Breville The Oracle BES980
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Very nice, easy to operate and very smooth and quality. I like it so much since my wife is a coffee lover dont have to order late at night when she wanted some coffee. Show details
Couldn't possibly recommend anyone to buy a Breville product. Our $2000 coffee machine packed it in after under 1 years use and being fastidiously maintained as per the instructions (even that is a chore - endless filters, potions and powders to buy) On research a very common issue with the machine not steaming milk. We dropped the machine off at… Read more
the one service agent in Perth whose premises is unreachable by phone and have a digital assistant deal with calls. When you arrive it is locked up like a fortress and you must ring a bell to be served. The person there said 5 working days.... After several confusing emails and advice from multiple service agents at Breville, I still have no machine and no idea when it will be fixed. Some statistics: Machine Price $1994 | Worked for 298 Days | 1 coffee per day using the double basket | Double shot Coffee in a Cafe in Perth - $6 6 x 298 = $1,788
Next time leave it to the experts
Great coffee machine at the start, then........... Purchased 3.5 years ago. After first 1.5 years it had major overheating issues so reached out to support and had an expensive service. Another year later the same issue but now the actual casing is melting due to the heat and we can't use. Reached out again to Breville Support providing the… Read more
previous case numbers, photos etc. Their response was "Can you tell me what the issue is?" They obviously hadn't read the case (or previous case) notes or looked at the pics or information provided.
Customer "Support" eventually provided a 3rd party service company after requesting again (service provider different to the first time) and a $900 quote later aparantly it's my issue "your responsibility out of warranty" with no regard to fire safety or a faulty machine breaking down every year since purchase. Overheating is a common issue apparantly and Breville ignore the problem and don't stand by their product.
For a $3K machine you would expect it to last longer than 2 years and have ongoing over heating issues every year since to a point where the metal casing is melting.
Do your math before investing in Breville's expensive Coffee Machines. Their products are amazing when they work but they dont work for long and cost a fortune.
It is also dissapointing that they don't care about fire risks and customer safety.
Reviews with attachments
Great coffee machine – - Looks amazing in the kitchen - Coffee tastes great - Love how the press is just a lever and I dont have too use my wrist too much. Show details
Cant fault it – If you want a new hobby, this machine is NOT it. This is designed for those wanting as little input as possible which is exactly what I wanted. I did not want to learn to froth and dial in pressures and shot times and shot sizes etc. This machine comes out of the box with a preset set of conditions (that can be altered if you want) but mostly you… Read more
only alter the grind size. This still takes between 3 to 7 shots to dial in the consistency of a 1:2 ratio (22g bean (preset) to 44g liquid) when in first use or with a new bean.
If you intend to buy this machine you should intend to use it every day or second day. Like with any machine with a lot of internal moving parts with water included, if left for to long unused it may eventually develop some problems. Just a general rule for electronics with water or pumps etc.
Positives - * I switch it on and 4 minutes later, I have a coffee. Including, cleaning the portafilter, milk jug, wand and getting rid of coffee grinds. * Low maintenance really. Have stable water with no contaminants so it's never had an issue. * I'm no connoisseur, however in my opinion I have mine dialed in better than most cafe's I have been to. * Simple screen layout, no need for complicated touch screens and more buttons and options to get in the way. Grind, filter and froth, pour and clean. Done.
Negatives - * Only one real main negative, The grind setting / grind result can change depending on how long the machine has been on, or how many shots it has grinded. Often after tuning for a new bean I will need to adjust it again the following day. Even then If I pull a bunch of shots I can notice a difference between some of them. This has to do with the heat and the grinding blades. However, it's like a 3 to 7% difference nearly not noticeable. I would say if anyone wanted to do better they should be going prosumer grinder instead. * Like with probably any grinder, it's loud, louder than I was expecting when I got it, like a cafe, but can't complain because it's a grinder... * This machine does not play nice when swapping between filter baskets aka from the double shot filter basket to the single shot filter basket. If anyone reads this, you should really intend on sticking with one or the other. * Costly but you get a lot for it. Plus the black version goes on half price specials occasionally. Which makes it an acceptably priced product.
Would I buy this again - Yes - It does what it says, Does it fast, Saves on space and works reliable and well.
-------- 1+ year review --------- Would I still buy this. Yes and no.
No, because now I have had it so long I have begun frothing the milk myself. I also hand grind the beans now also for a slightly better result. So I could probably get a prosumer machine without those features for the same price. Probably the same result in the end anyway as its all very subjective.
Yes, because I still would have needed a simple easy coffee when I first bought it. Also the machine works as it did on the first day. No issues to be stated.
I could probably do away with those features now.
Breville your coffee machine is outstanding! – Purchased our Breville The Oracle 26/9/23 have to admit it's our second purchase of this beauty but purchased the matt black one this time from Joyce Mayne for $2,300 it's such an outstanding coffee machine we wouldn't buy any other so easy to use, great frother, easy to clean, we have our coffee extra hot so you can control the temp to your… Read more
liking, tampers down well for a good brew, water level indicator is in the front so easy to fill when low, the only gripe I will say is I wish it came with a bigger knock box just so no splatter goes on the bench when knocking. The matt black is so attractive sitting on the bench it's a centrepiece.
Must have addition to your Kitchen – If you are like me, i need a coffee to start my day and I got tired of paying $5 for a coffee at my local. This is not a cheap purchase, but the money spent upfront will see you break even in year 2 of use. Sooner if you have more than 1 coffee lover in the home. I have owned a Breville Oracle for 3 years and have never regretted the purchase.… Read more
it's so easy to use and the display and functions are intuitive. All the thinking is done for you. The built in grinder can be calibrated according to how you like your grind. You only really need to keep the machine supplied with coffee beans and follow the prompts when it's time for cleaning and descalling. Be sure to keep stock of filters and cleaning tablets. I would encourage you to go on You tube and watch the Breville "how to" guide on how to look after your machine.
- +1
Best home brew ever – After using Nespresso machine and stove top moka pot for years the coffee made from this machine is far superior and doesn’t even compare. My husband nearly had a heart attack after finding out I paid over $2000 for this maker, but after his first cup of coffee he said it is worth it. He couldn’t stop at one cup. The coffee comes out thick and… Read more
creamy almost like a toffee texture and is fully automatic. You can really taste the coffee flavour especially the flavoured coffee. I found it easy to set up. Heavy and solid machine. You can set water and milk temp to whatever you like. It grinds and tampers all automatically stopping when done. Then onto the extraction for the coffee. Frother is all auto or you have the choice to froth manually. Because this coffee tastes so good we use it more than once a day. A great cup.
DO NOT BUY! It’s a $2,400 coffee machine that barely lasted 2 years and now needs $800 in repairs. Purchased brand new from Harvey Norman and didn’t even make it 30 months (2.5 years). The response from Breville’s customer service? It’s a few months out of warranty, so, too bad even though the machine was making the same electrical buzzing noise… Read more
DURING its warranty period which they were informed of - now it’s for the bin. For the money this machine costs, you’re WAY better off buying something decent than this crap. I could’ve bought a durable Italian made machine for the same price that would’ve lasted decades not months.
Update: the Breville Customer Service Agent STILL DECLINED to help even when trying to resolve the issue with them before posting this review.
So, not only are their products terrible their customer service is just as woeful.
Update 15/06/25: after weeks of back and forth with Breville Customer Service Agents, they finally agreed to cover the repairs under warranty. Changed from 1 star to 2.
In-depth reviews
This is a great home machine, We have had this since day one when they came out, i cant even remember but its been over 3 years. It hasnt had a single fault. We do things a little diferent though. (diferences later) This is not a entirely manual coffee shop machien for those who want to manually control every thing like a micromanaging karen... … Read more
Will it make beautiful pro level quality? Yes, but it depends on a lot of factors, like your bean choice, grind, temp, water type, shot lenght, etc etc etc etc And if you get caught up in the whole nonsense marketing of how you need to do this to get better coffee you will likely not enjoy any machine. But if you stay away from allll the marketing hype and toys like see through baskets, needle filters for bean consitent distribution etc all that rubbish. and just focus on, good beans, good water, right grind, and extration time to YOUR LIKING, you will get great coffee out of this machine. It just takes time and effort to set it up the way you like.
Long story short, Dont belive alllll the hype, even a cheap aldi or kmart machine can make passable coffee, any breville machine is much better than those!
What we do and what i reccomend you try to do:
ie *We use prefiltered water only. and replace the internal filters every two months or so. depending on how much we use it. (This means our water is ideal for the machine with no scale or high mineral content) *We rinse the machine after every shot, ie remove basket run an empty shot, and wipe the head internally. *We flush the machibe regularly with clean water and we dont leave water sitting in it when unused. *We blow steam through the wand after every use cleaning and ensure the tip is milk free. *We regularly run a descale, then a full clean water wash through the descale cycle without chemical. *We make sure to keep the machine clean from bean dust and shells as I 3d printed a flexible gasket and installed it in the grinder to stop the ingress of bean crud internally. *We also rarely use the press, i like to do it externally. But for me its just another potential failure point.
OK but expect ongoing costs as well – To be honest, this machine offers exceptional value. You could spend twice or three times as much on another machine. Since owning it, we've found it hard to match the quality of coffee it produces at any café. However, there are a few downsides, which is why I'm giving it three stars. The second coffee of the day will always draw more than the… Read more
first. I cant understand why - you need to watch when you draw it so you don't overdraw on the second and so forth. It's the same issue with all 3 machines.
Our first unit broke down just outside of the warranty period. While Breville generously repaired it under warranty, we still had to cover the cost of the local repair shop’s diagnosis and labor—and it took three months to get fixed. A year later, we encountered another issue with the same machine, specifically a faulty solenoid. Breville wouldn’t sell us the part directly and insisted on sending it to their authorised repairer who would charge a $120 diagnosis fee, despite us already knowing the problem. In the end, we had to source the part elsewhere for a higher price.
Despite these frustrations, we purchased two more of these machines while waiting for the first one to be repaired. It’s hard to find a comparable machine at this price range, though I’m open to being proven wrong. Overall, we’re satisfied with the performance, but the unexpected repair issues have been a letdown.
If you are tossing up between this and the Delonghi La Specialista – I forked out the extra money for this after going through two Delonghi La Specialista (I've been a delonghi person for twenty plus years but the build quality just isn't there any more). A broken frothing wand on the first and broken grinding motor on the second (all within about six months) led to getting the oracle. Very quick comparison though:… Read more
Oracle is close to $1000 more than the Specialista. (score 1 specialista) Oracle lets you use the wand and portafilter at the same time, the specialista doesn't. (score 1 Oracle) Oracle takes forever to heat up (about five minutes) Specialista is much quicker (score 2 Specialista) The auto froth function on the Oracle produces much better quality froth than the auto function on the Specialista (score 2 Oracle) Specialista tells you when you are running out on beans and water, Oracle will keep grinding air until you think its going to catch fire and then it will stop, you have to check the portafliter to see how much coffee grinds you have (score 3 Specialista) Oracle lets you fill the water reservoir from the front or remove the reservoir from the back and fill it. Specialista does both from the back, filling from the top at the back is not easy if you have a confined area (height wise) (score 3 Oracle) Specialista puts water in first on a long black so if you use different size cups it becomes a guessing game not to over fill it (score 4 Oracle) Specialista gives easier control on bean grind and dosage amount, Oracle requires a bit of a work around (score 4 Specialista) Oracle comes with a nock box If it wasn't for the build quality of the Specialista (the ones I bought anyway) I would say this is a very hard choice. The Oracle does make a better automatic cappuccino but both are equally good manually (you can just do the coffee and milk at the same time with the oracle). Specialista lets you play with the coffee more but I hate the way it does the water first in a long black. On the other hand, you're not going to get a quick coffee from the Oracle, so if you're on the run don't expect to hit the power switch and have a cup of coffee two minutes later. A minor point, the Specialista handles my bigger cups. The oracle, they hang up on the bottom of the portafliter and you spill coffee when you try to get the cup out (a pain if you like long blacks in a big cup). I love the dual function of the Oracle, and making coffee and froth at the same time. I love the quality of froth produced by the automatic function and the fact that it does coffee first when making a long black, but I hate that it will grind away at air if it runs out of coffee beans, and I really hate that it takes so long to heat up! For me, the Oracle is better than the specialista (just), the real question thought, is it $1000 better. If you love experimenting with coffee and are full on manual for froth, then I'd say give the Specialista a go (you might get a good one) and save the money. If you are not fussed about playing with your coffee and want the machine to do the work (and you have the extra money) then go for the Oracle.
Find out how Breville The Oracle BES980 compares to other Semi-Automatic and Manual Coffee Machines
Know better, choose better.
Positive reviews
I purchased The Oracle over seven years ago. I've made over 7,500 coffees in that time. I love the machine. I've obviously had some wear and tear over that time and have had some minor replacement of some parts but that's to be expected after that amount of usage. It makes a great and consistent coffee and milk. Show details
This machine has saved me thousands since I've had it – I've had this machine now for about 4 years, and it's worked flawlessly the entire time - not to mention saving me thousands on buying coffees! It consistently makes a great cup of coffee by minimising the variables that can cause inconsistency. Can't fault anything about this machine. Show details
Absolutely amazing – Amazing coffee machine!! I hardly ever have outside coffee anymore as this machine produces reliably amazing coffee. It is semi automated, grinds, tamps and produces a very smooth microfoam. One of my best ever purchasesZ Show details
Negative reviews
It was good while it lasted....... I purchased this coffee machine, expecting durability and performance. After just four years, it’s already experiencing serious issues and has been sent for repair —restricted water flow from the group head and no air from the steam wand. These aren’t minor faults; they make the machine unusable. If you're… Read more
considering investing in a top-tier coffee machine, think carefully about long-term reliability. A machine at this price point should last longer and perform better without needing hundreds of dollars in repairs just a few years in.
We bought our machine 10 months ago from Harvey Norman. It has broken already and it has now been 3 weeks while we are getting repaired under warranty of course. We are in Qld and it's been sent to Sydney why I don't know. Under 12mnths old I would have expected full replacement now I will have a second hand machine. I could have done that in the beginning and saved myself alot of money. Very very disappointed. Show details
My Experience with the Breville Oracle BES980BKS fault within a month – Before reading all the good points below the first paragraph I would like to point out that I upgraded from the Breville Barista Expresso Pro. After receiving the unit, it was only a matter of about three week and the Oracle started to play up and would not heat up past 70 degrees. Because of this issue you could not use it as it had to reach 93… Read more
degrees. I persevered for a week or so as it worked off and on I then rang Breville. They were helpful in respect to sending all the required paperwork to send it away on the 2nd of February for a warranty repair some 900 kms from my home. When I googled the issue, it was an issue that did pop up. I spoke to the repairer, and they had a backlog of 14 days before he could look at the unit (not just Breville Repairs). Luckily I kept my old Breville Expresso Pro as I have not received the unit back from the repairer yet.
** Update on the repair issue. I received the unit back on the 26th of February and have used it daily for the last 5 days and all is well again and the unit has performed as it should.
One of the down sides is the lack or repairers in other parts of Qld. So now the good points when it did perform correctly.
The Breville Oracle BES980 has been a delightful addition to my morning routine. As a coffee enthusiast, I appreciate its blend of convenience and quality. Here’s my take on this semi-automatic wonder: Design and Build: The Oracle’s sleek stainless-steel exterior adds a touch of elegance to my kitchen. Its compact footprint ensures it doesn’t dominate the counter space. The lever press mechanism is not only visually appealing but also ergonomic, minimizing strain on my wrist during operation. Ease of Use: Navigating the Oracle’s menu is straightforward. The LCD display provides clear instructions, and the intuitive buttons make selecting my desired coffee a breeze. Whether I’m brewing a single shot or a double, the machine handles it effortlessly. Coffee Quality: The true test lies in the cup. The Oracle consistently delivers rich, aromatic espresso with a velvety crema. The PID temperature control ensures optimal extraction, and the conical burr grinder grinds beans to perfection. I’ve experimented with various coffee blends, and each cup has been a delight. Milk Frothing: As a latte lover, I appreciate the automatic milk frothing wand. It produces silky microfoam for lattes and cappuccinos. The temperature control allows me to customize the froth to my liking. Cleanup is a breeze, thanks to the self-cleaning steam wand. Customization: The Oracle caters to individual preferences. I can adjust the grind size, coffee dose, and water temperature. The dual boilers ensure quick transitions between brewing and steaming, allowing me to serve multiple guests without delay. Maintenance: Regular cleaning is essential for any coffee machine. The Oracle prompts me when it’s time for descaling or cleaning the drip tray. The removable components are dishwasher-safe, simplifying maintenance.
Conclusion: The Breville Oracle BES980 strikes a balance between convenience and barista-level coffee. If you’re passionate about your brew and seek a semi-automatic machine that delivers consistently, the Oracle won’t disappoint. Remember, coffee preferences vary, so I encourage you to explore and personalize your Oracle experience. Happy brewing! ☕
Recent reviews
3 machines, 3 failures – I bought my first Oracle for home in March 2020. It is a great machine to use. Features are user friendly. I was so impressed I also bought one for the office. The office machine was just out of warranty when it had a catastrophic failure with the boiler seals and destroyed the circuit board. One month later the machine I bought for home did… Read more
exactly the same thing. I was able to get my home machine repaired for $600 but was shocked to see the 10 Oracles at the repair shop for exactly the same problem.
Thinking I had contributed to the problem by not descaling regularly enough, I bought another brand new Oracle for the office, this time it took exactly 5 months for it to have the same catastrophic failure, I took it back to the retailer for a full refund.
Three machines, three failures - enough is enough to convince me this machine is poorly designed and poorly constructed with substandard parts.
I've moved on from Breville now. They know this machine is a dud but continue to sell it to unsuspecting coffee lovers.
It is not a case of 'if your machine fails', it is a case of 'when your machine fails' - it will fail.
Disappointed is an understatement.
Amazing Machine! – This is a pretty amazing coffee machine for a domestic appliance. Some days it would churn out 10 or more coffees and is still going strong. You can get beautiful coffee out of these machines and the maintenance is very low. Show details
Better made coffee than some cafes – Was purchased to replace Breville Barista BES870 Large water tank capacity with decent size filter. Water level is easy to read at the front Automatic grinding dosing and tamping Variable milk texturing with ability to extract espresso and texture milk at same time so coffee is fresh and creamy We like our milk hot (69C) and milk temp can be set… Read more
precisely so no thermometer is required Quick and easy to use Comprehensive instructions cover all the features and maintenance Perfect coffee every time even better than what some coffee shops give you and cheaper to run
Find out how Breville The Oracle BES980 compares to other Semi-Automatic and Manual Coffee Machines
Know better, choose better.
Impressive Machine, but will it stand the test of time? – The Breville top of the range model comes in two versions, The Oracle and The Oracle Touch, my model is The Oracle (BES980BKS). It is a semi-automatic, dual boiler with advanced features, such as auto tamping and auto texturing. It uses a café industry standard size group handle with 58mm baskets. Appearance wise, the machine looks impressive,… Read more
but it is quite large, so you will need to check accessibility on where you will be placing it.
One thing I have found from past experiences, coffee machines can have a short life. They can have a high failure rate and for me personally, if you get two years (three, if you are really lucky) out of the machine, every day after is a bonus. I have had a number of coffee machines, mostly Breville. My Breville Barista Touch (BES880) has just failed, so this is its replacement. I had three Barista Touch machines, the first one lasted 3 months, the second 6 months and the third one, 3 years. The Good Guys gave excellent service in getting the first two machines replaced under the warranty period.
I actually think, given the failure rate and the expense of these machines; they should come with a manufactures warranty of three years (Aldi $399 Coffee Machine with built-in grinder, has a 3-year warranty). Some people have reported a lot of their warranty time has been lost waiting for repairs. This time, I have paid a lot more than I intended to for a coffee machine, but given the discount specials and Breville bonus offers, I relented; but took out a five-year warranty.
I also own a Breville Fresca Expresso (BES860), it has developed faults, such as I have to control the pour manually, and the programming of shots no longer works. But it has proved to be a great backup machine when the need arises.
One thing you do need to do with all coffee machines is maintenance, I have always gone above and beyond when it comes to keeping them clean. I always use filtered water and my water hardness is only two. As well as keeping the steam wand and group head clean, you also need to clean inside the tamp mechanism for consistent dosing. I also checked inside the failed Barista Touch, it was as clean as a whistle, no calcium build up whatsoever, all the hoses and connections were in perfect condition.
From my experiences, I do not like on-demand heating machines, such as the Barista Touch, this seems to be where failures can occur with the Thermal Jet heating system, the Fresco BES860 has a Thermal block system which takes a little longer to heat up, but seems more reliable and you have an area on top of the machine that radiates heat for your cups and glasses. My previous machines were single boiler machines, so you cannot brew and froth at the same time. After the steaming process they must pass water through the thermal coil to reduce the temperature in case you want to brew another cup. This means they use more water, so you will be filling the water tank and empty the drip tray more regularly than a dual boiler machine. On the Fresco it is a regular chore.
From cold, the Oracle takes a few minutes to reach operational temperature, it displays the water temperature on the display as it is heating. You can set the clock timer to turn the machine on and off, if you wish. It will switch off automatically after 20 mins (configurable). The boiler remains hot for a long period, so the startup time will depend on the water temperature in the boiler. One problem some people often find with semi and auto machines, is getting a hot coffee to their liking. When using a manual machine, some will regulate their temperature preference through the steaming process. However, for connoisseurs the brewing process should be around 93% and the milk temperature 60-65%. This machine allows you to regulate both temperatures within certain boundaries. What works for me; is pre-warming everything beforehand (with group handle installed and glasses on heated tray area) and setting the milk temperature to Summer 60-65%, cooler months 70% and Winter 75%. The doubled walled bonus latte glasses are great for retaining the heat and they are not hot to handle.
There are many options (some advanced) within the settings menus. It is reassuring that you are able to fine tune the unit to your liking. I really like some of the features of the machine. It shows they have put a lot of thought into the hardware design. For example, even though the water tank is at the back of the machine, you can fill it from the front top panel. Take the drip tray out and there is a knob (drops wheels) you can adjust to make it easier to manoeuvre this heavy machine around on your bench.
One area where they could improve the design is the advanced menu options. Not all of the advanced menus require expert knowledge, such as clock, sound, lights, etc. It cannot be accessed from the normal menu settings, you are required to have the machine off and hold down button sequences, (Power & 1 Cup). If you access/change any individual menu items, you will be thrown out of the advanced menu and have to turn the machine off again and go through the same sequence to access the advanced options again. Many of the menus are cryptic, why they could not put the full meaningful name is puzzling. It also times out fairly quickly and you will be thrown out again, if you don’t respond (have manual handy).
The flow measurement menu option is poorly explained, I thought I would see a change during the brewing process where it would show millilitres instead of seconds. After changing this setting to flow, the default setting stops the extraction of coffee at 15 seconds. The option ‘vol or secs’ sounds simple enough, but given it dispensed the same amount of coffee (30ml) in 15 secs as opposed to 25 secs, I cannot see how this can be good. An explanation on why and what is the purpose, is lacking. I also found a strange quirk after accessing this feature (tested twice), I had to press the power button twice to turn on the unit, even after changing back to the default ‘secs’ setting. The only fix is to power the machine off at the power point, I don’t know if this happens with all the other advanced options.
One thing you get hammered with by Breville, is you must use fresh coffee beans and it is not very forgiving if you don’t. It is only supplied with single wall filter baskets and there are no dual wall baskets available. Of course, fresh coffee beans are the ideal way to go, but some people may find this limiting. On my previous machines, I have had a good cup of coffee using dual wall filters with some brand name beans. In comparison, I was able to extract more crema/flavour from these beans with the pressurized filter baskets (dual wall) than I could using single wall baskets. But having said that, you will never get as good a coffee as using freshly roasted beans.
The built-in Grinder has a wide range (1-45) for adjusting the grind density and the ease of how you make these grind adjustments is impressive. The large adjustment dial is conveniently placed and you see the results displayed on the front LED panel. There is no mention you need the grinder running while you are making the adjustments, probably some sort of indirect mechanism. I am not sure, but you may get more consistent results, if you make the changes while it is grinding. The LED screen shows whole numbers, but it feels like it is still adjusting when moving between the grind numbers displayed. It may require a bit of tinkering after the grinder has settled to get the final adjustments right.
My experience on the three stages of the coffee making process. Grinding/Tamping, Extraction and Milk Texturing.
*Grinding/Tamping* The auto tamp system works well. It tamps just right with no mess and it will dispense the right amount, regardless of which filter basket (single or double) you are using.
*Extraction* You have a choice of Single, Double Espresso, Long/Short Black (Americano) All shots can be controlled manually, including the pre-infusion time and you can make your extraction preferences permanently in Settings. Breville (manual) claims the Long black and the Americano are an identical coffee. A quick search on the Internet, will give the correct answer; while the ingredients maybe the same, it is the order on how they are dispensed that differ. Americano should have the expresso shot first followed by hot water to your liking. The long/short black has the hot water first with a shot of expresso on top. You could however, perform this task manually. Both the Australian and American models deliver the expresso shot first and the hot water afterwards. The only difference is the fascia plate on the machines, the Australian version are labelled ‘Long Black’ and the American version ‘Americano’. You can pre-program the expresso shots and the Long Black has no less than six programs stored (plus the 3 presets, long/medium/short). You can set the quantity of hot water to your liking, but you cannot alter the order it dispenses.
*Milk Texturing* Unlike the Barista Touch which has the milk thermometer on the base where you place the jug, the Oracle has the temperature monitor incorporated within the wand. This is definitely a better way and seems very accurate, plus manual steam monitoring. It does a perfect job of texturing the milk, but if you follow the guide lines it requires you to have the minimum milk level to the bottom of the jug spout or over the seal on the wand tip. This uses (wastes) more milk than I require for a 200ml glass, maybe ideal for a mug. I found I can get away with a little under using the jug that came with the Barista Touch. Identical in size, except it has two markers, the lower one is just the right amount. A nice touch is the lever on the side, up for manual and down for auto.
*Summary* It is extremely well designed for ease of use, the auto tamping and auto frothing components worked flawlessly for me. It is like having a fully automatic machine, but you control the individual coffee making process and you are simulating what you would be doing manually.
Overall, an impressive machine, but very expensive. Given I drink 3 to 4 cups of coffee a day, it streamlines the process of producing a great cup at home consistently.
Breville have a great online support network, there are video tutorials guiding you through every aspect of the Oracle machine, including how to produce the perfect cup of coffee from barista experts.
While I am happy with the purchase, my concern is longevity and the more sophisticated these machines are, the bigger the issues. The Oracle model has been around for many years, so one would hope Breville have ironed out the problems by now (fingers crossed).
Pros: Excellent tutorial videos, manual is reasonable up to a point. Looks impressive, should enhance kitchen décor. Consistently produces a great coffee. Ease of use, Design & Functionality.
Cons: For the price of the unit, only a two-year warranty. No dual wall filter baskets. Advanced menu design could be improved. Needs better documentation for advanced features. Maximum Glass/Mug height limit about 10cm.
Worst customer service ever - broke after 6 months – Our $2500 machine broke after only 6 months. Breville took a week to send a courier out. Then it has taken over a week and "the problem" still hasn't been assessed or fixed. No offer of replacement. To say I am dissapointed is an understatement. This is a VERY expensive machine. Actually the most expensive thing in our kitchen including our fridge… Read more
and dishwasher! I was previously telling everyone how great it was but after dealing with their after sales customer service I will not recommend this product.
Very hit 'n miss with poor reliability & long wait times should it need repair – I've had this unit for 1.5 years, making 2-4 cups per day (working from home). I have a reasonable level of expertise in coffee. (i'm one of those who weigh my beens / extraction etc, use VST baskets, buy expensive beens etc) Breville Oracle - Pros Semi automated been to cup: great for total beginner & fast, providing you don't have high… Read more
expectations for your cup. (but its infinitely better than a pod expresso machine) Steams Milk like a pro - can automatically make an excellent froth.
Cons Overall reliability: I'm already on my second machine (the first was DOA) with an estimated 4 weeks to fix the current problem. If you cannot go without an expresso machine for a month you definitely need a second expresso machine as a backup. Grinder is terrible: Consistency of particles in a grind is terrible. Consistency between grinds is terrible. Retention is terrible. Not enough steps between grind settings. You'll have your beens dialled-in, then it will be way off for a couple of pours, then be perfect again. I ended up getting the best results from the grinder when I single dosed it. By keeping the hopper empty & adding my weighted beens, setting the puck tamp force to minimum & seperately distributing & tamping my puck, then cleaning the bean path afterwards. > I now use a separate grinder (decent single dose flat burr) - improves the final cup immensely. Steam wand: gets blocked easily. Easy to identify though as the milk wont be as frothy. OPV consistency: randomly drops 2 bar in the last 25% of a pour (tested with JoeFrex) but can be compensated hitting the pour button again & manually stopping it.
Conclusion: My personal opinion of this Breville Oracle BES980 is that its an overly complicated toy that does most things OK-ish albeit at a reasonable speed, but its certainly not prosumer level. Breville servicing is too slow with no loan machines available to help mitigate service times. In retrospect, I wish hadn't purchased this Breville Oracle. After only 1.5 years of ownership I'm now considering a new expresso machine.
Ripped off – Breville customer service are saying there was an issue with my registration for promotion, now saying I've missed the cutoff date to register. The person I spoke to was very rude, she would ask a question then cut me off before I got to answer, she essentially told to to bad tuff luck. Ill be returning the product for a refund and buying another… Read more
brand. Shame after buying one of the most expensive retail coffee machines this is the sales service we received.
Dangerous Burn Risk - Steam Wand activates by itself – The steam wand activates randomly (without pressing buttons) on the Oracle coffee machine spurting out 100 Degree steam. Sometimes when trying to use it, other times when it is just sitting there, turned on (is on a morning timer). This is dangerous and I have raised the issue with Breville but got a scripted response about warranty eligibility. They didn't seem to care that it might be a safety issue. Show details
Great while it works - beware the fail period!! – Out first Breville full automatic coffee machine lasted 2 years + 2 months before falling into repair. Machine was replaced under extended warranty repair with replacement clause. We then chose another Breville fully automatic machine and they work well, making very consistent coffee. But this one broke down after 2 years + 2 months and the cost… Read more
if repair was ridiculous. Luckily we had another extended warranty only this time, they inserted a clause we didnt know which meant replacement was out of the question. Housewives beware these machines fail in their 3rd year, just after the warranty expires and the cost of the repairs are sky high. The extended warranty left us out of pocket and little room to choose, so big no no to BREVILLE + HARVEY NORMAN + PRODUCT CARE..Buyer beware as they let you down if it costs them!! PS we were asked if we could hold this review while Breville would attempt mediation before positing, it seems they dont care so BIG FAIL for revile on all fronts. These machines do fail just after warranty
Poor product, expensive to repair and a long wait for repairs – Don’t buy this machine, great coffee for 12 months, then it sprang a leak ,1 month after the warranty ran out, $385 to repair a four week wait for parts and this is from the recommended repairer, I should have known as the ware house was full of broken oracles all waiting on parts, was told by the repairer that Breville are not very fair with… Read more
warranties and I will need to pay, so $2300 becomes $2685 , which is the price of a quality coffee machine
Makes great coffee and kind of easy to use – Had a fully automatic Saeco for the last 10 years, that I loved, but after 35,000 cups it was time to upgrade. Not confident with grinding and tamping and temperatures and pressures and stuff, I didn’t want a manual machine. I have found the Oracle automatically sets everything except for grind coarseness and makes great coffee. Only one… Read more
adjustment suits me, and it is easy to get correct as the Oracle times the shot so if coffee is too coarse there is too much water used and if too fine not enough in the cup. I used scales when I first got it but don’t bother now. When using scales I found that I preferred a 2:1 ratio (so with 21g of coffee in the I needed 42g of coffee in the cup by weight. This was 2/3 of my 60ml espresso cups so can do by sight now. Need to use fresh beans and every 2 days I find I need to make the grind finer by 1 as the beans dry out. So simple yet so good !!!! $2k sounds like a lot to spend but I worked out I save $3 every cup and we drink 4 a day and more if we have peeps over. So it pays for itself in 6 months. I bought the 5 year extended warranty as some reviews point to unreliability. In 5 years time I would have saved $20,000. Better than Solar Panels !!!
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