Pap Steve’s Full Review & Unboxing: Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine (BES880BSS) – The Machine That Ruined Starbucks for Me Forever
Hey folks, Pap Steve here from papstevereviews.com, your go-to dad for honest, no-BS reviews on gear that actually makes life better. Today we’re unboxing and putting the Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine (model BES880BSS in brushed stainless steel) through its paces. Spoiler: after two weeks, I’m completely spoiled.
Unboxing: Pure Coffee Nerd Christmas
Box is gorgeous and sturdy. Inside everything is locked down in eco-friendly molded pulp – no busted parts on arrival. You get:
- The brushed stainless beauty with touchscreen
- Locking bean hopper
- Water filter cartridge
- Four portafilter baskets (single/double, pressurized & non-pressurized)
- Magnetic tamper, Razor dosing tool, stainless milk jug, full cleaning kit
- Color Extraction Guide + Quick-Start poster (actually useful!)
Setup: Easier Than My Kid’s LEGO Instructions
The touchscreen literally holds your hand: install hopper → fill tank → drop in water filter → flush. Ten minutes tops. Heat-up time thanks to the ThermoJet system? Three seconds. I’m not kidding – three seconds from cold to ready.
Daily Use & My Go-To Settings
Running medium-roast beans at:
- Grind size 12
- 19 g dose
- Brew temp 200 °F
- Default 30-second extraction
Result? Thick tiger-striped crema, full body, zero bitterness. For milk drinks I set the auto-frother to 140 °F and foam level 3 – nails oat-milk flat whites and regular dairy cappuccinos every single time.
Pros
- Touchscreen is lightning-fast and intuitive
- Built-in conical burr grinder (30 settings) – fresh coffee every shot
- Truly hands-free milk texturing that works with dairy and alt-milks
- Ready to pull shots in 3 seconds (faster than I can find my reading glasses)
- Looks like a $3,000 commercial machine but fits under standard cabinets
Cons (Keeping It Real)
- It’s about a grand (but pays for itself if you drink 2+ specialty coffees a day)
- You’ll blow through beans faster than you expect
- Water tank is in the back – slight pain if the machine is pushed against the wall
Breville Barista Touch Review: Final Score 9.5/10
If you’re tired of dropping $7 on a latte that tastes like regret, the Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine is the best all-in-one home espresso machine on the planet right now. Two weeks in and I’m making better drinks than 90 % of the baristas in town.
Drop your favorite recipe in the comments once you get one – I’m still dialing in the perfect iced caramel macchiato.
Stay caffeinated and stay awesome,
Pap Steve
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