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Which Breville Espresso Machine Is Right for You? We Can Help!
Breville has built a reputation for making some of the best home espresso machines, offering models that cater to everyone from beginners to serious home baristas. But with so many options—from the compact Bambino® to the high-tech Oracle® Touch—it can be tough to decide which one is the right fit for your coffee routine.
Whether you’re looking for an easy way to make lattes at home or want full control over your espresso shots, this guide will help you navigate Breville’s lineup and find the best espresso machine for your needs.
Hungry for more? Explore our collection of Breville espresso machines and uplevel your morning coffee routine with a machine at the top of its game, from a brand you love.
What all Breville espresso machines have in common
Before diving into the differences, let’s talk about what you get no matter which Breville espresso machine you choose.
Every model is designed to help you make café-quality espresso at home with user-friendly features and professional-level performance. All Breville espresso machines share the “4 Keys Formula”, ensuring delicious specialty coffee at home:
- Precision puck: Each machine is designed to use 18 to 22g of coffee grounds, delivering rich, full flavor.
- Optimal pressure: The 9-bar pressure ensures balanced espresso extraction.
- Precise temperature control: A stable 200°F water temperature maintains consistency for the perfect shot.
- Powerful steam: Designed for silky microfoam, ideal for latte art and creamy textures.
Additionally, Breville home espresso machines come with:
- Pre-infusion technology: A low-pressure pre-infusion stage evenly saturates coffee grounds before full-pressure extraction, leading to a more balanced shot.
- Fast heat-up times: Many Breville machines heat up in just a few seconds, allowing you to brew quickly.
- Durable build and accessories: All Breville espresso machines come with a stainless steel portafilter, filter baskets and a steaming wand for milk frothing.
- A focus on fresh coffee: Breville encourages grinding your beans fresh, which is why many of their machines come with built-in grinders—or pair well with a separate one.
How to choose the right Breville espresso machine
The best espresso machine for you depends on a few key factors. Ask yourself:
- Do you want a built-in grinder? If you don’t have a separate burr grinder, models like the Barista Express® and Barista Pro™ include one for convenience.
- How much control do you want? Some machines, like the Bambino®, have more manual operation, while others, like the Oracle® Touch, automate almost everything.
- What’s your budget? Breville machines range from entry-level options around $300 to high-end models exceeding $2,000.
- How much space do you have? Compact models like the Bambino® and Bambino® Plus are great for small kitchens, while larger models like the Oracle take up more counter space.
- Do you want hands-on milk frothing or automation? Some machines require manual steaming, while others have automatic milk texturing.
Breville espresso machines: What’s special about each one?
Breville Bambino®
For those with limited space or a smaller budget, the Bambino® is a great entry-level espresso machine.
It features Breville’s ThermoJet® heating system, so it’s ready to brew in just three seconds—a rare feature in this price range. It doesn’t have a built-in grinder, so you’ll need a separate burr grinder for fresh coffee. While the manual steam wand takes practice, it gives you full control over milk frothing.
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who already have a grinder and don’t mind steaming milk manually.
Breville Bambino® Plus
A step up from the Bambino®, the Bambino® Plus improves the milk frothing process with automatic texturing and temperature control, making it easier to create consistently smooth lattes and cappuccinos.
Unlike the standard Bambino®, which requires manual steaming, the Bambino® Plus automates frothing, letting you choose from different milk temperatures and textures at the push of a button. It still features Breville’s ThermoJet® heating system, so it’s ready to brew in just three seconds. Like the Bambino®, it doesn’t have a built-in grinder, so you’ll need a separate one.
Best for: Espresso lovers who want automatic milk frothing without sacrificing a small footprint.
Breville Barista Express®
One of the most popular espresso machines on the market, the Barista Express® is an all-in-one solution with a built-in conical burr grinder. It gives you control over grind size (16 settings), dose and shot timing, making it a great choice for those who want to improve their espresso skills.
Beyond espresso, the machine features an integrated cup warmer, a dedicated hot water outlet for rinsing mugs or making tea, and a removable 67-ounce water reservoir with a charcoal filtration system that reduces scale buildup and improves water quality. The manual steam wand allows for high-quality microfoam, but it requires some practice. With a cleaning alert, sleep mode after one hour and auto-off after three hours, the Barista Express® balances functionality with convenience.
Best for: Hands-on home baristas who want an all-in-one machine with a built-in grinder.
Breville Barista Express® Impress
This upgraded version of the Barista Express® adds an assisted tamping feature to help ensure consistent shots. The Impress Puck System™ ensures optimal dosing by auto-correcting future extractions based on the last grind, while assisted tamping provides a 22-pound impression with a precise 7-degree twist finish, mimicking professional barista technique.
Best for: Those who want an easier tamping process with automated dosing adjustments while still enjoying hands-on espresso making.
Breville Barista Pro™
The Barista Pro™ enhances the features of the Barista Express® by incorporating the ThermoJet® heating system, which achieves a rapid 3-second heat-up time, significantly improving workflow efficiency.
It boasts an LCD display that provides intuitive navigation through settings and real-time feedback during operation. The integrated grinder offers 30 grind settings, allowing for precise control over coffee preparation. The manual steam wand enables users to texture milk to their preference, which is perfect for creating latte art.
Best for: Users who want increased speed and precision without transitioning to full automation.
Breville Barista Touch™
Distinguished by its user-friendly touchscreen interface, the Barista Touch™ allows users to select and customize drinks effortlessly. The machine enables the saving of personalized drink recipes and features automatic milk texturing with adjustable temperature and texture settings.
Despite its advanced features, it maintains manual control options for those who prefer hands-on brewing. Like the Barista Pro™, it has the ThermoJet® heating system with a swift 3-second start-up, and the integrated grinder with 30 settings.
Best for: Those who want a high-tech, customizable espresso experience with a blend of automation and manual control.
Breville Barista Touch™ Impress
The Barista Touch™ Impress combines the intuitive touchscreen interface of the Barista Touch™ with the assisted tamping system of the Express Impress. This integration offers a seamless, fully automated user experience, guiding you through the grinding, tamping and extraction processes.
The automatic milk texturing system includes calibrated settings for various milk types, including non-dairy alternatives. The machine’s design emphasizes ease of use while allowing for customization of drink parameters.
Best for: Users who value a balance between customization and automation, and who want to be able to make coffee shop-quality beverages with minimal effort.
Breville Oracle® Jet
The Oracle® Jet is the only Breville espresso machine with both hot and cold extraction capabilities, making it a standout choice for those who want versatility without sacrificing quality.
The Cold Brew and Cold Espresso modes extract at lower temperatures, reducing acidity and delivering a smooth flavor in under three minutes. Designed for consistency, the machine automates grinding, dosing, and tamping directly into a 58mm portafilter, while Barista Guidance detects and adjusts grind size for optimal extraction.
It also features Auto MilQ™, which delivers silky microfoam with customizable texture and temperature settings for dairy and non-dairy milk, plus a responsive 5-inch touchscreen that makes navigation effortless.
Best for: Enthusiasts who want the top-tier Breville experience with both hot and cold drink capabilities, a balance of automation and manual control and a refined brewing experience.
Hungry for more? Explore our collection of Breville espresso machines and uplevel your morning coffee routine with a machine at the top of its game, from a brand you love.
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