Breville Barista Express Guide: Perfect Espresso Every Time

This Breville Barista Express Guide will help you master your machine and have you brewing café-quality drinks at home in no time at all. If you find yourself struggling to get a thick layer of crema on your espresso or haven’t dialled in your machine, then you’ve come to the right place. I’ll cover everything from the importance of dosing, ideal extraction times, adjusting your grind settings, and troubleshooting techniques to help you unlock the full potential of your Breville Barista Express. I will go over frothing milk in a separate article, so keep an eye out for that.

3 Reasons Your Espresso Sucks:

Pulling a shot of espresso is kind of like conducting an orchestra. You need a bunch of different instruments to play together at the same time but in a very specific order. Your water pressure, temperature, dosing, grind size, distribution, tamping pressure, and extraction time will all have an impact on your final product.

Luckily, the Breville Barista Express (and most other semi-automatic espresso machines) does most of the important things for you. However, there are 3 things it doesn’t do and it’s usually these 3 things that will most greatly impact the taste of your espresso.

1. The Beans:

If you’re not getting that beautiful, delicious, wonderful layer of crema at the top of your espresso shot, it could be because you’re using low-quality or stale coffee beans. One of the easiest and best ways to improve the quality and taste of your espresso shot is to just improve the quality of your beans.

As a general rule of thumb, the fresher the beans, the better the crema. I highly recommend purchasing beans from a local roaster or coffee shop. You can talk to the barista and ask them which roast or beans they recommend based on the flavour of coffee you like. For example, are you a fan of caramel, chocolate and nutty notes? Or do you prefer fruity, floral and citrusy flavours? These questions are best directed to the barista who probably has experience brewing and tasting them. Once you’ve settled on a roast or bean, ask the barista if they can make you a drink with it. This way you can actually taste the coffee before purchasing a bag of beans and you’re supporting a local business in the process.

If you don’t have a local roaster, the next best thing is to order from one online. There are plenty of coffee subscription services that are amazing for discovering new beans and roasts from different producers. Just do a quick google search to browse different options based on where you live. You can usually sign up for a membership and every month they’ll send you a variety of roasts and beans from different producers. Or you can sometimes purchase a one-time variety pack to sample their offerings.

As a last resort, you should head to your local grocery store and scope out the selection. Most of the options are not ideal for espresso machines. Matter of fact, most of the options are such poor quality that they shouldn’t even exist. But, if you know what to look for, you can find a half decent roast that will make a half decent espresso.

I recommend picking something that clearly states it’s certified organic, fair trade and rainforest certified. These designations mean that the beans have to meet higher standards of production and cultivation and are usually much higher in quality and taste as a result. You should also look for a roasting date to indicate freshness. This is actually quite rare for store-bought beans so if you see it, it’s usually a good sign.

My personal favourite store-bought beans are these Lavazza Tierra Organic Medium Roast beans. This is a medium-roast with caramel, chocolate and nutty notes. It makes for a consistently good shot of espresso with a nice crema, is often on sale at a great price and ticks all of the boxes I just mentioned.

2. Dosing and Why It’s Important!

In the world of coffee brewing, dosing refers to the process of measuring and dispensing a specific amount of ground coffee into the portafilter basket before extraction. This step is crucial for achieving consistency and balance in the flavour and texture of the final espresso shot.

The dose is typically measured in grams and can vary depending on personal preference, coffee bean type, and machine specifications. The dose directly influences the flavour, strength, and extraction characteristics of the espresso.

Too much or too little ground beans in the portafilter will result in a bad tasting cup of coffee or can even prevent the machine from working at all. The same thing goes for beans that are ground too coarsely or too finely. If the beans are too coarse, it will not allow for enough pressure build up in the portafilter, resulting in a very fast extraction time and sour taste. If the beans are too finely ground, it will result in a very slow extraction time and bitter taste.

While the Breville Barista Express does have a built-in grinder and manual adjustable dosing setting, I find it to be very inconsistent and inaccurate. The grinder will either grind too much or too little and the beans will either be too coarse or too fine. This is because the built-in grinder runs based on time, not weight. And the factory settings are never, ever ideal for most beans.

To avoid this problem altogether, I recommend using a scale and individually measuring each grind so that you consistently get a much more precise amount of beans in every shot. This small step is very easy, takes an extra 10 seconds of your time and will result in a much better and more consistent tasting espresso, latte or any other coffee you make.

3. Dial In Your Machine

“Dialling in” your espresso machine refers to the process of adjusting various parameters to achieve the perfect shot of espresso. These include adjusting the grind size, dose amount (or amount of coffee), brew time, and sometimes water temperature and pressure. To ensure the best tasting results, YOU MUST dial-in your espresso machine whenever changing coffee beans.

You may have already noticed that any time you change the coffee beans, your Breville Barista Express produces a different tasting result. This is because the type, size and roast of bean can all dramatically impact the way it grinds. This can then lead to an under-extracted or over-extracted espresso, neither of which taste good.

The good news is once you dial in the machine, you can keep the same settings and it should produce consistent results every time just as long as you keep using the same beans. The only time you will need to dial-in the machine again is if you change the coffee beans and roast. However, you most likely will not have to dial-in the machine again if you use a new bag of the same beans.

Equipment You Need for Dosing

To ensure you have a consistent and accurate dose of coffee beans every time, you’ll need a digital scale and a vessel to weigh the coffee beans in – it can be a small bowl, the portafilter itself, or a dosing cup that fits your portafilter (53.3mm for the Barista Express), which is what I like to use. Remember, these things don’t have to be fancy. They just need to get the job done.

The Digital Scale

I highly recommend purchasing a digital scale that is both small enough to sit under the portafilter and has readings down to 0.1 grams of accuracy. I also recommend using a scale with a built-in timer, which is very useful for dialling in different beans. Having a timer built into the scale just makes life a bit easier because you can weigh and time your pours on a single piece of equipment. This is crucial for dialing in your machine anytime you use a new coffee bean.

I’ve been using this WEIGHTMAN Coffee Scale since January 2022 and am happy with it. It’s cheap, small enough to fit in any drawer, portable, accurate enough for amateur home coffee making purposes and has a built-in timer for timing your extractions. The batteries also last forever in this thing. Is it the most beautiful scale in the world? Absolutely not! Is it the most accurate? I doubt it. But it gets the job done and lives in a drawer 99.9% of the time anyways.

If you plan on using the scale in a professional setting or just want something a bit fancier to leave out on your counter, then you can opt for something more accurate and aesthetically pleasing.

Here are a few digital coffee scale options for various budgets listed from least to most expensive at the time of writing this article:

1. WEIGHTMAN Coffee Scale ($13.99)
2. Timemore Black Mirror Scale ($59)
3. DiFluid Smart Scale ($109.99)

Each of these scales offers unique features and functionalities catering to espresso enthusiasts at different price points. Depending on your budget and specific requirements, you can choose the one that best suits your needs for precise espresso brewing at home.

The Dosing Cup

I personally like to use a dosing cup because it’s multipurpose. I use it to weigh out the desired amount of coffee beans and then I use it to catch the ground beans as they come out of the grinder.

I find the dosing cup makes it MUCH, MUCH easier and less messy to get all of the ground beans into the portafilter. Whenever I try to grind the beans directly into the portafilter, I make a huge mess and lose a lot of ground coffee in the process.

I then invert the portafilter onto the top of the dosing cup and flip them both over together at the same time. Holding both of them tightly together, I give them a couple shakes to distribute and aerate the beans. I then give the portafilter a couple of taps onto my knock box to get the beans to settle before lifting off the dosing cup. It’s a bit of an art form but I’ve done it so many times now that it’s second nature.

If you don’t want to use a dosing cup, another option is to use a portafilter funnel. The funnel attaches to the top of the portafilter and will help catch any stray grinds as they come down through the hopper. If you do use a funnel, It’s also recommended to use a WDT tool to aerate the grounds. I just find this to be an extra thing to buy and use, which is why I personally prefer the dosing cup.

How To Dial In Your Breville Barista Express

The easiest way to dial-in your Breville Barista Express is to always keep the workflow consistent. That way you can make simple adjustments to the internal and external grind settings.

1. Grind size: Begin by adjusting the grinder to a medium-fine setting. The ideal grind size should resemble table salt or fine sand. If the shot pulls too fast (under-extracted), make the grind finer. If it pulls too slowly (over-extracted), make it coarser.
2. Dose: Measure the amount of coffee grounds you’re using for each shot. This is typically around 18-20 grams for a double shot. I personally do 18 grams.
3. Distribution and tamping: After dosing the coffee into the portafilter, distribute the grounds evenly with a distributor tool and tamp them down with consistent pressure with a tamper. Proper distribution and tamping will ensure an even extraction and avoid channeling.
4. Brew time: Time the extraction from the moment you start the shot until it finishes. A standard extraction time for an 18-gram double shot is around 40 grams of espresso in around 30 seconds. If it takes longer than 30 seconds to reach 40 grams of espresso, try grinding on a coarser setting. If it takes less than 30 seconds to reach 40 grams of espresso, try grinding on a finer setting.
5. Visual cues: Watch the extraction process closely. A well-extracted espresso shot should have a slow and steady flow of coffee with a thick, golden crema on top. The stream should start as a slow drip and gradually increase to a steady yet still slow flow.
6. Taste: Ultimately, the taste of the espresso is the most important factor. Taste the espresso and note its flavour profile. Adjust the parameters (grind size, dose, brew time) accordingly until you achieve the desired taste – balanced, rich, and flavourful.
7. Repeat and refine: Dialing in espresso is a bit of a process that takes trial and error. Make small adjustments to one variable at a time and repeat the process until you consistently produce high-quality shots. If you keep a booklet with your grind settings for different beans, you will save time, money and energy.

Adjusting Internal and External Grind Settings:

Not adjusting the internal and external grind settings is probably the first mistake most people make when they get their Barista Express machine. It’s also the mistake the has the most impact on the flavour and texture of your coffee. The good news is it’s very easy to adjust your grind size!

How to Adjust the Internal Burr

1. Empty the hopper of any coffee beans that may currently be in it.
2. Remove the upper hopper at the top left of the machine by turning the black knob counter-clockwise.
3. Lift the metal ring located on the top of the internal grinder and firmly twist it in a counter-clockwise direction until it disengages. If you have ground beans, use a vacuum to clean them up.
4. Lift the internal grinder out of the machine.
5. One side at a time, carefully push the pins of the metal handle out of the sides of the grinder.
6. Rotate the upper black ring of the grinder in either direction to adjust the coarseness of the grind. You will see small numbers ranging from 1-9. The lower the number, the finer the grind.
   
   *I personally recommend turning the grind setting down to the number 1 position so it is at the finest grind setting. This will give you more control if you plan on dialling in your machine to brew various coffee beans.*
7. Put the metal handle back onto the internal grinder by inserting the side pins one at a time.
8. Place the grinder back into the machine by aligning the red dots.
9. Firmly turn the handle clockwise until it clicks into place.
10. Place the hopper back onto the machine and turn the black knob until it clicks into place.

How to Adjust the External Grind Setting

Start with small adjustments, gradually moving towards finer or coarser settings until you achieve the desired extraction time and flavour profile. Just note that the lower the internal grind setting, the higher the external grind setting will likely be.

For example, my personal machine is currently set to #1 for the internal grinder and #9 for the external grinder. I am currently brewing the Lavazza Tierra Organic beans.

Troubleshooting Fast or Slow Extractions:

Encountering fast or slow extraction times can be a common challenge when using the Barista Express. Fortunately, there are several troubleshooting techniques to remedy these issues and achieve consistent results.

If your extraction is too fast, resulting in a weak and under-extracter espresso, try the following:

1. Finer Grind: Adjust the grind size to a finer setting to slow down the extraction process and increase flavour extraction.
2. Tamping Pressure: Ensure proper tamping technique, applying firm and even pressure to the coffee grounds in the portafilter.

Conversely, if your extraction is too slow, leading to a bitter and over-extracted espresso, consider the following solutions:

1. Coarser Grind: Adjust the grind size to a coarser setting to speed up the extraction process and reduce bitterness.
2. Tamping Pressure: Avoid over-tamping, as excessive pressure can restrict water flow and prolong extraction times. Usually, the finer the grind, the less tamping pressure is necessary.
3. Cleanliness: Regularly clean the portafilter, shower screen, and group head to prevent clogs and ensure optimal water flow.

Grind Amounts and Times for Optimal Extraction:

The Breville Barista Express features an integrated conical burr grinder, allowing you to freshly grind your beans for each brew. I personally aim for 9 grams of beans for a single shot of espresso and 18 grams for a double shot.

When it comes to grind times, the Barista Express offers both manual and preset options. You can program the machine to grind the beans for a set amount of time or you can start and stop the grinding manually by pushing the button under the hopper. But as mentioned above, the built in grind control is inaccurate and should be avoided. Instead, measure out your whole beans before adding them to the hopper and grind each dose individually for the most accurate results.

Key Numbers:

Single Shot: 9 grams of beans; 18 grams of espresso; 30 seconds extraction time.

Double Shot: 18 grams of beans; 40 grams of espresso; 30 seconds extraction time.

IMPORTANT!

Make sure you use the correct sized basket for single and double shots! And only use the double-walled (pressurized) basket if you are using pre-ground coffee, which I do not recommend anyway.

Other Accessories That Will Help

The Breville Barista Express comes with a built-in tamper, assortment of basket sizes and other small accessories to maintain your machine. The only thing I use out of these are the baskets.

I personally recommend upgrading the tamper because the one that comes with the Barista Express is noticeably smaller in diameter than the portafilter, resulting in an uneven tamp. There are many different tampers and distributors on the market. Some tampers have a spring-action function for exact pressure amounts every time. I personally use the Crema 2-in-1 Distributor & Tamper. I’ve had it for 3 years now and like it’s compact, multifunction design that gets the job done.

Though not absolutely necessary, you can also play around with other accessories like puck screens, which will help keep your group head clean, or a bottomless portafilter, which won’t really affect the flavour of your espresso but does look cool when the espresso starts to pour out. Or even add a bellow to your hopper to help push down any stray beans.

Another useful accessory is a knock box for your used grounds. I also use the top of the knock box as a tamping station. But if you plan to leave your accessories out on a counter, than you can look into much nicer tamping stations that will also hold your other accessories.

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Perfect Espresso with the Breville Barista Express

This Breville Barista Express Guide will help you master your machine and have you brewing café-quality drinks at home in no time at all.

Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 minute minute

Warm Up Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 13 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 espresso

Equipment

• Breville Barista Express

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 18 grams whole coffee beans, preferably freshly-roasted

Instructions 

• Power on the Breville Barista Express, secure the portafilter into the group head and let the machine preheat for 10 minutes (ideally).
• Add 18 grams of coffee beans to the hopper and adjust the internal and external grinders to the appropriate positions (I recommend keeping a small book to remember settings for different beans). For the Lavazza Tierra Organic beans I have my internal grinder set to #1 and the external grinder set to #8 or #9 depending on the bag.
• Grind the full 18 grams of coffee beans into a dosing cup. Place the portafilter upside down on top of the dosing cup so that it sits flush, then invert both the dosing cup and the portafilter together at the same time so that the ground coffee falls into the portafilter. With the dosing cup still securely fixed to the portafilter, give it a few gentle shakes to aerate and disperse the beans. Then tap the bottom spouts of the portafilter onto the rail of a knock box to help the beans settle.
• Use a distributor tool to evenly distribute the beans in the portafilter then tamp the beans with a tamper using a light, yet even, pressure.
• Secure the portafilter into the group head and place a digital scale underneath. Place your cup onto the digital scale and tare the scale. At the same time, press the double-shot button and start a timer. Your goal is to extract 40 grams of espresso in approximately 30 seconds and to produce a rich and thick crema with a full-bodied flavour.
• If you yield 40 grams of espresso in less than 30 seconds, lower the external grinder by one position for a finer grind. If you yield 40 grams of espresso in more than 30 seconds, raise the external grinder by one position for a coarser grind. Repeat this process, adjusting the external grinder one position at a time, until you yield 40 grams of espresso in around 30 seconds.

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About the Author

Hi, i’m Ronny! In 2013, after a lifetime of struggling with my weight and body issues, I rehabilitated my relationship with food, lost over 40 pounds and completely changed my life.

Read My Paleo Story

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