Breville Barista Express vs Touch Espresso Maker

In the final debate between the Breville Barista Express and the Barista Touch, it’s clear that the Barista Touch takes the winner’s seat with its modern design and faster heat-up functionality. The Barista Touch is a much more advanced product line than the Barista Express. It features a touchscreen interface that makes it incredibly easy for users to make any type of coffee without difficulty.

On the other hand, the Barista Express, while more affordable, still boasts a fast-performing and sturdy grinder with a grind size dial, allowing home baristas to grind their choice of beans directly. You have complete control over the grind size, regardless of the type of coffee bean you choose to buy.

So, while the Barista Express offers excellent value and quality, the Barista Touch stands out with its advanced features and ease of use, making it a worthy investment for those seeking a more modern and convenient coffee-making experience. ☕✨

Which one do you think suits your needs better?

Breville Barista Express vs Touch: Specs & Features Comparison

The Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS Espresso Machine takes the top spot as the winner, offering an impressive array of advanced features that set it apart. With a sleek stainless steel build, this machine boasts a fast 3-second heat-up time, automatic microfoam milk texturing, and a customizable touchscreen interface, allowing users to save up to 8 personalized coffee drinks. Its superior build quality, automatic steam wand, and compact footprint make it perfect for espresso lovers who value convenience and precision. Priced at $799.95, it is a worthy investment for those looking for a modern, user-friendly coffee-making experience.

As the runner-up, the Breville BES870XL Barista Express Coffee Maker offers a more affordable alternative without compromising on quality. While slightly smaller and lighter, this model still packs a punch with its precise espresso extraction, integrated burr grinder, and manual milk frothing capabilities. Its straightforward analog interface provides easy control, and its durable steel construction ensures lasting performance. At $549.95, it’s an excellent choice for home baristas who want a high-quality espresso machine with manual control and great value for money.

Breville Barista Express vs Touch: Key Differences

In the debate between the Breville Barista Express and the Barista Touch, the Barista Touch emerges as the clear winner, scoring 3-1. Its faster heat-up time, modern design, and intuitive touchscreen interface make it a top choice for convenience and ease of use. Both machines, however, feature advanced PID extraction technology, ensuring long-term efficiency and durability.

1. Espresso Flavor
Winner: Breville Barista Express
When it comes to flavor, the Barista Express takes the lead. Its analog pressure gauge offers a level of control that mimics barista-grade commercial machines, allowing coffee enthusiasts to fine-tune variables like grind size and temperature. This control is key to unlocking rich, nuanced espresso flavors. While the Barista Touch is automatic and efficient, the Express lets users experiment and perfect their shots, making it ideal for those who prefer hands-on brewing and tweaking the taste of their espresso.

2. Dose Control
Winner: Breville Barista Touch
For users who value convenience, the Barista Touch is the clear choice. Its fully automatic system adjusts grind size, fineness, and timing without manual input, offering a faster and more streamlined experience. This machine is perfect for those who want consistent, high-quality espresso at the push of a button, without the need to manually adjust settings like in the Barista Express.

3. Milk System
Winner: Breville Barista Touch
The milk system on the Barista Touch is another major advantage. It features an automatic steam wand with customizable milk texture and temperature settings, perfect for creating creamy, barista-quality milk for lattes and cappuccinos. This is a big step up from the Barista Express, which requires manual control for frothing milk. For beginners or those who enjoy milk-based drinks, the Barista Touch simplifies the process while delivering excellent results.

4. Utilities
Winner: Breville Barista Touch
In terms of utilities, the Barista Touch outshines the Express with its touchscreen interface, customizable coffee selections, and the ability to save up to 8 personalized coffee profiles. These features make the brewing process faster and more user-friendly, while the Barista Express relies on a more traditional analog display, which, although effective, is not as intuitive or streamlined as the Touch’s modern interface.

Breville Barista Express vs. Touch: Similarities
Despite their differences, both machines share some key features. Each comes with a built-in burr grinder, adjustable grind settings, and a hot water dispenser. Both can brew two espresso shots simultaneously and include a steam wand for frothing milk. They also come with accessories like a milk jug, razor trimming tool, and filter baskets, making the espresso experience authentic and comprehensive.

Whether you prefer the hands-on control of the Barista Express or the modern, automated functionality of the Barista Touch, both machines deliver exceptional performance for any espresso lover.

Quick Rundown of Breville Barista Touch BES880

Model: Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS Espresso Machine

Key Features:

  • Item Package Dimension: 17.39L x 16.19W x 16.19H inches
  • Item Package Weight: 28.25 Pounds
  • Product Type: COFFEE MAKER

The Breville Barista Touch takes coffee-making to the next level with its intuitive touchscreen, allowing you to easily choose and customize your favorite coffee drinks. This machine offers quick heat-up times, precise espresso extraction, and an integrated steam wand for perfect microfoam milk, making it a top choice for coffee enthusiasts seeking convenience and quality in one sleek package. ☕✨

Feeling tempted to bring this one home? 😊

Pros

  • Superior Build Quality: The advanced construction ensures durability and reliability.
  • Fast Heat-Up Time: Heats up quickly with no delay, so you can enjoy your coffee faster.
  • Automatic and Self-Cleaning Steam Wand: Makes frothing milk a breeze, with minimal effort and easy maintenance.
  • Customizable Coffee Drinks: Save up to 8 personalized coffee recipes for quick and consistent brewing.
  • Continuous Brewing: Ideal for making cup after cup of espresso without hassle.
  • Versatile Espresso Maker: Easily crafts any espresso-based drink, from lattes to cappuccinos.

Cons

  • Frequent Drip Tray Emptying: Needs to be emptied often, which can be a bit inconvenient.
  • Small Water Reservoir: Located at the back of the machine and might need frequent refills.

The Breville Barista Touch offers a balance of advanced features and user-friendly design, making it a fantastic choice for coffee enthusiasts who value convenience and quality. ☕✨

Ready to elevate your coffee experience with this machine? 😊

Quick Rundown of Breville Barista Express BES870

Model: Breville BES870XL Coffee Maker, One Size, Brushed Stainless Steel

Key Features:

  • All-in-One Solution: Part of the Barista Series, this machine delivers third wave specialty coffee at home using the 4 keys formula, featuring an integrated grinder to go from beans to espresso in under one minute.
  • Dose Control Grinding: Integrated precision conical burr grinder grinds on demand to deliver the right amount of freshly ground coffee directly into the portafilter for your preferred taste with any roast of bean.
  • Optimal Water Pressure: Low pressure pre-infusion gradually increases pressure at the start, ensuring all the flavors are drawn out evenly during the extraction for a balanced tasting cup.
  • Precise Espresso Extraction: Digital temperature control (PID) delivers water at precisely the right temperature, ensuring optimal espresso extraction.
  • Manual Microfoam Milk Texturing: The powerful steam wand allows you to hand texture microfoam milk, enhancing flavor and enabling the creation of coffee art at home, helping you make the perfect cup of latte or cappuccino.

The Breville Barista Express combines convenience with high-quality features, making it a top choice for coffee lovers. ☕✨

Sounds like a great addition to any kitchen, right? 😊

Pros

  • Fast and Efficient Built-In Burr Grinder: Ensures quick and precise grinding.
  • Straightforward Analog Button Interface: Easy to adjust and use.
  • Automatic and Manual Milk Frothing Settings: Offers flexibility in creating your favorite milk-based drinks.
  • High and Consistent Heat-Up Time: Provides reliable and quick brewing.

Cons

  • Hands-On Operation: Takes some time to learn and master.
  • Water Quality: Avoid using hard water to prevent issues.
  • Frequent Cleaning/Descaling: Needs regular maintenance to prevent clogging.

The Barista Express offers a balance of convenience and quality but does require a bit of a learning curve and regular upkeep. ☕✨

Which feature stands out the most to you?

Conclusion:

Deciding between the Breville Barista Express and the Barista Touch boils down to what features and convenience you’re seeking in your espresso-making experience.

The Barista Touch is the superior choice for those who value modern design, ease of use, and advanced features. Its touchscreen interface simplifies the process of making various coffee drinks, and the automatic milk frothing ensures consistent, professional-quality results. The quick heat-up time and ability to save customized coffee recipes make it a standout for anyone looking for a high-tech, user-friendly machine.

On the other hand, the Barista Express offers excellent value with its built-in grinder, straightforward analog interface, and manual and automatic milk frothing options. It’s perfect for those who enjoy a hands-on approach and don’t mind the learning curve. The Express provides high-quality espresso with the ability to control grind size and extraction, making it a fantastic choice for both beginners and seasoned coffee enthusiasts.

  • Barista Touch: Ideal for those who want advanced features, modern design, and ease of use with a bit more investment.
  • Barista Express: Great for coffee lovers who prefer a hands-on approach and appreciate the balance of quality and affordability.

Both machines are excellent in their own right, so choose the one that best fits your coffee-making style and preferences! ☕✨

Which one do you feel aligns with your coffee journey? 😊