Hacker News Reader

Comment by japhyr | Hacker News Reader

I finally got a home espresso machine, after an HN recommendation. We got a Breville Barista Express. We'd been wanting one for years, but everything reliable seemed to be $1k+, and still seemed like more work than I wanted to put into coffee.

This one is simple, almost as easy as pour-over, and is simple to clean. We're making better coffee at home than we've ever had in a coffee shop. And I thought it would take a while to dial in, but the first shots were great and they've only gotten better.

It's a little spendy, but if you buy espresso-based drinks it pays for itself in no time.

https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes870.html

View on HN

I also have a Barista Express. It's really the best value you can find in a home espresso machine, IMO.

Really great machine.

I bought an espresso maker (Gaggia Classic Pro) last fall and a new grinder this spring.

Complete splurges/unnecessary purchases, but it's been a great purchase for us. I actually drink less coffee now (because I'm not brewing a full pot) and find the time to make a latte very peaceful and calming.

We have the Breville Barista Express, but honestly if I had more counter space I would go for the Gaggia Classic pro or Rancilio Silvia plus grinder. The parts to repair are going to be a lot easier to find for the Silvia, and while harder for Gaggia it's still possible. The Breville models are a bit harder to repair simply because it's all enclosed and plastic.

> We got a Breville Barista Express.

Everybody who has one says it's so good. I wanted to buy one but then SO wanted a full-auto. So I bought a Delonghi full auto: apparently Delonghi's build quality went down a few years ago, they're letting the JURA brand the higher end market for full auto machines.

I may still buy a Breville Barista Express just for me.

Do you have to let it grind the beans for you or can you supply your own grounds?

I have a much cheaper machine ($70) and I always give it pre-ground Illy, largely because it doesn't make a decent espresso with anything lower quality like Lavazza.

Illy pre-ground is easy to get in bulk via Amazon, but not exactly sure how I'd get the unground beans

any of the Breville machines will allow you to use pre-ground beans. They're all 'semi-auto' machines, where you fill the portafilter with grounds and then install it into the group head for extraction. Automatic machines like the Delonghis or Juras you see in a lot of small offices don't allow for precise control over the grind fineness or volume. Though, I wouldn't recommend anyone use pre-ground beans if they're getting into espresso. The off-gassing accelerates exponentially as soon as the whole bean is crushed, and within 30 minutes or so of grinding many of the subtle aromatics and flavors that make good coffee 'good' have disappeared.

The drip tray is the most annoying about it for me. Lots of corners that are hard to clean, and occasionally some of the "waste" water from steam or coffee seems to end up besides it.

Still very happy with it.

+1 on this. My wife and I got one and it's absolutely fantastic.

seems like this machine is sold worldwide under different branding, but i got the same one for 5+ years and it's purrfect

Reply on news.ycombinator.com