If you've been pulling shots with a pod machine or brewing drip coffee and wondering whether it's time to step up, the Breville Barista Express BES870 is probably already on your shortlist. It's been one of the best-selling semi-automatic espresso machines in Australia for years, and for good reason — it bundles a conical burr grinder, PID temperature control, and a full steam wand into a single countertop footprint. But the BES870 also has real limitations that most reviews gloss over: a 54mm portafilter that narrows your upgrade path, a single boiler that slows you down when you're making milk drinks, and a built-in grinder that can struggle with certain roast profiles. This is a machine that rewards the right buyer and frustrates the wrong one. Here's who should buy it — and who shouldn't.
Who it's for
The Barista Express is built for home baristas upgrading from pod or drip machines who want one appliance that does everything. If you're searching for the best espresso machine with built-in grinder at a mid-range price point, the BES870 belongs on your shortlist. If you're making one to two drinks per day and you want to learn the fundamentals of dose, grind, tamp, and extraction without buying a separate grinder, it's a compelling package.
It's ideal for beginners who want a hands-on learning platform. The grind size dial, dose control, and manual milk steaming give you enough variables to experiment with while keeping the workflow manageable. If you're after a machine that will teach you what "dialling in" means without requiring a $600 grinder on day one, this is the sweet spot. Just be aware that if you catch the espresso bug hard, you may outgrow the 54mm portafilter ecosystem within a year or two.
Specs at a glance
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Semi-automatic espresso with built-in grinder |
| Boiler | Single boiler, thermocoil with PID |
| Portafilter | 54mm (proprietary Breville size) |
| Grinder | Integrated conical burr, dose control |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar (Italian-made pump) |
| Water tank | 2L removable |
| Dimensions | ~33 × 31 × 40 cm |
| Weight | ~12.4 kg |
| Voltage | 240V (AU compatible) |
Note: The Specs block in the dossier was empty beyond pricing. The above specs are drawn from the Breville product page and Bing Lee listing.
What we like
All-in-one design saves counter space. Having the grinder built in means one less appliance, one less power outlet, and a cleaner workflow. For a small kitchen, this matters. (cornercoffeestore.com)
PID temperature control keeps extraction consistent. The BES870 holds brewing temperature within about 1°C shot to shot, which is a feature you won't find on most machines at this price. Consistent temp means consistent flavour, especially once you've dialled in a recipe. (guidespot.com)
Genuinely useful as a learning platform. The adjustable grind size, dose trimming, and manual steam wand give you real espresso fundamentals to practice. If you're coming from a pod machine, this is where you learn what all those YouTube videos are actually talking about. (cornercoffeestore.com)
Large accessories bundle and massive community. Out of the box you get a range of filter baskets, a tamper, and a cleaning kit. Online, the BES870 community is enormous — Reddit, Facebook groups, and YouTube are packed with dial-in guides, mod tutorials, and troubleshooting threads. When you get stuck, help is easy to find. (latteholic.com)
Where it falls short
No fast-heat mode. Competitors at this price point — including newer Breville models — offer rapid heating that gets you pulling shots in under a minute. The BES870 takes its time warming up. On a weekday morning, that wait adds up. (cornercoffeestore.com)
The grinder jams with oily dark roasts. If you favour dark, oily beans, expect occasional hopper jams. The conical burrs handle medium roasts well, but very oily or very light roasts can cause retention issues and inconsistent dose weights. This is the grinder's most commonly reported frustration. (guidespot.com)
Single boiler limits back-to-back drinks. If you're making two cappuccinos in a row, you'll be waiting between brewing and steaming. The BES870 needs time to transition between brew and steam temperatures — a workflow constraint that dual-boiler or heat-exchange machines eliminate. For one drink at a time, it's fine. For entertaining, it's slow. The most efficient single-boiler workflow is to steam your milk first (it holds heat well in a steel jug), then switch back to brew temperature and pull your shot — this avoids the longer wait of heating up to steam temp after brewing. If you're making multiple milk drinks, batch-steam all your milk before pulling any shots. (latteholic.com)
Out-of-warranty repairs are expensive. Once the two-year warranty expires, repair costs can approach 50% of the machine's new price. Breville's service network in Australia is solid, but parts and labour add up quickly for thermocoil or pump failures. This is worth factoring into your total cost of ownership. (cornercoffeestore.com)
54mm portafilter limits your upgrade path. Breville uses a proprietary 54mm basket size rather than the industry-standard 58mm. This means fewer aftermarket baskets (like IMS or VST precision baskets), fewer third-party accessories, and a narrower ecosystem if you want to fine-tune your setup. If you plan to go deep into espresso, you'll eventually want 58mm — and that means a new machine. (Dossier risk flag)
How it compares
The BES870's most direct competitor in Australia is the Gaggia Classic Pro (approximately AUD $747–$999, based on AU retailer listings at time of writing). The Gaggia trades the built-in grinder for a commercial-standard 58mm portafilter, a brass boiler with better thermal stability, and a thriving mod community (PID kits, OPV springs). If you're willing to buy a separate grinder and tinker, the Gaggia has a higher ceiling. But it demands more from you on day one — and costs more overall once you add a capable grinder.
At the budget end, the DeLonghi Dedica EC685 (approximately AUD $189–$299, based on AU retailer listings at time of writing) is far cheaper and heats up in under 40 seconds. But it uses a 51mm portafilter, lacks a built-in grinder, and offers fewer variables to control. It's a stepping stone; the BES870 is a destination for most home users.
The Barista Express sits between these two: easier to start with than the Gaggia, more capable than the DeLonghi, and self-contained in a way neither competitor matches.
Verdict
So is the Breville Barista Express worth it? For Australian beginners who want to learn real espresso skills without assembling a multi-component setup, yes — it's the best all-in-one at this price. The built-in grinder, PID temperature control, and full steam wand give you a complete workflow in a single machine, and the enormous community means you'll never be stuck without help dialling in.
It's not without trade-offs. The 54mm portafilter locks you into Breville's ecosystem, the single boiler slows down milk-drink workflows, and the grinder has real limitations with certain bean profiles. If you're already sure you want to go deep into espresso, a 58mm machine like the Gaggia Classic Pro with a standalone grinder will serve you longer. But for the majority of home baristas making one to two drinks a day, the BES870 hits the sweet spot of capability, convenience, and value — especially at the AU street prices available right now.
Recommended for: Beginners and upgraders who want a complete, learn-on-it espresso setup without buying separate components.
Think twice if: You drink oily dark roasts daily, you make more than three milk drinks in a session, or you already know you want a 58mm upgrade path.
Rating
4 / 5 — The best all-in-one for beginners, held back only by the 54mm portafilter ecosystem and single-boiler throughput.
Where to buy (Australia)
| Stockist | Price (AUD) | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey Norman | ~$547–$699 | harveynorman.com.au |
| Bing Lee | ~$599–$699 | binglee.com.au |
| Amazon AU | ~$695 | amazon.com.au |
| Myer | ~$699 | myer.com.au |
Prices as of April 2026. Some prices sourced from OzBargain deal history — current shelf prices may be higher.
Sources
- https://www.breville.com/en-us/product/bes870
- https://www.amazon.com.au/Breville-Barista-Espresso-Stainless-BES870BSS/dp/B00RFAQYF8
- https://cornercoffeestore.com/breville-barista-express-review/
- https://www.guidespot.com/breville-barista-express-review/
- https://latteholic.com/blogs/news/breville-bes870-barista-express
- https://www.ozbargain.com.au/product/breville-bes870
- https://www.binglee.com.au/products/breville-bes870-the-barista-express
What works
- Built-in grinder saves counter space and simplifies workflow
- PID temperature control ensures consistent shot-to-shot extraction
- Excellent learning platform with manual controls and adjustable variables
- Large online community provides extensive troubleshooting and dial-in support
- Complete package with accessories at competitive mid-range price
What doesn’t
- 54mm portafilter limits aftermarket upgrades and accessory options
- Single boiler slows down consecutive milk drink preparation
- Grinder jams with oily dark roasts, causing retention issues
- Expensive out-of-warranty repairs can approach half machine cost
The verdict.
The best all-in-one for beginners wanting real espresso skills without separate components, but the 54mm ecosystem and single boiler limit long-term flexibility for enthusiasts who go deep.