Breville Barista Touch Impress Review

As a coffee lover who values both quality and convenience, I was thrilled to get my hands on the Breville Barista Touch Impress. If you’re like me, you probably find yourself searching for that perfect cup of coffee each morning—one that gives you the feel of a cozy café in your own kitchen. The Barista Touch Impress promises to make that vision a reality, with enough automation to make it simple, and enough customization to keep it fun. In this review, I’ll walk you through my experience using the machine and whether it lived up to its bold promises.

Unboxing and Setup: A User-Friendly Experience

When I first unboxed the Breville Barista Touch Impress, I was immediately struck by its sleek and professional-looking stainless steel design. It felt like I was welcoming a full café experience into my kitchen. The touch screen interface was also a nice touch—literally and figuratively. It has a smooth, intuitive feel that makes it easy to get started, even if you don’t have a barista background.

Setting up the machine was a breeze. The touch screen walked me through each step—from filling the water reservoir to calibrating the grind settings. I loved the built-in grinder, which features 25 grind settings. This allows you to customize your grind exactly to your taste, which is something I really appreciate. There’s something empowering about taking control of every part of the coffee-making process, even if the machine is doing most of the work.

The Brewing Process: Breville Barista Touch Impress Review of Features

The most striking part of the Barista Touch Impress is how seamlessly it handles the brewing process. The keyword here is "impress," and it certainly does just that. The assisted tamping feature helps achieve consistent pressure, which is crucial for getting the best out of your coffee beans. Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, the machine does a fantastic job of automating the trickiest parts while letting you get hands-on as you please.

As I started brewing my first shot, the machine automatically adjusted the grind amount based on tamping feedback, something that really surprised me. It’s this smart adjustment that saves a lot of trial and error when you’re still trying to get that perfect balance between grind size, amount, and pressure. My first espresso shot with the Barista Touch Impress was balanced, aromatic, and featured that beautiful golden crema I was hoping for.

Customizing Your Coffee Drinks

One of the reasons I opted for the Breville Barista Touch Impress is its ability to produce all of my favorite drinks—not just espresso shots. The customizable options for coffee strength, milk texture, and temperature make this machine feel like a mini coffeehouse. I’ve always been a fan of cappuccinos and flat whites, and being able to control every part of the frothing process made each cup feel like a professional barista had crafted it just for me.

The touchscreen interface allows you to save your favorite drinks, which comes in handy when you’re craving that perfect combination of coffee and steamed milk. I was able to save a few of my favorite combinations and name them—a nice, personal touch that made my mornings just a little more delightful.

Milk Frothing Capabilities: Breville Barista Touch Impress Review

The automatic milk frother deserves its own spotlight in this review. The frother allows you to select the milk temperature and foam texture to perfectly match your coffee preferences. I was impressed by how well it handled different types of milk, especially non-dairy options like almond and oat. The foam was silky, consistent, and smooth, whether I was making a latte or a cappuccino.

It’s here that the Breville Barista Touch Impress earns some major points over other machines I’ve tried. Frothing milk at home can be tricky, especially if you’re using a hand-held frother or steaming manually. With this machine, however, I consistently ended up with barista-level froth, which enhanced my coffee-drinking experience tenfold.

Comparing with Other Breville Machines

For this Breville Barista Touch Impress review, it’s important to compare it with its siblings—particularly the Breville Barista Express and the Breville Oracle Touch. I previously used the Barista Express, which is a great machine but requires a bit more manual effort. Compared to the Barista Touch Impress, the Barista Express felt like it was geared more towards someone who wants to practice the barista craft in more depth, rather than focusing on convenience.

The Barista Touch Impress is truly a step above when it comes to automation. While the Barista Express was a great learning tool, I found myself gravitating more toward the Barista Touch Impress simply because it streamlined the process without sacrificing quality. It’s also a bit more approachable for those who might be intimidated by the manual tamping and steaming involved in other espresso machines.

Grind Settings and Coffee Customization

As mentioned earlier, the Breville Barista Touch Impress offers 25 grind settings—enough to suit a variety of tastes, from fine espresso to coarser grinds for a lungo. I appreciated the range because it gave me the chance to experiment a bit, even after the initial learning curve. Finding the right grind size is key to a perfect shot, and this machine offers enough flexibility to meet just about anyone’s preference.

The machine also features a dosage control system that uses sensors to adjust the coffee dose automatically, ensuring a consistent result each time. No more guesswork—just great coffee.

Maintenance and Cleaning: Breville Barista Touch Impress Review

One of my biggest concerns with espresso machines is the cleaning process. Often, I find myself losing patience with all the steps involved in keeping everything tidy and functional. Thankfully, the Breville Barista Touch Impress makes cleaning as painless as possible.

The touchscreen offers reminders for each cleaning cycle, and most parts are removable for easy washing. The water reservoir is accessible from the back, but it’s easy to remove and clean. I found the drip tray and frothing wand simple to disassemble, and the machine even provides a cleaning tool for more precise upkeep. Routine maintenance is key to keeping an espresso machine in top condition, and I’m glad to say that Breville has made it easy for me to stick to a good cleaning schedule.

Daily Use and Long-Term Impressions

After weeks of daily use, I can safely say the Breville Barista Touch Impress hasn’t lost its charm. The ease with which I can make my favorite drinks each morning is genuinely a game-changer. It’s more than just an espresso machine; it’s an all-in-one coffee experience that brings the café into your kitchen. The consistency of the coffee shots, the automated frothing, and the customizable settings all work together to create a great user experience.

Who Is the Breville Barista Touch Impress For?

If you are someone who enjoys the taste of a perfectly brewed espresso but is intimidated by the process or doesn't have the time to practice, the Breville Barista Touch Impress is an ideal fit. The machine bridges the gap between automation and manual effort, making it a great choice for people who want a quality cup without needing to master every aspect of barista technique.

Compared to the Breville Barista Express, the Impress model offers much more automation, which makes it more appealing to beginners or anyone looking for a streamlined coffee-making process. This means you can enjoy café-quality drinks at home without having to endure a steep learning curve or worry about perfecting your tamping technique.

Product Review Conclusion: Breville Barista Touch Impress Review

The Breville Barista Touch Impress has transformed my daily coffee routine. Its intuitive touch screen, smart tamping, and advanced frothing features combine to create a user-friendly yet sophisticated coffee machine. Compared to other Breville models, the Barista Touch Impress offers the perfect balance of control and convenience, making it a fantastic option for both beginners and seasoned coffee lovers alike.

While it is certainly an investment, it’s one that’s justified by the machine’s quality, consistency, and ease of use. Whether you love espressos, lattes, or something in between, the Breville Barista Touch Impress delivers, all while making the experience easy and enjoyable.

For anyone serious about elevating their at-home coffee game, I highly recommend considering the Breville Barista Touch Impress—it just might be the last coffee machine you’ll ever need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the Breville Barista Touch Impress difficult to use for beginners?

A: Not at all. The Breville Barista Touch Impress is designed with beginners in mind. The touch screen guides you through the setup and brewing process, and features like assisted tamping and automatic milk frothing make it easy to get great results even if you’re new to espresso machines.

Q: Can I use non-dairy milk with the Breville Barista Touch Impress?

A: Yes, you can use non-dairy milk with this machine. The automatic frother works well with a variety of non-dairy milks, such as almond, oat, and soy. You can adjust the temperature and texture settings to suit your preferences and achieve a silky, smooth foam.

Q: How often do I need to clean the machine?

A: The machine will prompt you when it’s time for cleaning. Regular maintenance includes emptying the drip tray, cleaning the frothing wand after each use, and descaling as needed. Fortunately, the touch screen guides you through the cleaning process, making it straightforward.

Q: How customizable are the drink options?

A: The Breville Barista Touch Impress offers extensive customization. You can adjust coffee strength, grind size, milk texture, and temperature to create your perfect drink. Plus, the machine allows you to save your personalized settings so you can easily recreate your favorite drinks.

Q: How does the Breville Barista Touch Impress compare to the Breville Barista Express?

A: The Breville Barista Touch Impress offers more automation compared to the Barista Express. While the Barista Express requires more manual effort, such as tamping and milk frothing, the Touch Impress automates these steps, making it more convenient and beginner-friendly. However, both machines produce high-quality espresso shots.

Q: Is it worth the investment?

A: If you are serious about making café-quality coffee at home and appreciate the convenience of automated features, the Breville Barista Touch Impress is definitely worth the investment. It’s user-friendly, consistent, and delivers excellent results every time.