Last updated: October 2, 2026
What the 870XL Actually Is
The Breville Barista Express BES870XL (often just called the 870XL) is the machine that taught a whole generation of home baristas what a semi-automatic workflow feels like. It packs a conical burr grinder, a 54mm single-boiler with thermocoil heating, and a steam wand into one stainless steel case. You grind, tamp, brew, and steam in sequence – no pods, no touchscreen automation.
It has been around since 2013 and despite newer siblings like the Barista Pro and Barista Express Impress, it remains Breville’s most sold hybrid grinder-plus-machine. That longevity matters: parts, accessories, and troubleshooting advice are easy to find. If you are deciding between a true entry-level setup (separate grinder + machine) and an all-in-one, this is usually the benchmark.
Who Should and Shouldn’t Buy It
See also: Breville Bench Saver • Rocket Espresso Coffee Machine
Buy the 870XL if you want to learn espresso without buying a separate grinder, you drink 1-4 milk drinks a day, and you are okay with a single boiler workflow. It suits beginners who want hands-on control but don’t want to dial in a $400 standalone grinder on day one.
Skip it if you need back-to-back milk drinks for a household of 4+ people, you want cafe-level light roast extraction, or you hate maintenance. The single thermocoil means you brew OR steam, not both at once, and you will wait 30-60 seconds to transition. If you mostly drink drip coffee and occasionally want an espresso, a cheaper automatic drip coffee maker with a good grinder will be less fuss and better tasting for that use case.
The Built-In Grinder: Convenient but Limited
The integrated grinder is a 40mm stainless steel conical burr with 18 stepped settings (plus finer internal adjustment). It grinds directly into the portafilter via a hands-free cradle with a timed dose. For medium and medium-dark roasts, it is adequate. You can choke the machine and get 25-30 second shots.
Trade-offs are real. The steps are coarse. One click can swing you from a 22-second gusher to a 38-second choker, especially with lighter roasts. The grinder also retains 2-4 grams and produces more fines than a dedicated burr coffee grinder for espresso like the Eureka Mignon or Baratza Sette. That makes dialing in single-origin light roasts frustrating.
Failure modes to know: The grinder’s plastic impeller and gearbox are the most common wear points after 2-3 years of daily use. If you run oily, very dark beans, clumping and jamming increase. Breville does not recommend cleaning with rice and the burrs are not designed for frequent single-dosing. Expect to replace burrs around 500-800 pounds of coffee, and know that the grinder motor is louder than most standalone grinders.
Honest take: If you plan to get serious about espresso within a year, you will outgrow this grinder. But if you want to know whether the hobby sticks before spending $300+ on a separate grinder, it is a perfectly reasonable starting point. When the cheaper option is fine: if you already own a decent espresso-capable grinder, buy a Bambino Plus or Infuser instead and use the grinder you have – you will get better coffee.
Brewing Performance
The 870XL uses a 15-bar Italian pump with an over-pressure valve that limits brewing to around 9 bars, a 67 oz removable water tank, and low-pressure pre-infusion (around 2-3 bars for 7-8 seconds) before full pressure. Temperature is managed by a PID controller set to 200F nominal, adjustable +/- 4F in 2-degree increments.
In practice, shots are forgiving and middle-of-the-road. The pressurized dual-wall baskets (included) will make even stale pre-ground coffee look like crema. Switch to the non-pressurized single and double baskets and you get real espresso, but you also need fresh beans (roasted within the last 10-21 days) and a proper tamp.
Thermal stability is the weakness. On a thermocoil, temperature surfing matters less than on older single-boiler dual-use machines, but it is still not a dual boiler or even a heat-exchanger. If you pull three shots back-to-back, the third will run hotter. For straight espresso with light roasts, you will notice flat, ashy flavors compared to what a machine with better temperature control can do. For milk drinks with chocolatey blends, most people won’t notice.
Steaming and Milk Drinks
The steam wand is a 360-degree ball-joint style with a single hole tip. It is powerful enough to texture 8-12 oz of milk in 45-75 seconds, but you must wait for the boiler to reach steam temperature after brewing. Breville’s auto-purge cools the boiler back down before the next shot.
Microfoam is absolutely possible, but the wand is slower than the Bambino Plus or Barista Pro. Beginners often over-aerate because the extra time tempts them to inject too much air. The wand is also not a no-burn cool-touch design, so it will be hot. Failure mode: The steam thermostat and solenoid are sensitive to scale. If you use hard tap water without filtering, you will get weak steam and eventually a clogged tip within a year. Use filtered water and purge the wand every time.
Living With It Daily
Footprint is 13.25″ W x 12.5″ D x 16″ H. It fits under most upper cabinets but you need clearance to lift the water tank from the back. The drip tray is large but fills fast if you flush and purge.
Workflow for a latte: fill hopper, time-grind (about 18g), distribute and tamp, lock in, brew (25-30 seconds), switch to steam, texture milk, pour. Total time about 3-4 minutes once you are practiced. The analog pressure gauge helps – if you sit in the “espresso range” (roughly 8-10 o’clock on the dial during pre-infusion, rising to 12 o’clock), you are close.
The gauge is not truly indicating 9 bars at the puck; it measures pump pressure before the over-pressure valve. Don’t chase the needle. Taste and brew time tell you more.
Accessories in the box are generous: razor dose tool, 54mm portafilter, four filter baskets (single/double x pressurized/non-pressurized), tamper (a tight plastic one you will want to replace), milk jug, and cleaning kit.
Maintenance and Common Failures
This is not a buy-and-forget machine. Plan on:
Backflushing with water weekly if you use non-pressurized baskets, and with espresso cleaning tablets every 1-2 weeks. The three-way solenoid dumps pressure into the drip tray – skipping cleaning leads to bitter, rancid buildup and a sticky solenoid that will fail to release pressure.
Descaling every 2-3 months if you have soft filtered water, monthly if hard. The thermocoil clogs easily; Breville’s descale alert is based on usage, not water hardness. Ignoring it is the number one cause of steam failure we hear about.
Water filter replacement (charcoal filter in the tank) every 2 months. Grinder burr cleaning with a brush every few weeks, not compressed air.
Common failures after year 2: solenoid valve sticking (shot won’t stop or portafilter sneeze), grinder motor not spinning (impeller jam), steam o-ring leaking, and the grinder collar cracking if overtightened. Most parts are available, but Breville service outside warranty is board-swap rather than repair, often $250+. Keep your receipt – Breville’s 1-year warranty is short for this price class.
How It Compares
| Machine | Grinder | Heat System | Best For | List Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barista Express 870XL | Built-in 40mm conical, stepped | Single thermocoil, brew OR steam | Beginners wanting all-in-one learning | $650 – $750 |
| Breville Bambino Plus | None (requires separate grinder) | ThermoJet, 3-sec heat, brew/steam faster switching | Small kitchens, fast milk drinks if you own a grinder | $300 – $500 |
| Breville Barista Pro | Built-in, finer steps, faster ThermoJet | ThermoJet, 30-sec transition | Upgraders who want quicker workflow and LCD | $850 – $900 |
| Gaggia Classic Pro + Baratza Encore ESP | Separate 40mm conical, more precise | Single boiler, no PID stock | Tinkerers who want repairability and better standalone grinder | $650 – $700 combined |
The 870XL sits in the middle. It is slower than the Barista Pro’s ThermoJet but more capable than the Bambino if you don’t own a grinder. The Gaggia combo gives you a better long-term grinder and a machine you can mod with a PID, but requires more learning and has worse temperature stability out of the box.
Should You Buy It Now?
Street price matters. At $550 on sale, the 870XL is a strong value for someone who wants one box to learn on. At $750 full retail, the math changes – the Barista Pro is often only $100 more and fixes the two biggest complaints (slow heat-up and coarse grinder steps).
If you find a certified refurbished 870XL with warranty for under $500, that is often the smartest buy in this category. You get 90% of the experience with money left for fresh beans and a proper tamper, distributor, and scale – tools that improve shots more than a newer machine.
Do not buy the 870XL expecting cafe-quality light roast espresso or true simultaneous brew-and-steam. Buy it to learn dose, yield, grind, and milk texturing on a forgiving platform that holds resale value well. If you outgrow it, you can sell it for 50-60% of purchase price and move to a dual boiler or a dedicated grinder setup without much loss.
FAQ
Is the Barista Express 870XL good for beginners?
Yes, that is its strength. The pressurized baskets, built-in grinder, and pressure gauge let you make drinkable milk drinks while you learn. Just switch to the non-pressurized baskets and fresh beans once you want real control.
Can it make good espresso with light roasts?
It can make okay espresso, but not great. The grinder steps are too coarse for the fine adjustments light roasts need, and temperature stability is limited. If you mainly drink light, fruity espresso, a separate high-quality grinder and a PID-controlled machine will serve you better.
How long does the 870XL last?
With filtered water and regular backflushing and descaling, 5-7 years is common. Heavy daily use without maintenance often leads to solenoid or thermocoil issues in 2-3 years. The grinder is usually the first component to feel worn.
Do I need to buy anything else with it?
A 0.1g scale, a better 54mm tamper, and fresh beans roasted within 3 weeks are the three upgrades that matter most. A distribution tool helps consistency, but technique matters more than gear.
