Briel B14S Espresso Machine Review
What is the Briel B14S?
The Briel B14S is a very small and light espresso machine, with 53mm portafilter and panarello, made in Portugal. It has a small, stainless steel boiler, and 3 switches: on/off, brew, and steam mode. It comes in various retro colors, and has a neat little retro design, that some will be sympathetic to.
Design of the Briel
Briel B14S – Side with Steam Wand
As seen in the photo, the Briel evokes some real retro vibes, through the use of the muted pastel colors, rounded edges, and logo placed on the front. My wife thinks it’s ‘cute.’
It has just two buttons in the upper left hand side, one to engage the pump (brew), and the other to coax the heating element to heat up to steam mode. This machine is thermostat controlled, by the way.
Briel B14S – Top
It also has two indicator lights on top, to let you know the power is on, and that the machine is ready. I find it quite a clear and succinct display of the functions.
It should be kept in mind, that this is a complete plastic build. So, it doesn’t feel really quality, but on the other hand, what can you expect for $150? It does it’s job just fine, though.
That being said, on some markets, such as Germany, you can find this as low as €58 (for example at Kaufland).
Briel B14S – Hero
Availability of Briel?
Since Briel is a small brand from Portugal, these are hard to find. Just do a Google search, and see if you find any. As far as I know, these are only available on the EU market.
What does the B14S come with?
The B14S comes with a 53mm portafilter, a single and double pressurized basket, a scoop, and instructions.
Briel B14S Accessories
What about a solenoid, PID, and pre-infusion?
Nope, the Briel does not come with a solenoid, or PID. You can however do manual pre-infusion, by holding the brew button down half way, to engage the pump to saturate the puck, then let go while it blooms, then press down fully for the extraction.
So how does the B14S perform for Espresso?
The Briel is fine for pressurized espresso, and this is what it was designed for. I really like that the brew group, and therefore portafilter are heated. This does lend to a better espresso shot, and I find it makes things a little sweeter.
That being said, the B14S really doesn’t work well for non-pressurized espresso. It’s super hard to find a 53mm basket with a rim small enough to fit into the brew group, and even if you do find one, the aggressive shower screen kind of demolishes the puck while extracting. I can really only recommend this for pressurized espresso.
How does the Briel do for Milk Foam?
The Briel does surprisingly well for steaming milk foam, especially for a panarello machine. I find that I can get the milk nice and silky in texture, even with the panarello installed.
Briel B14S – Steam Wand Tip
Briel B14S vs Delonghi ECP3420
I find the ECP Series by Delonghi much better than the Briel, to be honest. The ECP3420 has a much better shower screen, with better distribution. You can also find a ton of aftermarket parts like 51mm baskets and bottomless portafilters for the Delonghi.
So, if you’re considering the Briel over a Delonghi, I can say the Delonghi ECP series is a no brainer.
Pros and Cons of the Briel?
Let’s consider the pros and cons of the new Briel B14S:
Pros:
- Cute, retro design
- Very small foot print
- Made in Portugal
- Stainless steel boiler
- Heated brew group and portafilter
- Auto turn off feature
Cons
- Almost no availability
- No availability of after market parts
- Bad shower screen distribution
Specifications of the B14S:
– Dimensions: 21cm deep, 28cm high, 16cm wide
– Weight: 2.65 kg
– 1050 watt machine
– Build Materials: stainless steel and plastic
– Currently offered in Mint Green, Beige, Black…
– Country of Origin: Portugal
Verdict
For $150, I’d go for the Delonghi ECP3420 instead.
