I’ve had a BBE since 2019 and really like it.
Pros:
* Built-in grinder. You won’t pay for a machine and then a grinder, and you can usually find one on sale.
* The learning curve isn’t steep. My first lattes were, to my surprise, better than most coffee shops. You can pull good shots and make great tasting drinks pretty much straight away.
* It makes great milk drinks. You won’t buy a latte or cappuccino unless it’s at the very best specialty coffee shops, because you can make better ones at home. Steaming and pouring milk took longer to get a grip on than pulling shots, but it isn’t too tricky.
Cons:
* The built-in grinder. The gap between steps can make truly dialing in a shot tricky. One setting will be too course but a step down will be too fine, so I’ll have to compensate with dose and or output. That really isn’t an issue if you’re making mainly milk drinks, as the steamed milk will coverup some shot imperfections, but it will be noticeable if you like drinking straight espresso. There’s a very good independent specialty coffee shop near my house that we’ll frequent often. I’ve got my cortados damn near their level and the wife thinks my lattes are at or better. Straight espresso? I can’t get there.
* It comes with a 54mm portafilter instead of the 58mm on most other prosumer machines. Any accessories you buy for the BBE (baskets, tamp, distributor, portafilter funnel) won’t be usable if you later decide to upgrade to a different machine.
All in all… it’s a very sold entry level machine that will get you into the world of espresso at an affordable price. It’s got some limitations, but I’ve had mine four years now and still love it.