Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker Review

Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker Review

It is not easy to come across a value-priced home espresso machine complete with milk frothing features. It gets better if the espresso machine is easy to operate. That is exactly what Breville ESP8XL Café Roma Stainless Espresso Maker is all about.  You will fall in love the moment you see it. It comes with a $200 price tag so you can be sure that what you’re getting is nothing short of value for your money.

Note that the Breville espresso maker can also make latte and cappuccino. In other words, it is your companion every morning when you need to rejuvenate your body with caffeine before a long day at work, home or school.

Like other kitchen appliances, the Breville ESP8XL also comes with a few flaws. Fortunately, the pros in this case out-weight the cons by far. That goes on to explain why housewives, bachelors, and spinsters all love the machine in epic proportions.

Pros

  • Very easy to use
  • Aesthetically appealing
  • Can also make latte and cappuccino
  • Light compared to other coffee makers
  • Forms froth

Cons

  • Does not grind coffee
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Compare Gourmia GCM6500 vs Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma

Gourmia GCM6500 is perhaps the only coffee maker that comes close to what Breville ESP8XL  is. It is designed to make both lungo and espresso. In other words, it is a full-featured espresso maker. Unlike its competitors, Gourmia does not rely on ground espresso. Instead, it uses the usual Nespresso pods. The coffee maker also allows you to use refillable Nespresso compatible pods.  Breville ESP8XL on the other hand is just as good if not better. It is fully automated so you really do not have to struggle to fix your espresso.

Compare Gourmia GCM6500 vs Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma
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As far as design and other aesthetic factors are concerned, Gourmia GCM6500 gives Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma a run for its money. It does not catch it though.  The latter boasts of a sleek and polished look. It is almost like it was designed to complement all the other kicten appliances on your counter. Gourmia GCM6500 tries to play catch up with Breville ESP8XL with its stainless steel features and details.

The meeting ground of the two is the fact that tey both have removable parts for easy cleaning and maintenance of the machines. Gourmia’s milk receptacle is crystal clear, so you can easily know when its time to clean it.

Ease of use is yet another ball of contention between these two coffee makers. Breville ESP8XL stands out as the winner though. Gourmia GCM6500 comes close as it also offers automated functions. Many have described Breville ESP8XL as ‘one of the best workday friendly coffee makers in the market’.

Note that for the Breville Cafe Roma, the milk frothing device calls for regular cleaning. This should not worry you at all as it is removable and very easy to clean. Wash it monthly by disassembling and cleaning it using a dishwasher or by hand.

One downside that comes along with Gourmia GCM6500 is its weight and size. It is heavier compared to Breville ESP8XL. It is also quite pricy for the features it has to offer. Your best bet here would be the coffee maker that can make your espresso, latte and cappuccino easily at a fair price. The machine should also be light and easy on the eyes. That’s what Breville ESP8XL has to offer.

Key Features of the Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma

Each feature that comes along with Breville ESP8XL will leave you impressed. It is almost as if the machine was designed with everyone in mind. Some of it’s key features include:

  • Stainless steel case
  • Small and compact design
  • 1-year warranty
  • Thermoblock heating technology
  • Impressive pressure pump

You only need to take a look at the aforementioned features to fully appreciate how and why Breville ESP8XL is compatible for home use.

Ease of use

Anyone can use Breville ESP8XL. The learining curve here is simply low. In fact, there is no learning curve at all. With only a power button to bring the machine to life and a selector dial to choose between steam or espresso, you really have nothing to worry about. Then there are indicator lights. One is designed to light up anytime the machine is on while the other is designed to light up when water is heating up. It is that simple.

The only thing you need to be keen on is the drip tray. Wash it often to make your machine last. it is easy to remove for a quick wipe or cleaning so again, you do not have to worry about how removable parts of the machine work. It gets so much better with an impressive window on the side of the machine’s water tank which will let you know when a refill is needed.

Good espresso

You know your day will be good the moment you step out of your house after sipping some good espresso. Breville ESP8XL allows you to do just that. The manufacturers knew that brew pressure and temperature are the two main factors that stand between a cup of good espresso and a cup of a not so good espresso.

That explains why Breville ESP8XL uses a high-tech thermo-blocking heating system. The system heats water to an optimal temperature. Then the bar pump is there to provide enough pressure to force water to the coffee ground thoroughly as it extracts coffee flavors.

Compact Design

Breville ESP8XL is sizeable; it is not too big or too small. It takes up just a small floor space of approximately 9 inches by 9 inches. It is also about 10 inches high.  It simply does not demand for more space on your counter. Note that the machine comes in an appealing stainless steel housing all in the name of making sure it remains attractive for long.

What else to expect

Breville simply decided to come up with a coffee machine that includes everything one needs to fix a cup of espresso. They even included two stainless steel espresso cups and a frother jug for your use.  Placing a cap on the machine will allow the cup to heat up quickly as you pour water into the machine’s water container.

Remember you can see the water level on the size of the machine. You do not have to take the machine part or stop it to check on the water levels as is the case with other machines. The light indicators will make your work easy by telling you when the machine is loading and when it is ready for brewing.

Related Best Espresso Machine Under 200 USD: Top 10 that are worth your invest

How Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma works

It is simple as already hinted. By snapping the filter in place, you will be able to brew coffee at the press of a button. Add in grinds then turn the dial located at the front side of the machine. Wait for a few minutes until you notice an alluring crema on to of the espresso.

Another good experience worth noting is the removable tray. It mays sound sublte but you do not come across coffee makers that area easy to clean. This one stands out as an exception. You will notice immediately dirt catches it. It’s stainless steel body will also make it easy for you to clean it with ease.

My experience about the Breville ESP8XL Espresso Maker

I knew Breville ESP8XL was a special appliance the moment I saw it. It’s design alone will impress you. I was impressed with how it works the moment I powered it on for my first espresso. I also tried to make cappuccino with the machine and latte. Your guess is good – the machine does not fail to impress. The froth it forms is also something to note. You will love whatever comes out of the machine, be it latte, espresso or cappuccino. The machine now sits pretty at my kitchen counter. I rate it as the best appliance anyone can get for less than $300.

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Final Verdict

Breville Cafe Roma ESP8XL is a rare user-friendly espresso maker. It makes your work easy with just a few controls. It is also easy to learn how the machine works. It’s latte and cappuccino-making features are added features. The fact that the machine does not take so much space is also an added perk.

An end result is a value-priced machine capable of making several cups of coffee to keep you going the whole day. Its combination of a low learning curve and a pocket-friendly price makes it ideal for home use and for just about any avid coffee lover.

Your choice of coffee maker should at all times be something you can be proud to look at. You may have a hard time choosing such a coffee maker if you’re just about to buy one for the first time.  With reviews to take into account though, you can easily find a coffee maker that offers more than just value for money.

Take a look at Breville ESP8XL reviews for instance. Notice how the machine has been positively reviewed. That just goes not to explain why the machine is one of the best you can find in the market today.

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