Breville Barista Express BES870

Premium enthusiast semi-automatic with PID temperature control, 16-setting conical burr grinder, and 54mm portafilter. Highest shot quality ceiling in this comparison when dialed in. Sold in Japan through Branca with Japanese-language after-sales support and 100V domestic units. Single boiler means a 30-45 second wait between espresso and steam work; 2-4 week dialing-in period before consistent shots.

The Barista Express is the highest-ceiling machine in this comparison. PID temperature control holds the boiler within ±1–2°C of target rather than drifting ±5–10°C the way thermoblock systems do, the integrated 250 g conical burr grinder with 16 grind settings eliminates a separate grinder purchase, and the 54 mm portafilter ships with both pressurised and non-pressurised baskets so you can start forgiving and step up as your technique develops. When dialed in with the non-pressurised basket, an accurate grind, and an even tamp, the shots genuinely approach cafe quality. Branca distributes 100V Japanese-domestic units with Japanese-language support. The honest weaknesses are a 2–4 week dialing-in period before consistent shots, a single-boiler design that forces a 30–45 second wait when switching between espresso and steam work, and the largest counter footprint here at roughly 38 × 30 cm.

▶ Video review

Should You Buy BREVILLE BARISTA EXPRESS? 4 Year Review of Amazon’s Best Selling Espresso Machine