TLDR Review: Breville Barista Touch Impress Espresso Machine BES881BSS
Pros
- •Produces consistently excellent espresso once the basics like grind and dose are dialed in, delivering coffee comparable to toier cafes.
- •Combines metal and plastic smartly, using metal where durability matters, giving it a premium feel and solid build quality.
- •Compact but stylish with a wider footprint that sits nicely on the counter without eating too much depth.
- •Quiet operation with stable, nolip feet that reduce unwanted vibration for a steady experience.
- •Easy to use for beginners who want quick results, yet offers manual controls for customization and experimentation.
- •Integrated coffee grinder adjusts quickly and learns grind size to hit targets reliably once configured.
- •Selurging steam wand is convenient and cuts down on cleaning hassle.
- •Extensive included accessories like a stainless steel milk jug, portafilter with multiple baskets, cleaning tools, and the Razor™ trimming tool add value.
- •Programmable touchscreen interface makes selecting and customizing drinks straightforward.
- •Provides excellent value considering the combination of fully automatic features and builn coffee grinder and milk frother.
Cons
- •Inconsistent quality control reported in about 12% of reviews leads to significant performance variances between units.
- •Some units suffer from firmware issues causing glitches, shutdowns, and hopper sensor problems, with different firmware versions impacting reliability.
- •Milk steaming temperature often doesn’t reach the programmed 170°F, stopping prematurely around 1350°F, which frustrates users seeking perfect milk texture.
- •The common ER09 steaming error disrupts user experience roughly 15% of the time, requiring frequent repairs or customer service interventions.
- •Customer service experiences are mixed, with about 8% describing it as a nightmare, making troubleshooting and repairs more stressful.
- •Difficult to dial in espresso shots perfectly without bitterness for some users even after extended use and trial.
- •Water reservoir design is cramped and awkward to clean or refill, with a large max fill level that can cause spills.
- •Pret drink menus don’t specify milk volume, forcing manual adjustments and sometimes wasting milk due to minimum pitcher size requirements.
- •Grind calibration can cause puck sticking issues in doublalled filter baskets.
- •Repair or firmware updates are often required to solve ongoing issues, creating inconvenience and downtime.
Bottom Line
The Breville Barista Touch Impress BES881BSS is a beautifully designed, feature-packed espresso machine that blends beginner-friendly automation with serious brewing flexibility. However, its inconsistent quality control and episodic firmware issues can lead to frustrating reliability problems, particularly in milk steaming and sensor errors. If you love tinkering and want near-café-quality espresso at home, it’s a strong contender—provided you're ready to engage with occasional troubleshooting or firmware updates. For those prioritizing rock-solid reliability out of the box, waiting for firmware improvements or considering alternative models with fewer reported glitches may save headaches. Checking the firmware version on purchase is wise whenever possible to improve your odds of snagging a smoother running unit.
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