BuzzFeed editor Melanie Aman says, “My partner and I had been on the fence about upgrading our coffee setup to include an espresso machine, but were always a bit leery about the price. Would we use it enough to make it worth it? Would it be a hassle to use? Would it take up a good chunk of our kitchen counters?
Let me say that we are kicking ourselves for not getting one sooner! While this was a very thoughtful gift for my partner’s birthday from his family, it is truly worth the price tag and is something I would totally repurchase with my own money if I ever needed to. We’ve used it pretty much every day since we got it, which means that the amount we’ve saved on espresso drinks at NYC coffee shops has pretty much covered the price of the machine. TBH, I don’t even want to go get coffee elsewhere unless it’s a super fancy, seasonal latte that I can’t make at home.
Using the machine is incredibly easy: It turns on with the push of a button and is ready to use in seconds — no waiting 20 minutes for the machine to warm up! The touchscreen, which I didn’t think I needed initially, is a huge reason that I would recommend splurging on this model over its cheaper cousin, the Breville Barista Express (which is also on sale and a fan favorite, so still a solid option!). It’s nice to toggle through the menu to select the drink you want. And the touchscreen walks you through each step, so the process doesn’t seem so intimidating. You can even save custom drinks once you find the settings you like. We haven’t had the machine long enough to have to descale it, but given how easy every other part of using and cleaning this machine is, I’m not super concerned.
This has been a truly delightful addition to my kitchen, and if you’re on the fence like I was, do it, do it, do it! You will not regret it!
Price: $795.99 (originally $999.95; available in three colors)