Breville Oracle Touch Vs Barista Pro Review: Which Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine Is Better?

I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Read more

Deciding a winner between the Breville Oracle Touch vs Barista Pro is a breeze. The Oracle Touch, no doubt, is the better one!

The Breville Oracle Touch is designed with automation and ease of use at its core, resulting in a significantly lower learning curve. Indeed, it takes care of almost every step of the espresso-making process: automatically grinding, dosing, tamping, and even frothing milk.

The Breville Barista Pro, on the other hand, is a more classic semi-automatic machine. It involves a more hands-on approach, including manually tamping the grounds and steaming the milk. So, after all, it is slightly less beginner-friendly than the Oracle Touch.

Breville Oracle Touch Vs Barista Pro: Specs & Features Comparison Chart

Image
THE WINNER (#1)
Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine BES990BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine BES878BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
Model
Breville Oracle Touch
Breville Barista Pro
Dimensions/Weight
14.7 x 15.4 x 17.9 inches/37 lbs
13.5 x 16.1 x 16 inches/27.5 lbs
Interface
Touch Display
Non-Touch Screen
One Touch Drink Options
8
2
Built-in Grinder
Stainless Steel Conical Burr Grinder
Stainless Steel Conical Burr Grinder
Grinding Settings
45
30
Heating System
Dual Boilers
Single ThermoJet
Pump Pressure
15 Bars
15 Bars
Pre-Infusion
Milk Frothing System
Auto-Frothing Wand
Manual Steam Wand
Spigot Type/Cup Clearance
Dual/4 inches
Dual/4 inches
Water Reservoir/Bean Hopper
2.5 L/0.3 Kg
2 L/0.25 Kg
Filter
Yes (Optional)
Yes (Optional)
Compatible With Pre-ground Coffee
App Connectivity
User Profile
What I Like
Price
$2,689.99
Price not available
THE WINNER (#1)
Image
Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine BES990BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
Model
Breville Oracle Touch
Dimensions/Weight
14.7 x 15.4 x 17.9 inches/37 lbs
Interface
Touch Display
One Touch Drink Options
8
Built-in Grinder
Stainless Steel Conical Burr Grinder
Grinding Settings
45
Heating System
Dual Boilers
Pump Pressure
15 Bars
Pre-Infusion
Milk Frothing System
Auto-Frothing Wand
Spigot Type/Cup Clearance
Dual/4 inches
Water Reservoir/Bean Hopper
2.5 L/0.3 Kg
Filter
Yes (Optional)
Compatible With Pre-ground Coffee
App Connectivity
User Profile
What I Like
Price
$2,689.99
More Info
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Image
Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine BES878BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
Model
Breville Barista Pro
Dimensions/Weight
13.5 x 16.1 x 16 inches/27.5 lbs
Interface
Non-Touch Screen
One Touch Drink Options
2
Built-in Grinder
Stainless Steel Conical Burr Grinder
Grinding Settings
30
Heating System
Single ThermoJet
Pump Pressure
15 Bars
Pre-Infusion
Milk Frothing System
Manual Steam Wand
Spigot Type/Cup Clearance
Dual/4 inches
Water Reservoir/Bean Hopper
2 L/0.25 Kg
Filter
Yes (Optional)
Compatible With Pre-ground Coffee
App Connectivity
User Profile
What I Like
Price
Price not available
More Info

Last update on 2024-03-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Breville Oracle Touch Vs Barista Pro: Differences

This match ended with an overwhelming 4-0 victory for the Oracle Touch. So is it really for you? Keep reading to see more!

Coffee Flavor & Brewing System

Winner: Breville Oracle Touch

Built-in Grinder

One similarity between the Oracle Touch and Barista Pro is that both have an integrated burr grinder with various grind sizes. This means you can skip the hassle of a separate grinder, though having a good standalone one doesn’t hurt either.

the barista pro's stainless steel conical burr grinder
The Barista Pro’s stainless steel conical burr grinder

In my opinion, the steel conical burr grinder does a really good job since it crushes the beans rather than just chopping them like blade grinders, resulting in a much more consistent grind. You know, it’s all about the quality of the grind and consistency?

The Barista Pro has 30 grind settings adjusted via a dial on the left side – plenty of options to play with and perfect your espresso shots. But if you think that’s impressive, please turn your eyes to the Oracle Touch, which takes it even further with up to 45 settings adjusted via its screen.

Dosing & Tamping

All right, both are semi-automatic machines, so they must have a portafilter and a pair of baskets. And this is when things become more interesting than ever.

The Oracle Touch boasts a 58mm commercial-grade portafilter, a step up from the 54mm one found in the Barista Pro. Still, the Oracle Touch only comes with two unpressurized filter baskets (for both single and double shots), while the Barista Pro offers a bit more variety with four baskets, including both pressurized and non-pressurized options.

Pressurized baskets are great for beginners, allowing you to pull a decent shot without the need to meticulously dial in your settings. Non-pressurized baskets, on the other hand, can elevate the quality of your espresso to new heights, provided you dial in everything just right.

By including only non-pressurized baskets with the Oracle Touch, it seems like Breville is hinting that this machine is not geared towards novices. But hey, who knows?

Speaking of tamping, the Oracle Touch automatically grinds, tamps, and doses the coffee grounds, while the Barista Pro doesn’t. Yep, with the Oracle Touch, all you need to do is attach the portafilter to the grind outlet and then move it to the brew head  – everything is enclosed and mess-free.

the la oracle touch's tamping station
The Oracle Touch’s automatic tamping station

On the other hand, the Barista Pro requires manual tamping, and its tamper isn’t bad at all. The tamper can also be attached to the machine itself thanks to a magnetic mechanism for neat and tidy storage.

the barista pro's tamper can be magnetically attached to the machine
The Barista Pro’s tamper can be magnetically attached to the machine

Heating System 

The Oracle Touch, similar to the Dual Boiler, has two boilers with two different temperatures, one for brewing and one for steaming. That means it can steam milk while dispensing espresso at once. My only gripe with it is that it takes almost 15 minutes to initially heat up since it lacks any sort of quick heating technology.

On the flip side, the Barista Pro is quite impressive with its 3-second ThermoJet heating system for faster results. So, it can really heat up before you even know it.

Still, the ThermoJet system doesn’t heat the portafilter, so you’ll need to run a blank shot through it before brewing your coffee. This does add an extra step and a bit more time to your routine, but it’s crucial for getting that perfect espresso extraction. As always, you can’t win ‘em all.

Brewing System

You’ll find a pre-infusion function on both of these Breville machines. It involves soaking the puck with a small amount of hot water before the water is forced through the coffee at high pressure, resulting in high-quality espresso shots. 

The Barista Pro gets a bit of an edge by enabling you to tweak the preinfusion’s duration, but that isn’t possible with the Oracle Touch. As for the Oracle Touch, this is a step down from the non-touch Oracle version since this customization can be a lot of fun and really lets you dial in the flavor profile you’re aiming for

As for the other one, both have a PID controller to keep the brewing temperature consistent and a 15-bar pump to ensure the brewing process gets the right pressure. All of them result in nothing less than a great-quality espresso every single time.

Design & Convenience

Winner: Breville Oracle Touch

Dimensions & User Interface

Breville Oracle TouchBreville Barista Pro 
Dimensions14.7 x 15.4 x 17.9 inches13.5 x 16.1 x 16 inches
Weight37 lbs27.5 lbs

Both machines boast that quintessential “Breville look,” characterized by their brushed stainless steel exteriors, synonymous with durability and sleek design. The Barista Pro is also available in several other color options, such as Smoked Hickory, Sea Salt, and Red Velvet Cake – quite the gourmet palette, don’t you think? It’s as if Breville let a chef pick the names.

Now, the Oracle Touch is a bit heftier and bulkier compared to its counterpart, but it comes with a roller system, making moving the machine around a breeze. The real challenge, though, is finding the perfect spot for this one and the Barista Pro.

the breville oracle touch's touchscreen
The Breville Oracle Touch’s touchscreen

The Barista Pro features a straightforward, user-friendly interface with its basic blue backlit LCD screen and buttons, which you can navigate by using the dosage dial. Meanwhile, the Breville Barista Touch lives up to its name with its full-color touchscreen display. Both are intuitive, bright, and quick to get used to.

the barista pro’s panel
The Barista Pro’s panel

Spout Type & Cup Clearance

Breville Oracle TouchBreville Barista Pro 
Spout TypeDualDual
Cup Clearance4 inches4 inches

The spouts on these machines are fixed, but there’s ample space to accommodate most cups, even larger ones like travel mugs. If you ever find yourself in need of even more space, there’s a simple solution: remove the drip trays.

Water Reservoir & Bean Hopper

Breville Oracle TouchBreville Barista Pro 
Water Reservoir2.5 liter2 liter
Bean Hopper0.3 kilogram0.25 kilogram

Their water tanks are removable, allowing for straightforward filling and cleaning, and each has a low water sensor too. Both also come with a water filter to ensure your coffee brewed with water is free of impurities, and as a bonus, it reduces the need for frequent descaling of the machine. 

To fill the Oracle Touch’s tank, you can even just pour water in from the top slot instead of removing it. In addition, Breville also arranges a small window in front of this one to help you conveniently monitor the water level. See, this one brings a lot of features to the table.

Milk Frothing System

Winner: Breville Oracle Touch

The next difference is the steam wands used. This is actually one of the biggest reasons why the Oracle Touch has a very high price, on par with many super-automatic machines from Jura.

Yes, the Oracle Touch boasts a nice automatic steam wand to froth the milk itself. Just select your desired foam consistency and temperature, and the wand takes over, creating that perfect microfoam with precision. It also cleans itself as soon as you push it back into its original position.

the oracle touch's automatic wand
The Oracle Touch’s automatic wand

Now, if you’re an espresso enthusiast who likes a hands-on approach, the Oracle Touch gives you the option to texture the milk manually. Just lift the steam wand and get to work. But the wand’s movement is limited to up-and-down motions so you may encounter a bit of awkwardness while figuring out the best angle for your milk pitcher.

On the other side of the coin, the Barista Pro uses a professional-grade manual steam wand. It is on a ball joint for effortless maneuvering in your milk jug. The wand features four holes in its tip, enabling more even and quicker milk texturing than one or two-tip wands.

the barista pro's wand features a 4-hole tip
The Barista Pro’s wand features a 4-hole tip

The steam power on the Barista Pro’s wand might not match up to the more pricey espresso machines, but this is actually a boon for beginners. Why? The slightly lower power gives you more time to work with the milk without the risk of scorching it. 

Drink Options & Programmability

Winner: Breville Oracle Touch

Drink Options

Breville Oracle TouchBreville Barista Pro 
Espresso
Americano
Long Black
Latte
Flat White
Cappuccino
Hot Milk
Hot Water
Espresso
Hot Water

When it comes to drink options, the Oracle Touch is the winner with eight one-touch drink options and you can customize each one to your heart’s content and save up to 8 recipes. Incidentally, both have a separate hot water tap to make Americano or brew hot tea.

Programmability

Adjustable SettingsBreville Oracle TouchBreville Barista Pro 
Coffee StrengthNoYes
Coffee TemperatureYesYes
Milk Foam TemperatureYesNo
Milk Foam TextureYesNo

Both enable you to adjust some parameters to tailor your ideal recipe, including brewing temperature, shot size, and the option for single or double shots. The Oracle Touch offers customization of milk foam temperature and texture, whereas the Barista Pro provides control over pre-infusion time and the amount of ground coffee used.

the oracle touch allows you to adjust the temperature and level of milk froth
The Oracle Touch allows you to adjust the temperature and level of milk froth

Yes, with the Oracle Touch, you technically cannot tweak the coffee dose, but there is a hack: remove the tamping fan and adjust the screw with an Allen wrench. It’s not difficult, but it’s more complicated than it should be.

The Barista Pro offers the flexibility to fine-tune your coffee dose, but it is about adjusting the grinding time rather than the weight of the coffee. This provides some level of control, but time-based grinding isn’t the most precise method for dosing. So if you’re thinking about getting this one, it’s a wise move to also invest in a coffee scale.

the barista pro fine-tunes the coffee dose by time (seconds)
The Barista Pro fine-tunes the coffee dose by time (seconds)

Quick Rundown Of Breville Oracle Touch

Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine BES990BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
  • Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use.Grind Settings : 45 precision grind settings. Portafilter : Commercial grade 58mm portafilter.Portafilter : Commercial grade 58mm portafilter

Last update on 2024-03-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • 45 grind settings
  • A pair of boilers.
  • 58-mm commercial-grade portafilter.
  • Automatic dosing and tamping system.
  • 2-in-1 milk steam wand.
Cons
  • Costly.
  • Bulky.

Quick Rundown Of Breville Barista Pro

Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine BES878BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
  • 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 2024-03-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Built-in burr grinder with 30 different settings.
  • Adjustable pre-infusion.
  • ThermoJet fast heating system.
  • Affordable price.
  • Ease to use.
Cons
  • On the heavy side.
  • One boiler.

Product Videos

Related Articles to Breville Oracle Touch

  1. Breville Oracle Touch Vs Jura E8: How Automatic Do You Want?
  2. Breville Oracle Touch Vs Miele 6350: A Head-To-Head Comparison
  3. Breville Oracle Touch vs Jura Z8: Comparing Features Of Two High-end Superautomatic Machines
  4. Breville Oracle Touch vs Jura Z6: Which Of These Superautomatic Machines Offers Better Espresso And Is Easier to Use?
  5. Breville Oracle Touch vs Jura S8: Which Automatic Espresso Machine Is The Best Option?
  6. Breville Oracle Touch Vs Saeco Xelsis: Which One Is Better?
  7. Breville Oracle Touch Vs Delonghi Prima Donna: Which Coffee Machine Is Best?
  8. Breville Oracle Touch Vs Dual Boiler: A Head-To-Head Comparison
  9. Breville Oracle Touch Vs Delonghi La Specialista: Which Sem-mi Auto Machine Is Better?
  10. Breville Oracle Touch Vs Delonghi Eletta: Which Espresso Machine Is Best?
  11. Breville Oracle Vs Oracle Touch: Is the Difference Just the Touch Screen?
  12. Breville Oracle Touch Vs Gaggia Babila: Both Are Absolutely Fabulous, But The Winner Is…?
  13. Breville Oracle Touch vs Barista Touch – Breville Showdown: Which Reigns Supreme
  14. Breville Oracle Touch Vs Barista Express: Which Is The Better Semi-Automatic Machine?

Related Articles to Breville Barista Pro

  1. Breville Barista Pro Vs Rancilio Silvia: A Head-To-Head Comparison
  2. Philips 3200 Vs Breville Barista Pro: Which Machine Brews More Exquisite Espressos, Has Better Automation And Is Easier To Clean?
  3. Delonghi La Specialista Vs Breville Barista Pro: Comparing Two Semi-Automatic Machines
  4. Breville Barista Pro vs Oracle: A Head-To–Head Comparison
  5. Breville Barista Pro Vs Touch: All the Differences & Similarities Between These Two Brevilles
  6. Breville Dual Boiler Vs Barista Pro: A Detailed Comparison
  7. Breville Barista Express Vs Pro: As the Price Tag Rises, So Does the Power!
  8. Breville Bambino Plus Vs Barista Pro: Let’s Reveal the Overall Winner!

References

5/5 - (4 votes)