The Breville Barista Express and the Gaggia Classic Pro are two espresso machines with similar price points but distinct features. This comparison highlights the key differences to help you choose the right one.
The Barista Express stands out with its built-in coffee grinder, allowing users to conveniently grind fresh coffee beans. Priced slightly higher, it also features a hands-free operation function, making it a modern and user-friendly option. It’s a machine that coffee enthusiasts will truly appreciate.
On the other hand, the Gaggia Classic Pro is significantly more compact than the Barista Express, making it an excellent choice for those who prefer a space-saving espresso machine. Despite its smaller size, it retains all the essential functions for brewing a great cup of coffee.
Breville Barista Express Vs Gaggia Classic Pro: Specs & Features Comparison
The Breville Barista Express and Gaggia Classic Pro are two impressive espresso machines, each with its own set of features and benefits. In terms of dimensions, the Barista Express measures 12.5 x 12.6 x 13.1 inches, while the Gaggia Classic Pro is more compact at 9.5 x 8 x 14.2 inches. Both machines feature durable materials, with the Barista Express constructed from steel and the Gaggia Classic Pro made from stainless steel.
When it comes to capacity, the Gaggia Classic Pro slightly edges out with a 2.1-liter water reservoir compared to the Barista Express’s 1.9 liters. The Barista Express is heavier, weighing 23 pounds, while the Gaggia Classic Pro is lighter at 20 pounds. Both models feature sleek finishes, with the Barista Express in stainless steel and the Gaggia Classic Pro in brushed stainless steel.
In terms of power, the Barista Express operates at 1600 watts, while the Gaggia Classic Pro uses 1425 watts. Both machines come with features such as pre-infusion, a purge function, and a removable drip tray. However, the Barista Express offers additional modern features like hands-free operation, a built-in grinder, digital temperature control, optimal water pressure, and a cup-warming plate. On the other hand, the Gaggia Classic Pro is known for its faster heat-up time and compact design.
The Barista Express has standout advantages such as automatic water temperature adjustment, innovative hands-free operation, a built-in grinder for convenience, and a cup warmer that keeps espresso warm after brewing. It operates quietly and has a sleek, modern design. Priced at $699.95, it delivers advanced functionality for its value. Meanwhile, the Gaggia Classic Pro is celebrated for its compact size, affordability at $454.40, and quick heat-up time, making it a practical and budget-friendly choice.
Breville Barista Express Vs Gaggia Classic Pro: Differences
The Barista Express emerges as the clear winner with a score of 4-0, excelling in every assessment thanks to its convenience and user-friendly features. However, the Gaggia Classic Pro remains a strong contender, valued for its durability and excellent extraction performance, particularly given its more affordable price point.
COFFEE FLAVOR & BREWING SYSTEM
Winner: Breville Barista Express
The Breville Barista Express excels in delivering superior coffee flavor and brewing precision. Equipped with a thermocoil heating system and PID temperature control, it ensures consistent water temperature throughout the brewing process. Users can fine-tune the brewing temperature within a ±4°F range, offering unparalleled control for achieving the perfect espresso shot.
On the other hand, the Gaggia Classic Pro employs a boiler heating system with dual thermostats. While this setup effectively maintains heat and consistency during extraction, it lacks the precision and customization options of the Barista Express. Both machines utilize a pre-infusion process and 15-bar high-pressure extraction, ensuring evenly distributed water and optimal flavor in every shot. However, the Barista Express stands out with its ability to manually adjust pre-infusion time, adding a layer of flexibility for espresso enthusiasts.
GRINDER
The built-in grinder of the Breville Barista Express is a standout feature, contributing to its higher price. This stainless steel conical burr grinder offers 16 grind size settings and allows users to adjust the grind range for precise control. This integration eliminates the need for an additional grinder, streamlining the coffee-making process.
In contrast, the Gaggia Classic Pro lacks a built-in grinder, requiring users to purchase one separately for freshly ground beans. While it accommodates pre-ground coffee and is compatible with ESE pods for convenience, it doesn’t offer the seamless experience of the Barista Express.
HEATING SYSTEM
The Breville Barista Express uses a thermocoil heating system with PID control for precise temperature regulation, minimizing fluctuations and enhancing consistency. It allows advanced temperature adjustments, ensuring optimal brewing conditions for various coffee preferences.
The Gaggia Classic Pro relies on a boiler heating system that heats both the boiler and group head, maintaining stability during extraction. Although effective, it cannot match the precision or flexibility of the Barista Express. Both machines heat up quickly in about 5–7 minutes, but the Barista Express’s advanced system gives it a significant edge.
BREWING PERFORMANCE
Both machines excel in brewing performance with pre-infusion followed by 15-bar high-pressure extraction. This method ensures rich flavor, a creamy body, and a thick crema.
The Barista Express allows manual control of pre-infusion time, enabling users to customize their espresso’s strength. This level of control makes it ideal for those seeking to experiment and refine their brews. The Gaggia Classic Pro delivers consistent results but lacks the customization options of the Barista Express.
DESIGN & CONVENIENCE
Winner: Breville Barista Express
DRINK OPTIONS & PROGRAMMABILITY
The Breville Barista Express simplifies the espresso-making process with programmable settings, auto-dosing, and volumetric shot controls. Users can effortlessly brew single or double shots and modify presets to match their preferences. Once configured, the machine operates with a single button, offering unparalleled convenience.
In contrast, the Gaggia Classic Pro features a more manual approach. Users must measure coffee grounds, tamp them, and monitor the brewing process. While this manual operation suits purists, it requires extra effort and precision.
DIMENSION & CAPACITY
The Gaggia Classic Pro’s compact design and all-metal frame provide durability and a retro aesthetic. Despite its smaller size, it boasts a 72 oz water reservoir, larger than the 67 oz tank of the Barista Express. Its front-facing, removable water tank is easy to refill, especially under low cabinets, though it lacks a sealed design, making it prone to dust contamination.
The Barista Express incorporates plastic elements but features a covered water tank for added protection. This thoughtful design ensures cleaner water and enhances usability.
PRESSURE GAUGE
The Gaggia Classic Pro features a simple switch control interface, which I found easy to understand and use after some testing and reading the manual. Its straightforward design makes it effective for crafting a good espresso, especially for those honing their barista skills.
In comparison, the Breville Barista Express includes a built-in pressure gauge that enhances the espresso-making experience. This gauge provides real-time feedback during the extraction process. When the needle falls within the optimal espresso zone, I know I’ve pulled a shot with excellent flavor and texture. If the needle moves outside the desired range, it serves as a clear indicator to adjust variables like grind size or coffee dose. This feature makes fine-tuning the extraction process more intuitive and ensures consistent results.
HOT WATER DISPENSER
The Breville Barista Express stands out with its dedicated hot water dispenser, conveniently located to the right of the brewing group head. This feature makes it easy to prepare americanos or other hot beverages. With just a turn of the steam knob to the hot water setting, I can quickly get hot water immediately after pulling an espresso shot.
In contrast, the Gaggia Classic Pro relies on its steam wand to dispense hot water. To do this, you need to press the brew and steam switches simultaneously while turning the steam knob clockwise. While functional, this integrated design feels less convenient and slightly cumbersome to operate. For this reason, I prefer the Barista Express for its user-friendly and efficient hot water dispensing system.
MILK SYSTEM
Winner: Breville Barista Express
Both the Breville Barista Express and the Gaggia Classic Pro are equipped with commercial-style manual steam wands, requiring some practice to achieve the perfect milk texture for lattes or cappuccinos. Since both machines use a single heating element, there’s a slight delay when switching from brewing to steaming. However, the Breville Barista Express offers several advantages that make milk frothing more convenient and efficient.
The Gaggia Classic Pro’s steam wand lacks the flexibility of a ball joint, which limits its range of motion. This design makes it more challenging and time-consuming to master milk texturing techniques. In contrast, the Breville Barista Express features a steam wand with 360-degree rotation, providing greater control over the angle for air infusion and the creation of silky microfoam.
Additionally, the Breville Barista Express includes an auto-purge function that automatically releases excess heat after steaming. This ensures the machine quickly returns to the optimal temperature for brewing the next shot, saving time and effort. On the other hand, the Gaggia Classic Pro requires manual purging, adding an extra step to the process.
CLEANING & MAINTENANCE
Winner: Breville Barista Express
When it comes to cleaning and maintenance, the Breville Barista Express significantly outperforms the Gaggia Classic Pro. The Barista Express features a descale mode, making it easier to clean and descale the machine with minimal effort. It also includes cleaning and descaling alerts, so you don’t have to remember maintenance schedules manually.
The Gaggia Classic Pro, while reliable, lacks these user-friendly features. Cleaning and descaling must be performed entirely manually, which can be time-consuming and requires you to keep track of maintenance intervals.
The Barista Express further simplifies cleaning with its auto-purge feature for the steam wand. This automatically clears out milk residue, ensuring consistent performance and preserving the taste of your coffee. With the Gaggia Classic Pro, you must remember to purge the steam wand manually after each use.
Both machines come with removable drip trays and water tanks, making them easier to clean regularly. Washing the drip tray frequently helps prevent unpleasant odors caused by leftover coffee and milk residues. However, the streamlined and automated maintenance features of the Barista Express make it a clear winner in this category.
Quick Overview of Breville Barista Express
The Breville Barista Express is an all-in-one espresso machine designed to deliver café-quality third-wave specialty coffee right in your home. It combines advanced technology and user-friendly features to streamline the coffee-making process. As part of the Barista Series, it includes an integrated grinder, enabling users to go from whole beans to freshly brewed espresso in under a minute.
Key Features:
- Dose Control Grinding: The built-in precision conical burr grinder grinds on demand, delivering the exact amount of coffee needed for your preferred taste, regardless of the roast.
- Optimal Water Pressure: A low-pressure pre-infusion gradually increases pressure during extraction, ensuring an even and balanced flavor profile in every cup.
- Precise Temperature Control: With PID technology, the Barista Express ensures water is delivered at the perfect temperature for optimal espresso extraction.
- Manual Milk Texturing: Its powerful steam wand allows for hand-texturing of microfoam milk, enhancing flavor and enabling the creation of latte art.
Pros:
- Professional-grade built-in grinder suitable for all coffee bean types.
- Easy-to-clean removable drip tray.
- Hands-free operation for added convenience.
- Digital temperature control ensures consistent and perfect coffee flavor.
Cons:
- Most components are made of steel, making it a heavy machine.
- Larger size may not suit smaller kitchens.
Price: $699.95 (on sale from $749.95)
Quick Rundown of Gaggia Classic Pro
The Gaggia Classic Pro is a reliable espresso machine with a robust build, ideal for those seeking a more traditional brewing experience. Made in Italy, it offers commercial-grade components in a compact and affordable package, making it a popular choice for espresso enthusiasts.
Key Features:
- Solid Steel Housing: The durable brushed stainless steel construction ensures long-lasting performance.
- 9-Bar Espresso Extraction: Delivers authentic espresso with a rich, balanced flavor.
- Commercial Portafilter and Steam Wand: Features a 58mm stainless steel portafilter and a high-performance steam wand for frothing milk.
- Quick Heat-Up Function: The heating system efficiently raises water temperature, allowing you to start brewing in no time.
Pros:
- Built-in cup warmer keeps your coffee at the perfect temperature after brewing.
- Operates quietly, making it suitable for early mornings.
- Compact size fits easily into smaller spaces.
- Fast heat-up time for quick coffee preparation.
- Affordable price point for a commercial-grade machine.
Cons:
- Does not include a built-in grinder, requiring an additional purchase for freshly ground coffee.
- Best suited for experienced users who are familiar with manual brewing techniques.
Price: $454.40 (on sale from $499.00)
Conclusion
Both the Breville Barista Express and the Gaggia Classic Pro offer compelling features, catering to different types of espresso enthusiasts.
The Breville Barista Express stands out as a versatile and user-friendly machine, ideal for those who value convenience, modern technology, and an all-in-one design. With its built-in grinder, precise temperature control, and hands-free operation, it simplifies the espresso-making process while delivering consistently excellent results. Though it comes at a higher price point and occupies more counter space, the added features justify the investment for coffee lovers seeking a premium experience.
On the other hand, the Gaggia Classic Pro shines as a durable and compact option for those who prefer a traditional approach to espresso. Its solid build, quick heat-up time, and commercial-grade components make it a reliable choice, particularly for experienced users who enjoy the hands-on process of crafting espresso. While it lacks a built-in grinder and advanced programmability, its affordability and performance make it an excellent entry point into the world of home espresso machines.
Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on your preferences. If you prioritize convenience, advanced features, and an integrated grinder, the Breville Barista Express is the better choice. However, if you’re seeking a budget-friendly, compact, and traditional espresso machine, the Gaggia Classic Pro is a worthy contender.