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 is planning to release the brand new Breville Oracle Jet later this year.
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 is planning to release the brand new Breville Oracle Jet later this year.
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!
Coming soon
Breville Oracle Jet
This could be Breville’s best yet
Sleek design
Awesome touchscreen
Improved milk system
58mm portafilter
Many adjustable settings
Not suitable for true espresso nerds
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 finally 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. And you guys know I’ll update this review as soon as I’ve tested it out.
Breville Oracle Jet 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, I expect that the Breville Oracle Jet will be rather bulky, so 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.
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.
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) screen promises a much higher refresh rate and a smoother experience overall. Plus, the high-definition dark background looks very snazzy indeed.
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. Which makes it seem strange that a Baratza grinder hadn’t yet shown up in a Breville espresso machine.
Well, the wait is almost over, because 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!
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’ll need to purge the group head several times before it’s at the correct temperature for extraction. What’s more, you’ll be dealing with a cold portafilter. Finally, 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.
Specialty Drinks
The Breville Oracle Jet offers a specialty drink menu that’ll be familiar to Breville fans. I’m sure the usual culprits like latte and cappuccino will make an appearance. I’m just hoping that the babyccino has been forgotten.
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!
Verdict: Breville Oracle Jet Review
Coming soon
Breville Oracle Jet
This could be Breville’s best yet
Sleek design
Awesome touchscreen
Improved milk system
58mm portafilter
Many adjustable settings
Not suitable for true espresso nerds
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 must say 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 available for purchase. So, if you’re interested to find out how it performs, keep checking back in!
That’s it for my initial Breville Oracle Jet review. Are you as excited about this new machine as I am? Let’s discuss in the comments section!
