Breville Oracle Jet Espresso Machine Review: Is This $2,000 Coffee Machine Worth the Splurge?
I finally got tired of making drip coffee at home and trying different coffee shops, only to feel disappointed by both the price and the experience. It wasn’t just spending $7 or $8 on a drink. It was getting in the car, driving there, waiting in line, and often thinking I could probably make something just as good, if not better, at home.
I started asking friends which espresso machines they loved and eventually went to Crate & Barrel, where a salesperson walked me through several machines and let me taste-test the coffee from each one.
I wanted an espresso machine that could make a great cup of coffee or latte without turning my kitchen into a full-blown coffee shop—or requiring me to become a professional barista.
That’s what led me to the Breville Oracle Jet Espresso Machine.
Now, I make my coffee at home, and my teenagers use the machine to make their own iced lattes. I even make my own vanilla syrup with turbinado sugar, which I think tastes much better than the bottled syrups you typically find at coffee shops.
The Breville Oracle Jet is definitely a splurge, but if you or your family regularly buy espresso drinks, the investment starts to make a lot more sense.
Key Features
It Grinds, Doses and Tamps the Coffee for You
One of my favorite features of the Breville Oracle Jet is the built-in grinder.
The machine automatically grinds, doses and tamps the coffee directly into the portafilter.
You still move the portafilter over to brew the espresso, so this isn’t a completely automatic espresso machine. However, it takes away much of the guesswork.
For me, that’s one of the biggest reasons to own it.
I wanted really good coffee without turning coffee making into another hobby I needed to study.
If you’ve ever watched someone use a traditional espresso machine, you know there can be a learning curve. The Oracle Jet gives you much of that traditional espresso experience while making the process far easier.
The Touchscreen Makes It Easy to Use
The Oracle Jet has a large touchscreen that lets you choose your drink and adjust your preferences. You can make espresso, Americanos, lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites and cold coffee drinks. Once you figure out exactly how you like your coffee, you can save customized settings.
That is especially helpful in our house because everyone likes something different.
Instead of having one complicated espresso machine that only one person knows how to operate, several people in our family can use it.
My Teenagers Can Make Their Own Iced Lattes
My teenagers love iced lattes, and instead of constantly asking to stop somewhere for coffee, they can make their own at home.
Add espresso, ice, milk and whatever syrup you like or even honey, and you basically have the same type of drink you would order at a coffee shop.
Except there’s no drive, no line and no $7 or $8 receipt afterward.
It Makes Really Good Milk Foam
If you’re a latte or cappuccino person, the milk system is important.
The Oracle Jet can automatically steam and texture your milk instead of making you stand there trying to master the perfect steam-wand technique.
You can adjust the milk temperature and the amount of foam depending on the drink you’re making. It also works well for people who prefer alternatives like regular milk, oat or almond milk. For me, this is another reason the Oracle Jet feels more approachable than a traditional espresso machine.
It Heats Up Quickly
This may sound like a small feature, but it matters when you’re trying to get out the door in the morning. I don’t want to wait several minutes for an espresso machine to warm up before I can make coffee.
You Can Make Cold Coffee Drinks
You can also use it for cold espresso and cold coffee drinks.
If you drink iced coffee year-round or have teenagers who do this is a feature you’ll probably use more than you expect.
Pros
The quality is also much closer to a coffee-shop drink than what you’ll usually get from a pod-based machine.
My teenagers can make their own iced lattes, while I can make my coffee exactly the way I like it.
I also like having more control over the ingredients.
Instead of using commercial vanilla syrup, I make my own with turbinado sugar. It has a richer flavor and, in my opinion, makes the coffee taste better.
Cons
It’s Expensive
A $2,000 espresso machine is not an impulse purchase, and it won’t make sense for everyone.
Coffee Beans Can Get Expensive
The cost doesn’t stop after you buy the machine. The Oracle Jet uses whole coffee beans, and good beans can be expensive, especially when several people in your house are making drinks every day.
Once your teenagers realize they can make iced lattes whenever they want, those coffee beans seem to disappear very quickly.
That said, it’s still worth comparing the cost of beans with purchasing several $7 or $8 coffee drinks every week.
You Have to Clean It
This isn’t a Keurig. You have to empty the portafilter, wipe down the steam wand, empty the drip tray and keep the machine clean.
It isn’t difficult, but it does require some maintenance.
In our house, we’re pretty strict about cleaning everything after each use so the machine is ready for the next person who wants to make a drink.
It Takes Up Counter Space
The Oracle Jet is a substantial appliance.
If you have a smaller kitchen or limited countertop space, you’ll definitely want to measure before buying it.
Value for Money
At first glance, spending around $2,000 on a Breville espresso machine can sound a little crazy.
But I think you have to look at the cost differently.
If you spend $7 on a coffee drink four times a week, that’s more than $1,450 a year.
If two people in your household regularly buy coffee drinks, you can easily spend several thousand dollars over a couple of years.
That doesn’t even include the time spent driving to the coffee shop and waiting in line.
That’s where the value of the Oracle Jet starts to make more sense.
Yes, you’ll still have to buy coffee beans, milk and whatever syrups or ingredients you prefer.
But instead of paying coffee-shop prices every time someone wants an iced latte or cappuccino, you can make one at home whenever you want.
For our family, the fact that several of us use the machine makes the price much easier to justify.
Who Should Buy the Breville Oracle Jet?
The Breville Oracle Jet makes the most sense for people who already spend a lot of money on specialty coffee drinks.
If you regularly order lattes, cappuccinos, Americanos or iced espresso drinks, you’re much more likely to use this machine every day.
It’s also a good option for households with several coffee drinkers.
And if you want better coffee at home but don’t want to become an expert at grinding beans, tamping espresso and steaming milk, the Oracle Jet offers a nice middle ground.
You still feel like you’re making a real espresso drink, but the machine handles many of the complicated steps.
If you only drink coffee occasionally or are perfectly happy with traditional drip coffee, though, this is probably more espresso machine than you need.
Alternative Espresso Machines to Consider
If the Breville Oracle Jet is more than you want to spend, the Breville Barista Touch Impress is worth considering. It also includes a touchscreen, built-in grinder and assisted espresso preparation at a lower price point.
The Breville Barista Express Impress is another option if you’re comfortable being a little more involved in the espresso-making process.
If you want something that does nearly everything at the touch of a button, you may also want to compare the Oracle Jet with fully automatic espresso machines from brands like De’Longhi.
The biggest question is how involved you want to be in making your coffee.
The Oracle Jet strikes a good balance by automating many of the frustrating parts while still giving you the experience of making your own espresso.
Conclusion
The Breville Oracle Jet is one of those products I originally looked at and thought very hard if I need a $2,000 espresso machine? For me, the answer came down to how often we would actually use it. I work from home and I was tired of making drip coffee, coffee runs and spending $7 or $8 whenever I wanted a latte.
Now, I can make my drink exactly how I like it at home.
I make my own vanilla syrup with turbinado sugar, my teenagers make their own iced lattes, and the machine gets used constantly.
Yes, you still have to buy good coffee beans.
Yes, you have to clean the machine.
And yes, the upfront price is significant.
But if your family regularly buys specialty coffee drinks, this is one splurge that can replace something you’re already spending money on.
Is the Breville Oracle Jet Worth It?
For our family, yes.
I wouldn’t recommend spending this much money on an espresso machine if you only drink coffee once or twice a week.
But if Starbucks or your local coffee shop is part of your regular routine, the calculation changes.
You’re not only buying an espresso machine. You’re buying the convenience of walking into your kitchen and making a really good latte whenever you want—without getting in the car, standing in line or paying coffee-shop prices every single time.
For frequent coffee drinkers, the Breville Oracle Jet is definitely a splurge, but it’s one that actually gets used.
