Breville Barista Max Espresso Machine – Built-In Grinder & Milk Frother
Enjoy rich, café-style coffee at home with the Breville Barista Max Espresso Machine, crafted in durable stainless steel and equipped with an integrated bean grinder, steam wand, and 15-bar Italian pump. Whether you love espressos, cappuccinos, or creamy lattes, this all-in-one coffee maker delivers consistent, professional results every time.
- Great Coffee Made Simple: User-friendly design with intuitive controls – perfect for espresso, lattes, cappuccinos and more.
- Precision Brewing: Temp IQ Shot Control ensures optimal water temperature and flow for every cup.
- Integrated Grinder: Tap & Go one-touch conical burr grinder with 30 adjustable settings for fresh, flavorful beans.
- Smart Shot Volume: Auto and manual shot controls allow you to customize your espresso just the way you like it.
- Velvety Microfoam: Full-size steam wand creates smooth, café-quality milk for all milk-based drinks.
Technical Specifications
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Breville |
| Color | Stainless Steel |
| Dimensions | 31D x 31W x 41H cm |
| Water Tank Capacity | 2.8 L |
| Pump Pressure | 15 Bar Italian Pump |
| Coffee Maker Type | Espresso Machine |
| Special Features | Integrated Grinder, Milk Frother, Jug, Thermal System |
DoorMats Recommendation: Perfect for espresso lovers and beginners seeking café-quality results at home with one-touch simplicity.
I m Italian I love espresso and I have been barista for years and years. This machine is comparable with a professional ones and make a wonderful espresso
Ideal for a coffee loving family
Highly recommend this product
** In conclusion: Skip the pods. Get the Breville Barista Max. And embrace the mess—it’s all part of the process.**
** Longer Version ** After years of a love-hate relationship with several Tassimo, Dolce Gusto, and Nespresso machines, and hundreds of underwhelming, muddy, and bitter cups of supermarket-quality coffee (often with a hefty dose of steam but zero flavor), I found myself at a crossroads. My quest for the perfect cup of coffee had led me to Amazon, where I would make my next life-changing decision: purchase a 'real' coffee machine.
** A Personal Decision: Why I Chose Manual Over Automatic **
Admittedly, my decision to go for a manual espresso machine wasn’t entirely rooted in my pursuit of the ultimate coffee; it was partly due to my preference for a manual gearbox over an automatic one. But let’s not get bogged down in car metaphors—this is about coffee, after all.
My search boiled down to two contenders: Sage and Breville. I was leaning towards Sage, but then—like a well-timed sale on Black Friday—the Breville Barista Max dropped to an irresistible price. With my finger hovering over the "buy" button, I made the purchase. Let’s just say, the discount definitely pushed me over the edge.
** The First Brew: A Learning Curve and a Lot of YouTube **
I’ll be honest—this machine isn’t one of those plug-and-play gadgets. There’s a learning curve. A steep one. But after about two hours of watching YouTube tutorials and grinding through 30 cups of coffee that tasted more like regret than espresso, I was finally pulling perfect shots. My latte art, though, still resembled something a 4-year-old might attempt, but let’s be real: I’m not exactly Da Vinci in the kitchen.
** Build Quality and Features: A Love-Hate Relationship **
The Barista Max is well-built for the most part, though I do have a few qualms about the plastic elements. In my humble opinion, the cheap-feeling plastic doesn’t take away from the overall aesthetics too much, but it’s worth noting. Now, as for the good stuff—this machine delivers on many fronts.
The grinder, for instance, has more levels than you’ll ever need. It’s also functional, though loud and messy. The reality is, it’s not the “tap and go” miracle machine it’s marketed to be. Grinding coffee isn’t a silent, smooth experience. You’ll likely need to tap the portafilter a couple of times to get the coffee evenly distributed, but with practice (and a scale to weigh the beans), this becomes a non-issue.
When it comes to features, this machine has a lot to offer. A customizable espresso temperature, a reservoir that holds enough water for about 20 double shots, and a steam wand that heats milk to 65°C in under 90 seconds are just a few of the highlights. Plus, the 58mm portafilter is solid and, while the cup warmer feature isn’t a game-changer, it’s certainly not useless.
** The Grind: Getting Messy and Learning the Tricks **
Let’s talk about the grinder. As other reviewers have pointed out, it’s loud and messy. But, I’ll be honest—I didn’t mind it much. At first, it frustrated me, and I was tempted to buy a higher-end grinder. But after a few weeks, I developed a routine that worked. I now weigh the beans before grinding, and while the grinder does leave some mess, using a dosing funnel keeps things relatively clean. If you're really committed to making the perfect espresso, you might also want to get a bottomless portafilter, a milk thermometer, and a reusable stainless steel puck screen. Trust me, these upgrades will make your coffee-making experience far more enjoyable.
** The Bottomless Portafilter: A Game-Changer **
If you’re serious about espresso, ditch the stock portafilter. The plastic insert in the stock version negatively affects the taste over time. A bottomless portafilter will elevate your coffee-making game and provide a cleaner, purer extraction. With a bottomless portafilter, you’ll see exactly how the espresso is pulling, which is invaluable for perfecting your technique.
** The Dosing Funnel and Paper Filters: Small Investments, Big Impact **
You’ll also want to invest in a dosing funnel. It’s a small addition, but it will save you from making a mess every time you grind. Similarly, using a 51mm paper filter at the bottom of the basket and a 58mm filter or mesh screen at the top will help ensure a smooth extraction by evenly distributing the water through the puck. Don’t skimp on the details—these small tweaks make a big difference.
** The Hopper and Coffee Quantity: Efficiency vs. Freshness **
Rather than filling the hopper to the brim, I only put 20 grams of beans in when I make a cup. The hopper isn’t airtight, and I’ve found that small batches keep the coffee beans fresher for longer. Depending on your grind size, 20 grams will either fill half or almost all of the double basket. But don't be tempted to eyeball it—use a scale. It’s worth it.
** The Final Verdict: Why It’s Worth It (For Coffee Lovers) **
Now, let me be blunt: this machine won’t change your life overnight. There’s a bit of a learning curve, and the grind is noisy and messy. But once you get the hang of it, the Breville Barista Max becomes an absolute joy to use. It’s a well-built, functional machine with everything you need to make cafe-quality espresso at home.
I can't comment on the milk frother as we only drink espresso or americano.
My only complaints about the machine is the grinder does throw a lot of grinds off the side of group head. The machine also gives off an slight electrical hum when switched of but still powered at the wall - may not be a problem for some people but definately annoys me.
Maintenance is fairly straight forward as we only use filtered water so no limescale to worry about. You'll need to purchase cleaning tablets separately.
And I don't use any fancy beans either. I'm quite satisfied using the Sainsbury's Fairtrade coffee beans!
I have since bought an aftermarket bottomless portafilter that improves the espresso it pulls, giving a denser crema. But even without that it makes an excellent cup of coffee.
My partner uses it every day.
It's easy to use, easy to fill with beans and water and easy to clean.
Well worth the money
It looks stunning. Very quiet, pleasantly surprised compared to another well known make I witnessed. Yes there's a lot of plastic but probably they are all like that. Doesn't take up much space on the worktop which is a bonus for us.
I am new to this barista malarkey. Tips from me,,: don't remove the steam wand from the jug while it's still going or you will have a lot of spattered milk. Don't run water through the group head without the porta filter in place or you get hot water everywhere. These are not machine specific but due to an inexperienced operator, me! It's great fun.
I could wait a bit for the price to drop :)
I like the grinder, it’s reasonably quick and adjustable over a wide range, to adapt to different beans and tastes. I’ve had the Breville for two years now and it still works like new (I use it two or three times a day).
I would highly recommend this machine.
Would recommend to all
He was over the moon with it and as soon as he got it home he set it up. He told me that it did take a few cups to get it to produce a good coffee, but once it was dailed in then the coffee was great. He also went out and bought a new jug with the thermometer on the side.
I have visited a few times and had a coffee from it and I was very impressed considering it was the massive price differece. Hopefully it will last as long as the SAGE has and IF the SAGE ever went down then I wouild definetly be happy with a Breville version.
After four or five days of near-constant use, I'm delighted. It's actually a much more versatile machine than the Dualit, with its auto-measuring to deliver you a choice of one or two shots before shutting off.
The coffee temperature is perfect, as is the crema - I've been using Lidl's Gold ground coffee, which provides a balanced and economical brew.
I think this machine will pay for itself in two or three months of use versus trips to the coffee shop.
Much more solid and feels better quality (even the plastic parts) than other options at the lower end of the price range I've used (DeL and Sw). Very simple appearance and controls, very intuitive to use, espresso forms crema and steam foams milk effectively.
Very pleased with it so far, seems to be a real bargain so hoping it will last.
Hopefully, this lasts me several years, my coffee hasn't tasted as nice
Pros. Good coffee, easy to use, small machine, works well, clear user guide, not too noisy, only a small leak on first using as I was a bit ham fisted in first use.
Cons. Apparently the steam wand results in the pressure/ heat taking time to reset. My advice would be to make your espresso first and then make up your milk. The tamper which comes with it is plastic which doesn't allow for even pressure on making up your puck. We've just used this with variable results, but no real drop off in the taste of the coffee. Some pucks come out too wet and there is some channeling.
All in all, it's a great wee machine for our morning coffee. It all depends on what you want from the machine you are looking to buy. If you want fancy you need to look to something at an entirely different price bracket.
This Breville was I initially chosen on its functionality ,design and user review.
Pros
It fits neatly on the kitchen work surface under the cupboards and it is a bonus to me that I can store a can of ground coffee on the cool water tank at the back.
Its stainless steel build looks good.
The coffee produced is very good once you get the coffee filter holder levels right and tamped down.
We drink coffee strong and black so I haven’t used the milk wand and probably only use the wand on my previous machine less than once a year.
The automatic function fills 2 cups or a large mug adequately.
Cons
The most significant problem with the machine is the loud vibration that will shake a two cup setup apart resulting in spillage. Initially I reduced this by placing the cups on a folded paper kitchen towel. After experimenting the best solution is to buy a sheet of 22mm diameter x 10mm self adhesive silicone feet. This reduces the noise and vibration. (See pictures, use only 4 feet at the corners or the vibration will come back). A pity that Breville didn’t seem to detect the problem in the design stages and add deep silicone feet costing a few pence.
Using automatic to produce coffee tends to produce cooler coffee and probably does not get the most out of the load. I have therefore reverted to the technique that I used on my previous manual coffee maker. I let the machine heat up and half fill the mug or cups before turning the machine off. I then immediately turn on again, let it heat up and the complete filling the mugs before manually stopping. It really is hotter and better taste extracted.
The coffee filter holder is a bit smaller than I am used to so the coffee strength of 3 is a little weak for a double cup or full mug. Using strength4, 5 (expresso coffee) and above does produce very good strong coffee . I think the Barista Mini has a bigger coffee holder but the design is not as nice and it is more plastic.
Overall
For the price it seems a good machine with some resolvable issues. I have used this machine 3 times a day for just over 6 months without major issue.
As I paid less than £70 for this as a "Warehouse" product, even if it only lasts a couple of years, I will save a lot of money that I would have otherwise spent in the overpriced chains!
As a home user that only makes about 2-3 cups a day, I can't see any need to spend more. This does exactly what I need!
It's a nice compact unit but does a great job when it comes to making a cappuccino.
It looks great, sitting.on my little unit, I love it
You get a few essential items included like a portafilla, tamper a small brush for cleaning and a cleaning disc, let's not forget a jug so , order your coffee in advance and get started straight away after a quick wash of each item before starting
The machine has a keep warm system on the top of it, and a area to stand the tamper.
Easy clean up after making you drink keeping the machine looking great
Stainless steel, easy to look after
We bought it one month ago, and so far it has been the best coffee machine I ever had.
Now I only hope it's gonna last!
I am also a very slack and irresponsible coffee machine owner, so I have absolutely slacked when it comes do descaling. BUT I do have a water softener, so I am hoping its not too bad! But what I will say is that the majority of the milk frother is not removeable (as far as I can tell). I clean all the removeable parts but I've never been able to remove more than the very tip of the frother to clean.
Not sure I would pay over £200 for it, but if you can grab it on a deal, I would defo recommend - a solid little machine that stands the test of time and use.
And the price of this thing is just a bargain, you will never find it cheaper 🎊 really recommend!
My friends are impressed so I must be doing something right.
Great value and highly recommended.
I would recommend, and I am pleased with the purchase.
The only negative is that sometime the milk frother nozzle gets hot and you have to wait for it to cool for re-use.
Pros:
- Easy to get the machine up for the first time - just as simple as emptying half of the water tank through the portafilter into a big bowl and washing the accessories with warm water.
- Super easy for beginners to use.
- Makes excellent-tasting espresso and milk-based coffee once you get the knack for it.
- Get *almost* everything you need to start; you just don't get a metal milk jug for the steam wand which sucks but you *CAN* just use a normal cup (I guess... - thankfully I had two jugs anyway; I'd recommend buying a slightly smaller one as one of my jugs is a little large and doesn't fit deep enough for small amounts of milk)
- The steam wand is ready to use within around 5 minutes and when you are skilled enough can produce delicious frothy micro-foam-filled steamed milk for your milk-based coffees.
Cons:
- Steam wand takes around 10-20 minutes to cool down, so you can't make more espresso during this time.
- The portafilter is a little bit cheap feeling and the notch basket design isn't ideal in my opinion as it can be a little tricky to get the basket out, especially after getting the puck out. You need to swill and dry the basket to easily take it out after use. I'd recommend buying a new portafilter for it once you get the hang of pulling shots with it.
No opinion:
- With any new coffee machine, you will need to dial it in to find the right dosage, right beans, right pull time, etc. So be ready to waste some beans dialing it in.
Overall, I would say this is an excellent coffee machine for the price (I paid £99.99 on offer, but it usually retails for around £200) so if you're on the fence about which bean-to-cup coffee machine to buy, then definitely give this a whirl if you can afford it and be sure to shop around for the best price on this bad boy. I'm in love <3
One tip see tells me is not to pack down the coffee too tightly. Anyway this has been a good buy for us, but espresso machines seem fickle beasts so remember to keep the box and packing, as even the best makes and machines can have problems.
Can now enjoy coffee shop coffees , we use whittard of Chelsea coffee beans to compliment the machine .
It makes a really decent espresso. Nearly every bit as good as the Barista express.
The steam wand is brilliant. Operates at the same 15 bar and produces excellent streamed and frothy milk to impress your guests. I would recommend purchasing the metal jug from Sage/Breville with the temperature gauge on it.
Forget your pod machine and get one if these you will not regret it.
Everything is pretty much a 10/10 on this machine, love the grinder and that you can adjust and just get your own beans and not get stuck with pods. I like the steamer nozzle being individual and you can use it as long as you want to use it for, however I found the pressure quite low so it takes time to get the same quality of milk as it will with a professional machine.
The little storage behind the tray is very clever and makes my life easier a lot.
The only downside is the grinder’s spread it quite big. So the coffee just goes everywhere. I might be doing something wrong there tho…
What goes into this one is ground coffee. You are in control of how fancy or expensive that is.
Obviously, this can lead to mess as even the best coffee grounds scooper can spill stuff, but it's really as simple as:
1. Switch it on.
2. While it's warming up, sort your coffee out into the coffee-holdy-thingy and attach it.
3. Put your cup under the painfully obvious nozzle.
4. Turn the control to drrrrrr drrrrrrrr drrrrrrrrrr mode and wait delicious coffee. Don't wander off as it will just keep going. It does have a sensible cut off but it can't see your cup.
5. Remember to clean out the coffee grounds. Repeat.
All you then have to do is remember to keep the water tank topped up.
It makes great Espresso style coffee without all the faff with steam boilers. You can make cappuccinos with it - the steam nozzle is OK but it's not quite the volcano of steam you get from a steam driven system. I tend to use it for espresso 95% of the time but face it - cappuccino is an absolute faff which is why it's a treat.
The only thing that's a bit odd is that when you remove the coffee grounds holder it can sometimes be a bit soggy on top so avoid irritating spillages by keeping it upright.
Really, the only disadvantage over a capsule system is if you find the thought of wiping up stray coffee grounds horrifying and loading up a small metal device a painful chore. Personally I cannot stand the disposal of capsules if I use one when I'm in a hotel room that has one.
Brand: Breville
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Review:
I've been using the Breville Bijou Espresso Machine and am really impressed with it. It's a great little machine that makes excellent espresso, cappuccinos, and lattes.
The build quality is excellent. The machine is made of high-quality materials, and it feels very sturdy. It's also straightforward to use. The controls are simple, and getting great results with a bit of practice is easy.
I especially like the fact that the machine has a built-in steam wand. This makes it easy to froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes. The steam wand is also mighty, so you can get the perfect foam.
Overall, I'm thrilled with the Breville Bijou Espresso Machine. It's a great little machine that makes excellent coffee drinks. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good-quality espresso machine.
Pros:
Great build quality
Easy to use
Makes great espresso, cappuccinos, and lattes
Built-in steam wand
Cons:
It can be a bit noisy
The water reservoir could be bigger
Overall:
I recommend the Breville Bijou Espresso Machine to anyone looking for a good quality one. It's a great little machine that makes excellent coffee drinks.
It was easy to set up and didn’t cause any problems.
I’ve put beans in the grinder and have used this function. It works. You need to grind the coffee in increments I have found. Fill the basket to a third and shake it flat, grind some more in, shake and a final top up before tamping down the grinds.
I’ve not used the steamer/frother so can’t comment on this.
Machine appears to be well built and has, so far, caused me no issues.
The grinder makes a bit of a mess but the addition of a funnel fixed that and, if I'm honest, there's too much choice in grind settings.
The steam wand is the stand out, though. As good as a coffee shop although it takes a bit longer.
If you're after an upgrade, this is the one for you. Really good coffee, looks god on the counter top and, at this price point, you'll struggle to do better.
But when I first used it the water wasn’t coming through the filter. So I decided to turn the hot water switch to on (right turn) and this then produced water . So when I tried to brew the expresso again , water then came through the filter. This could be useful if you find this happens to you!
I would give the machine 10/10 .
First of all I was slightly worried about the other reviews on here but I managed to get one for 71 pounds through Amazon warehouse (very good) it was immaculate.
Coffee brewing is good, just as good as my delonghi machines £400+. Some of the reviews on here state a wet puck but if you fill it to the max as you should then there are no problems.
Obviously at this price the tamper is basic and so is the handle but it’s more than adequate and there are no rubber gaskets in the portafilter as per really cheap machines.
The best part of this machine is the steam wand omg. You need to learn how to properly steam milk but there are loads of videos on YouTube and it’s easy when you know. It’s powerful (takes seeing 30secs to do 200ml of milk for me but it’s better than any I’ve had from delonghi as it’s a proper steam wand with no silly holes to let air in. I taught my kids how to do it in 5 mins and they had no prior experience at all.
Yes it takes a while to cool after using the steam wand (to make another espresso, around 15 mins) but that’s the same with any single tank machines. Just make all your expressos then make all your steamed milk.
All in all well chuffed with this machine.