The Casabrews 5700 and Breville Barista Express are both excellent semi-automatic espresso machines in a similar price range, but they cater to very different users. The Casabrews 5700 is a modern, tech-forward machine with smart connectivity and customizable profiles for those who value convenience and a sleek look, while the Breville Barista Express is a proven workhorse known for its professional-grade features, built-in grinder, and hands-on control, appealing to aspiring home baristas.
Here’s everything you need to know to decide which of these popular espresso machines is the right one for your kitchen countertop.
Casabrews 5700 All-In-One Espresso Machine
The Casabrews 5700 is designed for the modern coffee drinker who loves technology and style. As a relative newcomer, Casabrews packs its flagship machine with smart features like app connectivity, allowing you to fine-tune your brew from your phone. It stands out with a minimalist aesthetic that fits perfectly in contemporary kitchens.
- What it is: A tech-focused, semi-automatic espresso machine with a sleek, minimalist design aimed at home users who want both quality and convenience.
- Key features: App connectivity for creating and saving custom brew profiles, a user-friendly interface, powerful steam wand, and fast heat-up time.
- Price: Around $700–$900
- Style: Modern and minimalist, featuring clean lines and finishes like stainless steel and matte black that complement contemporary decor.
- Materials/Construction: A combination of stainless steel and durable plastics designed to be lightweight and stylish. The build quality is solid for home use.
- Pros: Innovative smart features offer a high degree of customization. The sleek, modern design is a visual plus for stylish kitchens. Generally user-friendly for beginners. Great value for the technology included.
- Cons: As a newer brand, its long-term durability is less proven than Breville's. Build materials may feel less robust than the all-metal Barista Express. Some users may not need or want app integration.
This machine is ideal for the tech-savvy coffee enthusiast who prioritizes a modern aesthetic, smart home integration, and wants to experiment with brewing profiles through a convenient app.
Shop this product: casabrews.com/products/5700pro-all-in-one-espresso-machine-with-grinder
Breville Barista Express
The Breville Barista Express is an iconic, all-in-one espresso machine that has been a favorite among home baristas for years. It combines a high-quality built-in conical burr grinder, precise temperature control (PID), and dose-control grinding to give you hands-on control over every step of the brewing process. It's built to last and designed to produce cafe-quality results reliably.
- What it is: A durable, all-in-one semi-automatic espresso machine with an integrated burr grinder, celebrated for its performance and control.
- Key features: Built-in conical burr grinder with dose control, PID temperature control for shot consistency, pressure gauge, and a powerful steam wand for microfoam.
- Price: Around $700–$900
- Style: Professional and functional with a classic brushed stainless steel finish. Its design is more industrial and workhorse-like compared to the Casabrews.
- Materials/Construction: Heavy-duty brushed stainless steel body and high-quality internal components built for longevity and consistent daily use.
- Pros: Proven reputation for quality and durability. The integrated grinder is convenient and high-quality, saving counter space. PID temperature control ensures consistent espresso extraction. Offers great manual control for those who want to learn the craft.
- Cons: Has a steeper learning curve for absolute beginners. The design is timeless but might not fit ultra-modern kitchen styles. Lacks the smart features and app connectivity of the Casabrews.
The Breville Barista Express is perfect for the aspiring home barista who wants a durable, reliable machine with precise, hands-on control to master the art of making great espresso.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes870.html
Casabrews 5700 vs. Breville Barista Express Comparison
Features & Technology
This is the biggest point of difference. The Casabrews 5700 leads with modern tech, offering app integration that allows you to customize and save your perfect shot parameters directly from your smartphone. It’s built for convenience and digital precision. The user interface is often more focused on guided, preset options.
The Breville Barista Express focuses on analog, professional-grade technology. Its key features are the integrated conical burr grinder, hands-on dose control dial, a prominent pressure gauge, and PID digital temperature control. The value here is in the hardware and manual feedback, not software. It empowers the user to dial in their shot manually, teaching them the craft of espresso making.
Build Quality & Durability
The Breville has a strong reputation for durability. Its heavy stainless steel construction and robust internal components are designed to withstand years of daily use, making it feel like a serious piece of equipment. Thousands of user reviews support its longevity, and replacement parts are readily available.
The Casabrews 5700 features a good build with stainless steel accents, but it often incorporates more plastic to achieve its sleek, lightweight design. While perfectly suitable for home use, it doesn't have the same tank-like feel or the long-term track record of the Barista Express.
Design & Footprint
Aesthetically, the two machines appeal to different tastes. The Casabrews 5700 has a distinctly modern and minimalist design, an easy fit for contemporary or design-forward kitchens. In contrast, the Breville Barista Express has a classic, almost industrial look that screams "serious coffee gear." It looks like a scaled-down version of what you’d find in a professional cafe.
In terms of size, both are compact enough for most countertops. The Breville's main advantage is its all-in-one design, the high-quality built-in grinder saves you from needing a separate device, which is a major space-saver.
Price & Value
Both machines hover around the same price point, but they deliver value in different ways. The Casabrews 5700 offers value through its smart technology and modern design features that are typically found in more expensive machines. If app control and digital presets are important to you, it offers tremendous value.
The Breville Barista Express provides value through its robust construction, longevity, and professional-grade components like the grinder and PID. The investment here is in a durable machine that performs reliably for years and helps you hone a skill, potentially saving you money on cafe-bought coffee in the long run.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both the Casabrews 5700 and Breville Barista Express offer a fantastic pathway to great home espresso, but they serve different priorities.
Choose the Casabrews 5700 if:
- You love smart technology and want the convenience of controlling your machine with an app.
- A sleek, minimalist, and modern aesthetic is a top priority for your kitchen.
- You prefer customizable presets and a guided brewing experience over manual tweaking.
- You want the latest features and innovations in the home espresso space.
Choose the Breville Barista Express if:
- You want to learn the hands-on craft of making espresso and have full manual control.
- Durability, a proven track record, and a robust build are your top concerns.
- You appreciate the convenience of an excellent all-in-one machine with a built-in grinder.
- You trust an established, leading brand in the coffee appliance industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between the Casabrews 5700 and Breville Barista Express?
The main difference is their core philosophy. The Casabrews 5700 prioritizes modern technology and convenience with app control and digital presets. The Breville Barista Express prioritizes manual control and durable, professional-grade hardware to help users perfect the craft of espresso making by hand.
Is the built-in grinder on the Breville Barista Express good enough?
Yes, for the vast majority of home users, the integrated stainless steel conical burr grinder on the Barista Express is excellent. It offers 16 grind settings and dose control, allowing for a fine-tuning process that is more than sufficient for pulling great espresso shots. It’s one of the best integrated grinders in its class.
Which espresso machine is better for beginners?
The Casabrews 5700 might be slightly easier for a tech-savvy beginner due to its preset programs and a more guided digital interface. However, the Breville Barista Express is also designed for home users and includes features like the pressure gauge that provide direct feedback, helping beginners learn and improve quickly.
Which machine heats up faster?
Generally, a machine with a thermocoil or Thermojet system, common in newer machines like those from Casabrews, will heat up faster than the thermocoil system in the older Barista Express model. This means the Casabrews is often ready to brew in under a minute, while the Breville may take slightly longer.
How do the build qualities compare?
The Breville Barista Express is known for its heavy-duty, mostly stainless steel construction that feels substantial and is built to last. The Casabrews 5700 also uses quality materials but often integrates more high-grade plastic to achieve its sleek, modern look, so it may feel less robust by comparison.
Which machine is a better value for money?
Value depends on your priorities. If you value smart features, app control, and a modern design, the Casabrews 5700 offers excellent value. If you value long-term durability, consistent performance, and an all-in-one solution that helps you develop a skill, the Breville Barista Express represents outstanding value.
Can both machines make lattes and other milk-based drinks?
Yes, both machines are equipped with powerful manual steam wands that can create the microfoam necessary for lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites. The steam wand on the Breville is particularly well-regarded for its ability to produce cafe-quality milk texturing.
How should I clean and maintain these machines?
Both require regular maintenance, including backflushing with cleaning tablets, descaling, and cleaning the steam wand and portafilter after each use. Breville includes a comprehensive cleaning kit and clear instructions. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning to ensure longevity.
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