The Breville Barista Touch and Barista Pro are two standout espresso machines from Breville, but they cater to very different home baristas. The Barista Touch is all about convenience, with a color touchscreen and automatic milk frothing for café-quality drinks at the push of a button. The Barista Pro, on the other hand, is built for the aspiring barista who wants full manual control over the process, from pulling the shot to steaming milk with a commercial-grade wand.
Here's a detailed comparison to help you decide which machine is the right fit for your countertop and coffee ambitions.
Breville Barista Touch
The Barista Touch is designed as an all-in-one 'bean-to-cup' espresso machine that prioritizes simplicity and repeatability. Its main draw is the intuitive touchscreen interface that guides you through every step, from grinding the beans to selecting a pre-programmed café favorite. The automatic steam wand is another key feature, taking the guesswork out of creating perfectly frothed milk for lattes and cappuccinos.
- What it is: A user-friendly espresso machine with an integrated grinder, touchscreen controls, and an automatic milk steaming wand.
- Key features: Full-color touchscreen with 8 pre-programmed café drinks, integrated conical burr grinder, automatic microfoam milk texturing, ThermoJet heating system for a 3-second heat-up time.
- Price: Around $1,099.95
- Style: Sleek and modern with a polished stainless steel finish. A centrally-located touchscreen provides a contemporary, high-tech look.
- Materials/Construction: Built with a durable brushed stainless steel body and high-quality internal components designed for ease of use and cleaning.
- Pros: Extremely easy to use, even for complete beginners. Creates consistent results every time. Automatic milk frothing removes a major learning curve. Save your own custom drink settings for one-touch access.
- Cons: More expensive than the Pro. Offers less manual control over the extraction process. Not ideal for users who want to learn and perfect traditional barista skills. The automatic steam wand, while convenient, does not allow for a high degree of latte art control.
This machine is perfect for anyone who wants consistently delicious coffee shop drinks at home without a steep learning curve or manual effort.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes880.html
Breville Barista Pro
The Barista Pro finds the sweet spot between consumer convenience and professional control. It swaps the touchscreen for classic button controls and an LCD screen that provides real-time feedback on grind time and shot duration. The key difference from the Touch is its powerful, manually-operated steam wand, giving you the complete control and thermal power needed to create silky microfoam for detailed latte art.
- What it is: A semi-automatic espresso machine that gives home baristas precise control over grinded beans, espresso extraction, and milk frothing.
- Key features: LCD interface for better shot control, integrated conical burr grinder with 30-grind settings, ThermoJet heating system for fast heat up, a powerful manual steam wand for latte art.
- Price: Around $849.95
- Style: Professional and industrial-inspired design. Features a combination of brushed stainless steel with traditional tactile buttons and a sturdy, commercial-style look.
- Materials/Construction: Heavy-duty stainless steel build with robust internal components. It's designed to withstand frequent, hands-on use for a more classic barista experience.
- Pros: Provides granular manual control for dialing in the perfect shot. The powerful steam wand is excellent for learning and perfecting latte art. Less expensive than the Barista Touch. Its ThermoJet heating system is exceptionally fast.
- Cons: A significantly steeper learning curve, especially for milk texturing. Requires more practice and skill to achieve consistent results. Less convenient for quick, automated drinks.
The Barista Pro excels in the hands of a coffee lover who wants a hands-on experience and the satisfaction of mastering a new skill.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes878.html
Barista Touch vs. Barista Pro Comparison
User Interface & Features
The most significant difference lies in how you interact with the machines. The Barista Touch is centered around a vibrant, easy-to-navigate touchscreen. You can select drinks like a latte, flat white, or cappuccino from the screen, and the machine walks you through the steps. It feels like using a premium coffee pod machine but with freshly-ground beans. Its milk wand is fully automatic - just place the jug underneath, and it steams to your pre-set temperature and texture.
The Barista Pro uses a more traditional array of buttons and a small LCD screen that provides critical feedback like grind size and shot timer. This interface puts you in the driver’s seat. The manual steam wand requires you to learn how to texturize milk yourself. While challenging at first, it offers a much higher ceiling for skill and is the only way to achieve a true latte art-quality microfoam once mastered.
Dimensions & Scale
Both machines are fairly compact for all-in-one units, but there are slight differences. The Barista Touch measures approximately 12.7" wide by 13.1" deep and 16" high. The Barista Pro has a very similar footprint, coming in at 13.9" wide by 13.5" deep and 13.9" high. Both will fit comfortably on most kitchen counters, though you'll want to ensure you have enough overhead clearance under your cabinets to refill the grinder and water tank.
Materials & Construction
Both machines feature Breville's signature brushed stainless steel finish, giving them a premium and durable feel. The Pro has a slightly more industrial and robust construction, with heavier-duty switches and a commercial-style steam wand that feels built for heavy, continuous use. The Touch incorporates more high-quality plastic around its touchscreen and interface, which while still durable, leans more towards a sleek, modern appliance aesthetic rather than a professional one.
Price & Value
Surprisingly, the model with "Pro" in the name is the less expensive of the two. The Barista Pro is typically priced around $850, while the Barista Touch comes in closer to $1,100. The price premium for the Touch buys you automation and convenience. The advanced touchscreen and automated frothing system are technological features that increase the cost. For the Barista Pro, the value is in its performance and control. You get the same excellent internal heating system and grinder but save money by taking on the manual work yourself, which many enthusiasts prefer.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both machines produce exceptional espresso thanks to quality internal components, but they are built for entirely different users and priorities.
Choose the Breville Barista Touch if:
- You prioritize convenience and want great coffee with minimal effort.
- You're new to espresso and feel intimidated by the idea of manual milk frothing.
- Several people in your household will be using the machine and value a simple interface.
- You want to save your custom drink recipes for one-touch operation in the future.
Choose the Breville Barista Pro if:
- You want to learn the art of being a home barista, including manual milk frothing.
- Control over espresso variables and hands-on brewing is important to you.
- You are passionate about crafting detailed latte art.
- You're on a tighter budget but still want pro-level performance and features.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Barista Touch and Barista Pro?
The simplest distinction is control. The Barista Touch is automated and user-friendly with a touchscreen and auto-frothing milk wand. The Barista Pro is a manual machine with physical buttons and a professional-style steam wand that requires skill to use effectively but offers greater control.
Which Breville machine heats up faster?
Both the Barista Touch and the Barista Pro use Breville's advanced ThermoJet heating system. This allows both machines to reach the optimal extraction temperature in just 3 seconds, so there is no performance difference in heat-up time.
Is the Barista Touch worth the extra money?
It depends on your priorities. If you value speed, simplicity, and repeatable results without any of the learning curves associated with making espresso, then the extra cost for the touchscreen and automation provided by the Barista Touch is absolutely worth it.
Is the Barista Pro good for beginners?
The Barista Pro can be a good choice for motivated beginners who are eager to learn the craft of making espresso. There is a learning curve, especially with milk texturing, but its intuitive controls provide a great platform for mastering barista skills.
Which machine makes better milk foam?
The Barista Touch makes more *consistent* foam automatically. However, a skilled user with the Barista Pro's manual steam wand can create superior microfoam that is glossier and better integrated for detailed latte art - it just takes practice.
Do both machines come with a built-in grinder?
Yes, both machines are AIO (all-in-one) units that feature an integrated conical burr grinder, transforming whole beans into a fresh espresso shot in under a minute.
Can I pull a good shot of espresso with the Barista Touch?
Absolutely. The Barista Touch uses the same high-quality internal systems for heating and PID temperature control as the Pro, ensuring you can pull delicious and well-balanced espresso shots with minimal effort.
What maintenance is needed for these machines?
Both require regular maintenance for longevity. This includes daily cleaning of the portafilter and steam wand, periodic descaling reminders that the machines will provide, cleaning the coffee grinder, and occasionally backflushing to clean the group head.
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