If you are on the hunt for an espresso machine, you will be hard-pressed to find a list of the top machines that do not include a Breville Espresso Machine. Breville is an extremely popular brand known for producing trusted machines that offer superb value for money.
Whether you are a beginning brewer or budding barista, Breville has espresso machines in their lineup to suit every budget and skill level. We have put together this guide to the best Breville Espresso Machines to help you figure out which machine best suits your needs.
When it comes to what is the best Breville espresso machine, we have narrowed it down to our top three picks:
About Breville
Breville is an established brand that has become a household name in the kitchen appliance industry. The company was founded in Sydney in 1932. Initially, they began by producing radios during WWII but changed to kitchen appliances following the massive success of their toasted sandwich maker. Today they make a wide range of kitchen appliances, from kettles, toasters, blenders, and microwaves, to the focus of this article, espresso machines. So let’s dig in.
Top Breville Espresso Machines In 2023
Breville Espresso Machines all share the same iconic styling with smooth curves, backlit buttons, and brushed stainless steel. Despite this, each machine has its own distinctive set of features to appeal to different audiences. We have compiled this list of the best Breville Espresso Machines, going from the bottom to the top of the product range.
Breville Bambino
The Breville Bambino is the most affordable machine on this list. But don’t let the price tag fool you; this little machine packs a punch! The Bambino has a simple, no-frills design, with only four buttons to select from, either a single or double shot and hot water or steam.
The machine is packed with all the essential technology to produce good espresso. It has a low-pressure pre-infusion and PID temperature control for well-extracted shots. The Bambino utilizes the latest Thermojet heating system giving it a stunningly fast 3-second start-up, and no wait time between brewing and steaming. And speaking of steaming, the Bambino has a manual steam wand with powerful pressure to create microfoam.
The Breville Bambino offers superb value for money. It is a compact machine making it a good option if counter space is at a premium. The only downside is that the included accessories are lacking. The machine comes with a cheap plastic tamper and only dual-walled baskets. Despite this, the Bambino is still an excellent espresso machine for beginners, and it is hard to see how it can be beaten at this price point.
Pros:
Cons:
Breville Duo Temp Pro
The Breville Duo Temp Pro is a basic semi-automatic espresso machine, ideal for those looking to brew espresso on a budget. It has a simple design with very few extra features. But it does do the basics well. The machine is operated manually via a dial turned on to start a shot and then off to stop it. It has a manual steam wand that doubles as a hot water dispenser.
Like all of the machines on this list, it has low-pressure pre-infusion and PID temperature control, ensuring shots are pulled at the ideal temperature. The Duo Temp utilizes a Thermocoil heating system, requiring around 30 seconds to warm up or switch between brewing and steaming.
The Duo Temp’s name stems from the fact that espresso shots are pulled at a lower temperature compared to that required to steam milk. Given this, the Duo Temp has an auto purge function, where hot water is released into the drip tray after steaming to ensure the machine is at the optimal temperature for espresso extraction.
The Duo Temp is a basic but well-built machine that would be a good, although perhaps not the best, option for a beginner to learn on.
Pros:
Cons:
Breville Bambino Plus
Best Value
The Breville Bambino Plus is the older and more sophisticated brother of the Bambino. This machine is packed with advanced features, the most notable being the automatic steam wand. The automatic steam wand is one of Breville’s specialties and produces cafe-quality milk with little to no skill from the barista. The user can adjust the temperature (between 50, 70, and 90 degrees C) and texture of the milk from three different levels. Once this is selected, insert the steam wand into the stainless steel pitcher and let the Bambino Plus do the hard work. The steam wand has four holes and steams milk very quickly.
Asides from this valuable feature, the Bambino Plus boasts the same specs seen on the Bambino. A thermojet heating system means it has a speedy 3-second heat up. The espresso performance is very similar, given the PID temperature control and built-in pre-infusion. It has a slightly larger footprint, although still compact, and a larger water reservoir, enabling you to brew more drinks before refilling. The Bambino Plus comes with a bunch of accessories, the most noteworthy being a premium tamp. Unfortunately, it still only includes dual-walled filter baskets for pre-ground coffee.
The Breville Bambino Plus is a remarkable machine packed with cutting-edge technology. It heats up quickly, has virtually no lag when switching from brewing to steaming, and comes with an automatic milk frother. Despite this, the machine still can grow with you, with the milk wand able to be used manually as you grow more skilled. We think this is the best value machine in the Breville lineup and the best option for a beginner.
Pros:
Cons:
Breville Infuser
Next in the lineup, we have the Breville Infuser. This machine is built from the same foundation as the machines above but allows for more customization, which will appeal to those looking to get into espresso brewing. The Infuser features the same pre-infusion function and PID-controlled water temperature. However, the water temperature can be adjusted in 2F increments up to 4F above or below the standard temperature to accommodate for lighter or darker roasts.
The Infuser has a thermocoil heating system, which takes around 30 seconds to heat up or switch between steaming and brewing. It also has an auto-purge function to reduce the temperature to the optimal extraction temperature. This feature removes the need for temperature surfing and makes for a quick transition between steaming and brewing.
The Infuser is easy to navigate, with preset single and double shot buttons or a manual override for the veteran that can be set as the new norm. Another noteworthy feature is the pressure gauge on the front of the machine, showing the optimal extraction pressure of 9 bars and whether a shot is reaching this. The manual steam wand is easy to use and master. It is relatively slow, which can be helpful for a beginner, giving you the time to learn and perfect the technique of milk steaming.
The Infuser comes with a range of accessories, including double-walled (pressurized) and single-walled (unpressurized) filter baskets, giving you the flexibility to use either pre-ground or freshly ground coffee beans.
Overall the Breville Infuser is a solid machine and one we recommend to someone who already has a coffee grinder or is looking to buy a separate grinder. This was our first Breville Espresso machine and so holds a particular place in our hearts.
Pros:
Cons:
Breville Barista Express
The Breville Barista Express has long been one of Breville’s top-selling machines and a favorite among beginners. It is virtually identical to the Breville Infuser but with a built-in grinder. The Barista Express produces delicious espresso thanks to the familiar pre-infusion function and thermocoil heating system with PID temperature control. It has a manual single-hole steam wand, which isn’t amazing but does the job.
The key point of difference is the in-built stainless steel conical burr grinder. The grinder has 16 grind settings and grinds directly into a portafilter. While this small range of grind settings isn’t ideal, it is sufficient for a beginner. The dose of coffee can be adjusted via the grind amount dial.
The Breville Barista Express contains everything you need to start brewing espresso- an espresso machine, grinder, and a stack of accessories. It produces delicious espresso, is simple to use, and has a compact footprint—all in all, a strong candidate for the best entry-level espresso machine. However, we would caution that an inbuilt grinder is almost always inferior to an external grinder.
Pros:
Cons:
Breville Barista Pro
Best Breville Espresso Machine
The Breville Barista Pro is the successor to the popular Barista Express. Breville has revamped several design aspects to improve brewing speed and ease of use.
The Barista Pro employs the new thermojet heating system. This means it has a rapid 3-second heat up and an almost instantaneous transition between brewing and steaming. This heating system is excellent if you want to make back-on-back drinks. Like the other Breville models, it also has PID temperature control and a built-in pre-infusion, producing high-quality espresso. The Barista Pro offers some flexibility in brewing with programmable shot volume and adjustable water temperature.
Breville has also replaced the pressure gauge with a fancy LCD screen (a controversial decision). The LCD screen displays the grind size, grind time, and a shot timer making programming a breeze. The screen also displays animations during brewing to show the progress.
The built-in conical burr grinder has 30 grind settings. This larger grind range is always advantageous, offering more control when dialing in coffee beans. The Barista Pro also offers time-based dosing.
Breville has included some other outstanding features. The milk frother offers better steam pressure than the Barista Express with a four-hole tip. The hot water spout is angled, allowing you to make an americano without moving the cup. The Barista Pro comes with a range of brewing and cleaning accessories, the most notable being a magnetic tamper.
The Barista Pro is packed with the latest technology making it fast to brew and simple to use. We think it offers the best combination of high-end features and usability, which is why we believe it is the best espresso machine in the Breville lineup at present.
Pros:
Cons:
Breville Barista Touch
The Breville Barista Touch is the top-end of single boiler machines. It takes all the best features of the machines above and combines them in one premium package. With this espresso machine, you can expect freshly ground coffee thanks to the conical burr grinder with 30 settings. Delicious espresso thanks to the PID temperature control and pre-infusion function. Fast brewing thanks to the thermojet heating system. And incredible milk-based drinks thanks to the automatic steam wand.
The automatic steam wand is a step up from the ones previously seen. It can work either automatically or manually, producing silky microfoam with ease. The temperature can be adjusted between 45°C to 75°C, and there are eight levels of texture to choose from. The wand even auto-purges after finishing to keep itself clean.
The other significant feature of the Barista Touch is, as the name indicates, the touch screen. The screen is simple to navigate and allows you to produce drinks with the touch of a button. There are five pre-programmed drinks and the option to set and save up to 8 customized drinks. The downside is that you are paying a premium for these capabilities.
Pros:
Cons:
Breville Dual Boiler
Best For the espresso enthusiast
The Breville Dual Boiler is a serious machine for espresso enthusiasts and our personal favorite of the Breville models. It is packed with high-end features, commonly found on prosumer machines, but at a far lower price.
The first noteworthy feature is that it is a dual boiler machine with dedicated espresso and steam boilers. The separate boilers allow you to pull a shot and steam milk simultaneously. The Dual Boiler employs a triple heat system to control the temperature of the steam wand, group head, and water for extraction. These are governed by an electronic PID essential for producing balanced shots. The dual boiler also comes with an Over Pressure Valve (OPV), limiting maximum pressure for optimal extraction.
The steam wand is powerful, although it can’t compare to commercial machines. The dedicated steam boiler produces drier steam, creating a better milk texture.
Another feature that appeals to enthusiasts is that the Dual Boiler offers a high level of control over brewing parameters. The brewing temperature can be customized between 86C (190F) and 96C (205F) in +/- 1C increments. The steam wand temperature can be set between 130C (265F) and 140C (285F). The pre-infusion duration and pressure, and shot volume or time can also be programmed. These settings are easily customized via the LCD screen. It is worth mentioning that the Dual Boiler can also be modded. Two popular modifications are installing the Acaia Lunar scale into the drip tray and the Slayer Mod, which allows complete control over extraction pressure via the hot water knob.
Aside from producing superb espresso, the Breville Dual Boiler is enjoyable to use. It has retractable wheels on the bottom, making it easy to move around. The huge water reservoir can be filled from either the back or front of the machine. A shot clock starts with espresso extraction allowing you to time shots. The Dual Boiler also has a programmable auto-on function to start the machine automatically.
The Breville Dual Boiler is an outstanding espresso machine that can rival 3-4k machines. It produces delicious espresso, has a high level of customization, and has a massive community behind it. The Dual Boiler is the best espresso machine for experts.
Pros:
Cons:
Breville Oracle
The following two machines are for those looking for a super-automatic espresso machine. They offer the convenience of almost hands-free brewing but come with a hefty price tag. The Breville Oracle grinds, doses, tamps, extracts espresso, and automatically froths milk. So if convenience is key, the Oracle could be a good fit.
The Breville Oracle is a dual boiler machine, simultaneously extracting espresso and frothing milk. It utilizes a triple heat system with PID temperature control to ensure the brew boiler, steam boiler, and group head are maintained at optimal temperatures. Given this, it produces delicious, well-balanced espresso.
The Oracle has a stainless steel conical burr grinder with 45 grind settings. The grinder doses 22 grams of ground coffee directly into the commercial-sized 58mm portafilter and then tamps it.
Like other machines on this list, the Oracle has the standout automatic milk frother, producing high-quality drinks. The temperature of the milk can be adjusted from 40°C to 75°C, and the texture set from 9 levels. The steam wand also self-purges after use.
The Oracle allows for some customization. Users can alter grind size, tamp pressure, program pre-infusion time, and pressure and shot volume or time. This programming is all done via the LCD screen. In addition, the Oracle can also be set to turn on automatically.
The Oracle is a premium machine that requires very little skill to produce quality drinks. Brewing is simple and almost hands-free. The downside is that it comes with a very high price tag.
Pros:
Cons:
Breville oracle touch
The Breville Oracle Touch is at the top of the range when it comes to price and features. This machine is very similar to the Oracle but includes a touch screen. The touch screen allows you to produce drinks like espresso, cappuccino, or flat white with the touch of a button, but you do pay a premium for this privilege.
When it comes to brewing, it contains the same quality elements as the Oracle. A built-in conical burr grinder with 45 settings. A dual boiler to steam and pull shots simultaneously. Superb temperature control thanks to multiple PIDs. An automatic steam wand producing microfoam milk. And the ability to customize different brewing parameters.
The key difference comes down to the ease of use offered by the touch screen. Not only can you select a drink with the push of a button, but you can also create your own customized drinks and save up to 8 of these. However, the huge price difference (almost $1000) between this and the Oracle makes it hard to recommend. Given that the brew quality is virtually identical, we think it would be better to opt for the Oracle or Dual boiler instead.
Pros:
Cons:
What is the Best Breville Espresso Machine | The Verdict
So what is the best Breville Espresso Machine? Ultimately it will come down to what features you are looking for and your budget. We think the Bambino Plus offers the best value for money. It has the latest thermojet heating system and an automatic milk wand. It is simple to use, produces high-quality drinks, and comes at an affordable price.
The Breville Barista Pro is our pick for the best Breville espresso machine. This machine packs everything you need to start brewing espresso, including a built-in grinder. It has the latest technology making it fast to brew and simple to use. We think it offers the best combination of high-end features and usability in the Breville lineup at present.
Finally, the Breville Dual Boiler is where it’s at for the espresso enthusiast. This machine is incredibly popular in the specialty coffee community due to its fantastic value for money. It is a dual boiler machine packed with high-end features and offers a wide range of customization, perfect for the espresso expert. There is also a massive community behind it, offering mods, tips, and tricks.
You won’t regret purchasing any of these three machines.
How To Choose the Right Breville Espresso Machine
Breville currently has 11 different models in its lineup, from the basic Duo-Temp to the premium Oracle Touch. Each machine brings a different combination of features to the table. We have compiled a guide to help you determine which features you should look for.
Semi-Automatic vs Super-Automatic
The first thing to consider is whether to opt for a semi-automatic or super-automatic espresso machine. A semi-automatic machine requires more hands-on work. The user must grind, dose, tamp, pull a shot, and steam milk. While a semi-automatic espresso machine has a steeper learning curve, it is a more rewarding experience and often produces more delicious espresso.
A super-automatic espresso machine is all about convenience. Usually, the espresso machine will grind, dose, tamp, pull a shot and steam the milk for your chosen drink. The Breville machines that fall into this category are the Oracle and Oracle Touch. In this case, the user must move the portafilter from the grinder and lock it into the brew group. These machines will produce a decent drink with little skill required from the brewer. But they do cost a premium.
Built In Grinder?
The next thing to consider is whether you need an in-built grinder. There are both positives and negatives to an in-built grinder. On the positive side, you can save on both cash and counter space.
On the negative side, the grinders in the Breville espresso machines are fairly basic, with a limited grind range. While this is sufficient for beginners, you will quickly outgrow the grinder, and when the time comes to upgrade, you will need to upgrade both the machine and grinder. In addition, any issues with the grinder or machine render both worthless.
If you are serious about espresso, it is worth considering investing in a separate grinder. The quality of your espresso will never surpass the quality of your grinder. The Baratza Vario and Eureka Mignon Specialita are both excellent espresso grinders. Or see our guide to the best burr grinders for some other alternatives.
Heating System
The Breville machines utilize one of three heating systems: Thermocoil, Thermojet, or a Triple Heat System.
Thermocoil
The Thermocoil heating system is an older technology commonly found in domestic espresso machines. Water passes through the thermocoil to heat up. This heating system initially takes longer to heat up and is slower to switch between brewing and steaming. This system is found in the Breville Duo Temp, Infuser, and Barista Express.
Thermojet
The Thermojet heating system is the latest technology found in the newest models. Here the heating element only heats the water when needed as it’s being pumped to the brew head, steam wand, or hot water spout. While this allows for rapid heating, the downside is that the portafilter and group head don’t get heated up until the machine is brewing. It is recommended to run your portafilter under hot water or pull a couple of blind shots to preheat the actual machine before brewing.
On the upside, the thermojet heating system can have a machine ready to brew within 3 seconds. There is also an almost instantaneous switch between brewing and steaming, ideal for making back-on-back drinks. This heating system is found in the Bambino, Bambino Plus, Barista Pro, and Barista Touch.
Triple Heat
The triple heat system is found in dual boiler machines. This system controls the temperature of the steam boiler, brew boiler, and group head separately, each governed by an electronic PID. The triple heat system offers excellent temperature stability and produces more powerful, drier steam. This system also means you can pull a shot and steam milk simultaneously. The Breville Dual Boiler, Oracle, and Oracle Touch utilize this system.
Each system can deliver similar espresso due to the precise PID temperature control. The main differences come down to brew time. A dual boiler is the best system, ideal for producing multiple drinks, but it does cost more.
FAQs
So what does Breville bring to the table? Each espresso machine has a one-year warranty so that you can buy with confidence. Breville is also known to offer excellent customer service. They have staff on hand 24/7 who are knowledgeable and friendly to help you navigate any issues.
All of the Breville machines are well-built and durable. They feature Breville’s modern aesthetics with stainless steel casings and smooth curves. The machines also sport the latest technology like PID temperature control, pre-infusion function, and built-in grinders to produce delicious espresso.
While the Breville machines come with a 1 to 2-year warranty, you can expect a machine to last 3 to 5 years or more if you take care of them. We have personally owned two Breville machines, our current one, for over three years and never had an issue with either of them.
While the company Breville was founded in Australia, the machines are now manufactured in China… along with everything else!
