Reddit reviews Breville BES840XL/A the Infuser Espresso Machine
We found 6 Reddit comments about Breville BES840XL/A the Infuser Espresso Machine. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Pre infusion function applies low water pressure at the start of the extraction to gently expand grinds for an even extraction; Water Tank Capacity: 61 ounce1600 watts thermocoil heating system with integrated stainless steel water coil accurately controls water temperature; Settings: Single or Double Shot Volumetric Control & Manual Over ride. Dimensions : 13.7 x 11.5 x 13.2 inchesAuto purge function automatically adjusts water temperature after steam for optimal espresso extraction temperature; 15 bar Italian pump provides complete volumetric control preset, manual over ride or re programmable volumesAccessories: single & dual wall filter baskets, coffee scoop, stainless steel jug, cleaning disc & tablets, cleaning tool, water filter with holder. Please note: There is a “Black Plastic” insert inside the stainless steel bowl of the portafilter, this is meant to reduce heat loss experienced when espresso hits cold metal also prevents any “splashing” from the dual wall pressurized filter basketsPID temperature control that delivers water at precisely the right temperature adjustable in 2 degree Celsius increments; Power 1700 Watts. Voltage: 110 to 120 Volts
You need to have room in your budget for a grinder. That being said, that would put the Astra out of your preferred budget. But it does seem like an excellent machine for the price point (no experience here).
If you're wanting to do primarily milk drinks, and concerned about ease, the Brevillle Double Boiler is <$1,000 now. But that leaves no room for a decent grinder - the Breville Smart Grinder Pro is about all that would fit into your budget. A nice upgrade on grinder to a Baratza Sette 270 will set you back another $200.
If you need to save money, consider the Breville Infuser rather than the DB.
Lots of folk will encourage you to look at more commercial duty machines that have simpler maintenance, and in the long run they're correct. But if you only have what you have, that's a pretty good bang for your buck. The machine will probably not be as long-lasting as one of the E61 HX machines, but there's not many out there in your budget. There are a few, like the Lelit Mara but that one doesn't have a very long history like some of the more commonly-recommended machines (that are also more pricey).
Pair a Breville Infuser with a Breville Smart Grinder Pro. I've been using the Infuser for 3+ years myself and it's satisfied my needs entirely (for making both espresso and milk-based beverages). While I have no experience with the Smart Grinder Pro, I've heard good things about it, and its at a solid price point.
If you're looking at a Baratza grinder I'd recommend at minimum a Preciso because the burr set is far superior to that of the Encore (more consistent grinding), and its micro-adjustment ring allows for fine-tuning of the grind for better espresso. That being said, the Preciso is being replaced by the new Sette models in late summer, so you might be able to find a discounted Preciso soon-ish.
I got the Breville Infuser and Smart Grinder Pro from Amazon a couple of weeks ago. I love them. By no means am I an expert, but I enjoy the shots I pull just as much as from coffee shops using La Marzoccos. Yes the beans, barista, and placebo all play into that, but it still pulls a great shot and is pretty affordable. You could even go cheaper and get the Duo Temp Pro which could functionally be the same as the Infuser and is $100 cheaper so you could spend it on cups, knockbox, distributor but the infuser would still put you under budget. I went with the infuser because you can adjust the temperature and you can pull manually or preset volume, which allows you to eliminate that variable for a consistent shot and you can see how your tamp/grind are as the program pulls 60mL (2oz) no matter what and so you can gauge what you need to do to dial that volume in for the proper extraction time. Downside is that if you want a naked portafilter then you gotta DIY or buy one from Aus for like $150, but I don’t think it’s a huge deal and if you do then maybe that’s where your extra budget could go. The pressure gauge is also nice although it won’t really tell you what you don’t already know from extraction time.
I can’t say this is the best machine for the price (although Seattle Coffee Gear did so take that as you will) but I can highly recommend it. I would get it over the Barista Express as the extra $50 for a dedicated grinder is totally worth it as it is more versatile and I’ve heard it’s a better grinder than the built in one. I also recommend it over the Gaggia. Although it does not have the modabilitiy of the Classic, it has most of the features that people mod the Gaggia for already, plus it uses a traditional steam arm instead of a panarello like the Gaggia, and has stainless steel lined thermocoil instead of aluminum thermoblock.
Overall would definitely recommend going separate grinder and machine no matter what.
I know this model is usually ~$500 new, but currently Amazon has the stainless steel model on sale for $428 shipped. For someone in the MA area that can pick it up this is a pretty good deal, but with shipping costs this probably isn't worth it for most.
Breville makes a slew of products that should be in your price range. This one is $500; but they have great customer service and just a great product. http://www.amazon.com/Breville-BES840XL-Infuser-Espresso-Machine/dp/B0089SSOR6/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&amp;srs=2586360011&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1396227788&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=breville
yikes, 'not great, still usable' for $500 sounds risky and a loss. I would buy a brand new Breville Infuser with that $500