If you’re trying to decide between the Breville Barista Express vs Barista Pro, you’re choosing between two of the most popular all-in-one espresso machines for home baristas. Both include a built-in Grinder, professional steam wand, and precise Extraction technology, but they differ in heating speed, interface, workflow, and overall convenience.
In this detailed comparison, we’ll compare features, performance, value, and user experience to help you choose the best espresso machine for your kitchen.
Breville Barista Express vs Barista Pro Comparison Table
| Feature | Breville Barista Express BES870XL | Breville Barista Pro BES878BSS |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in Grinder | Yes | Yes |
| Heating System | Thermocoil | ThermoJet |
| Heat-Up Time | Around 30 Seconds | About 3 Seconds |
| Display | Analog Controls | LCD Display |
| PID Temperature Control | Yes | Yes |
| Steam Wand | Manual | Faster Manual Steam Wand |
| Grind Settings | Adjustable | More Refined Adjustable |
| Portafilter | 54mm Stainless Steel | 54mm Stainless Steel |
| Water Tank | 67 oz | 67 oz |
| Bean Hopper | ½ lb | ½ lb |
| Warranty | 1 Year | 2 Years |
Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine
The Breville BES870XL Barista Express remains one of the best-selling home espresso machines because it combines professional-quality coffee making with user-friendly controls. It allows users to grind fresh beans directly into the Portafilter, giving complete control over every shot.
Performance
The Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine delivers consistent, café-quality performance with its built-in Grinder, PID temperature control, and low-pressure pre-infusion for balanced Extraction. It produces rich espresso with excellent crema and silky microfoam for milk-based drinks, making it an outstanding choice for home baristas seeking professional results
Key Features
- Integrated precision conical burr Grinder
- PID digital temperature control
- Low-pressure pre-infusion
- Adjustable grind size dial
- Manual steam wand for silky microfoam
- Built-in tamper
- Stainless steel construction
- 67 oz removable water tank
- 54mm stainless steel Portafilter
Pros
- Excellent espresso quality
- Great value for money
- Easy to customize grind settings
- Durable stainless steel body
- Ideal for beginners and enthusiasts
Cons
- Slower warm-up than newer models
- No LCD display
- Steam performance is slower
Recommendation
The Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine is highly recommended for home baristas who want an all-in-one espresso machine with a built-in Grinder. It delivers excellent Espresso quality, consistent Extraction, and easy customization, making it a great value for beginners and experienced coffee lovers looking to create café-style drinks at home.
Breville BES878BSS Barista Pro Espresso Machine
The Breville Barista Pro builds upon everything people love about the Express while introducing significant upgrades. Its biggest improvement is the ThermoJet heating system, allowing the machine to reach brewing temperature in approximately three seconds.
The upgraded LCD display also provides real-time brewing information, making the coffee-making process easier and more consistent.
Performance
The Breville BES878BSS Barista Pro Espresso Machine offers outstanding performance with its fast ThermoJet heating system, reaching the ideal brewing temperature in just 3 seconds. Its built-in Grinder, PID temperature control, and low-pressure pre-infusion ensure precise Extraction, while the powerful steam wand creates smooth microfoam for café-quality lattes and cappuccinos.
Key Features
- Fast ThermoJet heating technology
- LCD display
- Integrated conical burr Grinder
- Digital PID temperature control
- Faster steam performance
- Low-pressure pre-infusion
- Adjustable grind settings
- Professional 54mm Portafilter
- 2-year warranty
Pros
- Extremely fast heat-up
- Better workflow
- Improved steaming speed
- Easy-to-read LCD interface
- Longer warranty
Cons
- Higher price
- Similar espresso taste to the Express when dialed in properly
Recommendation
The Breville BES878BSS Barista Pro Espresso Machine is an excellent choice for coffee lovers who want faster brewing, a modern LCD interface, and professional-quality Espresso at home. It’s highly recommended for users who make coffee daily and value speed, convenience, and consistently excellent results.
Coffee Quality Comparison
Both machines produce exceptional Espresso thanks to Breville’s PID temperature control and low-pressure pre-infusion system.
Both machines feature:
- Fresh bean grinding
- Excellent Extraction
- Consistent brewing temperatures
- Rich crema
- Balanced flavor
When properly dialed in, the taste difference between the two machines is very small.
Grinder Comparison
Each machine includes a high-quality precision conical burr Grinder.
Both grinders offer:
- Fresh coffee on demand
- Adjustable grind settings
- Direct grinding into the Portafilter
- Consistent dosing
The Barista Pro offers smoother adjustment and slightly improved consistency.
Winner: Barista Pro
Heating System Comparison
This is where the biggest difference appears.
Barista Express
Uses a Thermocoil heating system that generally requires around 30 seconds to heat.
Barista Pro
Uses the advanced ThermoJet heating system, reaching brewing temperature in approximately 3 seconds.
Benefits include:
- Faster brewing
- Quicker transition from brewing to steaming
- Improved morning workflow
- Less waiting
Winner: Barista Pro
Steam Wand Performance
Both machines include manual steam wands capable of producing café-quality microfoam.
However, the Barista Pro creates steam much faster because of the ThermoJet heating system.
Winner: Barista Pro
Ease of Use
Barista Express
- Traditional buttons
- Analog pressure gauge
- Manual workflow
Barista Pro
- LCD display
- Step-by-step brewing information
- Grinding and extraction animations
- Easier for beginners
Winner: Barista Pro
Build Quality
Both espresso machines feature:
- Stainless steel housing
- Heavy-duty construction
- Commercial-style controls
- Durable Portafilter
- Premium accessories
Build quality is outstanding on both models.
Result: Tie
Included Accessories
Barista Express
- Razor dose trimming tool
- Stainless steel milk jug
- Integrated tamper
- Cleaning kit
- Water filter
- Single & dual wall baskets
Barista Pro
- Razor tool
- Stainless steel milk jug
- Cleaning kit
- Water filter
- Single & dual wall baskets
Both include everything needed to begin making espresso immediately.
Which Machine Offers Better Value?
If your budget is limited, the Breville Barista Express provides exceptional value and produces café-quality espresso at home.
If you’re willing to spend more for convenience, speed, and an upgraded interface, the Breville Barista Pro justifies its higher price.
Final Verdict
When comparing Breville Barista Express vs Barista Pro, both machines deliver exceptional espresso and are excellent choices for home baristas.
Choose the Breville Barista Express BES870XL if you want outstanding espresso quality at a lower price and don’t mind a slightly slower workflow.
Choose the Breville Barista Pro BES878BSS if you value the ultra-fast ThermoJet heating system, LCD display, quicker steaming, and a more refined brewing experience.
For most buyers in 2026, the Breville Barista Pro is the better long-term investment, while the Barista Express remains one of the best-value espresso machines on the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Breville Barista Express and Pro?
The main differences are the heating system, display, and workflow. The Barista Pro features the faster ThermoJet heating system, an LCD display, improved steaming performance, and a longer warranty, while the Barista Express uses a Thermocoil heating system with traditional controls.
Which Breville barista model is the best?
For most home users, the Breville Barista Pro is considered the best overall because it combines fast heating, excellent espresso quality, intuitive controls, and improved steaming performance.
Is the Breville Barista Pro worth it?
Yes. If you make coffee daily, the faster heat-up time, LCD interface, and smoother workflow make the Barista Pro worth the additional investment.
What is better than Breville Barista Express?
Within Breville’s lineup, the Barista Pro, Barista Touch, Oracle Touch, and Dual Boiler offer additional features. The Barista Pro is often the best upgrade for users wanting faster performance without a dramatic price increase.
What are the common problems with Barista Pro?
Some users report:
- Learning curve for dialing in grind settings
- Regular cleaning is required
- Steam wand needs maintenance
- Grinder retention after extended use
- Premium replacement parts can be expensive
Overall, reliability remains excellent with proper maintenance.
Which Breville is better?
The Barista Pro is generally the better machine due to its ThermoJet heating system, LCD display, faster steaming, and longer warranty. However, the Barista Express remains the better value for budget-conscious buyers.
Is Breville a better brand than DeLonghi?
Both brands are respected, but Breville is often preferred by home espresso enthusiasts because of its integrated grinders, excellent temperature stability, precise extraction control, and user-friendly features. DeLonghi excels in automatic espresso machines and convenience-focused models.
Which Breville espresso machine is the best?
For most users, the Breville Barista Pro offers the best balance of performance, features, and value. Those seeking full automation may prefer the Barista Touch, while advanced enthusiasts may choose the Dual Boiler.
Is the Breville Barista Express worth it?
Absolutely. The Breville Barista Express continues to be one of the best value espresso machines available, offering excellent espresso, an integrated grinder, precise extraction, and durable construction at a competitive price.
Also Read: Breville vs Delonghi Espresso Machine (2026 Comparison Guide)