Breville Barista Express, 54 mm with built-in grinder
"The whole espresso bar in one 16-inch machine: a built-in burr grinder that doses straight into the 54 mm portafilter, a steam wand for milk, and the rest in the box."
Why we picked it
We chose it for the kitchen that wants fresh-ground espresso without a separate grinder on the counter.
- Built-in conical burr grinder with 16 settings and dose control, per Breville
- 54 mm portafilter: tampers, baskets and funnels are easy to find
- Single- and dual-wall baskets, tamper, razor tool, milk jug and water filter in the box
- Size
- 15.9 in wide, 13.1 in deep, 12.4 in tall, per Breville
- Tank
- 67 oz, removable; hopper: 1/2 lb of beans
Heat: Thermocoil with PID temperature control; 15-bar pump, 9-bar extraction, per Breville
Skip it if your counter stretch is under 16 in, or if you want one-touch milk drinks; the wand is manual.
Before you buy
- Counter width: 15.9 in wide with the hopper on, plus room beside it for a cup and the milk jug.
- Above it: the bean hopper lid opens from the top, so leave clearance over the 12.4 in height; the 67 oz tank lifts out.
- Accessory size: 54 mm, same as the Bambino; buy tampers, baskets and funnels sold for Breville 54 mm.
Fits: A kitchen with about 18 in of counter that wants fresh-ground espresso and hand-steamed milk from one machine.
Not for: A corner under 16 in wide, or anyone who wants one-touch lattes.
Goes with
- Escali Primo digital kitchen scale: weigh the beans and the shot for a repeatable recipe
- Chemex 8-cup pour-over coffeemaker: a clean pot from the same beans on slow mornings
Full guide: read it
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Coffee bar
Breville Bambino, 54 mm espressoCompact espresso for a small kitchen: ready in about 3 seconds, and its 54 mm accessories are easy to find.
Baratza Encore ESP burr grinderOne burr grinder for espresso and filter coffee: settings 1 to 20 for espresso, 21 to 40 for drip, and 13.4 in tall with the hopper on.
CASABREWS espresso machine, 51 mmA first espresso machine at a starter price, with one catch: it takes 51 mm baskets, and most accessory kits do not.
Chemex 8-cup pour-over coffeemakerThe glass pour-over for people who like the ritual: 40 oz, borosilicate glass, wood collar, a gift that looks the part.- Breville Barista Express, 54 mm with built-in grinderThe whole espresso bar in one 16-inch machine: a built-in burr grinder that doses straight into the 54 mm portafilter, a steam wand for milk, and the rest in the box.
De'Longhi Magnifica Duo, one-touch hot and icedBean-to-cup at one touch, hot or iced: it grinds, brews and froths milk on its own, with 20 preset drinks and two milk carafes, one for hot foam and one for cold.
Nespresso Vertuo Pop+, one-touch pod coffeeOne-touch coffee or espresso from a pod, hot in 30 seconds, from a machine only 10.4 inches tall: the fast setup that still fits under a low cabinet.
From the same guide
- Breville Bambino, 54 mm espressoCompact espresso for a small kitchen: ready in about 3 seconds, and its 54 mm accessories are easy to find.
- Baratza Encore ESP burr grinderOne burr grinder for espresso and filter coffee: settings 1 to 20 for espresso, 21 to 40 for drip, and 13.4 in tall with the hopper on.
- CASABREWS espresso machine, 51 mmA first espresso machine at a starter price, with one catch: it takes 51 mm baskets, and most accessory kits do not.
- Chemex 8-cup pour-over coffeemakerThe glass pour-over for people who like the ritual: 40 oz, borosilicate glass, wood collar, a gift that looks the part.
- De'Longhi Magnifica Duo, one-touch hot and icedBean-to-cup at one touch, hot or iced: it grinds, brews and froths milk on its own, with 20 preset drinks and two milk carafes, one for hot foam and one for cold.
- Nespresso Vertuo Pop+, one-touch pod coffeeOne-touch coffee or espresso from a pod, hot in 30 seconds, from a machine only 10.4 inches tall: the fast setup that still fits under a low cabinet.