Every espresso lover inevitably comes to a fork in the road when looking to lay their hands on a new machine: do they go for the manual or the automatic? Well, Breville thinks they should go with both!
With their machine dubbed 'the Oracle’, they claim to have merged the best of both worlds. In one delectable swoop, you ought to get the convenience of an automatic with the precision tuning that gives manuals their characteristic rich flavor.
So does the Breville BES920 (formerly BES900) Dual Boiler Semi Automatic Espresso Machine prophesy taste bud-tantalizing espressos in your future? Let's find out!
The first thing that hits you about this Breville espresso maker is its amazing build. It looks like money! And at a price of 
This baby weighs close to 30 pounds and is finished in beautiful stainless steel. It is far from the best-looking espresso maker out there; it’s more handsome than gorgeous, and from experience we all know that handsome is more dependable, right?
This semi-automatic is designed to give you great tasting espresso by automating the crucial processes but giving you a bit of room to give it your distinctive signature. And it definitely has the bells and whistles to get the job done.
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The Pros:
The Cons:
The Dual Boiler from Breville Overview (Video)
Pricing
The Breville BES920XL Dual Boiler Espresso Machine is available on Amazon for
Our Verdict
This machine is impressive; hands down. Yes, you might get a call from your accountant wondering why you’d drop $1000-ish on a coffee machine, but once they taste that delish espresso, they’ll completely understand.
Apart from great tasting joe, the Breville BES920XL has a lot of nifty features that make your life oh so easier. The most noteworthy has to be the water tank that can be easily filled from the top without having to shimmy it out the back.
The hidden tool drawer is also a brilliant touch, eliminating the whole brush-hunting game you play every time you want to clean your machine. Major points for you Breville!
The only gripe about this machine is that you many not be able to achieve a certain level of fine grind; but that's really nitpicking, to be honest.
For a grand, you get a coffee maker that will last you for ages, pull a perfect shot of espresso every time and etch a smile on your face whenever you walk past it.
Remember that fork in the road that espresso lovers face? Well, Breville just blew it up and built a formidable one-way street to utter deliciousness.
Not quite sure the Breville BES920XL is the right espresso machine for you?
Fair enough, I get it... let's compare three more machines that I think you might like.
Three Quick Comparisons
Product Name | Image | Rating | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine | 
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Quickmill Andreja Premium Espresso Machine | 
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DeLonghi ECAM22110SB Espresso Machine | 
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Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine
There is something truly special about Italian-built espresso makers; they make you feel all proud and fuzzy inside! And the Rancilio HSD Silvia perfectly captures this magic. And the price is 
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This espresso machine requires a bit of a learning curve however, as you grind and tamp your own coffee. But that's half the fun!
Quickmill Andreja Premium Espresso Machine
Quickmill is known for its striking designs, with the joysticks and gauges giving you a bit of a fond flashback. And the Andreja Premium Espresso Machine lives up to this. This machine is finished in high-sheen steel, complemented by large indicator lights and retro gauges, resulting in a piece of true beauty. A lot of beauty; this machine is huge! It weighs a whooping 55 pounds.
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The cost of all this beauty, you ask? Well, you’ll cough-up 
DeLonghi ECAM2210SB Espresso Machine
From the good people of Treviso, Italy, comes this compact super automatic espresso maker. DeLonghi has strived to cram all the convenience of a super-auto into a nice, little package; and have succeeded! This single boiler measures just 17 x 9.4 x 13.8 inches.
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Our Comparison Verdict
Every one of these machines is truly impressive and selecting one will depend on what features you value most, but all-things considered, the Rancilio Silvia takes the top slot. It takes durability to the next level, beefs that up with heavenly-tasting espresso and offers all this to you at a very competitive price.
However, if you can spare a bit of extra money, and space, then Quickmill’s Andreja Premium is the way to pull a shot of espresso that enviably compares to that of the coffee houses.
But if you would rather watch paint slowly dry than grind and tamp your own coffee, then do yourself a favor and opt for the convenience of the DeLonghi.
Happy Brewing!
