Sage (Breville) Barista Touch Impress and Barista Express Impress Tips!

In this video, I show you a few tips I have picked up using the Breville Barista Touch Impress these last couple of months. They include a clear plastic portafilter funnel, to be able to do WDT when you want, as well as a small wooden wedge, to tilt the milk can upwards, to help facilitate a better swirl while steaming milk automatically.
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► Breville Barista Touch Impress*:
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Portafilter, basket, tamper, etc.
----------------------------
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#TomsCoffeeCorner #Espresso #HomeBarista

[@amanw89]

Thanks for recommendation on the dosing funnel. However when I insert the PF with the recommended dosing funnel ( Breville brand) the dose button doesn’t light up. What do you think I am doing wrong?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I've heard that. I don't know, because it works for me. Maybe just make sure it's inserted all the way?

[@amanw89]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner thanks for responding, Tom. I noticed it’s because of 3 small plastic protrusions ( they look like bumps) on the circumference of the funnel. It blocks from inserting the funnel all the way in. I sanded/filed it down and voila! It worked. Hopefully helpful for anyone else who is reading this.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Excellent - pinning!@@amanw89

[@Maher_K]

Thank you for sharing, I have the same problem, but I didn't understand which part you sanded/filed?@@amanw89

[@lyricallysikh1]

​​​@@amanw89I filed down those bumps on the dosing funnel and now the machine recognizes the portafilter with the attached dosing funnel. Thanks for the info. Also make sure not to insert the dosing funnel/portafilter into the group head, it's a pain to remove the dosing funnel, learned the hard way. 😬

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thanks for watching, comments welcome! I am hoping this video can become a reference for people to build on, so post your BTI tips here!

[@monchoglu]

I've just ordered mine, thank for the tips! I'll try as soon as I get it :)

[@caffeinefix2751]

Genius idea with the WDT! Never tried it. Although this machine was made to be automated, more options is always better and i'd love to have the liberty to choose tamping lever or wdt when i feel like it. I wish there was a dosing cup shallow enough to work with this design. I have tried an aluminium dosing cup and not only is it too tall, it also doesn't press the button right so the machine doesn't let me grind anyway even if i removed the drip tray to fit the dosing cup. Thanks for sharing!

[@Georgo94]

Hallo Tom! I have purchased the Barista Express Impress aftery your review 😊 Unfortunately, after many attempts and over a kilo of beans wasted I am still unable to achive the same results as you did. I really wanted to get the same creama as you, but it just not working for me. I have very fresh beans that are 1 week old, but still no big crema.😢 Today I have discovered that my machine doses above 20g of coffee into double basket (i am using the OEM one) during auto dosing. It is crazy! When I set my grinder to fine settings (for example 4 inside and 14 outside) and use auto dosing the machine is choking and it doesn't even spill a single drop of coffee into a cup. But if I set a manual time of dosing and use 16g into the same basket it produces some tasty shot and coffee flows beatifully. Another thing worth mentioning is that if I choose to grind coarse, let say 5 inside and 20 outside and use auto dosing, I am getting a smily face when 18g or less is grinded. So I came to conclusion that the 'auto dosing system' is not anything fancy, because it is not weight based, but rather volumetric. This is very imprecise way of measuring coffee and it is also why grinding finer can get the machine chocked (because the finer the grind the densier the puck, but volume of puck is constans!) Sorry for long message, but i hope it helps someone. Maybe? Haha BTW. Are you using IMS filters, or OEM ones? Cheers George

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hi George, thanks for posting your experience! Yes, the adaptive dosing is in regards to tamper depth, which relates to volume. But it does make tamping easy, even if the weights vary depending on bean and roast level. I use the IMS baskets. Cheers!

[@PhilippensTube]

I have the same experience. I got a Barista Touch Impress and when I use the automatic system, I can't get a decent espresso out of it. It's either too bitter, but mostly too sour. And then I mean REALLY sour. I bought some coffee (freshly roasted) from a local roaster in Rotterdam. Various kinds to see what I like; some blends, some single origin. I'm not sure what type of coffee this machine is calibrated too, but I bought it on the basis of all the positive reviews. They all claim that it's as easy as pushing a few buttons and you're done. But I found that I have to do everything manually to get a good espresso. Also, my machine doesn't have to dosing funnel. I will order one and try to get 20g manually andf then dose the water with a scale too. I've noticed that I get a better coffee when I do that. A bit of a shame, because I thought that this is an easy machine, but I could have done without the fancy screen if I have to do everything myself.

[@EdwardIschy]

Thank you so much for sharing the problem with the portafilter funnel not going in far enough. I can't believe Breville is selling a part with the flaw.

[@aymanutube]

Hey does anyone have the issue with the touch impress not detecting the portafilter with the funnel on

[@Fayz-1]

​@@aymanutubeit's not working for me too

[@herbhungry7565]

It has to be the breville one you can't use a different funnel it won't work at all

[@kimbridge5592]

the one thing i like about the breville portafilter. is you can screw the spout off. semt bottomless/ haha. i did find i had go into manual grind with the funnel. the sensor wouldn't recognise it. i will have to try the wedge trick. i have had some good results on auto. but manual is really good. unlike some other earlier machines i tried to purge wand before steaming. but when started it again it still puts a tiny bit of water in your milk. not to much. though it would be nice if there was none. love your videos. watched the same ones a few times.

[@seanl2863]

You made my decision easy after watching several videos and got the touch impress,, ❤ it but looked on your link for kits but can't find the wedge and looked on Amazon as well but nothing. Where can I get it? Thanks

[@jeet-Seattle]

Another amazing video from Tom..

[@orrinbelcher6593]

Nice video fun and informative, nicely done

[@drevo50]

I bought this model last week and have rather mixed views on it. The auto grind dosing always under doses, even after setup, so I use the manual timer option, which is at least repeatable. Adjusting the brew temperature down has helped the flavour (for dark roast beans). I'm surprised that the group head isn't heated; putting temperature controlled water through a cold head seems ridiculous to me; the manual suggests hot water over the portafilter to bring it up to temperature, of course this doesn't affect the group head. You can always make a couple of empty shots, just seems a bit weird that you need to do that.

[@MrTankrodz]

Do you recommend using puck screen?

[@jbehary]

Hi Tom. Great video, thank you. I have an issue with the Breville dosing funnel. For some reason the lip of the plastic is not activating the button that then allows you to grind. It look like a few mm short. Any suggestions?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Boy I don't know. I never had that issue. Maybe return it for another one.

[@kimbridge5592]

love your videos. thank you

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Glad you like them!

[@amrzahran3144]

Thank you for your review but i need to ask which one is best barista touch impress or de longhi specialista maestro

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Knowing the La Specialista Arte (albeit not the Maestro), I'd rather recommend the BTI.

[@amrzahran3144]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner i don’t understand I need coffee machine for home and I need the best one -breville barista touch - de longhi la specialista mastero

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Go for the Breville.@@amrzahran3144

[@kimbridge5592]

i wassn't sure if you could still go manual on the touch impress. thanks for this. does it still make nice coffee as people are saying the machine does not heat up like the thermo coil ones.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Idk what issues people are having. My unit made the coffee at a good temp for me - it wasn't cold. You can adjust the temp up to 97 degrees C.

[@katasticone]

I got this machine over the weekend and I'm in LOVE. I like the wedge trick and am going to pick one up. With the beans I'm using, it's got me at a 4 grind. The taste has been incredible though and I can whip up a latte in under 3 minutes between meetings. I usually have buyer's remorse on purchases like this, but not this one. I've also been loving the ability to steam my milk for my drip coffee too. Great machine. Oh, quick question. Someone told me not to overuse the tea function as it'll burn the pump faster. Any thoughts on that?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Awesome! Thanks so much for your feedback. I don't think using this for tea regularly will cause any issues. The pump pumps cold water anyway, as it is upstream of the heater. Cheers!

[@katasticone]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner awesome! If I can bug you for one more question. I'm digging this thing so much that I want to be able to also make decaf sometimes. What's the best way? Just do my best guess to dose beans in the hopper for each shot? I learned the hard way that removing and dumping the hopper isn't it. It's not like a grinder where you can turn it upside down and get most of the beans out. Any idea around how many beans to add each time if this is your solution? I'm always pulling a double shot for my lattes. Thank you SO much. Love your channel.

[@MaartenHansman]

@@katasticone, you can switch hoppers.

[@katasticone]

@@MaartenHansman that's what I ultimately did. I got a single dose hopper and it's been a game changer. Now, I can switch beans pretty easily.

[@patrickdesouza3718]

Hi Tom. Am I correct in understanding that you are using the dosing funnel in grinding manual mode? With the dosing funnel on the PF, the dosing funnel does not activate the sensor to switch on the grinding icon in the touch screen.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

For me, it does activate the switch. I guess it depends on the funnel. Cheers!

[@patrickdesouza3718]

Thanks Tom. Interesting. I’m using the Breville dosing funnel. I might try a bottomless PF with the Breville dosing funnel and see how it goes

[@nelsonnicklebee]

Great video as always! Would using a smaller basket work for getting a smaller dose?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Sure, they come with single and double baskets. Cheers!

[@ploschi1]

Thanks for the great video! which bottomless portafilter would you recommend? :)

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I like Normcore or Neouza.

[@DuBstep115]

I think the wedge could be little better still. Now its only tilting it foward, it could tilt it to the side and foward to really hit that rear quater

[@HennersPD]

Hi Tom, recently bought this machine and the portafilter moves very slightly to the right when tamping down, wondering if that’s normal since it’s held in by magnets? Worried if there’s an issue which may affect tamping? Thanks!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Yes, it does that mechanically for the puck polish at the end. It's pretty slick, mechanically.

[@HennersPD]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner ah I see that makes sense thank you, appreciate the clarification! It is very slick indeed!

[@giorgiocastiglia6027]

Hi Tom, your videos are always interesting. Is the plastic portafilter funnel also usable on the Barista Express Impress without removing the portafilter spout?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Yes, it fits both models, with both bottomless and spouted portafilters. Cheers!

[@giorgiocastiglia6027]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thanks Tom, but I meant if the space between the support of the grinder and the base is the same For the two machines

[@toomaskukk3565]

Hei, Can someone give me some advice: when grinding coffee beans, fineness no. 14, the portafilter remains watery or even wet, and if the driver needs to add or reduce the grind, the machine turns itself off!?

[@arisistible1]

What’s up Tom, last year I bought a De’Longhi EC9155M after watching one of your videos. It was a great starter and saved me so much money (got my moneys worth plus tasted better) on Starbucks coffee. Last week, sadly it broke (but no regrets, the savings paid for itself in that one year) and I had to send it in for warranty (1 to 2 months). Since I am a better home barista now, I didn’t want to wait a month so I ordered the Breville Barista Touch Impress, just so happen I saw this video! I can’t wait for it to come this Saturday so I can start using it. I hope you have a video on how to properly use it the first time. I’m going to scroll through your videos, but if you could link me, I’d appreciate it. I always enjoy seeing the cool accessories you have to make the experience easier. One thing I loved about the De’Longhi was the mess less funnel and it looks like you found just the solution!! I will buy the same funnel from your link! Thank you again!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Very nice! But what happened to your EC9155? Anyway, I made a full review of the BTI here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hp7Xg4eJgLaFj5Y Have fun! Tom PS - you're gonna love the steam wand on it.

[@arisistible1]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner what’s up Tom, thank you! I eventually found the full review, and also saw a video from Breville on how to dial in using their automated calibration tool. The EC9155M started leaking from inside. But no issues with buttons like you mentioned on your EC9255M video. I, like you am an engineer and love to fix things but I’ll leave this problem for warranty lol.

[@GeraldEmmiK]

Hey Tom. Great video and review of the Touch Impress. What I am mostly missing in your videos is some sort of in depth review of this (and other) machines. E.g. is the portafilter 54mm in diameter as specified? Do 3rd party stuff like a 54mm puck screen fit in there? Is the brewing pressure 9bar or more? Does a 54mm tamper fit in the portafilter?... You said that the users report / complain that the machine is grinding more than 18g (rather 20-22g). So in this video in particular I miss the answer: Can the machine be set up in such a way that it does not grind more then what we want? E.g. Use the funnel, weigh the output, take out if it's too much, level the coffee so the portafilter fits back in the machine, tamper using inbuild tamper and save the level so that it knows it has to grind less? Or can the machine be set up to grind less seconds, tamper, weight the output, adjust the time, adjust the level....I think you get what I mean. Thank you! (Excuse my english since my native language is german)

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Servus Gerald! Kein Problem, ich antworte so gut ich kann. Yes, the baskets and accessories are all 54mm, as advertised. Perhaps I could do a video with calipers next time (Schiebemesser). As far as the grinding goes, I showed how I manually stop the grinder and weigh, to get my desired dose. With this machine, it's the only way I know to get less than 20-22 grams. The Barista Express Impress with the adaptive dosing also overdoses, but you can default to a manual timer. Here you cannot. Scheena Gruass! Tom

[@GeraldEmmiK]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Wow. That's a pitty if you can't adapt the dose to your liking. Actually wanted to get one by the end of this year but the missing feature is a no go in my eyes.

[@dannybloe]

Interesting. I have never measured more than 18 grams in the puck with this machine. Usually somewhere in the 17s somewhere.

[@BigBenAdv]

That's a real nifty trick with the wedge! More importantly, what's that double walled glass you're using? I've been using Wilmax double walled bowls (more meant for desserts) for when I need to put a scale under the cup as most double walled cups (above 200ml) are simply too tall/ narrow. The one you're using looks like it's about 300ml and perfectly shaped (wider and shorter).

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

That's a double walled cappuccino cup from Kruve. It's cool, but their espresso cups are even cooler. Cheers!

[@BigBenAdv]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Nice! Thanks for sharing 😃

[@TomJones-tx7pb]

I notice that after tamping there is coffee up the sides of the portafilter. That would create a mess problem for me as I like to use a thin screen on top of the coffee. I have always ended up not using the built in grinder and bean hopper of my machines and using a separate, superior single dose grinder instead.

[@graciesmom2019]

Hi Tom…where did you get the wedge? Is it coffee-related or just from a hardware store? Thanks!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

It's just a shim from the hardware store. Cheers!

[@markaloia5073]

I bought the same top for using g a DWT tool. However, it doesn’t let me grind with it because it doesn’t recognize that the portafilter is in place. Any suggestions?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I've heard that. I don't know, because it works for me. Maybe just make sure it's inserted all the way?

[@tainis1996]

Where I can get those tools and fresh coffee in Germany?

[@WaveGlydr]

I wonder if it would work better for a swirling effect if you put the wedge on either the left or right side rather than straight on.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

That's a good thought. That might very well work better. Just gotta be sure the temperature sensor is still made. Cheers!

[@patrickdesouza3718]

Hi I need To get impress Touch for my wife for ease of use. Can I not use the impress temper and use. A 3rd party tamper with the impress touch?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Not really, because if you pull out the PF after grinding, the mound will get cut off the top :(

[@patrickdesouza3718]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner thanks Tom. I can’t use a dosing funnel? Sample workflow: 1. Use the dosing funnel with the PF, 2. grind the beans with the dosing funnel 3. Remove PF with dosing funnel once grinding is complete 4. Use WDT 5. The use a 3rd party tamper like a Normcore 6. Then pull the shot Can the above 6 steps be used with the impress touch?

[@AJ82133]

Where did you get the wedge from?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Home depot :)

[@Ozzie-in-CT]

Why bother getting a semi automatic class of machine if you want the higher level of control. You should just get another setup. For the $1500 price of this machine, you’ll be able to get a decent enough grinder plus a decent enough espresso machine and all the control that you want. BTW, if you lift the frothing wand, it goes into manual mode and you can create exactly the froth you want.

[@DuBstep115]

Because express impress is for sale for 599€, thats only 100€ more than gaggia classic evo. For 100€ you can't get a good grinder

[@GWVEEN]

Idea: stick something underneath the mug instead of the wood wedge on the drip tray

[@MrNeilRoberts]

Ours arrives tomorrow … 😛

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@eduardogonzalezpozega8999]

It seems to defeat the purpose of the touch impress if you do everything manually… but I guess is good to have options if you want to

[@Sayre666]

How did you get the dosing funnel to work? The portafilter when funnel attached is not recognized by my touch impress. The tab aligns to fit but is not triggering the sensor.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I don't know, it just worked for me without issue.

[@PabloTBrave]

Why buy a touch impress and then don't use it ...could have saved 100s and bought the cheaper model, which are essentially the same apart from the automation which you are bypassing anyway fair enough for the wedge and the non stick Porto filter

[@aymanutube]

To take it up a notch - I love the ease and consistency of auto when busy during the week but I enjoy learning about coffee and on the weekends, it's cool to see how you can enhance flavour with WDT and a different portafilter...

[@lipardfilm]

hmm at the closeup at 3:31 it seems for me that the inbulit tamper is not perfectly fitting, or kind of, and causing a coffe wall around the portafilter.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Hmm, it could be that my WDTing, and spreading it around the basket made this difference. If I just let it do its thing, mounding the espresso in the middle then tamping, the basket edges do look cleaner. Cheers!

[@JoEpunkt]

I could imagine that the bottomless portafilter is a tiny bit wider than the original one from sage…

[@lipardfilm]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thanks, great! Keep up the great work! Love your videos!

[@GeraldEmmiK]

Yes that looked awfull. I also think that the normcore 54mm portafilter is actually a 54 and the OEM one is smaller (there were some reviews about that fact involving other Sage machines) and also if you tamp right after grinding you are actualy tamping like a small coffee mountain that will be compressed and pushed up to the edges. Doing a WDT will level the coffee and wont't compress the edges well if it's not a perfect fit.

[@brendanlopes7354]

With your 10 grind setting, what are your inner burrs set to?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I set the inners to 3 or 4, generally.

[@brendanlopes7354]

​@@TomsCoffeeCorner thank you!

[@mariusanthonisen2935]

If i put on these settings nothing comes out. If i set the inner grider on 3-4 i must set the grid setting up to 18+. What am i doing wrong? Please help

[@bubbleobilly324]

My Breville dosing ring doesn’t work with the auto dosing

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Sorry to hear that! Mine works fine...maybe they changed the design?

[@aymanutube]

Same - When the funnel is on the OEM portafilter, it doesn't detect and therefore stops you from grinding

[@jorcco]

Hey Tom, great video, but can you explain acronyms like WDT and what it does next time. I can look it up, but it takes away from the video experience. Great job otherwise

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

WDT just means distributing the grinds with a little needle. It was developed by someone named Weiss, so it's Weiss Distribution Technique.

[@elke1972]

Coffee ist cold

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Are you maybe using a large colder cup? In our home, the temp is fairly low, and so large cups suck the heat out of coffee if you don't pre-warm them.

[@liana9737]

When you show how to make the art we can’t see as it’s done far from the camera

[@PetrKrenzelok]

I have this machine for something like a week, and here's my few observations: - I does not allow you to do a bigger than 90 ml coffee, even if you hold the button to do it manually, it stops - You can do either coffee with water (americano), or with milk (flatwhite, late, cappucino), but not both. E.g. I am drinking from 250 ml mug and want more water than its max automatic volume of cca 90 ml - you can't simply do it / save it. - Even after one week of use, the milk basket slightly moves / travels, and it has already scratched the surface of the grid. That should not happen on such an expensive machine - should use scratched stainless still, not kind of glossy surface.

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

Thank you for posting your feedback. I never pull a shot more than 40-45 ml, so I guess for me that's not an issue. But it would be a problem for Caffe Crema, admittedly. Cheers!

[@j.t.1215]

First!