Breville Barista Express vs Pro: The Friendly Classic or the Faster Upgrade?

Our top picks

1. 1Best valueBreville the Barista ExpressGrinder, PID and a 15 bar pump in one box that is often discounted.See on brand site
2. 2Best for speed and grind rangeBreville the Barista ProThermoJet fast start-up, 30 grind settings and a shot timer.See on brand site
3. 3Best for assisted tampingBreville the Barista Express ImpressAdds a tamping lever and 25 grind settings to the Express formula.See on brand site
4. 4Best guided upgradeBreville the Barista Touch ImpressTouchscreen recipes, assisted tamping and automatic milk texturing.See on brand site

How we compared

We compared the two machines line by line using Breville's official US product pages, the data in our product catalog and what review sites and owners consistently report. We did not test them hands-on for this comparison. List prices cited here come from our November 2026 catalog; historical sale prices are examples, not current offers. Where Breville's page leaves a spec unclear, we flag it instead of filling the gap.

Breville Barista Express vs Pro at a glance

Both machines are semi-automatic espresso makers with a built-in conical burr grinder, a 15 bar Italian pump and a steam wand. The big differences sit in three places: how they heat, how finely you can adjust the grind and how much information they show you.

Sources: Breville product pages ^{1, 2}.

The Breville Barista Express: the beloved classic

The Barista Express is one of the most popular home espresso machines anywhere. Review sites repeatedly describe it as the best-selling semi-automatic on Amazon US, with a very large number of reviews ³. On paper it gives you everything you need in one box: a conical burr grinder with 16 settings, PID temperature control and a 15 bar Italian pump ¹.

Its list price is $699.95, and it is frequently discounted; prices around $499.95 have been seen ^{1, 3}. That makes it one of the best-value all-in-one machines you can buy.

The trade-offs:

• 16 grind settings. That is enough for most espresso blends, but light roasts and some single origins want finer steps.
• Thermocoil heating. It cannot brew and steam at the same time, and it takes longer to get ready than a ThermoJet machine.
• 54 mm portafilter. Accessories exist, though the 58 mm world is bigger.

The Breville Barista Pro: faster and finer

The Barista Pro is the Express with a faster heart and a sharper grinder. Breville lists ThermoJet heating with a fast start-up, a grinder using Baratza European Precision Burrs with 30 settings and an LCD display with a shot timer ². Breville owns Baratza, so those burrs come from inside the family ⁴.

Why that matters in your kitchen:

• Quicker mornings. ThermoJet heating is built for fast start-up, so the gap between "I want a coffee" and "I have a coffee" shrinks.
• More grind control. Thirty settings let you make smaller adjustments, which helps when you change beans often or love lighter roasts.
• Feedback. A shot timer on the display makes it easy to repeat a good recipe and spot what changed when a shot runs fast or slow.

The list price is $849.95, about $150 more than the Express at list ^{2, 1}. Breville's page we read does not state PID or the portafilter size for the Pro, so we don't present those as confirmed specs.

Barista Express Impress: the in-between option

If you are comparing these two, the Barista Express Impress deserves a look. It keeps the Express's thermocoil heating and PID temperature control, raises the grinder to 25 settings and adds Breville's assisted tamping lever (the Impress system), at a list price of $799.95 ⁵. The lever tamps the coffee with consistent pressure, which removes one of the trickiest beginner variables.

Choose the Impress over the Pro if consistent tamping matters more to you than fast heat-up and a shot timer.

Barista Touch Impress: the guided upgrade

At the top of this family, the Barista Touch Impress combines ThermoJet heating, 30-setting Baratza burrs, assisted tamping and a touchscreen with guided recipes, plus automatic milk texturing ⁶. Its list price is $1,499.95, so it is a significant step up. It suits people who want the most help possible while still using a real portafilter.

A morning with each machine

With the Express. You switch it on while the kettle boils for someone's tea. The bean hopper is full, so you grind straight into the portafilter, tamp, and pull your shot once the machine is ready. Then you switch to steam, wait a moment, and texture your milk. The whole ritual is calm and satisfying, and after a week you will do it half asleep.

With the Pro. You switch it on and it is ready almost by the time you've filled the portafilter. You glance at the shot timer as the espresso flows, note the number, and pour your milk. If the shot ran a little fast, you click the grinder one step finer for tomorrow. It feels a bit more precise and a bit quicker.

Both mornings end the same way: a proper espresso drink made by you, in your own kitchen. The difference is how much you value speed and fine control.

Which one should you buy?

Choose the Barista Express if

• You want the best value all-in-one and can catch it on sale.
• You mostly drink medium or dark roast espresso blends.
• You don't mind waiting a little longer for warm-up or for steam after the shot.

Choose the Barista Pro if

• You want quicker mornings thanks to ThermoJet heating.
• You change beans often or enjoy lighter roasts and want finer grind adjustment.
• You like seeing a shot timer and repeating recipes precisely.

Choose the Express Impress if

• Tamping feels like the step you'd rather not learn.
• You want a little more grind range than the Express without moving to ThermoJet.

Choose the Touch Impress if

• You want guided recipes, automatic milk and assisted tamping in one machine, and the budget is there.

Breville Barista Express vs Pro for milk drinks

Both have a manual steam wand, so latte art is in your hands. On the Express, steam comes after the shot because of the single thermocoil system ¹. The Pro's ThermoJet is designed for fast start-up ², though Breville does not describe it as brewing and steaming simultaneously. If milk drinks are the main event and you want automatic texturing, the Touch Impress or the compact Bambino Plus are stronger choices. Our best latte machine guide covers them.

A note on grinders

The built-in grinder is the heart of these machines, and it is also their ceiling. Many owners eventually add a separate espresso grinder for lighter roasts and use the built-in grinder as a backup. If you know you will go deep into espresso, a standalone machine plus a grinder can be a better path. Compare options in our best espresso grinder guide, or see more all-in-ones in espresso machine with grinder.

Grinder FitTell us your brew methods, budget and space. Get the grinder type, burr style and models that fit, plus a grind size cheat sheet for your methods.→

Dialing in either machine: a happy starting recipe

1. Fresh beans. Choose beans roasted for espresso, a few days to a few weeks old. Our best espresso beans list is a good start.
2. Dose. Fill the double basket with about 18 g of coffee.
3. Grind. Start in the middle of the range, then go finer if shots run fast and taste sour.
4. Ratio. Aim for about 36 g of espresso in the cup, roughly 25 to 30 seconds after you start.
5. Taste and adjust. One change at a time. The Pro's shot timer makes this step easy; on the Express, use your phone's stopwatch.

Want a step-by-step walk-through? Our how to make espresso guide walks through every stage.

Small accessories that help both machines

• A compact scale that fits on the drip tray, so you can weigh the dose and the shot.
• A distribution tool (a simple needle tool) to break up clumps before tamping, for more even shots.
• A stainless milk jug in a size that matches your usual drink.
• Filtered water to protect the heating system and keep flavors clean.

None of these are expensive, and together they make either machine feel like a small cafe.

Who should skip both

• You want push-button drinks. Look at our super automatic espresso machine picks.
• You want to compare brands first. Read Breville vs DeLonghi.
• You want simultaneous brewing and steaming. A dual boiler espresso machine is the real answer.
• You want hands-off grinding, dosing and tamping. Breville's Oracle Jet automates all three with a 58 mm portafilter, at a $1,999.95 list price ⁷.

Not sure yet? Try the free tool

Machine MatchmakerAnswer 6 quick questions and get the machine type and models that fit your drinks, budget and patience, with a 3-year cost-per-cup comparison.→

Price bands: $ under $100 · $$ $100–299 · $$$ $300–799 · $$$$ $800–1,999 · $$$$$ $2,000+. Prices change, so check the retailer.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Breville Barista Pro worth the extra money over the Express?

It is worth it if you value quicker start-up, finer grind adjustment and a shot timer, especially if you like lighter roasts or change beans often. If you mostly drink medium to dark espresso blends and can find the Express on sale, the Express delivers most of the experience for noticeably less money.

What is the difference between the Barista Express and the Barista Express Impress?

The Express Impress keeps the same thermocoil heating and PID control but adds Breville's assisted tamping lever and increases the grinder from 16 to 25 settings. Its list price is $799.95 versus $699.95 for the Express. It suits beginners who want consistent tamping without learning the technique by hand.

Can the Breville Barista Express brew and steam at the same time?

No. The Barista Express uses a single thermocoil heating system, so you brew your shot first and then switch to steam. Most owners get used to the rhythm quickly. If you want to brew and steam simultaneously, look at a dual boiler or heat exchanger machine.

Does the Breville Barista Pro have a better grinder than the Express?

On paper, yes. Breville lists Baratza European Precision Burrs with 30 settings on the Pro, compared with 16 settings on the Express. More settings mean smaller steps, which helps when you dial in light roasts or switch beans often. Both are conical burr grinders built into the machine.

Is the Breville Barista Express good for beginners?

Yes. It is one of the most popular first espresso machines because it combines a grinder, PID temperature control and a steam wand in one box. Expect a short learning curve for grinding and tamping. If you want more help, the Express Impress adds assisted tamping.

Sources

We link to the original studies and official pages so you can check every claim.

1. Breville (2026). the Barista Express (BES870) product page. Official product page.
2. Breville (2026). the Barista Pro (BES878) product page. Official product page.
3. EspressoPulse (2026). Breville Barista Express review (best-seller claim, prices). Review site.
4. Baratza (2026). Baratza Affiliates Program. Official page.
5. Breville (2026). the Barista Express Impress (BES876) product page. Official product page.
6. Breville (2026). the Barista Touch Impress (BES881) product page. Official product page.
7. Breville (2026). the Oracle Jet (BES985) product page. Official product page.