been having issues when brewing the shot it does not get into the expresso range
Had this for a week now and I find the automatic dosing quite useless for someone like me who wants full manual control. I still use the feature hoping it will learn that 18-19g is the dose I want in the basket. I weight the beans pre-grind and post-grind in the filter, and I get exactly 18-19g back out, even though the machine spins empty and doesn't go to green.
Not sure how to adjust this except ignore it and continue with manual dosing.
For entry level, I think the bambino plus and a separate grinder is still a better option.
Totally depending on the consumer desires!
I really wonder if you could use a collar to pull out the basket cleanly, WDT, remove the collar, shove it back in, and get a tamp with the machine? Still really cool
what a setup that would be ha
Saw a video by Lance Hendrick and he uses a Sage/Brevill-made collar and a bottomless portafilter, the you can WDT. You have to manual dose first of course to set the grind amount.
Can it make a regular cup of coffee? Like a simple cup of Folgers coffee?
Is it possibe to TAMP, then WTD, then TAMP again?
Pressure gauge markings should have been marked with o, 1 ,3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17. Anywhere between 5 to 13 bars is conside espresso zone; 9 bars is the optimum pressure. BB Express runs in the higher end of this zone, in about 11+ bars. BB Express Impress has been improved to run at 9 bars consistently.
What level did you grind at please ?
My first Breville product was an expresso coffee grinder. But it would not grind fine enough. The product was clearly not designed right. This design fault was discussed on an online forum. The forum showed how users could modify the grinder's limits and it would grind expresso but stated that would void the guarantee. But my point it, a grinder specifically advertised as an expresso grinder would not grind fine enough. So that put me off Brevelle products until my son-in-law bought a dual-boiler machine. He had trouble with it. But Breville replaced it. three times. Each new machine arrived before the faulty machine needed to be sent back. So, because he praised Breville customer service, I decided to try Breville again. But this machine, like the grinder, is faulty and puts out 160 degree water. I went through the steps of raising the temperature, trying it again (still too low), and then resetting to the factory default. I have exhausted my patience and yet, I now have to, I am told, send this machine back for repair, and only then, perhaps get a replacement. OK, I have no choice. This promising-looking machine is, basically, a toy. The pressure gauge does not show actual pressure. The grinder is so tiny it has to be refilled frequently. The side slant is too gentle for the beans to go down without tapping on it when grinding. The water reservoir is so sall it has to be refilled every two to three days. If it runs out, there is no shut-off, and the machine still tries to pump, The drip tray needs to be emptied well before the indicator comes in view to avoid spills on the way to the sink. The steam wand is rough; it should have been plated, so it does not clean up when wiped. The tamping mechanism light works only half the time. It is time someone put a video of this machine on CZcams to show prospective buyers how limited this seemingly promising machine is.
My first machine was a Barista Express. The large step size of the grinder drove me crazy. One setting would pull too fast, but the next finest setting would choke the machine. Was the grinder improved on the Impress?
Curious if you are adjusting the inside grinder adjustment option? Or just the outside one only? There are 2 different levels of grind size adjustments.
Breville has a tool that fits on the basket and then on the Machine so you can take it out and prepp it then remove the tool and put it back and tamp
Im stuck in 2 minds. This or the barista pro. I kinda like the idea of doing my own puck prep. So leaning towards the pro. Im still not sure tho
How do you make vanilla latte
Does anyone know if the steam wand double walled??
does that steam beats sound normal??????? I just got that tomorrow lol
We have the Barista Express Impress and very happy with it. The extra $1000 you need to spend to purchase the Barista Touch Impress we thought was not worth it.
can you dial in to get exactly 18grams dose?
Where can you buy uk
nice entry level appliance
Thanks for watching
@@KyleRowsell I went from a duo temp pro to profitec pro 400
I am debating between this and the bambino.... help?????
😕
Yeah the machine is nice but I’m much more interested in that sweatshirt and I can’t find it online. Where can I get one??
I’ll be releasing them soon
You get what you pay for. This may not be the best one but it is within my budget and I like it
I bow in front of all of you that share EASY experience with the Breville Barista Express Impress. Due to unlucky choice I struggle everyday trying to adjust and extract that 30 g in 30 sec max. I NEED TO KNOW how to FACTORY RESET... PLEASE HELP ME.. THANK YOU!!!!! I can share videos if someone is willing to put me out of misery and frustration... because by the manual the things are not woeking as written there.
This is the gateway machine. Enough features to “play” barista but still easy enough to get it right most of the time. Now with the tamper and the fast heatup time its ready whenever for guests and requests. As opposed to cool machine make a coffee? Nah gotta warm it up for 40 minutes first and surf it .
It is a gateway machine. The barista express was on my bar for years
I'm going to wait until they produce a better version than the current model.
Lol I wish they had 9 bar pump pressure instead of weird 14-15 its running at, leading to extremely frustrating inconsistent shots. Had this machine for a few months, it was a nightmare, you never know if your next shot gonna turn up ok or a sour mess. Managed to get better and more consistent results figuring you can pull shots at 9 bar in manual mode using preinfusion only, but I can only imagine how many ppl gave up and went back to using nespresso pods and alike after getting this machine as their first.
Is this the case with the BBE as well ? Not the impress but the express. In that.. is the default at 14/15 bars of pressure ? Not 9? I thought it pulled at 9 as default 🤔
@@parkaros6980 yeah they are the same machines. To get 9 bar pump pressure you either have to apply opv mod, which requires some technical skills and will void your warranty or use preinfusion only manual mode, but it’s finicky and will break the push button eventually. I ended up upgrading to a proper 9 bar espresso machine quickly
@@bbbonthemoon damn. That explains a lot. Not going to say I have good puck prep .. but I have very good espresso capable grinders and decent puck prep atleast. While I’ve pulled some very good shots, there’s inconsistency.
But why does breville then say that it pulls at 9bar? I assumed the OPV valve was set to cap at 9 bars of pressure hence producing espresso at 9 bar.. not 15. So yeah why does breville
Then say 9 bar?
Thank you for the reply btw !
@@bbbonthemoonthe newer express machines are set to 9bar from the factory. It’s the older models that are higher
@R8JimBob88 isnt the express impress their latest creation? I got my machine january 23
Stayed at an AirBNB that had one, was impressed, happy to have eaten my hat after I turned my nose up at it
Love that. Thanks for watching
Songs used in video?
Do you know how long these machines last for?
did you listen to the video??
Idk, no auto frothing seems like a miss. I mean, you could get the touch, at twice the price(no thanks)...Personally, I like my puck prep and my wife hates to steam milk, so it seems like we'd have to find a compromise in a higher end machine.
I think the price goes up with auto froth. But I agree it’s amazing.
I believe the Touch version that just came out in June has auto-steam, thermojet and the touch screen interface like the Oracle Touch and Barista Touch. At first glance it seems to be a non-dual boiler Oracle Touch. And with the thermojet, do you need the dual boiler?
I am in the market for a no fuss machine to make lattes. I am over Nesspresso. I tried Phillips 3200 and hated the watery mess it produced. I am choosing Express Impress over Touch Impress. Not considering the $600 price difference, if something goes wrong with one component of Touch Impress, entire machine is dead weight. I read all the negative reviews of the Touch Impress, and most of them complaining that heat sensor of the Milq system has gone bad or some other error showing on the screen and the machine is not operating at all.
Wait … you blew my mind that espresso is just a brewing method. Is that seriously true? Why are some beans marketed as “espresso beans” if it’s a method?
Yeah, just marketing.
It's total marketing! In general, companies that market 'espresso beans' or espresso roast are typically referring to a dark roast.
People historically associated espresso with darker roasts because they're easier to extract, so that's likely where it came from.
In reality, espresso can be brewed perfectly with dark, medium, and light roasts.
Thanks for the information and background! This has changed my understanding completely.
The price is just too high for the target market. You could get a bambino and a niche zero for half the price and probably never outgrow them. One of those $200 all in one machines make more sense for someone trying to get into espresso making
Absolutely, though the niche and the bambino don’t dose and tamp for you, a feature for a specific audience
Why would people who prefer light roast not be buying a machine like this? Dark roast does not have a strong flavor or caffeine content which is why I don’t drink it.
It’s sad that people spend this much on stuff and we are surprised it lasts ten years..
Breville to Acquire Italian Espresso Machine Maker Lelit for $124 Million
I prefer a more manual machine.
Totally fair
What is he saying from 00:02 - 00:04 😅
“I hope you are doing well wherever you’re watching this from”
Huh instead of putting money on the gimmick that tamper
System they should
Of put it on a better grinder
It’s not a gimmick to people who can’t tamper themselves
@@aduckofsomesort if cant learned that u have no business making espresso, just push the coffee in until u feel resistance do that consistently and ur done.. not that hard now out that money somewhere else
But and a big butt and he cannot lie when a breville walks in with an itty bitty waste and around thing in his face. 🤣
first
Respect
Chinese OEM, costs 3x less if you order directly from them (same thing with older model) Tnx Breville, but no tnx.
link?
God Bless Kyle Rowsell 🙏☕
God Bless President Trump 🙏🇺🇲♥️
Kyle is Canadian, he's above the rhetoric... Also Trump lost the popular vote and Electoral College vote. Here he is showing that he fully understands that.
czcams.com/users/shorts7NrAPr8QFn0?feature=share
Booo Breville 👎
Why?
Throw in the price so we normal folk know if we can play