9Barista review

Rich, steady shots at fixed settings, with only the grind to adjust6.3/10

The 9Barista can make very good espresso, and it makes the same espresso every time. Shot quality still divides opinion, because the machine decides almost everything for you. At its best the cup is rich and smooth under a thick crema. Bon Appétit, after testing dozens of espresso makers, found that "the coffee from the 9Barista was as good or better than all but the most high-end machines".1

Consistency is the other strength. Pressure and temperature are set by the design, so a grind that works today works tomorrow. One long-term write-up describes a "boringly consistent shot every time", provided the machine is used correctly.2

The price of that steadiness is control. There is no preinfusion and no way to shape pressure or change brew temperature. The Real Sprometheus puts it plainly: "All you can do is change the grind."3 James Hoffmann found it wants a slightly coarser grind than a traditional machine for the same dose.

The first attempts can be poor. The Truth Reviews began with a cup that had no crema and tasted bad enough to send back, then got good shots after some practice.4 Bon Appétit also found the taste a little sharper than a high-end electric machine's, and Coffee Kev has had better espresso elsewhere.

Machined, nickel-plated brass, with gaskets and loose handles to watch8.1/10

Build is the 9Barista's most widely liked quality. The body is brass, machined and nickel-plated, with wooden handles and no electronics. Several sources expect it to last for decades, and David Okamoto calls it the best made of all his espresso devices.

The long-term evidence is encouraging, though there is not much of it. One account after a year of frequent use reports almost no wear and no corrosion on the steel parts. The maker sells nearly every part separately, and the machine is described as serviceable.

The caveats are small and specific. James Hoffmann broke one of the gaskets and found a little too much play when locking in the portafilter.5 Tom's Coffee Corner saw the handles work loose in use and a mineral film form on the heat exchanger coils.6

The stove does the brewing, after a slow dial-in and before a fiddly clean5.1/10

The brew itself is simple, and the rest of the routine is not. Ease divides opinion for that reason. Once the machine is filled and on the heat there is nothing to pump and nothing to time. Coffee Kev sums up the split: apart from prep, pouring and cleanup, "the machine does everything else".7

Getting to that point takes patience. James Hoffmann found dialing in slow and drawn out, since each test shot means a full heating cycle.8 The margin is narrow too. Grind slightly too fine or tamp slightly too hard and you can "suffocate the device" and get no espresso at all.9

Heat is the other thing to learn. The Drive says it takes "between 3 to 6 minutes" to pull a shot, depending on the stove.10 Gas gives the most control, electric hobs take more tweaking, and induction needs a separate plate. Turn the burner too high and hot water spills from the vapor exhaust, so point the vent away from you.11

It is a one-person machine. A second shot means cooling it down, releasing the pressure and starting again.12 It steams no milk. Cleaning is more than a knock and a rinse: Bon Appétit often struggled to get the puck out of the basket, and the metal stays too hot to touch for a while after brewing.13

Small enough for a campsite, and 4 lb of brass to carry there7.6/10

The 9Barista travels well by road, and portability is widely liked. It is compact, needs no power socket and works on a gas camping stove. Coffee Kev sees it going on holidays, business trips and camping trips.14

Weight is the limit. The machine is 4 lb empty and feels dense for its size. One owner who has lived with it judges it "more suited for trips by car, train, and boat" than for flying, and David Okamoto would not fly with it either.15

It is also not a complete kit. You still need a heat source and a grinder good enough for espresso, and both have to come along.

Expensive for a stovetop maker, easier to defend as a brass machine to keep5.1/10

Value divides opinion, and nearly every source calls the price high. It costs more than some worthwhile electric machines, which are easier to use and steam milk as well. The Drive calls it "a splurge far more people can afford, while still being just as hard to justify".16

The case for it rests on the materials and the cup. The Real Sprometheus argues that little in its price range or above can match its steady shot quality.17 It is made in the UK by a small company, comes with a multi-year warranty, and newer parts fit older versions.

It also needs a good grinder, which is not in the box. The most flattering comparison in the evidence, against a far dearer machine, was made with a very expensive grinder alongside. Count that cost in before deciding.

Our verdict

Buy the 9Barista if you drink espresso straight, mostly on your own, and like the idea of a small brass machine you will keep for many years. Skip it if you want milk drinks, several cups in a row or any say over pressure and temperature. Budget for a capable espresso grinder, and an induction plate if your hob needs one. Expect the first few shots to go wrong while you find the grind and the heat setting.