The Bezzera BZ10 performs its primary tasks admirably. It delivers the perfect espresso with consistent temperature and pressure. As one of the most affordable espresso machines in the dual-circuit segment, it's a sure bet for the best price-performance ratio in our test series .
You can find out more about the comparison with 11 other dual-circuit espresso machines here .
Good espresso! What more could you want?
If you want a good espresso above all else, you can't go wrong with the Bezzera BZ10. It masters the most important tasks of an espresso machine . The brewing temperature is extremely consistent, fluctuating only slightly between 92 and 94 degrees Celsius. Very rare fluctuations to 95 degrees Celsius were hardly noticeable when brewing no more than one espresso per minute.
Bezzera BZ10 front view
The Bezzera BZ10's foaming performance also leaves nothing to be desired. The espresso machine produces smooth, creamy milk foam. The pressure is sufficient, and the quality is simply a matter of practice.
With prices starting at CHF 1460 in Switzerland and €1100 in the EU, the Bezzera BZ10 is a great entry-level choice for anyone primarily interested in beverage quality.
The machine does make some compromises in terms of materials and comfort. If that doesn't matter to you, you don't need to read on. However, if you have heat-sensitive fingers, for example, you should check out the next sections.
If you want to learn how to make a good espresso, then visit our Home Barista online course or get a good insight with our article “How to make espresso” .
Sharp edges and sensitive fingers
An espresso machine gets hot! Of course, because the water needs to be heated. In a dual-circuit machine, the boiler is heated to over 120 degrees Celsius. The continuous pipe then transfers this temperature to the brewing water. Starting from the boiler, the temperature is distributed throughout the espresso machine. In higher price segments, boilers are insulated to maintain the temperature, especially within the boiler. With the BZ10, this temperature is generously distributed throughout – exactly where heat can be absorbed: in the metal!
Another heat source – with its own heating system in the BZ10, as planned – is the brewing group. From there, too, the temperature is distributed along all heat-conducting parts. And the BZ10 gets particularly hot. Brewing groups should never be touched anyway. But buttons and switches?
The BZ10's on/off switch and the coffee dispensing switch are hard to hold for more than two seconds, even with milk-foam-resistant hands. The temperature at the switch reaches well over 60 degrees Celsius! That's not very user-friendly.
The milk lance is a classic milk lance—not a modern cold-touch lance. However, a rubber coating allows for touching.
Bezzera skimps on deburring the edges of the curved stainless steel casing. Sharp internal edges aren't a problem, but caution is required, especially when removing the water tank, for example. However, you can also cut yourself on the front, clearly visible corners of the machine when quickly reaching for an espresso cup. This can be much better.
Size, weight and technical information for the Bezzera BZ10
The Bezzera BZ10 is quite compact, measuring 25 cm wide, 37.5 cm high, and 42.5 cm deep—but it still weighs 19 kilograms. The vibration pump is clearly audible and also produces some vibration, which can make the lid over the water tank rattle noticeably, for example. The boiler volume is 1.5 liters, and the water tank holds 2 liters.
Hoses are inserted into the water tank to draw the water. There are now much nicer versions with a drain in the bottom. But as I said, we're in the entry-level espresso machine segment, and the Bezzera BZ10 was deliberately kept affordable.
The machine's hot water dispensing is activated by a lever, as is the steam for frothing milk. A neat double pressure gauge displays the boiler pressure as well as the water pressure during espresso brewing.
Barista trainer Michel Aeschbacher testing the Bezzera BZ10
The machine comes with a plastic tamper that's only suitable for the trash can. The included strainer is significantly larger than the stated 16 grams. We actually filled the strainer with 21 grams without hesitation. This has consequences for the size of the final drinks. If you follow our recommended drink ratio of 1:2.5, the final drink will be correspondingly large (21 g * 2.5 = 52.5 = 2 espressos of 26.25 grams each).
The side view photo clearly shows that the drip tray is a bit short. A further 3 cm would have prevented drops from spilling out over the front of the machine.
The backwash valve also contributes to the constant dripping of coffee around the espresso machine. We explain this in more detail in the video.
Heated brewing group of the BZ10 vs. Faema E61 brewing group
Most dual-boiler espresso machines are still built with the E61 brewing group, which will soon celebrate its 60th anniversary. The E61 brewing group is essentially heated to temperature by a warming water circuit.
A brewing group is the front part of the espresso machine, into which the portafilter and thus the coffee are clamped. A thoroughly heated group is essential, as otherwise the brewing water will transfer its own heat to the metal and thus no longer reach the temperature required for brewing espresso. In our tests, we defined a desirable temperature of 93–94 degrees .
The Bezzera BZ10 features a brewing group with electric heating. The constant temperature of the BZ10 proves Bezzera right, and the group leaves nothing to be desired.
Constant brewing temperature of the Bezzera BZ10
In our opinion, neither an E61 nor an electrically heated group has any fundamental advantages. What's more important is that they ultimately deliver the correct temperature to the group. This doesn't depend on the brewing group, however, but rather on the overall system of the machine. How far does the water travel from the boiler to the group? How quickly does the heat exchanger heat the water? When does the boiler reheat?
Disassembling the Bezzera group may be slightly easier than disassembling the E61 brewing group for maintenance, as only three screws need to be removed. However, in our opinion, this isn't a significant issue.
The machine's heat-up time isn't significantly faster either. The BZ10 also took a good 22 minutes to reach full temperature.
Conclusion on the BZ10 from Bezzera
The BZ 10 delivers exactly what it's supposed to: good espresso and excellent milk foam quality. It's a joy! So, if you're primarily concerned with drink quality, you'll be very satisfied with the BZ 10.
However, the machine makes compromises in its quality and scope of delivery. The included plastic tamper is useless for making good espresso. The machine has many areas that overheat, but which are actually important, such as the toggle switches for activating the espresso extraction.
We also don't like the unbroken metal edges on the machine, as they pose a risk of injury in everyday use.
As a very consistent espresso machine in the entry-level dual-boiler segment, the Bezzera BZ10, despite its material weaknesses, is a contender for the podium in terms of price-performance. Consistency is very important, especially for beginners to espresso preparation. And the Bezzera BZ10 undoubtedly delivers this attribute!
Preparation of espresso with the Bezzera BZ10
We are currently testing all commercially available dual-circuit espresso machines and will subsequently summarize the test series with a comprehensive comparative test report.
