Breville Barista Touch Impress
- Intuitive touchscreen for easy operation.
- Built-in grinder for fresh coffee grounds.
- Automatic milk frothing for perfect textures.
Pros
- Touchscreen Display: The intuitive touchscreen is incredibly easy to use, making it simple to customize your drinks.
- Automatic Tamping: This feature ensures perfect tamping pressure every time, leading to consistent espresso shots.
- Customizable Profiles: You can save up to eight personalized coffee settings, perfect for households with different preferences.
- High-Quality Microfoam: The steam wand produces excellent milk foam, ideal for making lattes and cappuccinos.
- Built-in Grinder: The integrated grinder delivers fresh grounds, and the grind size is adjustable for different brewing styles.
Cons
- Price: The Breville Barista Touch Impress is on the expensive side, so it may not be suitable for those on a tight budget.
- Size: It’s a bit bulky, so it requires sufficient counter space in your kitchen.
As a dedicated coffee enthusiast, I've always sought the perfect balance between convenience and quality in a home espresso machine. The Breville Barista Touch Impress promised to bridge that gap, offering advanced features with user-friendly operation. After several weeks of daily use, I'm eager to share my comprehensive review of this impressive machine.
Unboxing the Breville Barista Touch Impress
Upon receiving the Breville Barista Touch Impress, I was immediately struck by its sleek stainless steel design, which adds a touch of elegance to any kitchen. The packaging was secure, ensuring all components arrived in pristine condition. Included in the box were the machine itself, a stainless steel milk jug, single and dual wall filter baskets, a portafilter, a razor trimming tool, and various cleaning accessories. The comprehensive nature of the package meant I had everything needed to start brewing right away.
Setting Up the Breville Barista Touch Impress
Setting up the Breville Barista Touch Impress was a straightforward process, thanks to its intuitive touchscreen interface. The machine guided me through each step, from installing the water filter to priming the system. This user-friendly setup eliminated the need to consult the manual extensively, allowing me to focus on brewing my first cup.
Exploring the Touchscreen Interface
The standout feature of the Breville Barista Touch Impress is its vibrant touchscreen display. Navigating through the menu is a breeze, with options to select various beverages such as espresso, latte, cappuccino, and more. The interface also offers customization settings, enabling me to adjust grind size, brewing temperature, and milk texture to suit my preferences. Additionally, the machine allows for the creation and saving of personalized drink profiles, which is a fantastic feature for households with multiple coffee drinkers.
Grinding and Tamping with Precision
One of the challenges in home espresso making is achieving consistent grind size and tamping pressure. The Breville Barista Touch Impress addresses this with its integrated grinder and assisted tamping system. The machine offers 30 grind settings, allowing for precise adjustments based on the type of coffee beans used. The assisted tamping lever ensures consistent pressure, resulting in a uniform coffee puck and optimal extraction. This combination significantly reduces the learning curve for beginners and enhances consistency for seasoned users.
Brewing the Perfect Espresso
With the grind size and tamping set, brewing an espresso is as simple as selecting the desired beverage on the touchscreen. The Breville Barista Touch Impress utilizes a ThermoJet heating system, which brings the machine to the optimal extraction temperature in just three seconds. This rapid heat-up time is a game-changer for those busy mornings when every second counts. The machine consistently produced espresso shots with rich crema and balanced flavor, rivaling those from my favorite café.
Mastering Milk Frothing
Milk frothing is often considered an art form, but the Breville Barista Touch Impress simplifies this process with its automatic milk texturing feature. The steam wand incorporates AutoMilQ technology, which adjusts steam pressure and temperature based on the type of milk selected—dairy, oat, almond, or soy. This ensures optimal microfoam and temperature for each milk type, enhancing the overall quality of milk-based beverages. For those who prefer manual control, the machine also offers a manual frothing option, providing flexibility to suit individual preferences.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Maintaining the Breville Barista Touch Impress is relatively straightforward. The touchscreen provides reminders to clean the steam wand after each use, and the machine performs an automatic purge to keep the wand clear. The drip tray and water tank are easily removable, facilitating regular cleaning. While the machine doesn't have a self-cleaning function, the guided prompts and included cleaning tools make the maintenance process manageable.
Comparing to Other Breville Models
In Breville's lineup, the Barista Touch Impress stands out for its combination of automation and user-friendly features. Compared to the Barista Express Impress, which lacks a touchscreen and automatic milk frothing, the Barista Touch Impress offers a more streamlined and customizable experience. While the Oracle Touch provides dual boilers and a 58mm portafilter, it comes at a significantly higher price point. The Barista Touch Impress strikes a balance between functionality and affordability, making it an excellent choice for home baristas seeking convenience without compromising on quality.
Product Review Conclusion: Breville Barista Touch Impress
After extensive use, I can confidently say that the Breville Barista Touch Impress lives up to its promises. Its combination of intuitive design, advanced features, and consistent performance makes it a standout choice for both novice and experienced home baristas. While the price may be a consideration, the value it offers in terms of convenience and quality justifies the investment. If you're looking to elevate your home coffee experience, the Breville Barista Touch Impress is a worthy contender.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Breville Barista Touch Impress
Q: How easy is it to use the Breville Barista Touch Impress for beginners?
A: The Breville Barista Touch Impress is very beginner-friendly, thanks to its intuitive touchscreen interface and guided setup process. The automatic features, such as assisted tamping and milk frothing, significantly reduce the learning curve for new users.
Q: Can I customize my coffee settings?
A: Yes, the machine offers extensive customization options. You can adjust grind size, brewing temperature, shot volume, and milk texture. It also allows you to save personalized drink profiles for future use.
Q: Does the Breville Barista Touch Impress include a grinder?
A: Yes, the machine comes with an integrated conical burr grinder with 30 adjustable grind settings, ensuring fresh coffee grounds for every brew.
Q: How does the assisted tamping system work?
A: The assisted tamping lever applies consistent pressure to the coffee grounds, creating a uniform puck for optimal extraction. This feature simplifies a traditionally tricky part of espresso-making.
Q: What types of milk can the automatic frother handle?
A: The automatic milk frother, equipped with AutoMilQ technology, can froth a variety of milk types, including dairy, almond, soy, and oat milk. It adjusts temperature and texture based on the milk type for the best results.
Q: How long does the machine take to heat up?
A: The Breville Barista Touch Impress features a ThermoJet heating system that heats up in just three seconds, allowing you to start brewing almost immediately.
Q: Is the Breville Barista Touch Impress easy to clean?
A: Yes, the machine provides cleaning reminders and performs automatic purges after milk frothing. While some components require manual cleaning, the process is straightforward, with included tools and step-by-step prompts.
Q: What is the difference between the Breville Barista Touch Impress and the Barista Express Impress?
A: The Barista Touch Impress includes a touchscreen interface and automatic milk texturing, whereas the Barista Express Impress relies more on manual control and does not feature a touchscreen.
Q: How does it compare to higher-end Breville models like the Oracle Touch?
A: While the Oracle Touch offers features like dual boilers and a larger portafilter, the Breville Barista Touch Impress provides a more affordable alternative without sacrificing key functionalities like assisted tamping and customizable brewing options.
Q: What is the price of the Breville Barista Touch Impress?
A: The retail price of the Breville Barista Touch Impress is approximately $1,500, making it a premium investment for serious home baristas.
Q: Can it make multiple cups of coffee back-to-back?
A: Yes, the machine is capable of brewing multiple beverages consecutively, thanks to its fast heat-up time and efficient design. However, you'll need to refill the water tank and beans as necessary.
Q: Is the machine compatible with pre-ground coffee?
A: Yes, while it is designed to work best with freshly ground coffee using the integrated grinder, you can use pre-ground coffee with the appropriate filter basket.
Q: Does it have a warranty?
A: Yes, the Breville Barista Touch Impress typically comes with a one-year limited warranty. It's always a good idea to check the details with the retailer or manufacturer.
Q: Is this machine worth the investment?
A: For coffee lovers who value convenience, customization, and high-quality espresso, the Breville Barista Touch Impress is an excellent investment. Its features cater to both beginners and experienced users, offering a café-like experience at home.