randomroyalty's Full Review: Breville BES400 Espresso Machine
After seeing this gorgeous machine at the local Costco for $200 CDN I couldn't resist buying it.
Compared to my Saeco Armonia, which has a rather down-market dowdy appearance, this machine has stunning good looks and an apparently high build quality. Some of the neat features like the hidden storage drawer behind the drip tray, easy to read and fill reservoir and quick startup time make for a compelling package.
However after going through nearly two pounds of coffee, I could not, under any circumstances, pull a decent shot with more than a hint of crema. This was with a variety of beans, grind and tamp settings, even to the point of actually clogging the portafilter.
My only explanation is the temperature of the water at the head was not sufficiently hot for proper extraction. However even "temperature surfing" tricks, like running the steam cycle before brewing would not make a difference.
Doing a little digging it would appear that many people on different sites complain about the Breville pressurized portafilter, and exchanging for a non-pressurized Krups seems to improve things. Since I could not source one locally (which meant ordering one and waiting), and given the generally negative reviews on the net with regards to this machine's long term reliability, I simply decided to return it.
Fantastic prices with ease & c...(Stock status: N/A)
The Breville IKON Espresso Machine has a high performance stainless steel boiler system: precision coffee extraction temperature with commercial powe...More at Amazon Marketplace
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