Breville Infuser Espresso Machine BES840XL, 10.25 x 12.5 x 13.25 Inches, Black Sesame
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Availability:
Only 2 left in stock, order soon!
Arrives
Tuesday, Jun 23
Color: Black Sesame
Features
- The Breville Infuser delivers optimal flavor in every cup creating third wave specialty coffee at home using the 4 keys formula, ensuring the right dose of beans, optimal water pressure, precise temperature control and microfoam milk for latte art
- VOLUMETRIC AND SHOT CONTROL: Control the volume of each pour at the touch of a button and choose 1 shot, 2 shot or manually control over how much espresso ends up in your cup for the perfect dose every time
- OPTIMAL WATER PRESSURE: Low pressure pre-infusion gradually increases pressure at the start and helps ensure all the flavors are drawn out evenly during the extraction for a balanced tasting cup
- Receive 2 free bags of specialty coffee when you purchase and register any Breville coffee machine; T and Cs apply
- PRECISE ESPRESSO EXTRACTION: Maximize flavor potential with low pressure pre-infusion, digital PID temperature control, adjustable in 2F increments complete with pressure gauge that guides you to the right extraction every time
- MANUAL MICROFOAM MILK TEXTURING: High power 1650W element for high pressure steam wand and faster heat-up to create the microfoam necessary for a third wave specialty taste and essential for creating latte art at home
- AUTO PURGE: The Infuser Espresso Machine automatically purges the heat system after steaming, ensuring your next espresso is extracted at the right temperature
- INCLUDED ACCESSORIES: Single & Dual Wall Filter Baskets, Coffee Scoop, Stainless Steel Jug, Cleaning Disc & Tablets, Cleaning Tool, and Water Filter with Holder
- SETTINGS: Single or Double Shot; Volumetric Control and Manual Override
- WARRANTY: 1 Year Limited Product Warranty; Power: 1650 Watts; Voltage: 110 to 120 Volts; Capacity: 61 oz Water Tank
Description
Included dual wall filters provide excellent practice for budding baristas Well-balanced espresso depends on an even extraction from the espresso grounds. Included single wall filters provide a more challenging experience for those who have already mastered the art of espressoWhy the Breville BES840BSXL Infuser Espresso Machine?For espresso with a well-balanced flavor, flavor needs to be drawn evenly from all the coffee grinds. What is the best way to prepare the grinds for an even extraction?Rather than starting with bursts of high pressure, the Breville Infuser Espresso Machine in Black Sesame starts with steady, low pressure to gently expand the grinds. This helps fills in any cracks, gaps, or irregularities in the coffee puck before full pressure is applied, so even pressure is applied to all parts of the coffee puck and optimal flavor is extracted.BES840BSXL FeaturesThe BES840BSXL has both automatic features, like temperature settings, and programmable features like volumetric control. The key features that set it apart from other espresso machines in its price range are the pre-infusion technology, the thermocoil heating system, and PID temperature control technology. See chart below for details.Other helpful features include a cup warmer on the top of the machine and a feature that removes excess water from the filter basket after coffee extraction, so the used grounds form a dry puck for quicker cleanup. The machine goes into 'Sleep Mode' after 1 hour and automatically shuts off after 3 hours. There is extra-tall cup clearance for brewing directly into travel mugs.Other touches include an ‘Empty Me!’ indicator that lets you know when the removable drip tray is full and a ‘Clean Me’ cleaning alert. The storage tray houses the included accessories. Lastly, all parts that come in contact with water and coffee are BPA free. Click on image to view larger Product FeaturesThe 61 fl. oz. (1.8 L) removable water tank is a top-fill tank with a handle. It has a replaceable water filter to reduce impurities and scale.The 1600W thermocoil heating system circulates the water through a heated coil, heating water ‘on demand’ for better temperature consistency. It also uses PID technology to regulate the temperature.A 54mm stainless steel portafilter with commercial style spouts and a 54mm tamper are also included for expert tamping control. The tamper is stored magnetically on the machine, but is easily removable for tamping.The dry puck feature removes excess water from the ground coffee in the filter basket for easy disposal of the coffee puck.The espresso pressure gauge helps you monitor espresso extraction pressure, so you know whether the espresso is being over- or under-extracted.The volumetric control functionlets you set shot volumes. Use either the preset volumes or manually over-ride them with your own preferences. Once you figure out what volumes you prefer, you can program it to remain at your customized setting.The dedicated outlet for instant hot water (for making Americanos, hot chocolate, and for warming cups).The steam wand is used for effortless milk frothing for making lattes and cappuccinos. It is made of stainless steel and swivels 360 degrees to accommodate different size frothing jugs.The auto purge function automatically adjusts the temperature of the water used for steaming milk and extracting espresso. The function automatically begins to cool the boiler to the optimal temperature for espresso extraction after using the steam wand.The removable drip tray is partitioned for both wet and dry spills, with an 'Empty me!' indicator for when it’s full.
Brand: Breville
Capacity: 3.8 Pounds
Color: Black Sesame
Product Dimensions: 10.25"D x 12.5"W x 13.25"H
Special Feature: Manual
Other Special Features of the Product: Manual
Coffee Maker Type: Espresso Machine
Specific Uses For Product: Espresso
Operation Mode: Manual
Wattage: 1650 watts
Voltage: 120.0
Human Interface Input: Buttons
Coffee Input Type: ground
Smart Home Compatibility: Not Smart Home Compatible
Power Source: AC adapter
Filter Type: Reusable
Capacity: 3.8 Pounds
Item Dimensions D x W x H: 10.25"D x 12.5"W x 13.25"H
Item Weight: 17 Pounds
Number of Items: 1
Unit Count: 1.0 Count
Material: Stainless Steel
Is the item dishwasher safe?: No
Brand Name: Breville
Included Components: Cleaning Disc & Tablets, Cleaning Tool, Coffee Scoop, Single & Dual Wall Filter Baskets, Stainless Steel Jug, Water Filter with Holder
Model Name: Infuser
Model Number: BES840BSXL
Customer Package Type: Standard Packaging
Manufacture Year: 2018
Global Trade Identification Number: 47,
Manufacturer: HWI/Breville USA
UPC: 021614056047 783325000619 097378596150
Part Number: BES840BSXL
Item Type Name: Espresso Machine
Color: Black Sesame
Style: Modern
Frequently asked questions
If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is:
Tuesday, Jun 23
Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
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Top Amazon Reviews
---UPDATES 5/25/15--- 1. Used this every day for over a year. Solid buy, would do it again. No breakages. I do follow the cleaning instructions religiously. 2. I was wrong about the machine only delivering 1 or 2 ounce cups. This morning I finally read the instructions on how to "program" the machine and made myself a 4-ounce cup of strong coffee, similar to what you find in europe. Divine! I got everything ready as usual. Hit the program button. Hit the "one cup" button. Let it fill up about four ounces. Then hit the "one cup" button again. The "one-cup" is now programmed to deliver about 4-oz of coffee. Brilliant! ---Original Review--- I found it difficult to research espresso machines: - Price range is huge, from $50 to $5000. - Reviews come from a bewildering range of backgrounds: coffee-snobs & anti-snobs, professional baristas & novices. After reading reviews for a couple of days, I selected the Breville 840XL. I've had the machine one month. I am no barista, so this review is geared towards the novice explorer. General Observations: - The pressure of the water/steam is controlled by the machine. It is amazingly repeatable & scientifically-precise. --> i.e. the pressure gage on the machine responds to even tiny changes in grain size or tamp-pressure. - The temperature of the espresso is also very controlled, and it's not as hot as your regular cup of Joe. - It's taken me one month to find & consistently reproduce a cup that I enjoy. It was worth the wait. - My guests & visitors have all been amazed by the shots. They unanimously say they're the best they've had. - This machine serves exactly one-ounce or two-ounce shots. It will not make a pressed cup of coffee like you get in Europe. - It's strong. I mean really strong. Like I-feel-it-in-my-brain strong. --> i.e. after two older guests got hot flashes and a third got heart palpitations, I stocked up on decaf beans. Specific Tips: - Buy a burr grinder first, learn how to use it, clean it, etc. (I bought the Breville & am happy with it.) - Buy the Breville milk frother second, learn how to use it, clean it, etc. --> It'll change your life. --> Way easier than wand-frothing: faster to make, easier to clean-up. --> The Breville milk frother makes Angelina's-style hot chocolate easily, which makes it worth the 120-bucks right there. ----> Guys, if you don't know what that is, then look it up & make it for your girl. & beware the consequences! ----> Only change from the instructions: don't drop room-temp chocolate into the frother, nuke it first & use a spoon to drop it into the hot cream. ----> ...but, I digress. Bean Selection --> Consensus from Amazon-reviewers is that Lavazza Super Crema whole bean is the ideal. My guests seem to like this bean the best. --> Personally, I prefer Starbucks Sumatra. These beans are very oily. --> NOTE: if you decide that the bean you like best is an oily bean, then you'll need to clean the grinder weekly. Takes five minutes and gets less messy as you get the hang of it. Grinder - Follow the darned grinder instructions! --> Start at the coarse end of the espresso-spectrum, work your way towards fine. --> Only go as fine as you need to get the results you want. Middle worked best for me. Espresso Machine Pressure Gage - Watch the pressure gage carefully for every shot. But defer to your palate. The machine can't tell you what tastes best. - I find that the best tasting shots come at lower pressures. I go with the lowest possible pressure that still produces a nice crema. Water Source: - I use a five-gallon water-dispenser to fill the espresso-machine's tank. TDS reading is about 4, which is almost distilled. - Rationale: for five hundred bucks, I don't want to fill it with rusty-calcium well water & then have to decalcify every month or have it break. You can get a TDS meter for about twenty bucks on Amazon. Buy one. Test your water. Only use water with a low TDS reading. Don't assume bottled water has a low TDS. I've seen it as high as 200. My Patronizing Opinions: - Many people point out that this machine is Barista-Child's-Play, since you control only four variables: bean, amount, fineness, and tamp-pressure. (Not temp or pull-pressure.) - I took a rigorous scientific approach and it still took one month to find the right combination. - Other reviewers bought this machine & made an espresso they liked on the first pull. - Pay attention to the process and you will begin teaching yourself how to be a barista. - Be willing to work with the four variables for several weeks to get it right. Transition from Coffee-Drinking to Espresso-Drinking: - Until now, I've made a brutally strong batch of French-pressed coffee each AM. - When I go to Starbucks, I get either a triple-tall Americano or a four-shot Grande Americano. --> Either way, each would last about 2-hours each AM. - This machine makes only one thing: a single-ounce or a two-ounce shot of espresso, like in Italy. - The Italians drink it straight, right there, standing up, within five minutes. I'm guessing that even an Italian would rate this espresso as authentic. - This machine forced me to depart from my old ways: It's a smaller cup & I have to drink it within 15-minutes or so before the flavor goes sour. --> I'm aware that the ideal Americano has the hot water in the cup prior to the shot, to preserve the crema. Will do that eventually. Right now, I still taste each shot first. Conclusion: - This machine is a safe bet for your first real espresso machine. - Be willing to work at it - Be aware that drinking shots of espresso is a very different experience from regular coffee-drinking. - Cappuccinos or lattes are also a safe bet. But, they get cold quicker than those made at Starbucks. Maybe Starbucks makes shots at a higher temperature? Biggest surprise so far the joy it brings to guests. Let them watch you make one, then ask them to play the barista. They have so much fun! Go all the way & buy a burr-grinder, knock box, & tamping mat. There's a documentary on Netflix on the history of the cappuccino called "Perfect Cappuccino." Content aside, this 1.5-hr documentary will give you plenty of opportunity to see professional baristas making espressos & hear their theories on how to pull a good shot. Watch it after you buy it and you'll really appreciate how much they put in, how they tamp it, and how it looks as it comes out. Personally, I enjoyed the documentary -- I found the narrator's views compassionate & well-balanced. Other reviewers found her anti-Starbucks. Lastly, if you buy all three pieces of equipment at once, then you'll be on instructions-overload. I staggered the purchases by two weeks for each machine: Burr Grinder, then Milk Frother, then Espresso Maker. This may sound silly, but many of the reviewers say things like: "I Couldn't get a pressure reading on the espresso machine, so I cranked up the grinder to super-fine and then grinder wouldn't work." All of that is covered in the grinder instructions. But if you get all three things at once, you're going to try it blind (come on, admit it) and only go to the instructions for each machine as a last resort. It's only been one month. Perhaps in another month, all of my advice will be different. I'm still on the left side of a steep learning curve. Good luck!
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Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2013 by justme
First and foremost, this is an absolutely fantastic home espresso machine for the price. It definitely takes some practice to learn how to get the most out of and find the sweet spot (which i've learned always differs depending on the type of beans & grinder you are using). But now after 3 months and a LOT of researching/learning/practice/more practice, I am now consistently making absolutely fantastic espresso drinks. If you are new to the world of espresso, or have some knowledge, I wanted to write about my experience buying this machine 3 months ago knowing little to nothing about espresso, to now consistently pulling absolutely delicious espresso drinks on a daily basis with this machine. Here we go: I waited 3 months after purchasing this unit to write a proper review, and I wanted to give a lot of information I have learned and discovered to help others looking into buying a home espresso setup. I honestly knew little to nothing about espresso before purchasing this machine, and have done A LOT of research, reading, testing, and barista questioning in order to learn how the art of making quality espresso is done. I now make 2-3 espresso drinks a day with the Infuser and am EXTREMELY satisfied with its performance. It's not easy to make a high quality espresso by any means, but once you figure out how to manage all the important espresso variables (type of beans, grind coarseness, dose, tamp pressure), this machine produces truly remarkable results that any professional barista will be highly impressed with (yes I did receive this feedback). The most important aspects of making this machine work well (and any espresso machine for that matter) are having a quality grinder and fresh, quality beans. When I first got this machine, I was under the impression you wanted to grind as fine as possible for making espresso. I set my Infinity Burr Grinder to its finest setting, using some peet's espresso beans, and immediately the machine clogged up, not producing any espresso. I tried again, dialing the grind a little coarser, and again the machine clogged up. Same thing with the third time, although this time I was able to produce a few drops of espresso. After about 5 tries I was able to pull an actual shot of espresso which tasted incredibly strong to me but good (at this point in time I didnt really know what to look for in a quality shot of espresso). Long story short I realized the beans I was using were INCREDIBLY oily and played a huge factor in easily clogging up my machine. Next I purchased some Blue Bottle espresso beans, which got along with my machine MUCH better. Now I was making some great progress, tasting more like espresso, but still not close to what the baristas at Blue Bottle were serving. I went through a lot of beans & brands playing with the grind coarseness, and soon became familiar of the "sweet spot" settings on my grinder where the espresso came out tasting best. I was now becoming more familiar with what a good shot of espresso was supposed to taste like after spending a bunch of time at Four Barrel & Blue Bottle cafes in San Francisco. I also learned to start timing my shot times and that also helped me immensely improve the quality of my espresso (typically between 24-30 seconds depending on the type of beans you are using). So now I soon learned my Capressa Infinity burr grinder did not have nearly the adjustability I would need to lock in the perfect grind setting for espresso, so I decided to upgrade to the Breville Smart Grinder. The Smart grinder ended up being a much better grinder, but again long story short, it also seemed to lack the real "fine tuning" ability that I was learning is truly needed with espresso. After using the Smart Grinder for 3 weeks, I decided to pull the trigger on a much higher quality grinder, the very highly recommended Baratza Vario. After getting familiar with the Vario by some trial & error, I must say this was the ultimate step (and proved to be most important) towards producing amazing quality espresso. I've also ground for drip coffee with it a few times and the taste was truly amazing compared to both of the other grinders I had tried. So, back to the Infuser. After much more research into the art of espresso, I purchased a gram scale in order to weigh my doses of coffee & amount of liquid being extracted from my shots, which also have helped a LOT in improving the quality of my shots. Now after a couple solid months with all of the above in my home espresso setup, I believe I have dialed in this machine to its maximum potential, and it is really producing fantastic results which I get excited about drinking every morning as soon as I wake up. Some notes I would like to share which I have discovered that may or may not relate directly to this machine, or to every espresso machine: -The type of beans used almost always require a different coarseness setting in order to pull the perfect shot. For example, beans like Four Barrel & Blue Bottle always require much more fine grind settings, where beans like Stumptown & Barefoot require much coarser grinds. This seems to be hard to get used to, but now that I have tried many different quality espresso roasts and have narrowed down my favorites (Sightglass is #1, Stumptown #2, Barefoot #3) I know what setting to use ahead of time and I can almost always nail a perfect shot on command. -The milk steamer does a great job, but now after trying so many quality cappuccinos & lattes through the area, I feel like this steamer does the milk more on the creamy side. I believe I understand the technique for creating quality microfoam to use for cappuccinos & latte's, and im using the same Clover Organic whole milk that almost all cafe's use, and mine always seems to turn out a bit sweeter & creamier. It seems hard to get the microfoam as velvety thin as Sightglass/Four Barrel/Blue Bottle does, and because of this, my cappuccinos dont have quite the "intense coffee bite" but its getting pretty close. I believe this is as good as I can ask for again using a $500 home espresso machine. -The hot water dispenser is great. One trick I figured out a while back was when I pulled OK shots and didnt want to waste them, I would just instantly make them into Americano's, since its a bit harder to taste a bad shot in an Americano than it is in a Cappuccino or Latte. And thus has been my experience with the Breville Infuser since purchasing about 3 months ago. I'm sure I will be updating this review further as time goes on, but so far it has been an incredibly positive experience and I would HIGHLY recommend this machine to anyone looking for a semi-automatic machine in this price range. Hopefully this was helpful and not just me rambling.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2013 by analoguebubblebath
If you just want to make espresso drinks at home and want something quick and easy, there machines a lot less than half the price to use with pressurized filters and that have an easy to use steam wands. But if you are ready, or plan to soon, move up to professional style non-pressurized filters, then this is a great machine for the beginner up through intermediate user at a very good price. One thing I want to say upfront, ALWAYS run an empty shot before making your espresso. The first shot runs about 20 degrees below the optimal 200 degrees and will result in an under-extracted espresso. It is also good to heat up your grouphead, portafilter and cup. It makes a very very good espresso that probably can only be beat by a $2.000+ machine. I used a non-pressurized filter on my previous machine, but noticed that the shots with the infuser brought some of the subtle tasted characteristics from my coffee beans. It is important to use a good quality conical burr grinder in order to grinds that are fine enough to use with a non-pressurized filter. I use the Breville smart grinder pro. I think this is a better way to go rather then getting the Breville Barista Express with the built-in grinder, for numerous reasons. One is that it is more flexible than the built-in one, which only has 30 settings. The smart pro has 60 settings so you can use it to get coarse grinds for a French press and other coffee makers. It is also much easier to clean and allows you to upgrade to a more advance espresso machine without having to buy a new grinder. The steaming wand works very well after a small bit of practice. There are some videos on youtube that are helpful. After some research it seemed the best milk to use is grassfed whole milk. So I bought organic grassfeed whole milk, and wow it is the way to go. It tastes great and easy to get an excellent microfoam. I highly recommend that you give it a try. The pressure gauge looks cool, but is totally unnecessary. I wish the tamper were a heavier all metal construction, though this lighter one is needed to use the magnetic holder, which is convenient. The tamper words oaky, so I will just have to get used to it. Overall this is a great machine at this price. update: 13December: thought I would address of common complaints I've noticed in some reviews. One being that it uses too much water and that the drip trays fills up to fast. Both are due to the fact that the steam wand purges (through the back of the tray) hot water after use, which is good so that if you pull another shot the water won't be too hot. To me, it's not a big deal to refill it. As far as the tray filling up, just do what I do ... empty the tray each time you use it. It is very simple and only takes a few seconds. A plus is that the tray design is very easy to remove and install .. it is really no big deal at all.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2022 by Dave
I replaced a Gaggia Classic Pro — which is considered to be a “better” espresso machine which I loved and used for many years. The Gaggia is a great machine if you’re into endless tinkering to get the best cup of espresso. The Breville has automatic preinfusion as well single and double volumetric shot buttons which can be adjusted to brew the volume you want. It has a limited range temperature adjustment, which could limit the coffee roasts you use (it’s claimed that it’s too hot on the lowest temperature setting for some exotic light roasts). But here’s the thing: Once you set the Breville up and get your grind right, you simply preheat the portafilter with hot water, load and tamp your measured coffee and brew by pushing a button. You get a consistent espresso every time — no muss, no fuss. It took me a while to get the right coffee for my taste (Lavazza Forte Gusto), and get the grind and amount of coffee right on my Baratza Sette WI grinder, but now I make a great, consistent espresso in the easiest, most foolproof manner possible. I bought the Gaggia because I thought I wanted to be a coffee scientist, and if that’s what you want, buy the Gaggia. Additionally, the Breville has a faster cycle time than the Gaggia for making back to back espressos. As far as foaming milk for cappuccinos, the Breville works great, but I bought a Breville frother because when I make cappuccinos, it’s usually for entertaining and I can make multiple drinks back to back more quickly using a separate frother - or even have a friend do the frothing while I’m making the shots. So, if you want top quality espresso with the least fuss, here’s my recommendation: Buy this Breville. Buy a great grinder — such as the Baratza Sette WI or better. Spend your money on the grinder and you’ll get better espresso. Buy a separate frother if you make a lot of milk drinks. ONE OTHER THING: I use distilled water with Third-Wave espresso water packets and a metal puck screen because this keeps the machine clean and functioning without having to descale it. In sum, I couldn’t be happier with the machine anfter 2.5 years and see no reason to upgrade. If this machine dies, I’ll buy another one. If you like experimenting with different coffees and brewing techniques, you’re an espresso scientist and there is NO Breville espresso machine that will satisfy you and you’ll need to spend $2,000 plus on a Profitec or something else — plus $500-$600 at a minimum on your grinder.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2026 by OldBrit
I want to start by saying this review of mine is a lot more than just a review on how happy I am with my purchase. But is also a review on everything I have learned the past couple months since buying this machine. I can say now that I have it, I will never go back. The Breville Infuser is a great little machine. I have wanted an Espresso machine for over 10 years and put it off because I had a hard time getting past the cost of a good quality machine. Before I committed to getting my first Espresso Machine I knew I had to do the research, to educate myself on a world that I am quickly seeing is as complex and sophisticated as the world of wine. I learned very early on that while all these steps, methods, and suggestions, that at first seemed snobbish and over exaggerated were actually the pieces of a puzzle that slowly I was able to put together and even now am still working on getting to see the whole picture of. Dark roast vs light roast Freshness of the beans Quality and PH of the water The right amount of pressure used for extraction Heated cups vs cold cups The fat content in milk Why the Crema on an espresso shot is really the mark of how good your equipment is and how fresh your ingredients are. Type of espresso Machine does matter. Let me start by saying I didn’t even know that there wasn’t a difference between Coffee beans and Espresso beans when I first started out on my adventure. In my head I thought there was some specially made type of bean that was specific for making espresso on its own. I assumed they were grown different or harvested different. Something that made them special; to only learn that every coffee drink from espresso to that fancy order you put in at your favorite coffee place is all coming from the same source, the coffee bean. I went through a whole experience my first week with my first machine I bought, The Bambino Plus and getting sour lemon shots of espresso that were not drinkable. The shots that had just sprinkled bubbles over the surface of the drink, and me not understanding what crème was or why it was important, or how to get it. I knew that before I could start trying different drinks and adding syrups to make my favorite one. I would have to master simply making a drinkable shot of espresso that didn’t leave me cringing. No one ever tells you once you buy your first Espresso Machine how your home will forever smell of coffee, how you enter this whole new world that you don’t even know your part of yet. No one tells you that the smell that previously welcomed you when you walked into your favorite coffee shop, becomes the scent of your home forever. Or how prepackaged coffee is nothing like having a grinder and grinding your Espresso fresh in your home every day. No one ever tells you the research and studying needed to not perfect, but to simply achieve a really good shot of espresso at home. I even called up Local Coffee chains in my area and spoke to Barista’s asking for helpful hints on what I could do to get a better quality drink. To ask what I might be doing wrong with a machine(The Bambino Plus) that was giving me under extracted, watery, sour espresso shots. I saw machines with fancy gauges and didn’t understand why it mattered I have one. But have learned if you don’t see you reached the right pressure any espresso that comes out will be gross. I went onto forums where I learned why it’s smart to buy a grinder separate from your espresso machine. Because when the day comes your grinder breaks, and that day will come; then you only have to return the grinder and not be without your entire espresso machine in the process. I learned why it's important to heat your portafilter, and any parts being used to make the drink and the cup you drink from. And luckily the Breville Infuser has a heating plate on top that works perfect for this! I learned why Dark roasts taste better and turn out better even though everywhere seems to recommend a medium roast for most Espresso. I learned that Reverse Osmosis water makes a bad cup of coffee, a bad cup of Espresso, and the flavor will be messed up if you use this type of water. Cold tap water will work, but even that will affect the quality and taste of your espresso. I also learned you want to go to the coffee shops that roast their beans ON SITE and buy freshly roasted beans. I was told by the Barista the sweet spot is 3 to 5 days after a roast the beans are the most fresh, and will pull the best shots. Anything after 2 weeks the quality will start to go noticeably down in flavor, texture, and crème. If you get beans that were roasted that same day, they will be okay, but you will see how everything tastes and gets better if you wait for those few days. And yes I even found myself looking for the best water recommendations from experts and others online. Because my research found the PH of your water can also make an impact. So I went out and bought bottled Fiji water because I read in several places it gives one of the best tastes you can get from water used in your machine for a drink. I eventually quickly exchanged my Bambino Plus that I believe was just a faulty individual machine, and got the Breville Infuser in its place. A step up and it has a gauge which is a must. I will admit I am still using Fiji water for the moment, but I don’t intend to do that forever, but if you are first starting out and looking for the perfect cup and flavor give the fancy water a try. I have a few different flavored syrups I have tried, and I purchased some of the Breville accessories that aren’t included: A better Tamper, the portafilter basket remover tool(which is a must) A knock box, dosing funnel, and even a tamper mat. All of which I had no idea what they were for at the time, but that my friend told me I will for sure need. They have been incredibly helpful and make the process 100% easier. I am so happy with the Breville INFUSER! I am getting quality crema on my shots; they are rich in flavor, no more sour shots with this machine! Like any new thing it takes a while to get the swing of it. And the only negative I can think of to mention, is that when you fill the water tank, after you make your drink and the machine goes into rest mode/powder down mode; The machine purges itself of any water that is still inside the machine. You have to empty the drip tray after each drink made and our drip tray will be almost full each time. That is quite a bit of water it dumps after a drink cycle. But the only reason I think my husband and I care is we have been buying the bottled Fiji water to use. So we notice little stuff like that because it seems wasteful. But if you plan on using tap water that won’t impact you at all! If you are looking for a starter machine I really think this is the right one to begin with, and I can say that having tried the one under it. I am also happy I got my Breville grinder separate as well. Now that I have mastered the Breville Infuser machine, I can start enjoying trying different drinks, different flavors, my husband makes himself homemade hot chocolate using the steam wand to heat and froth the milk. I have bought different flavored syrups. The whole process and experience of learning all this, and getting that perfectly made drink has been so much fun. I would say 2% Milk is the perfect flavor and texture to make those yummy delicious drinks you would get at coffee shops; but if you don’t want the extra fat or calories, skim milk and even oat milk make decent alternatives. When I first wake up in the morning I turn my machine on and allow it to heat up for at least 10 minutes. I have found if you make a drink under that time, the water won’t be quite hot enough. If you heat it up over 10 minutes, you will have to let your hot drinks sit for a minute or two until they aren’t too hot to drink. But as long as you plan for allowing the heat up time and include it as part of your routine, I really think you can’t go wrong with this model of the Breville Infuser. I have had my machine a month now, and I will never go back to buying store bought or coffee chain drinks again!
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Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2023 Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2023 by Amazon Customer
Despite being really happy with this espresso machine, I have held off on writing a review for it too early because my main concern when parting with the money for such an expensive item was its durability. Having owned it for a little over 2 years now (purchased May 16 2009), I think that I can now feel comfortable sharing my opinion. I worked at a coffee bar 20 years ago, and, since that time, I've have always wanted an espresso machine for my home. The problem always was that they are very expensive. When I was 19, I was too broke to afford one. Now, at 39, I'm just cheap, and I was held back by the nagging idea that, no matter how good the coffee that comes out of it is, it'd be really financially unwise to spend a lot of money on an espresso machine unless it would last many years. My wife and I first met at that coffee bar where I worked in the early 2000's, and we bought this machine on our 10th wedding anniversary. I did as much research as I could beforehand, and I don't regret the decision. It makes espresso and foams milk every bit as good as the professional machine that I used 20 years ago. The portafilter is no different from a professional machine. The steam has slightly lower pressure, so it takes somewhat longer to steam milk, but it is able to make foamed milk with the exact same quality as a professional machine, too. No complaints there. I can make espressos, americanos, cappuccinos, lattes, etc that are better than the local coffee shop's. I use a manual burr grinder to grind my coffee (a Lido 2) and use freshly roasted coffee. The espresso is amazing, and my mom and sister come to my house just to get me to make them some. I've had zero problems with durability. I use the machine almost every day, and it just works with no problems. The company includes instructions for maintenance that makes me think they are paranoid that people are going to be trying to make espresso using pond water and then lodge complaints when they end up with problems. I followed those instructions for the first month or two and then stopped worrying about it. I haven't ever changed the water filter in the tank, and I haven't run a cleaning cycle on it in over 2 years. I do use reverse osmosis filtered water which won't gunk up the machine with mineral deposits. It makes the coffee taste better, anyway. Why would you spend so much money for something that makes amazing coffee and then use sink water? I don't necessarily recommend you not follow the company's instructions, but I feel confident at this point that the machine is well-made and doesn't need to be meticulously maintained to avoid problems. I would use filtered water, though. You also really will need a burr grinder (and they're not that cheap... i think my manual grinder was $180) and somewhat fresh coffee. I have tried making a shot using cheap coffee that's probably been sitting on the grocery store shelf for months. It will make a shot, but it's hard to get the water pressure right, and it is noticeably less tasty. So that's my review. Overall, the cost of these machines is intimidating, but this one is capable of making 100% professional quality espresso and steamed milk. You just have to use fresh coffee and a burr grinder for even particle size. The machine is well-made. It isn't going to break down on you after just a year or 2 of use even if you aren't faithful with cleaning and maintenance. It seems like the cleaning/maintenance instructions are concerned a lot about hard water, so just use good water. I think it's an excellent value--much, much cheaper than daily trips to Starbucks! I'm really glad I bought it and recommend it without hesitation.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2021 by Lincoln Davis
If 4 stars = "I like it" and 5 stars = "I love it" then I have to go with 5 stars because once you get the hang of the Breville BES840XL, it's a great machine. As a number of the other reviews have said, though, there is some trial and error involved before you finally get it working the way you want and getting there is frustrating. After the La Pavoni unit we'd had for 10 years died a couple of months back, I did a fair amount of research on rival models as well as the 860XL as a replacement but kept coming back to the two Breville models. The built-in grinder would have been really handy but concerns over leaks over time reported by owners in the seal between the dual boilers (not to mention the price difference) prompted me to go with the 840XL "Infuser". First off, it's a beautiful-looking machine and it looks great on the kitchen counter. Also, Breville's packaging is Apple levels of gorgeous. There's a handy storage tray behind the spill trap for all the bits and pieces, including pins to unclog the foaming spout, etc. . It's also really easy to operate and I love that you can re-program the one- and two-shot volume to draw your own size of shot. When it gets dirty, the "Clean Me" light comes on and you initiate the self-clean program with the supplied detergent tablets. And, most importantly of all, it makes great espresso. Night and day better than the La Pavoni Lusso we had before which was really inconsistent in the quality of shot and has no programmable shot option so everything is manual. Also, the La Pavoni's steaming spout was designed in such a way that build-up inside the spout (which was almost impossible to clean properly) would really diminish its ability to froth the milk properly. The Infuser has a completely different design and it's awesome, giving you complete control. It took time to master The Infuser, though, and it was frustrating trying to get any consistency out of it. And that was knowing going in, based on other reviewers' experiences, that a lot of it was in the tamping and volume of ground coffee going into the basket. I would say now, based on my experiences, the beans and the quality of the grinder (see below) might be the biggest determining factors -- I would never have guessed just how *much* difference there can be between different types of beans when it comes to tamping pressure and volume. I did a lot of experimenting early on -- even resorting to extracting two singles instead of one double because that was the only way I could get a decent extraction in the middle of the unit's "Espresso Range" putting the grounds in in three stages and tamping down each time in between -- but once I'd upgraded to a better grinder, I was set. Now that it looks like I've nailed the process, I couldn't be happier. And my wife, who has incredibly discerning taste buds, especially for coffee, has really noticed the difference. ***************** UPDATE May 2014 My old Krups burr grinder died last December so I decided to make the investment in a Breville BCG800XL Smart Grinder and I have to say that The Infuser is a LOT more consistent now than it used to be. Not entirely -- I find that the strength of the extraction changes over time between cleaning cycles so that more tamping pressure is needed -- but I no longer need to mess around with two single pulls or staged tamping. I just grind the beans, tamp them down and let The Infuser do its thing. One small issue that has cropped up in the last few weeks is that water leaks down the steaming wand where it joins the underside of the unit but that has not had any effect on the function of the machine. Still very happy. ***************** UPDATE August 2014 The leak in the steam wand worsened over time to the point that the unit had to be replaced but I give a HUGE thumbs up to Breville customer service here. They responded quickly to my initial support request and had arranged to replace the machine free of charge within 48 hours. Not only that but they offered to ship the new one to me in advance of the return of the faulty one (they placed a temporary charge on my credit card as insurance) enabling me to only ship the old one back after the new unit had arrived. Excellent service all the way around. I note that this machine prefers the beans to be ground slightly more finely than the previous one so another reason to invest in a grinder where you can customize the grind.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2013 by LyndonL
I bought my first BES840XL Infuser back in Feb 2018. For 3.5 yr it worked perfectly, then died. Paired with a Bartza Sette 270, it made great espresso double-shots with 0.5" of crema and satin smooth micro-foamed milk for latte's. I was rigorous about keeping it cleaned. I never waited for the clean light to come on. I did a back-flush on the first of every month and a descaling the first of every other month. At first I descaled using vinegar as directed in the manual but after reading that acetic acid can damage internal parts I switched to Dezcal (citric acid). During the 3.5 yr it lasted I made 2 double shot latte's every night for myself and my wife. That's over 2500 lattes. Certainly, I would have liked it to last longer, but if you consider coffee shop prices the unit paid for itself. The unit died suddenly Sept 2, 2021 right after I completed a back-flush. The pump still worked to pull shots but apparently a solenoid valve somewhere got stuck and it would not do steam or hot water. The cost to send it in for fixing rivaled the cost of the unit so I trashed it. I thought seriously about getting a higher end espresso machine but all things considered, the Infuser is simple to use and maintain; it takes relatively little room on the counter and makes a really great latte. So, I just bought a second one. The new Infuser is 95% the same as the old Infuser. There are some differences in the way the cleaning and descaling cycles work, but that's about it. Also, the manual no longer instructs using vinegar for descaling. They provide a packet of their brand of citric acid for descaling. One thing that is confusing with the new Infuser concerns the rubber back-flushing insert. The one that came with the older Infuser had a small drain hole in the center. The one that came with this new unit had no hole and was completely blind. I don't see how that can work. I've seen other people mention that and so I have a case open with Breville asking for clarification and a new rubber insert if it is supposed to have a hole. Also, the manual states to use the "1 cup basket" with the rubber insert for back-flushing but they don't say whether it should be the single-wall or double-wall basket. I contacted Breville about that and got replies from two CSR's, both of whom advised using the double-wall basket for back-flushing in order to get the pressure up during the operation. As far as Con's go, there is one gripe that I have. The description may say "Brushed Stainless Steel" but it most certainly is NOT. The construction is silver-coated plastic. This is shameful for a machine costing almost $600. And just like any metal-coated plastic, it wears off with contact and it doesn't take long. On my old Infuser there were multiple wear-through spots on the body and the much-used dial for steam/hot water was almost completely stripped of the metal coating. In short, it looks damn ugly in relatively short order. Edit (13-Sep-21): I received a response from Breville support concerning my question about the new rubber back-flushing insert not having a hole in it. Here is his response: "Newer units come with new cleaning discs with no hole in the middle. This allows for the tablet to better dissolve and backflush into the grouphead. This water will drain into the drip tray. There is a safety valve within that protects the system from situations with too much pressure so there is no damage done to the machine. If there is still some of the tablet left in the portafilter after the process is over, that is okay. You can run the cycle again or pull a couple of shots over it. The older version has a hole in the middle of the disc so you may see some videos with a cleaning demonstration showing the water flow from the grouphead."
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Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2021 by Kelson