The Best Breville Espresso Machine + 7 Other Contenders (2023)

This detailed and thorough guide will list the best Breville espresso machine on the market today as well as 7 other favorites. Make sure to read the buying guide to make sure you buy the right machine!


Breville is one of the main players when it comes to making home espresso machines. Their sleek stainless steel designs and portafilter-style espresso machines are instantly recognizable amongst coffee enthusiasts.


Breville’s lineup ranges from fairly manual to fully automatic espresso machines. Some designs are simple whereas others are chock full of features.


We understand that figuring out which Breville espresso machine is best for your needs, can be a daunting task!


So we have written this guide for you. We are confident it will help you in your quest to find the perfect Breville espresso machine.


Let’s get started!

What is the Best Breville Espresso Machine?

Check out our overviews below and click on "Read More" to jump down to the in-depth reviews:

no. 1

Breville Barista Touch

Best Overall

Read More ⇒

• Full color touchscreen interface
• 5 pre-programmed drinks, with space to save 8 more
• Manual or automatic steam wand with programmable textures and temperatures
• 3-second heating time
• Burr grinder with 30 adjustments

Check Price

no. 2

Breville Oracle Touch

Best Money Can Buy

Read More ⇒

• Full color touchscreen interface
• 5 pre-programmed drinks, with space to save 8 more
• 58-mm commercial portafilter
• Two boilers for simultaneous brewing and steaming
• Manual or automatic steam wand with programmable textures and temperatures
• Burr grinder with 45 adjustments

Check Price

no. 3

Breville Bambino Plus

Best Value

Read More ⇒

• Compact and simple design
• 3-second heating time
• Automatic steam wand with programable textures and temperatures
• Excellent Value
• No built-in grinder

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no. 4

Barista Pro

Best All-Rounder

Read More ⇒

• 3-second heating time
• Intuitive user interface with LCD screen and subtle animations
• Conical burr grinder with 30 levels of adjustment
• The speed & power of the manual steam wand is much improved (over Barista Express)
• Burr grinder with 30 levels of adjustment

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no. 5

Breville Dual Boiler

Best for the Prosumer

Read More ⇒

• Two boilers for simultaneous brewing and steaming
• 58 mm commercial grade portafilter
• Volumetric or timed control shot
• Excellent manual steam wand pressure
• Requires separate grinder

Check Price

no. 6

Breville Nespresso Creatista Plus

Best Pod Machine

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• Full color screen interface
• 7 pre-programmed drinks
• Steam wand with selectable milk temperature and texturing
• Compatible with third-party and reusable OriginalLine coffee capsules

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no. 7

Duo Temp Pro

Best Entry Level

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• No-nonsense design with few features
• Thermocoil for a 30-second start
• Surprisingly good manual steam wand pressure
• Good value machine

Check Price

no. 8

Barista Express Impress

Most Improved

Read More ⇒

• New assisted tamping
• The UI has a graphical dosage guide and remembers the correct dosage
• Burr grinder with 25 levels of adjustment
• 30-second warmup time

Check Price

Now stick around so you can learn more about each product we mentioned and what you should look for when you're shopping for one!

1. Barista Touch

Best Overall

We have selected the Barista Touch as our best overall pick for Breville espresso machines, due to its plentiful features, gorgeous user interface, ease of use, delicious coffees, and reasonable price.

Like most Breville espresso machines, the build quality is great, with stainless steel construction. There is some plastic, but it is not the thin flimsy kind.

Did we say this machine looks gorgeous?

In our opinion, it’s one of the best looking Breville espresso makers. Plus, you have a choice of 5 colors to choose from: brushed stainless steel, black truffle, sea salt, damson blue, and black stainless steel.

As its name suggests, the Barista Touch comes with a gorgeous full color touchscreen. The screen greatly declutters and simplifies the user interface and design. Long gone are the days when you had to remember different button combinations to make your machine do what you want.

With the Barista Touch, the espresso making process is easy. All you have to do is swipe and touch the drink of your choice, out of the 5 pre-programmed ones, which are the espresso, americano, latte, cappuccino, and flat white.

If these classics are not enough, you can also create your own drink and even name it after yourself. In total, you can program and name 8 customizable coffee drinks, which is perfect if you are sharing this machine since you will not have to argue about whose recipe is the superior one.

This Breville espresso maker does not just look pretty. There is a lot of impressive technology under the hood!

For starters, it features PID temperature control (which stands for Proportional Integral Derivative). As much as I would like to go into the details of how this works, I’ll bore most of you. In essence, PID temperature control is quicker and better than a thermostat (as it predicts and adjusts based on its predictions). This is great because even a few degrees off in water temperature could ruin your espresso extraction.

This awesome espresso machine also includes Breville’s latest ThermoJet heating system resulting in an unheard-of 3-second heating time. Note, however, that this does not heat the brew head or portafilter, so you should still run a couple of empty cycles to ensure all the machine’s components are hot.

The grinder has also been upgraded from the Barista Express. The new conical burr grinder has 30 grind levels to choose from (but does not beat the Oracle Touch’s 45 grind levels).

The milk steaming system is also excellent. It can automatically steam milk, based on 8 selectable texture levels. The milk temperature can also be programmed, from 113 to 167 degrees Fahrenheit (45 to 75 degrees Celsius).

If you are a control freak (and got the skills), you can use the wand in manual mode to achieve YOUR perfect milk texture and temperature.

Also, there is a hot water dispenser which is perfect for americanos!

Like most Breville espresso machines, it’s easy to clean and maintain the Barista Touch. There is no internal brew head or complicated milk system with tubing to clean. There are cleaning and descaling prompts, and as long as you regularly flush the brew head and wipe the steaming wand there isn't much to do to keep your machine running.

In terms of cons, despite the dosing funnel attachment, which prevents the coffee grounds from overflowing, the tamping process is a bit messy.

Another con is that the milk jug sits on the milk temperature sensor. This means that the temperature might actually read lower than it actually is. In addition, using a different milk jug could result in milk temperature inconsistencies.

Finally, the portafilter is 54 mm, not the 58 mm commercial grade. This has its pros and cons. A 54 mm portafilter is more forgiving when it comes to inconsistent grind or puck preparation, whereas the 58 mm portafilter has the potential for more delicious espresso by highlighting its rich and complex flavors.

Oh, this may be a pet peeve of mine, but even though Breville includes a milk jug with this machine (bravo, other brands do not include one even if you spend thousands of dollars), there is no knockbox!

This is an absolute must, using your garbage can as a knockbox is not a pleasant or sanitary experience.

Breville Barista Touch

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View at Breville

Specs

• Type: Semi-automatic espresso machine
  
  
• Body material: Stainless steel
  
  
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 12.5 x 12.7 x 16 in (31.8 x 32.3 x 40.6 cm)
  
  
• Pressure: 9 bars at the group head
  
  
• Heating System: ThermoJet with PID temperature control
  
  
• Heating Time: 3 seconds
  
  
• Brewing System: 54-mm portafilter
  
  
• Grinder: Conical burr grinder with 30 levels of adjustment
  
  
• Water Reservoir: 67 oz (1.98 L)
  
  
• Bean Hopper Capacity: 8.0 oz (227 g)
  
  
• Milk System: steam wand with automatic texture and temperature control
  
  
• Milk Jug: Yes
  
  
• Hot Water Dispenser: Yes
  
  
• Warranty: 2 years

2. Oracle Touch

Best Money Can Buy

The Breville Oracle Touch is the pinnacle of Breville’s lineup. It’s also likely my favorite home espresso machine and amongst the best espresso machines available.

Let’s get something out of the way. The Oracle Touch is the most expensive Breville espresso machine and likely the most expensive home espresso machine you can get. 

We think it’s well worth the price. Here is why:

The Oracle Touch can be considered a super automatic espresso machine with a portafilter. It grinds, doses, and tamps your coffee, just at the press of a button. All you have to do is move the portafilter from the grind outlet to the brew head. Brewing espresso with a portafilter has never been easier.

What is the big deal, you might ask? After all, there are many super automatic machines that can make a latte by simply pressing a button...

Well, the Oracle Touch is special because it has two dedicated stainless steel boilers. That is two proper boilers for espresso and for steaming, no thermoblock technology here or anything of that sort.

The implications are excellent steaming pressure, and of course, you can brew coffee and steam milk at the same time!

The boilers and heated group head are of course PID temperature controlled, to ensure thermal stability at all times during the extraction and steaming processes.

The Oracle Touch comes with a 58 mm stainless steel portafilter that can hold up to 22 grams of coffee. This is perfect for optimal espresso extraction and is what professional espresso machines use at third-wave cafes to make delicious espresso. 

This machine comes with two single-wall baskets for 1 or two shots (we always use the double-shot one, of course!)

The integrated conical burr grinder has 45 levels of adjustment - more than enough to optimize your extraction.

The automatic or manual milk steaming system is excellent with 9 levels of texture to choose from, and a temperature range between  104 to 167 degrees Fahrenheit (40 to 75 degrees Celsius). 

It’s so good that in automatic mode you can make latte art.

But if you want, you can also use the steam wand in manual mode to create the perfect micro-foam for your lattes.

The user interface consists of a beautiful full-color touchscreen that allows you to select from 5 pre-programmed coffee recipes. Alternatively, you can program, save and name 8 more recipes. 

The build quality of the Oracle Touch is very good, as it should be at this price point. It is made mostly of stainless steel, albeit with some plastic. The only complaint here is the front lower panel which is plastic (maybe to avoid it getting too hot?).

This machine will be the centerpiece in your kitchen. Not only does it look great, but it’s huge and heavy. Thankfully, Breville added rollers which can be pulled out by moving a dial under the drip tray.

Despite its complexity, the Oracle Touch is easy to clean and maintain. There are prompts and messages telling you what your giant baby needs. Most things can be thoroughly cleaned, including the grinder!

In terms of cons, this machine is pricey. Not everyone is willing to pay so much for the convenience of two boilers and a touchscreen. 

Also, given this machine uses two proper stainless steel boilers and no thermoblock or thermojet technology, it takes 5 to 8 minutes to warm up. Thankfully, you can program it to turn on when you want.

 I know it’s hard in the morning to wait for that caffeine fix!

For more info, check out our detailed Breville Oracle Touch review!

Breville Oracle Touch

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View at Breville

Specs

• Type: Super-automatic espresso machine
  
  
• Body material: Stainless steel
  
  
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 15.4 x 14.7 x 17.8 in (39.1 x 37.3 x 45.2 cm)
  
  
• Pressure: 9 bars at the group head
  
  
• Heating System: two stainless steel boilers
  
  
• Heating Time: 5-8 minutes
  
  
• Brewing System: 58-mm commercial grade portafilter
  
  
• Grinder: Conical burr grinder with 45 levels of adjustment
  
  
• Water Reservoir: 84 oz (2.48 L)
  
  
• Bean Hopper Capacity: 8.0 oz (227 g)
  
  
• Milk System: manual or automatic steam wand with programmable texture and temperature
  
  
• Milk Jug: Yes
  
  
• Hot Water Dispenser: Yes
  
  
• Warranty: 2 years

3. Bambino Plus

Best Value

Getting a quality espresso machine does not necessarily mean spending thousands of dollars.

If you want something that delivers great third-wave coffee drinks without maxing out your credit card, we present to you the Bambino Plus.

The Bambino Plus is a super-compact semi-automatic latte machine measuring just 7.7 inches (19.6 cm) in width. It features a beautiful retro look and is made mostly of stainless steel materials.

One of its highlights is the very simple user interface, consisting of just 5 buttons. This espresso machine is so easy to use you might as well throw away the instructions manual (just kidding).

If you want one shot, press the one shot button. Two shots? Press the two shots button. Do you want to increase the milk temperature? Press the button with the thermometer. See how intuitive it is to use the Bambino Plus?

Why do we think this machine provides great value? Because its seemingly simple appearance hides a lot of technology under the hood for a great coffee experience.

For example…

It comes with Breville’s latest ThermoJet heating system for a 3-second warm-up time. Granted, you should warm the portafilter and run an empty cycle for a proper espresso shot.

The heating system has PID temperature control, which ensures water is delivered at 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius).

We like the volumetric shot control, which dispenses about 1 oz (30 mL) or 2 oz (60 mL) for the single and double shots, respectively. However, you can program this as well.

The Bambino Plus first pre-infuses the coffee grounds and then increases the pressure at the group head to 9 bars, which is exactly what you want for an espresso shot (not more, not less).

By the way, one of the key differences between the Bambino and Bambino Plus is the automatic steaming system (the Bambino is manual). The steaming system is surprisingly good with good pressure! Switching from brewing to steaming only takes a few seconds, while the 4-hole steam wand can deliver 3 milk textures and temperature levels.

However, the temperature sensor is likely not as accurate since it sits under where the milk jug would be when steaming.

The Bambino Plus comes with a 54 mm portafilter with two single-wall and two dual-wall filters. The dual-wall ones (pressurized) are best used for pre-ground coffee whereas the single-wall ones are best used for freshly ground coffee beans.

In terms of cons, the portafilter feels cheap. I don’t think it was a good idea for Breville to cut costs on the portafilter since this is likely the component people will touch and use the most!

Luckily, the better 54-mm portafilters from the Barista series are compatible!

Given the price point, there are many features that are lacking, such as pre-programmed recipes, brew temperature control, dedicated hot water dispenser (but the wand dispenses hot water).

Significantly, there is no built-in grinder. To fully utilize the potential of the Bambino Plus, you should look for quality espresso grinders. We recommend the Baratza Sette 270 Conical Burr Coffee Grinder. But if you want to save money and counter space, check out our best manual coffee grinder recommendations.

Breville Bambino Plus

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View at Breville

Specs

• Type: Semi-automatic espresso machine
  
  
• Body material: Stainless steel 
  
  
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 7.7  x 12.6  x 12.2 in (19.6 x 32.0 x 31.0 cm)
  
  
• Pressure: 9 bars at the group head
  
  
• Heating System: ThermoJet
  
  
• Heating Time: 3 seconds
  
  
• Brewing System: 54-mm portafilter
  
  
• Grinder: None
  
  
• Water Reservoir: 64 oz (1.89 L)
  
  
• Bean Hopper Capacity: None
  
  
• Milk System: steam wand with automatic texture and temperature control
  
  
• Milk Jug: Yes
  
  
• Hot Water Dispenser: None
  
  
• Warranty: 2 years

4. Barista Pro

Best for All-Rounder

The Breville Barista Pro is the more advanced version of the Breville Barista Express.

Not only is it similarly priced, but it improves some of the Barista Express features while introducing new ones.

Because of this, the Barista Pro is an excellent value purchase.

This espresso machine features the typical “Breville” design with stainless steel construction. It features an LCD screen (monochrome) which helps declutter the control panel when compared to the Barista Express.

You can get this machine in 9 different colors which should make it easy to match your kitchen colors.

Gone is the pressure gauge, which honestly was not very useful in the Barista Express because there weren't any pressure markings in bars.

Under the hood, you will find Breville’s ThermoJet heating system which can heat your machine in 3 seconds. It also uses PID temperature control to ensure the water temperature is as stable as possible.

Three seconds is impressive indeed, but this does not mean the portafilter and group head will get hot in 3 seconds. For that, you should run one or two empty cycles to ensure all components are hot.

Another advantage of the ThermoJet heating system is how quickly you can change between brewing and steaming modes. In this regard, the Barista Pro is miles ahead of the Barista Express.

The conical burr grinder is also much improved with 30 grind settings versus the 16 grind levels of the Barista Express. You should only very rarely find yourself in a situation where the perfect extraction is between grind settings.

The 54 mm portafilter comes with 4 baskets. Two single-wall and two double-wall baskets for single and double-shot extractions.

The manual milk steaming system is also improved, again thanks to the ThermoJet heating system. The 4-hole steam wand provides good pressure for a velvety micro-foam.

If you want to experiment with this machine, it will not let you down. You can change the grind dosing in 0.5 second increments, change the shot volume in 1-second increments,  and you can tweak the pre-infusion time.

You can also change the shot temperature within a scale from “cooler” to “hotter”. Unfortunately, the temperature is not displayed in temperature units.

If you like americanos or long blacks, then you’re in luck. The Barista Pro features a dedicated hot water outlet. This is also great to warm your espresso cups.

In terms of cons, there aren’t any drink menus or user profiles. So you will need to rely on your skills if you want to make a latte instead of a flat white!

Also, for some, the missing pressure gauge is a con. We think Breville should bring it back as it does provide some feedback that can help troubleshoot an extraction gone wrong.

This time though, mark the pressure gauge in bars!

Oh, and unfortunately no knockbox is included with this machine but thankfully you get a stainless steel jug!

Breville Barista Pro

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View at Breville

Specs

• Type: Semi-automatic espresso machine
  
  
• Body material: Stainless steel finish
  
  
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 13.9  x 13.5  x 16.0 in (35.3 x 34.3 x 40.6 cm)
  
  
• Pressure: 9 bars at the group head
  
  
• Heating System: ThermoJet
  
  
• Heating Time: 3 seconds
  
  
• Brewing System: 54-mm portafilter
  
  
• Grinder: Conical burr grinder with 30 levels of adjustment
  
  
• Water Reservoir: 67 oz (1.98 L)
  
  
• Bean Hopper Capacity: 8 oz  (227 g)
  
  
• Milk System: manual 4-hole steam wand
  
  
• Milk Jug: Yes
  
  
• Hot Water Dispenser: Yes
  
  
• Warranty: 2 years

5. Dual Boiler

Best for the Prosumer

Would you like to hone your barista skills while spending a reasonable amount of money on a Breville espresso machine?

Then this dual-boiler machine is perfect for you (but it’s far from perfect if you just want to press a button and have coffee automatically dispensed). It's also the closest thing to coffee shop espresso machines from Breville's lineup.

The Breville Dual Boiler features the beautiful Breville stainless steel body we have come accustomed to. It’s a very large machine 15.9W x 14.7D x 14.9H inches (40W x 37.3D x 37.9 cm) - almost as large as the Oracle with its head chopped off.

Thankfully, under the drip tray, there is a dial that lowers the rollers of this machine. Thanks to this, even your centenarian grandma could move this machine with a finger.

By that, I mean that it does not have a bean hopper on top, which should be an indication that you should buy a quality grinder with it, such as the Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder. Please, don’t use pre-ground coffee with this machine - it’s like adding ketchup to your Michelin star spaghetti plate. We highly recommend you use freshly ground coffee beans.

Thankfully, Breville sells the Dynamic Duo bundle which includes this espresso machine plus Breville’s Smart Grinder Pro for an additional $100. This is a good deal since this grinder costs a standalone of $200.

And yes, the grinder is pretty good, but if you got the budget we recommend the Baratza Sette 270 Conical Burr Coffee Grinder.

As the name implies, the Dual Boiler has…just wait for it…two boilers!

Many brands brag about how their espresso machines are dual-boiler when in fact they use thermoblock systems and not proper dedicated stainless steel boilers as this machine does.

Although this means a slow heating time, you will be able to brew espresso while steaming milk at the same time. Plus thanks to the dedicated steam boiler, the milk steaming pressure is excellent.

Its two boilers and heated head group are all PID temperature controlled, making it one of the most thermally stable home espresso machines you can get.

This semi automatic espresso machine includes a commercial grade 58 mm portafilter with single and double shot baskets. It comes with single-wall and double-wall baskets of each size, but you should be using the single-wall ones (unless you use pre-ground coffee).

The user interface consists of a few buttons and an LCD screen. It’s fairly intuitive to use. There is also a large pressure gauge, which is quite useful because it clearly shows the pressure in bars, with a pre-infusion zone clearly marked.

The pressure gauge should be your best friend when using this machine because you need to know what you’re doing. Before even using this machine, you will need to figure out the dosage and grind settings, and then prepare your coffee puck.

If your coffee puck preparation skills are good, the Dual Boiler will prepare one of the best espressos any home espresso machine can make.

One of my favorite features of the Dual Boiler is the volumetric or timed shot control. This should be helpful in achieving the perfect brew ratio, whether you decide to make a single or a double shot.

As this espresso machine was clearly designed for the more advanced user, there are no pre-programmed coffee recipes. It will be up to you to be your own barista and figure out the appropriate drink proportions and milk textures.

As we noted, the 3-hole steam wand is quite powerful but takes practice to use, because there is only one mode: manual mode. It helps that it swivels 360 degrees, and with practice, you will be able to create the perfect micro-foam to practice your latte art.

Now, something I already mentioned in this post is my pet peeve about not including knockboxes with espresso machines. Nobody wants to use their garbage can, cutlery, or countertop to remove the spent puck out of the portafilter.

The Dual Boiler, sadly, does not include one.

Breville Dual Boiler

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View at Breville

Specs

• Type: Semi-automatic espresso machine
  
  
• Body material: Stainless steel finish
  
  
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 15.9  x 14.7  x 14.9 in (40.4 x 37.3 x 22.9 cm)
  
  
• Pressure: 9 bars at the group head
  
  
• Heating System: Two stainless steel boilers
  
  
• Heating Time: 5-8 minutes
  
  
• Brewing System: 58-mm commercial-grade portafilter
  
  
• Grinder: None
  
  
• Water Reservoir: 84 oz (2.48 L)
  
  
• Bean Hopper Capacity: None
  
  
• Milk System: manual 3-hole steam wand
  
  
• Milk Jug: Yes
  
  
• Hot Water Dispenser: None
  
  
• Warranty: 2 years

6. Creatista Plus

Best Pod Machine

Related Read:

• Is Nespresso Worth It? Read Our Ultimate Guide and Find Out

Are you always on to go but would still like to have a great cup of coffee in the morning?

If so, pod machines might be for you. They offer a very good compromise between cost, convenience, and coffee drink quality.

If you would like to get a pod machine, then we highly recommend the Nespresso Creatista Plus from Breville. We have selected this machine as our best Nespresso machine for a reason!

For starters, the Creatista Plus simply looks amazing. In our opinion, it’s the best-looking Nespresso machine (along with the Nespresso Creatista Pro) thanks to its stainless steel body and futuristic full-color screen on top.

It’s also quite compact, only measuring 6.7W x 12D x 15.4H inches (17.0W x 30.5D x 39.0H cm) while featuring a water reservoir of 44 oz (1.3 L).

The Nespresso Creatista line-up has by far the best milk steaming system amongst Nespresso machines and the Plus does not disappoint with its 8 texture levels and 11 milk temps. This is more than even high-end super automatic espresso machines!

Granted, the steam pressure is not nearly as good as say the Oracle or Barista lineup, but it’s still impressive for a compact pod machine. However, it uses the same external milk temperature sensor as the Barista lineup which can result in inconsistent milk temperatures.

There are a total of 7 pre-programmed drinks to choose from, including the ristretto, espresso, lungo, café latte, café macchiato, flat white, and cappuccino drinks.

Given this is a single-serve machine the size of your drink will depend on the type of capsule you choose. This machine is compatible with the ristretto, espresso, and lungo OriginalLine Nespresso capsules. 

And if you are suddenly craving coffee then you will not go crazy waiting for the machine to warm up, thanks to the 3-second heat up time.

Also, since this Nespresso machine uses the OriginalLine capsules you will be able to use third-party and re-usable capsules. This increases the types of coffee you can use with this machine, as well as reduce costs and your environmental footprint.

Let’s face it, pod machines pollute!

In terms of cons, this is a pod coffee machine with a limited dosage so you will not get authentic espresso. Nothing beats freshly ground beans brewed in a portafilter. However, the resulting espresso-like drink is good enough to drink by itself, or even better, to make with freshly steamed milk.

Another con is the cost of the capsules, which although they are convenient, may eventually offset the cost of the cheaper pod machines when compared to higher-end Breville espresso machines that use portafilters.

If you like americanos, then you will need to boil your own water as there is no hot water dispenser. Alternatively, you could upgrade to the more expensive Creatista Pro.

For more info, check our detailed Nespresso Creatista Plus review!

Breville Nespresso Creatista Plus

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View at Breville

Specs

• Type: Single-serve pod machine that uses Nespresso’s OriginalLine capsules
  
  
• Body material: Stainless steel finish
  
  
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 6.7  x 16.1  x 12.2 in (17.0 x 40.9 x 30.9 cm)
  
  
• Pressure: 19 bars
  
  
• Heating System: ThermoJet
  
  
• Heating Time: 3 seconds
  
  
• Brewing System: OriginalLine coffee pods
  
  
• Grinder: None
  
  
• Water Reservoir: 44 oz (1.3 L)
  
  
• Bean Hopper Capacity: None
  
  
• Milk System: steam wand with automatic texture and temperature control
  
  
• Milk Jug: Yes
  
  
• Hot Water Dispenser: None
  
  
• Warranty: 2 years

7. Duo Temp Pro

Best Entry Level

We think the Breville Duo Temp Pro is a great choice as your first Breville espresso machine. It’s a relatively affordable machine that is very simple to use.

The stainless steel design is beautiful to look at, and you will notice there are only two buttons and a dial to operate the Duo Temp Pro. This is great for learning because you will not be distracted by countless features.

The no-nonsense design of this machine does not mean it cannot prepare great espresso.

For example, the Duo Temp Pro automatically pre-infuses your coffee before increasing the pressure to actually extract the espresso shot. This has become a standard feature in many high end espresso machines, and we are glad to see it’s available in the Duo Temp Pro.

The PID temperature control is great because it increases the thermal stability of the machine - and we all know how espresso extraction is sensitive to temperature changes!

This brings us to another great feature - the wand’s auto purge. The Duo Temp Pro will automatically purge the system after using the steaming wand to ensure the next espresso is extracted at the correct temperature.

Despite its appearance, this is a powerful machine with its 1,600-Watt thermocoil heating system. This allows the machine to warm up in 30 seconds.

More importantly, the high-power heating system allows for very good steaming pressure. It’s good enough to create microfoam for latte art. However, the steam wand is manual so you will need to learn how to steam milk.

The steam wand can also dispense hot water for tea or americanos.

The 54 mm portafilter comes with 4 filter baskets - single-wall and dual-wall filters for 1 or 2 shots. This is thoughtful because if you are a beginner, the dual-wall filter baskets are more forgiving. But when you get better at preparing the coffee puck, then the single-wall filter baskets have the potential for better coffee.

Thanks to its simple design, this machine is easy to clean and maintain, but you will need to track the descaling cycles as there are no prompts.

The Duo Temp Pro operating guide is not to be missed. Breville did a very good job in writing a coffee extraction guide.

In terms of cons, there is no built-in grinder. If you are a beginner we recommend Breville’s Smart Pro Grinder. It’s a middle-of-the-pack grinder - at this point, if you’re learning the ins and outs of making espresso, we do not recommend a higher level grinder as they can cost even more than the Duo Temp Pro.

A pressure gauge is also missing - these have made an appearance in various Breville espresso machines, and it would have been nice to have one in this machine. A pressure gauge helps troubleshoot your extraction. This is a great feature to have if you are learning.

As we have already mentioned, this machine lacks many features and automation. If you are looking for something similar in design and price range, but that’s more automated, check the Bambino Plus above.

Finally, a knockbox is not included. If you have read our reviews of other machines this will be a familiar point. How are you supposed to get the puck out of the portafilter? With your fingers or by hitting it against your garbage can????

Breville Duo Temp Pro

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View at Breville

Specs

• Type: Semi-automatic espresso machine
  
  
• Body material: Stainless steel finish
  
  
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 12.6  x 10.1  x 13.1 in (32.0 x 25.7 x 33.3 cm)
  
  
• Pressure: 9 bars at the group head
  
  
• Heating System: Thermocoil
  
  
• Heating Time: 30 seconds
  
  
• Brewing System: 54-mm portafilter
  
  
• Grinder: None
  
  
• Water Reservoir: 61 oz (1.80 L)
  
  
• Bean Hopper Capacity: None
  
  
• Milk System: manual steam wand
  
  
• Milk Jug: Yes
  
  
• Hot Water Dispenser: Yes, via the steam wand
  
  
• Warranty: 1 year

8. Barista Express Impress

Most Improved

If you have read the reviews above, you may think I hate the Barista Express as I have compared it to other Breville products in a not-so-positive way.

It’s not that the Barista Express is a bad product - it just needed an update as its technology was lagging behind some of the best Breville espresso machines.

So we are happy to see that Breville has updated the Barista Express.

Enter the Barista Express Impress and we hope it will impress (could not resist).

One of the issues with the Barista Express was the grinding and tamping process. It was a difficult and messy process that likely discouraged many users from taking full advantage of the Breville machine.

Breville recognizes this issue with the Barista Express Impress motto: “Impressive Puck. Less Mess. Less fuss”.

With the Impress, the dosing and tamping issue have been addressed.

The dosing and tamping station has been significantly upgraded with a metal shell. It now features assisted tamping delivering a consistent 22 lbs of pressure.

The Barista Express Impress now guides the user on their dosage. If after tamping, your coffee dose is too high or too low, this machine will tell you by means of a backlit scale prominently located on the control panel of the machine.

Based on this, you can correct the coffee dose by adding or removing coffee grounds until you get the correct amount of coffee in the portafilter. Correcting the dosage is easy.

If the dose level is below the ideal amount, the “A Bit More” mode is activated, indicated by the flashing Dose button light. If the dose level is above the ideal amount, use the Razor Dose Trimming Tool to trim the puck.

Once you’ve nailed the correct dosage, the middle line of the dosage scale will light up where the happy face is.

Significantly, this last dose is automatically saved so that you don’t have to go through this process again.

There is also a manual dose mode which is useful if you anticipate the dosage will change (for example, if you change the coffee beans).

The new system is not perfect though. You are essentially forced to use the built-in tamping system, otherwise removing the portafilter prior to tamping will create a big mess.

This is a con for those who are fussy with their puck preparation (but the Impress does tamp impressively).

The conical burr grinder has also been upgraded to 25 grind levels from the previous 16 levels.

This upgraded Barista Express continues to look great with its pressure gauge and stainless steel design. The user interface consists of buttons and dials, with no LCD screen. So you should definitely read the operating guide of this machine so that you don’t miss out on any features.

Under the hood, you will find PID temperature control and a 15-bar pump capable of pre-infusing the coffee grounds at lower pressures before increasing the pressure at the group head to 9 bars. Perfect.

You can change the water temperature in 2 degrees Fahrenheit increments (1 degrees Celsius increments) which is good since different types of coffee beans can require different temperatures.

There is a dedicated hot water spout for americanos or to warm your espresso cups.

Like most Breville espresso machines, which do not use internal brew units or complicated milk piping, the Barista Express Impress is easy to clean and maintain. There are cleaning and descaling prompts to help you remember when it’s time to take care of your machine!

You will also find a thermocoil heating system (unfortunately). This is Breville’s newest espresso machine and unfortunately, it does not feature the ThermoJet technology.

This means the Barista Express Impress is much slower in heating than other Baristas. Further, switching between brewing and steaming, and the steaming process itself is slower than other Barista espresso machines.

Finally, this is a fairly manual machine - you will not find any pre-programmed coffee recipes or user profiles. It will be up to you to learn how to prepare your favorite type of coffee drink.

Oh, and no knockbox included here...

Breville Barista Express Impress

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View at Breville

Specs

• Type: Semi-automatic espresso machine
  
  
• Body material: Stainless steel finish
  
  
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 12.9  x 14.9  x 16.1 in (32.8 x 37.9 x 40.9 cm)
  
  
• Pressure: 9 bars at the group head
  
  
• Heating System: Thermocoil
  
  
• Heating Time: 30 seconds
  
  
• Brewing System: 54-mm portafilter
  
  
• Grinder: Conical burr grinder with 25 levels of adjustment
  
  
• Water Reservoir: 67 oz (1.98 L)
  
  
• Bean Hopper Capacity: 8 oz (227 g)
  
  
• Milk System: manual steam wand
  
  
• Milk Jug: Yes
  
  
• Hot Water Dispenser: Yes
  
  
• Warranty: 2 years

Why buy a Breville Espresso Machine?

Breville makes amazing espresso machines. But so do other brands such as Miele, DeLonghi, JURA, and Phillips.

What makes Breville stand out from the competition? 

Breville dominates the semi-automatic espresso machines market. Their lineup includes fairly manual semi-automatic espresso machines like the Duo Temp Pro or Dual Boiler, to more automated machines with pre-programmed coffee recipes like the Barista Touch or the Oracle Touch.

The latter is in its own category, as it’s essentially a super automatic espresso machine that uses a portafilter!

Their stainless steel construction has also become almost synonymous with Breville Espresso machines. Even the lower end machines like the Breville Infuser feature metal housing, whereas other espresso machines from brands use lots of plastic, even on their high-end products.

Finally, Breville is trying to bring home third wave specialty coffee. To do so, they design their machines around the “4 Keys Formula”. They refer to this as their Product DNA. As per Breville, their machines must:

1. Dispense the correct dosage of freshly ground coffee beans
2. Ensure precise temperature control
3. Have optimal water pressure (9 bars)
4. Create true microfoam milk for latte art

If you ask me, Breville has done a pretty good job adhering to these principles!

Best Breville Espresso Machine Buying Guide

Purchasing an espresso machine can be a daunting task. There are lots of products out there, and sometimes you don’t even know what’s best for you.

From someone who does not want to worry about the brewing process and wants a machine that makes excellent lattes by simply pressing a button, to the coffee lover who would like to control every single aspect of their coffee making - there is something for everyone out there.

We have prepared the following guide to help make things less confusing. We hope it is useful and helps you find the perfect product for you.

Let’s go over a few points you should consider when purchasing a Breville espresso machine.

Automatic vs Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines

Breville’s lineup of espresso machines covers a wide range of automation.

Here we list the Breville espresso machines reviewed herein in order of automation, from more automatic to less automatic machines.

1. Breville Creatista Plus: this is a pod machine with 7 pre-programmed drinks and an automatic milk wand.
   
   
2. Breville Oracle Touch: it grinds, doses, and tamps automatically. The milk wand is automatic or manual. It has 5 pre-programmed drinks and space to save 8 more.
   
   
3. Breville Barista Touch: it grinds and doses automatically but the tamping process is manual. The milk wand is automatic or manual. It has 5 pre-programmed drinks and space to save 8 more.
   
   
4. Breville Barista Express Impress: it grinds and doses automatically and the tamping process is assisted. The milk steaming process is manual and there aren’t any pre-programmed recipes.
   
   
5. Breville Barista Pro: it grinds and doses automatically but the tamping process is manual. The milk steaming process is manual and there aren’t any pre-programmed recipes.
   
   
6. Breville Bambino Plus: you need a separate grinder, meaning the grinding, dosing and tamping is manual. However, the milk steaming process is automatic. There aren’t any pre-programmed recipes.
   
   
7. Breville Duo Temp Pro: you need a separate grinder, meaning the grinding, dosing, and tamping are manual. The milk steaming process is manual and there aren’t any pre-programmed recipes.
   
   
8. Breville Dual Boiler: you need a separate grinder, meaning the grinding, dosing, and tamping are manual. The milk steaming process is manual and there aren’t any pre-programmed recipes.

Grinder or No Grinder?

If you already have a good grinder, then you should look for espresso machines without a grinder. This is especially true if you have a high-end coffee grinder that is most likely better than what is integrated into your espresso machine.

Why pay for a feature you will not use? 

However, note that espresso machines without a grinder are more manual, so more effort and time are required to pull an espresso shot.

Alternatively, you could get a manual coffee grinder. Compared to electric ones, they are cheaper, more reliable, more compact, and equally good.

Heating Systems

There are different types of heating systems that Breville uses in its machines. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

As of December 2022, Breville uses the following heating systems in their machines.

Thermocoil Heating System

An aluminum block, the heating element, is heated to a very high temperature by means of resistive or Joule heating. A very thin pipe is coiled around this heating element. Because the pipe is narrow, the water that flows through it gets hot very quickly.

ThermoJet Heating System

This heating system works using the same principles as the thermocoil. The difference is that the heating element is an aluminum plate with embedded narrow piping inside, such that the top and bottom of the piping are exposed to the heating element.

Stainless Steel Boilers

A heating element that heats the water inside the boiler to a certain temperature and pressure.

Prosumer espresso machines tend to have boilers instead of thermoblock heating systems. When it comes to Breville, the only current models that use boilers are the Oracle, Oracle Touch, and Dual Boiler,  which use two boilers. Each boiler is heated and pressurized to values appropriate for brewing and steaming.

In general, if you have the budget and really care about the quality of your drink, go for machines with an espresso boiler. This is what your local coffee shop uses.

If you want a machine that provides a good quality coffee to cost/convenience ratio, go for a Thermocoil or ThermoJet system

Size Matters!

Make sure you check how much space you have in your kitchen. It would be highly disappointing if your machine does not fit.

Don’t forget to check the height! You need some clearance to add/remove the coffee beans.

Also, a machine that does not have an integrated grinder may seem compact at first, but you need to account for additional counter space for a standalone grinder.

Worth Spending Thousands?

Purchasing the most expensive machine does not necessarily mean the best Breville espresso machine for you.

Look for features that you will actually use! Remember, those 9 automatic milk textures are likely costing you hundreds of dollars.

If you only care about black coffee, then look for a machine with a simple milk steaming system like the Bambino Plus or Duo Temp Pro.

Ask yourself, am I going to actually use all of these features?

Related Reads:

• Best DeLonghi espresso machines
• Best super automatic espresso machines
• Best espresso machines under $1,000
• Best 4-cup coffee makers
• Best Dual Coffee Makers

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

We hope this guide has been helpful in your quest of finding the best Breville espresso machine.


Enjoy your Breville baby, but if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask us.