Breville Oracle vs Oracle Touch Review: Find Out Which Espresso Machine Is the ‘Superior’ Automatic Coffee Maker

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

Both the Breville Oracle vs Oracle Touch produce some of the richest and smoothest espressos in all of Breville’s brewers. So it makes sense to compare these top-ranking products and see which one is better for you.

At first glance, you can separate the 2 espresso machines based on their appearance. For starters, the Oracle Touch features a touchscreen display while the Oracle doesn’t.

This makes the Oracle Touch more user-friendly and automated than the Oracle. But their functionalities with regards to customizations, making adjustments to key variables are the same. Both machines are fully automatic but the only difference is that the Oracle Touch is a better, more intuitive barista (for you) than the Oracle.

Let’s understand them better, shall we?

Breville Oracle vs Oracle Touch: Comparison Chart

Image
THE WINNER (#1)
Breville BES980XL Oracle Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel,Silver
Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel, BES990BSS
Model
Breville Oracle BES980XL
Breville Oracle Touch BES990BSS
Dimensions (LxWxH)
14.5 x 14.7 x 17.6 Inches
15.4 x 14.7 x 17.9 Inches
Color
Stainless Steel
Brushed Stainless Steel
Weight
34.5 pounds
34.5 Pounds
Material
Brushed Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Power / Voltage
1800 W/ 110–120 V
1800W / 110–120V
Interface
LCD Display, Buttons
Swipe & Select Touch Screen
Programmable Settings
1, One-Touch ‘Long Black’ Coffee
Super Automatic 5 Pre-programmed
Coffee Customizations
None
8 Customizable Drinks
Automatic Tamper
Dose Control
22g
19-22g
Heating System
Stainless Steel Dual Boiler
Stainless Steel Dual Boiler
Removable Drip Tray
Automatic Purge
Bean Hopper Capacity
1/2 lb
1/2 lb
Water Tank Capacity
84 Ounce
84 Ounce
What I Like
Price
$2,199.95
$2,649.00
THE WINNER (#1)
Image
Breville BES980XL Oracle Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel,Silver
Model
Breville Oracle BES980XL
Dimensions (LxWxH)
14.5 x 14.7 x 17.6 Inches
Color
Stainless Steel
Weight
34.5 pounds
Material
Brushed Stainless Steel
Power / Voltage
1800 W/ 110–120 V
Interface
LCD Display, Buttons
Programmable Settings
1, One-Touch ‘Long Black’ Coffee
Coffee Customizations
None
Automatic Tamper
Dose Control
22g
Heating System
Stainless Steel Dual Boiler
Removable Drip Tray
Automatic Purge
Bean Hopper Capacity
1/2 lb
Water Tank Capacity
84 Ounce
What I Like
Price
$2,199.95
More Info
Image
Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel, BES990BSS
Model
Breville Oracle Touch BES990BSS
Dimensions (LxWxH)
15.4 x 14.7 x 17.9 Inches
Color
Brushed Stainless Steel
Weight
34.5 Pounds
Material
Stainless Steel
Power / Voltage
1800W / 110–120V
Interface
Swipe & Select Touch Screen
Programmable Settings
Super Automatic 5 Pre-programmed
Coffee Customizations
8 Customizable Drinks
Automatic Tamper
Dose Control
19-22g
Heating System
Stainless Steel Dual Boiler
Removable Drip Tray
Automatic Purge
Bean Hopper Capacity
1/2 lb
Water Tank Capacity
84 Ounce
What I Like
Price
$2,649.00
More Info

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

Breville Oracle vs Oracle Touch: Differences

Even though the similarities between the Breville Oracle vs Oracle Touch are more than their differences, it’s a tie between Oracle and Oracle Touch for the best espresso-based automatic machine.

The Oracle Touch does have better user benefits (twice as more to be precise) as it offers more customizations than the Oracle. You can save your coffee drinks easily and directly select the drink you want to have with their amazing animated touchscreen display. It makes home brewing look good which is exactly what you want in a fully automatic espresso machine.

1. ‘Swipe & Select’ Touch Screen

The Winner: Oracle Touch

Breville Oracle Touch Screen
Breville Oracle Touch Screen

The first point of difference, and the most important one, is the touch screen display. Using the touch screen of the Oracle Touch is quick and sheds seconds off your time when you’re in a hurry.

You can select from a wide variety of delicious coffee drinks such as an espresso shot, long black, latte, flat white, and cappuccino. You can also save drinks that you’ve customized with a unique brewing time, grind size, and volume.

Apart from these 5 incredible pre-programmed coffee drinks, you can save up to 8 customized coffee drinks. The adjustable grind size and programmable temperature settings are easy to adjust using the Touch Screen with a visually aesthetic interface!

The Oracle, on the other hand, features an LCD display with buttons. While it is fully automatic, it doesn’t have pre-programmed coffee drinks nor can it save yours. The buttons on the control panel are direct and informative. For single or double espresso shot, Long Black, size and strength, and texture and temperature settings.

You also have a smaller LCD display window for adjusting grind and steam settings. So it’s definitely organized – just without the pre-programmed coffee settings.

2. Cost

The Winner: Oracle

Another major difference between the Oracle and Oracle Touch which is also the most compelling deciding factor between the two is the price. The price of the Oracle Touch is extravagant. The Oracle is $500 cheaper than the Oracle Touch.

Comparing the features and design of both espresso machines, you’re paying $500 more for the Oracle Touch on account of its customizable settings, touchscreen display, and slightly bulkier design which also contributes to its durability. But even that, when you compare the size of the Oracle with the Oracle Touch, there’s barely any difference at all.

3. Size

The Winner: Oracle

Breville Oracle Size
Breville Oracle Size

The water reservoir on both espressos is reasonably spacious. You will not face any problems refilling the tank. They offer the same water reservoir of 84oz and a half-pound bean hopper capacity.

What’s different though are the dimensions. The Oracle measures 14.5 x 14.7 x 17.6 inches and the Oracle Touch measures 17.5 x 17.7 x 21.1 inches. While both machines are made of superior stainless steel, the Oracle Touch does take up more space than Oracle in your kitchen.

4. Material

The Winner: Oracle Touch

Breville Oracle Touch Material
Breville Oracle Touch Material

Speaking of stainless steel construction, the Oracle features a stainless steel exterior which indicates that it does contain a few plastic parts in the mix. You won’t find the same description under the Oracle Touch which has an all-stainless steel housing with durable and sturdy stainless steel parts.

Both machines, however, have dual stainless steel boilers which are a workhorse and produce the richest and most consistent espressos.

Breville Oracle vs Oracle Touch: Similarities

1. Pre-Infusion Function

This is a special feature that makes all Breville espresso machines unique and powerful. When the coffee grounds are pre-infused which means they are soaked for a few extra seconds in hot water before traveling through the puck, this intensifies flavor.

By pre-infusing them, the coffee grounds expand to release more flavor and a smoother texture. The result is a more balanced (and consistent) espresso extraction plus a stronger coffee aroma per shot!

Thankfully, both the Breville Oracle and Oracle Touch offer Pre-Infusion.

2. Conical Burr Grinder with Adjustable Control

While both espresso makers brew exactly like a barista, they come with powerful burr grinders that work effectively and consistently.

With the touch of a button (in Oracle) and swipe and select (in Oracle Touch), you can choose your preferred grind size. The machine will grind, dose, and tamp the coffee grounds. You don’t have to do it by yourself. Just lock the portafilter in place and watch the magic happen!

Both machines also control the dose amount to avoid loss of flavor or texture, no matter your drink. The professional standard for barista-grade espresso machines is 22g of ground coffee. And that’s exactly what these machines offer for the home brewer as well.

3. Temperature

Both espresso makers feature temperature controls with an easy and accessible display. You can easily see the temperature without doing the guesswork. The Digital PID control lets you choose precisely what you want. It also introduces thermal stability which means you won’t lose heat between pulling an espresso shot and steaming milk.

And since both espresso makers come with stainless steel boilers, it accelerates brewing and steaming time so you spend fewer minutes of the day standing in front of the machine to get rich and delicious espresso every time.

Quick Rundown Of Breville Oracle BES980XL

Breville BES980XL Oracle Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel,Silver
  • 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

Pros
  • Quick and automatic grinding and tamping.
  • High-quality and consistent milk frothing.
  • Easy to program functions for time, brew strength, and size.
  • Sturdy stainless steel parts with easy cleaning.
  • Quick automatic purge feature on steam wand.
  • Automatic dose control with programmable settings.
Cons
  • It makes a mildly loud noise.

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
  • Great for quick espresso brewing.
  • Precise integrated grinder for finer espresso flavor.
  • Professional-grade temperature control and faster heating.
  • Ideal for beginners and intermediates.
  • Perfectly automatic steamed milk every time.
Cons
  • The auto-purge feature is messy.
  • It does take up more space.

Product Videos

Related Articles to Breville Oracle

  1. Breville Oracle vs Jura Z6: Which High-End Espresso Machine Is Worth Its 3000$ Price Tag?
  2. Gaggia Babila Vs Breville Oracle: Which Is The Best Hybrid Coffee Maker?
  3. Gaggia Accademia vs Breville Oracle: Which Has The Potentiality To Be The Winner?
  4. Breville Oracle vs Barista Touch Review: What Makes Both Espresso Machines Prepare Delicious, Customizable Espresso?
  5. Breville Oracle vs Delonghi La Specialista Review: 2 Best Super-Automatic And Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines
  6. Breville Dual Boiler vs Oracle Review: Evaluating & Comparing 2 Pro-Level, Barista-Grade Espresso Machines For Home Use
  7. Breville Barista Pro vs Oracle Review: Comparing 6 Key Differences To Find What Works For Brewing Beginners & Daily Home Use
  8. Breville Oracle vs Barista Express Espresso Maker Review: Finding The Right Fit For Home Brewers & Espresso Drinkers

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: Which Makes The Better Coffee?
  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: Both Prepare Specialty Coffee But Find Out Which One Does It Better
  7. Breville Oracle Touch vs DeLonghi Prima Donna Review: Which Fully Automatic Espresso Machine Is Great For Lots of Crema?
  8. Breville Oracle Touch vs Dual Boiler: 7 Points Of Comparison Between Both Espresso Machines to Help You Decide
  9. Breville Oracle Touch vs DeLonghi La Specialista: Find Out Which One Is Great for Americanos and Lattes AND for the Money!
  10. Breville Oracle Touch vs Barista Pro Review: Which Home Espresso Maker Does Better Brewing & More Customizing?
  11. Breville Oracle Touch vs Barista Express – Best Comparison Review For Espresso
  12. Breville Oracle Touch vs Delonghi Eletta Review: 7 Key Differences Between the Two Espresso Machines with Adjustable Settings
  13. Breville Oracle Touch vs Gaggia Babila: Top 4 Contrasts
  14. Breville Oracle Touch vs Barista Touch – Why Is Oracle So Much More Expensive?
  15. Breville Oracle Touch vs Barista Express – Best Comparison Review For Espresso

References

5/5 - (3 votes)