PHILIPS Barista Brew Semi Automatic Espresso Machine

I got this to try out and we love it! This machine is so awesome, it looks intimidating but it’s really easy to use. It has a sleek design and is heavy duty! We use it every day now.

 Super easy to use- love the frother. The espresso taste ways more fresh. Love that it has options on how to grind the beans. Comes with a lot of utensils which is great to have options.

 This is a great coffee machine, and I’ve added to this review some tips on how to use it as well.

First, what I liked about this coffee grinder and espresso machine combo. The machine is really nicely made. Everything feels good quality. I love that the water tank is hidden in the back and very thin. The coffee handle, came with 4 coffee extraction cups depending on what you’re making and how professional you are.

The grinder works smoothly and the coffee that comes from the machine is delicious. I’ve tried espresso, double espresso, americano, and cappuccino, and all tasted great. I’m very satisfied with the quality of the product it makes.

You can see I’ve made a cappuccino in the video, but I’m still learning that finishing part. So, I know… It’s too thick. I’m working on it!

TIPS:
– The manual says for espresso use 1-5 setting on the grinder. Well, on my machine that didn’t work well, as it was creating a bit of a puddle in the handle when I take it off, and not producing a lot of coffee in the cup. Basically the ground was too fine. On my machine, I used setting 6 and 7 and that was a lot better. It’s a trial and error process.
– When frothing the milk for cappuccino, it’s better to hold the cup with your hand from the bottom (as seen in the video) to feel the temperature and avoid over cooking the milk.
– For some reason, the top of the machine gets some coffee stuck to it after each use, so I clean the “head” if you will, after every use.

One thing they can improve is the user manual. It was detailed and provided enough information, but it was fine print and difficult to find information. It would’ve been really nice if they made it more of a colourful experience with nicely coloured illustrations. It’s a fancy coffee machine after all. Make it a fun learning manual to keep around.

In summary, I love this machine! I think I’ll have this for many years to come. Everyone that visits me are like, woah, that’s a nice one! And it is.

This espresso machine is impressive. It’s easy to use and I enjoy making delicious lattes almost daily. I am not a morning person, so this machine has done a lot to make my morning a little bit better. Overall, I’m very happy with the grinding and brewing abilities. I’m still ‘warming up’ to the milk steamer, since that is not automatic and I’m still figuring out best techniques.

What I liked
✅ Grounded cord – I always have more confidence using a kitchen appliance when I see there’s a grounded cord. Especially because there’s water involved.
✅ Grinder setting is easy to change, as is the amount dispensed.
✅ Drip tray is easy to insert and remove. On another machine that I’ve tried, it had a very fussy drip tray that would need several attempts to sit right after re-inserting. I’m much happier with the tray on the Philips Barista Brew.
✅ Drip tray has a dedicated section for grinds, presumably if you accidentally start to grind your beans before attaching the portafilter.
✅ The smell of freshly ground beans. I had previously been buying espresso grind beans for another machine, and nothing compares to freshly ground.
✅ Watching the pressure gauge. I don’t drink espresso pure, but use it for soy milk lattes and cappuccinos. So, I always tolerated a little wiggle room with the extraction on another machine. Having the pressure gauge on the front of the machine has allowed me to fine tune the grind settings to craft the perfect extraction.
✅ Water tank handle placement. I love how visible and accessible it is to pull off the tank for emptying.
✅ Removal of filter basket is smooth. I can remove the filter basket (once cooled) from the portafilter with just my fingertips. On another machine, I had to use a dull knife inserted into groove to pop it out. This is much safer.
✅ Calibrated tamper. I needed this in my life!

What I didn’t like
❌ Narrowed opening to the milk jug. I find that tapered angle makes it harder to judge how full it is when filling. It also makes it harder to clean because I’d love to get my fingers in there, right to the bottom to give it a good scrub.
❌ Temperature gauge on the milk jug is inaccurate and hard to read. With my jug, the “too hot” red shows up before the “just right” green. Maybe it’s because I’m using soy milk instead of dairy, but figuring out the right temperature using the jug’s colour indicators has been constant frustration.
❌ Narrow and hidden water tank. I really wish it would be more common for water tanks to be on the side of machines so they are easier to monitor while in use. I also wish that this tank was wide enough that I could get my hand inside for scrubbing down the walls periodically.
❌ I find the Americano spout height gets in the way. I don’t need that coffee shop look at home, so I don’t have dedicated glasses/mugs for espresso and cappuccinos. I just want to make a basic latte using my favorite coffee mugs, which are a standard coffee mug height. My mugs fit under the portafilter, but the Americano spout blocks it from sliding in further. If the spout was just a touch higher, it would be perfect for me.
❌ The steaming wand takes A LOT of practice. And it will squeal at you in the most high pitched way if you’re using it wrong. I’ve scared pets with it and I’ve had one awkward question from a neighbour. (“Is everything OK at home? I’ve been hearing some concerning noises the past few mornings.”)

Overall, this is a very good espresso machine. 4.5 stars.

The grinder sucks, had to buy a turin. if the grinder was adequate. Also a single heat element, which takes time to go from expresso to frother. if these 2 where better 5 would be my vote.

Overall the unit is very well made of high quality steel and finishes. The controls are simple, straight forward and well laid out.
I’m not a huge fan of the water canister on the back of the unit as it makes filling it difficult and there is no water hook up as well for permanent installation
The grinder is simple to use and setup, with the amount being controlled by a simple knob. I have noticed some minor discrepancies in the amount ground each time but I think that’s more my oily coffee beans then the grinder itself.
The unit itself works well when brewing, and the pressure display helps you know if you did everything right. While I love the low profile height of the unit unfortunately it does not fit 90% of my coffee mugs, so be warned you will need smaller mugs as they are not included.
The steamer and water dispenser works but it takes a while for the steam to get going.
The instructions are straight forward but not in the best way. They show you how to set the unit up and contain most instructions for usage. But there’s no help, it was almost if the instructions were general for a number of similar coffee makers.
Finally the learning curve is huge with this maker if you’ve never made espresso before. Even if you have it requires tons of practice. A huge help I found was getting a 6 needle coffee grind stirrer as even distributed grinds before tamping makes a huge difference. A friend also recommended a defusal plate but I haven’t had the chance to try one yet, though it appears to have an integrated one.
Overall it’s a pricey specialty coffee maker, and for the most part lives up to that price tag. But just the overall lack of fine details and design choices especially with that price tag just makes it over priced compared to competitors. I wish I could give 4.5 stars but I can’t give it 5.

I am shocked at how good the coffee is. I never thought I would TRULY be able to make coffee taste like I got it from the coffee shop. Very easy to use too. Absolutely know I’ll save money in the long run with this.