If you love making coffee at home but don’t want to take a full course on espresso pulling and drink making, the Breville Barista Express Impress is the machine for you. This semi-automatic espresso machine will help you create delicious, professional-quality beverages from the comfort of your own home, whether you’re an expert barista or a beginner whose just learning the ropes.
What’s in the box of the Breville Barista Express Impress?
In the box of the Breville Barista Express Impress, you’ll find an impressively-built machine. This espresso maker is beautiful and comes with a removable 250g bean hopper, 2L water tank, removable drip tray grid, and removable tamp cover.
Also included is an instruction manual, Claroswiss water filter and filter holder, 54mm stainless steel portafilter, and four single and dual wall filter baskets. (The single and double shot single wall filters are for use with fresh ground coffee, while the single and double shot dual wall filters are for use with pre-ground coffee.) This machine also comes with The Razor dose trimming tool, a stainless steel milk jug, a hidden tool tray, and a cleaning kit.
Breville Barista model comparison
1. The Breville Barista Express (semi-automatic)
There are two Barista Express machines made by Breville. The original is the Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, which includes a built-in bean grinder, pressure metre, tamper, cup warming tray, and steam wand. Like the Express Impress, it’s designed to help you pull a fresh shot of espresso in under a minute. Unlike the Impress, however, the original Express is a little more manual. (A little more—it’s still programmable and semi-automatic.) You tamp using a handheld tamper and you set the device’s grind size and grind amount yourself.
2. The Breville Barista Express Impress (semi-automatic, but more automatic than not)
The Barista Express Impress is a more-automatic upgrade on the original. It has many of the same features, but instead of a handheld tamper, the Impress features a tamping handle. This is the biggest change that I see in the two designs and it’s so satisfying to use. Instead of tamping your own coffee grounds, which is a process that I’m always tentative about, pull a sleek handle and the machine delivers even, precise pressure for you. The Impress tamps with a precise 22lbs of pressure every time, then finishes your puck with a 7 degree “barista twist” for a polished effect.
The Impress also adds grind control to your machine with fine-tuned grind size settings and the option to either dose manually or automatically. Once dosed, the machine gives you feedback on your dose level based on the height of your puck. On automatic, it’ll remember your last-used dose size. So, on your first espresso with new beans or on a new grind size, you may need to dose a few times. After that, the process should be fully pre-set for you.
3. The Breville Barista Touch (automatic)
The Barista Express Impress is what I like to think of as a semi-automatic machine. Some features are still manual, or have the option to be. If you want to fully upgrade to an automatic machine, I’d recommend something more like the Barista Touch, which I’ve also reviewed on the blog. It’s a great machine, with built-in espresso troubleshooting, steam wand temperature settings, and easy-to-use drink recipes. (It has not, however, got an Impress upgrade yet.)
Why use a lever-based tamping mechanism?
Along with grind size, poor tamping is one of the most common reasons why your at-home espresso isn’t as good as what you’d get in a coffee shop. If you tamp too gently, the water pours through your grounds way too quickly, producing weak, odd-tasting espresso. If you tamp too firmly, the water struggles to trickle through your grounds at all, producing over-extracted espresso that might taste sour or bitter.
But tamping the exact right amount? Well, that’s tough. Not only do you have to get just the right amount of pressure out of your forearm—and who knows how much pressure their forearms are delivering?! I certainly don’t—but it has to be perfectly even, too. Produce a lopsided puck, even with just the right amount of pressure, and your grounds will extract unevenly.
The Impress is the first espresso machine I’ve seen that uses assisted tamping. It works very well to streamline your at-home coffee machine, and in my opinion, it’s great for both beginners and the bleary-eyed. Even if you’re a great tamper, I can see it helping to simplify your morning coffee routine and get you prepared for the day with absolutely zero stress. I don’t feel that it tamps as perfectly as a professional, with some uneven edges and the occasional bumpy top. But it performs much better than the untrained, at-home barista writing this.
What’s the magic of dose level feedback?
What I think makes Breville espresso machines so wonderful is their real-time feedback. These machines are built with precise engineering and high-quality materials, so they look and feel like something that you might see in a coffee shop. But they perform like consumer machines, not professional machines—and that’s a good thing.
The real magic of a Breville espresso or coffee machine is the way that they help you learn how to make the perfect cup of coffee for yourself. They’re powerful and precise enough to perform professionally—you can definitely pull a shot of perfect espresso in under a minute using the Breville Barista Express Impress, as promised—but they give feedback so that you can learn how to make a great coffee without needing to take a class.
In the Impress, that feedback comes primarily in the form of the dose level happy face. If your dosing is off, it’ll tamp and tell you. Then, you can either add more grounds and re-tamp or, if the dose level is too high, you can use the included Breville Razor to trim your dose. The feedback makes it easy to know for sure that you have just the right amount of grounds for the ideal extraction.
Is it worth it to buy an espresso machine with a steam wand?
As someone who never drinks straight espresso, I definitely think it’s worth it to spend a little extra and purchase an espresso machine with a steam wand built in. Breville’s steam wands are great for achieving creamy microfoam at home, and they work well on both dairy and non-dairy milks. By choosing a model with the steam wand built in, you can create a significantly wider range of coffee beverages from the comfort of your home coffee bar or kitchen without having to set up, clean, and arrange the cords of an additional appliance.
This steam wand is great for helping you make steamed milks, lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, and more. It delivers generous, dense, hot foam and can be purged for easy cleaning. (Seriously: The milk foam from this wand has so much structure it looks almost like meringue.) On the other side of the steam dial is a hot water function that’s great for mug warming and more.
How’s the espresso out of the Breville Barista Express Impress?
The espresso out of the Express Impress is pretty darn good! One could even say that it’s… Impressive.
The Breville Barista Express Impress is easy to use, clean, and troubleshoot. You may need to fine-tune your settings after changing your beans or grind size, but after a couple of cups of coffee, your automatic settings will be back on track.
I really struggled to produce a good result with this machine at first, but then I realized the problem wasn’t the machine—it was my stale, decaf coffee beans. As soon I swapped them out for something better, I achieved a perfect tamp, extraction, and result on my very first try. The results definitely rivalled my favourite coffee shop, and tasted richer and smoother than what I’d get at a chain coffee shop.
For coffee newbies, the Express Impress provides you with assistance and guidance that you just wouldn’t get from a basic model (something like the Breville Café Roma). This machine is ideal for users who struggle to tamp or dose perfectly and, as a result, find that their at-home coffee beverages are overly sour or bitter. It’s best used with fresh coffee beans and great for making delicious espresso, Americanos, cappuccinos, and lattes alike.
Shop the Breville Barista Express Impress online at Best Buy.
Table of Contents
Joe, Iva and Jack are really particular with their coffees, so Joe gets a cappuccino, Iva gets a latte and Jack gets a double shot of espresso – possibly a caffe corretto like Italians like it.
My wife, Jackie, and I both enjoy great coffee. It is a highlight when we visit Cuba.
my friend-James loves coffee more than me, I will make a cappuccino for him first if I win this machine
My aunt Barbara is a coffee fanatic – she always buys beans when travelling to try out the roasts of other places. I would make her a cappuccino with this (and one for myself right after!)
My Dad Reg loves coffee just doesn’t always get to drink it hot! I would love to make him a flavoured latte to try and expand his tastes!!
I’d make Mark espresso
My wife Lauren loves coffee the most I’d make her a flat white with this.
My sister Jeanine loves coffee. She wakes me up with a cup everytime I am with her!
My husband loves coffee more than me and I would make him a regular black coffee.
My friend Nicole love coffee, I would make her a caramel latte.
My wife Andrea is obsessed with lattes. I would make her an oat milk peppermint latte with this.
Andrew loves coffee more than me and I would make a Flat White for him
My friend Carol! I would make a latte to enjoy together
My sister Caroline loves coffee and I would make her an Americano!
My mother Anna loves coffee more than me and I would make a cappuccino for her!
Sarah loves a good cup of coffee – I would make her a cup of mocha latte!
My dad loves coffee and I will make him a cup of cappuccino.
Andy loves coffee more, and I’d make him a decaf has he is caffeine sensitive
Susan loves coffee more than me so I would make her a decaf/med roast coffee
I’d be making my wife Nicole a cappuccino if I had this.
My husband Moe loves coffee more than I do. I would make him a latte.
I would make them a cafe ole, a brazilian style. the best.
Hon, she loves coffee I would make her an espresso and than anything else she wants
Steve loves coffee more than me and I would make an Americano for him
This is such an informative and helpful article comparing the different Breville models!
My auntie Laureen loves coffee as much (maybe more!) as I do and if I had one of these she’d be the first person I’d make one for!
I’d make my auntie a Latte!
My sister Tash loves coffee more than me and I will make her Latte first if I win this machine.
My brother Reg loves coffee and I would make him a cappuccino
My motherinlaw Kate drinks way more than me!
My husband would love this. I’m not sure if he REALLY loves coffee more than me though.
Sister Shannon would love a cappuccino.
Our mom, K.J., definitely loves coffee, it helps to get her through the day. I would try a cappuccino as the first drink brew if I won the Breville Barista Express Impress Espresso,
Sam is the biggest coffee drinker and I would make him a cappuccino
My husband Art loves coffee more than I do. I would make him a latte.
This machine sounds amazing. I think one can get a consistent shot of espresso every time! I would make my dad and I a cup of Americano – but he loves coffee more than i do!
My dad Moe loves coffee more than I do and I would make him a cappuccino.
My friend Dwayne loves coffee more than me! I’d make him a latte
My brother Henry loves coffee more than me. I would love to try making a expresso for him if I won this Breville Express Impress Espresso machine.
My wife loves coffee much more than me and I’d love to make her a nice latte.
My friend Annie, I would make her nice cup of cappuccino.
For my daughter Nadine. She loves a good latte just like me
My sister loves coffee more than I do and I would love to make her a latte with this machine! I would also love to make lattes for all of my guests over Christmas, to go with the cookies and squares I baked! This would be a perfect way to celebrate the holidays.
I would love to make lattes for all of my guests over Christmas, to go with the cookies and squares I baked!
My mom and I would make herba coffee with espresso with spendab
My sister in law Marie loves coffee even more than I do so if I win, I’ll be making het an expresso to make her day !
My brother Mustafa loves coffee more than I do and I would make him a cappuccino.
My brother, Lance, is a coffee afficionado. I would make him a double expresso.
My husband loves a latte.
My daughter for sure. I’ll make her a cappuccino
My brother, Mitch loves coffee, a little bit more than me! I’d make him an Americano and enjoy it together!
My friend William is a big fan of double espressos. We travelled Portugal together last summer and loved trying small coffee shops there.
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