Breville BES400XL Ikon 15-Bar-Pump Espresso Machine Review

Updated:New rating 2 stars due to longevity issues.

We've owned 3 or 4 different espresso makers over the years, paying big bucks for some.This was the first that delivered for us day in and day out... at least at first.It lasted a lot longer than most until it failed about 14 months after buying it.We have replaced it with the Le Cube Nespresso 180 espresso maker (see our other review there)

Pro:
+ Consistent brew with a great flavor
+ Creates a good (but not best) coffee crema, unlike many other brands
+ A good solid feel to it, does not feel cheap or flimsy to us
+ Overflow tray is huge (and much appreciated I might add)
+ Comes with a stainless frothing cup and scoop for coffee (the other end of the scoop doubles as a coffee tamper too)
+ Seems to handle/tolerate a variety of grinds, fine and course, something other brands seemed to hate
+ Very easy to see remaining water/water level at a glance, thank you!
+ For those who put their appliances away instead of leaving them on the counter: the power plug has a thumb-sized hole in it to more easily (and more safely) pull the plug.I've never seen this feature before.
+ Overflow tray that sits under your cup has a novel "full" indicator/float that pops up when the tray is full and needs to be emptied
+ Comes with espresso cups

Con:
- The clear water container a little awkward with the frothing wand and/or when the coffee holder is inserted in the machine.We find that these items are in the way and need to be moved to slide the water container out of the unit.Probably a picky comment that should not detract from your impression of this gem.
- Water container also has some awkward angles, complicating cleaning.
- Overflow tray "full" indicator noted in the "pro" section above only warns you when the tray is absolutely full with no margin for error, making for an interesting and exciting trip to the sink
- Lasted longer than other models, but ultimately failed shortly after the warranty ended

Neutral:
x Priming/heat-up process, while fast, was very different from our other models.Not an issue, but you need to get used to it.

Bottom line: no longer recommended due to low quality of internal mechanism(s).

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Product Description:
The Breville IKON Espresso Machine has a high performance stainless steel boiler system:precision coffee extraction temperature with commercial power steam pressure.It has a soft touch electronic control pad for ease of use and that also streamlines the look of the machine.It has a solid die-cast base with double wall brushed stainless steel chassis and body construction.Breville's patent applied Easy Eject system makes for easy removal to clean and exchange filters with advanced dual wall technology for cafe quality crema at home.

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Pasquini Livia 90 Automatic Espresso Machine Review

Recently my La Pavoni broke down after 3 years, so I had to look for another machine. My machine of choice for espresso has always been Cimballi, but I was not impressed with any of their machines, which did not require a water line. After some searching and recommendation from a friend I happened upon the Pasquini Livia 90.

As far as espresso machines go, the Pasquini Livia 90 is the best unit that does not require a water line.The water resevoir holds a very large amount of water and the espresso made with this machine is simply amazing.

A good espresso should have a thick layer of creme on top (goldish brown in color) which will hold the sugar poured in to the coffee afloat for a few seconds.The Pasquini Livia 90 was the first machine I've owned to accomplish the feat.I've owned a $700 Krups Fully Automated Machine, used a $3,000 Fully Automated Machine and owned the La Pavoni fully manual machine.However, the Pasquini was the only machine to provide the perfect creme.

The steam produced by the machine will froth milk for any of the popular espresso drinks and the ability to draw hot water from the unit is also a nice touch.Unlike some machines you can leave the unit on for long periods of time without having to worry about burning out the machine.

Best machine in its class.

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Product Description:
Pasquini Livia 90 Automatic Espresso MachineFeatures & Specifications Pasquini Livia 90 Automatic Espresso Machine Where else but from Italy wouldthe most popular espresso machine come? The Pasquini Livia 90Automatic has been making headlines in the espresso world forits combination of excellent design, sturdy construction and mixof both traditional and modern features.With many of the innovationsand features of the Pasquini commercial line of espressomachines, the Livia 90 is designed for the home, office orrestaurant/cafe setting. It has all the great brewing featuresof the Livia 90 Semiautomatic but provides push button controlso that your espresso can be brewed and poured while you aredoing something else. Another time saving feature is that theLivia 90 is a genius at brewing and steaming milk all the sametime. A great convenience and excellent for commercial use, bothof the features make coffee production quick and reliable. TheLivia 90 also carries a NSF Sanitation Certification, oftenrequired for professional use.DetailedProduct FeaturesOne-touchControl, Programmable Automatic BrewingWith just a push of a button on the Livia 90, youcan choose either a single or double shot of espresso. Once youselect the cup size amount you want, the Livia 90 Automatic willbrew a rich, aromatic cup of espresso, just the way you askedfor it. You can also program the button tobring you your favorite style of espresso, every time. Want evenmore? You can brew any size coffee on the Livia 90 by switchingon the manual override feature.Simple to use and easy to read controls makebrewing with the Livia 90 a joy. Heavy-dutyrocker switches and

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Pasquini Livia 90 Semiautomatic Commercial Espresso/Cappuccino Machine Review

I bought the Pasquini Livia 90 Automatic in 2002. The version I needed was for 240 volt operation so it was shipped from Italy. At the same time I also ordered the grinder and 2 drawer base. I had spent a lot of time reading reviews and comments on several sites for a wide variety of machines. The number of reviews which compared their brands to the Pasquini Livia machines was what really sold me on the Pasquini. You don't compare your machine(s) to lesser machines, you compare against the best. If so many various reviews used Pasquini as a target then it must be well worth a look. I am glad I did, it is an extremely well built and reliable machine.

I have mine on for 12 to 16 hours per day and make and serve quite a lot of espresso and cappuccino to family and friends. The Pasquini is also used for tea, cocoa, instant soups and anything else that calls for the use of near boiling water. The machine gets it right every time, any variation in quality is due to the coffee, the milk or the user. It took a bit of time to learn how to use it effectively but it has never disappointed me.

The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is due to the choice of a plastic water storage reservoir in the machine. I think that a stainless steel tank would be a better choice due to the effects of age, heat and vibrations which caused some cracks in my original tank. Pasquini replaced it free of charge even though the machine was out of warranty! A stainless steel tank would add to the noise level though and it already is not a stealthy machine. The pump is by no means quiet, but it certainly does the job and I'm sure will continue to do so for years to come.

I recommend Pasquini without reservation based on the machine and the service I have had when dealing directly with the company on several occasions.

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Product Description:
From Italy comes the celebrated Pasquini Livia 90 Semiautomatic espresso & cappuccino machine. Designed for home, office, or small restaurant use, it employs sturdy commercial components from a world famous professional espresso machine line. The Pasquini Livia 90 Semiautomatic espresso machine sets the standard for what is possible from a home espresso machine. This is the true connoisseur's espresso machine, and is a lifetime investment for the espresso aficionado.Jam packed with commercial grade features and parts, the Pasquini Livia is a true heat exchanger espresso machine, which means the boiler is used for steaming on demand, and espresso water is drawn straight from the built in reservoir - it gets flash heated as it passes through a piping system inside the boiler. With the Livia 90, producing espresso shot after espresso shot, and steaming instantly for large parties is never a problem.Brewing espresso & frothing milk at the same time is no problem for the Livia! This is an absolute necessity for any espresso machine used for entertaining or in a semi-commercial environment. This saves a lot of time and eliminates the need for you to wait for the boiler to ""recover"" between espresso brewing and milk heating functions (common on all single boiler machines). The dual heat exchanger allows for both functions to take place simultaneously.The Livia 90 Semiautomatic is just like the Livia 90 Automatic, but IT DOES NOT have the automatic one-touch brewing system like the automatic version.

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Rancilio Silvia espresso, lattes, cappuccinos maker (silver) Review

This machine is the perfect blend of quality, durability, and ease of repair for a home machine under $500.It makes espresso that rivals any you can buy at a coffee house.
I've been making home espresso for 25 years and have used many different machines of various prices which all died.I bought one for $250 from Starbucks which died in one year.They told me parts were not available.This machine is practically bullet-proof.I've had it for over 5 years and it is still running like new.Sure it hurts to spend this much on an espresso machine, but how many $250 machines will you go through?Learn from my mistake(s) and get a good one.
All the parts inside are commercial or semi-commercial grade.Anyone who works on commercial espresso machines can work on this one, and the parts are readily available. It's all stainless and cast iron.Very nice.
It has a 3-way solenoid, which you want, trust me.The 3-way solenoid lets pressure escape from the basket when you switch off the pump so that the coffee grounds fall out of the portafilter handle in a solid little disk instead of a soupy mess.
You DO NEED a good grinder made for espresso to use this machine.The pump puts out a solid 9 bar, which means most grinders can't get the coffee fine enough.A burr grinder is the only way to go.This makes the grounds fine enough that a shot will take about 20 seconds to make.Any less time for a shot and it means your coffee is too coarse.If you don't want to buy a grinder right now, there are some good preground espresso coffees in a can (such as Illy), but it will go stale fast.You'll want the grinder.
If you want great espresso, and a reliable machine, you can't go wrong with the Silvia.Take a bit of time to learn proper technique and you'll be happy with this one.

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Breville Cafe Roma Espresso/ Cappuccino Maker ESP8XL Review

I've owned 4 machines over a period of 30 years, starting with an old(er)-fashion piston-pump Riviera, a now expensive classic (the kind with the big lever arm you pull down) that I had completely rebuilt twice until I retired it for a Briel Lido (cheap & plain but reliable).

I had high hopes for this unit. It looks elegant in style with a metal body & clean lines & seems to operate in a straightforward way. But in actual usage it verges on the nightmarish. A previous poster has already eloquently described 2 of the ESP8XL's biggest shortcomings: its spring-loaded filter holder & its redesigned foaming wand.

I always make multiple cups of espresso, be it for straight shots, cappucinos or lattes. Therefore I fill & use at least 2 filters every time I make espresso. I had even already purchased the extra filters from Breville before even trying the unit for the first time. Disappointment quickly turned to frustration then to anger when I discovered how difficult it was just to *fit* the filter full with grounds into the holder (force was more like it) so tight was the spring. After considerable struggling I managed to get it in & make a cup. But to remove the now-heated (& full of damp grounds) filter was a real nightmare. I wound up having to use a paring knife to pry the filter from the holder, holding it with a kitchen towel to keep from burning myself. What a mess!

I called customer support & explained my problem. The chap on the line, while friendly enough, never seemed to have used an espresso machine, to say nothing of this model, suggesting such things as taking hold of the (burning hot) filter rim at the 2 indentations (about 1/8") in the holder. When I pointed out that the image of the filter holder in the manual showed a latch release while mine had none, he said that Breville had discontinued that feature & replaced it with the spring, they just hadn't updated the manual. Great! What lunacy. What I wouldn't give for the ability to pop the filter using that latch. Sadists at work.

I received this unit as a gift several months ago so can not return it, but have solved the problem of the filter holder by prying off the spring. Now the filters go in & come out easily as they should.

I rarely use the Breville to make espresso, mostly just to foam milk for my wife who likes it in her coffee. I should add that the previous reviewer was also correct in his assessment of the foamer. It does need to be turned on initially to release stored up water in order to get well-pressured steam.

Next time back to a European espresso machine (preferably Italian-made)for me. No more falling for the blandishments of clever marketing.

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Product Description:
The Cafe Roma Espresso/Cappuccino machine by Breville is for the style conscious coffee lover. It is ideal for making a variety of coffee drinks from espresso and cappuccino, to lattes and machiattos.This espresso machine features a 15 bar Italian Thermoblock pump system, an advanced crema system with a froth enhancer, a removable 1.2 litre water tank, a removable drip tray with a water level indicator, a cup warming plate, 2 stainless steel espresso cups and a frothing jug.

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PrecisionBrewTM Single Cup Commercial Brewing System (includes 100 World Blend Pods) Review

We love this coffee maker, it makes a cup very quickly.The shipping was super fast, and they have amazing customer service.I highly recommend this!!!!

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Product Description:
Grindmaster Model OPOD: PrecisionBrewTM Commercial Coffee Brewing System - Innovative precision pod brewing and infusion technology provides the ideal cup every time. Open-Pod System accepts a variety of pod brands and sizes. BrewControlTM - Adjustable brew strength control allows users to fine tune their flavor preferences. Smartstop Automatic Water Shutoff-Water shuts off when pod drawer is open. Programmable cup size - Control the volume of beverage dispensed into the cup. Stylish, high performance design. Dual water system brewer can be plumbed into a water line or manually filled. Great for coffee and tea. Includes 100 World Blend Pods.

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Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine Review

We've tried lots of coffee makers and this is the best easily - we've had it for some time with no probs, great coffee.

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Product Description:
Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine FeaturesSpecificationsRancilio Silvia Espresso Machine The Rancilio Silvia is making the news as one the best single boiler machines in production. Like more commercial brand machines, its all in the brass facts. Brass boiler, brass lines and chromed brass brewing head all help to maintain temperature and heat distribution for the perfect espresso.The Silvia will deliver consistently fine espresso, lattes, cappuccinos and more, just with the touch of a button. Its beautiful to behold and simple to use. Youll be making your favorite espresso to the raves of family and friends. This is a quality machine at a terrific price.Simple to Use Controls - Push the large central power button and an orange light comes on and stays on until the Silvia is at operating temperature for espresso, steam or hot water. Three more professional grade rocker switches now let you chose which one of those options you want. Top is for espresso, the middle for hot water and the bottom one is for steam.Flip the espresso button and that rich, hot liquid will start to flow. Switch it off when you have the amount you want. For hot water, simply flip the middle switch open the steam valve knob and hot water gushes from the steam wand. For lattes and cappuccinos, flip the bottom steam button. When the orange light goes off, open the steam valve and start frothing milk.Milk Frothing and Hot Water - The Rancilio Silvia features a straightforward chrome plated steam wand that delivers plenty of ready steam for milk foam. In 1.5 minutes the Silvia will have enough milk to make the average sized latte up to temperature. Simply put, the Silvia out performs almost every espresso machine under $500 in the steaming and frothing race!The steam wand also doubles as the outlet for hot water. Simply press the hot water button and hot water will be dispensed for making beverages such as the popular Americano or tea.Quality Brewing Group - The grouphead (or the component that

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Breville BKC700XL Gourmet Single Cup Brewer Review

Visual Appearance
In my opinion the Breville BKC700XL is the highest quality single serving size coffee maker that I have seen so far. It's mostly stainless steel except for the top and back of it. The stainless steel matches our stainless steel kitchen appliances very well. It has a large, illuminated LCD screen on the front and this is where you can make adjustments to your brew. The water reservoir is illuminated as well.

Performance
The BKC700XL only takes about 2 minutes to heat up initially and about 45 seconds between uses. I consider this very quick in my opinion. You can even set it to automatically turn on every day at a certain time. It quickly brews a great cup of coffee one cup at a time for the best flavor and maximum freshness. With the BKC700XL you have the option to brew 5.25 oz (espresso cup), 7.25 oz (small mug), 9.25 oz (large mug), 11.25 oz (travel mug) or the new 3.25 oz serving for iced beverages. The iced beverage function is new and exclusive to the BKC700XL. It also comes with a washable my K-Cup filter so you can brew your favorite coffee in the machine without having to purchase K-Cups. I usually brew Starbucks Sumatra Coffee, Ground, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 3) or Starbucks Caffe Verona Coffee, Ground, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 3) coffee and it turns out really nice. I like my coffee strong and bold and the 11.25 oz brew cycle is a little weak for my taste but the 9.25 oz brew cycle works perfectly every time. You can also change the brewing temperature to any setting ranging from 187-192 degrees. I leave mine set at 192 because I think it tastes the best. I ordered an extra Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter because I have been using it so often. This way when one is in the dishwasher then I can still have my coffee fix.

Cleaning and Maintenance
The BXC700XL cleans up quickly and easily. The stainless steel body of the machine should be cleaned with stainless steel cleaner for best results but you can also use any mild detergent and a soft sponge or towel. The My K-Cup Holder, washable filter and measuring scoop are all dishwasher safe. The water filter should be changed once every two months or after 60 water tank refills. These are the water filters that this machine uses Breville BKC600RF Gourmet Single Cup Coffee Brewer Replacement Filters, 6-Pack.

Summary of nice features:

Stainless Steel
Large illuminated LCD screen
Washable my K-Cup Filter
Self-cleaning mode
Replaceable water filter
Hidden accessory compartment
Multiple brewing sizes
Multiple brewing temperatures
One Year Limited Warranty

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Product Description:
A perfect cup of fresh coffee, every time. Stainless steel single-serve coffee brewer with built-in water filtration. Discover the pure enjoyment and ease of the Keurig single-serve coffee system with over 200 choices of K-Cup?? available.Featuring Keurig's patented brewing technology the innovative shower head deliveres the precise amount of water at the perfect temperature for balanced flavor. Use the included My K-Cup filter for a choice of any coffee roast.Hundreds of varieties of K-Cups can be purchased at Keurig.com.Features:Advanced brewing technology evenly distributes water through the K-Cup, resulting in a rich, flavorful cup. Trusted by the world's best roasters to brew their coffee, tea and hot cocoa varieties in the convenience of a K-Cup.Place tall glass filled with ice on drip tray, selecte the iced beverage brew size button and dilute with milk, water or sweeteners for iced tea or coffee. Iced Beverage Function dispenses and concentrates a 3.5-oz. shot of tea or coffee.Charcoal filter removes impurities that affect the smell and taste of water. A filter is included and should be changed every 2 months, as indicated by the date dial.Quiet Brew Technology.60-oz. water tank, up to 10 cups.Easy-to-yse blue LCD screen.Programmable digitable clock.Auto on-off.Variable brew temperarture settings.Removable drip tray to accommodate travel mugs.Storage compartment.Brew Siz

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La Pavoni PAB-16 Espresso Si Black Automatic Espresso Machine Review

Have had this espresso machine for several months now.Researched a lot before buying and believe this is a great machine for the money.Performs well.Makes a great shot of coffee, assuming you are using great espresso beans.Looks good on the counter, altho not a sexy as the more expensive machines.Not too noisy.Only major negative:Not a lot of clearance between the machine and the drip tray - can't use anything taller than a cappuccino cup.Also, machine does drip a bit after you stop brewing.
Consider getting a good burr grinder to go with it.I highly recommend the Capresso Infinity.
Takes a 53mm tamper size.

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Product Description:
The model "Si" is designed and manufactured by la Pavoni in Milan, Italy.Incorporated are some of the latest technology used in the home espresso machine industry.A state of the art pressurized coffee handle allows you to use any type of coffee or gri

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Breville BKC700XL Gourmet Single-Serve Coffeemaker with Iced-Beverage Function Review

I've owned a Keurig Platinum B70 since January 2007 and have liked it a lot since getting it.K-cups are very convenient and aren't overly expensive when purchased from Amazon.My primary complaint about it is the pump noise and vibration.Keurig updated the design and greatly reduced the noise and vibration in their latest model of the Platinum and in this Breville model, and I wanted to find out just how much of an improvement there was.In my opinion, the improvement is huge.It is much, much quieter.I also liked the addition of the smaller cup size of four ounces, as well as the option to use a built-in water filter.Functionally, the Keurig Platinum and Breville BKC700XL are identical.The Breville adds a couple of nice convenience features (such as a supplied My K-Cup with a storage bin), and the cosmetics are clearly different.After using both, the cosmetics are a wash for me (some pluses for one model, and some pluses for the other), so it comes down to the difference in price.Right now, the Breville costs over $90 more than the Platinum.I don't think it's worth it, but it certainly might be for anyone that prefers the looks of the Breville.Either way, the coffee is good and easy to make!

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Product Description:
The best coffee is always the freshest coffee. That's why it makes no sense to brew by the pot: by the time you get around to drinking most of the joe, it's been sitting in a carafe (or worse, on top of a burner), going more bitter and stale with each minute. The Breville single-cup brewer takes a different approach. It makes coffee one cup at a time, so each cup tastes as fresh as the first one in the pot. The unit's LCD control panel includes a digital clock with auto on/off time, five brew strengths, and variable brew temperature, which allows for customizing each cup--perfect for households or dinner parties in which everyone likes a different brew. Best of all, the brewing process is very, very difficult to mess up. The Breville's patented "showerhead" sprays a precisely calibrated amount of water through a "K-Cup," a technology made famous by Keurig's single-cup brewers, using temperature and pressure designed to extract the maximum amount of flavor from the grounds. The unit provides a variety of 18 single-use K-Cup coffee pods, including cocoa and tea, as well as a reusable My K-Cup that accepts any variety of ground coffee. The included My K-Cup and measuring spoon conveniently store in the brewer's top compartment. Furthermore, the machine comes with an iced-beverage function that dispenses a concentrated 3-1/2-ounce shot of tea or coffee. Simply dilute with ice and add water, milk, or sweeteners for an iced tea or coffee. Other highlights include low-noise pump technology for quiet brewing, a removable 60-ounce water tank that can brew up to 10 cups before it needs refilling, and a charcoal water-filtration system to reduce impurities for optimal taste. Made from heavy-duty stainless steel in a sleek, stylish design, the 1500-watt single-cup coffeemaker measures approximately 14-3/4 by 12-3/4 by 16-3/4 inches.

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