Next level espresso

Wanting to step up your barista game? We take a look at four dual boiler espresso machines that will have you pulling shots like a pro

Photography by David Collins

There’s just no avoiding it. Budget espresso machines offer an amazing bang-for-buck entry-level experience – no question. However, if you want to take your barista skills up a few notches then you need to be upgrading your gear.

Now, none of these dual boiler machines can be called cheap – upgrading usually comes with a bigger price tag – but these machines are well worth the expense. They all come with an industry-standard 58mm portafilter, and electronic PIDs providing the control of brew temperature that you need to make consistently great coffee. They also allow you to extract multiple espressos back-toback while simultaneously steaming milk – something a less expensive single boiler machine will struggle with.

We put them through their paces with the expert help of Paul Hallit, Head of Training and Development at The Little Marionette, using their House Blend (find out how it tastes in our coffee reviews on page 8) and grinding was performed by a Baratza Sette 270Wi.

“All espresso machines perform the same function, they deliver hot water through ground coffee at pressure,” explains Paul. “It’s the precision delivery that produces a consistent shot of coffee each time.”

Prepare to disappear down the rabbit hole of coffee geekery.

Breville Dual Boiler

PROS:Heaps of handy functionality; user-friendly

CONS: Lots of plastic; limited longevity

Breville has a well-defined aesthetic, and the Dual Boiler is no exception. Set up is fast and the intuitive interface keeps you well-informed at all stages.

Full control is possible with programmable preinfusion and preset/manual-override/programmable shot volume. The shot clock and pressure gauge provide extra levels of fine-tuning and the auto start will preheat the machine to be ready at a set time.

The visual water-level guide and handy flap at the front of the cup warmer mean you don’t have to access the removable 2.5 litre reservoir at the rear; but when you do, the retractable wheels make benchtop manoeuvring a breeze. However, at 13.6kg, this was the lightest member of our group with a footprint of W41.5 x D38 x H38cm. The storage socket for the lightweight tamp is nice touch.

Maintenance is easy thanks to the new descale alert and assisted descale procedure. These will help to keep the machine in tip-top condition for increased performance and lifespan, although with a large number of plastic components don’t expect this machine to last you a lifetime.

Espresso shots are pleasantly smooth, yet not as refined as something you’d get from the other more expensive machines in this review. The light steam pressure takes a little while to reach optimal levels for milk texturing, but the result is super silky.

This is a semi-pro machine with the bonus of programmable volumetrics meaning you can either take full control or just push buttons. You choose.

RRP $1,999 breville.com.au

To discover the low-down on three more dual-boiler beauties you'll need to bag yourself the latest edition of Caffeine Australia. Either buy this digital version or subscribe by visiting the Caffeine Australia website https://caffeinemagazine.com.au/product/caffeine-issue-02/