The Breville 800ESXL - or officially the Breville 800ESXL Commercial 15-Bar Triple-Priming Die-Cast - espresso maker is a joy to behold. Fortunately, it is not all looks and no brains. The 800ESXL offers a dozen innovative features to make your espresso-making experience a delight, rather than a chore. And the taste results won't disappoint, either.
The unit is on the heavy side at 31 lbs (19 kg). That doesn't guarantee good coffee but it does help stabilize the machine and prevent tipping over. No muss, no waste, no time spent cleaning up spills. The stainless steel exterior extends that theme of durability and easy clean up.
The interior parts offer equally high quality. The porta-filter is chrome-plated brass, providing even thermal conductivity for excellent temperature control. Some users are less than thrilled with the thermoblock heating component, but the complaints are reminiscent of stereo aficionados who say that good sound can only come from a turntable and vinyl records. The difference will be undetectable to all but a few even in a blind taste test.
There is one area where the machine is less than ideal. Because of its dual-wall design (which has advantages for pressure and temperature control), the 800ESXL produces grounds that are sludgy. Most espresso lovers with experience of several machines will be used to a drier, more compact puck that simply flops out of the machine during cleanup. In this reviewer's opinion, the defect is minor.
The Breville 800ESXL espresso maker more than makes up for any less-than perfect attributes by convenience, on top of making an excellent shot of espresso.
The steam wand is thoughtfully designed, set on a ball so it can be easily turned in any direction. That's a big help when you've got different sized cups to fill, or happen to need a different angle because of counter or personal height. It's also very handy for producing hot water for tea, hot cocoa, and other drinks.
The maker does a superb job of keeping water at precisely the right temperature throughout the machine for a stellar shot. Cheaper espresso makers have hot and cold spots, producing inconsistent and inferior results. (As the water and/or coffee passes through the machine it is affected slightly by these differences.)
It's true that the thermoblock is not quite as consistent in terms of pressure and temperature as a commercial-quality brass boiler. But in actual tests the difference was virtually undetectable and the lower price makes it a toss up.
The large heating tray at the base is another nice feature, too. If, like a good barista, you pre-heat your espresso cup in order to prevent rapid cool down of the liquid, the tray will assist your efforts rather than undo them.
The removable water tank produces up to 50 shots before requiring refilling, so the Breville 800ESXL makes for a great machine for large parties.
Convenience, style, and capable of an excellent shot of espresso. What's not to like?
Looking to buy an espresso machine? Check out why the Breville 800ESXL and Breville ESP8XL espresso makers are excellent choices!
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