If you’ve stumbled across this review of the Breville Cafe Roma ESP8XL espresso maker, chances are that you’re a coffee-lover, just like us.
For someone who is just entering the world of home espresso makers, the Breville Cafe ESP8XL Cafe Roma is the perfect place to start.
It’s easy to use, compact in size and it won’t cost a fortune.
Take a look at our Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Steel review to find out more.
Overview of the Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Espresso Maker
If you’re a budding barista looking to dip your toes into the amazing world of coffee makers, this is a great entry-level espresso maker to get you started.
The Café Roma stainless espresso maker sports a 15-bar thermoblock pump. It also has a dual-wall filter system for amazing crema, a lovely froth enhancer, and a warming plate.
Right out of the box, the machine comes with a stainless steel frothing pitcher, a measuring spoon, tamping, and a cleaning tool. It also comes with an easy to clean removable drip tray.
What makes the Breville ESP8XL Café Roma stand out among other starter machines is its low price point and high quality. It is an intuitive little machine that won’t take up too much space in your kitchen, and it comes at a reasonable price.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Reliable thermoblock
- 6 Warming tray that heats up to 6 espresso cups
- Removable drip tray
- Dual-wall filter system suitable for pods if you love flavored coffee
- Can prepare espresso variations such as macchiato, latte, and ristretto
Cons
- Lacks the pressure to make foam stream
- Does not allow for larger cups. Espresso cups only.
- Manual milk frothing
- Takes a while to heat water to the optimal temperature due to the thermoblock
Things to Consider Before Buying a Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma
The Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma starter machine is perfect for the budding barista. It is easy to use, easy to clean, and super affordable.
But, if you’re already an expert in the ways of coffee making this machine is not for you.
If you have the expertise and the bank balance, the Breville Barista Touch might be a better fit. The Barista Touch costs a pretty penny but with features like the automatic microfoam milk texturing, it’s worth it.
A few things to consider before leaping in include:
- You’ll need to buy a good coffee grinder since Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma does not have one. An alternative is the Breville Barista Express although this is more expensive.
- You will have to manually froth your milk.
- The internal thermoblock does mean that it takes a bit of time before you can start brewing. If you are impatient this might not be the machine for you.
Features & Benefits of the Breville ESP8XL Espresso Machines
The Warming Tray
Cast from a single piece of aluminum, the warming tray can warm up to six cups of espresso. It also lets you preheat your cups or mugs if you’re like us and hate cold coffee.
This feature also makes sure that the coffee is brewed at the perfect temperature. This ensures taste and excellence in every cup.
Selector Dial
The Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma has two controls, the ON/OFF switch and the selector control dial.
The controls are simple enough that newbies won’t become overwhelmed by shiny buttons.
The selector dial also sports three little icons. STANDBY at the center, the steam and froth function on the left, and the brewing function on the right. But, the simplicity limits the applications of this machine.
Steam Wand & Froth Enhancer
The Breville ESP8XL has an adjustable professional-grade steam wand is perfect for third-wave specialty coffee in the comfort of your own home.
This delivers cafe grade coffee without you having to leave the couch. It sports a pretty handy finger loop for easy control. It also has a sweet feature that adds a delicious layer of froth on top of your cappuccino.
A drawback for first-time users is that you will have to learn milk frothing since the coffee machine does not have an automatic frother.
Espresso Extraction
The Cafe Roma includes three stainless steel filters; the single or double shot (14g), and the pod. This is handy if you like variety in the strength of your coffee.
For late nights and early mornings, the double espresso shot is great for giving you that extra burst of caffeinated energy.
The filters also have Breville’s signature dual-wall crema technology. This ensures a smooth, decadent flavor.
These are the main features of Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma but this coffee machine offers so much more.
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Minor Features
Thermoblocking Heating System
Like most high-end coffee machines, Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma has an internal thermoblock heating system.
This handy little feature lets you brew your coffee at the perfect temperature. There’s no need to worry about messing it up.
The Cafe Roma has a full 15 bar pressure pump. This helps you achieve that ultra-rich crema. With enough practice, you’ll be making professional barista-style coffee.
But, the thermoblock does need some time to heat up to the perfect temperature so keep that in mind.
46oz Removable Water Reservoir
Since the espresso machine makes no more than 1 oz of coffee for a single shot, the 46oz water reservoir can suit your every need.
This is perfect if you’re entertaining your fellow coffee-loving friends. Rest assured there will be enough coffee to go around.
It is also useful if you’re in the mood for a larger coffee like the macchiato.
Check out this video for a more in-depth review of the Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Steel Espresso Machine:
What do coffee lovers think?
We don’t know about you but, when we’re looking at a new product, we dive into customer reviews to get real-life views on the product.
When we looked into the Cafe Roma, the majority of the comments were very positive.
To summarise, coffee-lovers loved how easy it was to use the Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma and how easy it was to clean. They also liked its simple, sleek, and compact design which is the ‘perfect size to sit on your kitchen countertop’.
Users also said that the machine is reliable and will keep on brewing coffee for years to come.
Last, but not least, it makes delicious coffee.
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Alternatives to the Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma
If you’re still not sold on the Breville Cafe Roma Espresso Machine, we’ve saved you some time and scoured the internet for some alternatives. Here are a few of our favorites:
De'Longhi ECP3420 Bar Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Machine
The De’Longhi ECP3420 is a cheaper alternative to the Breville ESP8XL. Both sport similar features and provide star quality coffee.
It has a 37oz removable water tank, while much smaller than the Cafe Roma. But, it is still large enough if you have friends over and want to serve some delicious coffee.
This size also makes it easier to have larger coffees such as a latte without having to worry about refilling the water tank.
A key feature of this machine is that it comes with a self-priming function meaning. This means that you won’t have to do much prep work to enjoy your favorite beverage. Saving you precious time.
We would recommend the De’Longhi for budding baristas who are in search of their first coffee maker.
Yabano Espresso Machine
The Yabano espresso machine is much cheaper than the Breville Cafe Roma. They share the easy usability and cleaning mechanisms that made me love the Cafe Roma.
It has a much smaller water tank than both the Cafe Roma and the De’Longhi at 33.8oz. It can make up to 4 cups of espresso at a time. This allows you to serve many cups of coffee and saves you time.
A stunning feature is the build-in pressure gauges. This allows budding baristas to know the exact pressure the machine is brewing at. It also lets you have more control over the pressure. The benefit of this is that newbies will be able to make great coffee without too much effort.
We would recommend this to novice coffee enthusiasts who a bit pressed for cash.
Breville BES810BSS Duo Temp Pro Stainless Steel Espresso Machine
While more expensive than the Cafe Roma, the Duo-temp is a step up and includes two sought out features.
It has a built-in PID which is super easy to operate and allows for precise temperatures after frothing. It also gets rid of excess steam and lets the boiler get up to the brew temperature. This makes brewing espressos a breeze. It cuts down the time between cups which means you get your caffeine fix much quicker.
The thermocoil heats water faster and on-demand. Meaning that whenever you want coffee, you will get your coffee.
We would recommend this if you are a novice with a fatter wallet.
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| Breville Cafe Roma | De’Longhi ECP3420 | Yabano Espresso | Breville Duo-temp Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Thermoblock |
Thermoblock |
Thermoblock |
Thermocoil |
|
46oz water tank |
37oz water tank |
33.8oz water tank |
61oz water tank |
|
Espresso extraction feature |
Self-priming feature |
Pressure gauge control function |
PID temperature control function |
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Learn MoreFinal Thoughts
The Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma is the perfect choice for beginners. Not only is it user-friendly but it’s also easy to clean and maintain.
In your hands, the Breville Cafe Roma makes cafe’ worthy coffee without having to leave the comfort and safety of your home.
But if you aren’t sold on this espresso maker, have a look at our alternatives list and you are bound to find something more suited to you.
We hope you found our Breville ESP8XL review helpful. Have you tried out the Breville Cafe Roma? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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