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Why You Shouldn't Buy A Barista Express!

Why You Shouldn't Buy A Barista Express!

11 Present Cafe and New Orleans Style Ice Coffee

Balint Bogar
March 06, 2024

Why You Shouldn't Buy A Barista Express!

The Barista Express by Breville currently reigns as the most popular coffee machine on the market. Priced at $559.95 USD, it's an affordable choice for those diving into coffee making. Don't get me wrong, the Barista Express is fantastic for taking your skills from zero to home barista hero. However, I'd still not buy it and here's why:

For just about $120 more, at $679.95 USD, the Barista Pro offers a lot more in terms of coffee making.

Three key points sway me toward the Barista Pro:

Both machines have integrated conical burr grinders, but the Pro has 30 grind settings compared to the Express's 18. This means the Pro delivers a more precise grind size control, resulting in a better-tasting espresso.

The Barista Pro's steam wand has four holes, yielding silkier milk froth ideal for smooth milk-based drinks. It also froths faster due to better pressure and features a ThermoJet heating system for efficient steaming. In contrast, the Barista Express has a simpler steam wand with a single hole, producing standard froth that may require more effort and time to heat your milk.

The Barista Pro's use of a Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) system is crucial for maintaining water at a consistent temperature throughout the extraction process, resulting in a balanced flavour profile for the espresso. Its digital temperature control offers more stability and accuracy compared to the Barista Express, which relies on low-pressure pre-infusion followed by a 9-bar extraction, leading to potential temperature fluctuations.

In my personal opinion, these reasons make the Barista Pro a much better buy, and they are the reasons I bought a Barista Pro for myself as well, instead of the Express.

🔎 Cafe In The Spotlight

11 Present

📍16D P. Phùng Hưng, Hàng Mã, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

11 Present is a charming little coffee shop nestled in Hanoi, Vietnam. Offering a selection of unique signature coffees rarely found in typical Westernized specialty coffee shops

photo by davidnakmurah

👨‍🍳 Recipe of the week

New Orleans-style iced coffee

Here is how you make it:

In a large jar or pitcher, combine the coarsely ground coffee beans and cold water. If using chicory, add it to the mixture as well. Stir to ensure all the coffee grounds are saturated with water.
Cover the jar or pitcher and refrigerate for at least 12 hours, or overnight, to allow the coffee to steep and develop its flavors.
After steeping, strain the coffee through a fine-mesh sieve or a coffee filter to remove the grounds. You may need to strain the coffee multiple times to ensure it's free of any sediment.
In a separate container, mix the sweetened condensed milk with 1-2 tablespoons of water until well combined. If you're using regular milk, you can still infuse it with chicory by steeping chicory in the milk overnight and then straining it before using.
Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the cold-brewed coffee over the ice until each glass is about three-quarters full.
Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk mixture over the coffee, stirring gently to incorporate.
Taste and adjust the sweetness or milkiness according to your preference.
Ingredients: