Best Breville Espresso Machine: Which One Fits Your Lifestyle?

I’d be willing to bet you’ve decided to read my best Breville espresso machine review for one of three reasons.

Sound about right?

Rest easy my friend. The good news is that you’re not alone in your quest for an espresso machine that’s an ideal fit for your lifestyle.

And that is why I’ve created this resource.

Best Breville Espresso Machines at a Glance

Here’s an overview of the best Breville espresso machines that we’ll explore today:

Background on Breville

Breville was founded in Sydney in 1932 and aims to help people achieve greater things in the kitchen than they ever thought possible. You’ve probably noticed their iconic stainless steel look, reminiscent of ages past yet converging with modern design and technology.

It’s clear that the designers at Breville know what people want sitting on their countertops. You see their touch in everything from Breville coffee makers to their Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro.

When it comes to designing dynamic coffee machines, Breville is no slouch. They’ve figured out that there’s a niche market of people who want the control portafilter machines offer, but aren’t completely comfortable walking away from the convenience of super-automatic espresso machines.

I must admit, their concept is downright genius!

In years to come, I’m confident we’ll see more and more companies catching on to what Breville already knows. I’m really happy about this, as competition almost always inspires great innovation.

What’s great about Breville is that they aren’t waiting for the pressure competition brings to improve themselves. Each release they come out with is better than the one before it. I love it when self-improvement is a built-in characteristic of a company’s culture.

The Best Breville Espresso Machines

Breville Oracle Touch: Best Overall

Available for $2,799.95 on Amazon, I had no choice but to award the Breville Oracle Touch the title of “Best Overall” Breville semi-automatic espresso machine.

I go into great detail about this machine in my Breville Oracle Touch review, where I explain why this machine is ideal for those who can’t decide between a super-automatic and a semi-automatic machine. Turns out it offers the best of both worlds.

One thing I really like about the Breville Oracle Touch is that its touch screen walks you through how to make a variety of drinks. Simply select “Cappuccino,” for example, and you’ll be shown the grinding step, brewing step, and frothing step. You push each button when you’re ready to complete the step, and voila! You’ve just made a delicious cappuccino.

The Oracle Touch also automatically tamps the coffee grinds in the portafilter, which will prevent a lot of mess. It’s hard to imagine a scenario that would be easier for an espresso machine newbie, or for a seasoned pro looking for commercial-grade features.

Yes, $2,799.95 is a pretty penny, but I was fully convinced by this incredible machine during my hands-on testing.

I guess this machine is akin to people who buy electric cars and end up with no excuse to stop at the gas station for breaks. You won’t ever need to go back to your neighborhood coffee shop again!

See Also: Breville Oracle Touch Review

Breville Dual Boiler: Best Performing

Like the Oracle Touch, the Breville Dual Boiler Espresso Machine is equipped with a commercial-grade 58mm portafilter and two independent boilers. One is for heating water to pull shots of espresso. The other is for steaming milk.

Why would anyone want two? Well, because you won’t have to wait for the water to heat back up before you can steam your milk. This can save you a lot of time, especially if you are making multiple drinks at once.

That said, this machine takes a step away from the self-contained design of the Breville Oracle Touch in that it doesn’t have a built-in grinder. I guess that’s because the manufacturer is trying to appeal to those on the hunt for a prosumer espresso machine.

Breville, knowing that users will need a separate grinder, has put together the Breville Dynamic Duo Dual Boiler Espresso Machine and Smart Grinder Pro Package that includes both the espresso machine and the Breville Smart Grinder Pro.

The combination package is available for $1,699.95 on Amazon, which is a steal for what you’re getting. Besides, the Dual Boiler isn’t available separately at the time of writing.

I talk more about this grinder in my burr coffee grinder guide, where I named it the best affordable espresso grinder. The upside to having the standalone grinder is its 60 grind adjustment settings for maximum control as you’re dialing in your shots. The only downside is that it’ll take up more counter space.

See Also: Breville Dual Boiler Review

Breville Barista Touch: Best Value

The Breville Barista Touch has a lot going for it. In fact, I guess you could call it an “Oracle Touch lite.”

One big difference between the two machines is that the Barista Touch only has one boiler, whereas the Oracle Touch has two. However, Breville somewhat makes up for this by providing a cutting-edge heating system.

Another difference is that the Oracle Touch has automatic tamping. On the Barista Touch, you have to tamp the coffee yourself. While slightly less convenient, that’s definitely not a deal-breaker.

Incidentally, if you find yourself trying to decide between the Barista Touch and the Barista Express, there are a few upgrades to consider:

When you take into consideration the similarities the Barista Touch has with the Oracle Touch, combined with the upgrades in comparison to the Barista Express, you’ll quickly see why I’ve named it the “Best Value” Breville semi-automatic espresso machine.

For $799.95, you’ll get a machine that reflects a lot of the good things about the Oracle Touch for a lot less money, while also getting a machine that is significantly better and more enjoyable to use than the Barista Express.

See Also: Breville Barista Touch Review

Breville Barista Express: Best Mid-Range

The Breville Barista Express has become one of the most popular home espresso machines on the planet and it’s easy to see why.

Having recently updated my review of this timeless classic, I can confidently say it’s one of the best machines on the market for beginner baristas.

For starters, you’ll pay just $549.95 for the Barista Express, which is a steal considering what you get. Furthermore, this intuitive and approachable machine has a built-in grinder, automatic dosing and a pressure gauge for monitoring your espresso shots.

Seeing as you can adjust water temperature and pre-infusion time, the Barista Express is actually very versatile, so you’ll have quite a few options as you’re dialing in your shots. What’s more, the Barista Express heats up quickly and offers more than adequate steam power for milk frothing.

Still, I found the machine’s built-in grinder to be rather limiting seeing as it only offers 18 grind adjustment settings. While that likely won’t be a big deal for newbies, I’m of the opinion that users could quickly outgrow the Barista Express.

See Also: Breville Barista Express Review

Breville Bambino Plus: Best Budget

If you’re on the lookout for the best small espresso machine, the Breville Bambino Plus will likely have popped up in the search results.

While this compact Breville espresso machine might look kind of like a toy, it’s actually rather powerful and really impressed me during my hands-on testing.

Seriously, if space is tight in your kitchen and you don’t want to sacrifice on quality, the Breville Bambino Plus is definitely worth considering.

Plus, for just $499.95, this thing is hardly likely to break the bank!

While obviously not as sophisticated as other Breville machines on this list, the Bambino can more than hold its own in terms of espresso quality. It’s equipped with a 54mm portafilter, automatic low-pressure pre-infusion and digital PID temperature control.

Even better, the Bambino Plus has Breville’s awesome ThermoJet heating system on board, so it’ll be ready to go in the blink of an eye.

Perhaps the most outstanding feature of the Breville Bambino Plus is its automatic milk frother, which does a fantastic job of creating silky microfoam. Honestly, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another compact machine at this price point that’s such a solid all-round performer. 

See Also: Breville Bambino Plus Review

Breville Barista Express Impress

Released in late 2022, the Breville Barista Express Impress was the first of the Australian manufacturer’s machines to employ the Impress Puck System.

This innovative development features automatic dosing and assisted tamping via a lever on the side of the machine. Even better, the Barista Express Impress gives you feedback on your dose via an LED scale. Heck, there’s even a smiley face icon to let you know when everything looks perfect.

It’s easy to see where Breville is going with this type of machine – they’re aiming to take as many variables out of the espresso making process as possible. In doing so, all you really have to think about is grind size.

While I get how appealing that’ll be to beginners, I felt like Breville had missed the mark slightly. During my hands-on testing I experienced quite a frustrating amount of inconsistency, and I didn’t feel like I was able to properly diagnose the issues.

With all that said, novice baristas will find the Barista Express Impress to be very intuitive, and I’d say most folks will be happy. Besides, you can’t argue with the Breville Barista Express Impress’ $699.95 price tag!

See Also: Breville Barista Express Impress Review

Breville Barista Touch Impress

The Breville Barista Touch Impress is the manufacturer’s latest release, and the newest addition to the Impress series. While I was somewhat underwhelmed by the Barista Express Impress, the Barista Touch Impress looks like a definite improvement.

For starters, the built-in grinder has even more adjustment settings and comes equipped with Baratza stainless steel burrs. Plus, this machine takes user-friendliness to a whole new level thanks to its awesome color touchscreen display.

As the name suggests, the Impress Puck System is included here, but the machine will remember the results of your last shot and make the necessary adjustments to your dose. Even better, you’ll get feedback on your shot, so you’ll know whether or not to make grind adjustments.

Costing $1,199.95, the Barista Touch Impress is significantly more expensive than the Express Impress. However, I feel like that jump in price is fully justified.

Breville has obviously made a bunch of improvements to this machine, and operating the thing couldn’t be easier. Add in the fact that Breville has included its incredible automatic milk frother as well as eight pre-programmed specialty drinks, and you know this machine is a winner!

See Also: Breville Barista Touch Impress Review

Breville Barista Pro

If you’re a fan of the retro stylings of many Breville espresso machines, the more modern aesthetics of the Breville Barista Pro might be a bit of a letdown. I guess that’s why this powerful machine is often overlooked in favor of the Barista Express.

However, you should know that the Breville Barista Pro has a lot going for it, and for just $679.95, it represents seriously good value for money.

During my hands-on testing I was immediately impressed by the machine’s weight and build-quality; this thing feels like it’ll last for a long time. Moreover, the Barista Pro outperforms the Barista Express in just about every way.

For starters, the built-in grinder has a whopping 30 adjustment settings, making it a breeze to dial in your espresso. And while I did mourn the absence of a pressure gauge on this machine, the intuitive digital display more than made up for it. I especially appreciated the shot timer and the ease with which I was able to adjust settings.

Finally, the Barista Pro is equipped with a lightning-fast ThermoJet heating system, so you won’t be waiting around for it to come up to temperature. Plus, I felt like the machine’s steam wand was a little more robust and powerful than what you’ll find on the Barista Express. Overall, the Breville Barista Pro is a real winner! 

See Also: Breville Barista Pro Review

Breville Infuser

While espresso machines with built-in grinders are certainly very convenient, there are inherent limitations to this type of setup. Ultimately, most grinders on hybrid machines just aren’t capable of making micro-adjustments, so you can experience inconsistency in your shots.

If you’d rather use a standalone espresso grinder, pairing it with the Breville Infuser could be the way to go. At $539.97, this compact espresso machine isn’t just affordable, it’s very capable. In fact, I kept using my test machine for weeks after reviewing it – the espresso from the Infuser is that good!

Essentially, the Breville Infuser is a Barista Express without a grinder. You get the same 54m portafilter, adjustable pre-infusion and PID temperature control. There’s also a pressure gauge on the front of the machine which is invaluable when it comes to diagnosing your extraction.

The Breville Infuser is far from perfect – the steam wand is lacking in power and the machine is fairly noisy in operation. However, I still recommend it highly, as long as you’ve got a good enough grinder to go along with it.

See Also: Breville Infuser Review

How to Choose the Best Breville Espresso Machine

Now that you’ve got a clearer idea of what’s out there, choosing the best Breville espresso machine for your needs should be easier. Still, there are quite a few things to bear in mind as you narrow down your search. Let’s take a look at the main factors to consider when looking for the best Breville espresso machine.

Your Budget

Unless you consider money to be no object (and congratulations if that’s the case!), how much you’re able to spend will play a major part in your decision. And let’s face it, even the lowest-priced Breville machine on my list still costs a pretty penny.

Still, when you consider that a machine like the Breville Barista Express not only has a grinder on board but also comes with a milk frothing pitcher, tamper and cleaning kit, the price seems very reasonable.

It’s also important to remember that owning a Breville espresso machine probably means you won’t be spending money every morning at your local coffee shop. And you don’t need me to tell you how quickly those $5 daily latte macchiatos add up over the course of a month.

So, while you’ll be investing a chunk of cash upfront, your Breville espresso machine will quickly pay for itself.

Size and Design

One thing you won’t have to worry about is finding a Breville espresso machine that’ll look great in your kitchen. From the sleek, modern vibe of the Barista Pro to the classic, retro-industrial aesthetic of the Barista Express, you’re bound to find something that’ll appeal to your own sense of style.

Still, remember that you’ll need adequate space in your kitchen for whichever machine you choose. While many of the options on my list of the best Breville machines are fairly compact, they’ll still require a decent amount of counter space. Plus, if you opt for a machine with a built-in grinder, you’ll need to be able to easily access the bean hopper.

So, take accurate measurements before committing, and take overhead cabinets into account – they can seriously impede your ability to get to the hopper and removable water reservoir.

Grinder

I’ve already touched on the pros and cons of buying an espresso machine with a built-in grinder. Personally, I always prefer to use a standalone grinder – preferably one that allows for micro-adjustments. Still, there are tons of reasons why a hybrid machine with a grinder on board makes sense. I mean, there’s a reason why Breville has been so successful using this design!

Anyway, if that’s the type of machine you want, look for one with as many adjustment settings as possible. That way, you’ll have an easier time making the small adjustments necessary for really dialing in your shots.

Performance

As you’ve probably guessed, a Breville espresso machine’s performance is closely linked to its price tag. So, the most expensive models, like the Oracle Touch and Dual Boiler are equipped with commercial-grade components and separate boilers for espresso and milk foam. Needless to say, you’re going to get exceptional results from these machines.

With that said, all the best Breville espresso machines on my list perform to a very high standard. Believe me, this manufacturer doesn’t do things by halves, which is why you’ll see features like PID temperature control and ThermoJet heating on even the most budget-friendly machines.

Special Features

Some Breville espresso machines are loaded to the gills with special features. By that I mean stuff like touchscreen interfaces, assisted tamping functions and automatic milk frothers.

Deciding on the features you want really comes down to your approach as a home barista. For example, if you want a machine that’ll guide you through the espresso-making process, assisted tamping and a touchscreen panel will appeal to you.

On the other hand, those who’d rather spend time developing their barista skills and learning to steam milk by hand might be better off with something more simple. Essentially, there’s no point paying extra for a bunch of fancy features you’ll never use!

Decision Time: Which Breville Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine Will You Buy?

You’re the one who will be using this machine, so the choice is yours. Will you go with our Best Performing, Best Overall, Best Budget or one of the other great machines listed here?

One thing is for certain: you can’t go wrong with a Breville espresso machine. From where I’m sitting, there just isn’t another manufacturer that’s as dedicated to producing such high-quality and intuitive machines for home use.

Not only that, Breville encourages its users to buy the best coffee beans they can find. And if that means more people abandon mass-market junk in favor of high-quality, fairtrade coffee beans, I’m all for it!

Best Breville Espresso Machine FAQ