Breville Barista Max Espresso Machine – Built-In Grinder & Milk Frother
Enjoy rich, café-style coffee at home with the Breville Barista Max Espresso Machine, crafted in durable stainless steel and equipped with an integrated bean grinder, steam wand, and 15-bar Italian pump. Whether you love espressos, cappuccinos, or creamy lattes, this all-in-one coffee maker delivers consistent, professional results every time.
- Great Coffee Made Simple: User-friendly design with intuitive controls – perfect for espresso, lattes, cappuccinos and more.
- Precision Brewing: Temp IQ Shot Control ensures optimal water temperature and flow for every cup.
- Integrated Grinder: Tap & Go one-touch conical burr grinder with 30 adjustable settings for fresh, flavorful beans.
- Smart Shot Volume: Auto and manual shot controls allow you to customize your espresso just the way you like it.
- Velvety Microfoam: Full-size steam wand creates smooth, café-quality milk for all milk-based drinks.
Technical Specifications
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Breville |
| Color | Stainless Steel |
| Dimensions | 31D x 31W x 41H cm |
| Water Tank Capacity | 2.8 L |
| Pump Pressure | 15 Bar Italian Pump |
| Coffee Maker Type | Espresso Machine |
| Special Features | Integrated Grinder, Milk Frother, Jug, Thermal System |
DoorMats Recommendation: Perfect for espresso lovers and beginners seeking café-quality results at home with one-touch simplicity.
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!
This Breville was I initially chosen on its functionality ,design and user review.
Pros
It fits neatly on the kitchen work surface under the cupboards and it is a bonus to me that I can store a can of ground coffee on the cool water tank at the back.
Its stainless steel build looks good.
The coffee produced is very good once you get the coffee filter holder levels right and tamped down.
We drink coffee strong and black so I haven’t used the milk wand and probably only use the wand on my previous machine less than once a year.
The automatic function fills 2 cups or a large mug adequately.
Cons
The most significant problem with the machine is the loud vibration that will shake a two cup setup apart resulting in spillage. Initially I reduced this by placing the cups on a folded paper kitchen towel. After experimenting the best solution is to buy a sheet of 22mm diameter x 10mm self adhesive silicone feet. This reduces the noise and vibration. (See pictures, use only 4 feet at the corners or the vibration will come back). A pity that Breville didn’t seem to detect the problem in the design stages and add deep silicone feet costing a few pence.
Using automatic to produce coffee tends to produce cooler coffee and probably does not get the most out of the load. I have therefore reverted to the technique that I used on my previous manual coffee maker. I let the machine heat up and half fill the mug or cups before turning the machine off. I then immediately turn on again, let it heat up and the complete filling the mugs before manually stopping. It really is hotter and better taste extracted.
The coffee filter holder is a bit smaller than I am used to so the coffee strength of 3 is a little weak for a double cup or full mug. Using strength4, 5 (expresso coffee) and above does produce very good strong coffee . I think the Barista Mini has a bigger coffee holder but the design is not as nice and it is more plastic.
Overall
For the price it seems a good machine with some resolvable issues. I have used this machine 3 times a day for just over 6 months without major issue.
As I paid less than £70 for this as a "Warehouse" product, even if it only lasts a couple of years, I will save a lot of money that I would have otherwise spent in the overpriced chains!
As a home user that only makes about 2-3 cups a day, I can't see any need to spend more. This does exactly what I need!
It's a nice compact unit but does a great job when it comes to making a cappuccino.
It looks great, sitting.on my little unit, I love it
You get a few essential items included like a portafilla, tamper a small brush for cleaning and a cleaning disc, let's not forget a jug so , order your coffee in advance and get started straight away after a quick wash of each item before starting
The machine has a keep warm system on the top of it, and a area to stand the tamper.
Easy clean up after making you drink keeping the machine looking great
Stainless steel, easy to look after
And the price of this thing is just a bargain, you will never find it cheaper 🎊 really recommend!
Everything is pretty much a 10/10 on this machine, love the grinder and that you can adjust and just get your own beans and not get stuck with pods. I like the steamer nozzle being individual and you can use it as long as you want to use it for, however I found the pressure quite low so it takes time to get the same quality of milk as it will with a professional machine.
The little storage behind the tray is very clever and makes my life easier a lot.
The only downside is the grinder’s spread it quite big. So the coffee just goes everywhere. I might be doing something wrong there tho…