This little machine makes excellent espresso and even has a steam wand built into its small frame. However, it is not for everyone. This equipment is worth considering if you want to produce significant coffee at home and don’t mind learning how to do it. Breville’s Bijou Espresso Coffee Machine is small and entertaining, producing excellent espresso and wonderful foamy milk.
Breville Bijou Espresso Maker is an entry-level espresso machine. It seems to be the ideal model for individuals who want to learn how to make coffee in the “right” manner, or indeed for those who may not drink coffee regularly but still want a decent espresso.
Any kitchen will easily accommodate the Breville Bijou Espresso Machine. It’s a wonderful starter machine for individuals who want to learn how to make espresso. However, I felt the coffee to be overly hot and served too quickly. However, milk foaming was superior.
What will you see here?
Design and Appearance
A 15-bar pump espresso machine, a portafilter, a scoops & tester, a guide, and two double-layer filter baskets – a 1-cup and a 2-cup measure – are all included in the box.
The machine has a stainless-steel frame with a 1.5-liter glass tank in the back. Because the power connection is 70cm long, the appliance does not need to be placed exactly at the front of a plug. It’s a handy appliance that doesn’t occupy much space on your counter, measuring just over 29cm long, 20cm wide, and 28cm deep.
Controls are similarly straightforward. The coffee machine gets up to espresso temperature once it is turned on. To dispense water, simply flip the needle to the left and you’re ready to go.
Simply press the steam button to raise the temperature of the single boiler, with the status indicator turning solid when it’s ready. The steam can then be dispensed through the wand by turning the dial to the right.
Performance and Use
After unpacking the machine, you’ll need to clean it by washing the tank and running 400 ccs of water through it. You can fill the tank from the tap by pulling it out and slipping it back into position, or you can use a container while the tank is still in place.
When you switch on the machine, it takes a while to heat up. From a very cold start, we discovered that it takes roughly six minutes. When the brewing button indication light stops flashing, it’s ready. After you’ve completed the cleaning process, you’re ready to prepare your first cup of coffee.
Choose your filter basket based on how much coffee you want to create, and then plop it into the filter holder by connecting the basket bump with the portafilter slot — we didn’t realize this until we read the instructions again.
To quantify your espresso into the cup, use the included scoop, then turn the scoop around and pound the coffee with another end, ensuring to apply pressure. The portafilter will then be twisted into position on the machine. This takes a little getting used to, and we considered it a little stiff at first.
Steaming milk
Fill your milk jug halfway or a third full. Because the Bijou is so small, the steam wand isn’t tall enough to simmer a pint of milk in one go.
You may use any cold milk – rice, nut, oat, or coconut – but whole milk is the finest. Soy milk is significantly more difficult to work with, as both extreme temps and coffee’s acidity can cause it to curdle.
Turn the control dial to steam after pressing the steam button. Next, insert the wand underneath the surface of the milk. After that, steam your milk until it reaches the desired texture and temperature. Turn the knob to the rest position and thoroughly clean the wand when you’re done.
This may appear simple once you understand what you’re doing, but it’s still another steep learning curve for newcomers. Our first three tries were a complete disaster: we over-frothed and underheated. And even ran the cool-off cycle through a jug of milk.
Coffee Quality
Getting a nice shot of espresso may be tough for those new to preparing coffee: get the grind and tamper wrong, and you could wind up with nothing coming out of the spout at all. As a result, filter baskets are used in entry-level coffee machines to avoid this scenario.
The Breville Bijou Espresso Machine makes it simple to make coffee in this way. The disadvantage is that it’s very challenging to get espresso to pour at the proper rate.
Breville Bijou Espresso Machine spilled the coffee quite quickly, regardless of how fine the grind or how hard the tamp was. As a result, the final shot of espresso had a thick, foamy crema that vanished fast.
When the heat of a shot of coffee is 73.5 degrees Celsius – far too hot for espresso. A temperature of around 60°C would be ideal. As a result, it tasted a little too harsh, It tasted a touch better after cooling,
Price and Availability
Espresso machines aren’t cheap. Breville has created something that is both inexpensive and high-quality by delegating much of the fine-tuning to the consumer. The Bijou has a Price of £599.99.
The Bijou does not ground beans, so keep that in mind. If you like the sound of the Bijou but want a machine with an inbuilt grinder, Breville also makes one: the wonderful Barista Max Espresso Coffee machine.
What coffee is best for the Breville espresso machine?
There are two primary types of coffee beans to choose from when making an espresso: Arabica and Robusta. With their espresso machines, Breville suggests using high-quality Arabica beans.
Things to Consider when Buying Coffee Beans for Your Breville Espresso Machine!
Buy Fresh
Freshness is crucial when it comes to coffee. When coffee is roasted, it starts to oxidize, losing its characteristics and aromas. As a result, it’s preferable to buy beans that have only been roasted a few days ago.
When purchasing coffee, look for one with a roast date. In general, you won’t obtain this information on supermarket coffee, but it will be included by most specialty coffee roasters.
Roast Degree
Not only does the roast degree affect the taste of the coffee, but it also influences how easy it is to extract it. When coffee beans are roasted, they become porous, allowing hot water to extract the flavours and fragrances during the brewing process. While your Breville can produce espresso with any roast, it’s important to keep in mind that lighter roasts are less porous, making extraction a little more difficult.
Coffee Type
There are two primary types of coffee beans to choose from when making an espresso: Arabica and Robusta. With their espresso machines, Breville suggests using high-quality Arabica beans. When compared to Robusta beans, Arabica beans have a greater flavor and aroma with substantially less bitterness. They’re also more costly than Robusta beans since they produce a lesser yield/plant and are more difficult to grow, nurture, and harvest.
Conclusion
This is not equipped for those looking for a quick and easy way to brew espresso in the early hours: it’s slow and fiddly. It would also be inconvenient for large families with multiple members who want their coffee now.
It’s a lot of fun experimenting with shot-to-milk ratios, dispensing amounts, and milk frothing. you would like a coffee-making guide from Breville, as well as a little extra space beneath the steam wand.
The Bijou is a tiny, budget-friendly solution to get high-quality coffee if the room is limited in your home.
