Perhaps the best measure of the performance of the Breville Barista Express comes from all the coffee addicts in Tom's Guide's office. And so it should be: the Barista Express extracted perfect espresso, one after another, and was excellent at steeping milk. Other features of this $749 machine include a built-in conical burr grinder, single and double wall filter baskets, all packaged in a classic stainless steel design.

But the Barista Express is not a cheap espresso maker, and it takes a little know-how to make the ideal latte or cappuccino. So read the rest of our review of the Breville Barista Express to decide if this is the best espresso machine for you.

The Breville Barista Express has been around for years; it is available at most major online retailers for $749, although you can sometimes find it for less around Black Friday and other major holidays.

The Barista Express is just below the middle of Breville's lineup of espresso machines, with the $499 Bambino Plus at one end and the $2,199 Oracle at the other. The Barista Express is the least expensive model in Breville's lineup, with a built-in coffee grinder.

When it comes to espresso machines, ugly models are hard to find. The Barista Express, like all of Breville's countertop appliances, is covered end-to-end in stainless steel, giving it a timeless, classic look. It is also available in a black finish, but I personally prefer the brushed stainless steel. However, you may get into the habit of trying to keep it as clean as the day you took it out of the box. It gets fingerprints right away, and before I knew it, there were coffee grounds all over the place.

On the face of the machine there are buttons to change the extraction size from 1 cup to 2 cups, adjust the filter size, and turn the machine on and off. The program button can also be used to adjust the preset temperature of the hot water by 4 degrees up or down. There is a dial to adjust the coffee bean grind and a gauge in the center that indicates the pressure at which the machine brews a cup.

Below the surface is a grind dispenser that automatically pours the right amount of freshly ground coffee by simply pushing the portafilter in once. The coarseness and amount of ground coffee can be adjusted with two dials. On the left side is a convenient tamper that is held in place by a magnet; the tamper can be removed if you wish to compress the grinds away from the machine.

On the right side of the machine is a dial that, when turned one way, allows steam to flow through the Express wand to froth milk, and when turned the other way, allows hot water to be poured for those who wish to make tea or Americano.

On the back of the machine is the Express reservoir, which holds about 1.75 liters of water. The reservoir is completely removable and has a clever little handle on top so that it can be easily carried to the sink and water added separately from the machine.

The Barista Express tray can also be removed for easy cleaning of excess water and debris. We also liked that there is a small compartment hidden underneath it for cleaning supplies and filters.

At the top of the Barista Express is a receptacle for coffee beans and the conical grinder. It cannot hold a large amount of beans, but depending on how much espresso you drink, it should be enough for a few days. It can also be completely removed if one wishes to clean it.

The Barista Express comes with a Razor Dose trimming tool, a 54mm stainless steel portafilter, and four baskets for making both single and double shot espressos.

It also comes with a coffee scoop, tamper, stainless steel milk jug, cleaning disc, tablet, brush tool, hex wrench, water filter and filter holder.

To test the Barista Express, I set it up in my company office and evaluated the machine's performance along with other coffee enthusiasts. The Barista Express was praised by all who used it, including myself.

Breville brewed one perfect espresso after another, with a crema on top. He worked pretty fast, too, but first you have to wait a minute or two for the machine to warm up; it stays on for an hour, so you'll be ready for the morning rush.

Changing the filter basket on the Express is a bit of a pain, so you should decide well in advance whether you want one or two shots. Be a little patient and go for the double shot.

Unlike the Phillips 3200, the Barista Express requires a bit more know-how to operate, especially if you want to make a latte or cappuccino. There is a little trick to steaming the milk that took me a while to master, but once I got the hang of it, I was more than satisfied with the frothy, creamy foam.

I wish the Barista Express had an insufficient water warning. The water reservoir is made of clear plastic, but is located on the back of the machine, making it difficult to determine at a glance if more water needs to be added. Also, the reservoir is removable, but if you decide to place the Barista Express under an overhanging cabinet in the kitchen, it could be difficult to remove.

Like its smaller counterpart the Bambino Plus, the Breville Barista Express makes a great cup, making it one of the best espresso machines around. The choice between this and the Bambino Plus depends on your budget and counter space. But you should invest in one of the best coffee grinders.

For those who prefer less hassle, the Phillips 3200 is a good option. For those who don't want to go through the hassle of steeping milk, measuring powder, and tamping, it does it all. But if you want to spend more time, the results of the Barista Express (especially when extracting espresso) are excellent.