Espresso machines are serious business, and if you’re in the market for a new one, you want to make sure you get the best possible machine for your needs. In this article, we’ll pit the Breville Barista Pro against the Breville Barista Touch and see which machine comes out on top.
Both machines are semi-automatic espresso machines, which means they’ll do most of the work for you but will still require some input from you, the user. They’re both from the same manufacturer, Breville, and they’re both mid-range machines, so they’re comparable in terms of price and features.
So, which machine is the better choice? Read on to find out!
Breville Overview
Breville is an Australian-based company that specializes in high-end kitchen appliances, including coffee machines. Founded in 1932, Breville has a long history of innovation and excellence in the industry. Over the years, the company has become a trusted household name in many countries, known for its premium products and commitment to quality.
Breville offers a wide range of coffee machines to meet the needs of different customers, including espresso machines, drip coffee makers, and grind-and-brew machines. All of their products are designed with the end-user in mind, with an emphasis on ease of use, superior performance, and sleek design. Breville’s coffee machines are known for their precision engineering and advanced features, making them a popular choice among coffee enthusiasts and professionals alike.
In addition to coffee machines, Breville also offers a range of other kitchen appliances, including toasters, juicers, and blenders. The company has a strong reputation for innovation and is constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of kitchen appliances. Whether you are a home barista or a professional, Breville has a product that is sure to meet your needs and exceed your expectations.
Breville Barista Pro VS Touch: Key Differences
Design and Ease of Use
The Breville Barista Pro and the Breville Barista Touch both feature sleek, modern designs that would look great in any kitchen. However, there are some notable differences in terms of their external appearance. The Barista Pro has a more traditional look with a brushed stainless steel finish and angular lines, while the Barista Touch has a more futuristic appearance with a smooth, curved design and a touch-screen display.
Both the Barista Pro and the Barista Touch are designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, with a display that makes it easy to choose your favorite drink. The main difference between the two machines is the display. The Barista Pro has a basic LCD screen, while the Barista Touch has a color touch screen that makes it a more convenient option for some users.
Drink Options
The Breville Barista Pro and the Breville Barista Touch are both espresso machines, which means that they are capable of making a wide range of coffee-based drinks. Some of the most common drinks that can be made with these machines include espresso, cappuccino, latte, macchiato, etc.
Barista Touch has more customizable options including the level of ground coffee, the milk temperature, and more.
The Barista Touch has also ten settings (ranging from -5 to +5), giving you more flexibility when adjusting the water temperature. Additionally, the steam wand has 10 texture options and granular temperature control. You can set it to 1-3 for a steamed flat white or 8-10 for an airy cappuccino foam.
The Barista Pro can also make different coffee drinks, but it’s a more classic machine where you make the espresso and then foam the milk by hand to make other beverages.
Control Panel
The Breville Barista Pro features a digital display that makes it easy to control the machine’s settings. The display shows the brewing temperature, shot volume, and other important information.
The machine also has a series of buttons and knobs for controlling various functions, such as the steam wand, hot water dispenser, and grinder. Overall, the control panel of the Barista Pro is intuitive and straightforward, allowing you to quickly and easily make the coffee you want.
The Breville Barista Touch is equipped with a touch-screen display that provides a more intuitive and user-friendly interface. With its large, easy-to-use touch-screen, you can select your desired brewing method, adjust the shot volume and temperature, and access other important functions with just a few taps.
The Barista Touch also features a programmable memory function, which allows you to save your favorite coffee recipes for easy access. This feature makes it quick and easy to repeat your favorite drinks, without having to manually adjust the settings each time.
In terms of control panels, the Barista Touch offers a more modern and sophisticated experience compared to the Barista Pro. The touch-screen display and programmable memory functions make the Barista Touch a more convenient option for some users, while others may prefer the straightforward, button-based control panel of the Barista Pro.
Steam Wand: Manual Milk Frothing (Barista Pro) Vs Automatic (Barista Touch)
The Breville Barista Pro is equipped with a steam wand that allows you to froth milk for lattes, cappuccinos, and other coffee-based drinks. The steam wand is made of stainless steel and features a frothing tip that helps create smooth, velvety foam. The machine also includes a hot water dispenser for making tea or hot chocolate.
The steam wand of the Barista Pro is a classic manual version where the foam and temperature are decided by you. This kind of steam wand is perfect if you are already an expert and you know exactly how to use the steam wand to have the best results.
The Breville Barista Touch is also equipped with a steam wand for frothing milk and a hot water dispenser for making tea or hot chocolate. Like the Barista Pro, the Barista Touch’s steam wand is made of stainless steel and features a frothing tip for creating smooth foam.
The steam wand of the Barista Touch is slightly more advanced, with a programmable temperature control that allows you to select the exact temperature you want for your milk. This feature can help ensure consistent, high-quality results every time.
In terms of steam wands, both the Barista Pro and the Barista Touch offer similar features and capabilities. However, the Barista Touch’s programmable temperature control sets it apart, making it a more advanced option for those who want even more control over their coffee-making experience.
Comparing aesthetic
The Breville Barista Pro is a stylish and modern machine, designed to look great on any kitchen counter. The machine has a sleek and streamlined look, with a brushed stainless steel finish and clean lines. The Barista Pro’s simple, no-nonsense design makes it a great choice for coffee enthusiasts who want a functional and attractive machine that won’t take up too much space.
The Breville Barista Pro weighs 20 pounds and has dimensions of 13.9 x 16.1 x 16 inches.
The Breville Barista Touch is a more futuristic and technologically advanced machine, with a touch-screen display and programmable memory functions. The machine is designed with a modern aesthetic, featuring a sleek and stylish look that is sure to impress. The Barista Touch’s compact size and clean lines make it a great choice for those who want a coffee machine that looks as good as it functions.
The Breville Barista Touch weighs 26.8 pounds and has dimensions of 12.7 x 15.5 x 16.7 inches.
Price and Value: Pay More for the Barista’s Touch Advanced Features
The Breville Barista Pro is priced in the mid to upper range for semi-automatic espresso machines. The machine’s combination of features, build quality, and performance make it an excellent value for coffee enthusiasts who want a high-quality machine that can produce great-tasting coffee at home.
The Barista Pro’s straightforward and intuitive design makes it an accessible option for those who are new to home espresso brewing, while its advanced features and capabilities will appeal to experienced baristas as well.
The Breville Barista Touch is priced at the higher end of the market for semi-automatic espresso machines, reflecting its advanced features and capabilities.
The machine’s touch-screen display, programmable memory functions, and programmable temperature control make it a top-of-the-line choice for coffee enthusiasts who want a machine that can produce professional-quality coffee at home.
While the Barista Touch’s higher price may be a drawback for some users, its advanced features, excellent performance, and stylish design make it a great value for those who are looking for the ultimate home espresso machine.
In terms of price and value, both the Barista Pro and the Barista Touch offer excellent options for coffee enthusiasts.
The Barista Pro is a great value for those who are looking for a high-quality machine that is accessible and intuitive, while the Barista Touch is the ideal choice for those who want a machine that is advanced, sophisticated, and packed with features.
Ultimately, the choice between these two machines will come down to your personal preferences and needs, as well as your budget.
- Type: Breville Barista Pro
- Capacity: 2 liters
- Color: Brushed Stainless Steel
- Special feature: Programmable, Water filter, Jug, Built-in grinder, 3 seconds heat up
- Type: Breville Barista Touch
- Capacity: 67 fluid ounces
- Color: Brushed Stainless Steel
- Special feature: Programmable, Jug, Integrated coffee grinder, Water filter, 3 seconds heat up
Key Similarities: Both Make Excellent Espresso with High Quality Burr Grinders
Espresso Quality/Internals
Regardless of which machine you choose, both the Breville Barista Pro and the Breville Barista Touch are designed to produce high-quality espresso. Both machines are equipped with a powerful 15-bar pressure pump, which ensures that the coffee is brewed with the correct amount of pressure for a rich and full-bodied espresso.
Additionally, both machines are equipped with a conical burr grinder, which ensures that the coffee is ground consistently for optimal extraction and flavor.
Integrated Burr Grinder
Both machines are equipped with a conical burr grinder, which ensures that the coffee is ground consistently for optimal extraction and flavor.
The burr grinder is adjustable (with 30 sizes available), so you can choose the grind size that best suits your taste. The machine also features a programmable grind dose, so you can set the exact amount of coffee that you want to grind each time.
In both machines, the integrated burr grinder is a key feature that helps to ensure the quality of the espresso.
By grinding the coffee fresh for each shot, the burr grinder ensures that the coffee is always at its optimal flavor and aroma.
This, combined with the customizable grind settings and programmable grind dose, allows you to take control of the brewing process and produce espresso that is exactly to your taste.
ThermoJet Technology
Both the machines feature ThermoJet technology, which heats up the machine in just three seconds.
This fast heating time ensures that you can start making coffee almost immediately after turning on the machine. The ThermoJet technology also ensures that the temperature is consistent throughout the brewing process, which helps to produce high-quality espresso.
FAQ
Should you get the Breville Barista Pro or Barista Touch?
Whether you should get the Breville Barista Pro or the Breville Barista Touch depends on your specific needs and preferences. You should consider things like ease of use, price, drink options, and espresso quality to just name a few.
Should I buy one if I have a French press, Chemex or moka pot?
Each of those coffee-making techniques is unique and will produce various results. But if you want to make coffee in a way that requires a different grinder, I would argue that buying an all-in-one machine is not practical.
I believe it would be wiser for you to invest in a standalone grinder and something like the Bambino Plus if you intend to make French press coffee frequently.
If you only occasionally make other types of coffee, that would be the exception. Then buying an all-in-one like the Pro or Touch and a cheap hand grinder might make sense.
What about the Breville Barista Express?
The Breville Barista Express is a semi-automatic espresso machine that is designed for home use. It offers a range of features that make it a popular choice for coffee enthusiasts who want to make high-quality espresso drinks at home.
With features such as an integrated burr grinder, dual wall filter baskets, ThermoJet heating system, and steam wand, this machine is capable of producing high-quality espresso drinks with ease.
What is the advantage of scale integrated with touch?
The advantage of having a scale integrated with the Breville Barista Touch (or any espresso machine with a built-in scale) is that it allows you to accurately measure the amount of coffee and water used in your espresso shots.
This helps to ensure that you are using the right amount of coffee and water for each shot, which can greatly impact the flavor and quality of your espresso.
How to make Breville Barista Pro extract for longer?
Here are some tips to help you extract espresso for longer on the Breville Barista Pro:
- Use a coarser grind: Using a coarser grind will allow water to flow through the coffee grounds more slowly, which will result in a longer extraction time. This can help to bring out more complex flavors in your espresso.
- Increase the dose: Increasing the amount of coffee used in each shot will also increase the extraction time. This will give you more time for the water to interact with the coffee grounds and extract more flavor.
- Pre-heat the portafilter: Pre-heating the portafilter can help to reduce the thermal shock that occurs when the hot water comes into contact with the cold metal. This can help to prevent the extraction from slowing down or stopping prematurely.
- Use a tamper: Using a tamper to compact the coffee grounds in the portafilter can help to ensure that the water flows through the coffee evenly and consistently. This can help to extend the extraction time and produce a more balanced espresso.
- Experiment with different brewing parameters: Experimenting with different brewing parameters, such as water temperature and pressure, can help you find the best conditions for extracting espresso on your machine. This can help you to optimize the extraction time and achieve the desired flavor profile in your espresso.
Final verdict
The final verdict about which machine to choose between the Breville Barista Pro and Barista Touch will depend on the individual’s specific needs and preferences.
In conclusion, I can say that the Breville Barista Pro may be a better choice for those who want a more hands-on and customizable espresso experience, while the Breville Barista Touch may be a better choice for those who want a more streamlined and effortless experience.
Giacomo is an Italian living in Shanghai since 2016. After working as a barista in Italy, he started to be more interested in the different types of coffee, beans, and the ways to prepare this ancient beverage. He founded Authority Coffee and he is currently on a mission to find the best coffee in China.