I know that there are many home baristas out there who are on the fence about which is better between the Breville Barista Pro vs Touch. Well, my short answer is the latter.
The Breville Barista Touch offers a higher level of customization. Its steam wand works amazingly, and you can save up to eight of your personalized recipes under the names of your choice.
The Breville Barista Pro still has useful bells and whistles, like a nice built-in grinder and thermojet fast-heating system. Still, it’s hard for me to recommend this once the Barista Touch is superior.
Breville Barista Pro Vs Touch: Specs & Features Comparison Chart
Last update on 2024-04-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Breville Barista Pro Vs Touch: Differences
The Barista Touch triumphed over the Barista Pro with a convincing 3-1 victory. Now, it’s time to delve into a detailed comparison of these two machines, examining what gives the Barista Touch its winning edge.
Coffee Flavor & Brewing System
Winner: Breville Barista Pro
Built-in Grinder
I found a built-in conical burr grinder on both of these Breville machines! The best part? You save some bucks because you don’t need to splurge on a separate espresso grinder.
Now, let’s talk about the control these machines offer. Both come with 30 grinder adjustments – that’s already a lot of room to play around. Yes, 30! You can fine-tune your coffee grind with such precision! It’s like being handed the keys to the experiment kingdom – with great power comes great responsibility… and great coffee!
Only change grind settings while the grinder is running
Dosing & Tamping
When it comes to accessories, Breville is very generous with its machines, including both the Barista Pro and Touch. First up, both come with a 54-millimeter stainless steel portafilter, which is sturdy, reliable and just feels right in your hand. What’s more. You get two types of filter baskets: single and dual wall baskets and Breville gives you one of each for both single and double shots.
As for the single wall basket, it’s all about skill here – get your grind and tamp right, and you’re golden. It is also the preferred choice of skilled home baristas.
The dual wall basket (or pressurized basket) is a different story. Some baristas might tell you to chuck them out, but you should keep them around! It’s forgiving, perfect for beginners or when you’re using pre-ground coffee. So, if you’re craving decaf and don’t want to fuss with grinding, it’s your saving grace.
Ah, the espresso tamper – an essential tool in the espresso-making process. And nearly every semi-automatic espresso machine, including these Breville machines, has come with one.
The tampers they include are made out of stainless steel rather than flimsy wooden ones, which is a good thing. But here’s the coolest part about the Breville tampers – they can magnetically attach to the machine’s body. No more rummaging through drawers or leaving the tamper lying around.
The tamper can be magnetically attached to the machine
Heating System
Both the Barista Pro and the Touch operate on a single boiler system. This means you can’t play barista multitasker by brewing espresso and frothing milk at the same time like you would with a dual boiler system. This is possible for some, but not for these machines.
But here’s the thing, I don’t think this single, lonesome boiler is a deal-breaker. Why? Because of the thermojet system. We’re talking about a three-second heat-up time. Sure, it’s not quite instantaneous – but it’s as close as you can get the right temperature in the blink of an eye.
The only teeny tiny hiccup with the ThermoJet is that it doesn’t warm up the brew group until after a few uses. So, before you pull your first shot of the day, you’ll need to warm up the brew group and portafilter by pulling a couple of blank shots (a shot without coffee grounds).
Brewing System
Both extract espresso at a maximum pressure of up to 15 bars, far exceeding the standard level of 9 bars. But before that, the coffee grounds must go through a short step called pre-infusion. Sure, Breville isn’t the only one using pre-infusion, but almost every Breville semi-automatic machine has this technique.
So, what’s the big deal with pre-infusion? The machine slowly wets the grounds under low pressure, making a world of difference. This little step helps in achieving a more even and thorough extraction, leading to a richer, more flavorful espresso shot.
The Barista Pro lets you play around with the pre-infusion times. But with the Barista Touch, you won’t get this option. It’s not a deal-breaker, but for those who love to fine-tune every aspect of their espresso-making process, it’s something to ponder over.
Milk Frothing System
Winner: Breville Barista Touch
The Barista Pro uses a manual steam wand. Mastering the art of milk foaming is not easy, but once you do, my friend, the foam is superior to any other milk-based beverage you desire.
Then, there’s an automatic steam wand on the Barista Touch. When I first heard about this, I was skeptical. I mean, could this automated gizmo really match up to the artistry of manual milk texturing? It seemed as likely as a robot winning a dance-off against a human. But I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised. The auto-frothing wand really worked well.
What’s impressive about the Touch is that it doesn’t just take over the hard job. It also gives you control. You can adjust how much froth you want, as well as the temperature of your milk. There’s a sensor on the drip tray that knows just when to stop steaming to hit your desired temperature. Every time I used it, the wand whipped up milk froth so sublimely that I was left grinning like I’d just watched a magic trick.
And you know what? The Touch’s wand can also be used as a manual wand. So whether you’re a hands-on barista who loves the feel of manually frothing milk or you prefer letting the machine take the wheel, the Barista Touch has got you covered.
Pre-programmed Coffee Options & Programmability
Winner: Breville Barista Touch
| Breville Barista Pro | Breville Barista Touch |
|---|---|
| Espresso Hot Water | Espresso Latte Flat White Cappuccino Americano Hot Chocolate Tea Milk |
Right from the Barista Touch’s touch screen, you can choose from one of eight pre-set drink options. Meanwhile, the Barista Pro only brews one-touch espressos and invites you to roll up your sleeves and manually prepare any milk-based beverages.
If you’re not satisfied with the default settings, both allow you to adjust shot length, coffee strength, and brewing temperature. With the Barista Touch, you can even play around with the temperature and texture of the milk foam to your liking.
Other Features
Winner: Breville Barista Touch
User Profile
Both the Barista Pro and Touch don’t have user profiles, but the latter technically does. The Barista Touch allows you to save up to 8 personalized recipes. Sure, it’s not exactly the same as having individual user profiles where each person in the household can set their preferences, but it’s a step in the personalized direction.
Breville Barista Pro Vs Touch: Similarities
Design & Convenience
Dimensions & User Interface
| Breville Barista Pro | Breville Barista Touch | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 8.7 x 13.3 x 16.9 inches | 16 x 12.5 x 12.7 inches |
| Weight | 25 lbs | 26.8 lbs |
When it comes to the color options, both are available in several choices, and the classic, sleek stainless steel option seems to be the most popular. Regardless of which color you end up choosing, one thing is undeniable: these machines are lookers. It’s like they were designed to be the supermodels of the kitchen countertop. They are also quite compact and don’t take up too much counter space.
The biggest difference in appearance between them is the user interface.
The Barista Touch features a snazzy touchscreen display, which is like a nod to today’s tech-savvy world. It’s like when smartphones first came out, and suddenly everything with buttons felt like a relic from the past. It’s modern, sleek, and just a touch (pun intended!) more in tune with what we’re used to in our daily gadgets.
The Barista Pro has a trusty LCD screen, operated with a classic combo of buttons and knobs. This might sound a bit old-school in the age of touchscreens, but there’s something satisfyingly tactile about pressing buttons and turning knobs. You might not know what every button does at first, but it’s intuitive enough that you’ll get the hang of it quickly. Sure, you might need to consult the user manual once or twice.
Spout Type & Cup Clearance
| Breville Barista Pro | Breville Barista Touch | |
|---|---|---|
| Spigot Type | Dual | Dual |
| Cup Clearance | 4 inches | 4 inches |
Again, the eternal struggle of fitting different-sized cups under espresso machine spouts! With these Breville machines, it’s clear they were thinking of the classic espresso cup when they designed them. The space below their portafilter spouts is just 4 inches, perfect for preserving that lovely crema atop your espresso.
But fear not, for those of us who have a favorite travel mug or coffee thermos that goes with us everywhere, there’s still hope. During my testing, I found a nifty workaround: removing the drip tray.
Water Reservoir & Bean Hopper
| Breville Barista Pro | Breville Barista Touch | |
|---|---|---|
| Water Reservoir | 2 liter | 2 liter |
| Bean Hopper | 0.25 kilogram | 0.25 kilogram |
Their water reservoirs are tucked away at the back of the machine. Still, these tanks are easily accessible and you can just lift them out to refill. They’re also quite roomy, which is great because who wants to refill the water every few cups?
Their bean hoppers are covered with airtight lids. This might seem like a small detail, but it’s a game-changer for coffee lovers. The airtight lid locks in the aroma and flavor of the beans, keeping them as fresh as the day they were roasted.
Cleaning & Maintenance
The joy of owning an espresso machine might not primarily come from cleaning and descaling. But let’s be honest, there’s a certain satisfaction in keeping your machine clean and running smoothly, right? Or maybe that’s just me being a coffee gear geek.
Even with the water filter diligently doing its job, you’ll still need to run the cleaning cycle every couple of months. And here’s the cool part: these machines will remind you when it’s time to descale. No need to mark your calendar or set reminders – they have got your back.
Then there’s the flush cycle indicator. It flushes out coffee oil residues from the group head, preventing buildup. For this, you’ll need the Breville espresso machine cleaning tablets: just think of them as specialty soap for the Breville espresso machine.
Of course, there’s the day-to-day TLC as well. Wiping off the portafilter after each use is like brushing your teeth – a quick but essential habit. Purging the group head by running hot water through the portafilter after every espresso shot is another good practice.
Other Features
Built-in Cup Warmer
This feature is especially handy on chilly mornings. Think about it: when you pour a hot espresso into a cold cup, it’s like taking a warm bath and then stepping into a freezer. Not the most pleasant experience, right? A warm cup ensures that the temperature of your espresso stays consistent from the machine to your mouth.
Water Filter
Both come with a water filter. Using the filter means a bit of extra expense with monthly replacements, but there’s a pretty compelling case for why it’s worth it.
First off, the water filter is crucial for keeping your coffee tasting great. It removes impurities and minerals from your water that can affect the taste of your espresso. Without it, you might find your coffee tasting a bit off.
But it’s not just about taste. The water filter also protects the machine itself, keeping it healthy by preventing scale buildup. This can prolong the life of your machine, saving you money in the long run.
Now, when might it be unnecessary? If you’re lucky enough to live in an area with exceptionally pure and soft water, the filter might be overkill. But for most places where water can have various minerals and impurities, the water filter is a small monthly investment for a consistently great cup of coffee and a healthy machine.
Quick Rundown Of Breville Barista Touch
- Earn up to $200 cashback with a Beanz coffee subscription when you purchase a selected Breville espresso machine. Valid Aug 1, 2023 until Jun 30, 2024
- The Breville Barista Touch delivers third wave specialty coffee at home using the 4 keys formula and is part of the Barista Series that offers all in one espresso machines with integrated grinder to go from beans to espresso in under one minute
- DOSE CONTROL GRINDING: With a single touch, the integrated precision conical burr grinder with dose control delivers the right amount of coffee on demand, for maximum flavor
- OPTIMAL WATER PRESSURE: Low pressure pre-infusion gradually increases pressure at the start and helps ensure all the flavors are drawn out evenly during the extraction for a balanced tasting cup
- FASTER HEAT UP TIME: Innovative ThermoJet heating system achieves the optimum extraction temperature in 3 seconds
Last update on 2024-04-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown Of Breville Barista Pro
- Item Package Dimension: 17.39L x 16.59W x 16.09H inches
- Item Package Weight - 27.20 Pounds
- Item Package Quantity - 1
- Product Type - COFFEE MAKER
Last update on 2024-04-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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References:
- Breville Barista Touch: https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes880.html
- Breville Barista Pro: https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes878.html
Felix Hendricks is a skilled barista with over 12 years of experience. He excels in crafting coffee and has a strong foundation in coffee machine mechanics. Felix holds a Coffee Machine Maintenance Certification from the Coffee Equipment Technical Institute, showcasing his ability to diagnose and repair coffee machines. He’s also worked as a quality control specialist, selecting premium coffee beans for optimal flavor. Felix has a diverse work history, including stints at renowned coffee spots like Café Euphoria & Starbucks. His expertise in both brewing and machine maintenance makes him a respected figure in the coffee industry.