Are you setting up your Breville Barista Express coffee machine and need some help adjusting the settings?
Don’t worry; in this article I will guide you through the whole process of choosing the right grind settings for Breville Barista machine.
Actually, it’s not that difficult to set the right settings for this machine.
The basic steps are as follows.
1. Preheat the machine for 15-30 minutes.
2. Adjust the grind size to five and set the knob on 12 o’clock for the right amount of grind.
3. Add 6-10 g of coffee beans for a single shot and 15-18 g for a double shot in the portafilter.
In this article, I will specifically discuss about the best settings for Breville Barista Express machine.
I will also discuss how to make the machine hotter and in the end, I will share my opinion if Breville Barista Express is a good espresso machine.
Table of Contents
- What are the Best Grind Settings for Breville Barista Express Machine?
- What is the Best Grind Size for Breville Barista Express?
- How Do I Make My Breville Barista Express Hotter?
- Is Breville Barista Express Machine Really Worth it?
What are the Best Grind Settings for Breville Barista Express Machine?
The three most basic grind settings for this machine which you need to properly set are as follows.
1. Grind Size
2. Amount of Coffee
3. Dosage size
You can set the right amount of coffee from the knob on the front side of the machine.
Use a digital kitchen scale and place the empty portafilter on it.
Tamper and weigh 8 grams for a single shot and 16 grams for a double shot.
Next, press the portafilter on the grinder to begin the automatic grinding process.
I recommend setting the adjustment knob at 12 o’clock for your perfect cup of coffee.
Decrease the number on the adjustment knob to increase the amount of coffee and vice versa.
Breville Barista Express offers two dosage sizes for the coffee consumers – A single shot or double shot.
If you like strong coffee, then a double shot is the right choice.
However, if you prefer to have a mild daily blend, then go for a single shot.
After setting the correct grind settings, the next step is to tamp the coffee grounds and extract a piping hot cup.
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What is the Best Grind Size for Breville Barista Express?
Manual of Breville Barista Express recommends maintaining position 5 for the best grind size.
There are 18 grind size options available on Breville Barista Express machine.
On the upper left corner of the machine, you will find a wheel for adjusting its grind size.
The three levels of grind size are coarse, medium, and fine.
If you prefer fine grind, select a higher number on the wheel, and you will get the output in the powder form.
However, if you go for a coarse grind, the beans are ground to large-sized particles.
The grind size essentially depends on the method you choose for making coffee, like French Press, Cold Brew, or Pour over.
Fine grounds conveniently pass through the filter basket for making a delicious cup of Joe.
Water is forced with higher pressure through fine grounds extracting all the oils from the coffee beans.
Setting the wheel on position five will make you the right cup of coffee.
The coffee grounds should be fine, but not too fine.
Otherwise, over-extraction will result in a bitter taste.
Likewise, too coarse coffee grounds will result in flavorless under-extracted coffee.
Also remember to use a small number or smaller size of beans for setting the grind size before making a whole cup of coffee to avoid wastage of beans.
How Do I Make My Breville Barista Express Hotter?
Follow these steps to make your Breville Barista Express hotter to get the best taste and flavor from your espresso coffee.
1. First, turn off your coffee machine.
2. Then, long press the program button.
3. Next, press the power button.
4. Now, if you press the one-cup button, the temperature will increase by 2 degrees.
Similarly, the temperature will increase by 4 degrees if you press the two-cup button.
After following these steps, if your Breville Barista Express Machine is still not hot, there can be different reasons.
The default internal temperature of the machine is 195-200 degrees, so your coffee will be at approx. 185 degrees.
If your coffee machine cannot reach this temperature, contact Breville customer support.
Always preheat the machine for 15-30 minutes before using.
Let some water flow through the device to heat the internal components.
Also, preheat your cup with warm water.
Generally, the dark roast should be brewed at 185-195 degrees, medium roast at 190-200 degrees, and light roast should be brewed at 195-205 degrees.
The higher the temperature, the more flavorful your coffee will be because all the coffee beans’ flavors are extracted by boiling water.
Is Breville Barista Express Machine Really Worth it?
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine is certainly a fantastic addition to your kitchen if you are a espresso aficionado.
It has a built-in burr grinder, 67 oz. water tank, portafilter for double & single shots, measuring razor, milk jug, coffee scoop, and a tamper with a 1-year warranty.
Barista Express has a sleek design with a modern touch.
You will feel like a pro barista when operating the machine.
You can extract an espresso shot in a few minutes with consistent results.
The portafilter is also very high quality as it does not allow the coffee grounds to pass through easily.
The shot comes with a rich and smooth crema on top.
You can also use the integrated frother to create micro-foam on your lattes and cappuccinos.
You may need to clean the machine after every use to prevent the accumulation of oils and coffee grounds in the machine.
You will also get an alarm when it’s time to descale.
Truly, when you see these features, I can highly recommend Breville Barista Express is an affordable espresso maker.
So, if you are finding a convenient coffee maker with customizable settings and high-quality coffee, Breville Barista is really worth it.
References:
https://www.mymorningespresso.com/breville-barista-grind-size-setting/
https://www.cnet.com/reviews/breville-barista-express-review/
https://www.thespruceeats.com/breville-the-barista-express-review-4773153
https://coffeeaffection.com/how-to-use-a-breville-espresso-machine/