One of the first things you will notice about the Pro is its sleek design. Yes, this coffee machine with its sleek design is bound to look fantastic in any kitchen or office. But if you love fine-tasting coffee then you likely care a lot more about the coffee machine’s performance than you do about its looks.
Let’s start off by saying that yes, this piece of equipment can produce the finest cup of coffee you ever tasted and it is pretty easy to use. But there are a couple of things you should consider before you start digging for your wallet. Here is a full take on everything you want to know about the Breville Barista Pro.
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Product Specifications
Machine dimensions 35.3 x 44.38 x 41.7 Centimeters
Weight 8.62 Kilograms
Reservoir capacity 2 Liters
Colour Brushed Stainless Steel
Materials Stainless Steel
Power 1680 Watt motor
Tamper Pressure None (manual tamping)
Interface Button control with LCD display
Modes Single, double, hot water, and custom settings
Built–in grinder Yes, with a 250-gram hopper
Milk frothier Steam wand
Warming duration About 40 seconds once heated (20 minutes to fully heat)
Heating system Single boiler
Pros of owning the Breville Barista Pro
- Sleek design with beautiful LED lighting behind buttons
- Thermojet heating system warms up much quicker
- The pressure dial is ideal for maintaining perfect consistency
- Water temperature is adjustable
- Hopper and water reservoir are removable for easy filling or cleaning
- A large motor allows you to quickly grind beans
- Lots of ground setting options on the built-in grinder
- Compact design compared to commercial barista machines
- The steam wand is relatively easy to use and simple to clean
- The machine also has a pre-infusion setting for a stronger aroma
- The warm water dispenser is ideal for rinsing cups or for clean water
Cons of owning the Breville Barista Pro
- 20 minutes to fully heat from complete start
- Does not automatically tamp coffee beans
- Some buyers find it a bit pricey
Reasons to Love the Breville Barista Pro Machine
There are many features on the Breville Barista Pro that coffee lovers adore. It is true that the Barista falls in second to the Breville Oracle with its automatic tamping function, dual boilers, and other innovative features. But despite these differences, it is still a superb coffee machine to invest in, especially when you consider the price difference. Here is a quick look at some of the best features of the Breville Pro.
Automatic Grinder
With cheaper coffee machines, grinding usually take quite a lot of time, the grinder often has a tough time producing a nice and fine grind texture and they tend to be loud. But that is not the case with the Barista Pro at all. This grinder is very quick to chop and grind tough beans into the desired fine texture and it isn’t loud at all.
The device also features a 250ml hopper on top that is detachable for easy cleaning. The ground texture can be adjusted by turning a dial to the left of the hopper and you can adjust the amount of coffee that is grounded on the front.
If your coffee grinder grows a bit blunt or dull after many years of use, you can also lift out the hopper and make a couple of manual adjustments to get that fine grind you need.
The only downside to this coffee grinder is that it doesn’t tamp the coffee for you. Tamping is done manually by using the tamper tool that is stored directly on the coffee brewer with a magnet.
Quick Brewing
This coffee maker is designed with a thermojet heating system that warms up the water much quicker than your average coffee machine. But takes about 20 minutes to fully warm up the entire machine and all elements if you are starting the Pro from cold. But once the brewer is warm and ready for use, everything else is nice and quick. The 1680-watt motor allows you to quickly and efficiently grind hard coffee beans and the brewing section will extract rich and aromatic coffee within just a couple of seconds. The steam wand is also very quick and simple to use. All in all, you could have an espresso ready in about 2 minutes (grinding included), and a milk coffee type like cappuccino within about 5 minutes.
Lots of Control over Your Brew Taste
A bit more knowledge is required to operate the Breville Barista Pro than the Oracle since this unit isn’t quite as advanced. But, on the other hand, lots of barista experts prefer it that way because the manual techniques enable you to create coffees that are consistent and that suit your taste perfectly.
While learning to use the Pro Espresso, you will have to experiment with the following features;
The grind setting
The finer the coffee grind is, the stronger the coffee taste will be. It might take some time for you to discover the right grind setting but this is a pretty easy adjustment.
Temperature Adjustment
A couple of degrees can adjust the temperature. If the water temperature is too hot, your coffee can end up with a bitter taste. If the water temperature is too cold, your coffee can offer a sour taste.
Tamp Pressure
The pressure you tamp the coffee beans with can affect how quickly hot water flows through the coffee beans (along with the ground texture). If the coffee beans are tamped with high pressure, it can take a long time for the water to flow through the coffee grinds which can result in a bitter-tasting coffee. If the ground coffee isn’t tamped tightly enough, the coffee can end up tasting sour since the water will flow through it too fast.
Filter Basket Sizing
The device includes a pressurised and non-pressurised basket that is stored behind the drip tray. The smaller basket is used for making single espresso shots while the bigger cup is more suitable for double espresso shots.
Additional Settings
On the front of the coffee machine, you will find buttons that allow you to choose between single and double espresso and a program feature that allows you to create custom coffee brews. There is also a turn knob that allows you to adjust the grind amount or filter size of the coffee. You can also manually adjust the settings of your single and double espresso features.
It might take a while to discover or fine-tune your coffee machine or to learn what these small adjustments can make to the taste and aroma of your coffee. But this experimental phase is something that lots of coffee lovers live for since it is great fun to explore with settings and coffee tastes.
Quality Built-In Steam Wand
On the right side of the coffee machine, you will notice a steam wand that is perfect for making quality foamy milk so you can make all sorts of tasty coffee beverages. This steam wand is very simple to use but you should take note that it does not come with a thermometer. You will need to manually monitor your frothed milk’s temperature and stop frothing when it reaches the desired temperature.
To use the steam wand, you can simply turn the dial on the side of the machine on. Once you lowered the steam wand 1/3rd into the cup, you can turn the steam wand on and keep moving your milk jug up and down so the steam wand can froth the milk. Switch the steam wand back to pause when you are satisfied with the texture of your foam.
Hot Water Dispenser
If you need a bit of hot water for some tea or to flush out a cup then you can use the hot water dispenser to get a bit of hot water without having to boil a kettle on the side. This is a very convenient feature since it eases the cleaning of the machine even more.
Large Drip Tray
The coffee machine has a nice large drip tray that will catch any coffee grinds that you miss or spills you might make. When this drip tray is full, a little tag will pop up to indicate that it is time to empty the tray.
Easy Cleaning and Low Maintenance
Another great reason to invest in the Barista Pro Espresso is that it is easy to clean and maintain. The machine has a large detachable water tank that you can easily extract for washing or refilling. The steam wand can be rinsed out after making frothed coffee by simply turning it on for a couple of seconds after using it. The hopper detaches so you can thoroughly clean it and the drip tray also removes so you can give it a good wash.
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Who Should Buy the Breville Barista Machine
Most coffee lovers would absolutely adore having a barista machine at home. It is a perfect investment for the following people.
Office Setups
If you have an office and are often entertaining guests and spoiling them with coffee then this machine can be a wonderful investment. It is sleek, and stylish and will enable you to offer quality beverages.
Barista Experts
Barista professionals love the functionality of the Pro because it has so many features that can be fine-tuned to adjust the taste and aroma of the coffee. This can however be a challenging device for complete beginners because it is not as simple to operate as the Oracle with all of its fully automised features.
Those Looking For A Full Set
If you want to get into coffee making but don’t have your own coffee grinder, plunger, brewer, or milk frother then this is a superb all-in-one unit to consider. The fact that everything is built into one compact unit will save a lot of countertop space.
Smallish Kitchens
The Barista Pro isn’t the smallest coffee machine in the world. In fact, it is a bit bulky compared to some. But it is still very compact considering that it is a frother, grinder, and brewer in one device. It is also a lot smaller and more compact compared to the Barista Oracle.
Review Summary and Takeaway
The Barista Pro is a terrific investment for coffee lovers who want to take their coffee-making skills to the next level. It can be a difficult device for complete beginners but it is a great tool for those who already have a bit of experience and might want to drink fine quality coffee all the time.
There are many features of this device to love and it is an ideal all-in-one coffee station for those who want to make a huge variety of quality beverages.
We hope that you enjoyed this product review and that you can now determine whether the Barista Pro is the right machine for you or not. If you are looking for something a little bit smaller or need other coffee gear for your coffee bar or kitchen then you should also have a look at some of the other guides we have on our site. With Only Coffee Lovers, you can learn all the best secrets of making restaurant-quality coffees at home.
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