OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
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Scored using Coffee Machines Methodology v3.0
Coffee Machines Methodology v3.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Coffee Machines Methodology v3.0: the technical score from the specifications is the base, and independent expert and video reviews (up to ±0.5 points), owner opinions (up to ±0.3) and best-of lists (up to +0.3) move it up or down.
Explore Coffee Machines Methodology v3.0

Breville BES878BSS review: 75 specs compared

Avg. price:~£?Type:?Water Container Capacity:2 LPump Pressure:15 barBuilt-in Coffee Grinder:yesAutomatic Milk Frother:yes

Breville BES878BSS Review: Compare 75 technical specifications to see how this product ranks in the Coffee Machines category and whether it is worth buying.

Breville BES878BSS
7.9/10

Overall score

Score
7.9/ 10
✕
What it is
Our main score for this model, 1–10. It combines specs, expert reviews, best-of lists, owners and ratings from across the web.
How we count it
Parts: Technical score 45%, Reviews score 20%, List score 15%, Sentiment score 10%, User score 10%
Marks: Each part gets a mark out of 10. For reviews, lists and owners, a typical model in this category gets about 8 and the best one gets 10.
No data yet: A part with no data shows "?". It counts as the mark of a weaker model in this category (4 in 5 models with data score higher). This way, models with reviews, lists and owners usually come out ahead.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 91% of models
Score components

45%

8.1

Technical score

20%

?

Reviews scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 7.7, the mark of a weaker model in this category

15%

?

List scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 7.5, the mark of a weaker model in this category

10%

?

Sentiment scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 6.8, the mark of a weaker model in this category

10%

8.9

User score

★Better than 91% of coffee machines
?

Value for money

Value for money
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the coffee machine's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a coffee machine with a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

70%

7.9

Overall score

30%

?

Price

Price not known yet
8.1

Technical score

Technical score
8.1/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 45% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 93% of models
Score components

35%

8.2

Performance

25%

6.9

Coffee Preparation

25%

9.1

Features

15%

8.1

Design

★Better than 93%
?

Reviews score

Reviews score
✕
What it is
Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
How we count it
Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Every review counts the same: written or video, short or full test.
Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.7 for now.
Share: Reviews count 20% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Grades by review (0)
We have not found an independent test of this model yet. Until we do, its review part counts as 7.7.
Ratings from across the web count in the User score, not in this score.
No expert tests yet
8.9

User score

User score
8.9/ 10
✕
What it is
How happy buyers are with this model, based on ratings from across the web.
How we count it
Enough data: A model needs at least 1 rating from across the web. Without one, it counts as 7.8, the mark of a weaker rated model in this category.
Share: User score counts 10% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 80% of models

70%

8.8

Rating

30%

9.2

Popularity

â–²Better than 80%
?

List score

List score
7.5/ 10
✕
What it is
How often independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers put this model in their best-of lists for this category.
How we count it
Points: The model in the most lists of this category gets 10; the others get 8 to 10 in proportion. In no list yet: 7.5. Lists count 15% of the overall score.
Enough data: Every list counts, even a single one. With fewer than 5 best-of lists in the category, this part is left out.
Lists with this model (0)
Not in any best-of list yet, so this part counts as 7.5. Models in a list get 8 to 10.
Not in any best-of list yet
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Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of coffee machine Breville BES878BSS

Technical score
Technical score
8.1/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 45% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 93% of models
Score components:

35%

8.2

Performance

25%

6.9

Coffee Preparation

25%

9.1

Features

15%

8.1

Design

8.1
Reviews score
7.7
User score
8.9
List score
?
Value for money
Value for money
8.5/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the coffee machine's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a coffee machine with a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
★ Better than 100% of models
Score components:

70%

7.9

Overall score

30%

?

Price

8.5
Power
1,680 W
Market range: <1k W – >1.5k W
This coffee machine provides 1,680 W of heating power, which is higher than the power of 97.1% of coffee machines.
Water Container Capacity
2 L
Market range: <0.7 L – >2 L
This coffee machine holds up to 2 L in its water tank, which is larger than 86.6% of coffee machines and equal to that of 4.5% of coffee machines.
Pump Pressure
15 bar
Market range: <15 bar – >19 bar
This coffee machine delivers 15 bar of pump pressure, which is higher than the pump pressure of 13.8% of coffee machines and equal to that of 56.3% of coffee machines.
Heating Time
?
Heating System
?
Show more
Type
?
Works with Powdered Coffee
yes
This coffee machine accepts ground coffee. 48% of coffee machines accept ground coffee.
Works with ESE Pods
?
Works with Capsules
no
This coffee machine does not accept coffee capsules. 32.2% of coffee machines accept coffee capsules.
Capsule System
N/A
Show more
Water Level Indicator
?
Water Filter
yes
This coffee machine has a water filter. 70.2% of coffee machines have a water filter.
Descaling Program
yes
This coffee machine has a descaling programme. 31.2% of coffee machines have a descaling programme.
Cleaning Alert
yes
This coffee machine alerts you when cleaning is needed. 39.1% of coffee machines offer cleaning alerts.
Automatic Milk Circuit Cleaning
yes
This coffee machine cleans its milk circuit automatically. 81.9% of coffee machines offer automatic milk circuit cleaning.
Show more
Built-in Installation
no
Color
Stainless Steel
Vintage Look
no
This coffee machine does not have vintage styling. 10.6% of coffee machines have this look.
Housing Material
?
Drip Tray Material
?
Show more

Breville BES878BSS vs the average coffee machine

246810TotalPerformanceCoffee PreparationFeaturesDesign
  • Automatic milk frothing
    This coffee machine has an automatic milk frother, while the average coffee machine does not. 24.1% of coffee machines have an automatic milk frother.
  • 280 W higher power
    This coffee machine offers higher heating power than the average coffee machine (1,680 W vs 1,400 W).
    1,680 W vs 1,400 W
  • Cleans the milk circuit automatically
    This coffee machine cleans its milk circuit automatically, while the average coffee machine does not. 18.2% of coffee machines offer automatic milk circuit cleaning.
  • Dedicated milk container
    This coffee machine has a dedicated milk container, while the average coffee machine does not. 17% of coffee machines have a milk container.
  • Has a built-in coffee grinder
    This coffee machine has a built-in coffee grinder, while the average coffee machine does not. 30.7% of coffee machines have one.
  • Has a water filter
    This coffee machine has a water filter, while the average coffee machine does not. 30% of coffee machines have a water filter.
  • 0.75 L larger water tank
    This coffee machine has a larger water reservoir than the average coffee machine (2 L vs 1.25 L).
    2 L vs 1.25 L
  • 20 more grind settings
    This coffee machine provides finer control over grind size than the average coffee machine (30 vs 10).
    30 vs 10
  • 11.9% better value for money
    Breville BES878BSS has better value for money than the average coffee machine (8.51 vs 7.6).
    8.51 vs 7.61
  • 17.1% higher user score
    User score
    8.9/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    How happy buyers are with this model, based on ratings from across the web.
    How we count it
    Enough data: A model needs at least 1 rating from across the web. Without one, it counts as 7.8, the mark of a weaker rated model in this category.
    Share: User score counts 10% of the overall score.
    Score distribution
    â–¼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    â–² Better than 80% of models

    70%

    8.8

    Rating

    30%

    9.2

    Popularity

    8.9 vs 7.6
  • 280 W higher power
    This coffee machine offers higher heating power than the average coffee machine (1,680 W vs 1,400 W).
    1,680 W vs 1,400 W
  • Has a built-in coffee grinder
    This coffee machine has a built-in coffee grinder, while the average coffee machine does not. 30.7% of coffee machines have one.
  • 0.75 L larger water tank
    This coffee machine has a larger water reservoir than the average coffee machine (2 L vs 1.25 L).
    2 L vs 1.25 L
  • 20 more grind settings
    This coffee machine provides finer control over grind size than the average coffee machine (30 vs 10).
    30 vs 10
  • Has PID temperature control
    This coffee machine has PID temperature control, while the average coffee machine does not. 6.4% of coffee machines have this feature.
  • Automatic milk frothing
    This coffee machine has an automatic milk frother, while the average coffee machine does not. 24.1% of coffee machines have an automatic milk frother.
  • Dedicated milk container
    This coffee machine has a dedicated milk container, while the average coffee machine does not. 17% of coffee machines have a milk container.
  • Has a portafilter
    This coffee machine has a portafilter, while the average coffee machine does not. 32.7% of coffee machines have a portafilter.
  • Has a steam wand
    This coffee machine has a steam wand, while the average coffee machine does not. 39.7% of coffee machines have a steam wand.
  • Cleans the milk circuit automatically
    This coffee machine cleans its milk circuit automatically, while the average coffee machine does not. 18.2% of coffee machines offer automatic milk circuit cleaning.
  • Has a water filter
    This coffee machine has a water filter, while the average coffee machine does not. 30% of coffee machines have a water filter.
  • Has a display
    This coffee machine has a display, while the average coffee machine does not. 32.6% of coffee machines have this feature.
  • 3 mm wider portafilter
    This coffee machine features a wider, commercial-standard portafilter than the average coffee machine (54 mm vs 51 mm).
    54.00 mm vs 51.00 mm
  • No hot water dispenser
    This coffee machine does not have a hot water dispenser, while the average coffee machine does. 50.5% of coffee machines have a hot water dispenser.
  • 10 g smaller bean hopper
    This coffee machine holds fewer coffee beans in its hopper than the average coffee machine (250 g vs 260 g).
    250 g vs 260 g
  • 10 g smaller bean hopper
    This coffee machine holds fewer coffee beans in its hopper than the average coffee machine (250 g vs 260 g).
    250 g vs 260 g
  • No hot water dispenser
    This coffee machine does not have a hot water dispenser, while the average coffee machine does. 50.5% of coffee machines have a hot water dispenser.

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Overview video

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Breville BES878BSS

  • Thirty grinding settings let you dial in the grind.
  • The built-in grinder grinds beans right before each cup.
  • The steam wand lets you texture milk by hand.
  • The PID controller keeps the water temperature steady.
  • The 2 L water container means fewer top-ups.
  • Two cup function makes two shots at once.

What customers don't like about Breville BES878BSS

  • The 250 g bean container needs frequent refills in a busy kitchen.
  • No cappuccino program, so milk drinks depend on your technique.
  • No latte macchiato program.
  • No hot water dispenser or iced coffee program.
  • It takes no capsules, so pods are out.

Verdict

Thirty grinding settings and a built-in grinder are what draw people to the Breville BES878BSS, a machine for anyone who wants control over every part of the cup. The 15 bar pump, PID controller and 54 mm portafilter shape the shot, and the steam wand lets you texture milk by hand. Two cup function pulls two shots at once for two people. The 2 L water container means fewer top-ups, and the water filter helps with upkeep. The display and cleaning alert keep track of maintenance, and a descaling program handles the limescale. The trade-off is the 250 g bean container and the lack of a cappuccino program, so milk drinks depend on your own technique. It suits someone who enjoys learning the craft and does not mind extra steps for better cups.

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