I’m not by any measure a coffee expert. But, thanks to a recent purchase that has elevated my morning brew, I now feel like one. What changed my coffee game so drastically? The Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine (originally $850, now $680). Since I’ve had it, the necessary task of making coffee is now an enjoyable hobby that jumpstarts my mornings.

Sure, there are plenty of easier—and less expensive—methods to brew a good cup of coffee at home, from the straightforward French press to set-it-and-forget-it drip machines, many of which I’ve used in the past. Wonderful as they were, the opportunity arose (a sale!) to purchase an at-home espresso machine, so I sprung for the Barista Pro, a machine that has received high praise by many coffee lovers—including W+G editors. While it isn’t the cheapest coffee maker on the market, it’s proven to be well worth the cost. This machine is entirely responsible for curbing my $18-a-week coffee habit—and it makes cafe-worthy cups at home.

Breville, Barista Pro Espresso Machine — $680.00

Originally $850, now $680

Available in four different colors.

Pros:

• Comes with equipment and accessories
• Has a built-in conical burr grinder
• User-friendly interface
• Attractive design

Cons:

• Involves a learning curve
• Pricey compared to other home-brewing coffee methods

How the Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine works

The Breville Barista Pro is equipped with all you need to start making espresso. It has a built-in conical burr grinder that grinds coffee as coarsely or as finely as you like, as well as a potent steam wand and a hot-water dispenser. Plus, it comes with all the necessary accouterments, including:

• A 53-millimeter portafilter
• Single- and double-walled filters
• A Razor Precision dose trimming tool
• A tamper
• A 480-millimeter milk jug

Making espresso is a multistep process, and though this might not appeal to busy coffee lovers, I’ve found it to be enjoyably ritualistic. It involves grinding the coffee beans into the portafilter, leveling and hand-tamping the grounds, locking the portafilter into the machine, and pulling a shot. And, whenever I’m in the mood for a latte, I top off my drink with a layer of milky foam using the steam wand (which, by the way, also dispenses hot water for tea or Americanos).

The front face of the machine has three buttons—a power button, one to brew on shot, one for two shots, and a “menu” button, where you can access the machine settings and customize the size of your espresso shots. There is also a tiny push-button dial that allows you to select from the various options on the menu or customize your amount of grinds (which is measured in seconds). On either side of the machine are two larger dials—one to select the coarseness or fineness of your grind and the other to operate the steam wand.

My thoughts about the Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine

I used the Barista Pro as soon as it was out of the box, and it was easy to set up after parsing the user manual and watching a few YouTube videos. More importantly, I’ve found it easy to operate, thanks to its user-friendly interface—and that’s coming from a novice barista like me.

Using the Brevelle Barista Pro

Operating the machine becomes a seamless experience—after some trial and error and a number of practice shots. There is a learning curve, and that’s to be expected with most espresso machines (save for super-automatic options and espresso pod machines that do all the work for you). Once I learned the appropriate grind amount and size for my beans and mastered the art of tampering down my grounds, I managed to reliably pull robust-tasting shots, replete with a luscious golden cream, morning after bleary-eyed morning. The best part? It takes me no more than 6 minutes. I’ve also used my machine to make Americanos and foamy lattes. And, though my latte art leaves much to be desired, the taste was close to that of those made by the true barista pros in my neighborhood cafes.

Cleaning the machine

Maintaining the machine between uses is fairly easy. If anything, you’ll have to refill the water tank every once in a while—and clean the machine less often—but not so much that it becomes burdensome. There’s even a red “Empty Me!” tab that pops up to remind me to empty the drip tray when it’s full. These small details all add up to make this machine a pleasure to use. (It doesn’t hurt that it looks attractive sitting on my countertop, too.)

Accessories

What I will say that there are extra accessories that have further improved the quality of my espresso shots—a small scale to weigh my coffee grounds and shots as they emerged; a WDT tool to evenly distribute the coffee grounds in the portafilter; and a separate tamper that has come recommended by several online coffee experts—all of which came at a small added cost. (I told you, it’s become a hobby!)

Indeed, having an espresso machine involves a commitment. But if you’ve come to love the taste of good espresso and have been wanting to learn to make them at home, now is prime time for spring for an espresso machine of your own. The Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine is $170 off on Amazon for Black Friday— trust, the dividends will pay off down the line.