Why it's a great gift
This is the classic starter kit for real espresso: grind, tamp, pull the shot, steam the milk. Every step is theirs to master — exactly the appeal for the right person, and the catch for the wrong one.
Is this the right gift?
- Great for: the friend who watches latte-art videos and orders flat whites.
- Great for: kitchens with counter space to spare.
- Great for: tinkerers who enjoy dialling things in.
- Skip if: they just want coffee to appear at the press of a button.
The verdict
Buy the ritual only if they want the ritual
Give it to someone who has actually said they want to learn espresso. Expect a learning curve of a few dozen drinks, and daily wiping and rinsing — the hobby comes with chores.
Why it works
- ✓ Burr grinder and espresso machine share one footprint
- ✓ Full manual control to learn on
- ✓ Unusually complete accessory bundle
Tradeoffs
- × Real practice needed before consistent shots
- × Grinder, wand and brew path all need regular cleaning
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Before you buy
- Confirm the model reads BES870XL — the Express Impress and Barista Pro are different machines.
- It's a roughly 40 × 33 × 32 cm countertop resident; leave room above for bean refills and behind for the water tank.
- Older marketplace stock may not match Breville's current accessory bundle — read the included-items list.
Quick answers
Is a grinder included?
Yes — an adjustable conical-burr grinder is built in, with sixteen grind settings on Breville's current page.
Does it steam milk automatically?
No, the wand is manual. Learning to texture milk is half the hobby.
Can a beginner handle it?
A motivated one, yes. Testers estimate confidence arrives after roughly twenty to forty drinks.
As an Amazon Associate, XmasGoat earns from qualifying purchases. Verify the exact model, colour and included accessories before checkout. Choose Canada or the United States for local pricing.
How this guide was checked
- Breville Canada: Barista Express BES870 product page — Current specifications and package reference; accessed August 5, 2026.
- Breville Canada: BES870 instruction manual — Operation, cleaning and maintenance guidance.
- TechGearLab: Breville Barista Express review — Independent extraction, workflow, cleaning and setup testing.
- CoffeeGeek: Breville Barista Express first look — Specialist grinder and workflow observations.