Breville Barista Touch Impress Review

The Breville Barista Touch Impress has emerged as a game-changer in the world of home espresso machines. This innovative device from the Australian manufacturer Breville is designed to make brewing high-quality espresso at home as straightforward and efficient as possible. By combining advanced technology with user-friendly features, the Barista Touch Impress offers a seamless coffee-making experience that appeals to both beginners and seasoned baristas. In this comprehensive review, we’ll delve into the key features, benefits, and overall performance of this impressive machine.

Overview

The Breville Barista Touch Impress is the latest in a series of high-quality espresso machines from Breville, a company renowned for its ability to replicate authentic café-style coffee at home. This model is an enhanced version of the Barista Express Impress, featuring several upgrades that make it stand out in a crowded market. With its sleek design, advanced touch screen interface, and impressive automation features, the Barista Touch Impress aims to bridge the gap between fully automatic and semi-automatic espresso machines.

Key Features

Touch Screen Interface

One of the most notable features of the Barista Touch Impress is its touch screen interface. This advanced control panel guides users through the entire coffee-making process with clear, full-color images and intuitive controls. From selecting the type of drink to adjusting grind settings, the touch screen simplifies the operation, making it incredibly easy to use, even for those new to espresso machines. The touch screen also provides step-by-step instructions for each brewing process, ensuring that every cup is perfect.

Impress Puck System

The Impress Puck System is another standout feature that sets this machine apart. It automates the dosing and tamping process, ensuring consistent pressure and optimal coffee extraction. This system eliminates the guesswork involved in manual tamping, making it easier for beginners to achieve professional-quality results. By automatically adjusting the dose based on the previous shot, the Impress Puck System ensures that each espresso shot is as good as the last.

Advanced Grinder

Equipped with Baratza stainless steel conical burrs and 30 grind adjustment settings, the built-in grinder offers precise control over the coffee grounds. This level of customization allows users to fine-tune their coffee to their preferred taste, ensuring that every cup is tailored to individual preferences. The grinder also features a 12-ounce bean hopper with a UV-tinted lid to protect the beans from light exposure, preserving their freshness.

ThermoJet Heating System

The ThermoJet heating system is another impressive feature of the Barista Touch Impress. This system ensures that the machine is ready to brew in just three seconds, making it perfect for busy mornings when time is of the essence. The rapid heating capability means you can enjoy a fresh cup of espresso without the long wait typically associated with traditional espresso machines.

Automatic Milk Frothing

The Barista Touch Impress includes an automatic milk frother with calibrated settings for dairy and non-dairy milk. This feature allows users to create perfectly textured milk for lattes, cappuccinos, and other milk-based drinks with minimal effort. The frother’s settings can be adjusted to achieve the desired temperature and texture, making it easy to create professional-quality microfoam.

Customizable Drink Menu

The machine offers a wide range of pre-programmed drink options, including espresso, latte, cappuccino, flat white, and more. Users can also save up to eight personalized drink settings, allowing for easy customization. This feature ensures that your favorite drinks are just a touch away, making the Barista Touch Impress both versatile and convenient.

Design and Build Quality

The Breville Barista Touch Impress boasts a sleek and modern design that will complement any kitchen decor. Its stainless steel housing not only looks elegant but also ensures durability. The machine’s compact footprint makes it suitable for a variety of kitchen sizes, although it is slightly taller than some models, which may be a consideration for those with limited counter space.

The build quality of the Barista Touch Impress is exceptional, with high-quality materials used throughout. The components, including the portafilter and steam wand, are robust and built to last. The machine feels solid and well-constructed, which is a testament to Breville’s commitment to quality.

User Experience

Users of the Breville Barista Touch Impress consistently praise its ease of use and the quality of the espresso it produces. The guided setup process and intuitive touch screen make it accessible to beginners, while the advanced features provide enough customization for more experienced users. Many appreciate the speed and efficiency of the machine, particularly the rapid heating system and the straightforward cleaning process.

One common theme in user feedback is the machine’s ability to produce café-quality drinks at home. The automatic milk frother, in particular, receives high marks for its ability to create smooth, creamy milk foam with minimal effort. The touch screen interface’s user-friendly design allows even those new to espresso machines to feel confident in their brewing abilities.

The Barista Touch Impress also stands out for its minimal mess. The Impress Puck System and built-in grinder help reduce mess, making cleanup easier. Users have noted that the machine’s design minimizes the scattering of coffee grounds, a common issue with other espresso machines. The machine also includes a cleaning cycle for the steam wand, ensuring that maintenance is simple and hassle-free.

Performance

The performance of the Breville Barista Touch Impress is impressive. The machine consistently produces high-quality espresso with rich flavor and a thick crema. The precise temperature control and pressure settings ensure optimal extraction, bringing out the best in your coffee beans. The machine’s ability to maintain consistent pressure and temperature is crucial for achieving professional-quality espresso at home.

The automatic milk frother also performs exceptionally well, creating perfectly textured milk for a variety of drinks. The frother’s settings can be easily adjusted to achieve the desired texture, making it ideal for creating latte art or simply enjoying a creamy cappuccino. The machine’s ability to handle both dairy and non-dairy milk with equal ease is a significant advantage for those with dietary preferences.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Maintaining the Breville Barista Touch Impress is relatively straightforward. The machine includes prompts for regular cleaning and maintenance tasks, such as descaling and cleaning the steam wand. The touch screen interface guides users through these processes, making it easy to keep the machine in top condition.

Daily cleaning involves rinsing the portafilter and group head, as well as wiping down the steam wand after each use. The machine’s design makes it easy to access these components, ensuring that cleaning is quick and efficient. The removable drip tray and water tank can also be easily cleaned, further simplifying maintenance.

Comparison with Other Models

When evaluating the Breville Barista Touch Impress, it’s essential to compare it with other models in Breville’s lineup and with similar machines from other brands. This comparison helps to understand its position in the market, its unique features, and how it stacks up against other popular options. Here, we’ll delve into comparisons with the Breville Oracle Touch and the Breville Barista Express Impress.

Breville Barista Touch Impress vs. Breville Oracle Touch

Design and Build Quality:

Both machines boast a robust and high-quality build with stainless steel housing that ensures durability and a premium feel. The Oracle Touch, however, is slightly larger and heavier, making it less suitable for kitchens with limited counter space. The Barista Touch Impress is more compact, though still substantial, fitting better under overhead cabinets and in tighter spaces.

Features and Automation:

The Oracle Touch is Breville’s top-of-the-line model, and it shows in its extensive feature set. It includes dual boilers, which allow for simultaneous brewing and steaming, significantly speeding up the process of making milk-based drinks. The Oracle Touch also offers more manual control over the brewing parameters, such as adjustable pre-infusion time and pressure, catering to experienced baristas who like to fine-tune their coffee-making process.

The Barista Touch Impress, while also feature-rich, emphasizes user-friendliness and automation. It includes the Impress Puck System, which automates the dosing and tamping process, ensuring consistent results. The touch screen interface on both machines is highly intuitive, but the Barista Touch Impress’s interface is designed to be even more accessible to beginners.

Milk Frothing:

Both machines feature automatic milk frothing systems. The Oracle Touch’s steam wand offers precise temperature and texture control, making it ideal for creating latte art and achieving perfect microfoam. The Barista Touch Impress also provides excellent milk frothing capabilities, with additional settings for different types of milk (dairy, oat, almond, soy), which is a unique feature catering to various dietary preferences.

Price:

The Oracle Touch is significantly more expensive, typically retailing around $2,800, compared to the $1,500 price tag of the Barista Touch Impress. This price difference reflects the Oracle Touch’s additional features, such as dual boilers and more advanced manual controls. For those who value these high-end features and the ability to customize their brewing process extensively, the Oracle Touch is worth the investment. However, for users who prioritize ease of use and automation, the Barista Touch Impress offers excellent value.

Breville Barista Touch Impress vs. Breville Barista Express Impress

Design and Build Quality:

The Barista Express Impress has a more traditional, analog design compared to the sleek, modern touch screen of the Barista Touch Impress. Both machines are built with durable stainless steel, but the Barista Touch Impress has a more compact and streamlined design.

Features and Automation:

The Barista Express Impress is a more manual machine compared to the Barista Touch Impress. It includes an integrated grinder and the Impress Puck System for consistent dosing and tamping but lacks the touch screen interface and the high level of automation found in the Barista Touch Impress. The Barista Express Impress is ideal for users who enjoy a hands-on approach to espresso making and want to learn the intricacies of the process.

The Barista Touch Impress, with its touch screen interface, provides step-by-step guidance for making a variety of drinks, making it more suitable for beginners or those who prefer a more automated experience. The Barista Touch Impress also includes automatic milk frothing, which is not available in the Barista Express Impress.

Milk Frothing:

The Barista Touch Impress features an automatic milk frother with settings for various types of milk, while the Barista Express Impress requires manual frothing. This makes the Barista Touch Impress more convenient for users who want to create milk-based drinks quickly and consistently.

Price:

The Barista Express Impress is more affordable, priced around $900, compared to the $1,500 price tag of the Barista Touch Impress. This makes it a great option for those who are new to home espresso machines and want a high-quality, manual machine at a lower price point. The Barista Touch Impress justifies its higher price with added automation, ease of use, and advanced features.

Overall Impression

The Breville Barista Touch Impress is a standout choice for anyone looking to bring the café experience into their home with minimal effort. Its combination of advanced features, user-friendly design, and high-quality performance make it a top contender in the home espresso machine market. While it comes with a hefty price tag, the convenience and quality it offers justify the investment for many coffee enthusiasts.

If you’re new to espresso machines or simply want a device that takes the guesswork out of brewing, the Barista Touch Impress is an excellent option. Its intuitive interface, automated features, and consistent results make it a pleasure to use. For those who demand more manual control, other models in Breville’s lineup or from competing brands might be worth considering. Ultimately, the Breville Barista Touch Impress delivers on its promise of making café-quality espresso accessible and enjoyable at home.

The Breville Barista Touch Impress stands out as a highly capable and user-friendly espresso machine. Its advanced features, combined with its ease of use and consistent performance, make it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced coffee lovers. Whether you’re looking to make a quick espresso in the morning or impress guests with your barista skills, the Barista Touch Impress has you covered.

Breville Barista Touch Impress: Specifications

• Manufacturer: Breville
• Model Number: BES881BSS1BNA1
• Product Category: Hybrid Espresso Machine
• Housing Material: Stainless Steel
• Color Options: Brushed Stainless Steel
• Milk Frother: Automatic steam wand with settings for dairy and non-dairy milk
• User Interface: Touchscreen
• User Profiles: 1
• Portafilter Size: 54 mm
• Tamping: Assisted Tamping with Impress Puck System
• Removable Water Reservoir: Yes
• Water Reservoir Capacity: 67.6 fl oz / 2.0 L
• Number of Boilers: 1
• Pump Pressure: 15 bar
• Maximum Cup Height: 3.9 in / 9.9 cm
• Grinder: Stainless steel conical burr grinder
• Grind Adjustment Levels: 30
• Bean Hopper Capacity: 12.0 oz / 340.0 g
• Specialty Drinks: 8 pre-programmed options, customizable settings
• Pre-infusion: Adjustable
• Coffee Temperature: Adjustable
• Milk Foam Temperature: Adjustable
• 2-Cup Function: Yes
• Hot Water Function: Yes
• Hot Milk Function: Yes
• Milk Foam Only Option: Yes
• Water Filter: Included
• Power Consumption: 1750 W
• Weight: 30.5 lb / 13.8 kg
• Dimensions: 13.5 x 16.4 x 13.1 in / 34.3 x 41.7 x 33.3 cm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Included Accessories:
  • Stainless steel milk pitcher
  • 4 filter baskets (single-wall and double-wall)
  • Water filter and holder
  • Water hardness test strip
  • Razor dose trimming tool
  • Cleaning tablets
  • Descaling powder
  • Steam wand cleaning tool
  • Cleaning brush