How to Use a Breville Barista Express Impress

On this page (9 sections)

1. How do you set up the Barista Express Impress?
2. How does assisted dosing and tamping work?
3. How do you pull an espresso shot?
4. How do you steam milk on the Impress?
5. What should you clean after making coffee?
6. Which coffee should you use with the Impress?
7. Why might the shot taste sour or bitter?
8. What can you make if you don’t want espresso?
9. How do you use the Breville Barista Express Impress well?

To use the Breville Barista Express Impress, fill the hopper, let the machine assist with dosing and tamping, then brew your shot. Start with the machine’s instructions, make one adjustment at a time, and use its steam wand if you want milk.

The Impress system reduces some of the guesswork in preparing a coffee puck, but it still takes practice to dial in a shot. Learn the order of the steps first, then adjust the grind and dose based on how the espresso flows.

How do you set up the Barista Express Impress?

Fill the water tank and bean hopper, then power on the machine and let it heat. Use the manual for setup, water, cleaning, and first-use instructions for your specific model.

Set the machine on a stable counter with room to use the portafilter and steam wand. Keep the grinder area clear, and make sure the drip tray is in place.

Choose whole beans for the built-in grinder. Lavazza Super Crema is a medium roast Arabica and Sturdya blend intended for espresso preparation, with a bold, creamy finish.

Use the beans you have first if they are suitable for espresso. There’s no need to buy a new bag just to learn the machine’s workflow.

How does assisted dosing and tamping work?

The Impress system helps prepare a consistent coffee puck by dosing and tamping in the portafilter. Seat the portafilter under the grinder, follow the machine’s prompts, and operate the tamping lever as directed.

Keep the portafilter aligned as you grind. Once the machine indicates the dose is ready, use the lever through its full instructed motion, then remove the portafilter and check that the puck looks level.

The assisted system doesn’t choose the ideal grind for every bean. If shots run too quickly or slowly, adjust the grind in small steps and pull another shot to see how the change affects flow.

How to use the Breville Barista Express Impress tamping lever

Use the built-in lever as the machine directs, rather than pressing the grounds by hand first. A separate tamp can change the puck and make it harder to judge the machine’s dosing adjustments.

Keep your hand clear of moving parts and don’t force the lever. If the tamp feels stuck or the portafilter is not seated, stop and check the manual before continuing.

Compare the steps with our guide to how to use a Breville Barista Express. The Impress adds assisted dosing and tamping to the espresso workflow.

How do you pull an espresso shot?

Lock the prepared portafilter into the group head, place a cup beneath the spouts, and start the brew. Follow the machine’s controls and stop the shot according to your taste and the manual’s guidance.

Watch the coffee as it flows. A very fast or slow pour can help you decide whether to adjust the grind, dose, or puck preparation.

Make only one change at a time. If you change several settings at once, it’s harder to tell which one improved the shot.

The machine can brew espresso with coffee grounds, but Nespresso capsules are made for Nespresso systems. For the separate capsule workflow, see our capsule espresso machine guide.

Vertuo capsules and Original capsules are also incompatible with each other, so neither is a substitute for whole beans in this machine.

How do you steam milk on the Impress?

Purge the steam wand as directed, position its tip in cold milk, and open the steam control. Keep the wand below the surface at first, then adjust its position to create the texture you want.

Stop steaming before the milk gets too hot to handle, and wipe the wand with a damp cloth right away. Purge it again after wiping, following the machine’s instructions.

For a cappuccino or latte, pour the steamed milk over espresso. If you’re new to steam wands, our guide to how a steam espresso machine works explains how steam heats and textures milk.

What should you clean after making coffee?

Remove the used puck, rinse the portafilter and basket, and wipe the steam wand after each use. Empty the drip tray when needed and follow the manual’s instructions for deeper cleaning and descaling.

Brush loose grounds from the grinder area with a suitable dry brush. Don’t rinse parts that the manual says should stay dry or use a cleaning product that isn’t approved for the machine.

Regular care helps keep coffee residue from building up around the group head and steam wand. Check the manual for cleaning cycles, water filter care, and the right descaling process.

Which coffee should you use with the Impress?

Choose whole beans for the built-in grinder, and tune the grind to get a steady shot. A medium espresso roast such as Lavazza Super Crema is one option for a bold, creamy cup.

The pack contains Stormio, Odacio, and Melozio capsules, each designed for VertuoLine machines. It does not work in the Barista Express Impress or with Nespresso Original machines.

The Ristretto Italiano capsules are made for Nespresso Original machines and aren’t compatible with Vertuo machines. Use them only if you also have an Original machine.

If you’re choosing a different Breville workflow, compare this guide with how to use a Breville Barista Pro or how to use a Breville Barista Touch. For another brand, see how to use a DeLonghi espresso machine.

Why might the shot taste sour or bitter?

A sour shot may need a finer grind or more extraction, while a bitter shot may need a coarser grind or less extraction. Change one setting at a time and taste the next shot before making another adjustment.

Bean choice, puck preparation, and the amount of coffee in the basket can also affect flavor. Keep your process steady while learning so that each adjustment gives you useful feedback.

Serve espresso promptly, and let it cool to a comfortable temperature before drinking. Our guide to how hot coffee should be to drink covers serving temperature.

What can you make if you don’t want espresso?

Use another brewing method when you want a different cup size or style. The Impress is built around espresso, while pour-over and Turkish coffee use different tools and steps.

For a manual brew, follow our pour-over coffee guide. For a stovetop method with finely ground coffee, see how to make Turkish coffee.

How do you use the Breville Barista Express Impress well?

To use the Breville Barista Express Impress, start with its assisted dose and tamp, then adjust the grind in small steps until the shot flows as you like. Choose espresso beans for the built-in grinder, and clean the portafilter and steam wand after use.

Pick Lavazza Super Crema if you want whole beans intended for espresso. Choose the Nespresso capsules only for a separate compatible machine, since neither capsule type works in the Impress.

Frequently asked questions

How does the Breville Barista Express Impress tamp coffee?

The Impress system assists with dosing and tamping through its built-in grinder and tamping lever. Put the portafilter in place, follow the machine’s instructions, and use the lever as directed.

Check the puck before brewing; adjust the grind or dose if it looks uneven or too loose.

Do you need to tamp coffee on the Barista Express Impress?

Yes, the machine still requires you to operate its assisted tamping system. The lever helps press the grounds in the portafilter, but you need to position the portafilter correctly and follow the machine’s steps.

Avoid adding a separate hard tamp unless the manual calls for it.

What coffee can you use in the Barista Express Impress?

Use whole coffee beans intended for espresso, then adjust the grind and dose to suit the machine and your taste. Freshness, roast, and grind size affect how the shot flows.

Avoid capsules made for other machines; Vertuo and Nespresso Original capsules are not interchangeable with each other.

Why is espresso coming out too fast on the Barista Express Impress?

A shot that flows too quickly may mean the coffee is ground too coarse, the dose is too low, or the puck is uneven. Change one setting at a time and follow the machine’s guidance for adjusting the grind and dose.

Check the manual if flow remains inconsistent.