In the world of espresso machines, there is one name which is easily recognizable everywhere. That is “Breville”. Even if we ignore their previous models, which were all some sort of a success story, this year’s BES920XL Oracle is perhaps a product where even they have outdone themselves. 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 which 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. So, combine all it has with its absolutely gorgeous looks and the price point, and you will get why is it perhaps the most popular espresso machine today.
Not convinced yet? Let us take you deeper into the heart of this model.
Features That Make Breville BES920XL Stand Out
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 new machine you can drain the boiler on your own. In the past, you had to take it to a service center every few years or so for general maintenance. Now, all you have to do to descale the machine is unscrew the two screws in the front and follow the instructions listed on our Guide Page.
Now let’s talk about those dual boilers. The most important aspect of theirs is the fact that they are made out of stainless steel. This, alongside brass, are the materials which you want to find on your espresso machine, and not 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.
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 an 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, dosing tool, extra baskets, and more.
Now let’s briefly summarize all the advantages and disadvantages of this model.
✔ 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, and we found out that 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 – 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. Read it’s full review here.
Coffee Gear Spy.com Product Rating:
All in all, this 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 which 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.
Check Price
