The Breville Barista Pro and the Barista Touch share the same high-quality brewing system, but differ significantly in their user interface, level of automation, and price. The Barista Pro features a digital display with manual controls for users who want a hands-on experience, while the Barista Touch uses a full-color touchscreen to automate the entire process from grinding to milk frothing, offering maximum convenience.
Here's everything you need to know to decide which Breville machine is the right fit for your home coffee bar.
Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine
The Barista Pro is designed for the home barista who enjoys the craft of making coffee and wants precise control over every step. It combines an integrated conical burr grinder with a fast thermocoil heating system, allowing you to go from bean to espresso in under a minute. The intuitive LCD screen provides all the feedback you need without taking control away from the user, making it a popular choice for espresso enthusiasts.
- What it is: A semi-automatic, all-in-one espresso machine with an integrated grinder and manual steam wand.
- Key features: LCD interface showing grind and extraction progress, ThermoJet heating system with 3-second heat-up time, integrated conical burr grinder with 30 grind settings, powerful manual steam wand for micro-foam milk texturing.
- Price: Around $700–$750
- Dimensions: 13" x 12" x 13"
- Materials/Construction: Brushed stainless steel casing with professional-grade internal components.
- Style: Modern, functional aesthetic that looks professional on any countertop.
- Pros: Excellent value for professional-level features. Provides complete manual control over the shot and milk frothing. Fast heat-up time means no waiting. LCD screen provides helpful feedback.
- Cons: Manual milk frothing requires practice to achieve café-quality results. Steeper learning curve compared to the Touch. Requires more user input for each drink.
This machine is ideal for someone who wants to learn the fundamentals of espresso making and enjoys the hands-on process of dialing in the perfect shot.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/products/espresso/bes878.html
Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine
The Barista Touch simplifies the espresso-making process with its intuitive, full-color touchscreen. It offers the same powerful brewing foundation as the Pro but adds a layer of automation that guides you through every step. With pre-programmed cafe favorites and the ability to save your own custom creations, the standout feature is its automatic milk-texturing wand that delivers silky micro-foam at the touch of a button.
- What it is: An automated touchscreen espresso machine with an integrated grinder and automatic steam wand.
- Key features: Full-color touchscreen with a pre-programmed drink menu (espresso, latte, cappuccino, etc.). Automatic steam wand with adjustable temperature and texture settings. Integrated conical burr grinder. ThermoJet heating system. Ability to save up to 8 personalized drink settings.
- Price: Around $1,000–$1,200
- Dimensions: 12.5" x 12" x 16"
- Materials/Construction: Brushed stainless steel body with high-quality internal parts.
- Style: Sleek, high-tech appearance that fits a modern kitchen aesthetic.
- Pros: Extremely easy to use, even for complete beginners. Touchscreen provides step-by-step instructions. Automatic milk frothing delivers consistent results every time. Perfect for households with multiple users who have different preferences.
- Cons: Significantly more expensive than the Barista Pro. Less hands-on control may not appeal to coffee purists. Reliance on the touchscreen interface.
The Barista Touch is perfect for anyone who wants consistently great coffee without the learning curve and values convenience and speed above all else.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/products/espresso/bes880.html
Breville Barista Pro vs. Barista Touch Comparison
Interface & Ease of Use
The core difference between these two machines is the user interface. The Barista Pro uses an LCD screen combined with physical buttons and a dial. It gives you essential information like grind size, shot timer, and cleaning alerts, but you are in full control of starting and stopping the shot and steaming the milk. This requires some practice but offers a rewarding, hands-on experience.
The Barista Touch swaps those controls for a vibrant, full-color touchscreen. You simply swipe and select a pre-programmed drink like a latte or flat white, and the machine guides you through the process. It tells you exactly what to do and automates key steps, making it almost impossible to mess up. For pure ease of use and accessibility for all skill levels, the Touch is the clear winner.
Milk Frothing & Automation
This is the second major point of difference. The Barista Pro features a powerful manual steam wand, similar to what you'd find on a commercial espresso machine. It's up to you to texture the milk to the right consistency for lattes or cappuccinos. While it produces fantastic micro-foam, mastering it takes time and patience.
The Barista Touch removes all the guesswork with its automatic steam wand. You simply place the milk jug under the wand, select your desired temperature and texture on the touchscreen, and it does all the work for you. It consistently produces silky, perfectly frothed milk, making it ideal for those who primarily drink milk-based coffees and want flawless results every time without having to learn a new skill.
Materials & Construction
In terms of build quality, both machines are almost identical. They both feature a brushed stainless steel chassis that is sturdy, durable, and easy to clean. Internally, a lot of the key components are the same, including the ThermoJet heating system for rapid heat-up and the integrated conical burr grinder. Both feel like premium appliances built to last, so material and construction quality should not be a deciding factor between the two.
Price & Value
The Barista Pro is typically priced around $700-$750, while the Barista Touch costs significantly more at $1,000-$1,200. The price difference of around $300-$400 buys you the touchscreen and the automated milk frothing. If you are on a budget or enjoy the idea of mastering the art of espresso, the Barista Pro offers phenomenal value, providing much of the same core brewing technology as the Touch for much less.
If convenience is your top priority and you're willing to pay a premium for a machine that delivers consistent cafe-style drinks with zero effort, the Barista Touch is a worthwhile investment. It simplifies a complex process, which can be invaluable for busy mornings.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both machines are excellent choices that produce great-tasting espresso, but they appeal to very different users.
Choose the Breville Barista Pro if:
- You want to learn and master the full process of making espresso and latte art.
- You enjoy having granular, manual control over your coffee-making variables.
- You want professional-level features at a more accessible price point.
- You are the primary user and are willing to invest time to practice.
Choose the Breville Barista Touch if:
- You prioritize speed, convenience, and consistency above all else.
- You want perfect coffee drinks without a steep learning curve.
- Multiple people with different preferences will be using the machine.
- You love a sleek, modern, tech-forward appliance and have the budget for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Barista Pro and Touch?
The main difference is the interface and automation. The Pro has an LCD screen and manual controls, requiring hands-on skill for milk frothing. The Touch has a full-color touchscreen that automates the whole process, including milk texturing, for one-touch convenience.
Is the Barista Touch worth the extra money?
If you value ease of use, speed, and want consistently great results without learning any special skills, then yes. The automatic milk frothing and guided touchscreen are significant upgrades for users who prioritize convenience. If you enjoy the process and want to save money, the Pro is a better value.
Which espresso machine is better for beginners?
The Barista Touch is hands-down the better machine for beginners. Its touchscreen guides you through every step, taking the guesswork out of grinding, brewing, and milk frothing. The learning curve is almost nonexistent.
Is the espresso quality the same from both machines?
Yes, the fundamental brewing quality is the same. Both machines use the same group head, portafilter size, and a highly similar integrated grinder. When dialed in correctly, they can both pull an identical shot of espresso.
How fast do these machines heat up?
Both the Barista Pro and Barista Touch use Breville's ThermoJet heating system, which reaches the optimal extraction temperature in just 3 seconds. There is virtually no waiting time for either machine to be ready to brew.
Can you make latte art with the Barista Touch's automatic system?
Absolutely. The automatic steam wand on the Touch is surprisingly effective at creating silky, paint-like micro-foam that is perfect for pouring latte art. While it's automated, the quality of the foam is excellent.
Are the built-in grinders good on these machines?
Yes, both machines feature an integrated stainless steel conical burr grinder that is very capable for espresso. It offers a wide range of grind settings and delivers a consistent grind directly into the portafilter, which is crucial for good-tasting espresso.
How often do you need to clean them?
Both machines have automated cleaning cycles and will prompt you on their screens when it's time for maintenance like descaling or backflushing. Regular daily cleaning involves wiping the steam wand, rinsing the group head after use, and emptying the drip tray.
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