Breville Barista Express vs Pro vs Touch
Which grinder-equipped Breville to buy
Our overall winner is the Breville Barista Express (BES870). Breville’s Barista line all grinds, doses and brews in one machine, but the details differ a lot. We compared the Barista Express, Barista Pro, Barista Touch and Barista Express Impress on the listing specs.
How we picked: we shortlist by Amazon Best Seller rank and number of ratings, then compare published specs. We don't test these products hands-on.
By Jamilur Rahman, Founder & Editor · Updated October 18, 2026
- Owner reviews checked
- Features side by side
- Quick & easy compare
- Smarter purchase
The short answer
For most people, the Breville Barista Express (BES870) is still the one to buy. It has the built-in conical burr grinder, PID temperature control and a manual steam wand that every other model in the line builds on. It is the cheapest of the four, it is one of the most-reviewed espresso machines on Amazon, and you can learn on it for years.
Pick the others by what annoys you. The Barista Pro (BES878) heats up in about three seconds with its ThermoJet system and switches straight from espresso to steam. The Barista Touch (BES880) adds a touchscreen and an automatic steam wand that textures milk for you. The Barista Express Impress (BES876) removes the hardest skill in espresso with smart dosing and assisted tamping, so your puck is the same each time.
Skip all four if you want a push-button machine. They are semi-automatic: you still steam milk (except on the Touch), clean the portafilter and learn to dial in the grind. If that sounds like too much, a super-automatic machine will serve you better. Also skip the Touch if you only drink straight espresso, because you would pay extra for a milk feature you won’t use. How we picked: we compared the four grinder-equipped models in Breville’s Barista line on Amazon, using the listing specs and what owners say. We have not tested them ourselves. Checked October 2026.
Compare them side by side
Everything that matters, in one table. Swipe to see all 4.
| Product | Best Value Breville Barista Express (BES870) Semi-automatic with grinder |  Fastest Heat-Up Breville Barista Pro (BES878) Semi-automatic with ThermoJet |  Best for Milk Drinks Breville Barista Touch (BES880) Touchscreen with auto milk |  Best for Beginners Breville Barista Express Impress (BES876) Assisted dosing and tamping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore | 91 / 100 | 90 / 100 | 89 / 100 | 88 / 100 |
| Best for | Learners who want the classic Breville | Busy mornings and quick back-to-back drinks | Latte and cappuccino drinkers | People who want consistent pucks |
| Typical price (checked October 18, 2026) | $680–$720 | $830–$870 | $960–$1,000 | $780–$820 |
| Heat-up | See listing | 3 seconds (ThermoJet) | 3 seconds (ThermoJet) | See listing |
| Milk wand | Manual steam wand | Manual steam wand | Automatic steam wand | Manual steam wand |
| Dosing & tamping | On-demand grinding, manual tamp | Dose-controlled grinding, manual tamp | One-touch grinding, manual tamp | Smart dosing and assisted tamping |
| Controls | Dials and buttons | LCD display | Touchscreen | Dials and buttons |
| Key features |
|
|
|
|
BeastScore here is our overall rating out of 100, based on published specs and Amazon owner reviews. Prices change daily, so tap "View on Amazon" for today's price. We may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Why each one made the list
What each pick does best, where it falls short, and the typical Amazon price when we checked.
- 1. Best Value
Breville Barista Express (BES870)
BeastScore 91 / 100Typically $680–$720 on Amazon (checked October 18, 2026)The Barista Express is the machine most Breville buyers start with, and it holds up. The listing describes an integrated conical burr grinder that grinds on demand into the portafilter, PID digital temperature regulation and low-pressure pre-infusion that wets the puck gently before full pressure. The manual steam wand produces hand-textured microfoam for latte art. It is also the cheapest model in the line and one of the most-reviewed espresso machines on Amazon, so there is a huge amount of community advice. The trade-offs are manual work: you tamp yourself, you texture milk yourself and it takes a little longer to heat up than the ThermoJet models.
Pros- Lowest price of the four, with a built-in grinder
- PID control and pre-infusion for balanced shots
- Huge owner base and plenty of tutorials
Cons- You tamp and steam milk by hand
- Slower heat-up than the ThermoJet models
- Basic dials and buttons with no screen
- 2. Fastest Heat-Up
Breville Barista Pro (BES878)
BeastScore 90 / 100Typically $830–$870 on Amazon (checked October 18, 2026)The Barista Pro’s selling point is speed. The listing says the ThermoJet heating system reaches extraction temperature in 3 seconds and moves from espresso to steam instantly, so you are not waiting between the shot and the milk. It keeps the same conical burr grinder with dose control and the same manual steam wand as the Express, and it adds a digital display for clearer settings. It is the right call if you make several drinks in a row or hate waiting. It costs noticeably more than the Express for the same hand-tamping and manual milk work, so think about whether the speed is worth the premium.
Pros- 3-second ThermoJet heat-up
- Switches from espresso to steam instantly
- LCD display for clearer settings
Cons- Costs more than the Express for the same manual workflow
- You still tamp and steam by hand
- Similar espresso quality to the Express for many people
- 3. Best for Milk Drinks
Breville Barista Touch (BES880)
BeastScore 89 / 100Typically $960–$1,000 on Amazon (checked October 18, 2026)If you mostly make lattes and cappuccinos, the Touch is the one. The automatic steam wand lets you set milk temperature and texture and does the frothing for you, which is the hardest part of home espresso. A touchscreen walks you through drinks, a one-touch grinder doses for you and ThermoJet reaches temperature in about 3 seconds. It is also the most expensive of the four. You still tamp by hand, and a straight-espresso drinker would be paying for features they never use. A remanufactured version also appears on Amazon at a lower price, but we focus on the new model.
Pros- Auto steam wand handles the milk for you
- Touchscreen makes drinks simple to choose
- 3-second ThermoJet heat-up
Cons- The most expensive of the four
- You still tamp by hand
- Little advantage if you drink straight espresso
- 4. Best for Beginners
Breville Barista Express Impress (BES876)
BeastScore 88 / 100Typically $780–$820 on Amazon (checked October 18, 2026)The Impress targets the skill beginners struggle with most: a consistent puck. Per the listing, intelligent dosing calculates and adjusts the amount of coffee, a system that auto-corrects the next dose, and assisted tamping applies a consistent 10 kg of pressure with a 7 degree barista twist finish. That takes the guesswork out of grinding and tamping and cuts mess on the counter. You still steam milk by hand with the manual wand. It costs about $100 more than the Express, so you are paying for consistency. Newer to market than the Express, it has fewer owner reviews, and the tamping mechanism adds parts that could eventually need service.
Pros- Assisted tamping gives a consistent puck
- Smart dosing auto-corrects the next dose
- Less mess and less guesswork for beginners
Cons- About $100 more than the Express
- Fewer owner reviews than the Express
- Manual milk steaming, just like the Express
All 4 compared, in one look
See every pick on one chart, or tap one to put it head to head with Breville Barista Express (BES870). Ratings out of 10 are our estimates from published specs and Amazon owner reviews, not hands-on tests. Bigger shape = better.
- Shot qualityBreville Barista Pro (BES878) · 9.0/10
- Milk steamingBreville Barista Touch (BES880) · 9.6/10
- Ease of useBreville Barista Express Impress (BES876) · 9.4/10
- Heat-up speedBreville Barista Pro (BES878) · 9.6/10
- FeaturesBreville Barista Touch (BES880) · 9.4/10
- ValueBreville Barista Express (BES870) · 9.6/10
Who wins where
The winner of each category, based on published specs and Amazon owner reviews. Pick the rounds that matter to you.
- Round 1
Overall value
Breville Barista Express (BES870) winsThe Barista Express costs about $100 to $300 less than the others and still gives you the grinder, PID control and manual wand. The extra features on the other three are real, but they are conveniences, not better espresso.
- Round 2
Heat-up speed
Breville Barista Pro (BES878) winsThe Barista Pro and Barista Touch both use ThermoJet to reach extraction temperature in about 3 seconds. The Pro adds an instant switch from espresso to steam and costs less than the Touch.
- Round 3
Milk drinks
Breville Barista Touch (BES880) winsOnly the Barista Touch has an automatic steam wand. You pick the milk temperature and texture and it froths for you. The other three use a manual wand that takes practice.
- Round 4
Ease for beginners
Breville Barista Express Impress (BES876) winsThe Impress auto-doses and tamps at a consistent 10 kg, so every puck is the same. That makes bad shots less likely in week one, though you still steam milk by hand.
- Round 5
Learning curve and control
Breville Barista Express (BES870) winsThe Express gives you full manual control of the tamp and the milk. That is the best way to learn how espresso works, and there is more advice online for this model than for any other.
- Round 6
Price
Breville Barista Express (BES870) winsThe Express is the entry price. The Impress and Pro cost a step more, and the Touch is the top of the range.
Which one should you buy?
Find your situation below. That's your pick.
- You want the most espresso for the least money
- You are happy to learn tamping and steaming
- You make several drinks in a row
- You want a 3-second heat-up and a screen
- You mostly drink lattes and cappuccinos
- You want the machine to froth the milk
- You are new to espresso
- You want consistent, mess-free pucks
Breville Barista Express (BES870)
The best value: the same grinder, PID control and steam wand every Breville is built on.
- Built-in conical burr grinder
- PID temperature control
- Lowest price in the line
Quick tips before you buy
These machines are tall and wide. Check the space under your cabinet so you can fill the bean hopper and water tank.
Hard water causes scale in the heater. Filtered water and regular descaling keep any Breville running longer.
Rinse the portafilter and cup with hot water before you pull a shot so the drink does not cool too fast.
The grinder only helps if the beans are fresh. Buy whole beans roasted within the past few weeks.
Quick answers
What is the difference between the Breville Barista Express and Barista Pro?+
The Pro uses ThermoJet to heat in about 3 seconds and adds a digital display, and it switches from espresso to steam instantly. The Express heats more slowly and uses dials. Both have a conical burr grinder, PID control and a manual steam wand.
Is the Barista Touch worth the extra money?+
Only if you drink a lot of milk drinks. Its automatic steam wand and touchscreen are the main upgrades over the Pro. If you drink straight espresso or Americanos, the Express or Pro is the smarter buy.
What does the Barista Express Impress add?+
Assisted tamping at a consistent 10 kg, a barista twist finish and smart dosing that auto-corrects your next dose. It makes consistent pucks easier, but it costs about $100 more than the Express.
Which Breville has the best espresso quality?+
They all share a conical burr grinder, PID control and the same basic extraction. Many owners report similar espresso quality across the line. The differences come down to speed, milk and convenience.
Do I need a separate grinder with these?+
No. All four have a built-in grinder, so you only need whole beans. If you later want finer control, a separate grinder is an upgrade for people who like to experiment.
Are Breville Barista machines hard to clean?+
Daily upkeep is a quick portafilter rinse, wiping the steam wand and emptying the drip tray. You also need to run cleaning cycles and descale on a schedule. The Impress adds a tamping unit to wipe down.
Which Breville is best for beginners?+
The Barista Express Impress is the easiest because it doses and tamps for you. If milk is the scary part, the Barista Touch is the easiest for lattes. If budget matters most, start with the Express.
Keep comparing
De’Longhi vs Breville: Which espresso machine wins?The two biggest espresso brands, head to head at two price levels.Best Espresso Machines: Top 5 on AmazonBreville, Ninja and De’Longhi, compared.
Best Super-Automatic Espresso Machines: One-touch lattes from beansBeans in, latte out. The bean-to-cup machines worth the counter space.
Best Coffee Grinders: Burr grinders for every brewFresh-ground beans are the cheapest coffee upgrade. The best burr grinders compared.