Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine BES878BSS Brushed Stainless Steel

I have had my Breville for 2.5 years and overall it has been a great experience. The machine is very easy to use - a beginner can make an excellent latte in minutes - but you can also play with various features to suit your particular espresso and latte style. I especially like how this machine heats up immediately - no waiting for coffee! Want it now? You got it! NEW feature - the small funnel that comes with it now keeps all the grounds in when. it comes out of the grinder so no mess - fabulous! How am I able to compare the new machine with the slightly older one? Well . . . I have been very happy with this machine . . until just recently - I cannot tell a lie - we had a rocky spell, Breville and I. But as they came thru for me I the end, I have raised my review back up to a 5. technically, due to the fact that it happened, perhaps I should have put a 4.5, but that isn't possible. What happened was my machine just stopped working. I called support and the representative did a video chat with me to try to fix it on the spot. It was great that they could run me thru the different "fixit things" to try right over the phone, but eventually it became obvious that it needed something more than advanced cleaning. They were very prompt - they sent me a box to ship it in just like a day - super fast. A couple days later they then sent an e-mail with a quote and I decided to spend the money because I really really love this machine. It wasn't cheap - but shipping was included so really not bad over all. And I wanted the professionals fixing it, not me trying this and that off of a DIY YouTube video and getting no where. So they fixed it and sent it back super fast - BUT - sadly, in their haste to get it back quickly to me, the technicians shipped it in a wet condition, and when it arrived it stunk and had rust marks on the face plate! Yikes. I was very very upset as it was not at all in that condition when I sent I to them. I had waited a couple days to send it and let the machine dry out on purpose. I can only think that it was an inexperienced technician who was trying to get it back to me super fast who made this mistake, and hopefully they are taking steps so this never happens to anyone else again! Initially they did not offer me any sort of compensation for this mistake - even tho having these blemishes was really upsetting and really spoiled the art factor of this machine - cause really - it is beautiful looking - it isn't just an old coffee maker - it is a show piece in your home! I have mine proudly on display and serve coffee to all my guests! It looks fantastic on my counter! So when they did nothing for me I wrote my review detailing what had happened and lowered my rating to a 3. And then magically, someone at Breville either listened to what I told the representatives, or saw my review or I don't know - but they suddenly did the right thing and approved a replacement machine! At no cost to me. I was ecstatic. Breville did right by me. It actually brings tears to my eyes cause I bought my original machine with money my Dad left me when he passed away. Otherwise it was really out of my price range. So thank you Breville - you warmed my heart and corrected your mistake and for that I give you 5 stars! You did the right and ethical thing. You can trust this company. Read more

Our Breville Barista Pro delivers the best shot/s of espresso I've come across, at home or outside the home. I only make double shots using 16gm of ground coffee as more than that doesn't appeal to me. In Italy, an 8gm shot is the norm, never a double. But, there is the single shot basket/s that come with the Pro, but really, they don't work as well as the double shot basket. It all has to do with the shape of the basket to a large degree. We are 9 months into our use of the Pro. So far, everything is working well, though I do not use the steaming wand. Only one of us wants an occasional cappuccino so we let a separate milk foaming gadget do that chore. So, no latte art here, just great espresso! I do follow the regular maintenance as described in the owner's manual. Very important if you want the machine to performs at its best. So easy to clean the drip tray compared to previous machines we've had over the years. And the mirror polished stainless steel is easy to keep that way with regular wipe downs. The internal, Baratza grinder is fantastic and also, keep it cleaned on a monthly to bi-monthly basis using Grindz pellets. I'm not super fast, but I can have a double shot of espresso ready to enjoy in about 4 1/2 minutes from startup to finish. Not bad! As far as the coffee I use, well, I'm also a do-it-yourselfer in that regard. I roast green coffee beans to just about city roast to city roast plus. Usually my espresso beans, when finished roasting, develop just a tiny speck of oil on the surface of the bean. Nothing you would consider oily and shiny though. The resulting pull is nothing but silky, delicious espresso. I don't understand all the horror stories people have been experiencing with their purchased Barista Pro's unless they have been purchasing from shady retailers. I have nothing but praise for the Barista Pro. I will update this review occasionally to keep a running review/useage experience for all to see. Yes, I would say the Breville Batista Pro is a good value and I highly recommend it. Read more

I bought this machine in 2021, and I’m still brewing with excitement every time I use it, so much so that we bought the frother too. The product itself is amazing, but honestly, the customer service is what’s really made me a lifelong Breville fan. A while back, I called because my hopper was sticking. The rep hopped on FaceTime and walked me through cleaning the machine step by step – it was honestly such a smooth experience. Then, I realized I was still measuring my coffee manually and missing out on some of the machine’s full potential. I called back, hoping for some guidance on how to get the perfect shot without all the guesswork. Once again, the rep was awesome, and they brewed up a solution over FaceTime. We dialed in everything, from the cup size to the pour time, and I finally got that perfect shot! Thank you, Breville, for not only making great products but also for having amazing, latte-level customer service. You’ve definitely earned my loyalty! Read more