Review on ☕ Breville BES840XL Infuser Espresso Machine: A Premium Stainless Steel Brewing Experience by Bryan Aleman

Purchased on 7/15/15 at Revain.com. After about 9 months the machine started making a strange electrical hum when brewing (most likely due to the solenoid valve) and water started seeping from under the machine - so much that it was dripping off the rack onto the floor. A year later (June 2016), just before the factory warranty expired, Breville replaced the unit (unfortunately they only replace refurbished units, not new ones). The company representative asked me if I cleaned and descaled according to the instructions in the manual. I cleaned with the tablets provided whenever the 'clean' light came on AND I mark EVERY month on my calendar to descale with 50% white vinegar/50% water as directed in the manual. The new block worked fine until December 2016 when it had the same problem as the original block. Now I was faced with the challenge of replacing the second unit under the 3 year extended unit warranty which I was smart enough to buy at the same time. I suspect that some internal components are not designed to withstand the working hydraulics and the breaks. My water composition is pretty average (moderately hard) but not so much that we have problems with scale or mineral buildup. When preparing to buy, I first researched the machines available and this was not a highly recommended product. , but I decided to take a risk because I liked the characteristics of the machine. Unfortunately, these other opinions have been confirmed and I do not regret having bought it. It seems to me that this is probably a very cheap and overpriced product aimed at young newlyweds who blindly put it on their register without knowing any better. I suspect they are charging such a high initial price to cover what they believe will be a high first year return. After that first year, the company collapses and is still making a significant profit even after being replaced once. Save money or buy something more recommendable. I've seen a lot of good reviews about Gaggia. I'll probably be more inclined to buy one of these next time. But never again Breville!