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BrevilleBarista Max VCF126

Bean-to-cup
Milk frother

£299View retailers

Test score

Lowest available prices

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Squint and this Breville coffee machine could look like another more expensive model. The Breville Barista Max is a ground coffee machine with an in-built coffee grinder, so you can start your day with the freshest of brews, ‘effortlessly’ according to Breville. For latte lovers, there’s also a built-in steam pipe. Will this machine help you to recreate your coffee-shop favourite at home? Find out by reading the full review.

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KEY TEST RESULTS
Speed of making an espresso
Ease of use

Mar 2024Last checked by Which?
Dec 2020First reviewed by Which?
Jul 2020Released

The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.

How we test coffee machines

3 Apr 2024

Taste

Overall
Espresso (using beans)
Cappuccino

How we test taste

Our expert tasting panel rate the quality of espresso produced by the machine, taking into account the taste, aroma and appearance of the espresso. If a coffee machine comes with a milk-frothing system, our panel rate the quality of cappuccino, taking into account the taste, aroma and appearance of the cappuccino, as well as how thick the froth is and how well it blends with the coffee.

Quality of espresso

Overall
Speed of making an espresso
Temperature of espresso

How we test quality of espresso

Our expert tasting panel rate the quality of espresso produced by the machine, taking into account the taste, aroma and appearance of the espresso. We also measure the temperature of the espresso and how quickly it's produced.

Ease of use

Overall
Instructions
Preparing the machine
Cleaning
Descaling

How we test ease of use

Our ease-of-use rating takes into account how simple the instructions are to understand and follow and how easy it is to prepare the machine for use. We also assess how straightforward the cleaning and descaling processes are.

Energy efficiency

How we test energy efficiency

We measure the amount of energy the coffee machine uses to heat up and make coffee. We also check how much energy it uses in standby mode.

Machine performance

Overall
Making two espressos at once

How we test machine performance

We test how quickly the machine makes espresso, how hot the coffee is and how well it froths milk, if the coffee machine comes with a milk frothing system. For machines that can make two espressos at once, we also measure the volume and temperature of the coffee in each cup to see if you end up with two evenly matched espressos.

Quality of cappuccino

Overall
Milk frothing
Ease of using milk frother

How we test quality of cappuccino

If a coffee machine comes with a milk-frothing system, our panel rate the quality of cappuccino, taking into account the taste, aroma and appearance of the cappuccino, as well as how thick the froth is and how well it blends with the coffee. We also assess how easy it is to use and clean the milk frother.

Quietness

How we test quietness

Our expert lab testers subjectively rate how noisy each coffee machine is when preparing an espresso. This subjective assessment is paired with an objective measurement of the decibel level. A very quiet model will earn itself five stars, while a very noisy machine will only pick up one.

Features
Includes milk frother	Milk frother
Froth type	Manual (steam pipe)
Water filter	No
Cup warmer	Yes

General
Type	Bean-to-cup
Colour	Silver
Ground coffee	Yes
Coffee beans	Yes
ESE pods	No
Height	41cm
Width	32cm
Depth	33cm
Weight	11kg
Length of power cord (cm)	105cm
Number of espressos	2
Water tank capacity	2.8 litres
Bean hopper (g)	250
Manufacturer guarantee	1 year
Manufacturer guarantee terms	Breville coffee machines have a one year guarantee for domestic use as standard.
Review details	We are continually making improvements to our tests. We last changed our test programme in April 2023 which means that, if you’re looking at results for coffee machines tested before and after this date, they will not be directly comparable.

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Prices are ordered from lowest to highest, irrespective of retailer rating or stock, and exclude any potential delivery costs. We are not able to show every possible retailer and cheaper prices may be available.

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BrevilleBarista Max VCF126

Lowest available prices