The Breville 980 (Oracle) and 990 (Oracle Touch) are high-end espresso machines that differ primarily in their user interface and degree of customization. The 980 relies on straightforward buttons and a simple LCD screen for a more traditional, hands-on experience, while the 990 features a modern color touchscreen that automates and saves personalized drink recipes, offering more convenience and granular control.
Here's everything you need to know to choose the right Breville machine for your home cafe.
Breville 980 (The Oracle)
The Breville 980, known as The Oracle, is a premium semi-automatic espresso machine that balances professional-grade features with user-friendly controls. It automates the most difficult parts of espresso making - grinding, dosing, and tamping - while still giving you manual control over extraction and milk frothing. This makes it a popular choice for home baristas who want consistent, cafe-quality espresso without the steep learning curve of a fully manual machine.
- What it is: A high-performance semi-automatic espresso machine with an integrated grinder and automated tamping system.
- Key features: Auto grind, dose, and tamp functionality, dual stainless steel boilers, PID temperature control for precise water temperature, over-pressure valve (OPV) to limit extraction pressure, dedicated steam boiler for simultaneous brewing and steaming.
- Price: Around $1,200 to $1,400.
- Style: Classic and professional with a brushed stainless steel finish. Its interface consists of physical buttons and a clear LCD screen, giving it a functional, commercial-appliance look.
- Materials/Construction: Built with high-quality stainless steel and durable commercial-grade components for the brew group, portafilter, and steam wand.
- Pros: Delivers excellent consistency with minimal effort. Straightforward, tactile controls are easy to learn. Offers great value for a dual boiler machine. Reliable performance and durable build quality.
- Cons: Limited customization compared to the 990. The interface feels less modern than a touchscreen. Can still be intimidating for absolute beginners.
The 980 is ideal for the coffee lover seeking reliable, high-quality results with simplified, repeatable controls in a durable, professional-style package.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes980.html
Breville 990 (The Oracle Touch)
The Breville 990, or The Oracle Touch, takes all the core features of the 980 and adds a layer of modern convenience with its full-color touchscreen interface. It guides users through the process of making their favorite coffee, from a flat white to a cappuccino, and allows you to create, name, and save up to eight personalized drink presets. This makes it perfect for households with multiple coffee drinkers or for anyone who values one-touch simplicity without sacrificing quality.
- What it is: A premium, touchscreen-operated semi-automatic espresso machine that automates the entire brewing process.
- Key features: Intuitive color touchscreen display with pre-programmed cafe drinks, swipe and select functionality for espresso, long black, latte, flat white, and cappuccino, ability to save up to 8 personalized drinks, automated, adjustable milk texturing and temperature.
- Price: Around $1,400 to $1,600.
- Style: Sleek and high-tech, with the touchscreen serving as the central control panel. The brushed stainless steel body maintains a premium feel while looking more modern and minimalist.
- Materials/Construction: Features the same robust stainless steel build as the 980, with refined finishing touches that enhance its premium aesthetic.
- Pros: Extremely easy to use with its guided touchscreen. High degree of user customization for saved drinks. Advanced automation for milk frothing is great for beginners. Perfect for multi-user households.
- Cons: More expensive than the 980. The reliance on a touchscreen may be less appealing for purists who prefer tactile dials and buttons. Has a steeper initial price for its convenience features.
The 990 is designed for users who prioritize convenience, love modern technology, and want the ability to save custom drink recipes for one-touch brewing.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes990.html
Breville 980 vs. 990 Comparison
Interface & Usability
The most significant difference between these two machines is their control scheme. The Breville 980 uses a combination of classic buttons, dials, and a simple monochrome LCD screen. This provides a tactile and direct experience where you can physically adjust settings like grind size and shot volume. It's straightforward and familiar to anyone who has used a semi-automatic machine before.
The Breville 990 swaps these physical controls for a sleek, color touchscreen. It guides you through every step with on-screen prompts and pre-programmed coffee choices. You simply swipe to your preferred drink, and the machine adjusts the parameters. This interface is incredibly user-friendly, especially for beginners, and makes complex drinks accessible with a single tap.
Customization & Control
While both machines produce excellent espresso, the 990 offers a higher level of user-friendly customization. You can easily adjust the shot temperature, milk texture, and milk temperature via the touchscreen and then save those settings as a unique preset. This is perfect for fine-tuning a drink to your exact preferences and repeating it perfectly every time.
The 980 is also customizable, but its adjustments are made manually with dials and button presses, and it doesn't offer the ability to name and save custom drink profiles. For tech-savvy users who enjoy dialing in shot parameters and saving them, the 990 provides a much more advanced and seamless experience.
Materials & Build Quality
Both models are built to last using high-quality stainless steel and feature commercial-grade components for the brewing and steaming systems. You can expect durability and consistent performance from either machine. The build quality feels solid and substantial, reflecting their premium price point. The brief notes that the 990 may have slightly more refined finishing touches, giving it an even more premium feel, but both machines are exceptionally well-made.
Price & Value
The Breville 980 typically costs about $200 less than the 990. From a performance perspective, both make the same quality of espresso, as they share the same internal components like boilers and brew heads. The value proposition for the 980 is that you get pro-level hardware and consistent results for a lower price.
The extra cost for the 990 is entirely for the touchscreen interface and the enhanced customization and convenience it provides. If you value a modern, guided experience and a one-touch solution for your favorite drinks, the additional investment is justified. If you're perfectly happy with manual controls and don't need saved profiles, the 980 offers better value.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both the 980 and 990 are excellent machines, but they cater to slightly different users and preferences.
Choose the Breville 980 if:
- You prefer the tactile feedback of physical buttons and dials.
- You want professional-grade performance without paying for a touchscreen interface.
- You enjoy the craft of making coffee and don't need saved presets.
- Value is a high priority, and you want to get the most coffee-making power for your money.
Choose the Breville 990 if:
- You love a modern, tech-forward experience and prefer touchscreen controls.
- Convenience is key - you want to save custom drinks for one-touch brewing.
- You are new to home espresso and would benefit from guided, on-screen instructions.
- You live in a multi-user household where different people have different coffee preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Breville 980 and 990?
The primary difference is the user interface. The Breville 980 uses physical buttons and a simple LCD screen, while the Breville 990 (Oracle Touch) features a full-color touchscreen that allows for greater customization and pre-saved drink recipes.
Is the Breville 990 worth the extra money?
Whether the 990 is worth its higher price depends on your priorities. If you highly value convenience, programmable presets for different users, and a modern touchscreen interface, then yes. If you just want excellent espresso quality and don't need those features, the 980 offers better value.
Which Breville machine is better for beginners?
The Breville 990 is generally considered more beginner-friendly. Its touchscreen provides on-screen guidance and automates settings for popular drinks, which significantly shortens the learning curve for making high-quality lattes and cappuccinos.
Do both the Breville 980 and 990 have a built-in grinder?
Yes, both models are part of Breville's Oracle series, which means they feature a built-in conical burr grinder that automatically grinds, doses, and tamps the correct amount of coffee for every shot.
Can you make latte art with both machines?
Absolutely. Both machines have commercial-style steam wands capable of producing the fine, silky micro-foam needed for latte art. The 990 enhances this with automated milk texturing and temperature control, making it easier for beginners to get consistent results.
How is the build quality of the Breville 980 vs. 990?
Both machines are exceptionally well-built with a brushed stainless steel exterior and internal commercial-grade components. They are designed for durability and longevity, and you can expect a premium feel from either model.
How long do these machines typically last?
With proper care and regular maintenance, both the Breville 980 and 990 are known to last for many years. Regular descaling, cleaning the group head, and replacing the water filter are key to ensuring their longevity.
What maintenance is required for these machines?
Standard maintenance includes periodic descaling, backflushing the system with a cleaning tablet, changing the water filter every few months, and keeping the burr grinder and steam wand clean. Both machines provide on-screen alerts to guide you through these cleaning cycles.
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