Breville Oracle Touch vs. Barista Express: When it comes to choosing between the Breville Oracle Touch and the Breville Barista Express, the decision can be challenging. Both machines offer a stellar coffee experience, but they cater to different needs and preferences. If you’re looking for a high-tech solution that simplifies your coffee-making routine with minimal effort, the Oracle Touch is your top pick. This model stands out with its advanced features, including an intuitive touchscreen interface, automatic grinding, dosing, and tamping, which streamline the brewing process and ensure consistent results every time.
On the other hand, if you’re budget-conscious and don’t mind engaging in a bit of manual preparation, the Barista Express is a fantastic choice. It provides a more hands-on approach with its manual tamping and a more traditional interface, yet still delivers high-quality espresso with its built-in conical burr grinder and steam wand for frothing milk. While the Barista Express may require a bit more effort, it remains a reliable and cost-effective option for those who appreciate a more involved coffee-making experience.
In summary, if you’re seeking convenience and advanced features, the Oracle Touch is the way to go. For those who are looking to save money and enjoy a more manual brewing process, the Barista Express will serve you well.
Breville Oracle Touch Vs Barista Express: Specs & Features Comparison
Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine BES990BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine BES870XL, Brushed Stainless Steel
When it comes to high-quality espresso machines, the Breville Oracle Touch stands out as the top choice, boasting advanced features that elevate the coffee-making experience.
It measures 14.7 x 15.4 x 17.9 inches and weighs 37 lbs, featuring a sleek touch display for intuitive operation.
With 45 grind settings and a dual boiler system, it ensures precision and efficiency, while its automatic dosing and tamping system, paired with an auto-frothing milk wand, simplify the brewing process.
The Oracle Touch also offers eight one-touch drink options and a generous 2.5-liter water reservoir, making it a versatile and user-friendly option.
In contrast, the Breville Barista Express, which measures 16 x 12.5 x 13.5 inches and weighs 26 lbs, serves as a reliable and more budget-friendly alternative. It features a more traditional knob-and-button interface and a single thermocoil boiler.
Although it offers fewer grind settings (18) and requires manual tamping, its built-in stainless steel conical burr grinder and steam wand still deliver excellent espresso. With two drink options and a 2-liter water reservoir, the Barista Express remains a solid choice for those seeking quality without the premium features of the Oracle Touch.
Breville Oracle Touch Vs Barista Express: Differences
When comparing the Breville Oracle Touch and the Barista Express, the Oracle Touch emerges as the superior choice, winning 5-1 in key categories. Let’s delve into what sets these two espresso machines apart.
Coffee Flavor & Brewing System
Winner: Breville Oracle Touch
Both machines feature built-in stainless steel conical burr grinders, eliminating the need for an additional grinder. However, the Oracle Touch outshines the Barista Express with 45 grind settings compared to the Barista Express’s 18, providing more flexibility in achieving the perfect grind.
Additionally, the Oracle Touch’s automatic dosing and tamping system offer a significant advantage, simplifying the process and ensuring consistent results.
The Oracle Touch uses a 58-mm portafilter, considered the industry standard, which contributes to more even extraction and the ability to pull larger shots. In contrast, the Barista Express has a 54-mm portafilter and requires manual tamping.
Heating System
Winner: Breville Oracle Touch
The Oracle Touch’s dual boilers allow simultaneous milk frothing and espresso brewing, which enhances efficiency. It does require a warm-up time of about half an hour, but its thermal stability and versatility are unmatched. The Barista Express, with its single thermocoil boiler, heats up in about 30 seconds but does not allow for simultaneous milk frothing and brewing.
Milk Frothing System
Winner: Breville Oracle Touch
The Oracle Touch features an auto-steaming wand with temperature sensors, offering convenience and precision. The Barista Express, although equipped with a manual steam wand, requires more effort to achieve perfect microfoam but provides a hands-on frothing experience.
Pre-programmed Coffee Options & Programmability
Winner: Breville Oracle Touch
The Oracle Touch excels with eight one-touch drink options and customizable settings for shot length, brewing temperature, and milk texture. The Barista Express offers fewer pre-set options and lacks advanced programmability but allows strength adjustment.
Other Features
Winner: Breville Oracle Touch
The Oracle Touch includes user profiles for saving custom drink recipes, programmable auto-on and auto-off features, and an advanced control panel. The Barista Express, while simpler, has a good range of adjustable settings and manual controls.
Breville Oracle Touch Vs Barista Express: Similarities
Both machines offer generous cup clearance with dual spouts, allowing for 4-inch clearance, and feature a built-in cup warmer to ensure your cups are properly heated. They are also compatible with water filters, essential for improving espresso flavor and reducing maintenance.
Quick Overview Of Breville Oracle Touch
- Brand: Breville
- Color: Brushed Stainless Steel
- Product Dimensions: 14.5″ D x 14.7″ W x 17.6″ H
- Special Features: Programmable, Jug, Water Filter, Thermal
- Coffee Maker Type: Espresso Machine
- Capacity: 16 ounces
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Item Weight: 35.5 pounds
- Wattage: 1650 watts
The Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine is engineered for coffee enthusiasts who demand precision and convenience. This robust espresso maker features a commercial-grade 58mm portafilter and offers 45 precision grind settings, enabling you to tailor your grind to your specific taste preferences. The machine’s programmable settings and thermal stability ensure that you can consistently brew high-quality espresso at home.
It includes a water filter and a jug, enhancing the convenience and quality of your brewing process. The sleek, brushed stainless steel finish not only looks professional but is also durable. Before first use, please refer to the user guide or manual provided in the PDF for optimal setup and operation.
Pros:
- 45 Grind Settings: Offers extensive options for fine-tuning your coffee grind to match your preferred brewing style.
- Dual Boilers: Enables simultaneous brewing and milk frothing for efficient coffee preparation.
- 58-mm Commercial-Grade Portafilter: Provides a professional-grade extraction and improved consistency in your espresso shots.
- Automatic Dosing and Tamping System: Simplifies the espresso-making process with automatic grinding, dosing, and tamping, ensuring a perfect shot with minimal effort.
- 2-in-1 Milk Steam Wand: Allows for both automatic and manual milk frothing, catering to various preferences and skill levels.
Cons:
- Costly: Comes with a higher price tag, which might be a consideration for budget-conscious buyers.
- Bulky: Its large size can be cumbersome, potentially requiring more counter space and making it less suitable for smaller kitchens.
Quick Overview Of Breville Barista Express
- Brand: Breville
- Color: Brushed Stainless Steel
- Product Dimensions: 13.8″D x 12.5″W x 15.9″H
- Special Feature: Manual
- Coffee Maker Type: Espresso Machine
- Capacity: 4 Pounds
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Item Weight: 22.09 Pounds
- Wattage: 1600 watts
About this item: The Breville Barista Express is a versatile espresso machine designed to deliver third wave specialty coffee at home with convenience and precision. It features a built-in precision conical burr grinder, allowing you to grind coffee beans on demand and directly into the portafilter, ensuring fresh and flavorful espresso every time.
Key Features:
- Dose Control Grinding: Integrated grinder with adjustable settings for perfect grind size and dose.
- Optimal Water Pressure: Low pressure pre-infusion gradually increases pressure for even extraction.
- Precise Espresso Extraction: Digital temperature control (PID) maintains optimal water temperature.
- Manual Microfoam Milk Texturing: Powerful steam wand for hand-textured microfoam and coffee art.
- Grind Size Dial: Intuitive control for adjusting grind size to suit different bean types.
- Built-In Coffee Grinder: Innovative grinding cradle for direct grinding into the portafilter.
Included Accessories:
- Razor Dose Trimming Tool
- 54mm Stainless Steel Portafilter
- 1 & 2 cup Single & Dual Wall Filter Baskets
- Coffee Scoop
- Integrated Tamper
- Stainless Steel Milk Jug
- Cleaning Disc
- Brush Tool & Allen Key
- Water Filter & Filter Holder
Capacity & Settings:
- Bean Hopper: 1/2 lb
- Water Tank: 67 oz
- Single or Double Shots
- Adjustable Grind Amount and Manual Override
Warranty: 1 Year Limited Product Warranty
Power: 1600 Watts
Voltage: 120 Volts
Pros:
- Adjustable grinder with 18 grind settings.
- Good built-in steam wand.
- A lot of adjustable settings.
- Brews a tasty espresso.
- Simple to use and clean.
Cons:
- No milk temperature control.
- Requires trial and error to froth milk.
See This Also:
Breville Cafe Roma vs Duo Temp Pro: Which Reigns Supreme?
Breville Infuser vs. Barista Express: Is a Built-In Grinder Worth It?
Nespresso Creatista Plus vs. Breville Barista Express: Which Is Better?
Conclusion:
Choosing between the Breville Oracle Touch and the Barista Express comes down to your priorities and how involved you want to be in the espresso-making process.
The Breville Oracle Touch stands out for its advanced features and automation. With 45 grind settings, a dual boiler system, and an automatic dosing and tamping system, it offers exceptional convenience and precision. Its touch screen interface and ability to save custom drink profiles make it ideal for those who want a high level of control and consistency with minimal effort. The dual boiler setup allows you to froth milk and brew espresso simultaneously, which is perfect for busy mornings. However, its higher cost and bulkier size might be a consideration if space or budget is limited.
On the other hand, the Breville Barista Express excels in delivering a high-quality espresso experience with a more hands-on approach. Its 18 grind settings and manual steam wand provide a good balance of control and flexibility for enthusiasts who enjoy experimenting with their coffee. While it lacks some of the advanced automation of the Oracle Touch, it is simpler to use and maintain, and its more compact design makes it easier to fit into smaller kitchens. However, it does require more trial and error for milk frothing and doesn’t offer the same level of programmability or convenience features.
In summary, if you value automation, convenience, and are willing to invest in a premium machine, the Breville Oracle Touch is the superior choice. If you prefer a more hands-on approach and a more budget-friendly option, the Barista Express is an excellent choice that still delivers great espresso.