The Breville 800 ESXL is turning out to be one of the best buys I have ever madeBreville 800ESXL Commercial 15-Bar Triple-Priming Die-Cast Espresso Machine. I had a Gaggia that produced great espresso when I first got it, but recently, it stopped creating any crema whatsoever. Water leaked from the steamer wand and the expresso head. It was time for a replacement.
I studied and studied and studied all the expresso makers and I knew I did not want to spend over $500 for a good pot. My goal was to find a great pot for under that amount. I read every review there is on the internet concerning the Breville 800 ESXL. People love it or hate it but if you read carefully, you may find as I did, that many ofthose who hate it, did not follow the directions as prescribed by Breville. They treated it like their old pot, however, the Breville 800 is a wonderful pot if used according to the instructions put out by Breville. And dare I say, that some of the others who did not like the pot sounded like coffee snobs who want perfection and had no right buying this machine and judging by standards that only a much more expensive machine could match.
If you want a truly outstanding expresso or cappuccino, the Breville 800 willdo it for you, as long as you live up to your part of the bargain. The first thing you need are really good beans and fresh filtered water. Nextis to really learn how to make expresso. You need to find the right grind and then stick with it. I have a Capresso Burr Grinder that works great for only $85. You need to learn the right amount of pressure to tamp the coffee (also, it does not hurt purchase a good metal tamp- the one they give you is only okay). You should get a thermometer to make sure your frothed milk is between 140 - 160 degreesand then learn how to froth milk. The cups should be warm and you will have some greatcoffee.
you may not get great coffee the first time out--- and maybe not the second, but the more you do it, critique what you did, and make adjustments, you will find that the difference between and excellent cup and a good cup has more to do with you than the machine. This is a hands-on machine (which I love about it). Like a cook using fresh ingredients, the results often lie in the art of the cook. It is the same with this machine. If you just want to turn it on and get a great cup of espresso, it may happen sometimes, but not always. It is up to you to make your shot the best. There is a learning curve to be sure, but the end result is fantastic - and for a great price. I was making great shot after great shot in about three days.
I was scared to death about my filters clogging as others have said, but I have found that the best thing you can do is to clean after everyshot. it is nota big job to wipe down the nozzle, rinse out the pots and filters, and take the little tool they give you to keep the filters open and pokethe hole once to keep it open for the next time. Takes all of a minute- maybe less. The result, great expresso, perfect crema, great frothed milk (once you acquire the knack of rothing), and a beautiful, sturdy machine that should last a long time with the kind of care I ask you to give it.
Some have complained about the temperature of the coffee. I too thought it was not hot enough the first few times I made the espresso, and then I read the manual. When you do what the manual says, the coffee is plenty hot --too hot actually. As for the time it takes to steam the milk, no longer than my Gaggia with a lot less mess. And about the "sloppy mess in the portafilter" and no dry puck ---- well, I would like a dry puck too, but the paper from Breville in the box tells you that the technology they use to get the coffee hotand with perfect crema will not give you the traditional dry puck. Expect it to be watery in the portafilter. just rinse it out when done and you are in business.I accept that and as a result I get great coffee. My machine is not a Rencilio, nor a Gaggia. It is a Breville and it does not have the dry puck--- but it does have great espresso that can be made withina minute or two of turning on the machine. And clean up takes less time than it did to heat up (under a minute).
It has a large well for water which is easy to fill, from the front and the back. it is very very easy to clean. It is sturdy and it looks great. There are so many cool things built in --- obviously thought went into the design. Some complain about it being loud. I have never met an espresso maker that is not loud. Oh yes, I saw one once but that machine cost $2,000 and was fully automatic. There was no joy in making an expresso with that---- no art to it. The machine does it all.
Now, for the weaknesses. I already told you to get another tamp. The one they give is not the greatest. Also, it has the very cool feature where it purges itself after each shot or steaming allowing the built up steam toflow to the overflow reservoir. (Actually this is a positive feature) but on the negative side it uses more water, but no big deal unless you are paying for bottled water. With my Gaggia, I was always afraid it was going to blow up on me. This steam pressure release is very cool and well thought out.
Needless to say, I am very happy with this machine. As you may be able to see, I am the kind of person who looks at what I have done and tries to make the next one better. For me, this machine does not disappoint.
Hopefully, this review has helped.
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Product Description:
Housed in heavy-duty die-cast stainless steel, this attractive espresso machine features a 15-bar Italian-made pump and a ThermoBlock heating system that maintains water at an ideal 204 degrees F during extraction. Prior to extraction, the unique 15-bar Triple Prime pump automatically releases three bursts of hot water in the filter head, causing the ground coffee or espresso pod to expand. This increases pressure, allowing the machine to extract more crema, giving the coffee a rich, smooth texture and taste. The machine's fully die-cast selector dial enables simple switching between espresso, steam, and hot water. When turned to the left, users can alternate between hot water and steam using the illuminating solid-steel buttons. The right position gives manual control of the espresso-making process.
Mounted on a swivel ball for easy maneuverability, the unit's stainless-steel steam wand produces continuous dry steam for barista-style milk and froth. The wand also dispenses hot water on demand for tea and other hot beverages. Included are single (7 gram), double (14 gram), and pod filters. Each solid stainless-steel filter incorporates Breville's unique dual-wall crema technology, which produces a back pressure inside the head that, together with the Triple-Prime pump, extracts more flavor and texture from the coffee. With a full 4-1/2-inch clearance, the machine accommodates large cups and travel mugs, making it ideal not just for espresso, but also americano, cappuccino, and cafe latte. The 75-ounce removable illuminated water tank produces 50 single shots of espresso before refilling, and is conveniently accessible from both the front and the rear of the unit. Other useful details include a unique auto-purge function, a 72-square-inch solid-steel cup-warming tray, a large 1-liter drip tray with "full" indicator, cord storage, a patented power-assist cord, and a concealed accessory storage compartment. Accessories include a tamping tool/measuring spoon, a cleaning tool, and a stainless-steel frothing pitcher. The espresso machine measures 12 by 10 by 12-1/2 inches and carries a one-year warranty.
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