Nespresso Creatista Plus vs Breville Barista Express Review: Single-Serve Coffee Maker or Semi-Automatic – What Is The Right Pick For You?

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The best thing about using an espresso maker at home is that you have plenty of options to pick from Nespresso Creatista Plus vs Breville Barista Express. If you’re looking for a faster and user-friendly pick, go for the Nespresso Creatista Plus. Its ease of use beats the hands-on espresso brewing experience of the Breville Barista Express.

The Breville Barista Express is known for its intuitive programmability. It’s ideal for brewers who love a bit more control over temperature, shot volume, and time. So if you enjoy experimenting with coffee, I would recommend the Barista Express.

But for better versatility and exciting features like pre-programmed coffee drinks, faster performance, and precision, the Nespresso Creatista Plus is the best.

Nespresso Creatista Plus vs Breville Barista Express: Comparison Chart

Image
THE WINNER (#1)
Breville Nespresso Nespresso Creatista Plus Coffee Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel BNE800BSSUSC
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel, BES870XL, Large
Model
Nespresso Creatista Plus BNE800BSS
Breville Barista Express BES870XL
Dimensions (LxWxH)
15.4 x 12 x 6.7 Inches
12 x 11 x 13.5 Inches
Weight
11.9 Pounds
23 Pounds
Color / Material
Stainless Steel / Brushed Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel / Brushed Stainless Steel
Bean Hopper Capacity
12 (used capsule capacity)
1/2 lb 
Removable Water Tank Capacity
60 ounces
67 ounces
Serving Size
Ristretto (0.5 oz.), Espresso (1.35 oz.), Lungo (5 oz.)
Single (8-10g) & Double (15-18g) + Adjustable Grind Size
Interface
TFT LCD Display
Buttons & Analog
Bar Pump System
19 bar pump system
15 bar pump system
Programmability
Fully Automatic
Automatic & Manual
Steam Wand
Auto-purge steam pipe
360-degrees swivel, 1 hole tip
Adjustable Settings
Coffee volume, milk temperature, and texture.
Grind amount, filter size, temperature, milk texture.
Fast Heat-Up Time
Automatic Shut-Off
Removable Drip Tray
Auto-Purge Steam Wand
What I Like
Price
$559.99
$699.95
THE WINNER (#1)
Image
Breville Nespresso Nespresso Creatista Plus Coffee Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel BNE800BSSUSC
Model
Nespresso Creatista Plus BNE800BSS
Dimensions (LxWxH)
15.4 x 12 x 6.7 Inches
Weight
11.9 Pounds
Color / Material
Stainless Steel / Brushed Stainless Steel
Bean Hopper Capacity
12 (used capsule capacity)
Removable Water Tank Capacity
60 ounces
Serving Size
Ristretto (0.5 oz.), Espresso (1.35 oz.), Lungo (5 oz.)
Interface
TFT LCD Display
Bar Pump System
19 bar pump system
Programmability
Fully Automatic
Steam Wand
Auto-purge steam pipe
Adjustable Settings
Coffee volume, milk temperature, and texture.
Fast Heat-Up Time
Automatic Shut-Off
Removable Drip Tray
Auto-Purge Steam Wand
What I Like
Price
$559.99
More Info
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Image
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel, BES870XL, Large
Model
Breville Barista Express BES870XL
Dimensions (LxWxH)
12 x 11 x 13.5 Inches
Weight
23 Pounds
Color / Material
Stainless Steel / Brushed Stainless Steel
Bean Hopper Capacity
1/2 lb 
Removable Water Tank Capacity
67 ounces
Serving Size
Single (8-10g) & Double (15-18g) + Adjustable Grind Size
Interface
Buttons & Analog
Bar Pump System
15 bar pump system
Programmability
Automatic & Manual
Steam Wand
360-degrees swivel, 1 hole tip
Adjustable Settings
Grind amount, filter size, temperature, milk texture.
Fast Heat-Up Time
Automatic Shut-Off
Removable Drip Tray
Auto-Purge Steam Wand
What I Like
Price
$699.95
More Info

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

Nespresso Creatista Plus vs Breville Barista Express: Differences

The Nespresso Creatista Plus is a better pick for its user-friendly, pre-programmed performance.  The quality of its espresso is perfect. And while the Breville Barista Express also does produce rich espresso, it takes a different, slightly more time-consuming route to brew a great cup.

In this comparison review, the Creatista Plus has a higher rating of 2-1 for its quick performance and ease of use.

1. Type of Espresso Machine

The Winner: Nespresso Creatista Plus

Nespresso Creatista Plus Type Of Espresso Machine
Nespresso Creatista Plus Type Of Espresso Machine

The main difference between the Nespresso Creatista Plus and the Breville Barista Express lies in their brewing technology. The Creatista Plus is a single-serve coffee maker. It produces rich and delicious espresso with the help of coffee pods.

The Breville Barista Express is a semi-automatic espresso maker that produces espresso with coffee beans. It features a built-in grinder so it is a direct bean-to-cup coffee maker for daily home brewing.

The Nespresso Creatista Plus has no bells and whistles. You can brew tasty espresso with the press of a button. With the Barista Express, however, you need to work hard to get good at pulling espresso shots.

The Creatista Plus does deliver creamy and rich lattes or cappuccinos or flat whites. It is quick to heat up, less than 5 seconds. You can also adjust certain important variables such as the volume, milk temperature, and coffee blend using the LCD display on top of the machine.

While the Barista Express does feature intricate programmability, it’s more hands-on than the Creatista Plus. If you do get it wrong, the grind size, temperature, or shot timing, the espresso will not taste good consistently.

2. Programmability

The Winner: Nespresso Creatista Plus

Nespresso Creatista Plus Programmability
Nespresso Creatista Plus Programmability

The Creatista Plus LCD display offers automatic and manual adjustments. It features pre-programmed coffee drinks for a latte, Americano, cappuccino, and a few more.

You can select a different brew directly each time you want to make coffee. Selecting your brew size, even for a single-serve, from ristretto, espresso, and lungo sizes.

The high-resolution display of the Creatista Plus makes programmability easy and straightforward. It takes the guesswork away because you can select the settings you want and the machine does the rest for you.

On the other hand, Barista Express features a button analog interface with manual controls and a pressure gauge. You have to select the grind size, filter, and temperature of the brewing.

The burr grinder grinds the coffee and delivers it straight to the portafilter. The pressure gauge on the control panel lets you know exactly how much pressure you’re applying which can make the process a bit more complex.

But it is through trial and error that you’ll learn the best espresso recipe for brewing daily. This step can be frustrating for someone who wants espresso without the learning curve. That’s why the Creatista Plus is a better pick for most people since both machines fall within the same price range!

3. Coffee Brewing Quality

The Winner: Breville Barista Express

Breville Barista Express Coffee Brewing
Breville Barista Express Coffee Brewing

You can only use coffee pods in the Nespresso Creatista Plus. And only Nespresso pods which are more expensive than buying standard coffee beans. But since Nespresso is gaining more and more loyal customers, there are many third-party coffee pod companies that make Nespresso-compatible pods. However, they are still a bit wasteful as most of them use plastic and are expensive.

You can also buy refillable metal pods for brewing espresso in a Nespresso machine. The downside to this is that you have to wash and refill them every time – this takes some time to do per shot.

You can buy all types of roasts and blends with a refillable metal pod. BUT you do need a grinder or else to buy pre-ground coffee. So it’s not the most convenient option for a faster brewing experience!

The Breville Barista Express in this way is simple, intuitive, and straightforward. Just add the coffee beans to the bean hopper and the machine takes care of the rest.

It produces a consistent grind each time. Thanks to the superior and durable burr grinder. Manual dose control with 4 different filter baskets is a breeze to use. The portafilter also feels sturdy and heavy-duty so there’s no concern of it breaking apart after regular use.

The overall flow rate and crema on the Barista Express are perfect. But since it’s semi-automatic, most of it depends on how you tweak the settings. While the Creatista Plus is more automated and doesn’t require such intricate tweaking to produce rich and professional results.

Nespresso Creatista Plus vs Breville Barista Express: Similarities

1. Stainless Steel Construction

Stainless steel coffee makers are sturdier and last longer. The Creatista Plus comes with stainless steel construction with black plastic. It looks great and feels sturdy. Especially the pod drawer, that even though it’s built out of plastic, is not prone to premature wear and tear.

The water tank, cord, the hook-steam wand, and the drip tray. All these are excellent features that make the Creatista Plus powerful and sturdy.

The quality of the Barista Express is much the same. Built of stainless steel, it doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy. It also features a few plastic parts such as the top and bottom of the machine. The water tank is also made up of thick plastic. But it’s stronger and easier to refill than many other plastic water reservoirs on the market.

2. Cleaning & Maintenance

The Nespresso Creatista Plus features an automatic self-cleaning wand nozzle. And you have to just wipe the drip and steam wand after using it. The steam wand auto-purges automatically to get rid of tough stains.

The Barista Express, too, features an adjustable and automatic self-cleaning functionality. It cleans the important parts like the inside of the group head easily.

It also features certain cleaning tools to keep the filters and steam wand clean. The indicator on the machine lets you know when it needs to be cleaned to premature wear and tear is not a worry with the Breville Barista Express.

Quick Rundown Of Breville Nespresso Creatista Plus BNE800

Sale
Breville Nespresso Nespresso Creatista Plus Coffee Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel BNE800BSSUSC
1,642 Reviews
Breville Nespresso Nespresso Creatista Plus Coffee Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel BNE800BSSUSC
  • 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
  • ESPRESSO MACHINE: Enjoy a full range of espresso coffee with Nespresso. Includes an integrated milk frother, 3 seconds heat up and energy saving automatic shut off.
  • COFFEE SELECTIONS: Brew better coffee at home with three programmable coffee selections to create the perfect ristretto, expresso or lungo.
  • SINGLE SERVE COFFEE AND ESPRESSO MACHINE: The Nespresso Creatista Plus offers freshly brewed coffee as well as delicious authentic espresso. The Creatista plus can turn into your personal latte maker with the attached milk frother allowing you to create top quality latte art in your kitchen. Pour over ice to create your favorite iced coffee drinks.
  • INCLUDES: One Nespresso espresso maker with a sleek, stainless steel design that fits perfectly in any modern kitchen.

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

Pros
  • Quick heat-up time.
  • Intricate and adjustable pre-programmed coffee settings.
  • Small footprint and portable design.
  • It produces a thick and rich crema.
  • Automatic shut-off feature after 9 minutes.
Cons
  • Smaller water reservoir size.

Quick Rundown Of Breville Barista Express BES870XL

Sale
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel, BES870XL, Large
22,691 Reviews
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel, BES870XL, Large
  • The Breville Barista Express 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.Grind Settings : 16 precision grind settings, Tamping : Manual removable magnetic tamper,.Pressure Gauge : Extraction Feedback pressure gauge. Interface : Simple button control.
  • DOSE CONTROL GRINDING: Integrated precision conical burr grinder grinds on demand to deliver the right amount of freshly ground coffee directly into the portafilter for your preferred taste with any roast of bean
  • 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
  • PRECISE ESPRESSO EXTRACTION: Digital temperature control (PID) delivers water at precisely the right temperature, ensuring optimal espresso extraction
  • MANUAL MICROFOAM MILK TEXTURING: The powerful steam wand performance allows you to hand texture microfoam milk that enhances flavor and enables creation of latte art

Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Precise and accurate control over coffee variables.
  • Clean-up is quick and easy.
  • Good for brewing decaf coffee.
  • Fast and high-quality burr grinder.
  • The hot dispenser flows fast and consistently.
Cons
  • automatic shut-off feature.

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References

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