The Breville Barista Pro and the Barista Express are two fantastic all-in-one espresso machines from Breville, but they cater to slightly different users, primarily differing in heat-up time, user interface, and steam power. The Pro model features a lightning-fast ThermoJet heating system and an intuitive LCD screen, while the Express uses a slightly slower Thermocoil system with a classic analog pressure gauge and button layout.
Here's a detailed comparison to help you decide which one is the right fit for your home coffee bar.
Breville Barista Pro
The Barista Pro is the modern, upgraded sibling in Breville's lineup, designed for speed and user-friendliness. Its single biggest advantage is the ThermoJet heating system, which gets the machine ready to pull shots in just three seconds. This, combined with an intuitive LCD screen that provides real-time feedback on grinding and extraction, makes the brewing process faster and more straightforward.
- What it is: An all-in-one espresso machine with an integrated grinder, known for its rapid heat-up time and modern digital interface.
- Key features: ThermoJet heating system (3-second heat-up), intuitive LCD screen with animated graphics, integrated conical burr grinder with 30 size settings, powerful steam wand for microfoam frothing.
- Price: Around $849.95
- Dimensions: 13.9" x 13.5" x 16"
- Materials/Construction: Brushed stainless steel casing for durability and a premium kitchen aesthetic.
- Pros: Extremely fast 3-second heat-up time. LCD interface is easy to understand for beginners. More powerful steam wand produces better quality milk foam faster. Slightly more precise grinder settings.
- Cons: Higher price point. The faster heating doesn’t mean the whole machine (like the portafilter) is fully thermally stable in just 3 seconds, requiring a blank shot to pre-heat.
The Barista Pro is perfect for the home barista who values speed and a modern, digital experience and is willing to pay a premium for those conveniences.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes880.html
Breville Barista Express
The Barista Express is a true classic in the home espresso world and one of Breville’s most popular machines. It's a complete bean-to-cup solution that offers exceptional value, combining a conical burr grinder and a capable semi-automatic machine into one package. It uses a Thermocoil heating system and features a tactile, analog pressure gauge, appealing to users who enjoy a more hands-on, traditional brewing process.
- What it is: An all-in-one semi-automatic espresso machine with a built-in grinder that has become a benchmark for home espresso setups.
- Key features: Integrated conical burr grinder, Thermocoil heating system, analog pressure gauge to monitor extraction, dedicated hot water outlet, dose-control grinding.
- Price: Around $749.95
- Dimensions: 12.5" x 12.6" x 13.1"
- Materials/Construction: Robust brushed stainless steel body, with heavy-duty components for longevity.
- Pros: Excellent value for an all-in-one machine. Analog pressure gauge provides useful feedback for learning espresso extraction. Proven, reliable design beloved by the home coffee community. Lower price point.
- Cons: Slower to heat up (about 30-60 seconds) compared to the Pro. Steam wand is less powerful, taking longer to froth milk. Interface is less intuitive than the Pro's LCD screen.
This machine is ideal for aspiring home baristas who are on a slightly tighter budget, enjoy the analog feel of the brewing process, and don't mind a slightly longer wait for their coffee.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes870.html
Barista Pro vs. Barista Express Comparison
Heating System & Speed
This is the most significant difference between the two machines. The Barista Pro features Breville's advanced ThermoJet heating system, which is ready to brew in an industry-leading 3 seconds. Transitioning from brewing to steaming milk is nearly instantaneous. While you still should run a blank shot to heat the portafilter and brew group, the overall workflow is significantly faster.
The Barista Express uses a Thermocoil system. It's still efficient, but it takes about 30-60 seconds to reach brew temperature and another short wait to transition to steam. If you make multiple milk-based drinks back-to-back or are always in a rush in the morning, the Pro's speed is a major advantage.
Interface & Usability
The Barista Pro offers a clear, backlit LCD screen. It guides you visually through the process, displaying grind size, dose amount, and shot duration with clear animations. This makes dialing in your shot more intuitive and provides all your critical information in one place.
The Barista Express relies on a classic array of buttons and a prominent analog pressure gauge. Some users prefer this tactile, hands-on feel. The gauge is an excellent tool for learning how grind size and tamp pressure affect extraction, but the overall interface has a steeper learning curve than the Pro's guided screen.
Steam Wand & Milk Frothing
Both machines feature manual steam wands for creating lattes and cappuccinos, but the Pro's is superior. It's more powerful, built with a four-hole steam tip (compared to the Express's one-hole tip), and generates steam pressure much faster. The result is quicker milk frothing and the ability to produce finer, silkier microfoam more easily, which is essential for latte art.
Price & Value
The Barista Express is the undeniable winner on value. For a lower price, you get a fully capable all-in-one machine that can produce delicious espresso. It contains everything you need to start your home barista journey. The Barista Pro costs about $100 more, and you're paying that premium primarily for speed, a better user interface, and a stronger steam wand. While these are excellent quality-of-life improvements, the core espresso quality you can achieve is very similar across both machines.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both of these machines are leaders in their class, but they are built for different priorities.
Choose the Breville Barista Pro if:
- You're often in a hurry and want your coffee as fast as possible.
- You appreciate a modern, intuitive LCD interface that guides you.
- You primarily make milk-based drinks and want a more powerful steam wand for better microfoam.
- You are willing to invest an extra $100 for significant speed and usability upgrades.
Choose the Breville Barista Express if:
- You are looking for the best overall value in an all-in-one machine.
- You enjoy a more classic, hands-on brewing process with an analog gauge.
- You don't mind waiting 30-60 seconds for the machine to heat up.
- You're a beginner on a budget who wants a reliable machine to learn and grow with.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Breville Barista Pro and Express?
The three main differences are the heating systems (faster ThermoJet in the Pro, slower Thermocoil in the Express), the user interface (LCD screen in the Pro, analog gauge/buttons in the Express), and the steam wand (more powerful in the Pro).
Do both have a built-in grinder?
Yes, both the Barista Pro and Barista Express are all-in-one machines with integrated conical burr grinders, allowing you to grind your beans right before brewing.
Why is the Barista Pro more expensive?
The higher cost of the Barista Pro accounts for its more advanced and recent technology: the near-instant ThermoJet heating system, the crisp LCD display, and the more powerful steam wand.
Which espresso machine heats up faster?
The Barista Pro is significantly faster, heating up in just three seconds thanks to its ThermoJet system. The Barista Express takes between 30 and 60 seconds with its Thermocoil system.
Is the Barista Express still good for beginners?
Absolutely. The Barista Express is one of the most highly recommended machines for beginners because it provides everything you need in one package at a great price and has an enthusiastic community online for support and tutorials.
Is the Barista Pro's milk frothing really better?
Yes, for most users. The Pro's added steam power and four-hole tip allow it to froth milk faster and make it easier to achieve the silky smooth microfoam desired for latte art. The Express is still capable but requires a bit more technique and patience.
Do they use the same size portafilter?
Yes, both models use Breville's standard 54mm portafilter, which is slightly smaller than the 58mm commercial standard but has a wide variety of compatible accessories.
What kind of maintenance do these machines require?
Both require regular maintenance for optimal performance. This includes daily rinsing of the group head, occasional backflushing with a cleaning tablet, and periodic descaling depending on your water hardness.
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