Breville BES870BTR Barista Express Espresso Machine, Black Truffle | Craft café-quality espresso shots, lattes and cappuccinos at home with this manual coffee maker with built-in grinder

The Verdict

Let me save you some time: if you’re looking at the Breville Barista Express, you’ve already decided you’re tired of $6 lattes but aren’t ready to drop $2,000 on a Rocket or Profitec. The BES870BTR sits in that sweet spot — and with 27,735 ratings holding a 4.5-star average, it’s the most-reviewed semi-automatic espresso machine on Amazon for a reason.

What You Actually Get

The box contains the machine itself (which is substantial — about 13 inches wide, 13.5 inches tall, and weighing 23 pounds), a stainless steel milk jug, dual-wall and single-wall filter baskets, a tamper, and a cleaning kit. The 67-ounce water tank is removable and easy to fill. The Black Truffle finish is the headline here — it’s a dark, matte brown that photographs almost black but has a warmth that the stainless steel version lacks. It doesn’t show water spots or fingerprints, which matters if this lives on your counter.

Performance: Where It Shines

The integrated conical burr grinder is the whole point. You dose beans directly into the portafilter, and the grinder dispenses into a cradle that locks into place — no mess, no transfer. Sixteen grind settings cover everything from fine espresso to coarse press. The PID temperature control holds water at a consistent 200°F, which is the difference between a shot that tastes like dark chocolate and one that tastes like burnt tires.

The 15-bar Italian pump is overkill (9 bars is what actually matters for extraction), but Breville’s low-pressure pre-infusion ramps up gradually, which gives you better, more even extraction than you’d expect from a machine in this price class. The steam wand produces enough pressure to texture milk properly, though it’s not a commercial-grade wand by any stretch.

What Buyers Keep Saying

Scrolling through thousands of reviews, the same themes repeat. One buyer noted, “I’ve had this machine for two years and pull 3-4 shots daily. It’s still going strong and the espresso is consistently better than my local cafe.” Another said, “The learning curve is real — my first week was terrible. By week two, I was making better lattes than Starbucks.”

The complaints cluster around two things. First, the grinder’s stepped dial — if you land between settings, you can’t fine-tune. Second, the steam wand’s learning curve. Multiple reviewers mention that getting microfoam takes practice, and the wand loses power if you steam back-to-back drinks quickly.

Where It Falls Short

Let’s be blunt. The built-in grinder is the weakest link. It retains about 2-3 grams of coffee between grinds, meaning your first shot in the morning uses stale grounds from yesterday. It’s also loud — not deafening, but you’ll know it’s working. And while the machine heats up in about 30 seconds, the thermocoil system means you should wait 5-10 minutes for the portafilter and group head to fully heat up for optimal extraction.

The steam wand is serviceable but not exciting. It takes about 45 seconds to texture milk for a single latte, and the 360-degree swivel can feel loose. You’ll also need to purge it after every use or the tip clogs.

Who Should Buy This

This is for the home barista who wants one machine that does everything without taking over the kitchen. If you’re the person who currently uses a Keurig but wants to level up, this is a serious but manageable jump. It’s also great for couples or small households pulling 2-4 shots daily — the 67-ounce tank and reasonable heat-up time handle that volume comfortably.

Skip it if you’re already deep into espresso as a hobby. If you own a separate grinder you love, or you’re chasing the perfect shot with single-origin beans that need dialing in, buy the Breville Bambino Plus and a dedicated grinder instead. You’ll get better results for similar money.

FAQ

Is the grinder good enough for espresso? Yes, but with caveats. The 16 settings cover espresso range well, and the conical burrs are real burrs, not a blade grinder. However, you can’t fine-tune between steps, and retention means you should purge a few grams before your first shot.

How hard is the learning curve? Expect a week of mediocre shots. The key variables are grind size, dose weight, and tamp pressure. Watch a couple of YouTube tutorials and you’ll be pulling drinkable shots by day three. By week two, you’ll be making better espresso than most cafes.

Is it worth $700 in 2026? If you drink 2+ espresso drinks daily, it pays for itself in about 6-8 months vs. cafe prices. The build quality is solid — many reviewers report 3-5 years of daily use without issues. Just know that $700 buys you convenience and consistency, not the absolute ceiling of espresso quality.

The Verdict

Buy it if: You want café-quality espresso at home without a separate grinder, you’re willing to spend a week learning the workflow, and you value the Black Truffle aesthetic.

Skip it if: You already own a good grinder, you need to pull back-to-back drinks for a crowd, or you’re the type who obsesses over single-origin dialing.

The Breville Barista Express is the best all-in-one espresso machine for most people, and the Black Truffle version is the best-looking one Breville makes. It’s not perfect — the grinder and steam wand have real limitations — but at 4.6/5, it earns its reputation as the gateway machine that actually delivers.

Rating: 4.6/5

Where to Buy

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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.