The Breville Impress and Breville Pro espresso machines both deliver excellent home coffee, but they cater to very different users through their features, complexity, and price. The Impress is designed for balance, offering convenience and quality for the everyday user, while the Pro provides advanced controls, customization, and professional-grade components for the serious coffee hobbyist.
Here’s everything you need to know to choose the right Breville espresso machine for your kitchen counter.
Breville Impress
The Breville Impress is a semi-automatic espresso machine that strikes an effective balance between user control and automated convenience. It is engineered for the home barista who wants a high-quality, reliable machine that produces excellent espresso without a steep learning curve. Its sleek design and intuitive controls make it an attractive and functional addition to any modern kitchen.
- What it is: A semi-automatic espresso machine built to provide café-quality results with user-friendly features.
- Key features: Digital temperature control (PID) for precise extraction, a manual steam wand for milk frothing, programmable shot volumes, and a quick heat-up time.
- Price: Typically ranges from $600 to $700.
- Dimensions: Compact footprint around 12" x 12", making it a great fit for smaller countertops.
- Materials/Construction: Built with durable stainless steel and high-quality plastic components designed for consistent daily use.
- Style: Sleek, modern, and minimalist with clean lines that integrate seamlessly into contemporary kitchen decor.
- Pros: Easy to set up and operate. Provides a great balance of control and convenience. More affordable price point. Compact size saves counter space. Heats up quickly.
- Cons: Less manual control over brewing variables compared to the Pro. Not all components are metal. The steam wand is powerful but not commercial-grade.
The Impress is ideal for anyone seeking a dependable, easy-to-use machine that takes the guesswork out of making great espresso at home.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/products/espresso/bes870.html
Breville Pro
The Breville Pro is a higher-end espresso machine designed for the true coffee enthusiast who craves granular control over every aspect of the brewing process. With professional-grade features and a robust build, it allows users to experiment and fine-tune their shots to perfection, replicating the performance of commercial machines in a home environment.
- What it is: An advanced, feature-rich espresso machine for serious home baristas.
- Key features: Pre-infusion, customizable brewing settings, a commercial-style steam wand for perfect microfoam, and a larger water reservoir.
- Price: Usually priced between $1,200 and $1,500.
- Dimensions: Larger footprint at approximately 14" x 15", requiring more dedicated counter space.
- Materials/Construction: Heavy-duty stainless steel build with reinforced internal components for maximum durability and thermal stability.
- Style: Industrial-inspired and professional, with a substantial presence that makes it a statement piece on the countertop.
- Pros: Provides maximum control over brewing. Built with professional-grade components for superior performance and longevity. Powerful steam wand for excellent milk texturing. Worthwhile investment for dedicated coffee lovers.
- Cons: A significant price jump from the Impress. Larger and heavier, so not suitable for all kitchens. Steeper learning curve to master all the features.
This machine is built for the aspiring barista who sees coffee brewing as an art form and wants the tools to perfect their craft.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/products/espresso/bes920.html
Breville Impress vs. Breville Pro Comparison
Dimensions & Scale
The most immediate physical difference is the size. The Breville Impress features a compact, counter-friendly footprint of roughly 12" x 12". This makes it an easy fit for most kitchens, including apartments or homes with limited counter space, without feeling obtrusive.
The Breville Pro is a more substantial machine, measuring around 14" x 15". Its larger size and heavier build require more dedicated space and give it a much more dominant presence. Before choosing the Pro, you should measure your countertop to ensure you have adequate room, especially considering clearance under overhead cabinets.
Features & Control
Herein lies the biggest distinction between the two models. The Impress is built for consistency and ease of use. It offers standard features like digital temperature control and programmable shot volumes, giving you enough control to dial in a great shot without overwhelming you with options.
The Pro, on the other hand, is all about granular control. It provides advanced features for users who want to experiment with brewing variables for precise results. The steam wand on the Pro is also commercial-style, offering more power and precision for creating silky-smooth microfoam for latte art - a capability that serious enthusiasts will appreciate.
Materials & Construction
Both machines are well-built, but their construction reflects their price points and target users. The Impress uses a combination of durable stainless steel and high-quality plastic parts. It feels sturdy and is designed to withstand daily use for years.
The Pro elevates the build quality with a more extensive use of heavy-duty stainless steel throughout its body and internal components. This adds to its weight and thermal stability, contributing to more consistent shots and a robust, closer-in feel to a commercial machine.
Price & Value
With a price tag around $600-$700, the Breville Impress offers fantastic value. For that price, you get a reliable, stylish, and highly capable machine that produces excellent espresso far superior to pod-based systems. It’s an ideal entry point into the world of quality home espresso.
The Breville Pro costs roughly double, coming in between $1,200 and $1,500. This is a significant investment, and its value is tied directly to its advanced features. If you will use the enhanced controls and want professional-grade steaming capabilities, the Pro is worth every penny. If not, the Impress provides better value for everyday shots.
Who Each One Works Best For
Simply put, the Breville Impress is designed for the majority of home coffee drinkers. It’s perfect for those who want to upgrade from an entry-level machine or a pod system to make excellent cappuccinos and lattes without a huge hassle. Its blend of automated help and manual options makes it approachable and satisfying for daily use.
The Breville Pro is purpose-built for the coffee hobbyist. It's for the person who loves experimenting with different beans, grind sizes, and extraction times to chase the perfect shot. If you find joy in the process and want a machine that won't limit your ability to learn and improve your skills, the Pro is your machine.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both the Impress and Pro are excellent machines from a top-tier brand, but they solve different problems for different coffee drinkers.
Choose the Breville Impress if:
- You want consistently great espresso without a complex process.
- You value ease of use and a quick-heating machine for your morning routine.
- You have a budget of under $800.
- Your kitchen has limited counter space.
Choose the Breville Pro if:
- Brewing espresso is a serious hobby that you want to explore deeply.
- You want maximum, professional-level control over every brewing variable.
- Your budget allows for a premium machine, and performance is your top priority.
- You enjoy creating high-quality milk foam and practicing latte art.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the main difference between the Breville Impress and Pro?
The primary difference is the level of user control. The Impress is a semi-automatic machine focused on convenience and consistent results with less effort. The Pro offers advanced features that give the user granular control over brewing variables, targeting coffee enthusiasts who enjoy experimenting.
Which Breville machine is better for beginners?
The Breville Impress is widely considered the better choice for beginners. Its intuitive design and straightforward operation allow newcomers to pull excellent shots quickly, while still providing enough manual control to learn the basics of espresso making.
Is the Breville Pro worth the extra money?
For a dedicated coffee hobbyist, yes. The Pro's superior build quality, advanced customization, and commercial-grade steam wand provide a higher performance ceiling that enthusiasts will value. For a casual user who just wants a good morning latte, the Impress offers better value.
How is the steam wand performance on each model?
The Impress has a capable steam wand that can produce good quality steamed milk for lattes and cappuccinos. The Pro features a more powerful, commercial-style steam wand that creates superior microfoam much faster, making it better for aspiring latte artists.
Do these machines have a built-in grinder?
Models in the Breville Barista series, such as the Barista Express Impress and the Barista Pro, come with integrated conical burr grinders. This all-in-one design is convenient and saves counter space.
How big are these machines?
The Impress is more compact at roughly 12" x 12", making it suitable for smaller spaces. The Pro is larger and heavier, measuring approximately 14" x 15", and requires a dedicated spot on your counter with ample room.
What maintenance do these Breville machines require?
Both machines require regular maintenance, including daily rinsing of the portafilter and steam wand, periodic cleaning cycles with tablets, and descaling every few months, depending on water hardness. The digital display on both provides alerts for when cleaning is needed.
Do they have the same water tank capacity?
No, the Pro generally comes with a larger water reservoir than the Impress. This means fewer refills, which is convenient for households with multiple coffee drinkers or for those who make several drinks a day.
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