What's in the Box? Understanding Every Breville Barista Express Accessory

Unboxing your Breville Barista Express reveals more than just an espresso machine—it’s a comprehensive toolkit designed to get you making café-quality espresso immediately. Understanding what each accessory does and when to use it will accelerate your journey from beginner to skilled home barista.

The good news? Breville includes everything you need to start pulling great shots without additional purchases. Let’s explore every item in the box and understand its purpose.

The Complete Accessory Checklist

Portafilter & Basket System

54mm Stainless Steel Portafilter

The portafilter is your primary brewing tool—a handled basket holder that locks into the group head. Breville uses a 54mm size, which is smaller than commercial 58mm portafilters but perfectly sized for home use and the machine’s boiler capacity.

Filter Baskets (4 Total)

Your Barista Express includes four filter baskets, which can be confusing at first:

Basket Type	Capacity	Wall Type	Best For
1-Cup Single Wall	8-11g	Single	Experienced users, single shots
1-Cup Dual Wall	8-11g	Pressurized	Beginners, pre-ground coffee
2-Cup Single Wall	16-19g	Single	Experienced users, double shots
2-Cup Dual Wall	16-19g	Pressurized	Beginners, pre-ground coffee

Single-Wall Baskets: Have small, precise holes that require proper grind size and technique. They’re unforgiving but produce the best espresso once you’ve dialed in.

Dual-Wall Baskets: Feature a pressurized design that creates crema artificially, making them forgiving for beginners or when using pre-ground coffee.

Dosing & Tamping Tools

Integrated Tamper

The Barista Express features a built-in tamper on the right side of the machine. Simply place your portafilter under it and press down. While convenient, many users eventually upgrade to a standalone tamper for better control and ergonomics.

Razor Dose Trimming Tool

This unique Breville accessory helps you achieve consistent dosing. After tamping, run the razor across the top of the portafilter—it trims excess coffee to create perfect headspace between your puck and the shower screen.

Dosing Funnel

The plastic funnel attachment fits onto your portafilter during grinding, preventing grounds from spilling onto your counter and ensuring all coffee ends up in the basket.

Milk Frothing Equipment

Stainless Steel Milk Jug

A professional-style 480ml (16oz) milk pitcher comes included, sized perfectly for making one or two milk drinks. The spout design works well for basic latte art once you’ve mastered milk texturing.

Steam Wand

While not a separate accessory, the commercial-style steam wand with its swivel ball joint deserves mention. It provides powerful steam for creating microfoam and can be positioned at various angles for different pitcher positions.

Cleaning & Maintenance Tools

Cleaning Disc (Rubber Backflush Disc)

This rubber disc replaces your filter basket during the cleaning cycle. It blocks water flow, forcing cleaning solution back through the group head to remove coffee oils and residue.

Cleaning Tablets

Breville includes a sample supply of cleaning tablets. These dissolve during the cleaning cycle to break down accumulated coffee oils. You’ll need to purchase replacements—plan on using one tablet per week with regular use.

Cleaning Brush

A small brush with plastic bristles helps you scrub the shower screen and group head area. Use it after each session to brush away loose grounds.

Cleaning Pin Tool

This thin metal pin clears blocked holes in the steam wand tip. Milk residue can clog steam tip holes over time, and this tool is essential for maintaining full steam pressure.

Water Filter & Filter Holder

The charcoal water filter removes impurities and reduces scale buildup. The holder snaps into the water tank and should be replaced every 2-3 months depending on your water hardness.

Understanding Each Accessory’s Purpose

Why 4 Filter Baskets?

Having four baskets provides flexibility for different skill levels and coffee types:

For Beginners: Start with the dual-wall (pressurized) baskets. They’re forgiving of grind inconsistencies and produce acceptable crema even with pre-ground coffee. Use these while you’re learning the fundamentals.

For Experienced Users: Graduate to single-wall baskets once you can consistently grind at the correct fineness. These produce superior espresso with proper technique but punish mistakes with channeling or poor extraction.

Single vs Double: The 1-cup baskets are rarely used by most home baristas. Double shots (2-cup baskets) are the standard, and you can always split a double if you want less volume.

The Razor Tool Explained

The razor trimming tool solves a common problem: inconsistent headspace between your coffee puck and the shower screen.

How It Works:

1. Dose your coffee into the basket
2. Distribute grounds evenly
3. Tamp with moderate pressure
4. Place the razor on the portafilter rim
5. Slide it across—excess grounds fall away
6. You now have consistent headspace

Why It Matters: Proper headspace (2-3mm gap) allows water to distribute evenly across the puck surface. Too little space, and your puck touches the shower screen, causing uneven extraction.

Built-in vs Standalone Tamper

The integrated tamper is convenient but has limitations:

Integrated Tamper	Standalone Tamper
Always accessible	Must be purchased
Fixed position	Better ergonomics
Adequate pressure	Easier to see level
May develop wobble over time	Consistent flat tamp

Recommendation: Use the built-in tamper while learning. If you find yourself fighting for level tamps or experiencing wrist strain, consider a 54mm standalone tamper (around $30-50).

Common Questions About Included Accessories

Do I Need to Buy Upgrades Immediately?

No—Breville designed the Barista Express as a complete starter kit. Everything you need for excellent espresso is in the box. Resist the urge to buy accessories until you’ve mastered the included tools.

Worth Upgrading Later:

• Standalone 54mm tamper
• Bottomless portafilter (for diagnosing extraction)
• Precision filter basket (VST or IMS)
• Distribution tool (WDT)

Which Basket Should Beginners Use?

Start with the 2-Cup Dual Wall basket. It provides:

• Forgiving extraction for inconsistent grinds
• Good crema even with mistakes
• Confidence-building results

Once you consistently produce balanced shots with the dual-wall, switch to the single-wall basket for better flavor and genuine espresso extraction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size is the Breville Barista Express portafilter?

The Barista Express uses a 54mm portafilter. This is Breville’s proprietary size—accessories must be specifically designed for 54mm, as 58mm commercial accessories won’t fit.

How many filter baskets come with the machine?

Four baskets are included: 1-cup single wall, 1-cup dual wall, 2-cup single wall, and 2-cup dual wall. Most users only need the 2-cup baskets.

Is a tamper included?

Yes, there’s an integrated tamper built into the right side of the machine. While functional, many users eventually purchase a standalone tamper for better control.

What cleaning supplies are included?

The machine comes with a rubber cleaning disc, sample cleaning tablets, a cleaning brush, a steam wand pin tool, and an initial water filter with holder.

Is there a milk jug included?

Yes, a 480ml (16oz) stainless steel milk jug is included. It’s perfectly sized for frothing milk for one or two drinks.

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Related Guides:

• First Time Setup: Breville Barista Express
• Water Filter Installation Guide
• Cleaning Cycle Tutorial