Breville Barista Pro Review: Hidden Gem or Fool’s Gold?

At the start of my initial Breville Barista Pro review, I wondered whether this handsome devil was somewhat of a hidden gem in Breville’s lineup. After having spent time putting the Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine to the test, I’ve got a lot more to say on the subject.

I’ve long been championing hybrid espresso machines with grinders. I really do feel like they represent the ideal middle ground between the best fully automatic machines and the best home espresso machines.

In my opinion, the Breville Barista Pro represents an affordable and approachable solution for aspiring home baristas. Still, it’s far from perfect and might not be the best bet for everyone. Later in this Breville Barista Pro review I’ll share my experiences using the machine and tell you what I did and didn’t like. In the meantime, let’s take a first look at what it’s all about!

Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine Review Overview

I’d call the Barista Pro a diamond in the rough, but that implies Breville’s other machines, such as the Barista Express or Barista Touch, are a shoddy bunch. Both of those machines shine brightly on their own, which is why I think the Barista Pro is so easy for people to overlook.

However, I think it’s time we all pay close attention, because there are a lot of impressive features involved with this machine. As I’ll demonstrate in this Breville Barista Pro review, it’s the missing puzzle piece that connects the Barista Touch to the Barista Express.

At 849.95, it’s a more affordable machine than the Barista Touch – but it has many of the features that I wish the Barista Express had. Still, there is one glaring omission that left me feeling pretty frustrated. I’ll get to that a little later.

Features aside, if you’re a fan of Breville’s usual retro aesthetics, the Barista Pro’s appearance may disappoint. The machine has traded analog controls and pressure gauges for an LCD screen. Personally, I appreciate the updated look of the Barista Pro. It’s a good indicator that this is a higher end machine with lots going on under that stainless steel housing.

At 20 pounds (9.1 kilograms), it’s also one of the more lightweight machines in Breville’s lineup. Still, I’m not sure it’s compact enough for me to dub this a great option for RVs or studio apartments. After all, you’ll find plenty of ultra compact espresso machines around this price range.

Anyway, I don’t think most people will mind giving up a few extra inches of counter space when they see what kind of capabilities the Barista Pro is packing under its hood.

Breville Barista Pro Accessories and Features

Maybe I’ve had one too many shots of espresso, but I can’t wait another moment to dive into the details of my Breville Barista Pro review. Let’s do it!

Colors

If you were waiting on Breville to offer a color option other than Brushed Stainless Steel or Black, the moment has finally arrived. Don’t get too excited, though; the Barista Pro comes in almost all of the gloomy neutrals you can think of.

So, If you’ve ever wondered what Smoked Hickory or Sea Salt might look like as colors, now you can find out! I’d love to know which cookbook Breville pulled these color names out of. I guess Red Velvet Cake just sounds a lot fancier than maroon, huh?

Regardless of which color you get, it’s hard to deny that the Barista Pro is a pretty machine. Its rounded corners combined with a sleek metallic sheen help this elegant beauty really dazzle.

User Interface

I’ve said that the Barista Pro fits like the missing link between the Barista Touch and Barista Express, and its user interface is proof of that. The LCD screen is an upgrade from the Express’ analog controls, but the Pro is still missing the Barista Touch’s drink profiles and pre-programmed recipes.

On the left, you’ll find the power button. Below the digital display, the menu button helps you navigate the screen. The final three buttons control grind and filter size, as well as how many shots you’re brewing. If these controls seem limited, I promise they are not.

The grind size knob doubles as a control for switching between settings on the LCD screen. Once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll be able to adjust brewing temperature or dosing amount.

My only complaint about the user interface is that Breville has done away with the pressure gauge, which is a staple on its other semi automatics. Not only did the gauge complete the vintage look, it helped troubleshoot some rookie mistakes – like grinding your beans too fine or coarse.

Even so, I hope the signature pressure gauge will make a return appearance on newer Breville machines.

Ultimately, I’m a big fan of the Barista Pro’s user interface. While the digital display might represent a steeper learning curve, it’s still intuitive. You might have to open the user manual once or twice, but even newbies should find this machine easy to operate.

Volumetric Control

With timed shot capabilities, do I even need to tell you that the Barista Pro has volumetric control? Well, just in case, here’s the rundown. Adjusting the shot volume is as simple as using the grind dial to flip through the menu.

I’m not surprised to see that Breville has included this feature. It’s standard on a lot of semi automatics, especially at this price point.

Not everyone will utilize volumetric control, but for a lot of home baristas it’s definitely super convenient. There’s no need to hover over the espresso machine in anticipation when you’ve got pre programmed shots in the mix.

Digital PID Temperature Control

Just as a couple of degrees could mean the difference between staying inside or going for a walk, adjusting the temperature of your perfect espresso – even by two or three-degree increments – can make or break your shot.

So, I don’t want to understate the importance of digital PID temperature control on the Barista Pro. And if you’re wondering what PID stands for, it’s Proportional Integral Derivative. Geez, even typing that out is giving me flashbacks to Algebra I – let’s just stick with its abbreviation.

Now, the Barista Pro isn’t the first Breville semi automatic to include digital PID control. Many of the manufacturer’s machines also have this feature. However, the Barista Pro offers more precise control than most.

That’s good news to me – the more consistent your temperature is, the better your shots will be. Oh, and I’m a huge fan of how easy it is to adjust the temperature on the Barista Pro. In the menu section there’s a scale that you can move up and down. Awesome!

Boiler

It’s time to talk about one of the most popular features on the Barista Pro – its ThermoJet heating system. If you’re used to espresso machines that take 10 minutes or more just to warm up, I have a feeling the ThermoJet system is going to blow your mind. It only takes three seconds to reach the perfect temperature for espresso extraction.

Technically, three seconds isn’t instantaneous, but it might as well be. For once, your espresso machine will be the one waiting for you, not the other way around.

Not to mention, the ThermoJet is a major upgrade from the thermocoil system in the Barista Express. Breville tends to favor thermocoil systems in a lot of their semi automatics, including the Express and the Duo Temp Pro.

I’ve got no beef with thermocoil systems, but they can’t beat the lightning-fast speed of a ThermoJet system. In comparison, the Barista Express takes thirty seconds to heat up. That might not seem like a big difference, but on mornings when you can’t function until you’ve had an espresso shot, those extra 27 seconds might feel like an eternity.

The only downside to the ThermoJet is that it doesn’t heat up the brew group or cup warmer until after the machine’s been used a few times. So, before pulling your first shot of the day you’ll need to bring your portafilter up to temperature using the hot water outlet.

Milk Foam

If you’ve read my Barista Express review, then you already know everything I’m going to say about steaming milk. Essentially, Breville just copied and pasted the Barista Express’ milk system onto the Barista Pro.

The only minor tweak is that the Barista Pro’s steam wand is a little more robust. During my testing, the steam wand felt super durable, and it was really easy to clean.

Ultimately, I only have minor complaints about the Pro’s manual steam wand. It won’t compete with the professional frothers you’ll see in a coffee shop, but it should work just fine for most home baristas. In fact, I was able to whip up a pretty awesome cappuccino and espresso macchiato. What can I say? I’ve still got it!

I’m a little disappointed to see that rubber grip from the Barista Express steam wand has made a return appearance here. I appreciate the safety aspect, but there’s not as much space in front of the machine. As a result, you’ll have to hold a cloth over the steam wand when you flush out milk residue. If you don’t, you risk contaminating the rest of the machine or your coffee with the residue.

All things considered, that’s my only minor complaint. The manual steam wand is still getting good marks from me, and at least the machine comes with a stainless steel milk jug.

Burr Grinder

If there’s one thing that can ruin your espresso experience, it’s a subpar coffee grinder. You might think I’m making mountains out of molehills – or, in this case, espresso grounds. However, I’m not exaggerating.

Features like digital PID temperature control or a ThermoJet heating system cease to matter if your grinder is underperforming.

That’s why so many home baristas still end up dropping $200 or more on a high-quality burr grinder. Built in grinders can save you some of that cash, although there are almost always drawbacks with a two-in-one machine.

Based on the Breville Smart Grinder Pro, this machine’s grinder is far from a disappointment. In fact, it’s another component that makes this machine stand out. The stainless steel burr grinder boasts 30 grind size adjustments, which should be more than enough when you’re dialing in your shots.

With all that said, I wish there was more room to make micro-adjustments. During my testing I felt like changing from one setting to the next represented too much of a jump. Plus, this grinder is really noisy; there’s no way you’d be able to sneak in an early morning espresso without waking the entire household!

Dosing

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m not a fan of timed dosing. What makes way more sense is to dose by weight, seeing as you’ll need to readjust the timer as soon as you make a grind adjustment. So, if you’re considering buying this machine, make sure to invest in the best coffee scale you can get your hands on.

Remember the glaring omission I talked about at the start of this Breville Barista Pro review? I’m ready to get into it. OK, so one of my favorite accessories included with both the Barista Express and Barista Touch is the portafilter dosing funnel. You clip it onto the portafilter before inserting it in the grinder cradle, and it keeps everything neat and tidy. 

Well, Breville neglected to include one with the Barista Pro. Quite frankly, I find this staggering. Without the collar, ground coffee goes all over the place and it’s really hard to settle grinds in the filter basket. What’s more, seeing as the grinder is subject to quite a bit of clumping, a distribution tool comes in very handy. Unfortunately, using one is a challenge without that nifty collar.

Of course, you can simply buy a Breville Dosing Funnel on Amazon. Still, why the manufacturer didn’t just include one is beyond me.

Specialty Drinks

If that heading got you excited, I’m sorry to tell you that the Barista Pro does not have a specialty drink menu. I bring this up because I think this is one of the major differences between the Barista Pro and the Barista Touch.

That isn’t to say you can’t make specialty drinks, but you’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way.

For this reason, I don’t think the Barista Pro is going to be a great fit for one-touch specialty drinks fans. Instead, the Barista Touch and its eight customizable drink recipes could be a better match. Is it pricier? Yes. Is it worth skipping a few meals or pawning a family heirloom to have a flat white at the touch of a button? Only you can decide!

Filter Baskets

Equipped with a 54mm stainless steel portafilter, I have no complaints about the filter baskets included with the Barista Pro. You get single and dual wall filter baskets – one of each for a single shot and a double.

Here’s a little fun fact about the Barista Pro. The original portafilter designed for the Barista Pro is no longer included with the machine. A lot of people weren’t keen on its design. As a result, Breville swapped it out for the portafilter included with the Barista Express.

That’s good news as far as I’m concerned, since I like the portafilter on the Express. Unless you buy it used, you should get the new and improved portafilter when you purchase the Barista Pro.

Tamping

I’m pretty sure almost every semi automatic espresso machine since the dawn of time has included an espresso tamper. The Barista Pro is no exception, but I can praise the manufacturer for one thing: the tamper included with this machine is stainless steel, not plastic.

Far too many manufacturers get away with providing plastic tampers. If you ask me, it’s almost insulting to spend $500 or more on an espresso machine only to get a flimsy plastic tool that won’t work properly. It’s one of my pet peeves, so I’m glad to see Breville has delivered the goods.

Pre-Infusion

At this point, pre-infusion feels like Breville’s signature trademark. This isn’t the only manufacturer to use pre-infusion, but you’ll find this feature in almost every single one of its semi automatics.

If pre infusion sounds like jumbled coffee lingo, allow me to enlighten you. During pre infusion, the machine slowly dampens the coffee grounds under low pressure before it brews. As a result, you’ll get a better extraction and a more flavorful espresso shot.

It’s hard to argue against pre-infusion, and once you’ve pulled a shot this way, I doubt you’ll ever want to go back. What I really appreciate is the ability to adjust pre infusion times with the Barista Pro. In my experience, the factory-set time of 10 seconds is just too long, so it’s great to be able to step in and change that.

Cup Height

The spout on the Barista Pro isn’t adjustable, but there’s enough space for you to comfortably fit most cups, including travel mugs. So, unless you’re trying to brew your espresso in a coffee thermos, I don’t think you’ll have any trouble with the Pro’s cup height.

If you really do need extra space, you can always pull out the drip tray. Just make sure you don’t accidentally pull out the hidden storage drawer in the process.

Breville Barista Pro Warranty

No matter how great your espresso machine seems, you can never go wrong with a safety net. That’s exactly what the two year warranty on the Barista Pro provides. Granted, it is a limited warranty, so you can’t rely on Breville to cover everything.

Unfortunately, you won’t get a free replacement if you drop your Barista Pro into the ocean or use it to fend off a pack of hungry wolves.

However, you can count on the warranty to cover manufacturer defects. As long as you notice these issues within the first two years, Breville has your back.

How to Use the Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine

I’ve spent a lot of time talking up this espresso maker in my Breville Barista Pro review, but that’s not all I’m here for. Let’s put words into action and talk about how to actually use this machine to prepare café quality coffee.

If you’re using the Barista Pro for the first time, make sure to rinse all removable parts. After all, the last thing you want is dusty coffee that tastes like plastic! Once that’s done, the machine will perform an initial system flush. Just follow the onscreen instructions and you’ll be all set.

Making Coffee

Operating some espresso machines can feel like rocket science, but the Barista Pro isn’t one of them. Pulling a shot is fairly easy, although you will probably need the user manual if you plan to tinker with some of its more advanced settings.

Don’t forget to check the extraction time. Remember – you’re aiming for 20 seconds for a single shot and around 30 seconds for a double. If you’re too far outside that range, you’ll need to adjust the grind and dose settings.

Breville Barista Pro Observations

As I already mentioned, the absence of a dosing funnel really colored my experience of using the Breville Barista Pro. I mean, if you’re using a hybrid espresso machine like this and coffee grounds are going absolutely everywhere, something’s wrong, right?

Still, once I calmed down and put aside my frustrations, I actually found a lot to love about this machine. While the grinder is really noisy, it works remarkably consistently. Clumping issues and some grind retention in the chute aside, I was able to dial in my shots with ease. 

Of course, I used my trusty coffee scale the whole time, which helped a lot. Still, the timed dosing function got me in the right zone and was consistently accurate.

As I mentioned earlier, Breville sends its machines out with an extended pre-infusion time, so I recommend dialing it back to about 5 seconds. You can either program this or just use the manual function. Personally, I prefer a more hands-on approach. 

Like I said, dialing in was painless, and I was getting great results after a couple of shots. I ended up going a couple of clicks finer and keeping the dose at 18 grams. My espresso was sweet, complex and syrupy – just how I like it. Plus, the Barista Pro produced some pretty darn impressive crema.

By the way, the user interface is awesome, and I loved the way the digital screen displays your shot’s status. And having a shot timer is always a huge bonus. Still, if only Breville would put a pressure gauge on all its machines …

Breville Barista Pro Cleaning

The real joy of owning an espresso machine comes from cleaning and descaling it, right? Well, maybe it’s just me that feels like that. Either way, I can’t wrap up my review without telling you how to keep your machine looking and performing its best, so if you’re wondering how to clean the Breville Barista Pro, you’re in luck.

As far as espresso machine maintenance goes, caring for the Barista Pro is no different than most semi automatics. There are things you’ll need to do after every use, as well as occasional descaling.

Speaking of descaling, the Barista Pro does include a water filter, which should eliminate the need for frequent cleaning cycles. Oh, and before you ask, yes, you’ll need to eventually replace the water filter.

Even with the Breville Barista Pro water filter installed, you’ll probably need to run the cleaning cycle every couple of months. The good news about descaling the Barista Pro? The machine will remind you when it’s time to descale. I recommend using Durgol Descaler for the best results.

If you’re wondering how to flush the Breville Barista Pro, all you have to do is run the flush cycle, and once again, the machine will let you know when it’s time to run it. A flush cycle does exactly what you’d think. It flushes coffee oil residue from the group head and prevents buildup. For this, you can use the tablets included in the cleaning kit.

Of course, you will need to keep up with more frequent maintenance too. This includes wiping off the portafilter after each use. To purge the group head, run hot water through the portafilter after every espresso shot. You can use a similar tactic on the steam wand by purging the milk residue from the wand.

That may seem like a lot to keep up with. However, all things considered, the Barista Pro is still relatively low-maintenance.

Breville Barista Pro Specifications

Breville BES878 vs Other Espresso Machines

I’ve already mentioned a few other machines in this Breville Barista Pro BES878 review, but let’s look closer at how it measures up to the competition.

Breville Barista Pro vs Breville Barista Touch

I know that the Breville Barista Touch is a price jump at $999.95, but it might be worth it. The biggest difference is going to be the touchscreen display and specialty drink menu.

Not only is the touchscreen more advanced on the Barista Touch, you can customize up to eight drink recipes. Outside of the specialty drink options, these two are otherwise fairly similar. You have just as many grind settings on the Barista Pro as well as the same digital PID.

If you’re not big on specialty drinks or user profiles, you might as well stick to the Barista Pro. However, if you want the convenience of your favorite espresso drink at the touch of a button, you might want to consider the Barista Touch.

See Also: Breville Barista Touch Review

Breville Barista Pro vs Breville Barista Express

For $696.49, the Breville Barista Express isn’t that much cheaper than the Barista Pro – but it’s a noticeable step down.

I know that the Barista Express is Breville’s latest poster child, but I see almost no reason not to upgrade to the Barista Pro. You’ll get more than double the grind adjustments, a digital display and more precise PID control.

See Also: Breville Barista Express Review

Breville Barista Pro vs Others Comparison Chart

Verdict: Breville Barista Pro Review

We’ve reached crunch time in my Breville Barista Pro review. I’ve said this before, but the Barista Pro really does feel like the hidden gem among Breville’s shiny, stainless steel lineup of semi automatics. For all the hype that the award-winning Barista Express has garnered, the Barista Pro is its faster, more advanced successor. No wonder it’s one of the top featured machines in my review of the best espresso machines under $1000.

And costing only around $100 more, I can’t think of a reason why you wouldn’t opt for the Barista Pro over the Express. I still think some home baristas will eventually outgrow the Barista Pro and turn their sights to something more advanced. In the meantime, I think it’s time to polish off this beauty and give it a turn in the spotlight.

Breville Barista Pro Review FAQ