Breville Barista Express Impress
Forbes' best overall for beginners: a built-in grinder and assisted puck prep make it the cheapest credible all-in-one path to decent espresso, though the grinder holds the shot quality back from the top five.
Consolidated from 8 independent outlets
Where the cited sources landed, as we read them
- 1 enthusiastic source
- 4 positive sources
- 3 mixed sources
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Pros & cons
- ✓ Built-in grinder and assisted puck prep
- ✓ The cheapest credible all-in-one path to decent espresso
- ✓ Named best espresso machine overall for people starting out
- ✓ Forbes' pick for best espresso machine overall after rigorous testing
- ✓ Impress system fixes the original Express's dosing/tamping inconsistency
- ✗ The built-in grinder holds shot quality back
- ✗ Still a Breville thermocoil machine with integrated-grinder complexity
- ✗ Mid-tier longevity
The sources behind this ranking
We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found. 1 outlet wouldn't let us check its link.
Evidence 5 articles and 3 video reviews
4 positive sources
The Barista Express Impress from Breville is the machine I use personally at home, and the La Specialista from De’Longhi is what we have in our office kitchen at Pop Mech . They share many of the same features, including built-in tampers, a hot water spout, and automated grinding for both single and double shots. These are machines that have everything I personally would like in a machine.Read T
What immediately stands out is how dramatically it reduces the friction of making espresso at home without stripping away the hands-on satisfaction. The Impress Puck system is the star of the experience. Instead of guessing dose amounts, tamp pressure, or puck consistency, the machine actively guides you through the process.Watch B
If you prefer convenience and more automation, the Barista Express Impress is for you.Read A
The Breville Barista Express Impress is a premium espresso machine that caters to both beginners and seasoned baristas.Watch
3 mixed sources
The Breville Barista Express Impress features automated tamping and dosing to eliminate the guesswork of assembling an espresso puck.Read T
Although, actually, it has a whole bunch more functionality than does the Barista Express Impress and it's offered at a lower price. That being said, they both have very similar grinders.Watch F
Frequently asked questions
It ranks #9 (C tier) on our consolidated espresso machines board, drawn from 8 independent outlets.
None of the 8 sources that state a view is unconvinced or negative. The built-in grinder holds shot quality back. Still a Breville thermocoil machine with integrated-grinder complexity. Mid-tier longevity.
On our espresso machines board, Breville Barista Express Impress ranks #9 (C tier) ahead of Breville Barista Touch Impress at #10 (C tier). Breville Barista Touch Impress: Home Coffee Expert's sweet-spot recommendation and a Reddit favorite for balance of convenience and quality, but it sits above the Express Impress in cost for incremental gains.
On our espresso machines board, Breville Barista Express Impress ranks #9 (C tier) ahead of Mr. Coffee Espresso and Cappuccino Maker (Cafe Barista) at #24 (F tier). Mr. Coffee Espresso and Cappuccino Maker (Cafe Barista): A dated design coasting on shelf presence: inconsistent pressure and a finicky milk tank produce mediocre drinks. Spend slightly more on the Dedica Arte or save up for the Bambino Plus.
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