The Breville Barista Express 870 and the Barista Pro 878 are both fan-favorite espresso machines, but they differ significantly in speed, interface, and price. The 870 is a classic, beloved for its hands-on analog dials and value, while the 878 is its modern successor, boasting a fast-heating ThermoJet system and a user-friendly digital display for greater precision.
Here's everything you need to know to choose the right Breville machine for your morning coffee routine.
Breville Barista Express BES870
The Barista Express BES870 is one of the most popular all-in-one espresso machines for home use, renowned for offering everything you need to go from bean to espresso in one compact unit. It combines a conical burr grinder, precise brewing technology, and full manual control, making it a gateway machine for aspiring home baristas who want to learn the craft without buying separate pieces of equipment.
- What it is: A semi-automatic, all-in-one espresso machine with an integrated conical burr grinder.
- Key features: Built-in grinder with dose control, 15-bar Italian pump, thermocoil heating system, analog pressure gauge, and a manual steam wand for milk frothing.
- Price: Around $700-$750
- Style: Classic and functional, with an industrial charm thanks to its stainless steel finish and prominent analog dials and pressure gauge.
- Materials/Construction: Durable stainless steel housing with sturdy plastic components.
- Pros: Excellent value for money, offers full manual control that's great for learning, proven and reliable model with a large community of users, provides a classic, tactile coffee-making experience.
- Cons: Slower heat-up time (around 30-60 seconds), requires a learning curve to get consistent results, temperature control is less precise than its digital counterpart.
This machine is for the coffee enthusiast who enjoys the hands-on process of making espresso and wants a capable, affordable machine to learn and grow with.
Shop this product: https://www.breville.com/us/products/espresso/bes870.html
Breville Barista Pro BES878
The Barista Pro BES878 is the modern evolution of the classic Barista Express, designed for users who crave speed, precision, and a more streamlined user experience. Its standout feature is the incredibly fast ThermoJet heating system, getting it ready to brew in just three seconds. A clear LCD screen replaces the analog dials, providing at-a-glance information and making it easier to dial in the perfect shot.
- What it is: An upgraded all-in-one espresso machine with a rapid heating system and a digital interface.
- Key features: 3-second ThermoJet heating system, intuitive LCD display with brewing progress, integrated grinder with more settings, precise digital temperature control, and an improved steam wand for better milk texture.
- Price: Around $900-$1,000
- Style: Sleek and modern, with a minimalist aesthetic and a clean stainless steel finish that blends seamlessly into contemporary kitchens.
- Materials/Construction: High-quality brushed stainless steel construction, built to the same durability standards as the 870.
- Pros: Extremely fast heat-up time, user-friendly digital display simplifies the brewing process, more precise control over temperature and shot duration, quieter grinder, better steam wand performance for latte art.
- Cons: Significantly more expensive, lacks the analog feedback of a pressure gauge, some purists may prefer the tactile feel of manual dials.
The Barista Pro is ideal for anyone who prioritizes speed and convenience in their coffee routine, values precise digital control, and is willing to invest more for a modern machine.
Shop this product: https://www.breville.com/us/products/espresso/bes878.html
Breville BES870 vs. BES878 Comparison
Heating System & Speed
The most important difference between these machines is the heating system. The Barista Express 870 uses an older thermocoil heating system, which takes about 30-60 seconds to reach brew temperature. While not slow, it feels like a standard wait time for an appliance.
The Barista Pro 878, however, features the advanced ThermoJet system, which heats water in a remarkable 3 seconds. This means virtually zero waiting time from turning the machine on to pulling your first shot. This speed extends to steam as well, allowing for a quicker transition from brewing to frothing milk. For busy mornings, this is a massive upgrade in workflow and convenience.
Interface & Ease of Use
The user interfaces offer two completely different experiences. The Barista Express 870 is all about analog control. You use physical dials to adjust grind size and amount, and you monitor your shot by watching the analog pressure gauge. This gives you a tactile, hands-on feel but comes with a steeper learning curve for beginners.
The Barista Pro 878 simplifies this process with an intuitive LCD screen. It visually displays grind settings, shot timing, and brewing animations, guiding you effortlessly. While it lacks the analog pressure gauge, the precise shot timer and digital feedback make it much easier for a beginner to get great, repeatable results right away.
Materials & Construction
Both models are built to last with high-quality, durable materials. They feature brushed stainless steel housings, heavy-duty 54mm portafilters, and reliable internal components that Breville is known for. Aesthetically, the 870 has a more traditional, slightly rugged look, while the 878 feels more polished and modern, but the core build quality is comparable across both machines.
Grinder & Customization
Both machines feature an integrated stainless steel conical burr grinder, a key part of their all-in-one appeal. However, the Barista Pro 878's grinder offers more grind settings for finer control over your espresso extraction. While both can be dialed in for a great shot, the 878 gives you a wider range to work with. Additionally, the digital temperature technology on the 878 allows for more precise temperature adjustments, another layer of control the 870 doesn't offer as easily.
Price & Value
There's a significant price gap of about $200-$250 between the two models. The Barista Express 870 offers incredible value, bundling a grinder and a capable espresso machine for a price that's hard to beat. It provides everything you need to start your espresso journey.
The Barista Pro 878 justifies its higher price tag with major upgrades in speed and usability. If your time is valuable and you want a quicker, more streamlined morning routine with cutting-edge technology, the extra investment is easily worth it. The value proposition here is convenience, precision, and modern design.
Who Each One Works Best For
The Barista Express 870 is perfect for the aspiring home barista on a budget who wants to fully immerse themselves in the craft of making espresso. If you enjoy the process, like the feeling of manual control, and don't mind a slightly slower workflow, the 870 is an unbeatable classic that will serve you well for years.
The Barista Pro 878 is better suited for the coffee lover who prioritizes efficiency and modern convenience. If you need your caffeine fix quickly in the morning, appreciate a clean digital interface that provides clear feedback, and are willing to pay a premium for a sleek, high-performance machine, the 878 is the superior choice.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both Breville machines make excellent espresso, but they are built for different users with different priorities.
Choose the Barista Express 870 if:
- You're working with a smaller budget but want an all-in-one machine.
- You enjoy a hands-on, analog experience and want to learn the fundamentals of espresso.
- You appreciate the tactile feedback of a physical pressure gauge.
- A one-minute heat-up time doesn't disrupt your morning routine.
Choose the Barista Pro 878 if:
- Speed and convenience are your top priorities.
- You prefer an intuitive digital interface that simplifies the brewing process.
- You want more precise and repeatable control over temperature and shot timing.
- You're willing to invest more for a faster workflow and a sleek, modern design.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Breville 870 and 878?
The three main differences are speed, interface, and price. The Barista Pro 878 has a 3-second heat-up time, a digital LCD display, and costs more. The Barista Express 870 has a ~60-second heat-up time, an analog pressure gauge, and is more budget-friendly.
Is the Breville Barista Pro (878) worth the extra money?
Yes, if you highly value speed and convenience. The difference between a 3-second and 60-second wait feels immense in a daily routine. The intuitive digital display also makes it easier to achieve consistency, which many users find to be worth the price premium.
Which Breville machine is better for beginners?
The Barista Pro 878 is generally easier for beginners. Its LCD screen provides clear visual feedback on grind time and shot duration, simplifying the process of dialing in a shot. The Barista Express 870 has a steeper learning curve but is an excellent machine for learning the craft in a more hands-on way.
Do they use the same size portafilter?
Yes, both models use Breville's standard 54mm stainless steel portafilter, and they often come with both single-wall (for fresh beans) and dual-wall (for pre-ground) filter baskets.
Is the grinder on the 878 better than the 870?
The grinder on the Barista Pro 878 has more adjustment steps, offering a finer level of control over your grind size. This can make it easier to dial in tricky beans. Many users also report that it is slightly quieter in operation.
Can you make lattes and cappuccinos with both machines?
Absolutely. Both machines feature powerful manual steam wands for frothing milk. The Barista Pro 878 has a slightly improved steam wand with more power, which can help create silky microfoam for latte art more easily.
How difficult is it to clean these machines?
Both machines have similar cleaning protocols that are straightforward. They include basic daily rinsing of the group head and portafilter, along with periodic descaling and backflushing. Both models even have on-screen or light-up alerts to let you know when it's time for a cleaning cycle.
Does the quality of the espresso shot differ?
With an experienced user, both machines can produce excellent, cafe-quality espresso. However, the Barista Pro 878's precise digital temperature control and more consistent grinder can make it easier to pull perfectly balanced shots repeatedly.
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