For anyone looking to invest in a semi-automatic espresso machine, Breville’s products must be on your radar.
Breville espresso makers are the choice for many coffee lovers. In this article, I’ll take a detailed overview of its big brother, the Breville Barista Pro.
I’ve had the Breville Barista Pro for two years now and I’m really happy with it. I believe it’s perfect for home brewing, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced barista. This machine offers almost everything you need to make great coffee drinks at home.
Take a quick look at this short video I made. It shows you how to brew an Americano with the Barista Pro.
Being a successor and upgrade option to the popular Barista Express, naturally that I’ll make some comparisons between these two models in this review. So you’ll know whether to opt for the Barista Express BES870 or the Pro BES878.
Breville Barista Pro Review – A Detailed Hands-on Review
Aesthetics
The Breville Barista Pro is a classy-looking addition to Breville’s range of espresso machines. When you remove the packaging, you’re likely to be seriously impressed by what you see.
The aesthetic design was undoubtedly the first thing that caught my attention. I have tested many home espresso machines, the Barista Pro stands out as possibly the most visually appealing.
I chose the “black truffle” model, it’s simply gorgeous. Take a close look and you can even see a delicate metallic flake in the design. Also, there are a few other color options, which are also stunning.
The impressive finish, coupled with an angular look and easy-on-the-eye curved, glossy high plate, gives this espresso machine a contemporary appearance that is likely to stand the test of time.
What’s more, when you turn the machine on, the blue backlit LCD screen looks even more premium.
Accessories In The Box:
When you unbox the Breville Barista Pro, several accessories will greet you, namely:
- Single and dual wall filter baskets (one and two cups)
- A 54mm portafilter
- The Razor™ Precision Dose Trimming Tool
- Stainless Steel Milk Jug (480ml)
- Water filter
- Cleaning kit
Among those accessories, I’d like to take a little more about the filter baskets.
Four Filter Baskets – With Newbies And Professionals In Mind
The Barista Express has four filter baskets, and the Barista Pro is no different. These consist of a single and double non-pressurized and pressurized filter (these are often referred to as single and double wall filters).
If you’re inexperienced with espresso making, the pressurized baskets are the best place to start. Trust me, finding the right grind size is not easy for beginners. This basket leaves more room for error, meaning there’s no need to dial in for the perfect espresso grinds.
Once you’ve become used to the espresso machine, it’ll be worth giving the non-pressurized filter a try for a better-quality espresso. However, this will necessitate a more precise measurement of coffee grounds and grind size, as well as a more nuanced tamping technique.
However, once you’re confident you have the necessary skill level, your ability to pull great espresso shots time after time will be enhanced with the Barista Pro’s non-pressurized basket. You can even purchase an extra bottomless portafilter for easier diagnosing the espresso extraction. Many compatible options are available for Breville Barista machines since they are so popular.
If you’d like to find out more about the best ways to dial in with the Barista Pro, as well as a range of other espresso machines, take a look at this step-by-step guide – How to Make Espresso At Home.
Build Design And Comparison With Barista Express
A major plus of the Breville Barista Pro is its built-in grinder. The integrated conical burr grinder can save you a good amount of money compared to purchasing a standalone espresso grinder.
Moreover, the large, two-liter detachable water tank at the back of the machine includes a low-water sensor—a feature missing from the Barista Express.
The LCD screen is found at the front of the machine and is operated by a pressable and rotating knob with a more high-end appearance than the Barista Express. However, some users may miss the pressure gauge.
Furthermore, the four-hole steam wand of the Barista Pro is more effective than the Barista Express’s wand, which only has one hole.
The water outlet is also beneficial for either getting hot water quickly to make tea or making Americano. The hot water spout is pointing in the cup direction, so you don’t even need to move the cup after pulling a shot. While the hot water outlet in Barista Express is placed on the right side of the portafilter.
There are several features you’ll find on the Barista Pro that are also included in Breville’s other espresso machines. These include a magnetic tamper holder, a drip tray complete with space for storage behind it, and a single 54ml group head.
Put together, you’ll find almost everything you’ll ever need from an espresso maker within the Barista Pro’s price range.
Design Difference – Breville Barista Pro vs Express
Design | Barista Pro | Barista Express |
---|---|---|
Control panel | LCD digital display panel | Button and pressure gauge |
Grind settings | 30 steps | 18 steps |
Low water sensor | Yes | No |
Steam wand | 4 holes | 1 hole |
Built-In Burr Grinder
One of the most critical aspects of espresso making is the coffee grinding. Housed on top of the Barista Pro espresso machine is a conical burr grinder boasting 30 different settings. This is another feature of the Barista Pro that leaves the Barista Express trailing, as the former machine only has 18 grind steps. With the Breville Barista Pro, then, you can dial in your espresso shots more accurately and efficiently.
Dailing-in Tips: When I try a new coffee, I start from setting 15 and adjust from there. If the grinds are still too coarse for setting 1, you can further adjust the inner burr to make it even finer.
The dose control grinding feature makes it possible to alter your dosing in increments of half a second. Meanwhile, another nice touch is the readout of the time (dependent on dose size) on the LCD interface.
However, I rarely use this feature. Instead, I prefer to weigh the beans and grind a single dose each time. This way, I can try different beans without having to empty the hopper, and it’s more accurate.
Grind settings: Breville Barista Pro vs Express
The bottom line is that the Barista Express lacks in the grind steps compared against the Barista Pro (18 instead of 30). Because of the Barista Pro’s more comprehensive range, there will be fewer times when the shot flavor you’re looking for is somewhere between two grind settings.
Performance And Efficiency
Rapid Heat-Up Time
Where it comes to performance and efficiency, the Breville Barista Pro stands out in its price range, thanks to Breville’s ThermoJet heating system.
It reaches its perfect operating temperature in just three seconds. This not only speeds up your morning drink but also gives you hot water fast for things like tea, saving you from waiting for a kettle to boil.
The previous model, the Barista Express, uses a cylinder coil and takes about 30 seconds to heat up.
Brewing Tips: While it’s true that the Breville Barista Pro heats up very rapidly, I prefer to preheat the portafilter before brewing coffee. I simply run a few blank shots and wipe the filter basket before grinding.
Rapid Transition Between Brewing And Steaming
Every single-boiler espresso machine needs some time to transition from extracting coffee and steaming the milk, as these devices cannot do both simultaneously. Because of the aforementioned ThermoJet heating system, there is no doubt the Breville Barista Pro is among the quickest single boiler devices concerning transitioning quickly from brewing to steaming.
Breville Barista Pro takes only 8-10 seconds to start steaming right after brewing, while the Barista Express needs about 26 seconds to see the steam coming out of the steam wand.
PID And Pre-Infusion For Maximum Extraction
The Breville Barista Pro is equipped with Digital Temperature Control (PID) which produces water at the perfect extraction temperature.
At the beginning of the process, pre-infusion uses low water pressure that gradually builds up. This reduces the chance of channeling and ensures a balanced-flavored espresso by evenly extracting the flavors.
If you do everything correctly, this machine can produce classical espresso. Barista Express features the same PID control and pump, meaning both machines can make a great shot of espresso.
Additional Brew Settings
The Barista Pro has five settings for altering the brewing temperature. This gives greater scope for honing the extraction to your particular taste and coffee preferences.
The temperature menu is right on the screen. It’s much more straightforward than the Express, which requires many more steps to adjust the water temperature in the hidden advanced setting.
However, I do hope Breville can show the exact temperature on the screen of each setting instead of a bar without value.
Performance: Barista Pro vs Express
Design | Barista Pro | Barista Express |
---|---|---|
Heating system | Thermojet | Cylinder coil |
Heat-Up Tim | 3 seconds | 30 seconds |
Brewing to Steaming Transition | 8 seconds | 26 seconds |
Milk Steaming And Frothing
The Breville Barista Pro stands head and shoulders above older models in two ways: steaming milk and making lattes. The most significant advantage offered by the ThermoJet isn’t the heat-up time in 3 seconds but the incredible strides made in speeds of steam transition and steaming power.
For these reasons, if you’re looking for an espresso machine primarily for brewing drinks using milk, the Barista Pro will be an excellent choice.
It’s great if you need to make several coffees one after the other, too, as just as there’s time needed between brewing and steaming, it also needs time to move the other way – from steaming back to a brewing temperature.
Once again, the Barista Pro excels thanks to the innovative ThermoJet heating system. While the Barista Express has to rely on covering its heating coil in cool water to bring the temperature back down, the Barista Pro completes the job far more efficiently.
Greater steaming power also means the Barista Pro can accommodate a four-hole steaming wand for more straightforward milk foam texturing. This is particularly helpful if you’re more used to working with commercial-level machines. The Barista Pro takes about 45 seconds to steam the milk to 140 F (60 C), while Barista Express needs 60 seconds.
Milk Steaming – Barista Pro vs Express
Design | Barista Pro | Barista Express |
---|---|---|
Steam wand | 4 holes | 1 hole |
Steaming speed (Reach 140 F) | 45 seconds | 60 seconds |
Value For Money
It’s common knowledge that espresso machines are not usually cheap, and the Breville Barista Pro espresso machine is in the middle-of-the-range price bracket. However, it is one of the best models around considering its broad range of functions.
You can buy a basic super-automatic espresso machine for a similar price, but you won’t have the same control as the Barista Pro offers, and you will find it more challenging to use. For its cost, then, you won’t find many alternatives that look as good and have the same number of features.
Cost – Breville Barista Pro vs Express
While the Barista Pro is more expensive than the Barista Express, both can make excellent lattes and espresso once you’ve learned how each works. However, I suggest the Barista Pro, which has more up-to-date tech.
However, if you are already using Barista Express and it still serves you well, I don’t think it’s necessary to upgrade to Barista Pro.
How to Make Espresso with Breville Barista Pro?
Since this Barista Pro espresso machine is designed for home use, it’s relatively easy to use compared with those commercial-grade machines. If you are using the coffee machine for the first time, you’ll need to pull a few shots to dial in. Once you find your sweet spot, you can get barista-quality coffee every time.
Here is a short video showing you how we make espresso with the Breville Barista Pro from beans to cup.
Step by step instructions:
1. Preheat the machine and portafilter
Turn the espresso machine on. Lock the portafilter in the brew head, then pull a few blank shots with only water to preheat the machine and portafilter.
2. Measure your coffee beans
Use a scale to measure the amount of coffee you use. 18 grams for a double shot (Using the double wall filter basket) is a good starting point. Fill the beans to the bean hopper on the top.
Tips: Using a scale is much easier to control. I don’t use the timer on the built-in burr grinder since it’s not easy to find the precise dosing for the first time. You can set the timer later once you can pull consistent shots.
3. Grind the beans
There are 30 steps of the grind settings on Barista Pro. 15 is the default setting, which is good to start with.
Place the portafilter in the grinding cradle and push it forward, the grinding will begin. Grind all the beans you weigh into your portafilter.
Tips: I recommend a dosing cup or dosing funnel, which helps you dose more precisely and make less mess on the table. Grinding 18 grams into the double-wall filter, you’ll get a small hill and need to level them. The grounds on top will roll off the basket resulting in less dosage and a messy table.
4. Distribute the coffee grounds
After grinding the beans into your portafilter, tap it several times to distribute the ground coffee more evenly and get rid of the air gaps. You can use your finger to swipe the grounds to level the surface.
Tips: Consider getting a leveler or distributor, which helps you make a flatter surface and distribute the coffee grounds more evenly and easier.
5. Tamp the coffee
Take the tamper, tamp down firmly with certain pressure. How do you know how hard you should tamp? Check the edge of the cap on the tamper. The line should be level with the top of the filter basket.
Tips: Consistent tamping is important for a good-tasting cup of espresso. It requires some practice. To make tamping easier, you can invest in a calibrated tamper or a palm tamper that you can set the height. So you can get consistent tamping every time.
6. Pull a shot
Lock the portafilter to the group head. Press the double shot button to start extraction. It will use the preset program to pull a double shot, which extra about 60ml of liquid in your cup.
Tips: I prefer weighing the yield which is more straightforward for dialing in. Most people agree that a traditional espresso’s ratio is about 1:2, meaning 18 grams of coffee you’ll get 36 grams of espresso. If you have a scale, put a cup on the scale, place them right beneath the portafilter, and weigh the yield.
7. Adjust and repeat
Check the timer on the screen. We aim to get 36 grams of espresso within 30-35 seconds to get a drinkable espresso, including the default pre-infusion time. If the extraction time is shorter than 30, adjust the grind finer, for example, change the setting from 15 to 14. If the time is longer than 35, grind coarser, try grind setting 16. Repeat a few shots until you get into that time range.
Tips: Getting into the time range is not the final goal. You may still want a tweak to the coffee taste. If you can’t fine-tune the grind size or extraction anymore, try to adjust the temperature control.
8. Steam the milk
You can enjoy the espresso, or rotate the steam dial knob on the right to add hot water to make Americano.
If you want to steam milk and make latte, cappuccino, or any other milk-based espresso drinks. Turn the steaming on. In about 8 seconds, you’ll see the steams coming out from the steam wand, meaning Barista Pro is ready to steam.
Fill the milk jug with cold milk, position the steam wand at 2-3 o’clock of the milk surface, insert it 1 cm below the surface. Turn the steam dial on, the milk will spin clockwise. Lower the jug a bit to bring the tip to the milk surface. Keep the vortex until the pitcher is too hot to touch.
Turn the steam off, wipe the steaming wand with a clean cloth and turn it on again to purge the residue out.
Now you can pull the milk to the espresso and make latte art or other milk drinks.
Overall, the Breville Barista Pro is very easy to use and friendly to beginners. Even though, like most semi-automatic espresso machines, there’s a learning curve for making the perfect espresso.
Any Alternatives?
If you have a decent espresso grinder:
Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine is a great choice. It features a commercial-grade 58mm portafilter with great brewing performance and stronger steaming power. We reviewed the latest model of Rancilio Silvia, check it out for more information.
If you are not confident about your brewing skills:
De’Longhi La Specialista is also a grind and brew espresso machine like the Breville Barista Pro but it’s built with beginners in mind. It offers more assistance in grinding, tamping, and brewing. You’ll have more consistent espresso quality but less control over the brewing process. Read our De’Longhi La Specialista Espresso Machine review.
Conclusion
For espresso lover who wants to make barista-quality espresso at home, the Breville Barista Pro is a great choice no matter how experienced you are. With this great machine, you don’t need to get your morning coffee from the coffee shop anymore.
If you’re in the market for a contemporary machine that looks beautiful in your kitchen or want a device that brews espresso and steams milk effectively, the Barista Pro should be your first choice.