Breville 800ESXL Commercial 15-Bar Triple-Priming Die-Cast Espresso Machine
by Breville
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Our Price: $149.99
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Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: BrevilleBrand: Breville
Release Date: 2005-06-01
Model: 800ESXL
Color: Brushed Stainless
Product features:
- Espresso machine with ThermoBlock heating system and 15-bar Triple Prime pump
- Durable stainless-steel housing; selector dial for espresso, steam, or hot water
- 4-1/2-inch cup clearance; swivel steam wand with frother; 75-ounce removable water tank
- Filters, tamping tool, cleaning tool, and stainless-steel frothing pitcher included
- Measures 12 by 10 by 12-1/2 inches; 1-year warranty
- Breville BCG450XL Conical Burr Grinder
- DeLonghi BCO120T Combination Coffee/Espresso Machine
- DeLonghi BCO130T Combination Coffee/Espresso Machine
- DeLonghi DC514T 14-Cup Programmable Drip Coffeemaker
- Breville BCB100 Barista-Style Coffee Knock Box
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Breville 800ESXL Commercial 15-Bar Triple-Priming Die-Cast Espresso Machine
Customer Review: Very Good Value, Makes Excellent Espresso UPDATE
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my first espresso maker. I was leaning towards going with an automated machine that does the grinding and the tamping for you, but when I found this machine on clearance for $300 at Bed Bath and Beyond, I decided less was more! Plus I already had a grinder. After the 20% coupon I took the machine home for $240.
I can say that this machine makes very good espresso. Last fall we visited friends stationed in Sicily and they promptly had me hooked on macchiatos. I have been looking to replicate that flavor ever since our return.
Although my taste preference now is something somewhere between cappucino and a macchiato. I like to call it a maccucino.
I am grinding my coffee using the finest setting on my cuisinart grinder, and after 3 weeks of use have had no problem with the filters clogging.
The combo scoop/grinder that comes with the unit is good enough for scooping, but you will want to invest in a better tamp. The main problem being that you really need a vertical tamp so that you can better judge if the tamp is perpendicular when you press it into the portafilter, in order to insure that the tamping is level. Does it matter? Maybe, maybe not but level feels more right. :-)
At first I thought that I would miss not having a push button machine that automates the pulls, but now I realize that pulling the shot is not really the time consuming part and more importantly the pull is when you need to pay attention, because the change of the stream from dark brown to a clear blond is what tells you the pull is ready to be terminated. A machine that does an automated pull doesn't monitor the pull visually or otherwise, but rather assumes a pull of x amount time, and assumes that the grind and tamp, and water temp are exactly the same each time. How likely is that?
Scooping out the exact amount of coffee and getting it in the portafilter without spreading it all over the kitchen is the time consuming part. I've figured out that I can make that happen faster but scooping up slightly more than a scoop full then pushing the scoop against the inside of grinding bin, then sliding it back and fourth to level and remove excess. Tilting the portafilter slightly towards the scoop as I dump the coffee in helps the coffee to land in the pf centered up.
I am thinking/hoping that a machine that doesn't do the grinding and tamping will be less prone to issues, and if you lose one feature you don't lose the whole machine. So if my grinder dies...no problem I just buy a new grinder.
I agree that this unit does not make very hot espresso. Fortunately for me I do not like very hot espresso. After smelling the coffee from the grinding, and smelling it during the pull, I lack the patience to wait for it too cool to a suitable level and with store bought espresso I usually end up getting burned because I can't wait for it to cool to a suitable level. I concur with those who claim that heat beyond a certain level actually deters from the ability to pick up all the nuances of the flavor.
Read somewhere that 30 lbs. of tamping force is sufficient. Don't know if it was from the literature on this unit or elsewhere. I have experimented with tamping even firmer than this, much firmer, and the machined has not balked on any of those occaissions.
Some have commented that it uses much water, and that they wish it held more water. I agree that it uses a lot of water. If you pull back to back shots it runs water through the system to prevent water that is too hot from reaching the portafilter. This water is dumped directly to drip pan through an internal line.
Still I would not want a larger tank. If I fill it up, it is more than enough water to do 2 doppios/day for 4 days. I really don't like to use water that has been sitting around for more than a few days. The water in the tank does get warmed up every time you use the unit because of the cup warmer on top, so after a few days stuff is bound to being growing in there... right? After a few days I typically rinse out the tank and leave it to air dry.
All in all, I am very pleased with this unit and I agree it is a very attractive piece. I think you can't really expect to spend less than $500 or $600 to get a durable machine that consistently pulls rich espresso.
UPDATE 12/16/2010: Finally tried out some ese pods...no go. Instead of a nice steady stream that I was used to from the single and double filters, I had a stream that would stop and start. The espresso produced was very good but seemed like something was not right with the ESE filter. Tried using the cleaning tool..but there did not appear to be anything in the hole on bottom. Shaking the filter revealed a metallic sound rattling around. Running water through the filter without a pod in it produced the same bad result. Water did not stream out but would start and stop, drip and stop, stream then drip, just sort of randomly starting and stopping. Definitely seems like something is in the ESE filter.
Contacted Breville USA via email, requesting a replacement ese filter...we'll see what the response is like.
12/24/10 OK Breville responded to email the next day and shipped out a new ESE pod filter. Still the same thing. The stream starts and stops and sputters, and it takes a very long time to to produce the shot and I get some espresso coming out the sides of the portafilter, not a lot but I never have that problem with the other filters. The espresso it makes is very good, actually better than what I am getting with the coffee I am grinding, but something seems not right. Anyone else experiencing problems like this with the ESE pod filter?
More Breville 800ESXL Commercial 15-Bar Triple-Priming Die-Cast Espresso Machine reviews:
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Description of Breville 800ESXL Commercial 15-Bar Triple-Priming Die-Cast Espresso Machine
The Breville 800ESXL Commercial Die Cast Designed Espresso Machine is incredibly beautiful, as well, as functional! It has a thermo block heating system, 15 bar Italian made pump, dual wall crema system, a pre-brew function and an auto-purge function (anti burn) just to name a few. This espresso machine will look gorgeous on your countertop in your kitchen. It's a functional show piece.Espresso Machines
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