The Breville Creatista Plus and Creatista Pro offer premium at-home espresso experiences, but they differ primarily in technology, speed, and price. The Plus uses a dial-controlled LCD screen and a single thermojet system for sequential brewing and frothing, while the Pro features a large color touchscreen and a dual boiler system that allows for simultaneous brewing and steaming, making it significantly faster for back-to-back drinks.
Here’s everything you need to know to choose the right Breville machine for your coffee routine.
Breville Creatista Plus
The Breville Creatista Plus is designed for home users who want the convenience of a Nespresso machine combined with the ability to create barista-quality frothed milk. Housed in a sleek, polished stainless steel body, this machine simplifies the creation of lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites with its intuitive interface and an automated steam wand that does the hard work for you.
- What it is: A premium Nespresso machine with an integrated, fully-automatic steam wand for creating textured milk for lattes and cappuccinos.
- Key features: User-friendly LCD display with a rotary dial, 3-second heat-up time, an automatic steam wand with 8 milk texture levels and 11 milk temperature settings, and multiple preset drink recipes.
- Price: Around $1,000
- Style: Modern and compact with a polished stainless steel finish that fits well in contemporary kitchens.
- Materials/Construction: Durable stainless steel body designed for consistent performance.
- Pros: Very fast heat-up time. Compact footprint saves counter space. Extremely user-friendly for beginners. Automatic steam wand creates excellent microfoam with minimal effort. More affordable for a premium machine at this level.
- Cons: Single heating system means you can't brew and froth milk at the same time. Less customization compared to the Pro model. LCD screen is functional but not as modern as a touchscreen.
The Creatista Plus is ideal for anyone who values convenience and style, wanting excellent coffee and latte art-quality milk without a steep learning curve.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/products/espresso/bes810bss.html
Breville Creatista Pro
The Breville Creatista Pro is the top-tier model, built for the serious coffee enthusiast who demands more control, speed, and customization. This machine elevates the experience with a large color touchscreen for effortless navigation and a powerful dual boiler system that allows you to extract espresso and steam milk simultaneously. It’s a bigger, faster, and more versatile machine designed for those who want the ultimate at-home Nespresso-based cafe experience.
- What it is: A high-end Nespresso machine with a dual boiler system, a large touchscreen interface, and extensive customization options for creating and saving personalized coffee recipes.
- Key features: A responsive 4.3" color touchscreen, a dual thermojet heating system for simultaneous operation, larger 2-liter water reservoir, dedicated hot water spout, and the ability to save custom drink settings.
- Price: Around $1,600
- Style: A professional, robust look with a brushed stainless steel finish and a dominant touchscreen that gives it a high-tech feel.
- Materials/Construction: A heavy-duty brushed stainless steel body built for durability and frequent use.
- Pros: Dual boiler allows you to make drinks significantly faster. Huge range of customization via the intuitive touchscreen. Larger water tank means fewer refills. Can create and save personalized drink recipes.
- Cons: Substantially more expensive. Larger footprint requires more counter space. May be overkill for casual users who only make one drink at a time.
The Creatista Pro is perfectly suited for passionate home baristas who frequently entertain or desire professional-grade control and speed for their daily routine.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/products/espresso/bes920bss.html
Breville Creatista Plus vs. Pro Comparison
Display & User Interface
The biggest day-to-day difference is how you interact with each machine. The Creatista Plus uses a clear LCD screen navigated with a simple rotary dial and push button. It’s straightforward, easy to master, and shows you everything you need to know. You can select your drink, and adjust milk temperature and texture levels with a few quick turns and clicks.
The Creatista Pro swaps this for a large, smartphone-like color touchscreen. This interface is more intuitive and visual, guiding you through drink creation step-by-step. It also unlocks deeper customization, allowing you to fine-tune shot volume, milk temperature, and froth level and then save your perfect recipe under a unique name for one-touch access later on.
Performance & Speed
Both machines heat up in just 3 seconds, so you're never waiting long for your first shot. The main performance difference comes from their heating systems. The Creatista Plus has a single thermojet, which means it performs tasks sequentially - first, it heats water for your espresso, then it switches to heating and frothing your milk. This is perfectly fine for making one or two drinks.
The Creatista Pro features a dual thermojet internal system, which is a major upgrade. This allows it to extract espresso and froth milk at the same time. If you entertain guests or have a household of coffee drinkers, this cuts your total drink-making time nearly in half and is the biggest reason to choose the Pro.
Dimensions & Footprint
The Creatista Plus is the more compact of the two, measuring approximately 12.5" D x 9.6" W x 12.2" H. It's designed to fit comfortably on most countertops, even in smaller kitchens where space is at a premium.
The Creatista Pro is noticeably larger at about 13.4" D x 11.2" W x 16.1" H. Its bigger size accommodates the dual boiler system and a larger water reservoir (2L vs. the Plus's 1.5L), but you'll need to ensure you have enough clearance, especially under overhead cabinets.
Price & Value
With a price difference of around $600, the choice here is clear-cut. The Creatista Plus offers incredible value, giving you the automatic steam wand and premium build quality for a much lower investment. For the average coffee drinker, this machine provides a high-end experience that justifies its price tag.
The Creatista Pro's value is aimed squarely at the power user. The higher price pays for speed, efficiency, and advanced personalization. If you're passionate about coffee and will use the simultaneous features and saved recipes daily, the investment can save you significant time and effort in the long run.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both Breville machines deliver an outstanding at-home coffee experience, but they are built for different users and priorities.
Choose the Breville Creatista Plus if:
- You primarily make one or two cups of coffee at a time.
- You value simplicity and prefer a straightforward, dial-based interface.
- Your kitchen has limited counter space.
- You want professional-quality frothed milk without spending top dollar.
Choose the Breville Creatista Pro if:
- You often make multiple lattes or cappuccinos back-to-back for family or guests.
- You are a tech enthusiast who loves a large, intuitive touchscreen interface.
- You want to create, customize, and save your own drink recipes for one-touch brewing.
- You have ample counter space and a larger budget for a machine that prioritizes speed and convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Creatista Plus and Pro?
The three main differences are the display, heating system, and price. The Plus has an LCD screen and a single boiler (brews then steams), while the Pro has a large touchscreen and a dual boiler (brews and steams at the same time), which makes it much faster.
Is the Breville Creatista Pro worth the extra money?
It's worth it if you make multiple milk-based drinks in a row, as the simultaneous brewing and frothing is a significant time-saver. If you're mainly making one drink for yourself each morning, the functionality of the Creatista Plus is more than sufficient, and you can save the extra money.
Do both models have an automatic steam wand?
Yes, the signature feature of the Creatista series is the fully automatic steam wand that creates perfectly textured microfoam for latte art. Both models allow you to adjust the milk temperature and froth level.
What is a dual boiler system and why does it matter?
A dual boiler (or dual thermojet in this case) features separate heating systems for brewing coffee and producing steam. This allows the Pro to pull an espresso shot and froth milk simultaneously, drastically reducing the total time it takes to make a latte or cappuccino compared to a single boiler machine like the Plus.
Which Creatista machine is easier to clean?
Both are very easy to clean. They both have automated cleaning cycles for the steam wand and descaling reminders. The Pro's touchscreen interface can make it slightly easier to navigate to the cleaning functions, but the overall required effort is comparable for both.
Can you use non-Nespresso pods in these machines?
These machines are designed to be used with Nespresso's OriginalLine capsules for optimal performance. While some third-party compatible capsules may work, they can sometimes cause issues with fit or extraction. Breville recommends using genuine Nespresso pods.
Which machine is bigger?
The Pro is larger in every dimension than the Plus. It's taller, wider, and deeper, so it's important to measure your counter space, including the height below any upper cabinets, before buying.
Can I just make a regular coffee?
Yes, both machines can produce an Americano-style coffee. You can brew an espresso or lungo shot, then use the dedicated hot water spout to top it up with hot water to your desired strength.
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