Breville BES880 The Barista Touch Precision Automatic Espresso Machin

I purchased this product a year ago. For the past couple decades I have been a Gaggia Classic person, and it is a fine long lasting machine though manual, so when my second one gave out I thought it time to move up to something easier to use and automatic, especially for spouse & guests - and relive me from barista duty. (note: this review is for the Touch model in Black Truffle)Frankly, it took me a while to shell out this money & deciding on which product to go with. So much so I spent several months after my old machine broke going out for my morning espresso (my spouse likes to point out that I spent more going out for espresso than this machine costs - and she is probably right as I like quad shots & sometimes twice a day, at $6 a pop it adds up, not to ... MoreI purchased this product a year ago. For the past couple decades I have been a Gaggia Classic person, and it is a fine long lasting machine though manual, so when my second one gave out I thought it time to move up to something easier to use and automatic, especially for spouse & guests - and relive me from barista duty. (note: this review is for the Touch model in Black Truffle)Frankly, it took me a while to shell out this money & deciding on which product to go with. So much so I spent several months after my old machine broke going out for my morning espresso (my spouse likes to point out that I spent more going out for espresso than this machine costs - and she is probably right as I like quad shots & sometimes twice a day, at $6 a pop it adds up, not to mention the tip & pastry she doesn't know about).I must say I am very pleased with my purchase. For me, the resulting temperature, crema, froth are all excellent. And the machine is uncomplicated and easy to use.I read all the reviews beforehand and frankly there is nothing to add to those other 5 star reviews. And to the 1 star reviews all I can say is I have never experienced your issues (that is heat, grind & steaming problems called out have never been an issue for me).This is not to say it's perfect, just that where it could improve does not affect the quality of the result (of course I'm hopeful it will stand the test of time, don't expect it to last as long as my old manual ones, but frankly if this lasts 6 plus years I'll be happy).And if you want to know my nitpicks:- I might not do black again. The body is fine and well made but the pull out tray is less robust and now has a couple little chips in the color.- The metal tray is thin and very easily scratches (but it is easily replaceable).- The grinder will occasionally not feed because the beans in the bottom can eventually stack in a way to block enough from feeding (easily handled as now I just stir the beans up in the hopper on refill, but I suppose where the beans feed could have more horizontal height to prevent this).- You can push the portafilter into the grinding cradle to auto start the grinding, but be aware if you do quickly/hard then the resulting position of portafilter may be off in cradle enough to cause the grind to spill over the edge (can't really blame the product, though hopefully Breville are aware most customers are still half asleep when using the machine).- It will slide under standard height mounted cabinets over countertop, though it will not for those of us that later installed under lights to existing cabinets (not a criticism, just a shout out to those considering who may have the same situation then end up with less counter space than expecting).See, I said they were nitpicks.I hope you have as much success and enjoyment as me.

I have always been a fan of Breville products, so when I decided to upgrade my espresso machine, I naturally opted for the Breville Touch. Little did I know that my excitement would quickly turn into sheer disappointment and frustration.The setup and initial use seemed flawless. The machine appeared well-built, with a sleek design and a user-friendly touch interface. However, only after a few months of using the machine, I was greeted with the dreaded eR05 error on the screen.At first, I thought it was a minor hiccup. So, I referred to the manual to troubleshoot the issue. After following the recommended steps, I was relieved to see the error disappear, only to have it reappear again the very next day. This eR05 error was like a nightmare that wouldn't go away, ... MoreI have always been a fan of Breville products, so when I decided to upgrade my espresso machine, I naturally opted for the Breville Touch. Little did I know that my excitement would quickly turn into sheer disappointment and frustration.The setup and initial use seemed flawless. The machine appeared well-built, with a sleek design and a user-friendly touch interface. However, only after a few months of using the machine, I was greeted with the dreaded eR05 error on the screen.At first, I thought it was a minor hiccup. So, I referred to the manual to troubleshoot the issue. After following the recommended steps, I was relieved to see the error disappear, only to have it reappear again the very next day. This eR05 error was like a nightmare that wouldn't go away, and I was stuck in a constant loop of troubleshooting and trying to fix the problem.I contacted Breville customer support, hoping that they could provide a solution. They advised me to descale the machine, clean the steam wand, and ensure the water tank was properly seated. Despite following their instructions diligently, the eR05 error persisted.Feeling frustrated, I turned to online forums and discovered that many other Breville Touch users were experiencing the same issue. It became apparent that this wasn't an isolated incident but a widespread problem plaguing this model.The most infuriating part is that the machine's functionality becomes severely limited with the eR05 error. My coffee dreams were shattered, and I was left with a very expensive, fancy-looking kitchen decoration.In conclusion, I regret purchasing the Breville Touch, and I cannot recommend it to others due to the persistent eR05 error. As a long-time Breville customer, I am deeply disappointed in the brand and their apparent lack of attention to this major design flaw. I hope Breville takes these complaints seriously and addresses the issue in their future models.

Initially, I purchased Gagia, a fully automated espresso machine. It was not possible to make a decent cup of espresso no matter what setting we have tried. After a good 40 or 50 different attempts I realized it’s just never going to provide an enjoyable cup of any coffee beverage. While support staff at customer service was extremely helpful and responsive to many of my emails and requests we were unable to adjust this machine to even decent espresso, it was undrinkable every single time.For years I owned older type of Breville and it finally gave out after 7-8 years of excellent service. My water is super hard! Likely it needs a professional cleaning and descaling as what I can do with tablets and filter no longer helps.So I retuned the Gagia and went back to a ... MoreInitially, I purchased Gagia, a fully automated espresso machine. It was not possible to make a decent cup of espresso no matter what setting we have tried. After a good 40 or 50 different attempts I realized it’s just never going to provide an enjoyable cup of any coffee beverage. While support staff at customer service was extremely helpful and responsive to many of my emails and requests we were unable to adjust this machine to even decent espresso, it was undrinkable every single time.For years I owned older type of Breville and it finally gave out after 7-8 years of excellent service. My water is super hard! Likely it needs a professional cleaning and descaling as what I can do with tablets and filter no longer helps.So I retuned the Gagia and went back to a newer model of Breville. It was like riding a bicycle. Excellent latte on the very first try. Super easy to set up, much improved from barista I had before as it froths the milk by itself with a temperature sensor. I can’t believe I wanted to try different brand when I was super happy with this one for years. I am so impressed with this new digital display espresso machine as it provides unparalleled experience and much easier use than the older Breville I owned before. Gagia could not compare in any category. Ease of use, setting, grinding adjustment, cleaning….. this machine is worth every single penny!! I will stick with this brand for years to come and despite not getting dual boiler type, it is super efficient and fast and I do not feel any inconvenience whatsoever. 5/5 stars here.