Product Review: Breville Barista Touch Impress Espresso Machine BES881BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
Introduction
If you’re looking to bring café-quality espresso into your kitchen without years of barista training, the Breville Barista Touch Impress Espresso Machine BES881BSS is built to deliver. This brushed stainless steel espresso machine combines an intuitive touchscreen, automatic milk texturing, and assisted tamping to make reliable shots and silky microfoam simple. Whether you want to buy Breville Barista Touch Impress, compare Breville Barista Touch price, or find the best place to order Breville Barista Touch, this review covers what matters most.
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What is this product?
Overview
The Breville Barista Touch Impress (model BES881BSS, also referenced as Breville BES881 or BES881BSS) is a semi-automatic yet highly automated espresso machine designed for home users who want consistent café-style espresso with minimal fuss. It’s an advanced iteration of the popular Barista Touch line, combining a built-in grinder, touchscreen espresso machine controls, and intelligent tamping for repeatable results. If you’re searching for an espresso machine with built-in grinder or a compact brushed stainless steel espresso machine for small kitchens, this model is worth considering.
Key Features
From “About This Item”
- BARISTA GUIDANCE: Step-by-step guidance with real time feedback from the Impress Puck System for precise extraction and hands-free silky smooth microfoam.
- ASSISTED TAMPING: Intelligent dosing, assisted 22lb tamping and auto correction of the next dose to achieve a precise puck, finished with a 7º barista twist.
- AUTO MilQ & ALTERNATIVE MILK SETTINGS: Auto MilQ features three alternative milk settings which calibrate air injection time and temperature depending on your milk choice.
- AUTO MILK STEAM WAND: The auto steam wand delivers silky smooth microfoam and lets you adjust milk temperature and texture for latte art and flavor.
- THERMOJET HEATING SYSTEM: Innovative ThermoJet heating system achieves optimum extraction temperature in about 3 seconds — no long wait to pull a shot.
- SPECIAL OFFER: Receive 2 free bags of specialty coffee when you purchase and register any Breville coffee machine; terms apply.
Detailed Description
Design and User Experience
The Breville Barista Touch Impress Espresso Machine BES881BSS is finished in brushed stainless steel and features a responsive touchscreen with recipe presets and customization. The machine integrates a high-quality burr grinder, so you get consistent dose and grind size for each recipe. The Impress Puck System provides real-time feedback and assisted tamping, helping users who want café style espresso at home without barista skills.
Performance and Convenience
With the ThermoJet heating system, the machine heats up in about 3 seconds, making it one of the faster automatic espresso machines on the market. The auto steam wand (Auto MilQ) helps you program milk temperature and texture, including three alternative milk settings for non-dairy milks. For those wondering about maintenance, the touchscreen provides prompts and the machine includes accessible components for regular cleaning.
Compact Footprint
This touchscreen espresso machine is compact enough for small kitchens while delivering professional features. If space is limited, the Barista Touch Impress remains a top choice among compact brushed stainless espresso machine for small kitchens.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Consistent shots: Assisted tamping and Impress Puck System improve extraction reliability.
- Fast heat-up: ThermoJet system reaches extraction temperature in ~3 seconds.
- Great milk performance: Auto MilQ with alternative milk settings and programmable temperature.
- User-friendly: Touchscreen recipes and presets make it easy to learn and customize.
- Premium build: Brushed stainless steel finish looks and feels durable.
Cons
- Price: More expensive than entry-level machines — look for Breville Barista Touch discount or sale opportunities.
- Learning curve: Although automated, dialing in grind size and dose (best grind size and dose Breville Barista Touch Impress) still requires attention for perfection.
- Size: Compact, but still needs counter space and a water source for regular use.
Who Should Buy This Product
This machine is ideal for coffee lovers who want a high-quality Breville espresso machine with strong automation features. If you want to buy Breville Barista Touch Impress to make café-style drinks at home — including those using alternative milks — this model is targeted at enthusiasts who value convenience, consistency, and a polished stainless-steel design. It’s also suitable if you’re looking to purchase Barista Touch Impress as a gift for someone who wants professional results without professional training.
Comparison with Similar Products
Breville Barista Touch (original) vs Barista Touch Impress
Compared to the original Barista Touch, the Barista Touch Impress adds the Impress Puck System and assisted tamping for more consistent puck preparation. Both share the touchscreen experience and grinder integration, but the Impress focuses on reducing variations in dose and tamp — making it easier for consistent extractions.
Versus Other Automatic Espresso Machines
Against fully automatic, bean-to-cup machines, the Barista Touch Impress offers more control over extraction and milk texture while still automating tricky steps. If you prefer a true push-button “super-automatic” experience, other models may be simpler, but fewer will match the espresso quality and milk microfoam of this Breville model.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean the Breville Barista Touch Impress steam wand?
To clean the steam wand: purge it immediately after steaming, wipe with a damp cloth, and run the Auto MilQ cleaning cycle if available. For deeper cleaning, soak removable tips in warm water and use a dedicated steam wand brush. Refer to the user manual for the how to clean Breville Barista Touch Impress steam wand steps.
Where can I buy the Breville Barista Touch Impress and find the best price?
You can buy Breville Barista Touch Impress on Amazon, authorized retailers, and kitchen appliance stores. For the Breville Barista Touch best price or current Breville Barista Touch sale, check Amazon listings and seasonal promotions.
Final Verdict
The Breville Barista Touch Impress Espresso Machine BES881BSS blends intelligent automation with professional features: fast ThermoJet heating, touchscreen recipes, a built-in grinder, and assisted tamping. If you want an espresso machine with built-in grinder that produces café-quality espresso and silky microfoam without mastering every barista technique, this model is a compelling purchase. For shoppers ready to purchase Barista Touch Impress or looking for Breville espresso machine deals, watching for discounts and sales will help reduce the upfront investment.
Product link: Breville Barista Touch Impress Espresso Machine BES881BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel