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Single-serve coffee from Keurig or Nespresso is fine, but ever since I upgraded to a Breville Barista Express espresso machine, I'll never go back. The difference in espresso quality is immediately noticeable — whether you're a coffee snob or not — and the process of pulling the espresso is my favorite part of the morning.
My only regret? Not waiting to buy the Barista Express until it was on sale, like it is right now: For Black Friday, retailers like Amazon and Target have slashed the popular machine's price by a whopping $200 from $750 to $550.
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine
If you've been considering upgrading your daily joe with a real espresso machine, now is the time to pull the trigger. The current Barista Express 27% discount on Amazon could be over by Saturday, as the Barista Express is a best-seller (even at full price) and Black Friday 2024 is almost over.
The Barista Express has been out for years now, but it remains one of the most popular espresso machines on the market — especially for beginners. It's an automatic machine, letting you grind, load, and tamper the portafilter before pulling a shot. In other words, you can adjust your espresso to suit your personal taste by grinding at different levels of coarseness and choosing your own whole beans.
Related: The Best Espresso Machines
The whole espresso-making process, from grinding to pulling the shot, takes less than a minute. Thanks to easy, intuitive button controls, the machine is very easy to use — even if you've never pulled an espresso before. There's also a built-in steam wand for making lattes, macchiatos, and any other coffee drinks with milk (that's right: you can also make latte art with the wand). Plus, with its stainless steel build — which comes in brushed stainless or black — the Barista Express is a kitchen decor upgrade instead of an eyesore.
Amazon
In short, the Barista Express lets anyone (beginner or otherwise) make coffee shop-level espresso drinks in their home. And compared to similar-style espresso machines that can fetch thousands of dollars, the Breville is also relatively affordable — especially with its current $200 Black Friday discount on Amazon. Be sure to grab one now before the price goes back up.
