Breville Barista Touchscreen BES880BSS Espresso Machine Review
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I’ve lived with the Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS long enough to know its habits—how it hums awake, how the touchscreen nudges me along a workflow, how the steam wand turns milk silky with almost no effort, and where the machine shines (and occasionally stumbles) in a busy kitchen. If you’re wondering whether the Barista Touch is the “right jump” from entry-level espresso or a thoughtful upgrade from a basic semi-automatic, this deep dive is written from my day-to-day reality—good shots, dud shots, milk art wins, and all the little tweaks that actually make a difference.
Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine (BES880BSS)
Key Features
- Intuitive touchscreen with guided drink menus
- Built-in conical burr grinder with multiple grind settings
- Fast ThermoJet™ heating for near-instant readiness
- Auto steam wand with adjustable temperature & texture
- Low-pressure pre-infusion and ~9-bar extraction
- 54 mm portafilter; programmable single/double shots
Why We Like It
The Barista Touch simplifies café drinks—choose a recipe on the screen, let the machine dial in the steps, and finish with silky, automatic microfoam. Quick heat-up makes weekday lattes realistic.
Pros
- Touchscreen speeds up workflow
- Auto milk texturing is consistently silky
- Quick warm-up for fast morning drinks
- All-in-one footprint saves counter space
Cons
- 54 mm basket less “pro” than 58 mm setups
- Regular cleaning/backflush cycles required
Bottom Line
A user-friendly, modern espresso station that delivers fast heat-up, guided recipes, and reliable microfoam—perfect for busy latte lovers.
Price on AmazonBefore we get granular, a quick lay of the land: the BES880BSS is Breville’s compact, all-in-one espresso station with a touchscreen interface, built-in conical burr grinder, low-pressure pre-infusion, programmable shot volumes, PID temperature control, and a semi-automatic steam wand that can froth milk automatically to a chosen temperature and texture. It’s designed to streamline the workflow without stripping away the fun parts of making espresso. If you want a machine that guides you but still leaves room for personal taste, this is that machine.
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Living With the Breville Barista Touch
When I first unboxed the Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine (model BES880BSS), I didn’t approach it like a lab test. I did what coffee people actually do: cleared a permanent patch of counter, filled the tank from the sink, dialed in beans I already love, and started pulling morning shots for me and afternoon cappuccinos for whoever wanders into the kitchen. The very first thing I noticed was how approachable the machine felt. The touchscreen gives a short, friendly roadmap (grind → tamp → brew → steam), so even the first hour with it feels productive rather than intimidating.
Taste-wise, I gravitate to medium roasts for balance and predictable extraction. On this machine, I consistently pulled 1:2 shots in the 28–32 second range once I dialed in—nutty sweetness, a round body, and enough clarity that milk drinks still taste like espresso rather than hot milk. The auto milk routine genuinely surprised me: it’s not a gimmick. The microfoam is tight enough to pour basic latte art without wrestling the pitcher for 45 seconds.
Is the Barista Touch perfect? No machine is. But it’s engineered to make the home espresso ritual repeatable with enough control to grow your skills. If that’s the balance you want, keep reading; I’ll break down each part of the machine in plain language—from size and design to temperature control, grinder, portafilter, pre-infusion, milk frothing, and the way dosing actually works when you’re in a hurry before work.
Size & Design: Compact, Polished, and Kitchen-Friendly
On the counter, the Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS is compact for an all-in-one. The footprint leaves space for a scale and a knock box without turning your prep area into organized chaos. The brushed stainless steel finish reads premium rather than flashy, and it hides smudges better than mirror-polish machines. The top is a cup-warming tray, which stays warm enough to keep espresso cups from chilling your first shot.
Weight-wise, it’s hefty enough to feel planted when you lock in the portafilter. The spout height suits traditional demitasse cups and most small to medium mugs; for tall travel tumblers and oversized mugs, I remove the drip tray cover to squeeze in extra clearance. The portafilter cradle under the grinder is one of those small things that make a big difference—no awkward third hand required to jockey the handle while grinding.
Design nitpick: because the machine is compact, you’ll want to plan bean hopper access beneath low cabinets. It’s doable, but sliding the machine forward to refill beans is easier than lifting the hopper lid under a shelf. On balance, the form factor strikes a smart middle ground between “prosumer presence” and “doesn’t swallow your kitchen.”
Colors & Finish: Stainless as Standard, Alternatives by Region
The “BSS” in BES880BSS denotes brushed stainless steel, the default finish most people buy. Depending on the region and retailer, the Barista Touch also appears in darker finishes (Breville often cycles matte blacks or deeper tones under names like Black Truffle or similar). I’ve handled the stainless version extensively; it’s forgiving with fingerprints, pairs well with both light and dark countertops, and looks neutral in photos—useful if you showcase your setup on a blog or Instagram. If you adore color-matched kitchens, check local availability; Breville’s palette can vary by market.
User Interface: The Touchscreen That Actually Helps
The heart of the Barista Touch is the touchscreen. I’m usually skeptical of screens on appliances (I want reliability, not novelty), but here it genuinely earns its real estate.
- Guided workflow: The home screen walks you through grind, tamp, brew, and milk, with large icons and brief hints. When I was dialing in a new bag of beans, this kept me from bouncing around menus—tap, do the thing, tap again.
- Drink presets: Espresso, Americano, Latte, Flat White, Cappuccino—each preset carries default parameters you can tweak and save as My Beverage. Once I like a recipe (ratio, milk temperature, and texture), I save it and stop fiddling.
- Shot programming: You can program single/double shot volumes and adjust grind time. The machine remembers, which shortens weekday coffee from a process into a routine.
- Auto milk controls: On screen, I pick a milk temperature target and a texture level (essentially foam density). It’s delightfully consistent.
A note on controls: grind size is adjusted via the physical dial on the left of the case, not on the screen. That’s a good thing. You want tactile, “set it and feel it” control over burr spacing. Between physical and digital controls, the Barista Touch hits a thoughtful balance: things you adjust constantly are physical; the rest live in simple menus.
Water Tank & Filtration: Thoughtful Details, Low-Water Prompts
The water tank sits at the back with a handle that makes refills easy, even when the machine is snug against a backsplash. Capacity is generous for a household routine, so you’re not topping up daily unless you’re making round after round of milk drinks. The tank accepts a drop-in water filter, which is useful for preventing scale and preserving flavor if your tap water is on the mineral-heavy side. The touchscreen gives low-water alerts in time to finish the current drink—no abrupt mid-brew interruptions in my experience.
Pro tip from my kitchen: if your water is very hard, use filtered or softened water even with the filter cartridge in place. Not only does it keep the machine healthier, it also improves repeatability—temperature stability and steam performance are happier when scale isn’t building up behind the scenes.
Built-In Conical Burr Grinder: Fast, Consistent, and Tunable
Espresso lives or dies by the grinder. The built-in conical burrs on the BES880BSS are quick and consistent for home use. The adjustment ring provides macro steps across a broad range—fine enough for ristretto, coarse enough for “training wheels” while you learn. I tend to live in the finer half of the dial for medium roasts; lighter roasts sometimes push me near the edge, but I still get workable flow with a longer pre-infusion and a slightly larger dose.
Dosing is time-based by default. You can bump grind time in small increments to land around the 18–20 g range in the double basket (your exact number will vary by bean density and grind setting). The cradle-to-portafilter workflow is tidy—little clumping, modest retention, and a reasonably centered pile that responds well to a quick WDT (Weiss Distribution Technique) or two taps to settle.
Noise is moderate and lower-pitched than some compact grinders, which keeps pre-work coffees from sounding like power tools at dawn. I wouldn’t replace a dedicated 64 mm flat burr grinder with this for competition-level clarity, but for a kitchen machine that does everything in one footprint, it’s a strong performer.
Portafilter & Baskets: 54 mm, Comfortable, and Versatile
Breville uses a 54 mm portafilter across much of the Barista series, and the one supplied here is well-balanced with a comfortable, slightly angled handle that clears the drip tray neatly. In the box, you’ll find single-wall (non-pressurized) baskets for 1- and 2-cup shots (often alongside pressurized baskets for pre-ground coffee or very coarse grinds). If you’re chasing café-style espresso, stick to the non-pressurized baskets and fresh beans.
Two things I appreciate:
- Magnetic tamper storage (on compatible models) or a well-placed tamper: it keeps the counter tidy and the tamper within reach.
- The Razor™ trimming tool: Breville’s depth gauge lets you skim off excess grounds to hit a consistent headspace. When I’m training a new household barista or testing beans that fluff more than usual, the Razor keeps puck prep from drifting.
If you’re coming from a 58 mm ecosystem, note that your baskets/tampers won’t fit. But the 54 mm system here is coherent and makes sense for the machine’s size and target user.
Dosing: Automatic vs Manual—How I Actually Use It
There are two dosing moments: grind dose and brew volume.
- Grind dose (time-based): I set grind time for my usual beans so that, after a quick distribution, I land at my target dose. If I switch bean or roast level, I nudge the time a half-second at a time. You can also hold the grind button for a top-off. This approach is fast—perfect for weekday mornings.
- Brew volume (volumetric): Single and double buttons are programmable. I calibrate them to yield around 36–40 g from an 18–20 g dose (the classic 1:2-ish ratio) within 28–32 seconds once pre-infusion is included. When I change beans, I sometimes switch to manual to ride the shot and stop by sight/weight.
This duality (automation with manual override) is where the Barista Touch feels most “human.” It doesn’t force you to choose one style forever. On autopilot days, I let the presets run. On tasting days, I go manual and geek out with a scale.
Pre-Infusion & Heating System: Gentle Start, Rapid Heat-Up
The pre-infusion stage gently wets the puck at low pressure before ramping to full extraction. On this machine, pre-infusion has been the difference between “okay shot” and “oh wow” more times than I can count—especially with medium and lighter roasts that benefit from a softer start.
Heating is fast—you’re ready to brew and steam quickly after startup. The machine uses a modern heating approach that delivers café-friendly responsiveness in a home footprint. For back-to-back drinks, I’ve found stability solid as long as I’m not power-cycling between shots or leaving the group idle for a long stretch. If I pause mid-session, I run a short blank flush to re-prime the temperature before the next pull.
Takeaway: the machine is built for momentum. If you’re pulling multiple drinks, the flow from grind to brew to steam and back again feels snappy, not stop-and-go.
Cup Size & Clearance: Espresso First, Workarounds for Tall Mugs
With the drip tray cover in place, the cup clearance suits espresso cups and standard cappuccino mugs. For lattes in tall mugs, I often remove the tray cover to snag a little extra height. There’s also a neat workflow for Americanos: pull into a small cup, then top with hot water from the spout into your final mug. That preserves crema and temp while avoiding gymnastics with a tall vessel under the group head.
If your coffee life is all travel tumblers, consider brewing into a smaller glass and transferring; the espresso quality will be better, and the kitchen calmer.
Tamping & Puck Prep: Simple Tools, Consistent Headspace
The supplied tamper is a good weight and diameter match for the 54 mm basket. My routine is:
- Grind into the portafilter cradle.
- Quick WDT with a thin tool or a few gentle taps to settle.
- Tamp with firm, level pressure (you don’t need to crush it—just be consistent).
- Use the Razor™ to skim to the target depth if I’m training someone or switching beans.
- Wipe the rim, lock in, and brew.
Consistency is everything. With the Barista Touch, that consistency is easy to maintain because the hardware and interface reduce “where do my hands go?” confusion. Once you’ve done ten shots, you’ll do your eleventh without thinking.
Temperature Control: PID-Managed & Steady in Real Use
The PID temperature control keeps the brew water in the sweet zone. In practice, that translates to fewer “mystery shots” when I change only one variable (like grind size). If I bump roast level lighter or darker, I’ll occasionally tweak temperature slightly to coax balance (lighter roasts often taste nicer a touch hotter). Across a three-drink session, I don’t see wild swings; crema remains similar, and shot times behave as expected.
Pro tip: warm your portafilter and cup before your first shot of the day. A quick blank shot or two into the drip tray does the trick. Thermal mass matters at home just as it does on a café machine.
Milk Foam & Frother: Auto Microfoam That’s Actually Good
Let’s talk milk, because this is where the Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS wins fans. On screen, I set a target temperature and texture level (foam). I place the pitcher under the wand, seat the tip below the surface, and press start. The machine injects air early, then textures, and finally stops when the milk reaches the chosen temperature.
The result is glossy microfoam with bubbles so fine you can pour basic latte art without fighting big froth. For cappuccino, I bump the texture level; for flat whites and lattes, I dial it back. If I want to practice manual steaming, I can take control, but if I’m making three drinks in a row for guests, the auto routine lets me focus on shots and conversation while the foam takes care of itself.
A small note on workflow: purge the wand before and after steaming. The machine prompts for this and even auto-purges briefly, but I like to run a quick manual purge for cleanliness and consistent first-sip flavor.
Cleaning & Maintenance: Easy Prompts, Low Friction
The machine prompts for cleaning cycles (backflush tablets, descaling when needed), and day-to-day upkeep is straightforward: wipe the steam wand, empty the drip tray (the “Empty Me!” indicator pops up when it’s full), and brush out the portafilter and shower screen area. I vacuum the grinder chute once a week and wipe the hopper when I change beans to avoid oil build-up.
A well-kept Barista Touch runs quieter and produces fewer outlier shots. If you treat cleaning as part of the ritual rather than a chore, the machine rewards you with reliability.
Noise, Heat-Up, and Daily Rhythm
Morning routine matters. The heat-up is quick, so I don’t plan around a long preheat; I flip the switch, prep beans, and I’m ready. Noise is conversational—no one has ever yelled “can you not?!” from the next room while I grind or steam. And the touchscreen means I’m not remembering obscure button combinations half-awake. It’s as “coffee-before-coffee” friendly as an espresso machine can be.
Real-World Results: What the Coffee Actually Tastes Like
On my go-to medium roasts, I get round, sweet shots with a caramel-nut backbone and enough acidity to keep things lively. In milk, the espresso cuts through with chocolate and almond notes rather than disappearing. On lighter roasts, I tighten the grind, lengthen the pre-infusion, and sometimes bump brew temperature; I still get clarity and fruit, though ultra-bright Nordic-style profiles demand meticulous puck prep and patience.
Milk drinks are the show-stealers for casual guests. The machine’s auto milk nails that paint-like sheen you usually get only after months of practice. If cappuccinos and lattes dominate your coffee life, this single feature may be the clincher.
What I Love (and Where It’s Less Perfect)
Love:
- The touchscreen doesn’t get in my way—it actually shortens the learning curve.
- Auto milk is not a toy; it’s genuinely capable of latte-art microfoam.
- Grinder + PID + pre-infusion combine into a forgiving system for repeatable shots.
- Compact footprint; kitchen-friendly design.
Less perfect:
- The 54 mm ecosystem means accessory compatibility differs from 58 mm prosumer gear.
- Very light roasts can push the built-in grinder toward the fine end; still workable, but you’ll use more of the dial’s range.
- Tall mugs sometimes require a drip-tray workaround.
Comparison Table: Breville Barista Touch vs. Close Competitors
Models and features evolve; this table reflects how these machines compare in workflow and experience rather than price.
| Machine | Interface | Grinder | Heat-Up | Pre-Infusion | Milk System | Portafilter | Who It’s For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS | Touchscreen, guided workflow | Built-in conical burr | Fast | Yes | Auto + manual steam wand | 54 mm | Busy homes wanting café drinks with minimal fuss |
| Breville Barista Pro (BES878) | Button + LCD | Built-in conical burr | Fast | Yes | Manual steam wand | 54 mm | Tinkerers who want speed and control without auto milk |
| Breville Barista Express Impress (BES876) | Buttons + dose-assist | Built-in conical burr | Quick | Yes | Manual steam wand | 54 mm | Beginners who want guided tamping/dose help |
| Gaggia Classic Pro | Rocker switches | External grinder required | Warm-up | Optional mod | Manual steam wand | 58 mm | Purists who value modability and café-style ritual |
| De’Longhi La Specialista Arte/Prestigio | Dials + indicators | Built-in grinder | Quick | Pre-infusion style | Assisted steaming (varies) | 51–54 mm (varies) | Convenience seekers who like tactile dials |
If milk drinks are your primary goal and you want edible foam, the Barista Touch leaps ahead thanks to auto microfoam. If you love tweaking variables and you’re happy to steam manually, the Barista Pro can be a sweeter spot. If you want a more “old-school” café vibe (and don’t mind buying a separate grinder), the Gaggia Classic Pro with a good grinder can be a lifelong platform.
Customer Guide: Choosing, Using, and Getting the Most From the Barista Touch
Who Should Buy the Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS?
- You want café-quality milk drinks at home without mastering manual steaming.
- You value touchscreen guidance, programmable recipes, and a tidy workflow.
- You prefer an all-in-one footprint over a separate grinder + machine.
- Your household has multiple drinkers with different preferences—saved profiles are priceless.
Who Might Prefer Something Else?
- You already own a top-tier grinder and want a 58 mm prosumer machine with manual everything.
- You rarely make milk drinks and prefer pure espresso tinkering (Barista Pro or a dedicated espresso machine + grinder could be better).
My Setup Tips for Better Shots (Day One)
- Warm up the portafilter and cup with a blank shot.
- Start around an 18–19 g dose in the double basket; aim for 36–40 g out in 28–32 seconds.
- Use fresh beans roasted within the last month. This machine rewards freshness.
- Do a quick WDT or distribution tap before tamping to avoid channeling.
- Save a “My Beverage” once you like the result. Let the machine remember for you.
Milk Frothing Tips
- Set milk temperature between 55–65 °C for most drinks (hotter for very hot drinks, cooler for sweeter milk).
- For latte art, pick a lower texture level; for cappuccino, bump the texture up.
- Keep the tip just below the surface at the start, then slightly deeper during texturing.
Maintenance Shortlist
- Purge the steam wand before/after use.
- Empty the drip tray when the indicator pops.
- Backflush on schedule; descale according to water hardness.
- Brush/vacuum grinder chute weekly if you use oily beans.
Personal Opinion: The “Reach-For” Machine I Actually Use
I own (and have owned) machines that require more ritual and finesse than the Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS. And I love them for what they are. But when I need to make three lattes before school drop-off, this is the machine I actually reach for. The touchscreen simplifies—not in a “hide the real controls” way, but in a “help me do this right now” way. The grinder is more than competent, the PID keeps shots honest, and the auto milk consistently impresses guests who assume latte art requires a barista apprenticeship.
Could you squeeze a little more espresso clarity from a dedicated, high-end grinder and a 58 mm E61 box? Sure. Will you want to every morning? That’s the real question. With the Barista Touch, I get 90–95% of the café experience with 50% of the effort. For a home kitchen, that’s a compelling trade.
Final Verdict
The Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine BES880BSS is a thoughtful blend of approachability and capability. It gives beginners the confidence to make espresso and milk drinks that taste like coffee shop treats, while still offering enough control to keep intermediate users engaged. The touchscreen is legitimately useful, the auto steaming is café-adjacent good, and the integrated grinder + PID + pre-infusion package keeps the workflow smooth and repeatable.
If milk drinks are a staple in your home—or if you want a machine that helps you fall in love with the espresso ritual without overwhelming you—the Barista Touch should be at the top of your list. If you’d rather tinker endlessly with manual steaming and micro-adjustments, take a look at the Barista Pro or pair a dedicated grinder with a 58 mm machine. But for the majority of homes where great coffee needs to share the counter with everyday life, the BES880BSS is a sweet spot that’s hard to beat.
Frequently Asked Questions (Buyer’s Mini-Guide)
Does the Barista Touch handle light roasts well?
Yes, with tweaks. Tighten your grind, extend pre-infusion, consider a slightly higher brew temperature, and keep your puck prep clean (WDT + level tamp).
Can I pour latte art with the auto milk?
Absolutely. Pick a lower texture setting for latte microfoam and a target temperature around 60–65 °C. Purge the wand and swirl the pitcher to polish the surface before pouring.
Is the built-in grinder good enough for espresso?
For home use—yes. It’s consistent, quick, and easy to tune. If you chase ultra-light Nordic profiles daily, a high-end external grinder will stretch clarity further, but most users won’t need it.
How much counter space does it really need?
A compact footprint for an all-in-one. Leave a few inches behind for the water tank handle and overhead space for the bean hopper lid.
What accessories do I still need?
A decent scale, a simple WDT tool (or thin needle), a knock box, and a small microfiber cloth. Optional: a precision 54 mm basket and a palm tamper if you want to experiment.
Section-By-Section Recap (Up to ~600 words each as needed)
Size & Design
Compact footprint, sturdy stance, cup-warming tray up top, and a drip tray with a clear “Empty Me!” indicator. The design language is minimal and friendly—rounded corners, no intimidating industrial edges. It looks like it belongs in a modern kitchen, not a garage workshop. Locking in the 54 mm portafilter feels positive without wobble. The grinder cradle is a small ergonomic win that saves mess and wrist strain. If your cabinets are low, plan to slide the unit forward for bean refills—no big deal, but worth noting.
Colors
BES880BSS is brushed stainless out of the box—durable, neutral, photogenic. Breville cycles additional finishes by region; matte blacks or darker hues show up from time to time. Stainless makes the most sense for longevity and resale; it also hides fingerprints better than glossy finishes. If you care deeply about color matching, check your local listings—otherwise, the stainless will match almost anything.
User Interface
This is the Barista Touch’s personality. The touchscreen eliminates guesswork: grind → tamp → brew → steam, with intuitive icons and gentle prompts. Drink presets are editable, and you can save custom recipes—hugely useful if one person loves 1:2 espressos and someone else wants a 6-oz flat white at 60 °C with low foam. The combination of on-screen programming and tactile grind control reduces “fiddle fatigue” and builds muscle memory.
Water Tank
A sturdy handle makes refills simple; capacity is generous enough that you don’t feel tethered to the sink. The filter slot helps with scale and taste. I like the low-water alert timing—it shows up before disaster rather than during a shot. A quick routine of refilling after the last drink keeps mornings smooth.
Grinder
The integrated conical burr grinder is tuned for espresso. Macro steps give sensible, predictable changes; time-based dosing is easy to repeat. With medium roasts, I hover around an 18–20 g dose and fine-to-medium-fine grind. Distribution is respectable—still worth a quick WDT for ultimate consistency. Retention is minimal for a built-in unit; flavor clarity is plenty for home café drinks.
Portafilter
The 54 mm portafilter is comfortable and balanced. Non-pressurized baskets are the real deal for fresh beans; pressurized baskets exist if you must use pre-ground. The Razor™ depth tool and a solid tamper encourage repeatable headspace and even extraction. If you’re used to 58 mm gear, you’ll need 54 mm accessories here—but the included kit gets you off to a strong start.
Dosing
Two dials to care about: grind time and brew volume. I set grind time to land at my target dose on my everyday beans, then I rarely touch it until I change coffee. I program brew buttons to my preferred ratio and watch time/flow for sanity checks. Manual overrides are a button press away if I want to ride a shot by eye and scale.
Pre-Infusion & Heating
Gentle pre-infusion improves forgiveness—water meets coffee softly before ramping up, which helps reduce channeling. Heat-up is quick, so the machine is ready when I am. For consecutive drinks, I occasionally run a brief blank flush if the group has sat for a while; otherwise, stability is solid across two or three back-to-backs.
Cup Size
Espresso cups and standard cappuccino mugs are a perfect fit. For tall mugs, remove the drip tray cover or brew short into a small vessel, then transfer—especially for Americanos. It’s the cleaner path and keeps crema intact.
Tamping
Consistent pressure beats brute force. The included tamper and Razor™ encourage a repeatable puck every time. Add a 10-second WDT, and your channeling woes will plummet. If you’re training new hands in the house, the Razor is worth its weight in saved mess and frustration.
Temperature Control
PID keeps brew water honest. I tweak the temp slightly for very light vs. medium roasts, but most of the time, consistency comes from grind and dose. Warm the metalwork (portafilter, cup) first, and you’ll taste the difference in syrupy body and crema stability.
Milk Foam / Frother
This is the showpiece: auto microfoam with target temperature and texture levels that actually hit the numbers. For latte art, pick a low texture, keep the pitcher moving, and pour right away. For cappuccino, a higher texture builds that classic foam dome without big bubbles. Manual steaming remains available for the purists; the auto mode is what makes this machine magical for households.
Bottom Line
The Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS turns café drinks into a daily habit rather than a weekend project. It’s fast, friendly, and capable—especially for milk drinks—without asking you to memorize barista lore. If you’re ready to love your morning coffee and keep your kitchen calm, this machine earns its space.SS
Meta description (155 chars): Hands-on Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS review: design, grinder, milk frothing, temperature control, dosing, and real-world results—plus a buyer’s guide.
Here’s our detailed review.
I’ve lived with the Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS long enough to know its habits—how it hums awake, how the touchscreen nudges me along a workflow, how the steam wand turns milk silky with almost no effort, and where the machine shines (and occasionally stumbles) in a busy kitchen. If you’re wondering whether the Barista Touch is the “right jump” from entry-level espresso or a thoughtful upgrade from a basic semi-automatic, this deep dive is written from my day-to-day reality—good shots, dud shots, milk art wins, and all the little tweaks that actually make a difference.
Before we get granular, a quick lay of the land: the BES880BSS is Breville’s compact, all-in-one espresso station with a touchscreen interface, built-in conical burr grinder, low-pressure pre-infusion, programmable shot volumes, PID temperature control, and a semi-automatic steam wand that can froth milk automatically to a chosen temperature and texture. It’s designed to streamline the workflow without stripping away the fun parts of making espresso. If you want a machine that guides you but still leaves room for personal taste, this is that machine.
