Welcome to our review of the Breville Precision Brewer, also known as the Sage Precision Brewer, depending on where you are in the world. Over the past two years, this machine has been the go-to brewer for us at home, transforming our morning coffee routine.
In our Breville Precision Brewer review, we finally have the chance to dive deep into its features, functionalities, and how it compares to other small-batch home brewers on the market.
Is it still one of the best coffee makers on the market? Read on to find out.
SUMMARY: Breville Precision Brewer
- Sleek, brushed metal design complements your kitchen aesthetics.
- Tailor your coffee experience with customizable brewing settings.
- Versatile brewing options, including cold brew, for every coffee lover.
- Convenient Auto Start feature for fresh coffee right when you wake up.
- Superb value for money and great tasting coffee.
Product Overview
This versatile drip coffee maker offers features such as customizable brewing settings, multiple brew options including cone-shaped and flat-bottomed filters, and even an auto-start function for those who appreciate a fresh pot of coffee first thing in the morning.
Despite its many positives, no product is perfect. The Precision Brewer did have a number of minor issues that irked us during our extensive use of the product.
Design, Build and Aesthetic
The Breville Precision Brewer has an interesting approach to home brewing. The design is very much in line with other Breville products, featuring brushed metals and aesthetics that fit quite well with other appliances in their lineup. If you appreciate that design style, you’ll certainly enjoy this brewer.
If you’ve seen any of the Breville espresso machines such as the BBE Impress or their other kitchen appliances, this one will have a similar look and feel.
Built-In Features
The Precision Brewer offers various pre-programmed settings for brewing, such as Fast, Gold, and Strong. These settings change the flow rate and other brewing parameters to suit your preferences. Additionally, the My Brew feature allows you to create custom brewing setups by controlling the bloom volume and time, flow rate, and brew temperature with single-degree increments for precision.
The brewer can make up to 60 ounces or 1.8 liters of coffee and comes with two different brew cones: one for cone-shaped filters and another for flat-bottomed filters. If you prefer, there’s even an adapter set to use a V60 or a Kalita filter. And for those who desire a zero-waste option, a metal filter basket is also available.
Water Softener Addition
We tested the European model of the Precision Brewer, which features an added water softener to address the challenge of hard water. The water softener is a small filter that lasts for about three months and is designed to help reduce limescale buildup.
When you first turn on the machine, it will prompt you to input your water hardness level based on a provided test strip. While this is a helpful addition, we still recommend using good, soft, clean water for your brewing to ensure optimal taste and machine longevity.
Brewing Functionality
Pre-Programmed Settings
The Precision Brewer offers three pre-programmed settings for brewing: Fast, Gold, and Strong. These settings primarily change the flow rate of the machine, with Fast designed for pumping more water into the basket quickly, allowing for a faster brew. Gold which uses the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s settings is our recommended default to use. If you prefer a more extracted coffee, you can opt for the strong setting.
Custom Brewing Setup
In addition to the pre-programmed settings, the Breville Precision Brewer allows for a custom brewing setup called “My Brew.” With this feature, you can control various aspects of the brewing process, including the bloom volume, bloom time, overall flow rate, and brew temperature. We enjoyed this level of customization for perfecting the settings of our brews to match the beans we were using and our taste preferences.
Cold Brew Feature
Another functionality we tested was the cold brew feature. This setting is designed for brewing overnight, running for up to 14 hours as it slowly pumps cold water into the brew basket for a long steeping process. It ws not our preferred method of brewing as we found the taste to be lacking, but it might be a suitable option for others who prefer cold brew coffee.
Auto Start Feature
Lastly, the Auto Start feature was something of a guilty pleasure when using this machine. We enjoyed the fact it had freshly brewed coffee waiting for us after waking in the morning.
By grinding our coffee the night before and setting the Auto Start, the machine brews coffee at the desired time. While it may sacrifice some aromatic complexity due to the coffee being pre-ground, we found that it is an acceptable trade-off for the convenience of waking up to freshly-made coffee.
Personal Experience and Frustrations
While we love the Breville Precision Brewer, there are, however, a few negative aspects too. While our experience with this device was mostly positive, there are some areas where we feel the Precision Brewer could be improved.
For instance, we found the markings on the water tank a bit confusing (note on US versions of the machine this is not an issue). Instead of the existing 900ml mark, it would be more practical to have markings for 1 liter and 0.5 liters. Additionally, we would have preferred a removable water tank, making it easier to fill and clean the machine.
As for the thermal carafe, it shares the same issue common to most carafes: you just can’t pour out every last drop of coffee. Looking at the brewer’s design, we would also advise users to remove the cone-shaped filter every time they clean it, as some coffee grounds can accumulate in the open basket area.
Still A Great Buy
Despite some minor frustrations and areas for improvement, the Breville Precision Brewer continues to stand out as a top-tier coffee maker for home use. Its versatile brewing options, customizable settings, and sleek design, make it a great addition to any coffee setup.
We loved the convenience of the “wake and brew” and found that it consistently got the best tasting notes and flavors out of our beans, whether using light, medium or dark roasts.
So if you’re in the market for a coffee maker that combines functionality, aesthetics, and innovation, the Breville Precision Brewer is still a great buy.
Coffee expert and industry insider, I’ve dedicated years to mastering the art and science of coffee making. From scrutinizing particle fineness to evaluating burr shapes, I delve into the minutiae that elevate coffee from good to exceptional. Whether it’s a complex pour-over or a robust espresso, my insights cater to those who don’t just drink coffee, but experience it.
