The Breville Dual Boiler vs Oracle are similar espresso machines but they both differ in price and some automated features. So it’s easier to pick between the two based on these factors.
By appearance, you will easily be able to spot the Oracle with the grinder/bean hopper sitting on top of the machine. Apart from this slight inconvenience on behalf of the Dual Boiler since you will have to purchase a separate grinder. Both machines share some features such as the 2.5-liter water tank, the top cup warmers, and the integrated castors and long (retractable) power cord for portability.
This also explains the high cost of the Oracle because it comes with a built-in grinder. While the Breville Dual Boiler doesn’t.
So now you know what you want and what to pay for. Let’s begin by understanding this in a little more detail.
Breville Dual Boiler vs Oracle: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2023-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Breville Dual Boiler vs Oracle: Differences
The specifications of the Breville Dual Boiler vs Oracle are easy to understand. They both feature digital controls with simple customizations for espresso and steam. Their brewing features are precise and consistent.
This makes it harder to pick the better option between the two. But despite it all, here’s the final scorecard for the best espresso machine for coffee lovers – the Oracle wins 4 -1 against the Dual Boiler for its faster performance and more intuitive interface!
1. Time
The Winner: Breville Oracle
Using the Breville Dual Boiler feels a little bit different than the Oracle. Even though both espresso makers have digital PID controls and a quick and intuitive functionality, here’s their main difference.
The time it takes to brew a latte with two shots of espresso or a double shot espresso, is quicker than the Dual Boiler. This is because the automatic brewing features of the Oracle are intuitively faster.
You’ll be done tending to the Oracle in half the time that it will take you to customize the Dual Boiler for the perfect espresso shot. This includes brewing a single and double shot of espresso.
The dual boilers in both Breville Dual Boiler and Oracle reduce overall time in brewing and steaming. You can do both simultaneously with little to no wait time in between.
It must also be said that the Oracle features a built-in grinder while the Dual Boiler doesn’t. So you have to factor in the time it’ll take you to grind your coffee beans and transfer them to the Dual Boiler. Unless you buy packaged ground coffee which makes this step a whole lot easier, not to forget faster!
2. Espresso Flavor
The Winner: Breville Dual Boiler
Breville offers an incredible product line of smart coffee grinders with pro-level features. With Dual Boiler, you can dial in the ideal amount of coffee you need and the Dual Boiler will take care of the rest. This includes tamping and dosing the grounds for an even balanced extraction.
This results in a richer, more intense, and full-bodied extraction of espresso. The Dual Boiler is better at making espresso where you can tweak the key variables for maximizing flavor. For a home espresso machine, it’s impressively consistent and precise.
Many users have also said that the espresso tastes exactly like a barista, comparable to machines not less than $3,000 to $4,000. That’s exciting to know, isn’t it?
The portafilter has a double seal and is convenient to use. It creates the perfect dose of 19 to 22g of ground coffee, just like a café.
The Oracle, on the other hand, does offer a slightly uneven portafilter. But this is only in comparison to the high-quality portafilter of the Dual Boiler. It’s not inadequate but it does cause some spraying through the coffee puck. This is indicative of uneven coffee infusion which alters the espresso taste, making it not as intense.
Overall, though, the Oracle is easy to customize and can offer you a variety of espresso flavors for all your coffee needs.
3. Steaming
The Winner: Breville Oracle
Both the Dual Boiler and Oracle produce excellent milk texturing results. Balancing the texture and temperature of milk steaming for lattes, cappuccinos, etc. So the creamy, frothy milk layer on top is not too thick or thin.
Having said that, the Dual Boiler features a manual steam wand. What the Oracle can do for you automatically, the Dual Boiler needs the practice to get right.
This makes the steaming a bit slower and with tons of practicing on your part. But once you do get the hang of it, it produces a great milk texture quickly and consistently.
4. Price
The Winner: Breville Oracle
The Breville Dual Boiler is priced at $1,400 which is not too expensive for an espresso machine. The Breville Oracle is an excellent competitor but with a higher price point of around $2,600 which makes it an extravagant pick. But with good reason.
Everything about the Breville Oracle Espresso Machine makes it worth considering. It is backed up by in-depth research and analysis, that is why it’s faster and it comes with its own grinder!
Were you buy the Breville Dual Boiler, you will have to purchase a separate coffee grinder for around $500. Even then, tweaking the proper settings will take some time. You don’t have to invest so much time with Oracle. It masters the art of brewing for you and shows you the right parameters as well so you’re not confused.
5. Design
The Winner: Breville Oracle
So the Breville Dual Boiler comes with a pressure gauge, analog, but no built-in grinder. And the Breville Oracle features a fast and powerful burr grinder with no analog gauge.
You can read the pre-infusion pressure when pulling shots. This, for someone who wants to learn more about coffee, will find very helpful.
But with the flexible shot control and the intuitive display of the Oracle, the grinder works perfectly. And it features automatic tamping and dosing which hardly leaves any room for mistakes. In fact, none because it’s a smooth and user-friendly pick.
Breville Dual Boiler vs Oracle: Similarities
The Dual Boiler and the Oracle share many features and benefits for the user. Such as the PID temperature control, dual boilers, LCD display with shot control buttons for a single and double espresso.
You will also find in both espresso machines a sturdy, professional-grade stainless steel build quality setup. Both machines are large-sized so they do take up room on your counter space.
With quick and intuitive customization for brewing and steaming, you can expect intense and pro-level results from the Breville Dual Boiler and Oracle. Their pre-infusion technology is truly phenomenal and lets you brew espresso according to your personal taste.
Quick Rundown Of Breville Dual Boiler BES290
- Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use
Last update on 2023-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown Of Breville Oracle BES980
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
Last update on 2023-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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I am a passionate coffee drinker. Since I left my job as a barista a few years back in 2012, I’ve been sharing my expertise on coffee and buying the best coffee equipment online. That’s how Wild Boar Coffee came to life.
I write about everything coffee-related under the sun. Where to buy the freshest coffee beans from? How to test coffee beans based on texture, aroma, and acidity?
I know all this from scratch – all thanks to my years and years of experience as a barista. So I’ve gotten real up-close-and-personal with coffee beans and different brewing techniques.