Breville Oracle Touch vs Saeco Xelsis: Both Prepare Specialty Coffee But Find Out Which One Does It Better

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If you’re craving for a new coffee setup at home, choosing between the Breville Oracle Touch vs Saeco Xelsis is an excellent way to go about it. Both are super-automatic machines with major design differences. Though they share the same espresso extraction with the high-quality 15 bar pump system, the rest is up for grabs.

The Saeco Xelsis excels both in coffee flavor and its craftsmanship. I’m talking about how easy it is to use and fast. It features a compact construction, with a built-in grinder, by-pass doser, customized profiles, and fast milk frothing.

The Breville Oracle Touch makes your home espresso game a bit more barista-like and authentic. Thanks to its high-quality steam wand and portafilter mechanism. With auto tamping, it shouldn’t feel too complex to use. But it’s not still as fast as the Saeco Xelsis.

Breville Oracle Touch vs Saeco Xelsis: Comparision Chart

Image
The Winner (#1)
Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel, BES990BSS
The Runner-up (#2)
PHILIPS Saeco Xelsis Super Automatic Espresso Machine - LatteDuo Milk System, 15 Coffee Varieties, 6 User Profiles, Touchscreen, Black & Titanium, (SM7684/04)
Model
Breville Oracle Touch BES990
Saeco Xelsis SM7684
Dimensions (LxWxH)
15.4 x 14.7 x 17.9 Inches
23.43 x 14.49 x 20.47 Inches
Color / Material
Brushed Stainless Steel / Stainless Steel
Black / Metal and Plastic
Weight
37.26 Pounds
25.8 Pounds
Power / Voltage
1800W / 110–120V
120V
Water Tank Capacity
84 Ounces
60.8 Ounces
Bean Hopper Capacity
280g
340g
Grind Size Settings
Not mentioned
12
Steam Wand
Yes, Automatic Microfoam
Milk Frother + Glass Flask
Self-Cleaning Steam Wand
Yes
HygieSteam Feature
Adjustable Grind Settings
Automatic & Manual
Automatic & Manual
Portafilter Size
58mm
No Portafilter
Programmable Settings
Single & Double Shot Volume, 5 Cafe-Inspired Coffees, 8 user profiles
15 Coffee Drinks, 6 User Profiles
Automatic Shut-Off
Heating System
Stainless Steel Dual Boiler + PID Temperature Control
Dual Thermoblock
Bar Pump System
9-15
15
What I Like
Price
$2,649.00
$1,299.00
The Winner (#1)
Image
Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel, BES990BSS
Model
Breville Oracle Touch BES990
Dimensions (LxWxH)
15.4 x 14.7 x 17.9 Inches
Color / Material
Brushed Stainless Steel / Stainless Steel
Weight
37.26 Pounds
Power / Voltage
1800W / 110–120V
Water Tank Capacity
84 Ounces
Bean Hopper Capacity
280g
Grind Size Settings
Not mentioned
Steam Wand
Yes, Automatic Microfoam
Self-Cleaning Steam Wand
Yes
Adjustable Grind Settings
Automatic & Manual
Portafilter Size
58mm
Programmable Settings
Single & Double Shot Volume, 5 Cafe-Inspired Coffees, 8 user profiles
Automatic Shut-Off
Heating System
Stainless Steel Dual Boiler + PID Temperature Control
Bar Pump System
9-15
What I Like
Price
$2,649.00
More Info
The Runner-up (#2)
Image
PHILIPS Saeco Xelsis Super Automatic Espresso Machine - LatteDuo Milk System, 15 Coffee Varieties, 6 User Profiles, Touchscreen, Black & Titanium, (SM7684/04)
Model
Saeco Xelsis SM7684
Dimensions (LxWxH)
23.43 x 14.49 x 20.47 Inches
Color / Material
Black / Metal and Plastic
Weight
25.8 Pounds
Power / Voltage
120V
Water Tank Capacity
60.8 Ounces
Bean Hopper Capacity
340g
Grind Size Settings
12
Steam Wand
Milk Frother + Glass Flask
Self-Cleaning Steam Wand
HygieSteam Feature
Adjustable Grind Settings
Automatic & Manual
Portafilter Size
No Portafilter
Programmable Settings
15 Coffee Drinks, 6 User Profiles
Automatic Shut-Off
Heating System
Dual Thermoblock
Bar Pump System
15
What I Like
Price
$1,299.00
More Info

Last update on 2023-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Breville Oracle Touch vs Saeco Xelsis: Differences

The Breville Oracle Touch requires more attention than the Saeco Xelsis. But it is trustworthy and multi-functional. It’s just that the Saeco Xelsis performs a bit better (2 – 3) than the Oracle Touch. It is more upgraded for the perfect espresso flavor.

1. Coffee Grinder

The Winner: Saeco Xelsis

Saeco Xelsis Coffee Grinder
Saeco Xelsis Coffee Grinder

The Oracle Touch features a fast coffee grinder and a spacious bean hopper. The bean hopper, which can hold 280g of beans, sits on top of the machine. And it does not come with a by-pass doser, like the Saeco Xelsis.

The Saeco Xelsis features an even larger bean hopper – it can hold up to 340g of coffee beans. Plus, its by-pass doser allows 1 scoop of pre-ground coffee for quick brewing. And its bean hopper has a built-in bean hopper inside the main housing so it doesn’t take up room on top of the machine.

2. Heating Element

The Winner: Saeco Xelsis

Saeco Xelsis Heating Element
Saeco Xelsis Heating Element

Between the Oracle Touch and Saeco Xelsis, you have to option to select from stainless steel dual boiler and dual Thermoblock heating elements. The difference between both is that the dual stainless steel boilers of the Oracle Touch are heavier than Thermoblock.

Thermoblock is also a great option for saving energy and accelerating performance. Thermoblock, on top of saving more space inside the espresso machine, offers consistent heating for espresso and milk frothing.

Based on my research, the Thermoblock of the Saeco Xelsis is a better performer for its longer shelf life and quality performance. The good thing about the Oracle Touch is the PID temperature controls for ensuring smooth and reliable temperature controls, coupled with its intricate programmability.

3. Size

The Winner: Oracle Touch

The Oracle Touch features a higher water tank capacity which means more spaced-out refilling. The difference is around 23 ounces which draws a significant margin for coffee drinkers who love to drink a lot of espressos.

The water tank of the Oracle Touch sits at 84 ounces and measures 15.4 x 14.6 x 17.8 inches. While the 60.8 ounces water tank of the Saeco Xelsis is shorter than the Oracle Touch, about 7 inches shorter considering that the bean hopper is placed inside the machine rather than on top.

So while you may prefer the compactness and portability of the Saeco Xelsis, the Oracle Touch is easier to maintain and use!

4. Programmability

The Winner: Saeco Xelsis

Saeco Xelsis Review Programmability
Saeco Xelsis Review Programmability

When you compare the Oracle Touch to other super-automatic espresso machines, it comes out as one of the most flexible and user-friendly machines. But against the Saeco Xelsis, the number of programmable features cannot keep up.

The Saeco Xelsis features 15 pre-programmed coffees, 6 user profiles, 5 Aroma settings, and 3 temperature settings. To top that off, the 12 adjustable grind settings let you decide between finer and coarser coffee grounds for a stronger or milder espresso flavor.

The Oracle Touch has 5 pre-programmed café drinks and up to 8 customizable drinks. In both machines, you can select the drink you want and they will automatically start the extraction process.

But you can control a few things in the Oracle Touch as well – the coffee grind size, temperature, milk texture, and milk temperature. It also includes a shot timer for a quicker and more dependable espresso extraction time.

5. Milk Frothing

The Winner: Oracle Touch

Breville Oracle Touch Milk Frothing
Breville Oracle Touch Milk Frothing

For me, having within my disposal the authentic barista experience via a super-automatic home espresso machine is necessary. And the Oracle Touch offers that to me effectively. It features a steam wand that is automatic and adjustable with self-cleaning features.

The Saeco Xelsis has a milk frother that is contrastingly different. For starters, it isn’t even a steam wand, there’s a built-in milk frother that pours foamy and hot milk through the same spout that pours espresso into your cup.

The best thing about the Saeco Xelsis though is its cleaning feature, the HygieSteam, that shoots hot steam/water through the hose to keep it clog-free and clean. It’s fast, a milk delivery system, and produces high-quality milk foam for all drinks, but it’s nothing like the authentic barista-quality steam wand system of the Oracle Touch. 

Breville Oracle Touch vs Saeco Xelsis: Similarities

1. Touchscreen Interface

Both machines feature an intuitive touchscreen that is easy and quick to navigate. It’s more modern as it boasts bold, colorful icons and settings to help you navigate the right coffee settings.

It definitely makes programmability faster when you want to simplify going through the process of adjusting the grind size, temperature, and texture. And it is quicker so you can save your personal customized drinks easily and have direct access to them as soon as you start the machine.

2. Automatic Brewing

If you’ve used a tamper before, you know how messy it can oftentimes be. So the Oracle Touch and Saeco Xelsis come with automatic dosing, grinding, and tamping.

With the Oracle Touch, you simply need to place the portafilter in the automatic tamper, and the machine grinds, doses, and tamps on its own.

With the Saeco Xelsis, once you add the coffee to the bean hopper or the by-pass doser, the rest of the brewing mechanism happens internally. What you see is rich, quality espresso coming out of the spout and into the cup.

3. 15 Bar Pump System

With the Oracle Touch’s pre-infusion brewing technology and Saeco Xelsis’s pre-brewing functionality, both machines use a 15 bar pump system to extract balanced yet strong espresso.

Besides the temperature and strength adjustability of the machines, a 15 bar pump is the professional standard for barista-grade technology. Rather than feeling overwhelmed with complex buttons and “dial-in” settings, the 15 bar pump uses precise and consistent water temperatures to pull rich flavor from coffee grounds.

Quick Rundown Of Breville Oracle Touch BES990

Sale
Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel, BES990BSS
  • 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.Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use
  • The Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine with automation at every stage with touch screen operation to simply swipe and select for espresso, long black, latte, flat white or cappuccino and enjoy third wave specialty coffee at home.
  • Dose Control: The integrated conical burr grinder automatically grinds, doses and tamps 18-22 grams of coffee, similar to the commercial espresso machine in your favorite cafe.
  • Espresso Machine with precise water temperature: Achieve balanced tasting espresso with the Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine complete with a digital temperature control (PID) technology, which ensures the temperature is kept at its optimum range
  • Optimal Water Pressure: The Over Pressure Valve (OPV) is a commercial feature included in the Oracle Touch. This limits the maximum pressure throughout the extraction, helping prevent bitter flavors in the coffee shot. It also has true low pressure pre-infusion, which gradually increases the pressure to gently expand the grinds for an even extraction.

Last update on 2023-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Quick strength, texture, and temperature adjustments.
  • Bright and intuitive touchscreen display.
  • Sturdy construction with quality parts.
  • The automatic tamping is quick and effective.
  • It looks really stylish and premium-grade.
Cons
  • A bit overpriced.
  • Slightly inconsistent in temperature controls.

Quick Rundown Of Saeco Xelsis SM7684

Sale
PHILIPS Saeco Xelsis Super Automatic Espresso Machine - LatteDuo Milk System, 15 Coffee Varieties, 6 User Profiles, Touchscreen, Black & Titanium, (SM7684/04)
  • With Philips Saeco Xelsis easily make up to 15 coffee varieties from common Espresso and Capuccino to specialty coffees like Flat White or Americano. Simply swipe the touchscreen to select the drink and customize it with our intuitive Coffee Equalizer.Filter type:Reusable.Power consumption stand-by : 0.5W, Drip tray capacity : 500 ml
  • 15 Coffee Varieties at Your Fingertips: Explore the world of coffee - Espresso, cappuccino, macchiato, and a range of specialty drinks
  • Personalized Preferences: Everyone’s custom coffee favorites can be saved in up to 6 user profiles for instant selection. Personalize each profile down to the finest detail
  • LatteDuo Milk System: Prepare and enjoy single or double serving of any coffee recipe with one touch, including Cappuccino or Latte Macchiato
  • Double Thermo Blocks: Dedicated for both brewing and steaming offer accurate temperature controls for every drink in your recipe book

Last update on 2023-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Twin brewing cycle for espresso and milk.
  • Superior and super-fast automatic cleaning functions.
  • 15 pro-programmed coffee drinks at the touch of a button.
  • Impressive AquaClean water filter for longer shelf life.
Cons
  • It doesn’t steam milk.
  • No portafilter included.
  • Water tank is slightly smaller.

Product Videos

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References

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