In the world of espresso machines, there is one name that is easily recognizable everywhere – that one is Breville. Even if we ignore their previous models (which were all some sort of a success story), the recent Breville BES920XL Oracle model is a product where the company made an amazing job.
With its dual boilers, programmability options, pre-infusion, absolutely gorgeous look, and the reasonable price point, it is one of the most popular espresso machines in 2021.
If you are not convinced yet, let us take you deeper into the heart of this model.
Breville BES920XL Oracle Review
Just to get it out of the way, yes, there are a few differences from the previous model (BES900XL). Perhaps the biggest one is that with the BES920XL machine you can drain the boiler on your own.
It’s most advertised feature is the dual boilers inside of it. It usually is a common thing to have that, but not in that price range, and most importantly, not by a premium manufacturer. The Oracle has features that you wouldn’t normally find in this range, such as the programmability options, but also has the classic functions of the mid-class, such as pre-infusion, dual boilers, etc.
Breville BES920XL Dual Boiler Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel
- Dual stainless steel boilers and dual Italian pumps for simultaneous espresso extraction and steaming
- Over-Pressure Valve (OPV) limits extraction pressure;Flexible Shot Control
- Electronic PID temperature control for precise water temperature
- Backlit LCD displays brew temperature, shot clock or time.We recommend using cold, filtered water. We do not recommend using water with no or low mineral content
- Includes water hardness test strip, descale alert and LCD assisted descale procedure
The most important aspect of the boiler is the fact that they are made out of stainless steel. This, alongside brass, are the materials that you want to have in your espresso machine (you obviously do not want the boiler made from aluminum).
What is amazing about this, is that you usually find stainless steel boilers in coffee machines which have a price tag at least twice this one. This feature right here might be the only reason you need to buy this thing, but boy, there are more, which will just cement your decision.
Another feature which you’d normally find on the much more expensive machines is the heated group head. We won’t dive into details about this feature, but we will only say that the guys over at Breville chose the E61 heated group head.
It is a bit old in terms of technology but at the same time the most reliable and well-built group head out there currently, and its biggest advantages is the fact that it’s indeed heated.
Other Amazing Breville Features
What will make your life easier is the LED screen on the BES920XL. It connects you directly to the boiler’s status (such as readiness and temperature). We are not saying that this is an absolutely necessary feature, as the most expensive machines don’t have it, but it is still nice to have it around. Speaking of temperature control, there are dual heat exchangers here.
This allows you to brew any type of coffee while steaming milk at the same time. The dual boilers will take whichever role you assign them. For example, one will take over the steaming, while the other one takes care of the espresso shot. Speaking of steaming, we recommend getting this frothing pitcher to help you out with that.
All this leads to unprecedented consistency, which takes the Oracle levels above its competition.
Lastly, as we’ve also reviewed most of the user comments on the internet, we found out that the favorite things for people are the style, how easy it is to use, the amazing consistency, the fact that there is no better espresso machine in this price range, and most importantly – that you are getting everything you will need right from the box. That includes a tamper, a milk steaming pitcher, a dosing tool, extra baskets, and more.
Pros & Cons
✔ Exceptional espresso taste quality
✔ Virtually no competition in this price range
✔ Value to price ratio can’t be better
✔ User-friendly
✔ Gorgeous and professional looking design
✔ Dual boilers and Heat exchangers assure consistency in the output quality
✔ Comes with all the necessary tools to start making espressos right away
✗ It has a limited warranty of just 1 year
✗ The manufacturing is outsourced, even if the parts are still mostly Italian and German
If you want to open up a coffee shop, you can go for the more of a workhorse type of espresso machine – the Rancilio Silvia . It is far simpler and is dedicated to putting out tons of espressos per hour without being inconsistent in the quality. It is much cheaper as well.
If you would prefer sticking to the Breville brand, you can go with the Breville ESP8XL model.
BES 920XL Possible Alternatives
Breville BES920XL Oracle Espresso Machine Conclusion and Rating
All in all, the Breville BES920XL is a great machine for literally anything, from simple home use to coffee shops, even though there are better alternatives which are more narrowly targeting specific scenarios, such as 60 espressos per hour, or easy maintenance.
The Oracle is stunningly beautiful and is built from materials that aren’t usually found in this price range. In our opinion, it is the best and most underrated espresso machine out there currently. If we can point at a product and say it is perfect, it should be this one, thus we’re giving it a solid 5 out of 5 stars rating.
Breville BES920XL Dual Boiler Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel
- Dual stainless steel boilers and dual Italian pumps for simultaneous espresso extraction and steaming
- Over-Pressure Valve (OPV) limits extraction pressure;Flexible Shot Control
- Electronic PID temperature control for precise water temperature
- Backlit LCD displays brew temperature, shot clock or time.We recommend using cold, filtered water. We do not recommend using water with no or low mineral content
- Includes water hardness test strip, descale alert and LCD assisted descale procedure
Hi my name is Larry, a coffee aficionado from the US. I have already visited Colombia, Sumatra, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ethiopia and Jamaica in my pursuit of finding the best-tasting coffee beans. I currently write from Bali and enjoy the relaxed life that you can find only in Indonesia. Welcome to my coffee world!
Last update on 2021-01-17 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.
