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Breville Barista Express (BES870XL) review

The most-recommended first espresso machine, assessed on what it actually does well — the built-in grinder and PID — and where it stops, with a live price.

By Stephen V.Updated How we review
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The Breville Barista Express is the machine most people should start with, and the reason is simple: it is the cheapest single purchase that gets you to genuine, non-pressurized espresso, because the grinder that would otherwise be a separate $150–$300 buy is built in. It is not the best-performing machine you can own — it is the one that gets the most people to a good shot for the least total money.

Below is the single-product breakdown. For how it stacks up against the alternatives, see the full best espresso machines roundup; for the grinder question it half-answers, see best espresso grinders.

01
Breville Breville Barista Express (BES870XL)

First real espresso machine

Breville Barista Express (BES870XL)

54mm portafilterBuilt-in conical burr grinderDigital PID temperature2L water tank1600W thermocoil
8.2/10

The best on-ramp to real home espresso: grinder, PID temperature and a 54mm portafilter in one machine, so a beginner can pull genuine shots without a second purchase — as long as they're willing to dial it in.

Shot quality
8.5
Steam power
7.5
Build
8
Ease of use
8
Value
9

Pros

  • Integrated conical burr grinder — one purchase, genuine shots from day one
  • PID keeps brew temperature steady, which is most of what consistency needs
  • 54mm non-pressurized basket means real espresso, not a pressurized approximation
  • Enormous community: guides, replacement parts and dial-in help everywhere

Cons

  • Single thermocoil — a short wait between pulling a shot and steaming milk
  • The built-in grinder is capable but the first thing serious users upgrade
  • Needs regular cleaning and descaling to keep performing

Don't buy this if…

…you want a machine you never think about — this expects you to grind, dose, tamp and dial in. If that sounds like a chore, an automatic milk machine or a super-automatic will make you happier.

The value case is the whole story. Buy a bare machine and a decent standalone grinder and you are quickly past the Barista Express's price; here the grinder is in the box and good enough that many owners never replace it. The PID temperature control is the other quiet hero — steady brew temperature is most of what shot-to-shot consistency actually requires, and cheaper machines without it drift.

The honest limitations: the single thermocoil means you pull, then steam, rather than doing both at once — a non-issue for one or two drinks, a minor annoyance when you are making four. And the integrated grinder, while good, is the component enthusiasts upgrade first when they chase the last 10% of shot quality. Neither is a reason for a beginner to look elsewhere; both are worth knowing before you buy.

$549.95View on Amazon

$689.9920% off

Price as of Jul 19, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's at checkout is the one that counts.

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How we picked

We did not lab-test this gear

Everyone in this category says they tested twenty machines. We have not lab-tested any of these, and we say so. What we did instead: compiled the published manufacturer specifications, read the manuals, ran the math where there was math to run (heat-up time, pressure, dose capacity, grind range, cost per cup), and scored each pick against a published rubric. The scores are judgments from documented research — not measurements we took, because we do not have a lab and we will not pretend we do. Where a number came from someone else's work, we name them in Sources.

Questions

Frequently asked

Is the Breville Barista Express worth it?
For most people getting into home espresso, yes — because the built-in grinder means one purchase gets you to real shots, which usually costs less than buying a bare machine plus a separate grinder. The caveat is that it expects you to learn to dial in.
Does the Barista Express have a grinder built in?
Yes — an integrated conical burr grinder that grinds straight into the portafilter, which is the main reason it's such a popular all-in-one starter.
Can you steam milk and pull a shot at the same time?
No. It has a single thermocoil, so you pull your shot and then switch to steaming. For one or two milk drinks it's a non-issue; for a crowd, a dual-boiler machine is more convenient.
Barista Express vs Barista Express Impress — what's the difference?
The Impress adds an assisted tamping mechanism that levels and tamps the puck for you, which fixes a step beginners struggle with, at a higher price. The classic Barista Express leaves tamping to you and costs less.

Keep reading

Related

Receipts

Sources

We do not run a testing lab, and we do not pretend to. Where a measured number came from someone else's work, we name them and link them. Where we could not verify something, we say so on the page rather than quietly leaving it out. Read our full method.