Breville
Breville Barista Express BES870XL Brushed Stainless Steel
- coffee2decide score
- 6.7 / 10
- Est. price
- ~$500
Breville Barista Express vs Breville Barista Pro
Two all-in-one Brevilles with a grinder built in, $130 apart: the Barista Express at $500 and the Barista Pro at $630. This is the rare comparison where our scores barely split. The Pro wins five of six features. On the sixth, espresso quality, they're two points apart, 70 to 68, which we count as a tie.
So the question is a simple one. Is what the Pro does better worth $130 to you?
Breville
Breville Barista Pro BES878BSS Brushed Stainless Steel
- coffee2decide score
- 7.7 / 10
- Est. price
- ~$630
Feature scores
| Feature | Breville Barista Express | Breville Barista Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Build Quality & Materials | 72 | 78 (wins) |
| Espresso Quality & Consistency | 68 | 70 |
| Heat-Up & Recovery Speed | 63 | 90 (wins) |
| Maintenance & Upkeep | 60 | 65 (wins) |
| Steam Wand Performance | 62 | 75 (wins) |
| Workflow & Ergonomics | 78 | 85 (wins) |
A win is a gap of 3 points or more.
Which fits which buyer
- Better for The Purist: Breville Barista Pro
- Better for Latte Artist: Breville Barista Pro
- Better for Busy Commuter: Breville Barista Pro
- Better for Beginner Hobbyist: Breville Barista Pro
Where Breville Barista Express wins
On our scores, the Express doesn't beat the Pro on any feature, and espresso is a near-tie at 68 to 70. What it wins is price: it's $130 cheaper.
Per our data it's an all-in-one with a single thermoblock, and it still scores 78 on workflow. It isn't hard to use. It's just slower and a step behind on steam.
Where Breville Barista Pro wins
The biggest gap is heat-up and recovery: 90 for the Pro against 63 for the Express. Per our data the Pro is built around Breville's ThermoJet system and rapid heat-up, and the score agrees. Steam follows at 75 to 62, then workflow at 85 to 78, build at 78 to 72 and maintenance at 65 to 60.
Only the heat-up gap is dramatic on its own. Together they describe a machine that's faster and a little nicer to live with, making the same quality of shot.
Who should buy which
Buy the Express if $130 matters more to you than speed, or if you make a drink or two at a time and don't mind waiting a bit for the machine. Buy the Pro if you steam milk for most drinks or want coffee quickly in the morning. Those are its two biggest leads.
Don't buy the Pro expecting a better espresso. On our numbers, it isn't one.
Verdict
The Barista Pro wins five of our six features, most of all heat-up (90 vs 63). The Barista Express makes a near-identical shot for $130 less.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Barista Pro make better espresso than the Barista Express?
Not by our scores. The Pro scores 70 on espresso quality and the Express 68, which we count as a tie. The Pro's real advantages are heat-up (90 vs 63) and steam (75 vs 62).
Is the Barista Pro worth $130 more?
If you steam milk often or want coffee fast in the morning, yes: those are its two biggest leads. If you mostly pull straight shots and aren't in a hurry, the Express gets you the same shot score for less.
Do both have a built-in grinder?
Yes. Per our data both are all-in-one machines with an integrated grinder. The difference is the heating: a single thermoblock in the Express, Breville's ThermoJet system in the Pro.