The Breville Barista is a commercial-style espresso machine made for domestic use. It brings the quality of your favorite coffee shop beverages to the comfort of your home.
In this brew guide, you'll learn how to make espresso using the Breville Barista. You'll also discover how to make five espresso-based drinks to bring the coffee shop experience to your kitchen.
Breville Barista Brewing Specs
- Brew Time: 25–30 seconds
- Coffee/Water Ratio: 1:2
- Grind: Fine
- Water Temperature: 200°F (93°C)
- Recommended Coffee: Cafely DaLat (100% Arabica)
Breville Barista Brewing Summary
- Warm up the Breville Barista.
- Measure and grind the coffee.
- Pack the portafilter with coffee.
- Attach the portafilter to the group head.
- Brew the espresso shot.
- Evaluate the shot and enjoy.
What You Need to Brew Coffee with a Breville Coffee Maker
The Breville Barista is an all-in-one machine. It grinds and brews your coffee, so you won't need much in the way of equipment. Ingredients are few and far between, too, if you're brewing a basic espresso shot.
Here's what you'll need to make espresso using a Breville coffee maker:
Tools Needed
- Breville Barista — There are a few different types of Breville Baristas, but they all brew coffee in more or less the same way.
- Weighing Scale — A weighing scale that weighs in grams is not essential, but it will help you brew great coffee consistently.
- Dosing Cup (Optional) — A dosing cup compatible with Breville machines is optional. However, it makes it easier to grind and weigh the correct amount of coffee.
- Demitasse (Espresso Cup) — You'll need a demitasse cup or small mug to brew the espresso shot into.
Ingredients
- High-Quality Coffee — Use a high-quality whole-bean arabica coffee for making espresso.
- Cold Water — Use fresh, filtered water in the Breville Barista coffee machine.
Coffee Recommendations
The best coffee to use for making espresso and espresso-based beverages such as a cafè latte is arabica. Opt for a whole-bean coffee that has been roasted and packaged as recently as possible. Our DaLat (100% Arabica) coffee is ideal for making espresso using the Breville Barista.
If you enjoy a stronger, darker cup with a more potent caffeine hit, a robusta and arabica blend may be used. Although this isn't traditional in Italian brewing, a blend such as Saigon OG can offer a unique, balanced shot.
Technically you can use a 100% robusta for a “turbo” shot of espresso coffee. However, its flavor would be extremely intense.
Robusta beans have twice the caffeine content of arabica and much less sugar. Brewing espresso with robusta will produce an incredibly potent coffee but it may be too bitter to drink straight. With that said, brewing a robusta espresso can be useful for making a Vietnamese-style coffee with sweetened condensed milk or Cà Phê Sữa Đá (Vietnamese iced coffee).
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Breville Barista
Making espresso using a Breville Barista requires the same steps as any other espresso machine. However, a few alterations will ensure you craft a perfect shot every time.
Here's how to make espresso with a Breville Barista:
1. Prepare the Breville Espresso Machine
Begin by switching on your Breville Barista. This machine only takes around 30 seconds to heat up enough to pull a shot — much better than the typical 15–30 minutes it takes for most machines.
Fill the reservoir with cold, fresh, filtered water. Avoid using tap water — mineral build-up can damage the machine over time.
Add a scoop or two of whole-bean coffee to the reservoir for the built-in grinder on the machine. You can store beans in the reservoir for a few days so you don't need to measure the amount accurately at this stage.
2. Grind and Measure the Coffee
Zero your weighing scales with your dosing cup (or portafilter if you don't have one) placed on top. Then, clip the dosing cup into the machine and grind around 18 grams of coffee. The grind should be fine (the consistency of sand or table salt) — the machine should automatically achieve this without calibration.
Use the scales to accurately measure the amount in the cup after grinding.
3. Prepare the Portafilter
Pour the ground coffee into your portafilter and tamp it evenly using the tamper on your Breville.
4. Brew the Espresso
Place an espresso cup under the spout and lock the portafilter into the group head on your Breville Barista. Pull the shot and time the extraction — aim for 25 to 30 seconds for an espresso or 15 to 20 seconds for a ristretto.
5. Evaluate Your Shot
Observe your shot. It should have a dark body with a rich, creamy, caramel-colored crema on top. Taste the espresso. It shouldn't be overly bitter or sour — if it is, adjust the amount of coffee, calibrate your machine, and fine-tune your tamping process.
You can enjoy your espresso as it is, or use it to make an espresso-based beverage…
What Types of Coffee Can You Make With a Breville Barista?
You can make more than just espresso with the Breville Barista. This machine has an integrated burr grinder, espresso maker, and steam wand. You can use these elements to craft most of the popular espresso-based brews you'll find at your local coffee shop.
If you want to bring the flavors of your favorite coffee shop to the comfort of your home, the Breville Barista is a fantastic option. You can make lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, mocha coffee, and several different iced beverages with this machine.
Here are five popular brews to make with the Breville Barista:
1. Making Ristretto With a Breville Barista
The ristretto is a short shot of espresso coffee. “Ristretto” means restricted in Italian. Where an espresso shot is brewed using a 1:2 coffee-to-water ratio, the ristretto is brewed with a 1:1 ratio. This creates a stronger, more concentrated shot with a potent caffeine hit and rich, dark flavor.
To make a ristretto with a Breville Barista, simply brew an espresso as normal. However, instead of pulling a 25 to 30-second extraction, only extract the shot for 15 to 20 seconds.
2. Making a Latte With a Breville Barista
The cafè latte (or simply “latte”) is one of the most popular espresso-based brews. This drink combines the rich, smooth flavors of arabica espresso with the rich, creaminess of steamed milk. It's easy to make a latte with your Breville Barista and the only ingredients you need are coffee, water, and milk.
Here's a brief guide on brewing latte with your Breville:
- Brew a single or double shot of espresso using your Breville.
- Add milk to a pitcher and steam until a light velvety texture is achieved.
- Pour the espresso into a large mug.
- Slowly add the milk, moving in a circular motion to combine. Hold the microfoam in the pitcher with a spoon. Once you’ve poured all the milk, add the foam so it settles on the surface of the brew.
3. Making a Flat White With a Breville Barista
The flat white is similar to a latte but it's made by gently pouring fine microfoam milk over double espresso until it aligns perfectly with the rim of the cup — hence the name “flat white.” Making a flat white with the Breville Barista is simple but it's a bit of an art. Like the latte, you only need espresso and milk for this brew.
Here's how to make a flat white with your Breville:
- Brew a double shot of espresso using your Breville Barista.
- In a steam pitcher, add 5 oz (150 mL) of milk. Steam the milk using the wand on your Breville until It becomes velvety with small uniform air bubbles.
- Add the espresso to a large coffee cup.
- Gently pour the milk over the coffee, moving in circles to combine the two elements. Stop pouring when the milk reaches the brim of the cup.
- Add sugar if desired, stir, and enjoy.
4. Mocha Coffee With a Breville Barista
The mocha combines the rich, sweet flavors of chocolate with the dark, bitterness of espresso coffee and the creaminess of steamed milk. Although there are a few more elements to this brew, it's easy to make with the Breville Barista.
Here's what you'll need:
- Arabica coffee
- Dark chocolate or cocoa powder
- Water
- Milk
- Sugar or syrup (optional)
- Whipped cream (optional)
Here's how to make mocha coffee with your Breville:
- Brew a single or double shot of espresso.
- In a steaming pitcher, add chocolate shavings or cocoa powder and a small amount of hot water. Stir well to create a chocolate syrup.
- Add milk to the steaming pitcher and stir to incorporate the chocolate.
- Steam the milk using the steam wand on your Breville. Warm the milk through and steam until light and velvety.
- Pour the espresso shot, followed by the chocolate milk, into a large coffee cup. Sweeten with sugar if desired.
- Add a dollop of whipped cream, top with chocolate shavings (optional), and enjoy.
5. Making an Iced Coffee With a Breville Barista
Espresso is the perfect coffee to use when making iced coffee. Its dark, bold flavor pairs wonderfully with cold milk and sugar. Making an iced coffee with your Breville Barista is simple and all you need is ice, milk, sugar or syrup, and coffee.
Here's how to do it:
- Brew a single or double shot of espresso, depending on how strong you want to make the chilled brew.
- Allow the shot to cool — add an ice cube to speed the process up.
- Fill a serving glass with ice.
- Pour in the chilled espresso shot.
- Fill the rest of the glass with milk.
- Stir in sugar or syrup to taste (optional) and serve.
Tips for Brewing Coffee with a Breville Coffee Machine
The Breville Barista is a complex coffee maker. It requires a certain amount of skill and finesse to brew great-tasting coffee with it. The machine also requires a certain amount of care through routine cleaning and maintenance, more so than a drip coffee maker.
Follow these tips to ensure you brew the perfect coffee every time and keep your Breville in top condition:
1. Monitor Your Grind Size
Your Breville should come set to the correct grind size straight out of the box. However, you may need to adjust it to fine-tune the consistency when you first get the machine and periodically over several weeks.
The best espresso is produced from a consistently fine grind — similar to table salt, sand, or granulated sugar.
If your grind is too fine or too coarse, it can produce an over or under-extracted shot. Similarly, an inconsistent grind, with some coarse pieces and some fine, can lead to channeling in the portafilter causing under-extraction.
Keep an eye on the quality of your grind every time you brew coffee. Adjust the grinder (refer to the Breville manual) if the quality of the grind degrades.
2. Purge Your Machine Regularly
Every time you use your espresso machine to brew coffee you must purge it. Lock in your portafilter to the group head before packing it with grinds. Pull fresh water through the system for around five seconds. Remove the portafilter and dry it before packing it with coffee and brewing your shot.
You should do the same with the steam wand on your machine every time you want to steam milk. Purge the steam wand into an empty pitcher before use.
Doing this ensures any old coffee or milk residues that could introduce impurities are removed before brewing.
3. Dial in Your Skills
Practice grinding, measuring, and packing your portafilter. These factors can all affect the quality of your shot.
Make sure your grind is consistent and you're able to measure out the exact weight of coffee grinds every time.
Make sure to pack the portafilter correctly. Practice tamping the grounds. They should be packed evenly with consistency. The puck should be level but not over-tamped. Over-tamping the coffee can lead to over-extraction and under-tamping can lead to under-extraction.
These skills will come with time, practice, and patience. Don't be disheartened if your espresso shots aren't barista quality straight off the bat.
4. Monitor Your Brewing Temperature
If you're having problems producing high-quality espresso shots, check the temperature of your Breville Barista. Water that's too hot or too cold can drastically affect the flavor of the coffee.
The water temperature doesn't have to be perfect but it should be within the range of 197°F and 205°F (92°C and 96°C).
FAQs: Breville Coffee Machine
Want to learn more about the Breville Barista and the coffee you can make with it?
Check out the answers to the frequently asked questions below:
1. What is a Breville Barista?
The Breville Barista is a barista-style espresso machine that’s tailored to domestic use. This espresso maker brews high-quality coffee shots and its steam wand is capable of steaming, frothing, and microfoaming milk for a variety of Italian-inspired beverages.
2. What is Espresso Coffee?
Espresso coffee is a brew that’s made using a machine that forces pressurized hot water through finely ground coffee. Espresso coffee is strong, rich, smooth, and has a characteristic “crema” (dense foam) on top.
3. How Much Caffeine in Espresso?
The average 60 mL serving (single shot) of espresso brewed with arabica coffee beans contains 63 mg to 80 mg of caffeine. A double shot can contain anywhere from 80 mg up to around 160 mg of caffeine.
4. What Brews Can You Make With a Breville Barista?
You can make any espresso-based beverage with the Breville Barista. The machine has a steam wand so you can create lattes, flat whites, cappuccinos, mocha coffees, and more.
5. Can You Make Iced Coffee With Espresso?
Yes. You can make iced coffee with espresso, and it's incredibly easy. Simply brew a shot of espresso, cool, and pour over ice. Then, add milk or cold water to dilute and sweeten with a syrup of your choice.
6. What’s the Difference Between Espresso and Ristretto?
Espresso and ristretto are both concentrated coffees made by forcing pressurized water through finely ground coffee. The difference is in the concentration. Ristretto (meaning “restricted” in Italian) contains less water, making it more concentrated than espresso.
Espresso has a 1:2 coffee-to-water ratio from a 25 to 30-second extraction. Ristretto has a 1:1 coffee-to-water ratio from a 15 to 20-second extraction.
7. What’s the Best Coffee for Making Espresso?
The best coffee for making espresso should be ground fresh from whole-bean coffee just before brewing. Dark roast arabica coffee is favored for its naturally sweet flavor, smooth body, and rich, creamy crema.
8. What is Robusta Coffee?
Robusta is a type of coffee bean from the species Coffea robusta. Robusta beans produce around twice the amount of caffeine as arabica beans and much less sugar. Coffee made with robusta is strong, dark, and slightly bitter.
9. What is Arabica Coffee?
Arabica coffee is made from the beans of the Coffea arabica species. Arabica coffee is the most popular type of coffee in the West. These beans produce a naturally sweet, rich, and creamy cup of coffee with a mild caffeine hit.
10. What’s the Best Milk for Latte?
A traditional latte is made with steamed whole cow's milk — this is typically considered “the best” milk to use. However, you can make lattes with skimmed, semi-skimmed, and non-dairy milk such as coconut milk, almond milk, oat milk, and soy milk.
