Breville Barista Touch Impress Review

As a coffee lover, I’m always in search of an espresso machine that can deliver quality coffee without the steep learning curve of professional machines. After trying various models, I decided to give the Breville Barista Touch Impress a try. n for its unique balance between automated convenience and manual controls, this machine seemed to offer the best of both worlds. Here’s my Breville Barista Touch Impress review, based on my experience with its features, ease of use, and coffee quality.

First Impressions and Design of the Breville Barista Touch Impress

From the moment I set it up, the Breville Barista Touch Impress looked and felt premium. Its sleek stainless-steel finish and compact build instantly gave my kitchen a café-like vibe. What struck me first was the touchscreen interface—it’s clear, vibrant, and intuitive. I’ve used espresso machines with complicated button layouts, but Breville’s approach with this model is refreshingly simple.

The machine doesn’t take up much space on my counter, which is great if you’re short on space. It has a modern look that doesn’t overpower the room, and the build quality feels solid, indicating durability. Right from unboxing to setup, it was clear that Breville had put a lot of thought into both the aesthetics and functionality of this machine.

Breville Barista Touch Impress Review: Setting Up and Getting Started

Getting started with the Breville Barista Touch Impress was surprisingly easy. The touchscreen guides you step-by-step through filling the water tank, adjusting the grind settings, and priming the machine. Even as someone familiar with espresso machines, I found this setup process intuitive and beginner-friendly.

The machine comes with all necessary accessories, including a portafilter, tamper, stainless steel milk jug, and a cleaning kit. These tools made me feel like I had everything I needed right at my fingertips, which isn’t always the case with espresso machines. After the initial setup, I was ready to start experimenting with my first espresso shot.

Breville Barista Touch Impress Review: The Touchscreen and Customization

One of the standout features of the Breville Barista Touch Impress is its touchscreen, which makes selecting and customizing drinks incredibly easy. The menu includes options like espresso, latte, flat white, cappuccino, and even an Americano. Each option is customizable, so I could adjust the strength, milk texture, and temperature of each drink.

This level of customization made a significant difference in my experience. I love a strong latte in the morning and a smooth flat white in the afternoon, and the touchscreen allows me to save these preferences. It’s convenient to have a machine that remembers my ideal drink, saving me time and effort. If you’re sharing the machine, it can store up to eight personalized drink profiles—perfect for a household with multiple coffee preferences.

Grinding and Tamping: Breville Barista Touch Impress Review

The Breville Barista Touch Impress takes the guesswork out of grinding and tamping, thanks to its assisted tamping feature. Unlike many machines where you have to tamp manually, this model assists with the tamping, ensuring that the grounds are packed evenly with just the right amount of pressure. This feature has made my coffee-making process smoother and more consistent, especially in the early mornings when I’m half-awake.

The built-in conical burr grinder has multiple grind settings, allowing me to experiment with different grind sizes. I found that a medium-fine grind worked best for a balanced espresso shot. The grinder itself operates fairly quietly, which is a bonus. Not only does this machine simplify tamping, but it also ensures a uniform grind, which ultimately improves the coffee’s flavor.

Breville Barista Touch Impress Review: Espresso Quality and Extraction

In terms of espresso quality, the Breville Barista Touch Impress truly shines. I was impressed with the rich, balanced shots it consistently produced. The machine’s extraction process evenly distributes water through the coffee grounds, allowing it to bring out the beans’ full flavor profile. Every shot I pulled had that perfect balance of richness and smoothness, with a nice crema on top.

Thanks to its ThermoJet heating system, the machine heats up in just three seconds, which means there’s minimal wait time before you can start brewing. I could quickly make several drinks back-to-back without any noticeable dip in quality. The quick heat-up time also makes it easier to enjoy a cup without having to plan ahead, which is a huge perk during busy mornings.

Breville Barista Touch Impress Review: Automatic Milk Frothing

For milk-based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, the Breville Barista Touch Impress comes with an automatic milk frothing wand. This feature is especially helpful for those who aren’t familiar with the nuances of frothing. The wand lets you adjust the milk texture and temperature right from the touchscreen, ensuring that each drink has the ideal consistency.

The froth produced was smooth and creamy, just how I like it for my lattes. I tried it with oat milk and almond milk, and it worked surprisingly well with both. The milk wand also self-purges after each use, keeping it clean and ready for the next drink, which reduces the time needed for cleanup.

Customizing My Coffee Experience with the Breville Barista Touch Impress

One of the features that I love most about the Breville Barista Touch Impress is the ability to personalize drinks. I could adjust everything from the coffee strength and extraction time to the milk temperature and texture. With a few simple taps, I could tweak each aspect of my drink to suit my taste.

The machine also allows you to save these customizations as presets, which is a game-changer if you like experimenting with different recipes or share the machine with others. This flexibility is something I haven’t seen in many home espresso machines, and it’s made my coffee experience feel unique and tailored.

Cleaning and Maintenance: Breville Barista Touch Impress Review

Maintenance with the Breville Barista Touch Impress is relatively straightforward. The machine notifies you when it’s time to clean or change the water filter, making it easy to stay on top of maintenance. The removable drip tray and water reservoir are easy to access and clean, and the included cleaning kit is helpful for deeper cleaning.

The milk frothing wand self-cleans, which minimizes the risk of milk residue building up inside. Occasionally, I perform a deeper clean, especially for the grinder and group head, but overall, I found the maintenance requirements minimal. With regular upkeep, the machine feels like it will stay reliable and efficient in the long term.

Comparing Breville Barista Touch Impress to Other Machines

Compared to other espresso machines I’ve tried, the Breville Barista Touch Impress provides an ideal mix of convenience and control. Fully manual machines can feel overwhelming to operate, and they don’t always offer consistent results without significant practice. With this model, I felt that I had control over the customization without the steep learning curve.

The touchscreen, assisted tamping, and automatic frothing features make it especially appealing for someone who wants high-quality coffee without having to learn every barista skill. It’s more user-friendly than many other machines at its price point, and it offers a premium feel without being too difficult to operate.

Pros and Cons Recap: Breville Barista Touch Impress Review

Pros:

• User-friendly touchscreen with adjustable drink options
• Assisted tamping feature ensures consistent shots
• Fast heat-up time with the ThermoJet heating system
• Automatic milk frothing wand with customizable settings
• Self-cleaning milk wand and easy maintenance notifications

Cons:

• Price point may be on the higher side for some budgets
• Limited drink volume, best suited for single or double shots
• Occasional manual maintenance, such as descaling, is required

Product Review Conclusion: Breville Barista Touch Impress Review

In conclusion, my experience with the Breville Barista Touch Impress has been overwhelmingly positive. This machine strikes a great balance between automatic convenience and manual control, making it accessible for beginners while still offering the flexibility that seasoned coffee enthusiasts will appreciate.

The touchscreen interface, assisted tamping, and automatic frothing wand simplify the coffee-making process, delivering consistent, café-quality drinks. For anyone who values high-quality coffee but wants to skip the hassle of mastering a fully manual machine, the Breville Barista Touch Impress is a fantastic choice. While it’s a bit of an investment, the features, quality, and ease of use make it a worthwhile addition to any coffee lover’s kitchen.

For those looking to enjoy a personalized coffee experience without sacrificing quality or convenience, the Breville Barista Touch Impress is an excellent option. It’s a reliable, stylish machine that makes my daily coffee ritual enjoyable and hassle-free.

Frequently Asked Questions for Breville Barista Touch Impress Review

Q: What drinks can the Breville Barista Touch Impress make?

A: The Breville Barista Touch Impress can make espresso, latte, cappuccino, flat white, and Americano, among other espresso-based drinks. You can also customize each drink’s strength, milk texture, and temperature to suit your preferences.

Q: Is the Breville Barista Touch Impress easy to use for beginners?

A: Yes, the Breville Barista Touch Impress is very beginner-friendly. The touchscreen provides a step-by-step guide for each drink, and the assisted tamping feature makes it easy to achieve consistent espresso shots. The automatic milk frother also simplifies the process, allowing beginners to create quality coffee drinks without extensive experience.

Q: How does the assisted tamping feature work?

A: The assisted tamping feature automatically applies the right amount of pressure to the coffee grounds, ensuring even extraction. This reduces the risk of inconsistencies that can result from manual tamping, making it easier for users to achieve barista-quality espresso at home.

Q: Can I use non-dairy milk with the Breville Barista Touch Impress?

A: Yes, you can use non-dairy milk, such as almond, oat, or soy milk, with the Breville Barista Touch Impress. The automatic milk frother works well with most milk types, producing a creamy, consistent froth. However, the texture may vary slightly depending on the milk’s fat content.

Q: Does the Breville Barista Touch Impress require any special maintenance?

A: The Breville Barista Touch Impress is relatively low-maintenance for an espresso machine of this caliber. It has a self-cleaning steam wand, and the touchscreen provides alerts when it’s time to clean, descale, or replace the water filter. Regular maintenance includes cleaning the drip tray, emptying the used coffee grounds container, and occasional deep cleaning like descaling.

Q: How customizable are the drinks on the Breville Barista Touch Impress?

A: The Breville Barista Touch Impress offers a high level of customization. You can adjust the coffee strength, milk temperature, and texture through the touchscreen interface. Additionally, the machine allows you to save up to eight personalized drink profiles, which is perfect for households with different coffee preferences.

Q: Is the Breville Barista Touch Impress noisy?

A: The Breville Barista Touch Impress does make some noise, particularly during the grinding and milk frothing stages. However, the noise level is typical for a machine with an integrated grinder and is quieter than some fully manual machines. It’s not overly loud and shouldn’t be disruptive.

Q: How fast does the Breville Barista Touch Impress heat up?

A: The Breville Barista Touch Impress has a ThermoJet heating system that heats up in just three seconds, which is incredibly fast for an espresso machine. This means you can start brewing almost immediately, making it convenient for busy mornings or when you need a quick coffee fix.

Q: Can the Breville Barista Touch Impress be used to make multiple drinks in a row?

A: Yes, the Breville Barista Touch Impress is capable of making multiple drinks consecutively. Thanks to its quick heat-up time and efficient extraction process, you can make back-to-back espresso shots and milk-based drinks without a long wait in between.

Q: Does the Breville Barista Touch Impress have a built-in grinder?

A: Yes, the Breville Barista Touch Impress comes with a built-in conical burr grinder. It has adjustable grind settings, allowing you to fine-tune the grind size for different types of espresso shots. The grinder is easy to adjust and provides consistent results.

Q: What’s the difference between the Breville Barista Touch Impress and other Breville models?

A: The Breville Barista Touch Impress combines the features of Breville’s Barista Touch model with the added assisted tamping feature, which helps ensure a consistent tamp each time. The touchscreen interface also makes it easier to customize drinks compared to more manual Breville models, making this machine particularly appealing for those seeking convenience without sacrificing quality.

Q: Is the Breville Barista Touch Impress worth the price?

A: The Breville Barista Touch Impress is a premium espresso machine with features that justify its higher price point, especially for users who want a mix of automatic and manual controls. Its customization options, assisted tamping, and high-quality milk frothing capabilities make it a worthwhile investment for serious coffee lovers looking for a café-style experience at home.