Brentwood GA-135BK Review: Is It Worth It?
Welcome, I'm Sam, and I use grinders and brewers every day. I have watched Brentwood add more espresso machines year after year. The Brentwood GA-135BK is an 800 W (800 watt) espresso and cappuccino maker with a steam wand.
Brentwood Appliances sells it for household use at about $65, and it brews up to 4 small servings. A single knob runs every step, and each cycle needs a 3 minute wait to build pressure.
This review helps home espresso lovers judge the GA-135BK on brewing steps. No independent test exists, so owner ratings carry the evidence, at 4.1 stars from 27 Walmart ratings. Owners praise the price, while some report broken knobs and portafilters that will not lock.
What Is the Brentwood GA-135BK?
The Brentwood GA-135BK is an 800 W (800 watt) espresso and cappuccino maker that brews up to 4 servings. Brentwood Appliances builds it with a steam wand for milk drinks. The BK in the name stands for the black finish.
The machine runs on 120 V (volt) 60 Hz household power and Walmart sells it as a 20 oz model.
The machine uses a control knob with four positions: RELEASE OFF, ESPRESSO CUP, PAUSE and STEAM. The user turns the knob to run each step by hand.
Brentwood sells the GA-135BK for household use only. Walmart lists it as a residential machine at about $65.
What Comes in the Box With the Brentwood GA-135BK?
The box with the Brentwood GA-135BK comes with a portafilter, filter, carafe and scoop and tamp. The box also holds a cap, a steam wand sleeve and the manual.
The portafilter is reusable and made of stainless steel. The user needs no paper pods.
The carafe is tempered glass with a pour spout and a cool touch handle. Glass can break, so the user handles it with care.
- Portafilter with stainless steel filter
- Tempered glass carafe
- 2-in-1 scoop and tamp
- Cap and steam wand sleeve
- Instruction manual
How Does the Brentwood GA-135BK Work?
The Brentwood GA-135BK works by heating water, building pressure and brewing espresso in about 3 minutes. The machine then pushes the coffee into the carafe.
A single knob controls every step of this process. It has four positions:
- RELEASE OFF: This position vents the pressure built up inside the machine.
- ESPRESSO CUP: This position starts the brew.
- PAUSE: This position stops the flow.
- STEAM: This position feeds the steam wand.
The machine does not suit back to back brews. The manual asks for a 3 minute wait after releasing steam. It also asks for a 5 minute cool down before the next cycle.
How Do You Brew Espresso With the Brentwood GA-135BK?
The Brentwood GA-135BK brews espresso after the user fills the basket, tamps the grounds and turns the knob to the espresso cup icon. The user locks the portafilter and fills the tank first.
The user places the empty carafe under the spout and waits about 3 minutes. Coffee then flows into the carafe.
At the desired level, the user turns the knob to PAUSE and waits for the indicator light to go out. The user then moves the knob to RELEASE OFF to vent pressure.
The user never removes the portafilter while the machine runs. Hot steam escapes from the group head if the pressure stays in the tank.
- Fill the filter basket with ground coffee and tamp it.
- Lock the portafilter and fill the water tank.
- Set the empty carafe under the spout.
- Turn the knob to the espresso cup icon and wait about 3 minutes.
- Turn the knob to PAUSE, then to RELEASE OFF.
How Do You Steam Milk With the Brentwood GA-135BK?
The Brentwood GA-135BK steams milk after a brew step with the carafe filled to the STEAM marker. The user moves the knob to PAUSE and purges the wand over a damp towel first. The plastic cover must sit on the wand during the purge.
The amount of milk and the wand depth set the drink. A latte needs a pitcher filled 2/3 with cold milk. The user sinks the wand deeper to make fewer bubbles and steams until the pitcher is almost too hot to hold.
A cappuccino needs a pitcher filled 1/3 with cold milk. The user keeps the wand just below the surface until the volume doubles, then lowers it to the bottom.
The manual gives three milk recipes:
- Latte: This uses 1 part espresso, 3 parts steamed milk and a thin layer of froth. It is served in an 8-10 oz (237-296 ml) cup.
- Cappuccino: This uses 1 part espresso, 1 part steamed milk and 1 part frothed milk. It is served in a 6-8 oz (177-237 ml) cup.
- Latte macchiato: A latte macchiato uses 1 part steamed milk, 1 part espresso and a layer of froth.
The manual suggests non-fat or 2% milk.
What Are the Features of the Brentwood GA-135BK?
The features of the Brentwood GA-135BK include a cool touch group head, an indicator light and a steam wand. A removable drip tray also comes with the machine.
Cleaning is simple because several parts detach. The following are the three parts that come off:
- Portafilter: This part comes off for cleaning.
- Group head: This part also comes off for cleaning.
- Steam wand cover: This cover comes off for cleaning too.
Brentwood lists a cETL approval code on the product page.
The built-in steam wand makes hot milk for lattes and foam for cappuccinos. The GA-135BK has no grinder, no shot timer and no pressure gauge.
How Big Is the Brentwood GA-135BK?
The Brentwood GA-135BK is not big, standing 12.5 in (31.8 cm) tall and weighing 3.8 lb (1.7 kg). Those numbers come from the Walmart specification sheet.
One manual summary site gives about 3 kg (6.6 lb). The Walmart number comes from the seller, so the 3.8 lb figure wins here.
Owners of the sibling GA-125 say the machine takes little counter space. The same compact shape applies to the GA-135BK.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | 12.5 in (31.8 cm) |
| Weight | 3.8 lb (1.7 kg) |
| Power | 800 W |
| Servings | Up to 4 |
Does the Brentwood GA-135BK Make Good Espresso?
No. The Brentwood GA-135BK makes drinkable espresso for the price, but no test proves it matches a shop shot. No tester has timed a shot or measured the cup.
Without that testing, the best evidence is what owners say. Owners of the sibling GA-125 praise the flavor. A retailer summary calls the taste close to the real thing. 56% of 112 ratings gave 5 stars. These are opinions, not measurements, so they show owners are happy but do not show shop quality.
Size is another limit. One owner says the machine makes one real mug of cappuccino at a time, not a small shot. The 4 serving claim refers to small cups.
How Much Pressure Does the Brentwood GA-135BK Have?
The Brentwood GA-135BK has no published pressure rating, and Brentwood never says how much pressure it can have. Brentwood lists 800 W and 4 servings but gives no bar figure on its product page. Bar is the unit that measures how hard a machine pushes water through the coffee.
Other sources try to fill that gap, and they disagree. An eBay seller lists less than 5 bar. An automatic manual summary guesses 15 bar and 1000 W.
The 1000 W figure conflicts with the 800 W on the maker's page. The maker knows its own product best, so the maker's page wins on power.
Without a published bar rating, a buyer cannot compare this machine's pressure with other machines. The eBay figure and the summary guess are too far apart to settle the question.
What Do Owners Say About the Brentwood GA-135BK?
Owners say the Brentwood GA-135BK earns 4.1 out of 5 stars from 27 Walmart ratings.
The sibling GA-125 has more ratings to study. It earns 3.9 out of 5 stars from 112 ratings. Of those, 63 are five-star and 23 are four-star. Another 6 are three-star, 3 are two-star and 17 are one-star. Owners either love the machine or return it.
No other source adds to these numbers. The Brentwood product page shows no reviews. No independent lab or magazine has tested the GA-135BK.
What Do Owners Like About the Brentwood GA-135BK?
Owners like the Brentwood GA-135BK for its low price, easy use and quick cleanup. A retailer summary names value, ease of use, easy cleaning and rich flavor.
One owner calls it the best priced cappuccino maker found. The low cost is a real reason people choose it.
The small footprint also earns praise.
One owner prefers it to a Brentwood electric moka pot. The moka pot was hard to open after brewing, and the filter backed into the water area.
What Do Owners Complain About With the Brentwood GA-135BK?
Owners complain about the Brentwood GA-135BK mostly for weak parts, including broken knobs and portafilters that will not lock. One buyer reports a control knob that broke after 3 uses.
Another buyer could not lock the portafilter, and it burst off the machine. A third buyer says the indicator light failed on the second brew.
Smaller complaints add to the picture of a machine that feels poorly made. Some owners notice a strong plastic smell on first use. Others see water drip from the wand when the knob is off PAUSE. The directions are often called unclear.
The complaints fall into five groups:
- Broken knob: The control knob broke after 3 uses.
- Portafilter failure: The portafilter would not lock and burst off.
- Indicator light: The light failed on the second brew.
- Plastic smell: A strong plastic smell appeared on first use.
- Dripping wand: Water drips from the wand off PAUSE.
How Does the Brentwood GA-135BK Compare to Other Brentwood Models?
Other Brentwood models compare closely to the Brentwood GA-135BK, as the GA-125 and GA-134BK share 800 W and a steam wand. Each claims 4 servings and a built-in steam wand.
The three machines match on every listed point. Power is 800 W, servings are 4, and each has a steam wand. A buyer cannot tell them apart by these specifications.
The Brentwood TS-119 electric moka pot is a different design. A moka pot is a small stovetop-style brewer that pushes hot water through coffee grounds. The moka pot brews 6 servings, which is more than the espresso makers. It has no steam wand, so it cannot steam milk.
| Model | Power | Servings | Steam wand |
|---|---|---|---|
| GA-135BK | 800 W | 4 | Yes |
| GA-134BK | 800 W | 4 | Yes |
| GA-125 | 800 W | 4 | Yes |
| TS-119 moka pot | Not listed | 6 | No |
What Makes the Brentwood GA-135BK Different From the GA-125?
The Brentwood GA-135BK makes no listed spec different from the GA-125, with both at 800 W and 4 servings. Brentwood publishes no side by side comparison of the two.
Walmart lists both machines as 20 oz models. The GA-135BK listing also names a cETL approval code and a black finish.
One owner says newer GA-125 units use cheaper materials than older ones. No owner reports the same for the GA-135BK.
Is the Brentwood GA-135BK Easy to Clean and Safe to Use?
Yes. The Brentwood GA-135BK is easy to clean and safe when the user releases pressure before opening the portafilter. The cETL approval code covers the electrical design.
The machine is for household use only. The manual advises against an extension cord and warns that every part gets very hot. Because of that heat, the user should handle the machine with care.
New machines can give off smoke or a plastic smell during the first heating. This fades after two or three cycles. The first brews should run on water alone.
How Do You Clean the Brentwood GA-135BK?
The Brentwood GA-135BK cleans with warm soapy water for the parts and a damp cloth for the body. No part goes in the dishwasher.
The user washes the portafilter, basket, carafe and scoop by hand. The body is never submerged in water. A damp cloth cleans it instead.
The manual asks for a water-only brew cycle once a month. Homes with hard water run the cycle more often.
How Much Does the Brentwood GA-135BK Cost?
The Brentwood GA-135BK costs about $65, with Walmart listing $64.99. An eBay seller lists $69.99 plus shipping.
A buyer who wants coverage beyond the 1 year warranty can add a protection plan at Walmart. The plan comes from Allstate. A 2-year plan costs $7, and a 3-year plan costs $11.
Over 3 years of use, $65 works out to about $21.67 per year. The cost per cup falls quickly with daily use.
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Walmart machine | $64.99 |
| eBay machine | $69.99 plus shipping |
| 2-year plan | $7 |
| 3-year plan | $11 |
What Warranty Covers the Brentwood GA-135BK?
A one year limited warranty covers the Brentwood GA-135BK and repairs or replaces defective units. The warranty applies in the continental U.S. and Canada.
Only the original buyer qualifies for coverage. The receipt is required. The buyer also pays return shipping. Use outside the home, meaning non-household use, voids the claim.
Questions about a claim go to support at 1-888-903-0060. The line is open on weekdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm PST. Email also works at warranty@brentwoodus.com.
Sellers do not all describe the coverage the same way. The Walmart page says no written warranty exists. That statement conflicts with the manual, which lists the one year limited warranty.
Is the Brentwood GA-135BK Worth It?
Yes. The Brentwood GA-135BK is worth about $65 for light, occasional espresso and milk drinks. The price, size and steam wand deliver real value.
The cons are real. Owners report broken knobs and portafilters that will not lock, and no independent test exists.
The GA-135BK suits a first machine, a dorm or a small kitchen.
Who Should Buy the Brentwood GA-135BK?
The buyer who should buy the Brentwood GA-135BK wants a cheap first espresso machine for light use. A daily espresso drinker needs a stronger machine.
A buyer who needs parts that last for years should look elsewhere. Owners report broken knobs and portafilters that will not lock.
- Low price near $65
- Small size and a steam wand
- Quick, simple cleanup
- Reports of broken knobs and portafilters
- No independent test data
- One year warranty only
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