Breville Die Cast 800ESXL Espresso Machine Review

My last espresso machine was a Krups and to be honest, I thought it performed great. Recently it began to give off an unusal smell, almost like a burning smell so I thought it would be a good time to purchase a new machine. I found the Breville at Bed Bath & Beyond and fell in love with the look and construction. The question was.... Will it brew a great shot of espresso and foam my milk like there was no tomorrow??? As I unpacked it from the box, my 1st thought was how heavy it is. The unit itself weighs 31 lbs and is constructed quite well. I will tell you that I am by no means a "coffee snob" but I do know what a good shot of espresso is supposed to look and taste like. So far, my espresso shots have come out great with lots of crema. The thing that really impressed me was the steaming wand. This thing foamed the heck out of my skim milk. My bottom line is this... If you are willing to spend close to $400.00 for an espresso machine, this is a great choice. I am yet to be disappointed.