Breville 800ESXL Commercial 15Bar TriplePriming DieCast Espresso Machine
| Brand: | Breville | ||
| Average Rating |
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Nowadays, it’s become a form of a fashion statement to be drinking coffee outdoors- teenagers with cups of coffee in their clutches are considered cool, as well as those adults who talk and catch up under the colorful umbrellas of their neighborhood coffee shops. But then again, how would you like to brew coffee according to your own tastes, right at the comforts of your own home?
Breville has long established itself as a trusted brand when it comes to kitchen appliances, and its Breville 800ESXL is no exception to the quality the Australian powerhouse has to offer.
Given this, does the machine have what it takes to withstand competition? Read on after the jump to know more.
Key Features
* ThermoBlock heating system
* Customizable system programming
* 15-bar Triple Prime pump
* A durable stainless steel case
* A dedicated selector dial for espresso, steam, or hot water
* A clearing for 4 ½ inch cups
* A swivel steam wand with frother
* Filters, cleaning tools, and stainless steel frothing pitcher
The Unit
At 15 x 16 x 13” and 17.8 lbs, the Breville 800ESXL brewer manages to be compact in appearance yet roomy in weight. Most of the bulk is attributed to the numerous stainless steel parts housed in the machine’s body, but that shouldn’t be an issue when it comes to the actual brewing already.
The machine is mounted on a swivel ball to facilitate movement around its space, as well as easy maneuverability. The rather well-built steam wand steadily produces dry steam for that easy barista-style milk and froth; it also makes room for water to be used in tea and most other hot beverages.
Each solid stainless steel filter houses Breville’s unique dual-wall crema technology, which produces pressure in the head, when accompanied by the Triple-Prime pump’s automatic release of three bursts of water, extracts more flavour and texture from your ordinary coffee beans. The machine’s fully die-cast selector dial enables quick yet easy switching between espresso, steam and hot water modes. By turning the knob to the left, the unit can alternate between hot water and steam; turning to the right gives you the manual control over the espresso-making process.
With a full 4-1/2-inch clearance, the machine accommodates large cups and travel mugs, making it ideal not just for espresso, but also americano, cappuccino, and cafe latte. The 75-ounce removable illuminated water tank produces 50 single shots of espresso before refilling, and is conveniently accessible from both the front and the rear of the unit.
Where to get it
Amazon.com puts up the Breville 800ESXL espresso machine at $499.99, excluding costs from handling and shipping.
more info
Owned the 800ESXL for 3.5 yrs and still love it
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve had this machine for 3 1/2 years now. My wife and I both use it on a daily basis for espresso and/or some sort of latte-type beverage. I still love this machine. Guests to the house still tell me that I make the best espresso they have had in recent memory. Additionally, if you like foam on your latte drinks, the milk steamer, when used with the correct technique, can provide foam that rivals whipped egg whites. The technique took some practice. I find that 1% milk works best.
Only problem I’ve ever had was slow water flow from the brew head. I live in southern California and thus have hard water. I had never decalcified the machine. So I filled the tank with 50/50 vinegar / water and ran it through. The machine was good as new.
I do take good care of the machine, rinse the filters out at the sink, and wipe down the steam nozzle after each use.
I would highly recommend this machine. If it broke tomorrow, I would purchase another one.
Broke out of the box – no refund
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I recently purchased this product and it was broke right out of the box. I tried to have it replaced but they would do nothing for me. I would not buy this product again or any other Bellville products.
lights are on, but no one’s home
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Beautiful machine, heavy, seems like it would be durable. Makes a nice espresso with everything you’d expect. At least, WHEN THE MACHINE WORKS. I’m on my third machine. First one, heater quit working after 9 months. Second one (their replacement), heater quit working after only 3 months. They replaced the third one with an upgrade to the BES 820XL model (programmable). It never worked – broken pump out of the box. Past 90 days with Amazon, so can’t get $ back there and MAKE NOTE: If you don’t purchase the machine directly from Breville, they can’t give you your money back, only an endless game of ‘replace the machine’. Hey, it keeps UPS in business at least. I know people who love their machine…lucky them, it’s still working.
a Workhorse
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We’ve had our Breville machine for over 4 years and it’s still going strong – which is saying something because we’ve been known to use it 3 – 7 times a day for multiple espressos, tea, and just steaming milk. We love this machine. It works really well, really consistently, even though we honestly don’t take very good care of it. It’s easy to use, easy to clean, and easy to fill (and wash out)the water tank (especially important if you have gnarly hard water like ours). It’s really good looking out on the counter too and doesn’t really take up much space – after all, it stores all of it’s own parts (there’s a handy tray under/behind the water reservoir that holds the other size of filter, cleaning needle for the steam wand, etc.). The steamer works great and does an excellent job even on soy milk (which is all we use). We have made our money back on this machine many times over. I would highly recommend it to anyone who drinks a lot of espresso and wants to start making it at home. It may have cost as much as my first car, but it runs a lot more dependably!
Espresso Dream
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
We previously owned a Breville espresso machine and were always been impressed with the overall build quality and excellent espressos made, hence we decide to buy this one as a second machine.
This machine is very easy to use and will have someone with limited or no experience frothing milk and making impressive creme in no time. The build quality is excellent. The machine heats up quickly and there is almost no downtime when switching between the milk froth and espresso functions.
My only criticism is that the water tank is initially awkward to remove and refill, but after a few time it becomes relatively easy and you will be grateful for the huge water capacity especialy when entertaining a large group of friends and having to make 10 espressos!
I would definitely recommend this product for both the “experienced” and “new” espresso fan.
Flawed pump design…
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Since 2008, I have had 2 of these. On both of them the pump broke, meaning you end up with a $500 piece of scrap metal. I am firmly convinced the pump deign on these is flawed – I did not use the machines heavily, and previous to these I had a $250 Krupp that lasted over 5 years.
It is a shame, because this Breville is beautifully built: it’s heavy, the design is clean and functional and it looks great in a kitchen with other stainless steel appliances. While it makes espresso, the quality of it is very good, with good micro-froth for a machine in this price range. The controls are easy and straight forward.
Shame about the pump design, it has truly made me decide to never go Breville espresso maker again, despite the appealing aesthetics and great mechanical design. There is no excuse for a $500 espresso maker that breaks after less than 100 uses…
The Breville is Just Right
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My wife gave this to me for an early christmas present (2009). I’ve waited to post a review as I wanted to see how it holds up over several months of continuous use. This is the first espresso machine that I’ve owned and I’ve never worked in a coffee shop. Aesthetically: it’s beautiful. Sharp, clean, and in my opinion, well designed. It’s very user friendly, easy to clean and makes great espresso; especially for a novice “coffee connoisseur.” The espresso comes out very quick and there is always a lot of crema. I understand there is a “crema-enhancer” in the design and I’m perfectly fine with that. As far as tastes and quality, I find it depends on the bean, the grind, and the tamp. With good fresh beans, a nice fine grind (but not too fine!), and a good, hard tamp–the espresso taste’s great! Some reviewer’s said the taste was “bitter” or “sour” and “lacking in flavor.” I strongly disagree. If it’s not tasting that great, then try a different bean. (And honestly, I normally add a teaspoon of sugar for every two shots…) I’m satisfied with the temperature, not too hot, but not cool either.
Critically speaking: a longer steam wand would be a good improvement. I am also, slightly concerned about the longevity of the pump and the thermoblock, but so far so good. I’ve also noticed that the used grind can sometimes be sludgy, but not every time and I think this becomes the case if I have a really fine grind.
Bottomline: With a good bean, I can certainly make a better espresso or latte than anything Starbucks or other coffee franchises can offer, at least in my location. Now on the other hand, a locally owned shop with a good bartistas might have the upper hand in taste and quality. Yet, I can make an espresso, latte, or carmel ice “frappe” any time of the day and as often as I want and not have to leave the comfort of my home. At the end of the day, I say it’s just right.
Two other points:
1. If you decide on the Breville, shop around. I saw a 800ESXL on sale at bed bad and beyond for $379. Which was the price my wife bought the machine for in october (2009) through amazon. The’ve raised the price since (557.99 at time of posting this review).
2. Spend the extra money and get a good Burr grinder. I wouldn’t go for anything less than a Cuisineart. My first grinder was a hamilton beach, which broke after 4 months of use.
Anchors away
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I consider myself lucky that I had 2-1/2 years of good service from this machine before the pump gave out. I contacted Breville to troubleshoot and they were quick to mention they make quality and superior products then they referred me to their out-of-warranty repair subcontractor. I called them – the folks in Nile, Ill. and they could not tell me anything other than to send it in for them to determine what it will take to repair it. All I could see was dollar signs and a high probability I would not be satisfied. I turned to Amazon to look for another espresso machine and I saw these reviews. I thank each of you for posting these as it confirmed my suspicions and prevented me from buying another Breville.
I have their coffee grinder too. From day one I knew this was poorly engineered. Try to fill up the container with grinds – enough for 4 shots. You can’t. The small opening prevents that and soon the mountain of grinds grows to the point where it stops up the opening and stresses out the motor. I fixed that problem by breaking off the lid to the container. Now I have grinds that fly out all over the counter but at least I can fill up the container.
If I had a boat I would not need to buy an anchor!
Breville 800SL
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Love this machine…..fast, easy to clean, and took a few tries to get the perfect latte, but have that part mastered. My only complaint was that nowhere on the product description did we see anything that stated it was a refurbished machine, and we were expecting brand new, so were very disappointed. We contacted Breville and they stated they refurbish the machines sold, and it holds the same warranty as a new machine, so we decided to keep it, registered it for the warranty and will hope for the best.
DO NOT BUY THIS MACHINE—-YOU WILL BE SORRY!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Just like others have said this starts out as a great machine. My nephew even purchased one after using mine. After the warranty was out, it started to leak. Breville told me it probably needed an O-ring replacement. I sent away for the O-ring and was able to replace it myself. It continued to leak and now leaks like a sieve. Unfortunately, the seals that really need replacing are up inside the machine. I had a repairman come to the house. He tried and tried to get inside the housing (he could see what was wrong) but couldn’t. After seeing the other reviews with the same problem, I’m beginning to think that they “die cast” this machine to make it impossible to repair. I live in Sacramento and the nearest “authorized” repair is San Francisco. It sounds like my best bet is to just chuck the thing without spending a lot of time and money to repair it. In addition to these problems, my Americanas were never hot enough using the hot water feature and it seemed to take a long time to get steamed milk up to 160 degrees or hotter.
This is a very disappointing and expensive counter ornament!
Great Service Breville
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Mine broke on the wand but breville after 6months replaced the machine and upgraded it to the one with the gauge. i would get the one with the gauge as the wand is actually polished which makes cleaning a lot better. it also make better crema again thanks breville for great service
DON’T COUNT ON GOOD SERVICE FROM BREVILLE
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I purchased a Breville 800ESXL Espresso Maker because it appeared to be a very well built, solid machine. After very limited use, the entire steam wand assembly broke off. I contacted Breville, but they refused to do anything because it happened outside the 1 year warranty. They gave me a list of authorized non-warranty repair stations. Of the 7 locations given to me for California, the nearest one is in San Francisco – about 2+ hrs away from Sacramento where i live. I’m trying to find an independent servicer in the Sacramento area, but so far have had no luck. Check for local service before you buy!
Great Machine
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
So not being an ‘expert’ on machines I went to an Italian friend who is asked him his advice and told him what I was willing to spend. He picked this out of a list of machines I considered and am I ever happy I followed his advice. I’ve had my Breville for a year and a half now and it’s still going strong with daily use … one other thing if you follow the directions on cleaning and maintenance you’ll have no problem. I read a complaint about a ‘soupy’ residual of coffee vs a ‘dry’ puck and have to assume this person is either not tamping or getting a bum grind to use … yes there is dampness but didn’t you just run a bunch of water through it? yet when I empty the filter my coffee comes out in a solid puck and it produces a lovely crema (have tested repeatedly in a clear espresso shot glass).
One other thing I would like to mention. I bought mine through an online retailer who had a ‘great deal’ and assured me it was ‘New’. When it arrived the box was clearly stamped as ‘Refurbished’ and of course the retailer was non-responsive. On top of which it didn’t work. I contacted Breville and along with my pre-purchase emails of condition as ‘New’. Well, Breville bent over backwards issued me a ‘RMA” paid the shipping and upon inspection of the machine promptly returned to me a brand new espresso machine … no additional charges, no shipping, no hassles.
I wouldn’t recommend you try to buy refurbished in order to get ‘new’ but to me it speaks volumes to their attentiveness to customer service and satisfaction. Thanks Breville.
Now the best part. $$$’s. I was an average Starbucks/Caribou visitor maybe just on average 3x a week. I took a look at the budget and factoring in coffee purchases, extras (milk/cream etc) my Breville hit the break even point in just under 4 months of use and is now paying for itself … plus very convenient! Not to mention how impressed dinner guests are when you finish up a meal and offer them espresso with dessert! ‘If’ it ever wears out I will be back for another!
Great product, even better customer service!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We were given a less expensive Breville espresso machine as a gift. It started leaking after several months, so I contacted Breville customer service. They swapped the less expensive machine for this one — without charge. I was thrilled that they took back the other one (since I didn’t have a receipt) and even more thrilled that they upgraded it. Although the new machine was refurbished, I can’t tell the difference. This machine is solid, works quickly, delivers great espresso and cappuccino, and is easy to clean. I highly recommend not just this machine, but Breville products — due to their excellent customer service.
Great Home Machine for Lattes
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We have owned this machine for about a year. We are latte drinkers and this machine does a great job pulling shots for lattes. I can not really comment on espresso, as I am by no means an espresso expert. That said, with this machine, I make better lattes than the local coffee joints (Seattle’s best, Starbucks, etc). More coffee flavor, not as bitter, and certainly not the scald taste you can get from some of the chains.
Easy to use, though a little picky on the grind. I find a grind between espresso and drip works the best. I use the grinders in the grocery store, and use their bulk beans. Espresso grind will definitely clog the machine up, and drip is to course. I tend to go a little closer to drip than espresso when I am selecting the grind level.