Philips - Barista Brew Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Milk Frother - Stainless Steel

Really great machine and easy to use, a bit noisy but you’d expect that with espresso machines!

Excellent product and easy to use. Perfect for first time users or experienced.

I can state with confidence that the Philips Barista Brew Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine is a fantastic choice for both novice and seasoned home baristas who wish to create espresso beverages of café quality at home after using it for a while. The Barista Brew has a brushed stainless steel finish that is both elegant and resistant to fingerprints, keeping it looking polished and clean. It feels strong and long-lasting, suggesting that it is well-made. A standout feature is the large 2.3-liter (77.8 oz) water tank, allowing multiple drinks before needing a refill. The tank is easy to remove with a convenient handle, though putting it back when full can be a bit tricky I don’t remove the tank as I have good amount of space between kitchen cabinets and this machine I directly pour water from a bottle. Despite its many features, the Barista Brew is easy to use. The control panel has clearly labeled buttons for power, grind settings, and drink options (single shot, double shot, and Americano). It also offers hidden programming options, like adjustable brew temperature and shot volume, accessed through a specific button sequence all are explained in detail within the included user guide. You can fine-tune the grind size with the 15 changeable settings on the built-in conical burr grinder. Choose the finer option to obtain a beautiful shot of espresso, even though some people think the adjustments could be more exact. It's still a handy function that removes the need for a separate grinder. The Barista Brew excels at espresso extraction. Its 15-bar pump and 58mm stainless steel portafilter consistently produce rich, crema-topped shots, rivaling those from cafes. The machine also has automatic pre-infusion and adjustable brew temperature for optimal flavor extraction. I appreciate its ability to deliver high quality espresso with consistent temperature stability and rich crema. It comes with both pressurized and non-pressurized filter baskets, providing flexibility for anyone at different skill levels. The machine includes a steam wand for milk frothing, which may take beginners some practice to perfect. However, with patience, you can create silky, well textured foam for lattes and cappuccinos. It also comes with a temperature sensitive milk jug, which helps ensure the perfect milk temperature. Cleaning the Barista Brew is relatively easy. It includes accessories like cleaning brushes and a pin for maintenance, it’s very simple to keep in good condition for a very long time with very little effort. In terms of both features and performance, the Philips Barista Brew is an excellent value. Compared to competitors that retail for more, it is more reasonably priced and has comparable features. To update your home coffee setup, the Philips Barista Brew Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine is a great option. Both novices and experts may use it because of its intuitive UI, adaptable settings, and superb espresso quality. The machine has several shortcomings, but they pale in comparison to its total advantages. The steam wand requires practice, and the grinder might not be enough for the pickiest coffee lovers. The Philips Barista Brew is a good option if you're searching for a dependable, feature-rich semi-automatic espresso maker that produces results comparable to those of a café.

In the turf of semi-automatic espresso machines, Breville Barista Express has been the long-time king of the hill for casual to coffee enthusiasts for under $1k price tier. Philips isn’t new to the espresso game but comes fully swinging with their first semi-automatic espresso machine with the Breville in their crosshairs. Both Philips Barista Brew and Breville Barista Express look very similar but some pros and cons between each model that I will highlight below. Grinder Both units have grinders that stores your beans above and grinds on demand. For those looking for the full semi-automatic experience, hitting one or two will give you a good start to the proper dose. I like to control the dose so I weigh my beans first and grind the measured beans right into my portafilter. Winner goes to the Breville as I feel like the Breville has better and finer grinding control. I’m already on the finest setting with the Philips for my desired extraction times. The Philips also has crazy amount of static when compared to the Breville. This can be mitigated with a water mister on your beans before grinding but static makes your counter messy with grinds. Tamper While both units comes with a tamper, the Philips comes with a heavy duty spring loaded tamper. While the Philips tamper is 100x better than Breville, I still prefer a proper calibrated tamper with a tactile click to when you actually apply the proper tamping pressure needed. If this sounds foreign to you, the included tamper does more than you will need until you become an espresso nerd. Portafilter The Breville’s downfall is using a 54mm portafilter. The Philips appeases the espresso nerds by going with the larger 58mm portafilter. One major reason I was drawn to the Philips was the 58mm size. For those wondering, the Philips uses a 58mm 3 ear portafilter. Easily upgrade your espresso game later with a 58mm 3 ear bottomless portafilter. Why 58mm over the 54mm? Many would argue better espresso extraction = Better flavor! Frothing Both Breville and Philips comes with a milk frother. The milk frother on both units also dispenses hot water for Americanos or teas. What’s unique with the Philips is that you can get hot water via two different spouts. The Philips comes with an Americano button that automatically dispenses hot water right into your cup after espresso extraction from the portafilter. The Breville does not have this feature and you will only get an Americano via their frothing nozzle. An Americano is simply hot water added to your espresso shot. While it’s convenient on the Philips if you drink a lot of Americanos, I find that feature gimmicky. Winner for the frothing narrowly goes to the Breville. I feel the Breville produces more steam that adds the microbubbles to the milk for a thicker froth. Pressure Both units have a good pressure gauge that tells you if you’re under or over extracting. If you’re under the desired pressure, your shots can be sour and thin. Can be fixed by grinding smaller, increase dosing or better tamping. If you’re over the desired pressure, then its the exact opposite of under extracting. Make the grind larger and decreasing the amount of grinds will help. Tie between both machines for pressure. Both machines do pre-infusion and but can’t adjust the bars of pressure during extraction. In Summary Winner of the sub $1k semi-automatic is the new Philips Barista Brew! It’s super easy to use for first time espresso making and their videos found online is very helpful in getting you started on pulling the perfect espresso shot. But it’s also great for espresso enthusiasts looking for an all-in-one semi-auto espresso machine with built in grinder. I can grind my pre-weighed out beans with nearly zero grind retention and get the industry standard 58mm portafilter. I’m super happy with the Philips because of the 58mm portafilter size vs Breville’s 54mm and you will too.

My review comes from someone who has never used an Espresso machine before but enjoys well-made coffee drinks. The Philips Barista Brew Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Milk Frother offers a semi-automatic design with many great features. Although it took some time to get used to how to use everything, I believe this is a great product for all skill levels. Setup/Design: Initially I was a little overwhelmed with how many pieces came inside of the box but once you start setting it up, it all makes sense. Many of the components included are accessories or items you may choose to use to dial in your perfect drink. It’s a very attractive looking machine that takes up some countertop space but isn’t overbearing. It has a very modern design with high quality feeling components. Usage: Given this was my first forte into the espresso world, I was a little overwhelmed. With the semi-automatic design, this means it involves user input to get to your final espresso shot. The machine will automatically grind the coffee beans at the push of a button, and this is something you can adjust the amount and how finely the beans are grinded. Once your grinds are inside the portafilter, you must tamp them and install the handle into a different part of the machine. The quick selection buttons on the machine are espresso, double espresso, and Americano but a variety of drinks can be made from a standard shot or two of espresso in conjunction with the milk frother. Now given I don’t have a ton of experience with espresso makers, I was somewhat confused about what an “ideal” espresso should look like. Luckily the manual has a rough guide to go by to adjust for ideal brews and there is a bunch of information online as well. This machine can handle different roasts and coffee blends, which is great for those that want to mix it up occasionally. The milk frother adds to the overall experience by allowing one to create a more smooth, silky texture for lattes and cappuccinos. The milk jug included is handy as it includes a temperature gauge on the outside. Pros: - Quality espresso at home - User friendly controls - Design - Large water tank Cons: - User Manual (Layout and Information) - Coffee mugs don’t fit under portafilter Overall: The Philips Barista Brew Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Milk Frother was an interesting learning curve for someone who has never used an at home espresso maker. The semi-manual design and user manual made it easy to get setup and brewing. With just a few small tweaks, I believe this machine could be superior for brewing at home.