The Breville Oracle Jet and the Breville Touch Impress serve the same goal of making cafe-quality coffee at home, but they achieve it in fundamentally different ways. The Oracle Jet is a high-end, fully automatic machine with a dual boiler system and advanced extraction technology, designed for maximum convenience and consistency with little user input. The Touch Impress is a more affordable, semi-automatic machine that uses an intuitive touchscreen to guide you through a more hands-on, customizable brewing process.
Here's a detailed comparison to help you decide which Breville espresso machine is the right fit for your kitchen counter.
Breville Oracle Jet
The Oracle Jet is a top-of-the-line super-automatic espresso machine that handles the entire process from grinding and tamping to extraction and milk steaming. It's built for those who want the best possible espresso with the least amount of guesswork. Its dual boiler system allows you to pull a shot and steam milk at the same time, while its unique "Jet" technology uses a high-pressure water jet for what Breville claims is an enhanced, fuller-flavored extraction.
- What it is: A premium, fully automatic "bean-to-cup" espresso machine that simplifies the coffee-making process.
- Key features: Dual stainless steel boilers, "Jet" extraction technology, built-in conical burr grinder that automatically doses and tamps, programmable shot control, and automated milk steaming.
- Price: Around $2,500 – $3,000
- Materials/Construction: Built with a durable and professional-looking stainless steel chassis.
- Style: Sleek and industrial with a professional, minimalist look suitable for modern kitchens.
- Pros: Does almost all the work for you, provides consistent results every time, dual boilers allow simultaneous brewing and steaming, advanced extraction technology provides rich shots.
- Cons: Extremely high price point, less control for users who enjoy experimenting, larger footprint on the counter.
- Dimensions: Approximately 12" x 12" x 16"
This machine is for the coffee lover who prioritizes convenience and consistency and is willing to invest in a machine that delivers barista-quality drinks automatically.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/oracle-jet.html
Breville Touch Impress
The Breville Touch Impress strikes a balance between automated convenience and hands-on control. As a semi-automatic machine, it guides users through the brewing process with a helpful color touchscreen, while its "Impress" system simplifies two of the most difficult steps: dosing and tamping. It's designed for aspiring home baristas who want to learn and customize drinks but still appreciate some built-in assistance to ensure great results.
- What it is: A user-friendly, semi-automatic espresso machine with a touchscreen and assisted tamping.
- Key features: Large color touchscreen display with pre-programmed cafe drinks, integrated conical burr grinder, intelligent dosing, assisted tamping lever, automatic milk frothing with adjustable settings.
- Price: Around $1,200 – $1,500
- Materials/Construction: Features the same high-quality brushed stainless steel construction Breville is known for.
- Style: Modern and tech-forward with a prominent, user-friendly touchscreen that is the central focus of the machine.
- Pros: Much more affordable than the Oracle series, an intuitive touchscreen makes it easy for beginners, gives users more control over extraction variables, assisted dosing and tamping system helps create a perfect puck.
- Cons: Lacks a dual boiler, so you cannot brew espresso and steam milk simultaneously. Requires more user involvement than a fully automatic machine.
- Dimensions: Approximately 12" x 12" x 15"
The Touch Impress works well for anyone who wants a more engaging coffee-making experience without a steep learning curve, offering advanced features at a significantly lower price.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes881.html
Breville Oracle Jet vs. Touch Impress Comparison
Automation & Control
This is the biggest distinction between the two machines. The Oracle Jet is fully automatic: it grinds, doses, and tamps the coffee into the portafilter for you with no manual intervention. You simply lock the portafilter in place and press a button. It automates nearly every step to produce a consistent shot every single time.
The Breville Touch Impress is semi-automatic but with smart assistance. It guides you, measures the dose, and helps you tamp perfectly with a side lever, but it still requires you to move the portafilter from the grinder to the group head. This design is for someone who wants to feel more involved in the process while still getting help with the trickiest parts.
Brewing & Steaming Technology
The Oracle Jet features a commercial-grade dual boiler system. This allows you to pull an espresso shot and steam milk simultaneously, which is a major time-saver, particularly if you're making multiple lattes or cappuccinos. Its "Jet" extraction is an additional high-pressure pulse intended to maximize flavor.
The Touch Impress uses a faster-heating ThermoJet heating system. While it gets to brewing temperature in just a few seconds, it can only perform one task at a time. You have to first brew your espresso and then switch the machine to steaming mode. It's efficient, but not as quick as the dual boiler workflow on the Oracle Jet.
Price & Value
There's a significant price gap here. The Breville Oracle Jet commands a premium price, often more than double the cost of the Touch Impress. You're paying for the convenience of full automation, the robust dual boiler system, and its position as a high-end, near-commercial home machine.
The Breville Touch Impress offers incredible value. For a much lower price, you get a premium-built machine with a helpful touchscreen, assisted puck preparation, and automatic milk texturing. It brings advanced features to a more accessible price point, making it a better value proposition for most home users who don't require full automation.
Style & Footprint
Both machines are crafted from brushed stainless steel and share the signature Breville aesthetic. The Oracle Jet has a more industrial, professional look with a smaller screen and physical buttons complementing its automated functions. The Touch Impress has a larger, more prominent color touchscreen that defines its modern, user-friendly appearance.
In terms of size, they are very similar, but the Touch Impress is marginally more compact, which could make a difference in kitchens with limited counter space.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both machines make excellent coffee, but they are built for very different users.
Choose the Breville Oracle Jet if:
- You want maximum convenience and are willing to pay a premium for it.
- Consistency is your top priority, you want the same great coffee every time with zero fuss.
- You frequently make milk-based drinks and want to brew and steam at the same time.
- You prefer a hands-off, fully automated experience similar to a super-automatic machine.
Choose the Breville Touch Impress if:
- You are on a more moderate budget but still want a feature-rich, high-quality machine.
- You enjoy being part of the brewing process and want to customize your shots with guidance.
- You want a machine that helps you learn without being overly complex, thanks to its touchscreen.
- A fast heat-up time is more important to you than simultaneous brewing and steaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between the Oracle Jet and the Touch Impress?
The primary difference is the level of automation. The Oracle Jet is a fully automatic machine that grinds, doses, and tamps for you. The Touch Impress is a semi-automatic machine that provides touchscreen guidance and assistance with dosing and tamping, giving the user more hands-on control.
Which Breville machine is better for a beginner?
The Touch Impress is often considered better for a beginner who wants to learn the craft of espresso. Its guided touchscreen interface teaches the user how to dial in a shot and provides real-time feedback, making the learning curve much less steep than with a fully manual machine.
Is the Oracle Jet’s dual boiler worth the extra cost?
If you primarily make milk-based drinks for yourself and others, the dual boiler is a fantastic feature. It drastically cuts down on preparation time by allowing you to extract espresso and steam milk at the same time. If you mostly drink straight espresso or Americanos, this feature is less critical.
How does the assisted tamping on the Touch Impress work?
The "Impress Puck System" automatically calculates the dose based on the last grind, and a side lever allows you to apply 10kg of pressure and finish with a 7º barista twist for a perfectly polished puck. It removes the guesswork and inconsistency of manual tamping.
Which machine heats up faster?
The Breville Touch Impress heats up faster, thanks to its ThermoJet heating system which is ready in about 3 seconds. The Oracle Jet's dual boilers take longer to heat up to a stable temperature, typically a few minutes.
How involved is the cleaning process for each machine?
Both machines have automated cleaning cycles and will tell you when it's time to descale or clean the group head. However, both still require regular manual cleaning, including wiping down the steam wand after each use, emptying the drip tray, and periodically cleaning the burr grinder.
Can you adjust the grind size on both machines?
Yes, both machines feature an integrated conical burr grinder with multiple grind settings, allowing you to fine-tune the grind size to perfectly suit your choice of coffee beans.
Beyond convenience, does the Oracle Jet make better coffee?
Whether it's "better" is subjective. Its automated process and pressure controls can produce incredibly consistent, high-quality espresso. However, a skilled user with the Touch Impress can also produce an exceptional shot tailored exactly to their taste, which some may prefer over automated perfection.
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