Breville Barista Express vs Delonghi La Specialista Arte - Which is BETTER?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thank you for watching, comments welcome! Product links in the description above 👆🏻 Check prices here: geni.us/BrevilleEspressoMach (Breville/Sage affiliate link) Full Barista Express Video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnKc5SpgbCVecU Full La Specialista Video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aITYn4aHmZmkrNU

[@veganlyy]

Hi Tom, it would be great to do a video about the espresso puck/shower screens (vamotto, neouza,etc.) - are they useful or useless - your opinion. We have Sage Barista Pro and we're not sure about the sense of those screen in my machine. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!

[@Pilotolo]

Thanks Tom for all of your videos. They help me to choose the right coffee machine, but I have a question: has I know the Italian cafe needs about 7 8 grams for a single shot. The Sage barista have a 54 millimeter diameter and the DeLonghi 51 mm. My doubts are if the diameter is too big, the Puck will be to short? Which are Better for a single shot 7or 8 gr? And the witch of them is the more silent?

[@sensminho]

Hi Tom, which would you choose if La Specialista Arte were 166€ cheaper?

[@mrworldtour7136]

Can you do an Delonghi Opera VS Breville Pro comparison

[@46I37]

We have had the Breville unit for almost 10 years. It started leaking 2 years ago, and I pulled it apart and replaced an o-ring on the pump output. A few months ago the pump started siezing, so I ran vinegar through it and it fixed. SO all in all, been a very reliable machine that produces consistent good results. Go Australia!

[@redoctober918]

so vinegar is much better to descale than those descaler that use chemicals?

[@46I37]

@@redoctober918 commercial descaler will work better, but vinegar (acetic acid) was good enough in my case.

[@shamrock135]

Hi I’m having the same issue with leaking can you show me/tell me where you changed the o ring and what size o ring was used?!! Please 🙏

[@46I37]

@@shamrock135 The o-ring was on the output side of the high pressure pump. You need to remove the retaining clip to remove the pipe. I took the o-ring to a small engineering company in my industrial estate who charged me $1 for 2 new ones.

[@lonceysvideos333]

Cheers so much for sharing your know how 😊❤

[@Mykem1977]

Bought the Breville after watching this review. Thank you....

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Awesome - have fun experimenting! Tom

[@guidojanzen4865]

We use the La Specialista in the second year now. We were not able to set the machine up for a good espresso and a good "coffee crema" at the same time. Since I bought an external mill for my espresso everything is just fine. The grinder of the La Specialista is now used for "coffee crema" only. The external mill holds another type of beans and is grinding much finer for espresso. Temping is done in both cases with the build in temper of the DeLonghi. I like the speed and ease of use of the La Specialista - and of course the quality of the coffee.

[@hiddenlawyer]

I have owned my Breville Barista Express for 2 years now and love it. On days I forget to pre-heat the portafilter, I just run a blank single shot through it and wipe it out. I also purge the head after pulling my shot and it flushes out those grounds that get sucked up. Great review, I always wondered if that Delonghi was any better and now I know I made the right choice!

[@justinbouchard]

Your skill at operating machines from behind them is honestly amazing lol

[@golrizpajand4894]

😂😂

[@NoZenith]

I have failed to articulate this so simply on more than one occasion. I'm always Blown Away by how smooth he is, even frothing good milk backwards

[@RyanBuchmann]

I would like to know what you thought of the flavor of the espresso shot that each appliance produced. I often see in these reviews and in videos an espresso machine or press produce a cosmetically pleasing shot, but what does it taste like? A beautiful looking shot can still taste bitter AF or sour. Ultimately, the deciding factor for either machine is whether or not I can make minor user-friendly adjustments to espresso making (grind size, dosage, brew temp, etc) that will yield a shot that is enjoyable to my flavor preference. I have an earlier model DeLonghi La Specialista and I find that I have to make minor espresso-making adjustments with each breed or roast of coffee that I add to the grinder hopper.

[@MrPESensation]

Owner of the Breville Touch Machine for home use. Its used 3 times a day, seven days a week for 3 years now and still running strong!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@larryfisher7056]

I've had the Barista Express for about 8 years now and love it. That said I had to replace the pump recently. Not a huge deal. $32 from Amazon and about 2 hours of learning how and doing it. Back to good Americanos in the morning out on the deck.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Awesome, thanks for sharing!

[@johnm7788]

I have the latest Delonghi la specialista arte evo model and it seems like they have made slight corrections for a lot of these issues. The casing is now full brushed and stainless steel, the grind setting now has 2 more options but is still not removable from what i can see and the portafilter is warm after leaving it in for 20 minutes or so. I paid $617 Aud for the machine which included a gift package. As someone with very limited knowledge when it comes to coffee machines i am very happy with the purchase.

[@sjvilla99]

Great video! I received the BBE as a Christmas gift and love it. It actually came with a funnel which allows me to grind into my portafilter without making a mess.

[@caiocardoso3336]

That was, definitely, the most complete video I ever saw about barista machine and their cost benefit. Congratulations! 👏🏻

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Wow, thanks! So which one do you like better?

[@HarryWard-ni4ys]

Have purchased a La Specialista and am disappointed with the temperature of the coffee. Delonghi claim the machine is working correctly and has been tested to 80 degrees, not sure where that temperature is located. My thermometers give a temperature of around 70 degrees at the cup so not sure how if it is working correctly it can drop at the highest setting from 96 to 70 as per your temperature tests. Great video Harry

[@rudymanning3520]

Very informative. I'm about to start jumping into this world and trying to see which one to get.

[@mrworldtour7136]

I would love to see a showdown between the breville pro VS Delonghi opera 🙏

[@Marcus_Caius]

Using daily a Barista Express for a little more then 7 years and I cannot be more happy with it.

[@doglastrading912]

Very professional comparison video. It gives me some idea which one I should go for.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Awesome, thanks for the feedback! Have fun with your choice!

[@EsotericArctos]

i am watching this now as I am trying to make a decision on an espresso machine. Can you confirm the Barista Express does have a proper heated brew group as there is no mention in the specs or manual about this. In fact the manual talks about preheating the brew group and portafilter to ensure it is not cold.

[@nelsonnicklebee]

Great video! It was concise and hit all the really relevant points.

[@binabalang5744]

Just bought my BBE $899 on sale, less $100 than the Arte. Easiest decision ever. Then I found this video and couldn’t be more pleased with my purchase!

[@puckgogo7655]

Thanks for the best review ever! Just start learning about it.

[@MarcusMcPhee]

I've just bought the "Cecotec Power Espresso 20 Barista Maestro", I used to have the classic "Sage the Barista Express" and I must say, this new one is the closest thing I've ever got to the Sage one, with basically half of the price! It would be interesting to see your review of it!

[@traceym1778]

I bought the Breville Express in solid stainless steel for $1,000 (Canadian) and I LOVE it! I agree that the (only) downside is running out of water mid stream but you learn quickly to check the water levels more regularly. I had to justify spending that kind of money for a coffee machine but if you love your coffee and can afford it, go for it!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

The BBE is also often cheaper than a fully automatic machine, and makes much better coffee!

[@BB-fp6gh]

Just bought BBE on Amazon Prime day for $549 - $200 amazon card offer. Total with taxes was close to $400. I’m def. а beginner level for coffee/espresso prep. Until now used bialletti moka 6 cup and Francis & Francis illy’s espresso machine. Thank you for review. My friends has Specialista he bought few years ago and he is very with it. Hope espresso from BBE will be better than Illy’s :-) Thank you so much for this review. It was excellent.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Wow, that's a steal for $400! Congratulations, and have fun!

[@JoePCP]

Currently the Delonghi is nearly £200 cheaper than the BBE in the UK but I still bought the BBE which is called Sage on my model. Thanks for the comparison.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Honestly, I think it's the better choice. Cheers!

[@tombanzxt]

On the hunt for black friday deals and had my eye out on DeLonghi for a long time. Came here to make final check and found BBE or SBE as here it is Sage ... Anyway ... Sage is almost 220€ cheaper than DeLonghi so i'm taking the plunge! Thanks for your nice video and detailed explanation.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Have fun, and thanks for posting!

[@stevemcdermott62]

You are correct about the cleaning of the drip tray in the Breville. Clean off residue with just a cloth and a quick wipe

[@drreaux6324]

In México, the Breville price is higher than the Delongui price (1000 vs 600 dlls) , and the after-sales service is bad. Their reviews on the sales pages refer to many problems and few solutions in terms of maintenance. I am learning a lot from you, greetings

[@ty.3570]

Hi I bought a Delonghi Elita explore however I find my coffee does not come out super hot specially the ones with milk. I have hard time controlling the heat temperature specially the drinks with milk. Would you recommend coffee machines with a milk steaming wand?

[@mrworldtour7136]

Can you do an Delonghi Opera VS Breville Pro comparison

[@tashaparker5157]

Thank you for this comparison, it helped me A LOT with my decision!!

[@katepetrov9030]

@Tomscoffeecorner, thank you for the very detailed and useful information. I wished I had found you a year ago. I got a delonghi la specialists as a birthday present nearly 2y ago. I make one coffee a day plus 4 more a week for friends. Already used a bottle and a half of descaling. And from the first time I did descaling the last step- rinsing didn't stop. I had to add more water and continue longer. I do put max water for the rinse and this happens every time. Last time, I was in a hurry and I just turned it off. Next day when I turn it on it was still flashing red for descaling and I let it rinse till the water is all gone. I was trying to keep the ok button down hoping to cancel the rinsing but then I realized that it can only cancel the descaling not the rinse Then I made long espresso and the pressure went to the max red- end. It dropped very little coffee. After that the machine started leaking underneath. I changed the grinder from 5 to 2. When I run without filter, just water and no pressure, it doesn't leak. Do you have any suggestions or ideas what to do? I'm not sure if it's under warranty. Thanks. @TomsCoffeeCorner

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Oh boy, I'm not really sure. I don't see why pressure would be built up from descaling. Have you tried opening the steam valve? That's a good way to relieve some pressure.

[@brenrocks2966]

Dials coming off 2 Delonghi machines in the shop was enuff to scare me away! Got the Breville :)

[@dakhappy]

ordered right before Christmas, i got the Arte for $499. looked at the breville but it was hundreds more. enjoying the Arte by the way.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Glad to hear it - $499 is a nice price!

[@the5vfamilychannel170]

I purchased a barista express on sale today and it came with a dosing funnel in the U.S😊

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Oh that’s cool! Thank you for letting me know. Can anyone else confirm that they are now shipping with a funnel?

[@krys1075]

May you do an updated comparison video breville versus the brand new KitchenAid ® Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine pretty please?

[@halooche]

Awesome review, thank you

[@brunonoaro]

Hey Tom, great contents you're providing. Thanks to your videos I convinced myself to buy a Neouza Naked Portafilter and my coffees with La Specialista reached another level of extraction. My question is, can you advice any Portafilter at the same quality level (not the original one) that is compatible with La Specialista and can extract with a double spout? I would love to buy Neouza or Normcore again, unfortunately seems they don't specify any compatibility with La Specialista. I would love to hear your take, thank you friend!

[@darkhawk1979]

The DeLonghi is about $70 cheaper here in Australia but I'm still going to go with the Breville.

[@devil88bg62]

Got the barista express for nearly 2 years now and it is an amazing machine. There is a reason why is still on the market for so long and it is the best seller for the semi-manual machines bean-to-cup. I drink espresso everyday and I can always pull great shots. Honestly in that range of price/budget I wouldn't even think an alternative. The only issue with the barista is that you need to wait at least 5-10 minutes so the machine goes in temperature... not a big deal for me, because if you love coffee you are not really in a rush and you can afford 10 minutes to switch and do something else, then get your coffee. If you can't probably this machine is not for you.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thanks for that feedback! It's a hard machine to beat for the price.

[@skohaya]

Tom! Love your Espresso Machine Videos. The technical comparisons are so informative and helpful. Your videography has excelled too. Thanks. Blessings ☕☕☕☕

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Wow, thanks! Glad the videos are helpful, it's nice to know that. Cheers! Tom

[@Bruce_Lee]

I would love to see you, do a test with De'Longhi EC9355.M2.0.

[@BGross-wt7yc]

My BBE preheats (water) in about a minute. So, rather than wait longer for the brew group & portafilter to heat, I pull a blank shot while I’m grinding the beans. That water - and the drip tray contents - later gets used to water plants. No waste!

[@d_a_s_s_a_957]

Is one of these good for starting a coffee shop. If not what is best ☺️

[@jaredbawden6707]

I bought an original Barista Express over 10 years ago shortly after Breville first released them. Not much seems to have changed in that time besides the change from a square to round bean hopper, and stamped plate for the drip tray instead of the originals wire mesh (which I prefer as it doesn need to be wiped every time). Sadly, it started leaking not long ago and killed a solenoid in the process. I bought the parts, but then found I couldn't pull apart the fittings that have leaked due to being locked in place from corrosion, so it may have had its day. The steam wand is definitely the Achilles heel of these machines and could be more powerful, so a bit disappointed they haven't improved it. Regarding the tank, I don't see it as a big issue to not have a sensor. Just check the level before you start, which is easy to see from the sides. Good review, I had wondered about the Delonghi, but here in Australia they're more expensive, so a Breville is a strong possibility as a repeat purchase.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thanks for sharing, Jared. While the steam wand is slow, it does make excellent silky milk. It is unfortunate that these can be prone to leaking. I still think it is a better machine all around than the Arte. I wish there were more proper combo offers than just these two...

[@jaredbawden6707]

@Tom's Coffee Corner do you not get the Barista Pro in your market? That seems a little more advanced than the Barista Express, and has some differences internally as well from what I've seen. Though it does delete the pressure gauge unfortunately.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

@@jaredbawden6707 Well, the Pro comes with the additional advantage of a lack of a heated brew group, methinks. The Bambino does not heat the brew group, and I am pretty sure the Pro uses the same technology. Also, the Pro is quite more expensive.

[@rnguyen2516]

Wow, this is a super thorough and informative review which has helped me with my decision! Does the Barista Express come with automatic dosing and tamping handle?

[@johne7100]

Thanks for this. My decision was made as soon as you compared the grinders 2 minutes in. I just need someone to buy me the Sage/Breville now.

[@BalteeezFitness]

You're not lazy Tom, you're efficient !

[@myopinion69420]

My barista express does not take anywhere near that long to start steam, I would say about half that. that being said, I do steam basically strait after pulling a shot, so maybe the heater is already a lot warmer. (i did see the note in the video about the 20-30 depending on usage, so less of a point i guess) the downsides to the La Specialista are a bit hard to dismiss, the grinder is the biggest one in my opinion. the level sensor is nice, I wish the breville had it, but its not a major issue. I really like how breville stand behind their products, on my second bag of beans I had a foreign object that I missed when filling the hopper that lodged in the grinder and shredded the gears inside (the foreign object looked like it was perfectly shaped to break a grinder). I contacted both the bean manufacturer and breville, the bean company basically did not believe me and wanted me to provide the object, which I could not as it was jammed in the machine. breville booked me in for a 'free quote' to diagnose the issue with instructions to the repair shop to pull the machine down and provide me the object (free of charge), I took it in, they a day later they said they had the object out and what the issue was and that they were waiting on parts. I asked how much it would cost and they said breville authorised the repair for free. have not had another issued with it in 3 years. took me 6 months with the bean manufacturer to get them to do anything. If my barista express were to die, I would probably not buy another one, but thats only because I would probably upgrade to a 'prosumer' level machine with separate grinder. not because the machine is bad in any way, I love it and use it every day. I do not see myself replacing it until it does eventually kick the bucket (unless I come across an unbeatable deal on a better machine. thats unlikely to happen).

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thanks very much for sharing your experience! Glad to hear that Breville supported you so well with your machine. Cheers!

[@brianglendenning1632]

Tom, I have had the Barista for a couple of years and my mother has had the de Longhi- and have come to the same conclusions. The Breville is easier to dial in the grinder, the head is warmer, it pulls better shots most times, and is easier to clean. The de Longhi water tank seems to need filling less often, but the grinder of a pain to clean. In terms of reliability, zero issues with the Breville (it gets hammered with 4 adults) but my mum is on her second de Longhi. She did try a Barista but did not Like it….

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hi Brian, thanks for sharing your experiences. I think both claims from yourself and your mom are valid. Cheers!

[@shuangshuang365-oz1ow]

Very informative. Thank you 🙏

[@mariuscatalin8688]

The breville case is also plastic made, but is covered in a metal sheet. Better grinder with much more step positions(the impress has more up to 30 ), pid control with temp +4 -4 celsius depending on how darker your coffee is, if you hold your finger on the cup button the preinfusion function will be set on manual meaning thay you can control how long u want to take, 3way solenoid valve, overall a better product than the delonghi. The grinding, Brew temp stability and the pressure extrsction are the most important when it comes to espresso quality

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thanks for sharing that pre-infusion tip!

[@whatwedointhesheds]

The Delonghi also has temperature control in all La Specialista and Dedica models. Not sure it's a true PID (and, tbh, if it matters with thermoblock machines), but they could be set up at 92/94/96° C

[@fredrik_g]

Would have loved a blind-taste-test. That is a important part of a comparison

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

True! But I am the actor, filmer, and editor, lol. I'd need an assistant. :)

[@makerl1fe388]

How do you feel about Lelit Anita? I think it’s underrated, a made in italy all in one without plastic in composition to be even cheaper than both of these espresso machines

[@TeodorAngelov]

Thanks for this great comparison.

[@Presso99]

One very key point is the temperature stability during the brewing stage. I am surprise to see that Delonghi didn't realize about this very basic thing. This is the main killer especially for coffee savvy folks !!!

[@powerclean9720]

Can you not just run some hot water through the porta filter and shower plate on the Delonghi to get it hot before extracting the coffee?

[@xhassan496]

making big deal for Brew Group Temp Test however, u can always run an empty shot which will be needed on both machines since even 61 is low

[@melissagutierrez3241]

Quite useful! I’d love to see all those results into a final matrix of results 🤓

[@heinzheinz5736]

I had the two machines by Warranty, I returned the Delonghi. the best beeville

[@kirthgersen291]

I don't know if in the USA it's the same as in France. But the Sage is €729 while the De'Longhi is €547. It's 33% difference and therefore difficult to put them in the same category. However, the test remains very interesting and highlights important differences. On the other hand, the Breville VCF152X Barista Max+ which costs €400 seems to me to be very interesting.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Well that's a different brand altogether. I've never tried that one...

[@tonybrock5288]

I see you went through the motions of giving the Delonghi a "fair" deal but it was never going to make the grade, was it? 😁😁 I wholeheartedly agree though! I have had the Barista Express for 2 years now and as a result I look forward to waking up every morning for my coffee!!😍

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Yes, I gave the Arte a fair shake. I am a Delonghi fan. But I recognize that these are two different machines. I hope Delonghi brings their A game next time, because I know they can do it!

[@jissanhuq3792]

I love mine but man is it a stressful experience too cuz sometimes i have the best foam n someones i made it too watery

[@sinjb6206]

Only complains and not really complains I have about my barista express is that I wish I was double boiler and the wand a bit longer other than that is an amazing entry level machine and once u get used to it the only reason to upgrade or change is if it ever breaks

[@devil88bg62]

agree. My espresso is way better than any average coffee shop around the world. Only a few specialised coffee shops can beat my coffee.

[@vadim9405]

Great, exactly what I needed!

[@caffeineisking8132]

If you like playing with coffee all different tamping tools ect get the grinder Pro and a bambino plus .. better grinder and more compact machines

[@TeodorAngelov]

Please don't change the internal grind setting initially especially to 2 before you are sure you need it. My grind dial started creeping right from the get go.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Well, I have set up a few of these, and using the original setting of 6 just didn't get fine enough for espresso. Cheers!

[@as33edsnwnw]

is the water boiled or heat up in plastic or copper? don't want hot water in contact with plastic

[@steph_coffeelover]

Can you also review the Ultima Cosa presto bolente semi automatic espresso machine? I am thinking of buying it but I am not sure about its features

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Oh, that's a white label machine. Kaffeemacher reviewed it. In Germany it's called Gastroback. Cheers!

[@rioriggs3568]

Great review, I've tried douzaines of machines over the years. The most important things are quality of the grinder and the temperature stability. Without those two elements, it gets complicated to dial-in the perfect shot (extraction). I would go for the Breville even if the Delonghi was much cheaper. If you want an Americano, you don't need a special button, just make an ultra long espresso. The Delonghi will do nothing besides letting more water run depending on the beverage you choose, it's not really a magic feature. Again great review Tom.

[@delinquense]

Agree completey with your point about the special buttons. Marketing gimmick for the coffee naive amongst us.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hi there, you are right on most points, but for an Americano, the Delonghi actually pulls a shot, then adds hot water through the hot water spigot. So, it does not just pull a longer shot. But yes, the grinder and heated brew group (although it takes a long time to heat) of the BBE make it the winner.

[@rioriggs3568]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thanks for the extra info. I’m curious, does it make a difference in quality? At that point, there’s so little left to extract from the coffee, it’s just yellow water.

[@nrmmom]

​@@rioriggs3568I'm not really sure how it compares to the breville but the delonghi Americanos are really delicious. It pulls the shot and then adds hot water on top of it. So long as you have a good shot you have a good Americano in my experience

[@atilaedeer7753]

Very well made and informative, thanks!

[@M-O-Z]

I dont have the delonghi but just run a couple shots of water through with the portafilter in place to heat it up before making your espresso

[@TrangHuynh-hz9vb]

Omg , like delonghi because water sensor ❤ . So difficult to make the decision .😊

[@lunarblack9379]

Thanks👍🏼 very informative! 👏🏽

[@roynoelgaurana1110]

how abount grinder of breville and delonghi?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

It's better in the Breville - much higher resolution for dialing in.

[@susanduncan6245]

Worked in my dishwasher top shelf

[@ferincr]

Would like a comparison between the Barista Express and the Cyetus CYK7601

[@stevenkasower8705]

Tom, Thank you fo your illuminating review. I noticed that there is also a Breville Barista "Impress" model for $200 more than the Barista Express. The Impress has dosing controls and some "automatic tamping mechanism. I hope that someday soon you might be able to compare these two fine Breville (or Sage) machines. Either one is a sobering investment. However, if there is a favorable difference with an extra $200 we apprentices might consider making the extra investment.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hi Steven, thank you for your sentiments. I have seen the Impress, and it looks pretty cool. Whether the dosing and tamping feature are worth it, are really questions of automation and ergonomics. The included tamper is 52.7mm, while the basket is 53.3mm. So if the tamper piston on the Impress is also 52.7mm, I would probably still prefer to tamp with something like the Normcore 53.3mm tamper, to avoid coffee powder on the rim. I am not sure if the Impress differs otherwise to the Express.

[@islaypeat9798]

Thanks for the comprehensive review! Recently I paid a visit to a local retailer and spoke with the service technician there. He walked me to the service department and showed me the rows of Breville machines waiting to be serviced or parted out. Needless to say he didn’t give them a high recommendation. Unfortunate, they do seem to have everything you’d want in a semi automatic. Other than perhaps quality of parts or manufacturing issues…

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I have heard the same thing. Which is why I was apprehensive to buying a BBE until I found a great deal. I do see lots of them on the used market with issues of leaking, but I’d hope they have improved the internal design by now. What I do know is, I’ve been using DeLonghi extensively for 5 years, with no issues whatsoever. 👍🏻

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

What were the main issues that the service technician showed you?

[@islaypeat9798]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner We didn’t get into specifics, just the fact that there seemed to be a disproportionate number of Breville machines compared to other manufacturers. Rancilio was his favourite. That’s his go to. However I’m leaning towards a fully automatic, that’s why I’m looking at either a Saeco or Gaggia. Otherwise I’d get a Rancilio. They do make an excellent espresso and last a long time.

[@engrxtn]

Mine is from 2009 and it works perfectly.

[@rednesbit4920]

Had mine for 5 years so far…. Used constantly and never had an issue. 😊

[@markdoolan7282]

Water sensor is just one more thing to go wrong. The sensors loose their magnetism remarkably and the sensor internally won’t read the water level. Just had the same problem on my automatic and the machine then would just not operate as a consequence until we worked out it was just the floating magnet, not the sensor inside the unit. I was surprised.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I suppose that’s true, but I’ve never had that issue on any of my machines. May have just been bad luck.

[@caffeinefix2751]

very nicely made review! no surprises, breville is king of home all in ones

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

It sure seems that way, although I have not tried the Lelit offering yet. Cheers!

[@abdoabdo799]

you are the boss of reviews

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thank you, captain!

[@queretano1966]

Well done !

[@mradford10]

Tom - Excellent video. I received a Barista Express for Christmas after my Sunbeam Cafe Series dual pump machine finally died after 10 years of gallant service. I’ve found it to be an excellent little machine. Very consistent and well performing machine. I was initially worried about the integrated grinder but have found it to be very good. All of the positive points you detail are true. My negative points are no low water indicator, no dual pump for simultaneous extraction and milk texturing and time it takes for the steam wand to engage. However all of these points are overcome with the price and some minor work arounds. One minor update for you is that in Australia Breville ship the machine with a grinder extension to reduce with a dosing funnel to reduce mess. Thanks and keep up your excellent work ☕️

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thanks for sharing, and I am glad they have started shipping with a funnel. Cheers! Tom

[@Ja-sj9fe]

Thank u for ur videdo. What about the quality of espresso?

[@rezartavdyli]

That constant temp in sage its the real deal when it comes espresso, for me its worth every money. Cheers ✌️

[@simonhealey-nr1rb]

At a price of £350 surely the Delonghi is the better value for money vs the sage at £550+?

[@jamesrobinson7294]

Any good machines plastic free? water container/any tubes that transfer the hot water. Coffer grinder container is the least to worry about i think, hot water in plastic shouldn't be consumed tho.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

This is a question I get often. The only truly plastic-less machine I know is the La Pavoni.

[@titusnicoara7306]

Got my Arte on discount with only 350$ and i love it

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Dang, awesome price!

[@angelinemillar3039]

Thank you for your comparison very helpful and I think I will get the sage barista does have hot water?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hi Angeline, yes it also gives hot water. I have the full review here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnKc5SpgbCVecU

[@angelinemillar3039]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner thank you I love watching your channel

[@samuelpahomie6387]

Hi, I wanna buy a coffee machine, and i’m looking for a good one Does one hole in the Sage steamer is it enough for makeing the milk ? Thanks

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hi Sam, yes the one hole works just fine. Have fun with your choice!

[@samuelpahomie6387]

Thanks

[@MrAryindia]

This is our second K-Classic. We had our first one for many years, so when we had to replace it, we wanted nothing else but this exact kzbin.infoUgkxBrV-RbF5Nk0Rlt9i15aao-YMzqzTG8Vf model. We use it for about three people everyday in the morning. The taste and quick brew is one of the reasons we like it so much. There are so many choices of brands of coffee that we would grab what was on sale and test the different brands from there. I would definitely recommend trying different brands of coffee to find the ones you like the most because there are brands that quite frankly taste horrible.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Do you mean Delonghi?

[@darrenkelly5425]

Hi, great video! Would be great if you could refract the espresso's to see which machine actually extracts better.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Good idea, but I do not have a refractometer...thanks for watching!

[@tzytb-ks6cq]

Thank you for your video, I’m absolutely new to the space but I’ve always loved coffee. Could you please answer my questions? - I have been having pod coffees and do you think I’ll be able to tell the difference and love the actual espresso? - breville is about $400 more expensive $1000 vs $630 at where I live, do you think it’s worth it? - I see that specialista isn’t recommended much, would you say it’s a bad machine or is it just not perfect enough for actual coffee folks, do you still recommend that machine for me? Or should I save up and get the express but I might also end up not buying anything because it’s too expensive. Thank you!!!❤

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

You'll notice a huge difference between pods and actual espresso, yes. The Sage is better than the Delonghi for a number of reasons. Maybe wait for a sale?

[@petraminkin4273]

Very helpful

[@jakeoram5161]

My barista express always goes wrong. It's a fantastic machine when it works but unfortunately I've had to return it twice. The warranty is now void and has gone wrong for the third time (same problem) - the pressure has gone on the water tap and milk steamer. When I contacted Sage last time, they explained that it was scale but I don't believe them as my machine is descaled on a regular basis with the power and tablets. Does anyone know what the problem is I'm having? Thanks.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Is your machine leaking at all? The question is, where is it losing pressure? Might need to troubleshoot in the interior of the machine, but if you don't feel comfortable doing that, you could sell it for parts...sorry to hear it!

[@jakeoram5161]

​@@TomsCoffeeCorner Will have to take it apart sometime. Thanks for your help Tom!

[@albertocordeddu7676]

Thank you Tom for the review and the thoroughness! I've just subscribed to your channel. Already from the brand reputation, I felt Sage/Breville Barista Express was a better choice compared to La Specialista Arte. You didn't hesitate which to pick, if the price were the same. But if I'd tell you that right now the Barista Express costs 655 euro and La Specialista Arte 412 euro (thanks to a coupon that gonna expire soon), you would suggest me to buy DeLonghi or to buy Barista Express anyway (maybe when it is gonna cost 500 euro in Amazon again)?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I'd wait until the BBE goes on sale again to be honest. 412 euros is a good price for the Arte, but the Sage regularly can be had for below 500 euros on Amazon, if you wait.

[@giocondakisses]

I have both in my qvc cart so I’m watching this video before eliminating one

[@Gigi-vj1yy]

Hi Tom, can you please clarify for me. I have been told that bean to cup machines like these, because the beans are stored while the machine is pulling the shot and being heated up, it reduces the life and quality of the beans due to the heat of the machine operation. Is that true in this case?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Honestly I don't think there's much to worry about. Theoretically that could be the case, but the bean hopper is on the opposite of the machine as the thermoblock for one, and for two, the hoppers are small. We have to refill ours about every 2 days. Cheers!

[@SpressoHead]

You’ll never truly appreciate the BES860/870 until you put a good grinder like the V4 Nano next to it. And if you shop wisely, you can still do it for around $1100.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

What is the V4 Nano? Is that a hand grinder?

[@SpressoHead]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner No it’s powered

[@dayrianmagerman3858]

Good informative video. What are your thoughts on a Sunbeam machine with similar features? Thanks

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hi Dayrian! Sorry, but I do not know that machine. I would stick with a manufacturer that is well versed in making espresso machines, to be honest. Don't think Sunbeam specializes in them...

[@dayrianmagerman3858]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner All good. One of the other UK coffee youtubers cleared it up for me. Sunbeam is sold as Breville in the UK. Confusing but, I'll probably go with the Sage (Breville here in Aus). Seems to be a better machine anyways. Thanks for the reply.