Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS

Breville BES880BSS Barista Touch Review [Actually Tested]

What We Loved

• Aesthetic design appealThe first design element that pops out when you take a look at this espresso machine, is the brushed stainless steel body.
• Auto-frother consistencyThe milk frothing technology is capable of producing the perfect milk foam without any intervention on your part.
• Bean-hopper capacityYou can fill up to eight ounces of coffee beans into the bean hopper on top.
• Build quality & durabilityI also like the fact that they used stainless steel in all the important places, lending it durability and ease of cleaning.
• Built-in accessory storageThere’s a place in the back of the machine where you’ll be able to store the included cleaning kit very conviently.
• Counter-space footprintit’s pretty compact.It has total dimensions of 17.6 x 16.7 x 14.5 inches.
• Customization menu usabilityBrowsing settings and making customizations to your coffee drinks has never been easier than with the help of this touch screen.
• Design satisfactionOverall, I’m very pleased with the design of this espresso machine.
• Dose accuracy / weight consistencyThe built-in conical burr grinder gives you the ability to adjust the exact amount of coffee that goes into one cup as well as the grind size.Dosage control grinding
• Ease of cleaningIt’s supposed to make the machine sturdier and easier to clean.The exterior of the espresso machine is made of stainless steel, so it’s pretty easy wipe clean with a cloth.
• Grind-size range & precisionThere are in total thirty steps of grind size you can choose from.
• Heat-up time from cold startThe ThermoJet heating system of this espresso machine is capable of heating up to the right temperature in a matter of seconds.
• Included accessoriesOne of my favorite accessories is the portafilter. It’s made of stainless steel and has a dimension of 54mm.You get two filter basket options: pressurized and non pressurized.The package also contains a stainless steel milk pitcher that has 480 mm.There’s also a test strip which will help you determine the hardness of the water pretty fast.
• Milk foam level adjustabilityYou can adjust ... the density of the foam in eight increments.
• Milk temperature controlYou can adjust the temperature of the milk between 110 and 170 degrees and even the density of the foam in eight increments.
• Multi-drink versatility (espresso, lungo, Americano, etc.)The first step of the process is selecting the type of coffee beverage you would like from the ones programmed on the machine. These are: espresso, cappuccino, latte, americano and flat white.Five possible beverage preparation
• One-touch brewing convenienceOnce you have everything set up, the entire process from bean to cup is automatic, so you can be sure of the same quality every time you feel like enjoying the perfect espresso.Hands-free operation
• Overall user experienceThe ease of use and ease of maintenance make it one of my favorite coffee makers yet.
• Pre-infusion effectivenessThe Barista Express has internal systems meant to extract as much flavor as possible from the coffee grounds, due to a pre soaking and slow pressure building mechanism.
• PriceAlthough it has a respectable price tag at around a thousand dollars, this espresso machine is surely going to cover most coffee drinking needs of most people.
• Programmability / custom profilesYou can program every aspect of the coffee making process in detail, and save up to eight different settings to the internal memory of the machine.
• Recovery time between shotsbecause of the speed of the heat up system, there’s no waiting around when you want another cup of coffee.
• Strength-control accuracyAdjustable coffee intensity
• Temperature stability during brewPID control temperature
• Touchscreen interface availabilityBrowsing settings and making customizations to your coffee drinks has never been easier than with the help of this touch screen.It’s truly not just a fancy addition, it’s a very helpful one that makes the Breville BES880BSS much more user friendly than other espresso machines.
• Value compared to competitorsIt’s a pretty good value for money, considering all its functions and the fact that you get an espresso machine and a grinder in one package.
• Water-tank capacityThe 67 oz. water tank is made of BPA-free plastic and is easy to fill.I like its size.You can make a considerable number of espressos before having to refill it.

Just Okay

• Boiler type (single vs dual)you will not be able to make more than a single serve at a time because the machine has only one boiler.you will not be able to brew coffee and froth milk at the same time because it only has one boiler.
• Cleaning and maintenance supportAfter wiping the wand and pushing it down, an automatic cleaning process will start which will assure the good state of the wand and a good working condition the next time you’ll need to use it.Lack of an automatic cleaning system

Needs Improvement

• Cup warmer effectivenessLack of preheating system for mugs
• Ease of refilling water tankIf you want to add water from the tap, you will have to remove the water tank every time you want to refill.Water tank is not accessible in the front
• Water Filter-replacement easeWater filter is difficult to replace/find

Breville Barista Touch Review, Tested by Food & Wine

What We Loved

• Auto shut-off / sleep timer responsivenessbuilt-in sensor that automatically shuts it off once our diary hits the correct temperature
• Auto-frother consistencyWe also found its automatic milk frother to be incredibly effective compared to other models, thanks to its built-in sensor that automatically shuts it off once our diary hits the correct temperature.
• Bean-hopper capacitythe modest ½-pound bean hopper capacity makes it easy to cycle through different beans without waste.
• Cleaning and maintenance supportperform a cleaning cycle that helps rid the machine of buildup caused by oily coffee, grounds, and milk.
• Control-panel clarity (buttons, dials, touchscreen)The simple touchscreen interface seamlessly walks me through the steps for creating a variety of drinks, so it’s easy to do almost mindlessly and simple for guests to work themselves when we host.the Breville Barista Touch won the title of Best Automatic Espresso Machine. During testing, we found its touch display especially helpful as it automatically helped us troubleshoot any issues so we could get a better espresso shot with each pull.
• Customization menu usabilityIt makes customizing my drink a cinch, allowing me to choose between the grind amount, brew length, and milk temperature.The Barista Touch’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to tweak our morning cups to our specifications.
• Espresso quality compared to traditional machinesrival even the best barista
• Froth texture / microfoam qualitychoose my exact milk temperature and eight levels of texture for a silky-smooth foam.expertly pulled espresso shots, creamy lattes, and foamy cappuccinos.
• Grind-size range & precisionBreville recommends starting with grind level 14, but adjusting through the 30 settings can help you achieve your perfect taste.
• Milk temperature controlThe machine allows me to choose my exact milk temperatureSoy milk foams best at 130°F; oat milk at 140°F; almond at 130°F, and traditional dairy at 150°F.
• Multi-drink versatility (espresso, lungo, Americano, etc.)My Breville Barista Touch excels at versatility, making it easy to indulge in a vanilla latte when I have time and pull a quick double shot when rushing out the door.The simple touchscreen interface seamlessly walks me through the steps for creating a variety of drinks
• Overall cup quality / flavor balanceexpertly pulled espresso shotsthe pro-worthy pull I get from this tech-savvy gadget has helped me achieve espressos, lattes, and cappuccinos that rival even the best barista
• Overall user experienceAfter five years of testing it, I can confidently say I love every aspect.so it’s easy to do almost mindlessly and simple for guests to work themselves when we host.
• Programmability / custom profilesincluding five preprogrammed drinks and eight custom drinksUse the eight available customizable drink options to save your favorite latte recipes and streamline your morning routine.
• Recognition & certificationsthe Breville Barista Touch won the title of Best Automatic Espresso Machine.
• Touchscreen interface availabilityintuitive touchscreenglowing screen at its center
• Value compared to competitorsit’s the most versatile and efficient fully automatic espresso machine I’ve ever used.The Breville Barista Touch machine is a worthy splurge I’d recommend to anyone who wants to take their coffee game seriously
• Water-tank capacityThe large rear water reservoir holds an impressive 67 ounces

Just Okay

• Counter-space footprintcompact footprintthis machine has a larger footprint than a Nespresso machine. We have ours tucked into a little coffee nook, but I could not have sacrificed the countertop real estate for this machine when I lived in the city.
• Ease of cleaningthis machine does require a bit of upkeep.You’ll need to periodically rinse out the drip and storage tray and perform a cleaning cycle
• Filter replacement frequencyThere’s also a filter in the water reservoir that requires changing every three months—though admittedly, we’ve forgotten about that before.

Needs Improvement

• Priceit is definitely a splurge. At almost $1,000, it’s not the most affordable espresso maker.

Breville Barista Touch Review 2025: Can't Touch This!

What We Loved

• Aesthetic design appealsleek stainless steel housing.
• Auto-frother consistencytime after time, the auto frothing wand whipped up sublime milk froth and I was left smiling and shaking my head.
• Build quality & durabilityyou can’t go wrong with durable metal housing that’s easy to clean.While there is some plastic involved, it’s kept to a minimum.
• Control-panel clarity (buttons, dials, touchscreen)I doubt you’ll have any trouble navigating the touchscreen display.
• Counter-space footprinton your countertop it shouldn’t take up a ton of space.
• Customization menu usabilityYou’ll be able to adjust brewing temperature, milk texture and coffee strength.
• Dosing cleanlinessI barely noticed any stray coffee grounds.
• Ease of cleaningdurable metal housing that’s easy to clean.
• Extraction consistency shot-to-shotvery consistent, pumping out fantastic espresso shots one after the other.
• Froth texture / microfoam qualitysublime milk froth
• Grind consistency (built-in grinder)you can still count on it for a consistent, uniform grind size.
• Grind-size range & precisionThere are 30 grind settings to pick from.I would’ve liked to have seen some more grind settings.Not only is there a wider range of grind adjustment settings on offer, each click feels like a smaller increment.
• Grinder noise levelthe conical shape helps dampen noise during operation.
• Heat-up time from cold startonly takes three seconds to heat up.
• Hot water function availabilityI had to use the hot water function to heat up the portafilter and flush the group head to bring it up to temperature.
• Included accessoriesyou get both single and dual wall filter baskets with this machine.
• Maintenance alerts & remindersThe machine will alert you when it’s time to run a cleaning cycle
• Milk temperature controlThere’s a sensor on the drip tray that measures the temperature of your milk and stops the wand once it reaches your desired setting.
• Multi-drink versatility (espresso, lungo, Americano, etc.)You’ve got eight pre programmed drink recipes, including cappuccino, flat white and more.
• One-touch brewing conveniencepress the button and wait for the magic to happen.
• Overall cup quality / flavor balancetruly delicious espresso shotsremarkably complex and full-bodied, with a long finish.
• Overall user experienceVery intuitive Espresso MachinePlus, the whole thing is just so darned intuitive that I didn’t need to consult the user manual at all.
• Pre-infusion effectivenessthe end result is a more even extraction – and better-tasting espresso.My only gripe is that I wasn’t able to adjust the pre infusion settings on this machine.Especially seeing as the manufacturer likes to set pre infusion at a whopping 10 seconds.
• Priceat $999.95, the Barista Touch might be easier to stomach.
• Programmability / custom profilesyou can personalize how these espresso drinks are made – right down to nitty-gritty details like the amount of froth or the brew temperature.
• Shot timer or brew indicator visibilityWhat I really loved was the shot timer function.
• Temperature stability during brewA sensor constantly monitors and regulates temperature at the group head, ensuring stability throughout the brewing process.
• Touchscreen interface availabilitythe Barista Touch was the first machine to get an upgraded touchscreen display.
• User-manual clarityI didn’t need to consult the user manual at all.
• Value compared to competitorsGreat value for money

Just Okay

• Boiler type (single vs dual)Single boiler
• Color optionsyou’ve only got four neutral options to pick from: Brushed Stainless Steel, Black Stainless Steel, Damson Blue and Black Truffle.
• Dose timer accuracyPersonally, I’m not a huge fan of the dose timer function.as soon as you make a grind adjustment you have to change the timer to compensate.
• WeightAt 26 pounds (12.2 kilograms), the Barista Touch is a compact espresso maker – but not necessarily lightweight.

Needs Improvement

• Auto tamping availabilityNo auto tamping
• Cup warmer effectivenessMy only complaint about the ThermoJet system is that it doesn’t heat up the group head and cup warmer like a thermocoil.

✅Best Espresso Machines 2025 [Wait Until You See What’s #1] - YouTube

What We Loved

• Auto-frother consistencyfeatures a hands-free milk texturing system
• Customization menu usabilitythe onboard guidance system simplifies the Brewing process
• Froth texture / microfoam qualitycreates silky microfoam with up to 1 million microbubbles per milliliter
• Grind-size range & precisionoffering 30 grind settings
• Overall cup quality / flavor balancedelivers rich and complex flavors thanks to its precise extraction process
• Overall user experienceits intuitive design streamlines the coffee making experience reducing the complex often associated with espresso machines
• Pre-infusion effectivenessstarts with low press pre-infusion
• Programmability / custom profilesusers can easily customize their coffee preferences a adjusting coffee strength milk texture and temperature
• Pump pressure consistencygradually increasing to a high-press nine bar extraction
• Touchscreen interface availabilityintuitive touchscreen interface

Just Okay

• Recovery time between shotssingle boiler design May slightly limit simultaneous brewing and steaming