The Gaggia Anima Prestige and the Breville Barista Touch are two premium super-automatic espresso machines, but they cater to very different users. The Anima Prestige, from Italian brand Gaggia, offers a classic, straightforward experience with its button interface and integrated milk carafe for one-touch drinks. In contrast, the Barista Touch from Breville features a modern touchscreen that guides you through every step and an automated steam wand for café-quality milk texturing and control.
Here's everything you need to know to decide which of these popular machines is the right choice for your kitchen countertop.
Gaggia Anima Prestige
The Gaggia Anima Prestige is a robust super-automatic espresso machine that embodies traditional Italian coffee culture. It's designed for simplicity and convenience, offering a one-touch system for espresso, lattes, and cappuccinos thanks to its integrated milk carafe and straightforward button controls. This machine is a favorite among those who want authentic espresso drinks without a steep learning curve.
- What it is: A super-automatic espresso machine with a built-in ceramic burr grinder and an integrated, automatic milk frothing carafe.
- Key features: One-touch milk drinks, programmable brew strength and temperature, built-in ceramic burr grinder, easy-to-remove brew group for simple cleaning.
- Price: Ranges from $900 to $1,200.
- Style: Classic and compact with a mix of stainless steel and matte black finishes. Its design language is functional and timeless, fitting well in most kitchen styles.
- Materials/Construction: Features a durable stainless steel front panel and a ceramic burr grinder, known for its longevity and consistent performance.
- Pros: Extremely easy to use for one-touch lattes and cappuccinos. The ceramic grinder is durable and preserves a clean coffee flavor. Removable brew group simplifies weekly maintenance. Compact design saves counter space.
- Cons: The physical button and LCD screen interface feels dated compared to modern touchscreens. Offers less fine-tuned customization than the Breville. The automated milk carafe system requires diligent cleaning.
The Gaggia Anima Prestige is ideal for anyone who prioritizes speedy, convenient, and consistent coffee drinks, particularly creamy lattes and cappuccinos, with minimal effort.
Shop this product: gaggia.com/automatic-machines/anima-prestige/
Breville Barista Touch
The Breville Barista Touch brings a modern, tech-forward approach to home espresso. Its centerpiece is a large color touchscreen that walks you through customizing and saving your favorite drinks. Instead of an all-in-one milk carafe, it uses a powerful automated steam wand that creates perfectly textured microfoam for latte art, giving you a hands-on yet guided café experience at home.
- What it is: An intuitive super-automatic espresso machine featuring a color touchscreen interface, an integrated conical burr grinder, and an automated steam wand.
- Key features: Full-color touchscreen with a pre-programmed drink menu. The ThermoJet heating system heats up in just 3 seconds. The automated steam wand allows control over milk temperature and texture. Users can create, save, and name up to 8 personalized coffee settings.
- Price: Typically ranges from $1,000 to $1,300.
- Style: Sleek and contemporary, with a brushed stainless steel finish. Its minimalist appearance and large screen give it a premium, professional appliance look.
- Materials/Construction: The housing is primarily brushed stainless steel. It uses a stainless steel conical burr grinder and a durable portafilter, echoing the build quality of Breville's professional-grade machines.
- Pros: The touchscreen interface is incredibly intuitive and user-friendly. Coffee making is highly customizable. The ThermoJet heater means virtually no waiting time. The steam wand produces top-tier milk foam ideal for latte art.
- Cons: A higher price point. Sits on the larger side, requiring more counter space. The automated steam wand requires you to hold the milk pitcher, making it slightly less "one-touch" than the Gaggia.
This machine is perfectly suited for the tech-savvy coffee enthusiast who wants deep customization, a professional look, and guidance in crafting café-quality drinks from start to finish.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes880.html
Gaggia Anima Prestige vs. Breville Barista Touch Comparison
Interface & Ease of Use
This is the most significant difference between the two machines. The Gaggia Anima Prestige uses a traditional system of physical buttons and a small LCD screen. It's straightforward and functional - you press a button for the drink you want. However, it lacks the intuitive, visual feedback of a modern interface.
The Breville Barista Touch blows the Gaggia away in this category with its vibrant color touchscreen. It displays beautiful images of each drink and allows you to adjust grind time, shot volume, and milk texture with simple on-screen sliders. You can even save your creations with custom names. For those comfortable with smartphones, the Breville is incomparably easier and more enjoyable to use.
Milk Frothing
Both machines create frothed milk automatically, but in very different ways. The Gaggia uses an integrated milk carafe that siphons, heats, and dispenses milk directly into your cup. It's the definition of one-touch convenience for lattes and cappuccinos. The quality is good for a simple creamy topping, but it doesn't create true microfoam for latte art.
The Breville uses an automated steam wand. After placing the milk-filled pitcher under the wand, the machine heats and textures the milk to your exact specifications. This system produces silky-smooth microfoam that is excellent for high-quality lattes and for pouring latte art. It requires slightly more user interaction but offers vastly superior results and control.
Grinder, Heating, & Performance
The Gaggia relies on a ceramic burr grinder, highly praised for its durability and for not transferring heat to the coffee beans, which preserves their flavor. Its traditional boiler system takes a minute or two to warm up before it’s ready to brew.
The Breville features a stainless steel conical burr grinder and its standout ThermoJet heating system. This innovative technology allows the machine to reach brewing temperature in an astonishing 3 seconds. For anyone in a rush in the mornings, this speed is a massive advantage over the Gaggia’s slower heat-up time.
Price & Value
The Gaggia Anima Prestige generally costs $100-$300 less than the Breville Barista Touch. For those on a stricter budget, the Gaggia offers tremendous value, delivering authentic, no-fuss espresso and milk drinks in a durable package. It provides the core functionality of a super-automatic machine at a more accessible price.
The Breville’s higher cost is justified by its superior technology. The touchscreen, ultra-fast heat-up time, and professional-grade milk texturing are significant upgrades that enhance the user experience. If these features are important to you, the extra investment provides excellent value.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both of these espresso machines are fantastic choices, but they are built for fundamentally different coffee drinkers.
Choose the Gaggia Anima Prestige if:
- You want the utmost convenience for milk drinks like lattes and cappuccinos.
- Simplicity is your top priority - you prefer pressing a button and walking away.
- You appreciate classic Italian engineering and durable components like a ceramic grinder.
- Your budget is under $1,200 and you need a reliable, compact machine.
Choose the Breville Barista Touch if:
- You love a modern, high-tech experience and want an intuitive touchscreen.
- Customization is important, and you want to save specific recipes for the perfect drink.
- You want to produce café-quality milk foam for lattes and practice latte art.
- You're impatient and need your machine to heat up and be ready almost instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Gaggia Anima Prestige and Breville Barista Touch?
The main difference is the user experience and milk system. The Gaggia uses buttons and a simple screen with a one-touch automatic milk carafe for total convenience. The Breville uses a sophisticated color touchscreen that guides you through the process and has an automated steam wand that offers superior control and quality for milk texturing.
Which machine is easier to clean?
Both have automated cleaning cycles. The Gaggia's main advantage is its removable brew group, which can be easily rinsed weekly under a tap. The Breville’s milk system is arguably easier for daily cleaning - the steam wand just needs a quick wipe-down - while the Gaggia’s carafe must be disassembled and washed more thoroughly.
Can I use oily coffee beans in these machines?
It's generally not recommended to use very oily, dark-roast beans in any super-automatic espresso machine. The oils can build up and clog the internal grinder and brew group over time, potentially leading to performance issues for both the Gaggia and the Breville.
How long does it take for each machine to heat up?
The Gaggia Anima Prestige takes about 60-90 seconds to heat up and be ready to brew. The Breville Barista Touch has a significant advantage with its ThermoJet heating system, which is ready in just 3 seconds.
Which machine makes better milk foam?
For quality and texture, the Breville Barista Touch is the clear winner. Its automated steam wand creates silky-smooth microfoam that is ideal for pouring latte art. The Gaggia’s carafe produces a stiffer, more bubbly foam that’s perfectly fine for a simple cappuccino but lacks the professional texture of the Breville.
Is the Gaggia Anima Prestige a durable machine?
Yes, Gaggia is known for its durable builds, and the Anima Prestige reflects that with its sturdy body and high-quality ceramic grinder. It is designed in Italy and built to provide reliable service for years.
Can I save my favorite coffee settings on the Breville Barista Touch?
Absolutely. One of the best features of the Barista Touch is the ability to adjust the grind amount, shot duration, and milk settings for any drink, then save it with a custom name and icon. You can save up to 8 personalized drinks.
How big are these machines?
The Gaggia Anima Prestige is more compact, measuring approximately 12" x 8" x 16". The Breville Barista Touch is larger, especially in-depth, at about 12.5" x 12.5" x 16". Be sure to measure your counter space, particularly if you have low-hanging upper cabinets.
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.
