Breville ESP8C
MPN: ESP8C
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74 reviews · Statistics
Reviews
Very good latte but unable to make latte art
The machine works very well, heats rapidly, has solid construction and is simple and easy to use. The coffee is perfect and the crema is dense. The only negative point is that I am not able to do latte art with the milk because there’s always approx 1/2 inch of mousse on top of the frothered milk. I bang the stainless steel pitcher on the counter a few times and turn it to try to get rid of the bigger bubbles but the milk is still not at the right consistency to make it float over the crema and be able to make latte art like people do in the videos.
Maybe someone who succeeded could share his trick...
Great coffee and long lasting with some minor flaws to work around
I've had my ESP8C for almost 6 years used twice a day (for 10 months of the year) and it still makes great coffee. I have some dislikes like other reviewers:
- The water is too hot after machine first warms up, but this can be used to preheat the filter and cups;
- Metal cups will vibrate off the tray if not held in place;
- The control knob will be hard to turn if the machine is left on for extended periods (which I normally don't do) and the water can overheat;
- A bit of water is expressed out of the steam wand before the steam is produ
Really great machine - "you control the action!"
I have had 3 ESP8 machines. The 1st one was replaced under warranty with a ESP8B. After 5 years the pump occasionally would run too fast (as if it was in coffee mode) for making steam. I then got a ESP8C (2nd hand but near new when the original owners decided buying $3.50 coffees as the local cafe was easier). It has gone without probs for about 5 years. However when the pump became intermittent, I found that the pump thermal protect has gone a bit flaky. I'm hoping a new part might can be had for $10 or so.
In order to get a great brew,
... Read more grind fine and tamp well, just purge the initial water out of the group head (which will be a little hot) before attaching the portafilter. Then do a short manual pre-brew (about 3 secs), let it stand for another 5 secs, and then run for about 8 seconds, and great coffee happens!
Very good buy!
I got a machine in 2004(Breville Cafe Roma ESP8XL) and it now just died! I once compare same brand of coffee with my sister $3000 coffee machine (other brand) and we both agreed that my machine this one made a better coffee! Now I am on the market for buying the same one! Easy to use and not expensive to run! my neighbor left me her Keurig coffee and this is nothing to compare with!
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Water Leaking
Water leaking under the machine and also under the water collection tray, makes for water over the counter every day. Have returned the unit, still not fixed, not impressed with the service. Too bad as the coffee is good, not a quality product. Recommend paying more and avoiding Breville products.
10 years of great coffees.
We've had this for 10 years and the pump has just karked it but i will go to the ends of the earth to get a replacement part. I LOVE the coffees this machine makes. One of the best buys I've made and has saved me thousands over the years.
Great!
I got a refurbishment and have had it fot almost 6 years. Works a treat. A bit of practice to get the coffee you like, but it's really good!
Super machine!
I have had my early model black one for over ten years! Use it every day, I make coffee that rivals good shop bought stuff. Anyone can if they have a fully functioning brain. It's blowing steam just like new and requires almost no maintenance. Never cleaned for scale, I take a bit of care with the wand and once in a blue moon a brief filter cleanup. I know people who make a great show of their wonderful coffee machines that cost thousand's of dollars and take up half the kitchen, and...... I have never had a coffee in someone else's house that
... Read moreis better. So I conclude that you should buy a cheap and reliable machine from Breville, or get a fully functioning brain. The only difference from great shop coffee is slightly better frothed milk and crème. My machine has made in excess of 7,000 excellent coffees and shows no sign of quitting, I have actually bought a spare that I saw on Ebay that is supposedly a superior model, it sits in a room for years now....waiting.....it may be quite a wait.
Gold
We bought one of these years ago after reading a good review of it. The day that one died after several years of multiple use everyday, we went out and bought another one.
Great coffee, fabulous crema. Easy to use. Easy to put water in, unlike many other coffee machines I have seen at friends places, where you have to take the tank out of the back.
We both drink black coffee so don't really have an opinion about the milk function.
Great value. When this one dies, we'll go back out and buy another.
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Great!
I got this second hand from a bed and breakfast, so I wasn't worried at the time if it would work well or not. After making a fair few coffees with this machine, I have to say I'm very impressed!
The machine is easy to use, and makes great coffee. I was always an instant coffee drinker, and since getting the machine I haven't had another since. The machine is really good.
It's nice and simple, so for a beginner like me it was really easy to get the hang of!
Works well, simple
Great machine
I was given this machine by a friend after it had been used to make coffees for a church group for several years and had stopped working. I replaced the pump and it has been utterly reliable ever since (I've been using it daily for over two years now). I don't bother buying coffee from shops anymore, as I can make better stuff at home.
Brews consistently good coffee
Makes good coffeee, but..
I've had this machine for more than 6 months. Overall, it's a good machine. It's stainless, small and makes good coffee. However, it has two serious flaws. First, it's noisy and shaky when it's working. I have to hold the cup to prevent it from sliding off the drip tray. Second, the milk frother spouts water in the first 10-15 seconds. I tried many times but failed to get a good froth. I'm now using a milk frother from Aldi.
Price, easy to use and clean, makes good coffee
Noisy, shaky, useless milk frother
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good machine for this price
I have one of these for a 2 years now and its one of the best things I have ever bought from my family. I can drink fresh coffee at home, no more running to local coffee shop. I love it. If you take good care of it, works like a dream.
easy to use, price
nothing really
Missing it terribly!
I am needing a new part for my machine, but don't know if I can get one. It is spurting out water above the pod and I have found that the black cowling above there is cracked - does anyone know if parts are available and where from? Help needed please. Following this request I was told how to contact the service Dept. of Breville and I have now ordered a new part to replace the broken cowling. Service centre were very helpful.
Made great coffee
Cracked cowling
Does the job well
Had our coffee machine now for 5 years and still hasn't missed a beat. Since replacing the dual wall filter to a single wall filter, I have noticed a better flavoured coffee. Reason being I can now grind the beans finer. Regular use of a coffee will ensure the filter doesn't block up and the steam wand works correctly.
Milk frothing takes 90 seconds.
Cheap, reliable and tastes good.
Dual wall filter makes an average coffee plus the puck is always wet after the coffee has been extracted.
Questions & Answers
How often do we need to change the Ruber seal
How long does it take to heat up in the morning from cold?
They are pretty quick to reach brew temperature, around a minute. Just warm your cups by running water through the filter head (without coffee) into the cups, instead of using the warming plate (which will take ages).
Less than a minute. The time I take to fill the coffee receptacle and put the milk in the frother cup and t’s ready to brew.
Just purchased a new Cafe Roma and ground my beans at the grocery and used their industrial grinder to fine grind the beans. If I tamper the basket even lightly it will drip just drop by drop and it will take well over a minute to get a small espresso. If I don’t tamper, the coffee would flow a rate similar of seen in the videos but with a very poor crema. The temperature of the coffee is not hot I have to reheat it in the microwave for 12-15 seconds. Yes, I make sure that the heater indicator light is off before brewing, and yes I made sure that the small hole is not plugged in the basket. I have run the coffee cycle without the handle just to see the water flowing off the shower head and there’s no pressure, just hot water dripping... What can be wrong?
As per 2nd question below, take the metal screen ('shower head') off and clean it (too fine coffee grind can clog it). Before reattaching, test the water flow - if still poor water flow then you need to return to Breville for replacement as your machine is new (if machine was old then descaling might help).
I think that my coffee grind was two fine, I bought some pre-ground espresso coffee to validate that and the flow was much better even when tamping it at approx 20 lbs. The crema was also much richer. I tried it only once yet but it looks like that was my problem!
Occasionally mine clogs up (I have a few spare so easy to swap). There is a small hole in the middle that seems to help get the flow through the double bottomed filter to work. If the ground is too fine it can clog. Sometime you can just scrape it with a fingernail. Otherwise just soak it in some white vinegar for an hour or two. ( I also use 50% vinegar through the machine to descale every month or so).
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Details
| Category | Semi-Automatic and Manual Coffee Machines |
|---|---|
| Price (RRP) | $199 |
| Width | 231mm |
| Height | 327mm |
| Depth | 290mm |
| Pump Pressure | 15bar |
| Water Tank Capacity | 1.2L |
| Release date | |
| Manual | Download manual |
- MPN: ESP8C
Extra Information
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