Breville Barista Max Espresso Machine | Latte & Cappuccino Coffee Maker with Integrated Bean Grinder & Steam Wand | 2.8 L Water Tank | 15 Bar Italian Pump | Stainless Steel

Awesome machine. Well worth spending the money. It takes a little while to get your head around the different grind settings but with a little fiddling, I get the best cup of coffee I've ever had. The crema it produces is better than most coffee shops I've been to.Maintenance is fairly straight forward as we only use filtered water so no limescale to worry about. You'll need to purchase cleaning tablets separately.And I don't use any fancy beans either. I'm quite satisfied using the Sainsbury's Fairtrade coffee beans!

Really easy to use and makes coffee just like the barista doesIdeal for a coffee loving familyHighly recommend this product

Fantastic machine, great value for money

** Shorter Version ** Here’s my humble opinion: If you’re serious about your coffee and willing to put in the time to learn, the Breville Barista Max is an outstanding choice. Sure, it might not be perfect right out of the box, but with a little patience, a few accessories, and a willingness to practice, you’ll soon be making coffee that’s leagues ahead of anything you’d get from those capsule machines.** In conclusion: Skip the pods. Get the Breville Barista Max. And embrace the mess—it’s all part of the process.**** Longer Version ** After years of a love-hate relationship with several Tassimo, Dolce Gusto, and Nespresso machines, and hundreds of underwhelming, muddy, and bitter cups of supermarket-quality coffee (often with a hefty dose of steam but zero flavor), I found myself at a crossroads. My quest for the perfect cup of coffee had led me to Amazon, where I would make my next life-changing decision: purchase a 'real' coffee machine.** A Personal Decision: Why I Chose Manual Over Automatic **Admittedly, my decision to go for a manual espresso machine wasn’t entirely rooted in my pursuit of the ultimate coffee; it was partly due to my preference for a manual gearbox over an automatic one. But let’s not get bogged down in car metaphors—this is about coffee, after all.My search boiled down to two contenders: Sage and Breville. I was leaning towards Sage, but then—like a well-timed sale on Black Friday—the Breville Barista Max dropped to an irresistible price. With my finger hovering over the "buy" button, I made the purchase. Let’s just say, the discount definitely pushed me over the edge.** The First Brew: A Learning Curve and a Lot of YouTube **I’ll be honest—this machine isn’t one of those plug-and-play gadgets. There’s a learning curve. A steep one. But after about two hours of watching YouTube tutorials and grinding through 30 cups of coffee that tasted more like regret than espresso, I was finally pulling perfect shots. My latte art, though, still resembled something a 4-year-old might attempt, but let’s be real: I’m not exactly Da Vinci in the kitchen.** Build Quality and Features: A Love-Hate Relationship **The Barista Max is well-built for the most part, though I do have a few qualms about the plastic elements. In my humble opinion, the cheap-feeling plastic doesn’t take away from the overall aesthetics too much, but it’s worth noting. Now, as for the good stuff—this machine delivers on many fronts.The grinder, for instance, has more levels than you’ll ever need. It’s also functional, though loud and messy. The reality is, it’s not the “tap and go” miracle machine it’s marketed to be. Grinding coffee isn’t a silent, smooth experience. You’ll likely need to tap the portafilter a couple of times to get the coffee evenly distributed, but with practice (and a scale to weigh the beans), this becomes a non-issue.When it comes to features, this machine has a lot to offer. A customizable espresso temperature, a reservoir that holds enough water for about 20 double shots, and a steam wand that heats milk to 65°C in under 90 seconds are just a few of the highlights. Plus, the 58mm portafilter is solid and, while the cup warmer feature isn’t a game-changer, it’s certainly not useless.** The Grind: Getting Messy and Learning the Tricks **Let’s talk about the grinder. As other reviewers have pointed out, it’s loud and messy. But, I’ll be honest—I didn’t mind it much. At first, it frustrated me, and I was tempted to buy a higher-end grinder. But after a few weeks, I developed a routine that worked. I now weigh the beans before grinding, and while the grinder does leave some mess, using a dosing funnel keeps things relatively clean. If you're really committed to making the perfect espresso, you might also want to get a bottomless portafilter, a milk thermometer, and a reusable stainless steel puck screen. Trust me, these upgrades will make your coffee-making experience far more enjoyable.** The Bottomless Portafilter: A Game-Changer **If you’re serious about espresso, ditch the stock portafilter. The plastic insert in the stock version negatively affects the taste over time. A bottomless portafilter will elevate your coffee-making game and provide a cleaner, purer extraction. With a bottomless portafilter, you’ll see exactly how the espresso is pulling, which is invaluable for perfecting your technique.** The Dosing Funnel and Paper Filters: Small Investments, Big Impact **You’ll also want to invest in a dosing funnel. It’s a small addition, but it will save you from making a mess every time you grind. Similarly, using a 51mm paper filter at the bottom of the basket and a 58mm filter or mesh screen at the top will help ensure a smooth extraction by evenly distributing the water through the puck. Don’t skimp on the details—these small tweaks make a big difference.** The Hopper and Coffee Quantity: Efficiency vs. Freshness **Rather than filling the hopper to the brim, I only put 20 grams of beans in when I make a cup. The hopper isn’t airtight, and I’ve found that small batches keep the coffee beans fresher for longer. Depending on your grind size, 20 grams will either fill half or almost all of the double basket. But don't be tempted to eyeball it—use a scale. It’s worth it.** The Final Verdict: Why It’s Worth It (For Coffee Lovers) **Now, let me be blunt: this machine won’t change your life overnight. There’s a bit of a learning curve, and the grind is noisy and messy. But once you get the hang of it, the Breville Barista Max becomes an absolute joy to use. It’s a well-built, functional machine with everything you need to make cafe-quality espresso at home.

Best machine!I m Italian I love espresso and I have been barista for years and years. This machine is comparable with a professional ones and make a wonderful espresso

The media could not be loaded. It started leaking a few months ago. The only advice from Breville was to clean it. I’ve spent the last 3 months constantly cleaning this dam machine, now I’ve had enough. It’s in the bin.Breville offered a voucher off a new one…. …I’ll never buy anything Breville again.

I love this coffee machine, it's a little expensive but it's well made and does exactly as it says, takes a little getting used to but once you do it's fabulous, easy to clean easy to use, would recommend if you love good coffee

I really like this. It's a basic machine from a well known make at a reasonable price.It looks stunning. Very quiet, pleasantly surprised compared to another well known make I witnessed. Yes there's a lot of plastic but probably they are all like that. Doesn't take up much space on the worktop which is a bonus for us.I am new to this barista malarkey. Tips from me,,: don't remove the steam wand from the jug while it's still going or you will have a lot of spattered milk. Don't run water through the group head without the porta filter in place or you get hot water everywhere. These are not machine specific but due to an inexperienced operator, me! It's great fun.