The Barista Express has more customizable settings than the Mr. The difference between this machine and Breville’s the Barista Express is in the quality and cost. At the touch of a button, we were able to watch our cappuccinos and lattes being made right before our eyes-a process that only takes one to two minutes. This machine is semi-automatic and therefore makes the process of crafting espresso drinks very simple. It is a low-cost option, retailing at around $200. Coffee Cafe Barista is another espresso machine on the market that we tested. The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell Breville the Barista Express vs. There are more tips in the manual for texturing milk. We then turned the dial back to the off position. Once we had our desired volume, we lowered the wand deeper into the milk to warm the milk to our preferred temperature. We found that keeping the tip just under the surface of the milk created the right foam we wanted for our drinks. We quickly turned it back to the “STEAM/HOT WATER” position. We turned the dial to the “STANDBY” position and inserted the wand about 1/4- to 3/4-inches into the milk, and set the dial towards the 3 o’clock position of the jug. When the machine created some steam and the “STEAM/HOT WATER” lights stopped flashing, the wand was ready to use. We turned the “STEAM/HOT WATER” dial, located on the right side of the machine, to the “STEAM” position. Next, we turned the wand toward the machine’s drip tray as water may spurt out of the wand. To use the steam wand, we first filled the milk jug with cold milk just below the “V” at the bottom of the spout. It conveniently moves in all directions, allowing us to angle the wand off to the side to move our milk jug up and down and properly steam the milk. The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell Swivel Wand: Moves in all directionsĪs previously mentioned, the Barista Express includes an attached 360-degree swivel wand, which steams milk for making cappuccinos, lattes, etc. The machine will stop automatically, and the espresso is ready to enjoy. The “2 CUP” button will pull two shots if using a dual filter basket. We positioned a cup under the portafilter to catch the shot and again pressed the “1 CUP” button for a single shot of espresso. Next, we placed the portafilter into the group head (next to the grinding cradle) and locked it into place by twisting from left to right. Pressing the “1 CUP” button prompted water to flow through the machine and stabilize the temperature. Once we achieved a flat surface, we trimmed the coffee puck to the right level for the machine by rotating the “Razor” precision tool back and forth in the portafilter. We tamped, or packed, the grounds by tapping the portafilter several times and then pressing down with the tamper. It will stop automatically, but it can be stopped earlier by pushing and releasing the portafilter. We then placed the portafilter into the grinding cradle, where the coffee grounds came out, located underneath the hopper. The single basket corresponds with the 1-cup option and the dual basket with the 2-cup. Then, we pressed the “Filter Size” button to choose between the 1-cup or 2-cup options. We set the grind size (manual recommends five) and the grind amount (set the dial to the 3 o’clock position). Next, we filled the hopper, located on top of the machine, with fresh, whole coffee beans (it can hold a half-pound at a time). Then, we turned the machine on and waited for the “Power” button to stop flashing. We have the brushed stainless steel finish, but it also comes in black sesame black, which looks equally stunning.īeyond pulling amazing espresso shots, the Barista Express also has a steam wand for making coffee shop drinks. We especially appreciated the illuminated control panel when we turned it on for the first time. The manual explains how to properly adjust each of these settings for the correct extraction.Īs for the overall design, the Barista Express has a very polished, upscale look. This allowed us to adjust the grind size, grind amount, and tamp to get the perfect espresso shot. The tamper can then be reattached to the machine for convenient storage.Īnother nice aspect of the Barista Express is the customizable settings. The steam wand, for instance, moves in all directions so it can be turned away from the machine to steam the milk and then pointed directly downward to make the machine more compact when not in use.Īdditionally, the tamper is detachable, which means we had more control over the amount of pressure used for compressing the espresso grounds. What’s especially great about the Barista Express is that all of the accessories are conveniently placed and don’t impede on other important areas of the unit. The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell Design: Customizable settings
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