The Breville Barista Touch and the Breville Barista Express are two of the best semi-automatic espresso machines, but they cater to very different users. The Barista Touch is a modern, automated machine with a touchscreen that simplifies the coffee-making process, while the Barista Express offers a completely manual, hands-on experience at a more accessible price point.
Here's everything you need to know to choose the right Breville machine for your kitchen counter.
Breville Barista Touch
The Barista Touch is designed for speed, convenience, and consistency. It uses an intuitive color touchscreen to guide you through brew settings and milk frothing, making cafe-quality drinks accessible with just a few taps. Thanks to its rapid ThermoJet heating system and automatic steam wand, you can go from beans to a finished latte in under a minute.
- What it is: A semi-automatic espresso machine that uses advanced automation and a touchscreen to simplify brewing and milk frothing.
- Key features: Intuitive color touchscreen, automatic milk texturing with adjustable temperature and foam level, built-in conical burr grinder, 3-second heat-up time with ThermoJet system, and 5 pre-programmed drinks.
- Price: Around $1,200 - $1,400
- Style: Sleek and modern, with a high-tech feel from the digital interface. Available in several stainless steel finishes.
- Materials/Construction: Durable brushed stainless steel body with high-quality internal components.
- Pros: Extremely easy to use, even for absolute beginners. Incredibly fast from power-on to finished drink. Digital precision control for shot volume, water temperature, and grind size. Automatic steam wand creates perfect microfoam hands-free.
- Cons: Significantly more expensive than the Express. The high degree of automation removes some of the hands-on craft appreciated by espresso hobbyists. The touchscreen is another electronic component that could potentially fail.
This machine is for the coffee lover who wants excellent, consistent results without the learning curve or time investment of a manual machine.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/products/espresso/bes880.html
Breville Barista Express
The Barista Express is one of the most popular home espresso machines ever made because it offers a true cafe-style experience. It empowers you to manually dial in your grind, tamp your puck, pull your shot, and steam your milk just like a professional. It's a fantastic machine for anyone who wants to learn the art of espresso from the ground up.
- What it is: A fully manual all-in-one semi-automatic espresso machine with a built-in grinder that gives the user complete control over the process.
- Key features: Built-in conical burr grinder with manual dose control, analog pressure gauge, manual steam wand for texturing milk, single and double shot programmable buttons, durable stainless steel construction.
- Price: Around $700 - $900
- Style: Classic, industrial espresso machine aesthetic with prominent dials, buttons, and a pressure gauge.
- Materials/Construction: A robust, heavy body made from brushed stainless steel designed for longevity.
- Pros: Excellent value for a complete grinder-and-machine setup. Teaches you the fundamental skills of making great espresso. Gives you full control over every variable. Durable and less reliant on complex electronics.
- Cons: A steep learning curve for beginners, it takes practice to get consistent results. Manual milk frothing requires skill and technique. Slower to heat up (~30-60 seconds) than the Touch.
The Barista Express is perfect for the aspiring home barista who enjoys the process of making coffee and wants total control without breaking the bank.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/products/espresso/bes870.html
Breville Touch vs. Breville Express Comparison
Interface & User Experience
This is the most significant difference between the two machines. The Barista Touch is operated via its bright, clear color touchscreen. It simplifies everything: pick your drink, adjust the grind size, brew strength, or milk texture with on-screen sliders and taps. It's incredibly straightforward and forgiving for beginners.
The Barista Express relies on physical dials, buttons, and a prominent pressure gauge. You manually adjust the grind size on the side-mounted dial, press a button to begin grinding, and press another button to start and stop your shot. This manual approach provides tactile feedback but requires more trial, error, and coffee knowledge to perfect.
Milk Frothing
The Touch features an automatic steam wand. You simply place your milk jug under the wand, select your desired temperature and texture on the screen, and the machine does the rest. It consistently produces silky microfoam perfect for latte art with no skill required.
The Express features a traditional manual steam wand. You are in complete control of aerating and texturing the milk yourself. While this provides unlimited potential for practicing latte art and getting the exact texture you want, there is a substantial learning curve involved. It will take time and practice to achieve cafe-quality results.
Heat-up Time & Speed
The Barista Touch is the clear winner on speed. Its advanced ThermoJet heating system is ready to pull a shot just 3 seconds after you turn it on. Combined with the automatic milk frothing, you can make a complicated milk-based drink very quickly.
The Barista Express uses an older Thermocoil heating system that takes about 30 to 60 seconds to reach brewing temperature. It’s certainly not slow, but the difference feels significant in a busy morning routine.
Price & Value
At around $700-$900, the Barista Express is significantly more affordable. It represents a fantastic value, as you get both an espresso machine and a capable burr grinder in one package, providing everything needed to learn the craft.
The Barista Touch is a premium product, often costing $500 or more than the Express. You are paying for the advanced technology, the speedy ThermoJet heater, the touchscreen interface, and the convenience of automatic milk frothing. While it costs more, the time saved and ease of use provide value for those who prioritize convenience over manual control.
Who Each One Works Best For
Ultimately, these two machines serve different people. The Breville Touch is perfect for households where speed and simplicity are paramount. It’s for someone who wants to walk up to a machine, press a few buttons, and receive a consistently delicious cappuccino or flat white without any fuss or prior experience.
The Breville Express is for the coffee enthusiast - the person who finds joy in the process. It's for the aspiring home barista who wants to understand the fundamentals of dosage, tamping pressure, extraction time, and milk steaming. It requires personal investment to master, but the resulting skills are incredibly rewarding.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both machines make excellent espresso, but they get you there in very different ways. Your choice depends entirely on your lifestyle, budget, and personal interests.
Choose the Breville Barista Touch if:
- You prioritize speed and consistency above all else.
- You want a machine that is extremely easy for anyone in your household to use.
- You have a higher budget and are willing to pay for advanced technology.
- The idea of a hands-free, perfect latte every morning sounds like a dream.
Choose the Breville Barista Express if:
- You are on a tighter budget but still want high-quality equipment.
- You enjoy hands-on projects and want to learn the authentic craft of making espresso.
- You have the patience to experiment and dial in your settings to get the perfect shot.
- Complete control over every step of the process is more important to you than speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the main difference between the Touch and Express?
The main difference is automation versus manual control. The Touch uses a touchscreen and automatic features for a simplified, fast experience. The Express uses manual dials and controls, giving you full command over every step and requiring you to learn the craft.
Which espresso machine is better for a beginner?
The Barista Touch is easier for a pure beginner to use out of the box because of its guided interface. However, the Barista Express is arguably better for a beginner who actually wants to learn how to make espresso, as it teaches a transferable set of skills.
How long does each machine take to heat up?
The Breville Touch is ready in just 3 seconds thanks to its ThermoJet heating system. The Breville Express takes roughly 30-60 seconds to warm up its Thermocoil system.
Can you froth milk manually on the Barista Touch?
No. The steam wand on the Touch is fully automatic. You can adjust the desired temperature and texture level on the screen, but you cannot steam the milk manually.
Is the grinder the same on both machines?
Both machines use a built-in stainless steel conical burr grinder that is very similar in performance. They offer precise, consistent grounds suitable for espresso. The main difference is interface: you adjust the grind size through the touchscreen on the Touch and with a physical dial on the Express.
Is the Breville Touch worth the extra money?
It depends on your priorities. If you value speed, convenience, a modern interface, and perfect, automatic milk frothing, then yes, the extra cost is justified. If you prefer manual control and are willing to practice, the Express offers better financial value.
How much counter space do they take up?
They have very similar footprints and are almost identical in size. The Touch is approximately 12.5" x 12.2" x 14.5", while the Express is approximately 12.5" x 12.2" x 15". Both fit comfortably on standard kitchen counters.
Do these machines use the same size portafilter?
Yes, both the Barista Touch and the Express use Breville's standard 54mm portafilter. Many accessories like tampers, distribution tools, and bottomless portafilters are available for this size.
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