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.
** 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.
I can't comment on the milk frother as we only drink espresso or americano.
My only complaints about the machine is the grinder does throw a lot of grinds off the side of group head. The machine also gives off an slight electrical hum when switched of but still powered at the wall - may not be a problem for some people but definately annoys me.
He was over the moon with it and as soon as he got it home he set it up. He told me that it did take a few cups to get it to produce a good coffee, but once it was dailed in then the coffee was great. He also went out and bought a new jug with the thermometer on the side.
I have visited a few times and had a coffee from it and I was very impressed considering it was the massive price differece. Hopefully it will last as long as the SAGE has and IF the SAGE ever went down then I wouild definetly be happy with a Breville version.
Much more solid and feels better quality (even the plastic parts) than other options at the lower end of the price range I've used (DeL and Sw). Very simple appearance and controls, very intuitive to use, espresso forms crema and steam foams milk effectively.
Very pleased with it so far, seems to be a real bargain so hoping it will last.
Pros. Good coffee, easy to use, small machine, works well, clear user guide, not too noisy, only a small leak on first using as I was a bit ham fisted in first use.
Cons. Apparently the steam wand results in the pressure/ heat taking time to reset. My advice would be to make your espresso first and then make up your milk. The tamper which comes with it is plastic which doesn't allow for even pressure on making up your puck. We've just used this with variable results, but no real drop off in the taste of the coffee. Some pucks come out too wet and there is some channeling.
All in all, it's a great wee machine for our morning coffee. It all depends on what you want from the machine you are looking to buy. If you want fancy you need to look to something at an entirely different price bracket.
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.