Breville Barista Express vs Barista Pro
A thermocoil that warms up against a ThermoJet that Breville puts at three seconds.
The short version
| Criterion | Breville Barista Express | Breville Barista Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Heating system | Thermocoil | ThermoJet, stated to reach temperature in 3 seconds |
| Grind settings | 16 | 30 |
| Dimensions | 15.9 x 13.1 x 12.4 in (W x D x H) | 16.1 x 13.8 x 13.1 in (W x D x H) |
| Price | $699.95 | $849.95 |
Which one fits
Consider Breville Barista Express if
- You want 16 grind settings on a dial built into the machine
- You want published PID temperature control at $699.95
- You want an integrated tamper and expect to press each dose yourself
Consider Breville Barista Pro if
- You want a heat-up Breville states at three seconds, for $849.95
- You want ThermoJet heating with 30 grind settings for $849.95
- You want a 16.1 x 13.8 in footprint and a machine that grinds and doses for you
Main tradeoffs
- A ThermoJet Breville states reaches temperature in three seconds, and 30 grind settings$849.95, and no published PID or portafilter figure
- $699.95 with published PID temperature control and a 54 mm portafiltera thermocoil with no published warm-up time
At a glance
| Criterion | Breville Barista Express | Breville Barista Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Someone who wants grinding and brewing in one machine at $699.95 and is willing to tamp each dose and texture the milk by hand | Someone who wants a three-second heat-up and 30 grind settings, and is content to tamp and steam by hand |
| Pricing | $699.95 | $849.95 |
| Key differentiator | 16 grind settings, published PID temperature control and a 54 mm portafilter, in a machine that grinds, doses and brews for $699.95 | A ThermoJet system Breville states reaches temperature in three seconds, with 30 grind settings on Baratza European Precision Burrs, for $849.95 |
| Category | Espresso Machines | Espresso Machines |
Key facts
| Fact | Breville Barista Express | Breville Barista Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.95 | $849.95 |
| Machine type | Semi-automatic: you dose, tamp and start the shot | Semi-automatic: you dose, tamp and start the shot |
| Grinder | Integrated conical burr grinder | Integrated conical burr grinder with Baratza European Precision Burrs |
| Grind settings | 16 | 30 |
| Tamping | By hand, with an integrated tamper included | — |
| Heating system | Thermocoil | ThermoJet, stated to reach temperature in 3 seconds |
| Temperature control | PID temperature control, water delivered at 200°F | — |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar Italian pump | 15 bar Italian pump |
| Brew pressure | 9 bar extraction | 9 bar extraction |
| Portafilter | 54 mm stainless steel, with 1 and 2 cup single and dual wall baskets | — |
| Milk system | Manual: steam wand you work yourself | Manual: steam wand you work yourself |
| Dimensions | 15.9 x 13.1 x 12.4 in (W x D x H) | 16.1 x 13.8 x 13.1 in (W x D x H) |
| Housing | Brushed stainless steel | Brushed stainless steel |
The same Breville line, the same 15 bar pump with 9 bar extraction, the same steam wand left to you. The Pro replaces the thermocoil with a ThermoJet system Breville states reaches extraction temperature in three seconds, and takes the grinder from 16 settings to 30 on Baratza burrs, for $150 more. Breville publishes PID temperature control and a 54 mm portafilter for the Express and neither for the Pro, so those are not differences we can state.
Take the next step
Breville Barista Express
Breville Barista Pro