Quality comes in many forms. The Breville Barista Express starts with heft. It is a reasonably heavy unit that once put on a counter, will stay there. I am able to consistently pull a good shot from this unit. Steam never runs out, and can heat up more milk than you can drink.

However, I am most impressed with the design. The beautiful metal craftsmanship is just the start, as are the labels and organization of the packaging. The disassembly for cleaning shows that the people who designed the Barista Express understand the end user. I am very impressed with the simplicity and work flow of this machine.

A nice feature of this machine is that it will grind and measure your beans for you. Something you would normally find on a super automatic machine. In all other respects, this is a semi-automatic machine. You will still have to mount the portafilter to the group head and also clean it afterwards.

The controls on this machine feel smooth, solid and well made. The heating block and pump assembly are high quality components as well, making it a pleasure to use. There is nice large waste reservoir in the base that is easily removed and replaced after emptying. Another nice touch - a convenient compartment in the base tray for accessories.

A couple of other nice design touches - there is magnetic holder for the tamper on the front of the machine and dry puck feature to make your cleanup a little easier.

From the looks of it, this unit has exchanged the hot water dispenser for a bean grinder. If you don’t want the grinder or the pre-programmable settings, then look into the other nearly identical Breville units in the 800 series. Unless you have a grinder, however, you will want this unit. Trust me - the ease of use and minimal cleanup are well worth it.

I really can’t praise this machine enough. It’s customizable, durable and quick. It’s beautifully sleek and easy to use. The Breville Barista Express does it all and it does it with class and style.

For more technical details, ratings and videos about the Breville Barista Express visit Tim’s espresso machine reviews website. In addition to reviews, you will also find tips and tricks to making your espresso the greatest!