Breville Barista Express vs Breville Barista Pro
The Barista Express and Barista Pro share a chassis size and basket diameter, but the Pro replaces the older thermocoil with a Thermojet and adds a color LCD. Worth the $200 premium?
Quick verdict
Breville Barista Express
Best for: first serious machine, users who want one box, not two, latte
Breville Barista Pro
Best for: users upgrading from Barista Express, morning workflows that need <1 minute total time, latte
Key differences
Specs where the two products diverge. Full spec list is below.
| Spec | Breville Barista Express | Breville Barista Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price (USD) | $699 | $849 |
| Boiler Type | Single thermocoil | Thermojet |
| Display | — | LCD |
| Preinfusion | Yes | — |
| Warm Up Seconds | 60 | 3 |
Show full specs (8 shared specs)
| Spec | Breville Barista Express | Breville Barista Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Bar Pressure | 15 | 15 |
| Brand | Breville | Breville |
| Built In Grinder | Yes | Yes |
| Grinder Type | Conical burr stainless | Conical burr stainless |
| Group Head | 54mm | 54mm |
| Pid | Yes | Yes |
| Price tier | premium | premium |
| Water Tank L | 2 | 2 |
Breville Barista Express
Pros
- Built-in conical burr grinder eliminates a second appliance on the counter
- PID temperature control and low-pressure preinfusion
- Single machine learning curve — grind, dose, tamp, brew all in one workflow
- Hot water spout and articulating steam wand cover most drink types
Cons
- Built-in grinder has limited adjustment range vs a standalone burr grinder
- 54mm portafilter narrows aftermarket choices
- Single thermocoil means brew and steam happen sequentially, not in parallel
Breville Barista Pro
Pros
- Thermojet 3-second warm-up, much faster than the Barista Express thermocoil
- Built-in conical burr grinder dispenses directly into the portafilter
- LCD display shows progress, grind size, and shot timer
- Brew and steam available in quick succession without long pauses
Cons
- 54mm portafilter limits aftermarket basket selection
- Built-in grinder steps still feel coarse for light roasts
- Premium price overlaps with separate machine+grinder builds that may extract better
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Breville Barista Express better than the Breville Barista Pro?
Neither is universally better — they target different users. The Breville Barista Express is best for first serious machine and users who want one box, not two. The Breville Barista Pro is best for users upgrading from Barista Express and morning workflows that need <1 minute total time.
What's the price difference?
The Breville Barista Express retails around $699; the Breville Barista Pro around $849. Price difference: $150.
Which one is better for milk drinks?
Look at the steam-related features in the spec table. Tags help too — products with 'milk-drinks' or 'dual-boiler' tags handle milk better. Breville Barista Express tags: all-in-one, beginner-friendly, milk-drinks, kitchen-saver. Breville Barista Pro tags: all-in-one, fast-warmup, milk-drinks, feature-rich.