Breville Barista Pro vs Touch – Which Should You Buy?
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Choosing the right espresso machine depends on your lifestyle, how hands-on you want to be, and your budget. The Breville Barista Pro is designed for coffee lovers who enjoy a more manual approach and want precise control over every shot. The Breville Barista Touch caters to users who prefer convenience, offering an intuitive touchscreen and automatic milk frothing for a café-like experience at home. This article will walk you through the key differences between these two machines to help you make a confident decision.
Side by Side Comparison
| Feature | Breville Barista Pro | Breville Barista Touch |
|---|---|---|
| Display | LCD with button navigation | Full-color touchscreen with icons |
| Heat-Up Time | 3-second ThermoJet system | 3-second ThermoJet system |
| Interface | Manual controls with dials | Guided touchscreen menus |
| Grind Settings | 30 precision grind settings | 30 precision grind settings |
| Milk Frothing | Manual steam wand | Automatic milk frothing with texture adjustment |
| Pre-Programmed Drinks | Customizable but manual | 5 pre-programmed drinks with customizable profiles |
| Learning Curve | Slightly higher, ideal for enthusiasts | Easier for beginners and casual users |
Detailed Feature Comparisons
Design and Construction: The Barista Pro features a simple LCD display with physical buttons and a more utilitarian design, making it appealing to those who like tactile control. The Barista Touch offers a sleeker, modern appearance with its touchscreen interface and slightly more polished look, ideal for a kitchen centerpiece.
Ease of Use: The Barista Touch wins for simplicity with its guided on-screen menus and drink presets, making it easy for beginners to brew café-style drinks. The Barista Pro requires users to adjust grind size, shot volume, and steaming manually, which appeals to those who enjoy learning barista skills.
Display and Interface: The Pro uses a monochrome LCD screen that displays grind size, shot timer, and system alerts. The Touch’s full-color screen allows you to swipe through drink options, adjust settings visually, and even save personalized profiles.
Milk Frothing: The Barista Pro’s manual steam wand gives full control over milk texture, perfect for latte art practice. The Barista Touch automates frothing and allows you to select temperature and texture levels, delivering consistent results without much skill required.
Performance and Speed: Both machines use Breville’s ThermoJet system, reaching optimal temperature in 3 seconds. The Barista Pro relies on your technique for consistent results, while the Touch maintains consistency with automation, making it slightly more reliable for multiple drinks back-to-back.
Customization: The Pro allows for grind size and shot adjustments but relies on manual input for recipes. The Touch can store up to 8 custom drink profiles, letting each user save their favorite recipe for one-touch brewing.
Maintenance: Both models have similar cleaning cycles and alerts, but the Barista Touch gives visual step-by-step cleaning prompts on its display, making it easier for new users to follow.
FAQ
Which machine is better for beginners?
The Breville Barista Touch is better for beginners because it offers guided menus, automatic milk frothing, and pre-programmed drink settings that make the learning process simple.
Do both machines have the same heat-up time?
Yes, both the Barista Pro and Barista Touch use Breville’s ThermoJet system, which heats up in about three seconds for fast brewing.
Can I make latte art with the Barista Touch?
Yes, but the automatic frothing is less flexible than manual steaming. For full control and microfoam suitable for latte art, the Barista Pro is a better choice.
Is the grind size adjustable on both machines?
Yes, both machines have 30 grind settings with an integrated conical burr grinder for precise control over coffee extraction.
Do they require the same maintenance?
Yes, both require regular cleaning and descaling, but the Barista Touch makes it easier by providing on-screen cleaning guides.
Which machine is faster for making multiple drinks?
The Barista Touch is slightly faster because of its automation and the ability to save drink profiles, reducing setup time between drinks.
Can I customize drinks on the Barista Pro?
Yes, but customization is manual. You can adjust grind size, dose, and extraction time, but there are no digital profiles to save your preferences.
Is the Barista Touch worth the extra cost?
If you value convenience, automation, and easy operation, the Barista Touch is worth the investment. If you enjoy the process and want to save money, the Barista Pro is a great choice.
Do either of these machines connect to Wi-Fi or an app?
No, neither the Barista Pro nor the Barista Touch has Wi-Fi or app connectivity.
Which machine is quieter?
Both produce similar noise levels during grinding and steaming, though the Barista Touch’s automation may seem slightly quieter since it reduces manual intervention.