My goooooodness! After 4+ hours and a million videos that got me no where, I now have the perfect amount of pressure for an amazing espresso shot due to your video. I’d given up and figured my machine was a bust. Thank you so very much for this!

First, thank you Hoon for the suggestion to keep going finer and adjusting settings. If anyone is watching this, EUREKA!!! I almost gave up using single walled, non-pressurized basket. BUT, I kept on trying finer grinds and it worked! I changed the internal grind setting from factory setting at 6, down to 5 and pressure still did not build. I went to internal grind at 4 and outer grind setting at 1 and it worked!!! I used 18g of bean and the pressure built up to 12 O'clock direction for the first time, while extraction went up to 26 sec. Keep trying new setting to finer grinds until you get there! Cheers!

Bubbly extraction brought me here. Thought the rubber seal of my machine is too old so it lost some pressure, thus I planned to buy a new one. Then I watched your vid, learnt to test the pressure using the dual wall basket, then I realized what actually went wrong. It was the double shot dual wall basket I often used that got leak and under pressure. I arrived at this after testing the machine with the single shot dual wall basket,which reached the mid range pressure and also brewed beautiful creme as it should be. You should see the joy in my eyes when I saw that beautiful creme texture once again after a month of drinking bland sluggish water. Now excuse me I got a new FB to buy. You’re legend, Hoon

Every single time I have an issue with my Breville espresso machine, I watch this same video (for the past 3 years) and you always seem to give me a tip or trick I missed the last time I watched your video! Thank you so very much for saving my espresso machine & im sure many others! A true blessing, this man 🫶🏻🥰

Great videos. Very helpful. And the tone and pace is very casual and calm. Easy to follow. Thank you!

Thank you. I was about to call Breville for a service call & have now fixed it by putting grind down to 3, after descaling & cleaning the hopper first (using your videos too)

Thank you, your advice around checking with a pressurised basket saved me a long, painful troubleshooting call with the manufacturer.

Fantastic tip on changing out to pressurized basket to see if that works. Sure enough that worked for me, so now I need to change internal setting and outer to get the correct pressure and flow duration/volume. Thank you so much. New machine (old one stopped), so resetting up again.

This video saved me from more hassle. Thank you. I had purchased an Express second hand and noticed there wasn't much pressure. I did the test here and it turned out the grinder was bad.

Saving tired humans in the early hours since 2019. Thank you

Hello Hoon, thank you your support and tips to help us get better in our Barista passion. I wanted to tell you my experience with a defective single wall basket. The holes were larger than on my other single wall basket and I could never pull pressure over 9 O'clock on the gauge. My good basket gives me 12 and even 1 o'clock pressure which is great.

Thank you very good common sense and no overload with complicated information! My coffee is much better now and I love my barista more than ever!!!

finally i find the solution for the problem! i changed the inside grinder settings to nr 1 ! it will make your coffee veeery fine! not all sage coffee machines come with the same inside settings. cheers

Thank you Hoon. My Breville was not getting adequate pressure. After seeing your video I know what the problem was. Became a subscriber immediately. Keep doing the good work.

This was great! Thank you. Just what I was looking for.

Thank you!! I had no idea what was wrong. Thanks to you I am enjoying good tasting espresso again.

Hi Hoon, just starting to get into espresso based drinks. Thanks for sharing Amazon links to the items you use throughout your videos! Ordered the distributor, scale and a knockbox. Just subscribed! Thank you.

Thank you so much, Hoon, for this video! I was having the same issue this morning with my Breville and thought it was broken! But after simply changing the grinding dial to a lower number, it totally fixed it!

Your advice was of great help. Now to follow your instructions on my machine. Thanks

Thank you for this! Great video. I'm using a lower priced machine that doesn't have a gauge, and have yet to figure out my pressure issues. Appreciate this video! :)

Glad I've found you on KZfaq, thank you man!!!!

Hey, thanks for this video. I didn't know you could test the pressure like that! Much obliged.

This video was really helpful in dialing-in my coffee machine, thank you. The pace is a little on the slow side but then I am impatient! Thank you!

Thanks for this video mate, didn’t know how to test my pressure without using coffee but now I do, all fixed and good to go, good job!

I'm so happy that I stumbled across your video this has helped me fix my problem! I was starting to think my machine was defective 😅 Thank you so much ❤

Very helpful! Thank you for making these videos.

Great video, thanks man. Was able to go from no pressure to about 11 o'clock by decreasing the grind size from 5 to 3. On to the sour video!

Thank you so much!! I’m so glad I found your video.

Thank you for the video and excellent explanation on how to resolve low pressure issues. I finally get higher pressure, 2.0 oz shots and best all a great tasting brew. I’m using Lavazza expresso Barista. I vacuum pack the beans once opening.

Hello Hoon..my sis was trying to work out the pressure gauge & thanks to you it works now!!!! Thankyou so much!

I had been using the wrong basket. I had tried everything else, even adjusting the burr grinder. Thanks so much Hoon.

Hoon - unrelated to this video, I figured out the no crema issue. It was the coffee beans! Went and bought different coffee, and crema galore! Amazing that one coffee been produces no crema and simple change to another bean makes the world of difference. Something to pass along to readers having no crema issues. Thanks for the wonderful videos!

Thank you for the great channel! I learned so much from you and you make the process even funnier and easier. My coffee is amazing. You are awesome :-)

Thank you my husband was able to fix our pressure problem thanks to you!

Yay I could never get my pressure right and this video fixed my problem by checking machine with pressure basket then decreasing the coarseness of my going now nearly 30 seconds emulsion and great crema. Thank you.

Thank you!, great advice, after following your video, i just need to adjust the grind size twice before having the correct pressure.

Thanks for this video, it is so helpful!!!

Thank you- I learned that you can check pressure by using double basket! My coffee was at its lowest grind and the pressure wasn't rising.

Thank you for making this video. Very helpful feedbacks in the comments. I am realizing that there is much more that this machine can do. It is perhaps more involved than I figured when I purchased this model. I wonder if someone has written down optimum settings for standard grocery store espresso beans brands. It's almost like a micro recipe for various darkness of roast ect.

Thank you for saving my life this morning. I was dying for a coffee 😂

Thanks for the easy fix!

Man this is a really great video. Thanks so much

Thanks for your tips! It turns out my problem was a blocked water filter (in the reservoir) but your input helped me narrow down the problem.

Another quick note! I had this issue yesterday. It's the burr setting in the grinder, if you set it to about a 3 from the factory setting of 6 it helps a lot with the pressure. My coffee grounds weren't fine enough

Wow!! Thank you so much for your tip.

Your videos have helped me so much thanks

Great! The best way to test pressure. I just tested mine, to confirm operation.

Thanks for taking the time!

Thank you , great tips!

Thank you so much Hoon! I really appreciate all of your experimentation. I would do it myself, but the price of water where I am is relatively high, and I cannot use the tap water, so all of your videos have been extremely helpful when it comes to saving money on experimentation!! Much love!

Hi Hoon, awesome video. I seem still be having issues with low pressure. I did the check you recommended and that worked fine. I've tried very fine grind size and very course and still find low pressure. Any suggestions?

Thank you so much! This video just solved my problem.

I always think I've found the right grind number on the side, then later, even with the same beans it will completely change up on me and be way too low pressure.

If you still have low pressure after doing everything Hoon has suggested you might have a leaking machine. I've just fixed one of these machines. The seals in the machine deteriorated and started leaking, preventing high pressure build up. The problem was minor but slowly got worse, the leaking over months caused rust in the machine and destroyed the pump which I had to replace. If your machine is over 5 years old I highly suggest opening it up and checking for leaks or rust. There are o-rings that can be replaced (most are size #007). More specifically, there is a pipe going from the vibration pump into the boiler (BES860 and others). When the pump is on, this pipe vibrates and moves a lot, causing extra wear on the pipes seals. When the seals fail the water falls below onto the pump causing it to rust and eventually destroying the pump. Catching this issue early on can save you buying a pump and will only cost a few dollars to replace the o-rings.

Hi, Thanks for you tips. I think they helped a lot. But I was wondering the choice of beans/ freshness of beans has anything to with amount of pressure being built up. BTW, what kind of beans do you use? Would you suggest getting the beans online or from a store?

Loved your channel. After following your videos on cleaning, descaling and still getting a watery expresso, You helped me realized my machine is not working - the needle doesn’t even move - not getting into the expresso range - I did the test you showed us here. Thank You and good luck with your channel! ☕️

I've had the express for month now, Hoon's video's have been invaluable to me. I found that no matter what I tried, I could not get good pressure. Then I changed from the Lavazza Rosa beans to Presto beans and now my pressure is at about 2 o'Clock. So from struggling with no pressure, to too much pressure. A good place to be though and my challenge now is to keep the timing and volume the same, but lower the pressure a bit. I'm guessing lowering the dosage (currently using 17g in a double single wall basket) ?.. any thoughts Hoon ? Thanks

I bought the machine from facebook and I was not getting pressure at all with non pressurized basket with nr. 1 grinder setting. I think my coffee was not dark roast also. Was very very upset spend 320$ dollar. And the seller wont take return. then I tried a cheap 6~7$ organic espresso blend from target. Saw another video where he put 17.5 grams of coffee and grind 2 single shot for two times. On the first he put very light tamp just to make room for the 2nd single grind. I also realized head gasket might dirty and have no seal pressure is leaking. So I clean and descale the machine. After that with grinder settings to nr 3 I am getting perfect extraction time under 30 sec with perfect pressure. 1. Right coffee, 2. Clean Machine 3. two single short grinding to make double and light tamp on the first one after 2nd grinding using distribution tool ... working great for me.

FYI, low pressure or inconsistent shots could come from coffee that isn’t fresh. I think this should be one of first checks, is the coffee fresh (within few weeks from roasting).

Hello Hoon, great channel. I have the infuser which has the same portafilter as yours. Have you tinkered with the plastic disk inside the portafilter? Is it a requirement of the pressurized system? If I dont need it I'd rather not have the plastic making contact with hot coffee. Any thoughts?

Thanks, super useful! :)

Very useful for a new owner like myself. Thanks

Brand new machine Breville Barista Express, just got it today. Out of the box, first 3 espressos single with smallest pressurized basket all had very very low pressure. Then I tried the smallest pressurized empty basket with no coffee which still had no pressure; then tried fine grind settings and now I got good pressure. So I am confused. Hoon, does this mean my machine is fine, or does the empty basket leading to very very low pressure means it is a problem? Thank you for this awesome video!

Thanks, Hoon!

Thanks Hoon, loving these vids

Great tips! Went from zero pressure to 12 o' clock pressure by adjusting the grinder to neutral setting and using the pressurized basket. Saved me so much hassle, thanks!

Thanks man, good video 👍

I learned a bit, thanks. I am always afraid to be forceful but tamping more aggressively solved my problems instantly. lmao

Hello Hoon!!! Always watching from Hawaii…. Learned so much from your channel…. Really appreciate all the videos. I do have a question….. I’ve cleaned and did the whole routine for the first time (bought couple months ago) and noticed that the pressure is really high and pouring out so slow…. Could you please make a video on this or help me with this??? Thank you Hoon!! You are the coffee god 😊😊

Good morning. I just started having issues with the pressure fluctuating. Would there be a chance that my pressurized two shot basket is clogged or damaged? It is the basket that we always use. When I try running it through without any coffee, it seems to run better. Thank you

You have great skin Mr Hoon. Maybe you use a coffee face mask? Very courser!

Thanks for the video. The default out of the box setting yielded no pressure and terrible tasting espresso. Your video helped me dial it in and now have good pressure and good tasting espresso. Thanks!

I've enjoyed your videos and am so far pretty impressed with my machine. I'm in South Phoenix so if you get up this way let me know we'll make a brew. I also roast my own beans. How many days rest should I give them, or are they good to go right away.? Thanks.

hi love you videos ! im getting very low pressure on my steamer wand . i cleaned it took apart no clogging anywhere . would it be the water pump ? thank you for your time

Thank you Hoon

Great video. Tnx

You should take a hole saw to your portafilter and make it bottomless. Best thing I ever did to mine. Thank you for your video. I like your channel.

I have been using fresh coffee from the same shop for a while now. Usually grind it at 6 and get a great shot. Since last week, i suddenly cant get the pressure to even touch the solid gray on finer settings like 10. The shot still taste ok and not sour but it does flow out pretty quickly.

Thank you!

Very interesting videos. I enjoy your content.

I would like to see a video on proper frothing of milk. I have issues with my new Breville machine and getting it right. Thank you for your knowledge I enjoy your videos.

Hi Hoon, I used to get good pressure with Lifeboost Medium Roast beans for a couple months with inside burr 6 and outside grind 3 settings, but for the last months with the same beans i don't even get into the espresso range at all. I am adjusting down the inside and outside settings by 1-2 at a time and right now with inside 5 and outside 1 still not getting in the range. What can be the reason considering i am using the same bans? I had this machine for 3 moths and the tissue started about a month ago. Thanks.

I’ve had a bizarre thing just happen with my breville. I’ve been pulling good shots. I always use the double shot single wall. A friend wanted a single shot so I swapped and made hers and then swapped mine and I get no pressure. I’m wondering is somehow my basket is leaking or something? Single shot works, double doesn’t.

can you share what's the IDEAL volume you should set (ground coffee)?

Followed your steps and the pressure is fine. Yet, I can't get it to espresso range. Hoping there is a video showing how to change the grind size in the burr in the hopper.

thanks a lot Hoon!!

Thank you Mr Hoon for posting useful videos on using the machine. I bought one recently, and sometimes face the problem of the pressure going down suddenly while the shot is still coming. Is it because of uneven or bad tamping method. I haven't bought a separate tamper yet. Only the one which came with the machine.

Hey Hoon, i have a different problem. The pressure is ok in the beginning however towards the end the pressure gage goes from espresso range all the way to the bottom of the gage and water comes out from the porta filter. Any ideal what could cause this?

Thanks for your videos. But could you please make a description after all the videos - grind size inside the grinder, grind size on the outside wheel, did you use the factory setting or did you adjust the pour time manually, did you pre-soak, how many grams of coffee did you use? Without this data, the likelihood of error is high. For example, to achieve this pressure, I needed to set the grind to 4 inside the coffee grinder, grind to 1 on the outer wheel and use 16 grams of coffee for the bowl.

Heres one to stump you haha, I am on setting 1 for grind size and with a heavy tamper on a double shot, the pressure needle hardly moves. It barely hits 8 O clock. However with the double wall double shot cup I can get high pressure say 12 O-clock on the gauge on say a 10 - 12 grind. What do you think could be the cause? Any advice would be fantastic!

Whoops! There are two types of baskets :-p Thanks for all the helpful content!

Please tell me what size of coffee grinder is at your coffee machine and what size of burrs? Thank you very much.

Wonder if you can help me with my Breville .. when I make my coffee i do a double shot but it only gives me a single shot and it is really slow

My machine is about 14 months old. Two days ago I went from about 3/4 pressure in the espresso range to under 1/4 I have not changed my beans or any settings. I use a pressurized basket. Do you think it is my machine or could it be something I need to clean?

Hi Hoon. I tested several grind settings (pressure gauge reached about 8 o'clock); tried extraction w/o the grinds like you did and the gauge didn't move at all - zero pressure. Any thoughts?

hello brother Hoon, thank you so much for loving coffee and coffee machines! however i had a problem with my breville barista pro, it works only 5 seconds streaming, hot water, frushing, all after 5 seconds stopped. plse if possible direct me how to solve such a problem. thank u!

Which one is the pressurized basket? Single wall or dual wall filters?

What inner burr are you using?

Thanks so much for all this content!! I just bought a used barista express and I've been getting nothing but sour fast shots 30 times, I almost felt like giving up. I felt really guilty because this was a birthday gift :( Because of you I feel like I can keep trying. Breville needs to pay you for all these videos lol.

Hi, I have a question. Just got a new Breville Barista Express and when I inserted a double-wall basket and pressed to pull a shot it didn't show the same pressure as your machine. It was just close to the grey area. But when I added blind (this rubber thing) to the basket the pressure was at maximum value. So what do you think should I notify the Breville or this is just a new machine and I need to give it more time?