Why We Recommend the Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine
A note on scope first: this page's top pick is an espresso machine, because espresso is where the machine choice changes the result most. If you are shopping for a drip brewer, the Ninja CE251 further down and the drip options in “Also worth a look” are the parts of this page written for you.
Choosing an espresso machine means deciding how much of the work you'll do manually versus how much you'll automate. Budget machines under $300 force you to buy a separate grinder and hand-tamp each shot, which introduces inconsistency and demands real skill. Fully automatic machines ($1,200–$2,000) dial in shots for you but cost roughly two to three times the price and give you no control. The Breville sits at the decision point where automation and affordability meet practical control.
The integrated conical burr grinder is the decisive spec. Rather than buying a separate burr grinder ($100–$300) and managing grind inconsistency between purchases, you grind immediately before each shot, eliminating stale-grinds waste and tamping variables caused by uneven particle size. Per Breville's published specifications, the machine pairs a 15-bar Italian pump with low-pressure pre-infusion followed by 9-bar extraction, and its PID temperature control delivers water at 200°F—active regulation that cheaper thermostat-only pump machines lack. Pre-infusion gradually raises pressure before full extraction, evening out water flow through the puck and reducing over-extraction bitterness, which matters especially if your tamping isn't perfect.
The steam wand is relevant only if you drink milk drinks; if you're an espresso-only buyer, it's neutral. At $669.99, this machine costs roughly twice a good standalone grinder, but you're not duplicating equipment—you're building a complete, single-footprint system. Compared to machines at $400–$500, you gain grinder integration and temperature control; compared to machines at $1,200+, you lose full automation and a larger water reservoir. The published-review landscape lands in a similar place: Whole Latte Love's review of the BES870XL calls it “a fantastic semi-automatic option that very well could end up being your forever machine,” while noting it heats more slowly and offers fewer grind settings than the pricier Barista Pro. We recommend this pick because the trade-off favors the home user who wants consistency and learning control without professional-grade complexity or price.
What the Barista Express Gets Right
- Integrated grinder + pre-infusion = consistency at $670, not $1,200+
- 18 grind settings plus included single- and dual-wall filter baskets, per the Whole Latte Love review linked above—start on the forgiving dual-wall baskets, graduate to manual dialing-in
- Single compact footprint vs. three-device setup
Pros and Cons at a Glance
Highlights
- The integrated conical burr grinder eliminates the need for a separate grinder purchase and removes the inconsistency of pre-ground beans or older grinder technology, letting you dial in particle size immediately before each shot without waste.
- Digital temperature control holds water heat within a tight range, preventing the extraction drift that occurs with machines relying on thermostat-only regulation—a standard feature in café equipment but uncommon below $600.
- Pre-infusion gradually raises pressure before full extraction, evening out water distribution through the puck and reducing bitterness caused by uneven tamping or inconsistent bean density.
Concerns
- The learning curve for tamping is steeper than fully automatic machines; uneven or angled tamping will produce channeling (water finding paths of least resistance through the puck) and sour shots, meaning you'll waste beans while developing muscle memory—a real cost for beginners.
- Water reservoir capacity is modest (~2 liters), and because every session also spends water on flushing the group head and steaming, multi-drinker households will refill it more often than the shot count alone suggests.
- The steam wand is manually controlled, not automatic; producing silky microfoam takes technique and practice—slower and less convenient than machines with automatic milk texturing such as the Bambino Plus, though adequate for occasional milk drinks.
Where It Asks Patience of You
Tamping technique directly affects shot quality, and inconsistent pressure or angled tamping produces sour or bitter shots regardless of the machine's specs—meaning you'll waste beans ($1–2 per bad shot) during the learning phase. If you have limited patience for iteration or prefer to avoid technique learning entirely, the cost of good shots is steeper than the price tag suggests. A fully automatic machine eliminates this variable but typically runs $1,200–$2,000.
Is This Right for You?
Buy It If
Serious home coffee drinkers who've had café espresso and want to replicate it at home but aren't yet professional-level: you have the motivation to learn tamping and grind dialing, but $2,000+ feels excessive. You drink espresso regularly enough (3–4 times weekly) to justify the learning investment but not daily enough to need industrial durability or water capacity. If you drink milk-based espresso drinks occasionally (a cappuccino on weekends) but primarily drink straight shots, this machine's steam wand is sufficient. Budget-conscious enthusiasts who'd otherwise spend $400 on a pump machine plus $200 on a grinder benefit here because you're not fragmenting the system. Finally, apartment or small-kitchen dwellers who need a single-device footprint rather than a grinder, scale, and machine spread across the counter should prioritize the Breville's integration.
Skip It If
If you're new to espresso and want zero learning curve, look at fully automatic machines ($1,200–$2,000) that dial in shots and steam milk automatically—you'll pay more but avoid tamping technique entirely. If milk drinks are your primary consumption (lattes, cappuccinos daily), a machine with automatic milk texturing like the Breville Bambino Plus gives you speed and consistency a manual steam wand can't match. If you're a shot-per-morning minimalist and already own a quality grinder, a grinderless machine such as the Gaggia Classic Pro serves you well and frees up budget. The Bambino Plus and Gaggia Classic Pro are covered with prices in “Also worth a look” below.
How We Reach Our Coffee Makers Picks
We evaluate Coffee Makers by prioritizing the variables that most affect shot quality and user consistency: grind uniformity, extraction pressure, temperature stability, and user control. Grind uniformity is paramount—espresso extraction sensitivity means uneven particles cause some to over-extract (bitter) and others to under-extract (sour) in the same shot. We assess whether grinders are integrated or separate, because separated grinders introduce handling loss and require separate purchase budgeting. Espresso extraction happens at roughly 9 bars of working pressure, so pump ratings above that figure are headroom, not a quality signal. Temperature control is coded as thermostat (passive, drifts as the machine cycles) versus digital PID (active feedback), because that drift changes extraction flavor perceptibly. We weigh user control (manual tamping, dial-in ability) versus automation (single-button operation) as a trade-off between learning investment and consistency speed—there's no universally best position, only fit for the user's skill level and patience. We do not physically test machines; instead, we ground evaluation in published manufacturer specifications, published reviews, and category standards. We discount marketing language and instead inspect what features directly address documented pain points in home espresso use.
How Much Coffee and Water for the Cups You Want?
Guessing the scoop is why a pot comes out weak or bitter. Set how many cups and how strong, and get the exact grams of coffee and water — plus a tablespoon estimate if you don't own a scale.
Your recipe
Uses the SCA golden-ratio range of roughly 1 g coffee per 15–18 g water. Water is figured at 1 mL ≈ 1 g and 1 fl oz ≈ 29.6 mL. Tablespoon estimate uses ≈ 5.3 g of ground coffee per level tablespoon; grams are more accurate because grind and bean density vary.
Top Pick vs. Budget Alternative
| Feature | Breville BES870XL Barista Expres... | Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee... |
|---|---|---|
| Pick | Best Overall | Best Value |
| Price | $669.99 | $89.99 |
| Key Features |
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| Link | See Today's Best Price | See Today's Best Price |
Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer CE251
$89.99At $89.99, the Ninja CE251 delivers what you'd expect from a budget drip brewer: straightforward daily coffee without the complexity. You get a 12-cup capacity, programmable brewing up to 24 hours ahead, and a 4-hour keep-warm function—useful if you brew once and drink throughout your morning. The Classic and Rich brew options let you adjust strength, and mid-brew pause means you can grab a cup before it finishes. Where you sacrifice most is espresso capability: this machine brews standard drip coffee only, while the Breville—at over seven times the price—pulls true espresso shots and froths milk for lattes and cappuccinos. You're also giving up build quality, precision temperature control, and the manual craft element. This Ninja suits mornings when you want reliability and volume; it's not a gateway to specialty coffee.
- No espresso functionality—this brews drip coffee only, eliminating the primary capability of the Breville.
- Limited thermal stability with a 4-hour keep-warm window versus the Breville's precise temperature management for espresso extraction.
- Basic 60 oz reservoir and no grinder included, requiring pre-ground coffee, whereas the Breville incorporates a burr grinder for fresh grounds.
These two machines answer different questions. The Breville is for the buyer whose problem is espresso quality; the Ninja is for the buyer whose problem is a reliable pot of drip coffee before work. If you find yourself weighing them against each other, you have not yet decided which drink you are buying for—settle that first, because no spec on this table bridges it.
Also worth a look
Neither pick fits everyone, so here is where the buyers we just told to look elsewhere should actually look. Prices are the manufacturers' current list prices as of July 15, 2026.
Breville Bambino Plus — listed at $499.95 on Breville's site, it heats in about 3 seconds and textures milk automatically, which makes it the better fit for daily latte drinkers. It lost out as the pick because it has no grinder: add a decent burr grinder and you have spent Barista Express money without the integrated workflow.
Breville Barista Pro — the step-up model, listed at $849.95, with a 3-second ThermoJet heat-up and 30 grind settings against the Express's 16 (per Breville's published specs). The extraction spec is the same 15-bar pump with low-pressure pre-infusion and 9-bar extraction, so you are paying about $180 more mostly for warm-up speed and grind granularity—real conveniences, but not better espresso.
Gaggia Classic Pro E24 — $549 from Gaggia North America, with a commercial-style 58mm portafilter and a two-hole commercial steam wand. It is the tinkerer's choice, but it ships with no grinder and no PID digital temperature control, so the all-in cost and the learning curve both run higher than the Breville's.
Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select — the drip machine on this list, $369 direct from Moccamaster. It is SCA-approved against the Golden Cup standard, brews a 40 oz carafe in 4–6 minutes, and carries a 5-year warranty. If the Ninja CE251's coffee is good enough for you, four times the price is hard to justify; if you care about drip temperature stability the way espresso people care about PID, this is the upgrade path.
Espresso and Coffee Maker FAQs
Do I need a separate grinder, or does an integrated grinder work well enough?
An integrated grinder like the one in the Breville BES870XL is genuinely practical for espresso machines—it eliminates the need for a separate purchase and keeps your counter space consolidated. The conical burr design matters here: conical burrs produce a more consistent particle size than blade grinders, which is essential for espresso extraction. The tradeoff is that integrated grinders typically have less adjustment range and slightly less fine control than dedicated burr grinders costing $200+. For home use, an integrated conical burr grinder is sufficient for dialing in espresso shots. If you're someone who switches between espresso, pour-over, and French press regularly, a separate dedicated grinder gives you more flexibility—but then you're looking at an additional $150–300 investment and more equipment to maintain.
What's the difference between 15-bar pump pressure and the 9 bars actually used for espresso extraction?
Espresso extraction occurs optimally at around 9 bars of pressure, so the 15-bar Italian pump in the Breville is rated higher than needed. This isn't a flaw—it's standard across the category. The higher rating ensures the machine can consistently deliver the 9 bars required for proper extraction across the full range of coffee types and grind sizes you might use. Think of it as headroom: a 15-bar pump can maintain steady pressure whether you're using a finer grind (which resists water more) or a coarser one. Machines rated below 9 bars will struggle to extract properly. Anything rated 9 bars or higher will work; the extra capacity above 9 bars simply provides consistency and reliability over time as components wear.
Is pre-infusion worth paying for, or is it just a convenience feature?
Pre-infusion is a functional feature, not a luxury add-on. It works by applying low pressure to your coffee grounds for a few seconds before the full 9-bar extraction begins. This allows water to gradually saturate the grounds evenly, which reduces channeling (where water finds weak paths through the puck and extracts unevenly). The result is more consistent shot flavor and better extraction of the coffee's actual qualities. For someone learning espresso, pre-infusion acts as a buffer against minor tamping inconsistencies. If you're choosing between two machines at similar price points and one has pre-infusion, it's worth choosing that model—you'll see tangible differences in shot quality, especially as you refine your technique. It's not essential for basic espresso making, but it noticeably improves results.
How important is digital temperature control versus manual adjustment?
Digital temperature control matters for consistency and repeatability. Espresso extraction is sensitive to water temperature—typically between 90–96°C depending on your beans and roast level. Manual machines require you to monitor temperature visually or through trial-and-error adjustments, which means your first shot of the day might taste different from your third. Digital control on machines like the Breville lets you set an exact temperature and dial in your shots knowing the water temperature stays stable. This is particularly useful when you find a temperature that works well for your beans—you can reproduce it reliably. For occasional espresso drinkers, manual adjustment works fine. For anyone making espresso regularly or trying to improve consistency, digital temperature control removes one variable from the equation and lets you focus on grind size and tamping technique.
What should I know about the steam wand before buying—single-hole versus dual-hole design?
Steam wands come in single-hole and dual-hole configurations, and they behave differently. A dual-hole steam wand splits steam output between two holes, which generally creates better milk texture with finer microfoam because the steam disperses more evenly through the milk. A single-hole wand concentrates steam into one point, which can take longer to heat milk and may create larger bubbles if you're not careful with positioning. The Breville BES870XL features a manual steam wand, which means you control milk positioning and texture through technique—this gives you flexibility but requires practice. Before purchasing, consider whether you'll be steaming milk regularly. If you're primarily an espresso shot drinker, the steam wand quality matters less. If you make lattes or cappuccinos daily, a dual-hole wand and a machine that heats quickly between espresso shots and steaming will improve your workflow significantly.
This page's top pick is an espresso machine — what if I just want drip coffee?
Then skip the Breville entirely. The Ninja CE251 covered on this page is a true 12-cup drip brewer with a 60 oz reservoir, Classic and Rich brew styles, and 24-hour delay brew, and at $89.99 it handles everyday coffee well. If you want a serious step up in drip quality, the Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select ($369) is SCA-approved against the Golden Cup standard and carries a five-year warranty; the reason it is not a pick here is simple price sensitivity — most drip buyers will not pay four times the Ninja's price for better temperature stability.