I have this machine and it's great. Everything you need to get started. I'll definitely level up in a few years but for now I can make very good drinks imo. I think the steamer is the weak link. But it's adequate.
Breville Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine BES876BSS
The Breville Barista Express Impress (BES876) adds an auto-tamping Impress Puck System to the original Barista Express formula โ bean hopper, integrated burr grinder, espresso machine, all in one unit. At $1,149.99 CAD, it targets households that want cafรฉ-quality espresso without learning professional tamping technique. Available on Amazon.ca (ASIN B0BBYNPV33).
18 mentions ยท 7 threadslast mention Jul 2026
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Real comments from Reddit, linked to the original thread. Nothing paraphrased.
In my opinion this is a great all-around machine. ... This grinds my fresh beans, auto-tamps and pulls great shots. ... I'm not an espresso snob so I'm perfectly happy with this machine.
I would say not worth it. ... I would wait and upgrade the grinder, then another machine if you feel its needed.
Dont do it. You will regret soon. Grinder is not good. Steam is not strong. Shots in a row are inconsistent.
The grind is extremely inconsistent, you dial it in then the next day your shot times are completely different due to how much old grind it retains I suspect. It doesn't do a clean tamp but rather leaves a mess around the edges. The pressure gauge seems to just basically go to the same spot no matter what the real pressure is.
Just arrived. And I'm quite disappointed. The coffee is pretty good. It is a proper espresso. ... But the machine has way too much plastic. And black molded plastic at that.
Get a barista pro for cheaper. The auto tamp system is not worth the added cost and just one more thing to break, just get a spring loaded tamper.
Had mine for a month and really enjoy it- If I was drinking espresso straight it might not be the right set up but honestly love how easy it is to use once you learn how to dial in beans on the grind setting. ... the built in tamping makes it waaaay less messy which as a mom , is a major plus.
Imho, this is the best entry level package. You can get descent results woth it! Low investment to know if you enjoy the espresso ritual. Grinder won't be able to do lighter roasts.
Forget about tamping from impress. I had impress before when I upgraded my machine to HX machine, I thought I will miss the tamping system from impress but I got torque/smart tamper, I don't miss it at all.
We had the Impress Express and besides never quite getting it right, it is just a large machine. ... Milk steaming felt very slow and while speed of milk steaming is not a concern for all I just felt I was doing it wrong
I bought the BBEI and I am happy with it. although it has been a journey of learning and adjusting. ... most forums say to have 18, or 19g but this machine I can't make it to give me less than 20g, if I put less the tamper will indicate that is under.
Now I have Breville Barista Express Impress - and this thing does all those for me!! It's a life changer and it grinds down evenly into the portafilter that i don't need to have other accessories to evenly distribute, and it temps perfectly so i dont need to think about my strength with my temp accessory.
Get a bambino plus and a DF54 or DF64 grinder. That combo will be much better
I would say the Bambino and Grinder. The Breville grinders are okay but leave a little bit to be desired.
What I like about the machine is that you can either do the process manually like this (besides the tamping of course) or just put beans and let the machine decides automatically, so you have the choice
I have the express impress, don't recommend it for the auto tamper and the poor grinder.
Mine looks worse than yours and the machine is 5 months old. It has been like this since I bought it. I sent it back under warranty and they changed the group head but it's the same.
โ What Works
- The Impress Puck System โ intelligent dosing, auto-tamp with 7ยฐ twist โ consistently praised for removing the guesswork that stalls beginners. Multiple family members can pull decent shots without individual calibration.
- Shot consistency across users is a recurring theme in owner reviews: the assisted tamping removes the most common beginner failure point, and the all-in-one workflow from bean to shot is frequently called the machine's defining strength.
- Built-in grinder with 25 settings is considered adequate for most home espresso work โ owners who previously needed separate grinders note the integrated workflow keeps the counter clean.
- Steam wand performance surprises owners who expect entry-level frothing โ microfoam for latte art is achievable with practice, and multiple reviewers note it outperforms what the price bracket typically delivers.
โ ๏ธ Worth Knowing
- The machine uses a single boiler, which means waiting between brewing and steaming โ owners report a 20โ30 second switching delay that can slow down multi-drink mornings.
- The 54mm portafilter is Breville-proprietary, limiting aftermarket basket and accessory options compared to the 58mm standard used by prosumer machines.
- Owners who pursue higher-quality coffee often hit a ceiling with the built-in grinder and eventually upgrade โ this machine is a gateway, not a final destination for serious espresso hobbyists.
Casual owners love it and r/espresso does not โ that is the whole review. Owners who want one-button convenience call the auto-tamp a mess-saver and the machine everything you need to get started. Enthusiasts report grind retention making shots drift day to day, weak steam, and a grinder that cannot handle light roasts, and most would rather have a Bambino Plus with a separate grinder for the same money. Buy it for easy daily lattes; skip it if you will ever chase the perfect shot.


