Sunbeam Barista Max EM5300

Purchased the Sunbeam unit to replace a coffee machine from another manufacturer (which is only a year old) and with which I am not happy (I have had a number of different machines over a long period so consider myself relatively experienced in using home espresso machines). Unable to comment on manufacturing quality of the Sunbeam unit as I… Read more

doubt I will use it long enough to properly assess. My major problem with the unit is its weight - even with a full tank the torque resulting from engaging the handle with the machine tends to turn the machine when I try to lock the group handle in. There is difference of 5kg between the weights of the two units when each have full tanks - needless to say, the Sunbeam unit is the lighter of the two. Would not recommend the Sunbeam unit.

I purchased this Sunbeam coffee machine on 25 November 2022. For a while, I was very happy with it. It produced good coffee and worked as expected. Unfortunately, that didn’t last. Around August 2025, About 2 years and 9 months after purchase, the machine began to develop serious faults. It started spilling hot water from different parts near… Read more

the thermoblock during extraction, which is both unsafe and makes the machine unusable. Around the same time, the steam/hot water button suddenly stopped working.

I contacted Sunbeam, expecting a helpful response for what is clearly a manufacturing problem. Instead, I received a very disappointing reply. They acknowledged that “based on the video and the issue described, the machine may be faulty,” but immediately refused any assistance because it is “outside of its warranty period.”

So they agree the machine is faulty, but won’t do anything simply because the warranty has expired. For a premium appliance, this is unacceptable. Other brands I own, like Ninja and Samsung, have repaired or replaced faulty products even shortly after the warranty period. Sunbeam clearly does not stand behind their products in the same way.

A coffee machine at this price point should last far longer than 2 years and 10 months, and when it doesn’t, a responsible company would offer support. Sunbeam chose not to.

I will never buy from Sunbeam again, and I strongly advise others to avoid this brand. The product quality is disappointing, and the customer service is even worse. After reading the reviews about this product (which I should have done before buying), I can see that this issue is not only happening with me and it is a standard for this company.

Great Coffee machine, Love it! – I purchased this as my first "bean grinder" type of coffees machine about 4 months ago. Needless to say I absolutely love it! No issues and makes a Cafe type coffee easily! Easy to keep clean and very easy to use for the "beginner" Show details ·  1

Must have for any coffee lover – So so easy to use! Fresh ground coffee right at hand for every cup. Seconds to heat up, easy descaling and cleaning. Fresh, consistent,beautiful coffee everytime without fail. Very impressive machine. Show details

Fantastic Machine - So much customisation, perfect coffees in no time at all! – I am very satisfied with this machine! It is compact, well designed and coffee is fully customisable from grind to pour to temp & milk frothing. It is surprisingly VERY quiet, easy to clean, holds plenty of water (so no need to annoyingly top up constantly) and for the price, anyone who is thinking of investing in a 'cheaper' coffee machine… Read more ·  1

that isn't plumbed in, this Sunbeam Barista Max machine is certainly worth a look!

I've previously used a coffee pod machine and always found the coffee too weak and lacking depth of flavour. This meant I was needing to purchase the double shot pods to achieve anything remotely close the a desirable coffee. So much wastage too disposing of pods. I've enjoyed automatic coffee machines at friends but they never quite hit the spot with the milk & temps and could never warrant a $1000+ machine for a daily coffee.

In comes the Sunbeam Barista - this machine comes in considerably cheaper than many coffee machines on the market that incorporate a warming plate on top, automatic grinder, milk frother and many customisable options such as temps, pour volume control.

Unboxing & Aesthetics. It was very well packaged. The unit itself is heavy and solid. There is a lot of preformed Styrofoam holding it in place which is a little frustrating to dispose of due to it's size. Perhaps some form of recyclable cardboard would be preferable.

I was very surprised by the quality and look. The machine, while costing significantly less that other machines on the market has plastic elements but does not look cheap.

I have limited bench space in my kitchen, and love a minimalist design which is partly why we chose a pod machine to begin our coffee journey with.

The sunbeam has a small footprint and all the pieces required have innovative places to be stored within the coffee machine - I love this! No kitchen drawers full of pieces I need to search for. The excess cord can be pushed inside the machine which is great as I can't stand having to stuff excess cords behind appliances.

First Coffee. As a trained barista (over 15 years ago) I was excited to make a coffee with fresh grounds. The Sunbeam Barista Max turns on quickly and the removable bean hopper holds 250gs of beans (around 15 days of single shot coffees) - If you are only drinking a coffee a day you might find the freshness off the beans depletes after a while so I'd recommend not filling the grinder full.

The group handle holds 58mm Single wall filter baskets - in 1 or 2 cups. As I like my coffee's strong, I have been using the 2 cup filter basket.

The 58mm group head size is the standard for commercial machines. So you are effectively making a coffee like the pros.

The Tap & Go grinding cradle is a godsend.

Selecting your grind is easy too. Just twist your removable bean hopper clockwise or anticlockwise.

You then slip the group handle with your selected size cup basket in and gently push down. The machine automatically grinds the coffee to your selected grind into the group head.

My only grip with this is the grinds do come out on a slight angle and can spill onto the tray below when it is almost full.

You do need to overfill because when you tamp it down it condenses it considerably and you might need to top it up a little further to ensure a nice strong pour. The grinds can stick a little to the tamp as you would expect, so there is a tiny amount of mess (comparing to a pod which is nothing at all).

This all adds to the pleasure of making a decent coffee though and considering how quick it all is you won't regret it.

A quick wipe over is all that is required and the tray beneath holds a good amount of liquid and loose grinds. It also includes a water level indicator which floats up in the stainless steel grill to tell you it needs emptying - I empty mine once a week (and still not full) into the sink and give it a quick scrub and rinse under the tap - EASY!

Once tamped, the group handle twists into the group head. Hold the machine when you twist it in as it required a considerable amount of force to fit it in first time. Nothing too serious and it gets easier with each use. It does state it might be tight for the first few uses in the manual. A good fit is paramount for a good pour and this machine delivers that.

The group handle is solid and so is the Thermablock head so you need not worry you will break it.

You then place your cup beneath and select your pour. You have Manual Shot (pours until you press again to stop) single shot or double shot. On the 20 grind (recommended to start on until you find your perfect grind) the coffee was poured in about 15 secs. This varies on freshness of beans too. With fresh beans ground on 20, the crema was creamy dark gold and the coffee was hot but I felt the crema on top could be thicker. The aim is to have it pour over about 20-30 seconds - so I tried a finer grind on my second attempt and it delivered thick, rich golden crema and rich, vibrant coffee with NO bitter or sour taste.

Once the coffee is poured I twist the knob to 'steam'. A short spurt of water comes out of the wand as the machine primes. It's important that the wand is facing down (over the hole in the tray) or you have it in your milk jug already when you do this so it doesn't spray on the bench or off the stainless tray.

The steam pressure is bang on. Once it gets going (usually under 30 seconds after the coffee pour and steam is selected) you are frothing milk like a pro. It's quiet. The loudest part of this machine is having the steam quirt into the milk initially as you get the microbubbles going.

I prefer to put the wand out on an angle and hold the jug underneath. I monitor the temp via my hands beneath the jug and use the steam to spin the milk in a whirlpool. Gently lifting the wand if I wish to put a few bubbles in. If you want your milk creamy - all the way through, limit the big bubbles and if you have them, gently 'feed' them into the whirlpool to make your microfoam. Don't lift the jug up and down and create massive bubbles.

The instruction manual has all the tips you need.

If you can't monitor temp with your hands through the base of the jug I'd suggest a thermometer. However, I have found when the milk is too hot it will be quite high in the jug so you'll need to turn it off anyway.

Enter the perfect pour and coffee.

Hi, I'm Sahri and I am addicted to making easy coffees on my Sunbean Barista Max.

From my daily Cappuccino to Friday night Espresso Martinis and occasional milky Babychinos for the kids when they are enviously eyeing off my love for this machine of a morning, this machine is fantastic.

I am yet to find any faults with the way it runs or makes coffee. I can make a coffee in less than 3 minutes. When not in use, the tamp sits on top with the jug and the group handle on the tray below - all the unused accessories are stashed in the tray below. Clean-up is a breeze and nothing beats filling your home with the smells of freshly ground coffee beans.

It is fully customisable so when friends come over I can ask how they like their coffee and deliver.

Ristretto, Latte, Mocha, Flat whites, Macchiatos, long blacks the list is endless. Get yourself some good quality beans and get started. You really wont be disappointed!

Brilliant Machine – Fantastic little barista coffee machine. The package is excellent by having grinder onboard for a fresh grind (on No. 22 at the moment for a good size coffee grind, but it depends on the roast date etc.). Coffee extraction and brewing is fantastic (always use double shot in a cup. Last but not least is the milk frothing which is excellent if you… Read more ·  1

know how to froth milk. Sunbeam have designed the machine so well with attention to details as well as the built quality. Don’t waste your money on capsule machines and get one of these if you’re a coffee drinker, well worth every single cents. Only issue was with the portafilter head surface de-coloured! Still does the job, but looking to see if I can replace it.

What can I say? It makes a good espresso – I am a ProductReview Ambassador. Occasionally, I am asked to review a product – and the Sunbeam EM5300S is one of them. If you read my reviews, you’ll find a mix of reviews with varying opinions and everything from one to five stars. It is important to me that products fulfill three main expectations: price, quality and does it do what it is… Read more ·  1

supposed to do? This is my third Sunbeam espresso machine in 14 years.

I drink a coffee almost every day. I understand why some Aussies still drink freeze-dried coffee granules – it’s easy to make - but seriously – the taste leaves much to be desired for. I prefer a percolator or an espresso machine.

The EM5300S retails for $699 but the street price is $499 or less. The unit is heavy (just under 10kg) and has a plastic exterior with a matt aluminium look. It has a 0.9m short cable and comes packaged in cardboard, plastic and Styrofoam. As I noted in another review, having recyclable packaging is important to me. For example, the Dyson vacuum cleaner that I reviewed a while back was packaged in 100% recyclable materials (cardboard). In the 21st century, I expect 100% recyclable packaging. As such, the Sunbeam loses a few points but not a star for using Styrofoam.

The instructions are easy to understand but there are details missing. For example, when inserting the group head (where the coffee sits in), it says turn to the right. The only thing is that to turn it, I had to use considerable force. Yes, I know the seal needs to be tight to avoid hot water spitting from the sides but I was worried that the group head’s handle might break off. Over time, it became easier to insert and secure the group head. But I think it should be worth noting in the manual that you need to break-in the parts. Again, a few points lost here but not worth losing a star over.

When I first tried to plug the machine into the power point, the cord wasn’t long enough. 0.9m is too short. Not everyone has a power point every 10cm in their kitchen. I then swapped the EM5300S with my toaster only to find that the toaster power cord was even shorter (40cm) so that I had to remove the toaster altogether. A longer power cord, or retractable power cord would have been better. Again, a few points lost here but not worth losing a whole star over...but I was tempted.

Inserting and adjusting the coffee grinder is easy. Filling the water container is also very easy and so is turning the plastic dial to go from coffee to steam. I’ll be honest with you, while I love a good coffee, I’m not into the frothing thing. I only used the frothing tool twice to test it – and it worked fine. I’m an evaporated milk fan and frothing just takes up too much of my time. But if you want an espresso, and you like froth, this machine does it really well.

Compared to my two previous espresso machines, this unit is extremely quiet. It doesn’t vibrate, spit hot water everywhere and it doesn’t have a burnt plastic smell like my previous Sunbeams used to have. The espressos aren’t piping hot. They are very warm but not hot. Once you put fridge milk into the coffee it is merely warm. However, if you froth up some milk, like you’re supposed to do, the temperature is perfect. After all, this is an “espresso” machine and not a percolator or coffee plunger. If you want piping hot espressos to burn your lips with, then this espresso machine isn’t for you. For me, the temperature is just right.

The metal filter is standard. Not much to tell here. If you use course ground coffee, you’ll have less taste come through the filter. So, I prefer finely ground coffee beans.

Apart from the packaging, the minor issue with the manual and the short power cord, the EM5300S is well built and comes with a 12-month replacement warranty. The price and quality are fine. I read a few reviews where people lamented the use of plastic on the body. But seriously, it looks good and should last for as long as the machine makes coffee; and, it does what it is supposed to do: make espresso! A water temperature control may have been a nice bonus but I’m happy with the temperature as is. Overall, this is a great espresso machine.

Good entry level machine – I purchased this machine off Amazon Australia 5th march 2023. My review is as follows, yes I agree with other comments it makes for a great entry level machine. But as for value to other brands I would consider the breville as a better option why? The Barista Max certainly can make a good coffee and sometimes a great coffee, it is easy to use.… Read more

The grinder has up to 30 settings from coarse to very fine which it works great, problem is when it grinds, it gets messy fast so be sure to have some space. I would have proffered the self tapping handle, that other models offer, that the barista Max does not, sometimes my handle slips off as you have to put handle in under the grinder and put pressure to activate the grinder.

Next is the espresso part, the first few coffees came out with the creama, ut since then I haven't seen it again. I have adjusted for different grinding levels and different beans from freshly roasted to store bought. Certainly the fresher the beans are the better. What I believe is the issue is the amount of time the machine takes to push the water through the beans. It's not consistent and I am finding I have to use the dark roast on level 10 to get a good strong coffee. This machine really could have done with the ability to adjust the time for the water to be pushed through as it only takes on average 9 to 13 seconds for a double shot. Would do better if around the 20 to 30 seconds.

The machine does an excellent job at heating the milk and frothing it up, no complaints there, it does take a bit but it does a nice job.

The machine itself is about two toaster sat side by side In size and with a 2 litre plus tank which takes a bit to get through depending on how much of a coffee lover you are.

Overall my experience with this machine is I am happy but I do wish I spent the extra $100 to get the extra features of the tamping handle after grinding that is built into the machine and the ability to adjust the espresso pressure. Otherwise I will continue to enjoy the machine as it is better option than buying store bought all the time.

Original product Worked perfectly but Failed very quickly. Replaced by Sunbeam who were fantastic – Sunbeam have replaced my machine very quickly after I contacted them. New machine is sensational. Old complaint.. Had my Barista Max for about 4 months . Worked amazingly well. Then it stopped producing coffee, steam comes out in places it shouldn’t. Dropped it off to a certified repairer and was told it would be a 9 week wait. Was told to take my… Read more ·  1

group head and a few other bits home as they didn’t need them. About 7 weeks after, I was told that they needed the head back as they found no problems. Today I again drove 50 mins to go there. After being told to leave it with them , I flipped out enough for them to come out to my car and told me to wait 10 mins to test it. They said it was perfect. Drove 50 mins back home to find it’s still not working. The coffee looks like water after 5 seconds, can’t grind any finer than 26, steam coming out at bottom, and doesn’t stop at one or 2 cups.. not happy at all. I will be calling Sunbeam tomorrow asking for a solution!!

We bought the machine 5 years ago and it has had daily use for five years! The steam frother continues to operate like new, the grinder was starting to struggle….The machine was well maintained, I descaled when prompted (blue light comes on). We decided to replace and bought a new one! I would recommend this machine to others. Show details ·  1

Don't Recommend. It now leaks water from above the steam wand - when you turn it on it blows the house power..... Out of warranty (12mths) - 20mths old when it died It had a pretty easy life - I only make 1 cup of coffee a day - and even then I'm not home every day...... Did love it (previous review) ................... Took a while to get the… Read more

right adjustments (tamp pressure and grind) but now makes a great cup. Nis and fast start-up (can get my first cup quicker than wife can boil the kettle for her tea). Bit messy as grind dust does seem to splatter. But would buy again (I actually did buy again as a gift for my daughter).

I've owned this coffee machine for two years. For the first 12 months, it worked perfectly and made decent coffee. Unfortunately, just after the one-year mark, it started leaking slightly from various spots around the top, and the coffee quality noticeably declined. Over the next six months, the leaks worsened, and eventually the machine stopped… Read more

working altogether. Water began leaking from the top, and I suspect it got into the electrics. Since then, it’s been sitting unused in our laundry for about five months. I’ve tried turning it on a few times, but it only manages half a shot before shutting off.

The fact that it only came with a one-year warranty is disappointing, especially for something that stopped functioning so soon after. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend spending money on a machine that’s only reliable for a year.

Steam coming out everywhere – Have had this machine for nearly 2 years. It broke down three months ago and sunbeam said it was out of warranty even though they say they test for quality if that was so. why are they only lasting less than two years for a $600 machine? Sunbeam need to look at the quality of product. They are producing as asking someone to pay $600 to get under… Read more

two years use out of it is unacceptable. I will leave photos attached to show you how my machine ended up.

Breaks at two year mark – Bought the machine in 2020 and after two years the machine stopped turning on. Contacted support who decided to give me a goodwill replacement even though it was out of warranty. It’s now been 2 years and the replacement machine is running into the same problem. Support won’t do anything as it is out of warranty and they had already provided a… Read more

replacement. Disappointing since the same problem persists over multiple machines. Reading the reviews it seems that they break as soon as they are out of warranty around 18 month to 2 year mark. I would not recommend this product as it is not durable, I recommend gaggia or rancillio instead.

This coffee machine broke within two years - waste of money – At first I loved this coffee machine. But after around 18months it stopped working properly. It randomly spurts boiling water from the steam wand and has lost pressure in the coffee pour. I contacted both appliances online and Breville and they refused to help. For the price it should last more than 18months long. Show details

THIS MACHINE WAS GREAT WHILE IT LASTED - but now is leaking everywhere and can't create a shot – Had this machine less than 12 months but now it is leaking water out of various joints in the plastic underneath top of machine. Was going great, but now this! Can make a double shot with many drips. Can't do a single properly. Cleaning has been carried out regularly. Is used to make three shots of coffee a day. Bought through Amazon - can they… Read more

refund for such a sad scenario? Cost about $460 April 2022. I have read other reviews on Product review.com.au. Have found many people with same problem. Sad - it was a great machine while it lasted.

Update: Have contacted Amazon and they will refund. Thanks Amazon. Sunbeam apologised that product did not meet expectations.

fAULTY – I bought The Sunbeam Barista Max 3 years ago and after 18months of using, the steam wand started to leak until it was pouring water out, I questioned Sunbeam about it and they actually send me another one which has lasted 13 months before the same thing is happening, water pouring out of the steam wand. I emailed them and their answer was we sent… Read more

you a replacement which was good will and nothing they will do now. I feel they knew there was a fault so sent me another the same because they cant sell it and now too bad so sad. I definitely will not buy another Sunbeam product. There is so many reviews about this fault and they have not tried to fix it. When I asked why was this fault happening, he said he didnt know. would think they would find out before selling anymore. Water and electrics are very dangerous.

Decent, for the short time that it worked – I received this little machine brand new, as a gift in August 2021. After speaking to my local barista, he gave me some brewing tips and with a few adjustments, it made a very nice cup of coffee. When grinding, it can make a bit of a mess, as it doesn't come with a guard like some models do. Milk frothing is hit and miss. Some days are… Read more

better than others. The coffee itself was generally solid, if you use quality beans. It's not quiet, so if you want to use it in the morning with others sleeping, you run the risk of waking people up.

In July of 2022, it developed a leak on the sides of the steam wand, which was very surprising as I'm the only one that uses it and it certainly does not get overused. I wanted to take it back for warranty, but the person that gave it to me has passed, so that option was not there.

Then suddenly, it died.

I made a cup and was surprised how quickly it was done. Upon closer inspection, the steam wand was shooting water like a firehose and it had completely soaked the kitchen bench. Even when I shut it off, water continued to flow out due to the pressure that had built up.

It wasn't due for hit, but I was hoping that there was potentially some build up inside, so I ran a cleaning cycle and descaled it, to no avail.

11 months before issues and dead after 15 months is unacceptable in my eyes, which is a shame because I really liked the machine.

In reading other reviews, it appears that this is a design fault as others have had very similar experiences.

Having a quick read online, the machine is pretty much inaccessible to try and fix myself, as Sunbeam uses safety screws that cannot be opened without a special tool, so a home repair is out of the question.

If you want a machine for a short while, I'd recommend this as the coffee was consistent, always piping hot and it was very easy to use. Unfortunately, the durability is nowhere near what it should be, so I'd try and find a different option if looking for a home machine.

***Updated***

Sunbeam contacted me before I let this review publish, as they get to see it first.

They asked for a video of the problem, the original receipt and a photo of the serial number.

Getting the receipt was a massive pain due to what I've previously stated.

I supplied all that they asked for, only to be told that it is out of warranty and I am basically out of luck.

If you want to spend a decent amount on a machine that you might get a year out of (I'm the only coffee drinker in the house, so it didn't get used much), be my guest. Otherwise, I'd look elsewhere.

I'm going to try my luck with consumer protection and waste more time.

Sunbeam, I'll be steering clear of your products and reviewing your woeful product in as many places as possible to try and help others from having the same poor experience that I have had.

Makes great coffee - but do not buy one – I bought a Sunbeam Barista Max espresso machine and initially everything was great. It did make very good coffee. Within about 6 months, water started to pour out of the machine when making coffee. Sunbeam replaced the machine under warranty. Just about 1 year later, the same symptom appeared again. this time out of warranty. Sunbeam were… Read more

unwilling to assist in any way.

Reading the multiple examples of the same problem on this site indicates that I would need to have the machine repaired every year or so, effectively throwing good money after bad. I consider the machine to be beyond economic repair.

I hate having to dispose of 2 machines in such a short time. It was expensive and I did expect it to last a lot longer than it has. It is not a sustainable way of using our planet's resources. The quality of design or manufacture (not sure where the problem is) is just not good enough.

Great coffee, pity about the longevity.

LEAKING!! – Purchased via Amazon worked great for 1 week and then I started to notice the puddle of water underneath the machine. Considering I'm not the only one with this issue I'm surprised they haven't withdrawn the machine from the market. Purchased via Amazon who will refund me but not replace which is very disappointing. Show details