Breville 800ESXL Die Cast Espresso Machine

I am impressed -- and am a pretty critical consumer

Posted Dec 10, 2007 - I have been very impressed with this (first Breville appliance). I am an "experienced" espresso machine person with both home and pro models. This was around $350 (compared to thousands for the automatic home models). It built like a tank, relatively easy to run if you know how to use this type of machine. I wouldn't say it's a good "coffee novice" machine tho. Very hands on, but that's what I like -- old school italian style foamy espresso (there is an aeration system in their coffee holder). So someone here said they were "hoping for stronger coffee" -- I don't get that because I make VERY robust strong double espressos with the double basked, and use that for americanos a couple of times a day. I use high quality coffee beans, grind in a burr grinder fresh (usually espresso or dark french -- tho I prefer the lighter espresso roast in this machine). I use Illy when I'm flush, or S'bucks, or Torrefazioni - so I'm picky. This has been a very good appliance -- and I've been using it daily for about 10 months. No problems at all with the machine, but it is a little messy -- that is just the way "old school" espresso machines are though so I did not have other expectations. I do like the generous volume on the drip tray, and in the water container. I think the little "hide away" drawer for the accessories is also a good design.

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Not bad, but....

Posted 1 year ago - My mom purchased this machine a few years ago and she has been happy with it. However, I have been less impressed. I've been a barista for two years and have been trained by a professional in the coffee industry (Simon Craven of Craven's Coffee). The Breville only pulls okay shots or bad shots and the filter basket always has watery grounds after each shot is pulled. The reason for this is primarily the poor quality of the portafilter. Commercial grade portafilter baskets are wider, and have more holes for the water to press the extraction through. The Breville portafilter forces the grounds to be stacked higher and the extraction is forced through one tiny hole at the base of the basket. As a result, the shot is never excellent, and the basket is full of wet, watery grounds, which are messy to empty out. While the quality of the espresso brewed from this machine is good enough for most, if you are looking for something with a fuller, bolder, and more complex flavor with good crema, I would opt for a different machine.

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Outstanding Performance in a Home Machine

Posted Oct 17, 2005 - If the Breville 800ESXL was a digital camera, it would belong in the “prosumer” category. This is a professional quality espresso machine intended for the home user that knows what a good espresso is. Not only does this machine look the part of a professional quality machine, it has the performance to match. This is the third “home” espresso machine that I’ve owned, and it is by far the best. Heavy-duty barely describes how this machine is built, yet its sleek, modern appearance and stainless steel finish is quite at home on the kitchen counter. The high pressure pump, professional quality filter basket, and swivel steam wand rival the features I’ve seen on machines costing twice as much, and this machine lacks nothing in terms of performance compared to those machines. The crema produced is exceptional, and the cup-to-cup quality is consistent. There is no noticeable re-heat lag when pulling multiple shots, and for the cappuccino crowd, the wait for steam is virtually non-existent. One of the true convenience features of the 800ESXL is the ability to re-fill the generous sized water tank in place, or you can slide it out from the front of the machine to take it to the sink. The built in storage container is just perfect for keeping the extra filters (three are included, single, double, and pod) as well as the tamper and cleaning tool all in one place – no more digging through the drawers when you want your coffee. The 800ESXL is a standout in this price range, I recommend it without qualification. Be sure you have a good grinder, get yourself some quality beans, and you won’t be sorry.

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Breville 800 esxl

Posted Jul 31, 2007 - Was hoping to get stronger coffee from the machine but the filter basket holds limited amount of coffee. Our old cheap Krups had double the coffee capacity.. maybe it's just me, but I like a good jolt in the morning!

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Overengineered *home* appliance is still better than drip coffee

Posted 2 months ago - My father received this machine as a gift, or we would never have considered it. Been using it for almost two years and it has worked out well. I'm now buying a second one so I don't have to wait for the weekends to use my dad's Breville. I jokingly call this my kind of starter espresso maker because it has the minimal functionality to make real espresso (not just strong drip coffee). Much of the machine is manually operated so it takes some tinkering to get the right flavor out. The price is anything but "starter." But it has risen above the pretenders out there that makes drip coffee under the espresso moniker. The spent grounds come out wet unless you let it drain. Not realistic if you're making more than one shot at a time. The grounds are supposed to be loosely tamped according to the user manual. The machine uses a thermal block and heats water in pulses. Not an ideal espresso maker. The "overengineering" is the saving grace. The machine successfully compensates for its shortcomings in temperature control, pressure control, and extraction control by applying an interesting fix: the double walled filter that creates a backpressure. No other machine needs to apply bursts of water into the grounds before extraction. but hey, nevermind that the extraction happens too fast, or that the espresso shouldn't come out dark then light. It tastes great with some experimenting. It's actually good dark.

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800ESXL Breville Espresso Machine and conical burr grinder

Posted 1 year ago - I got my grinder and espresso machines for Christmas after selecting them based on the reviews and information I found online. I am so happy with the quality of the coffee I wish I had the use of this machine for the past ten years and saved much money on all the lattes I have paid for. The amount and taste of the foam this machine makes is amazing. Though I am not as experienced or sophisticated as some connoisseurs - I could not be happier!!! It is so nice to come across a quality product such as those made by Breville.

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Breville 800ESXL Die Cast Espresso Machine

Posted 1 year ago - Things that I like about this machine: 1) easy to clean and keep clean 2) steamed milk easily 3) big water resevoir 4) is a stylish coffee maker. 5) easy to make several cup of coffee

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