Espresso Machines

Breville BES500BSS

#1 · Best Overall
8.0 /10 Our score
Lowest verified price $499.95 Amazon
Our verdict
The best choice for beginners who want café-style milk drinks with little learning. Budget for a grinder, and watch the price and the auto-wand reports.

Pros

  • About 3-second heat-up
  • PID temperature control and pre-infusion
  • Pressurized baskets are forgiving for beginners
  • Automatic, temperature-sensing milk wand
  • Stainless steel body and 54mm portafilter

Cons

  • Needs a separate burr grinder, about $700 all-in
  • Priced right at the $500 limit
  • Some owners report auto-wand problems, and Reviewed notes complaints about it
  • Small drip tray and no pressure gauge

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Last reviewed October 25, 2026
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Review

What to know about Breville BES500BSS

A compact semi-automatic machine with ThermoJet heating (about 3 seconds to brew temperature), a 54mm portafilter and an automatic, temperature-sensing milk wand. It is the most widely recommended first espresso machine at about $500, but you need a separate burr grinder.
Editorial notes

Why it stands out

Why we like it

TechGearLab names it best for novices, Yahoo Shopping calls it best for beginners, and Food Network and Livingetc also recommend it. It reaches brew temperature in about 3 seconds, uses PID temperature control and low-pressure pre-infusion, and ships with pressurized baskets that forgive an imperfect grind or tamp.

The automatic wand is what separates it from the plain Bambino. It senses milk temperature and stops on its own, so a first-timer can get a decent latte without learning to texture milk by hand. Budget about $200 for an espresso-capable grinder such as the Baratza Encore ESP, which puts the real cost near $700.

What to know

Skip it if you want to stay near $500 all-in, or if you want the lowest-risk reliability record. The pick only qualifies while the machine is priced at or under $500.
Performance

Score breakdown

Beginner-Friendliness

How quickly a novice gets a good drink: heat-up time, clear controls, forgiving baskets, assisted grinding or dosing, cleaning effort and learning curve, as described by testers.

9.0
About 3 s heat-up, simple buttons, pressurized baskets and hands-free auto-frothing; TechGearLab and Yahoo name it the top pick for novices.
Espresso Quality

Shot taste, crema, consistency and temperature stability in independent tests (with a proper grinder where needed).

8.0
PID and pre-infusion give consistent shots with a decent grinder; no pressure gauge (Yahoo).
Milk Steaming

Ability to make latte and cappuccino microfoam; automatic wands score well for beginners; also steam power and wait between brewing and steaming.

9.0
Automatic wand with temperature and texture settings and almost no wait after brewing; Food Network notes it can over-foam.
Build & Reliability

Materials, durability, warranty length, owner-reported failures, and parts and repair availability.

6.8
Stainless body and 2-year warranty, offset by auto-wand complaints (Reviewed, Home-Barista) and a 'Frequently Returned' tag on Amazon.
Health & Materials

Materials in the hot-water path (boiler and heater metal, lead-free brass, stainless steel), BPA-free plastics, manufacturer PFAS claims, recalls, standby energy and auto-off.

6.5
Stainless body and portafilter; BPA-free tank not confirmed by Breville; little idle energy; no recall found.
Value

Total cost to good espresso (including a grinder if one is needed) relative to performance, at typical US street prices.

7.0
$499.95 plus about $200 for an Encore ESP, so about $700 all-in; the auto wand and ease of use justify a premium, but not a top value score.
Specifications

Breville BES500BSS specs

General

Machine type
Semi-automatic
Built-in grinder
No
Water tank capacity
64 oz

Milk

Automatic milk frothing
Yes

Brewing

Portafilter size
54 mm
Heating system / boiler material
ThermoJet thermocoil
PID / active temperature control
Yes
Pressurized (dual-wall) baskets included
Yes

Materials

Manufacturer PFAS-free claim
No

Ownership

Warranty
2 years
Shopping

Compare prices

Prices are checked periodically. Older amounts are labeled with their last verification date.

Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you purchase through links on this page. This does not affect our editorial rankings.

Prices and availability may change. The retailer's price and availability at checkout govern the transaction.

RetailerPriceAvailability
Walmart $499.00
Last known price — verified Oct 25, 2026; may have changed
Last reported: Out Of Stock Check at retailer
AmazonLowest $499.95 In Stock View deal
Best Buy $499.95
Last known price — verified Oct 25, 2026; may have changed
Check at retailer Check at retailer
Lowest verified price $499.95
30-day low $499.00
90-day average $499.71
90-day low $499.00

Based on 4 retailer price observations captured during the last 90 days.

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