The Breville Barista Touch and Philips 5400 Series LatteGo are both excellent espresso machines, but they cater to very different coffee drinkers. The Breville Touch is a semi-automatic machine with a touchscreen that gives you hands-on control over grinding, tamping, and brewing for a café-style experience, while the Philips 5400 is a super-automatic machine that makes 12 different drinks at the single touch of a button.
Here's everything you need to know to choose the right machine for your daily coffee routine, from the hands-on approach of Breville to the push-button convenience of Philips.
Breville Barista Touch
The Breville Barista Touch is a premium home espresso machine designed for the aspiring home barista who wants both guidance and control. It combines a user-friendly touchscreen with the semi-automatic controls necessary to pull consistently great espresso shots and create perfectly textured milk foam, striking a balance between manual operation and automated convenience.
- What it is: A semi-automatic espresso machine that automates key aspects like grinding and milk frothing but still requires user involvement in the brewing process.
- Key features: An intuitive color touchscreen with pre-programmed cafe drinks, integrated conical burr grinder, 3-second heat-up time, and an automatic steam wand for hands-free milk texturing.
- Price: Around $1,200 - $1,500
- Style: Sleek and modern, with a professional, minimalist look dominated by brushed stainless steel. It looks like a high-end appliance on any countertop.
- Materials/Construction: Built primarily with durable stainless steel, giving it a heavy and premium feel designed for longevity.
- Pros: Excellent build quality and durability. Offers a high degree of shot customization. The automatic steam wand produces great microfoam. Extremely fast 3-second heat-up time means no waiting.
- Cons: High premium price point. Still requires a learning curve to perfect your grind size and tamping technique. Larger footprint requires more counter space.
This is the ideal machine for the coffee enthusiast who enjoys the craft of making espresso and wants professional-grade control over every variable to dial in the perfect drink.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes870.html
Philips 5400 Series LatteGo
The Philips 5400 represents the peak of convenience in home coffee making. As a "bean-to-cup" super-automatic machine, it handles everything from grinding the beans to frothing the milk and pouring the drink with a single button press, making it perfect for busy households that value speed and simplicity.
- What it is: A fully automatic, one-touch espresso machine designed for maximum convenience and a wide variety of drink options.
- Key features: Makes 12 different coffee drinks instantly, features the innovative and extremely easy-to-clean LatteGo milk system, allows for up to 4 user profiles to save drink preferences.
- Price: Around $400 - $700
- Style: Modern and functional with clean lines. It generally features a mix of black plastic and stainless steel accents for a functional look that fits well in most kitchens.
- Materials/Construction: The body is primarily high-quality plastic, which keeps the machine lightweight and affordable. The integrated grinder features ceramic burrs for durability.
- Pros: Incredibly easy to use - no barista skills needed. Offers a huge variety of pre-programmed drinks. The LatteGo milk system is exceptionally simple to clean. More affordable and compact than the Breville Touch.
- Cons: Less control over brewing variables compared to a semi-automatic machine. Mostly plastic construction doesn't feel as premium. Automated milk froth is consistent but doesn't offer the silky microfoam for latte art.
The Philips 5400 is for anyone who wants consistently good coffee and milk-based drinks without any of the work, prioritizing speed and ease over the craft of espresso making.
Shop this product: philips.com/c-p/EP5447_94/
Breville Touch vs. Philips 5400 Comparison
Automation & User Experience
This is the most significant difference between the two machines. The Breville Touch is a "hands-on" experience. You grind the beans into a portafilter, tamp the coffee yourself, and lock it into the machine to brew. While its touchscreen guides you and automates temperature and milk frothing, you are still an active participant in creating your drink.
The Philips 5400 is completely "hands-off." You simply select a drink from its display, and the machine internally grinds, tamps, brews, and adds frothed milk to your cup - all without you moving anything. It's built for speed and pure convenience.
Milk Frothing
The Breville Touch features an automatic steam wand. You place your pitcher of milk under it, select your desired temperature and texture levels on the screen, and it steams it perfectly for latte art-quality microfoam. It gives you professional results without the skill needed to manually steam milk.
The Philips 5400 uses its signature LatteGo system - a frothing container with just two parts and no tubes that click onto the front of the machine. It siphons milk, froths it into a light, airy foam, and dispenses it directly into your cup. While not suitable for latte art, it's incredibly consistent and astonishingly easy to rinse clean under the tap in seconds.
Materials & Construction
There's a clear difference in build quality. The Breville Touch is primarily made of brushed stainless steel, giving it a substantial weight and premium feel that implies longevity. It feels like a small professional cafe machine.
The Philips 5400 uses mostly high-quality plastic for its external housing, which makes it lighter and more affordable but less luxurious. While durable and well-built for its price point, it doesn't have the same high-end feel as the Breville.
Price & Value
The Breville Barista Touch sits in a premium category, often costing double or even triple the price of the Philips machine. Its value comes from its superior build quality, precision controls, and the quality of the espresso it can produce in the right hands.
The Philips 5400 offers fantastic value for anyone prioritizing convenience. For a mid-range price, you get a fully automatic system that can make a dozen different drinks with zero effort, making it a powerful and accessible choice for the average user.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both machines deliver great coffee, but they are designed for two fundamentally different user philosophies.
Choose the Breville Touch if:
- You want to learn about and enjoy the craft of making espresso.
- You value the ability to customize every aspect of your drink, from grind size to milk texture.
- A premium stainless steel build and professional aesthetic are important to you.
- You're willing to invest more for a machine that delivers café-quality results.
Choose the Philips 5400 if:
- You prioritize maximum speed and convenience above all else.
- You want a wide variety of one-touch coffee drink options straight out of the box.
- Effortless cleaning, especially for milk drinks, is a top priority.
- You're looking for the best performance and features at a more accessible price point.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Breville Touch and Philips 5400?
The main difference is the level of automation. The Breville Touch is a semi-automatic machine that requires you to grind, tamp, and brew, giving you more control. The Philips 5400 is a super-automatic machine that does everything for you with one button press.
Which machine makes better tasting espresso?
The Breville Touch has a higher ceiling for espresso quality because it allows you to fine-tune variables like grind size and dose. With some practice, it can produce a better, more nuanced shot. The Philips 5400 makes very consistent and enjoyable espresso, but without the potential for customization.
Is the Breville Barista Touch hard to use?
No, it's one of the easiest semi-automatic machines to use thanks to its touchscreen interface that walks you through each step. However, it still requires more user involvement and learning than a super-automatic like the Philips.
How easy is the Philips 5400 LatteGo system to clean?
It's exceptionally easy. The LatteGo system is just a cup and a frame - two pieces with no tubes or hidden parts. You can simply unclip it and rinse it under the tap in about 15 seconds. It is also dishwasher safe.
Can I use pre-ground coffee in these machines?
Yes, both machines feature a bypass doser that allows you to use a scoop of pre-ground coffee, which is perfect for decaf or an occasional guest who prefers a different bean.
Which one is more durable?
The Breville Touch, with its heavy-duty stainless steel construction, is built to be more durable and has a more solid, long-lasting feel compared to the primarily plastic-bodied Philips 5400.
Does the Breville Touch have an automatic frother?
Yes, but it's an automatic steam wand, not an integrated milk carafe. You fill a milk pitcher, place it under the wand, and the machine textures the milk for you to your desired settings. You still have to pour it into your drink yourself.
Which machine is a better value for the money?
This depends entirely on your needs. The Philips 5400 offers incredible value if you want convenience and variety. The Breville Touch offers great value if you are a coffee hobbyist who wants premium build quality and detailed control over your espresso.
At Interior Insider, we're dedicated to curating the best in home decor, interior design, and home essentials to help you discover brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, design, and craftsmanship. When you make a purchase through our links, Interior Insider may earn a commission - which helps support our small team and allows us to continue bringing you inspiration and expert advice for creating your perfect space.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our curated design guides to find your next favorite piece.
