Breville Oracle Jet Review: Worth the Wait?

You guys already know how much I love Breville espresso machines. So, whenever I catch wind of a new release I get pretty excited. Hence this Breville Oracle Jet review.

As it happens, the Australian powerhouse released the brand new Breville Oracle Jet earlier this year, and it’s now available for purchase from Seattle Coffee Gear.

Unfortunately, the Oracle Jet is selling like hot cakes and I haven’t been able to get hold of it yet. So, I’ve decided to take a first look while I’m waiting for the machine to come back into stock.

In this initial review I’ll discuss the ins and outs of this new machine and hopefully gain some insight into what it’s all about. Let’s dive right in!

Overview: Breville Oracle Jet Review

I’ve always admired Breville, seeing as the manufacturer is constantly improving its home espresso machines.

For example, I was a little disappointed by the Breville Barista Express Impress. However, a few months later the Breville Barista Touch Impress came out and really blew me away. It was obvious that the Aussies had recognized some of the limitations of the Touch Express and worked hard to improve the next Impress model.

With that in mind, is there really a need for another machine in the Oracle series? I mean, the Breville Oracle Touch is almost perfect in every way, from its intuitive controls to its dual boilers and professional portafilter.

So, I guess I’m approaching this Breville Oracle Jet review with a touch of cynicism. I mean, I’m fairly confident it’ll deliver the goods, but I’m not fully convinced it’s necessary.

Moving on, there is a lot to get excited about here. For example, the Oracle Jet has an updated touchscreen interface that looks super cool. What’s more, the manufacturer has again put a Baratza grinder in one of its products.

That said, I have to wonder about the decision to go with a ThermoJet heating system rather than a dual boiler setup. To me, this seems like a big step down from the Oracle Touch.

Anyway, none of this is going to stop me from buying the Breville Oracle Jet as soon as possible. Besides, at around $2,000, it’s a good deal more affordable than the Oracle Touch. And you guys know I’ll update this review as soon as I’ve tested it out.

Breville Oracle Jet Espresso Machine Features

Let’s continue this initial Breville Oracle Jet review by checking out the many features on offer.

Size and Design

Upon first impression, the new Breville Oracle Jet looks almost exactly the same as the Oracle Touch. However, look a little closer and it’s clear that Breville has made a few tweaks.

The most obvious difference is that the touch screen is clearer and has a dark background. What’s more, the machine looks a little more compact and streamlined.

Still, clocking in at almost 27 pounds (12 kilograms), the Breville Oracle Jet is pretty bulky. Plus, you’ll need plenty of counter space in your kitchen. With that said, at least you won’t need additional space for a burr coffee grinder. Anyway, Breville has included a really neat locking wheel system that allows you to easily move the machine around.

At this point I should also mention the Breville Oracle Jet’s huge 77-ounce (1.3-liter) water reservoir. It pulls out from the rear of the machine, but you’re also able to add water via a neat little door at the front.

Overall, the Oracle Jet is immediately recognizable as a Breville product. That says a lot about how well the company’s design team has created a unique design language for its machines.

Colors

When I finally order the Breville Oracle Jet, I’ll do my best to get hold of the Brushed Stainless Steel version. However, for those of you with more extravagant tastes, Breville has you covered. The Australians have never shied away from using “interesting” colors, so you won’t be surprised to learn that the Oracle Jet is also available in the following hues:

Why Breville felt the need to use “Olive Tapenade” rather than “Green” is beyond me. Still, I’m sure plenty of folks will appreciate the evocative nature of the manufacturer’s color choices.

User Interface

I’ve long been a fan of Breville’s touchscreen user interfaces. Still, there’s no getting around the fact that they’re often rather sluggish and glitchy.

Well, the manufacturer seems to have addressed that particular problem with the Oracle Jet. The machine’s beautiful 5-inch (12.7-centimeter) Android-based screen promises a much higher refresh rate and a smoother experience overall. Plus, the high-definition dark background looks very snazzy indeed.

Oh, and the Breville Oracle Jet can connect to WiFi, so you can make sure the machine is always up to date with any new features.

If my past experiences are anything to go by, navigating the menus will be about as intuitive as it gets. Breville’s Touch machines offer an amazing experience if you’re willing to let the machine guide you. Plus, more experienced baristas can tweak various settings, including temperature and preinfusion time.

Conical Burr Grinder

Until fairly recently I was unaware that Breville had purchased Baratza in 2020. Even though the Barista Touch Impress was equipped with a Baratza grinder.

Like the Barista Touch Impress, the Breville Oracle Jet is equipped with a brand new Baratza grinder. Offering 45 grind adjustment settings, this grinder promises precision and control, which is very exciting. After all, Breville’s built-in grinders have always been somewhat of a weak link.

Dosing and Tamping

Given that this is a member of the Oracle series of machines, I’m not surprised to see that the manufacturer has gone with the same style of dosing and tamping. Rather than the “one-armed bandit” tamping involved with the Barista Touch Impress, this system involves simply placing the portafilter in the grinder cradle and letting the machine do the rest.

My main complaint about this in regards to the Oracle Touch was that it was really difficult to adjust the dose when I wanted to. So, I hope Breville has addressed this and made it more convenient with the Oracle Jet. Then again, most people who buy this machine will be doing so for the amount of automation it offers.

Portafilter

While some folks will tell you that portafilter size doesn’t matter, there’s a reason pros always use those with a 58-millimeter diameter. For starters, you can dose the portafilter with more coffee, thereby achieving a greater extraction yield. What’s more, your puck will be thinner with a larger surface area, so you’ll get a more even extraction.

All that to say I’m very happy to see that the Breville Oracle Jet comes equipped with a 58mm portafilter. Oh, and this awesome espresso machine only comes with single wall filter baskets. That’s how you know Breville means business with the Oracle Jet!

ThermoJet Heating

As I mentioned earlier, I’m a little disappointed by Breville’s decision to abandon the dual boiler system in favor of its ThermoJet heating.

I encountered the ThermoJet system when I tested the Breville Barista Touch Impress, and while it’s super quick and energy efficient, there are drawbacks. For starters, you have to purge the group head several times before it’s at the correct temperature for extraction. What’s more, you’re often dealing with a cold portafilter.

Fortunately, Breville has installed a second dedicated ThermoJet heater in the group head itself. So, I’m hoping that the problems I just mentioned have been solved.

Then again, you won’t be able to make espresso and steam milk simultaneously like you can with the Oracle Touch.

With all that said, Breville claims the Oracle Jet will consistently deliver water at 199.4 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius) which is optimal for espresso extraction. Plus, the machine’s PID controller allows you to adjust the brewing temperature in 1-degree increments, which is rather impressive.

Milk IQ System

I’ve never been able to find fault with Breville’s automatic milk frothers, although I remember being skeptical at first. However, all the machines that can steam milk for you have really delivered the goods. And by that I mean they can create silky microfoam that’s probably better than what I can do by hand.

So, I can confidently say that the Breville Oracle Jet’s Milk IQ system will be a joy to use. Naturally, the manufacturer has included an improvement or two, including a temperature sensor in the wand tip rather than on the drip tray. Apparently, this will ensure milk foam with a better texture, but I was happy enough with what came before.

By the way, Breville has included the same non-dairy milk settings that I tested on the Barista Touch Impress. So, if you’re using oat milk for example, the steam wand will adjust itself accordingly and perform differently.

When I tested these calibrated settings on the Barista Touch Impress I was left feeling like it’s just a sales gimmick. In fact, the regular setting worked best for all types of milk. So, I wonder whether Breville has made any changes here.

Specialty Drinks

The Breville Oracle Jet offers a specialty drink menu that’ll be familiar to Breville fans. All the usual culprits like latte and cappuccino make an appearance, as well as the dreaded babyccino.

Interestingly enough, the Oracle Jet includes cold brew as one of its specialty drinks. I’ve actually experienced very tasty cold extractions from machines like the Jura Z10 and the Spinn Coffee Maker, and I expect a similar approximation of cold brew here. Who knows? Maybe the Oracle Jet will make it onto my list of the best cold brew coffee makers!

How to Use the Breville Oracle Jet

At this point in my Breville Oracle Jet review, I should remind you that this machine is about as user friendly as it gets. Sure, the Oracle Jet might look a little intimidating, but believe me when I tell you the machine will do most of the hard barista work.

Before first use, make sure to rinse all removable parts then let them dry fully. That way you’ll get rid of any lingering factory dust as well as nasty plastic smells.

Once that’s done, attach the hopper, lock it into place and fill it with espresso beans. Now’s the time to install the water filter and add cold water to the reservoir. And there’s a test strip included to measure your water’s hardness.

After switching the machine on for the first time, you’ll be guided through a setup menu. This is where you’ll set the time, default milk and water hardness. And if you’re feeling a little nervous, there’s a helpful tutorial where the machine walks you through all its features.

Drink Preparation

If you’ve never used an espresso machine, I’d recommend checking out the user manual. However, for those with a modicum of experience, I say throw yourself in and play around!

Breville Oracle Jet Cleaning Instructions

I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear that cleaning and maintaining the Breville Oracle Jet is a piece of cake. Seriously, every deep cleaning task, from group head backflushing to descaling is automated.

And as you’d imagine, the machine guides you through every step of the process via its touchscreen display.

With all that said, you will have to perform a few daily tasks to keep the Oracle Jet in good working order. For starters, make sure to empty and rinse the portafilter after each espresso shot. Oh, and give the filter screen a quick wipe off too.

As for the automatic steam wand, it has a nifty self-rising feature that kicks in after every steaming cycle. Still, I’d recommend always wiping it off with a damp cloth to prevent nasty buildup.

Breville Oracle Jet Technical Specifications

Verdict: Breville Oracle Jet Review

Having reached the end of this initial Breville Oracle Jet review, I must say I’m more eager than ever to get my hands on the thing. I’m really hoping this machine will stand out from its siblings and convince me that it brings improvements to the table.

As I mentioned at the start of this review, I’m going to buy the Oracle Jet as soon as it’s back in stock at Seattle Coffee Gear. So, if you’re interested to find out how it performs, keep checking back in!