Head to head
Breville Barista Express vs Barista Pro
Barista Express vs Barista Pro head-to-head: ThermoJet speed, 30 vs 16 grind settings, LCD vs gauge, and whether the upgrade is worth it.
Breville Barista Express BES870XL
The machine that defined home espresso: grinder, gauge, and steam wand in one box.
- Pump: 15-bar Italian pump
- Grinder: Integrated conical burr, 16 settings
Sources: Breville official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
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Breville Barista Pro BES878
The Express with ThermoJet speed, a finer grinder, and an LCD shot timer.
- Heat-up: ThermoJet, 3 seconds
- Grinder: Integrated conical burr, 30 settings
Sources: Breville official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
Check current priceBreville Barista Express BES870XL
What owners report
- Owners praise the integrated conical burr grinder with 16 settings for removing a separate grinder purchase
- Many owners say low-pressure pre-infusion followed by 9-bar extraction makes shots even and forgiving
- Owners like the 67 oz tank, which keeps brewing going for days between refills
- Some owners find the thermocoil heat-up slower than the ThermoJet models
- Owners note the manual steam wand takes practice before it produces real microfoam
- A common complaint is that the 16 grind settings step more coarsely than the 30 on the Pro and Touch
Breville Barista Pro BES878
What owners report
- Owners praise ThermoJet heating for reaching brewing temperature in 3 seconds
- Many owners say the 30 grind settings allow finer dial-in than the Express
- Owners like the LCD showing grind size, a shot timer, and extraction progress
- Some owners feel shot quality in the cup is close to the Express, so the upgrade is mostly about speed
- Owners note the manual steam wand still needs technique for latte art quality foam
- A common complaint is paying more than the Express without the brewing fundamentals changing
Our recommendation
Buy the Barista Express if you brew at an unhurried pace and want the lowest complete-setup price. Buy the Barista Pro if 3-second heat-up, finer grind steps, and a shot timer will change your mornings. The full verdicts are in our Barista Express review and Barista Pro review; both sit in the best Breville ranking.
Heat-up speed
The Pro's ThermoJet reaches brewing temperature in 3 seconds; the Express's thermocoil needs minutes plus a pause when switching to steam. Over a year of rushed mornings, this is the difference you feel most.
Grinder resolution
Thirty grind settings on the Pro versus 16 on the Express. The finer steps matter most with medium and light roasts, where one click on the Express can overshoot the target and there is no setting in between.
Shot feedback
The Pro's LCD shows a live shot timer and extraction progress; the Express has an analog pressure gauge showing the extraction zone. Both help, but the timer teaches repeatability faster because you can log 27 seconds today and repeat it tomorrow.
Milk and price
Both use manual steam wands, so neither automates milk; the Pro just recovers steam faster between drinks. The Express costs less as the entry to the same core shot quality, which makes it the value pick when speed is not the priority.
Choose Breville Barista Express BES870XL if…
- You brew one or two drinks at a relaxed pace and heat-up time does not matter
- You want the lowest total price for a complete grinder-plus-machine setup
- You are happy learning with an analog gauge rather than a digital timer
Choose Breville Barista Pro BES878 if…
- Your mornings are rushed and 3-second heat-up changes the routine
- You brew light or medium roasts that need fine grind adjustments
- You want a shot timer to dial in and repeat recipes
Questions, answered
Do they taste different?
Marginally. Both use low-pressure pre-infusion and 9-bar extraction with 54mm portafilters. The Pro's finer grind steps can produce a slightly better-dialed shot with tricky beans, but the gap is small next to the speed difference.
Which is better for lattes?
Both need manual steaming skill. The Pro's faster steam recovery shortens back-to-back milk drinks, but neither will texture milk for you; that needs the Barista Touch.
Can I upgrade from an Express to a Pro later?
Yes, and accessories transfer: both use 54mm portafilters. Many owners sell the Express after a year or two once they know they want the speed.
Which lasts longer?
Both are built on the same Barista platform with similar service lives under descaling maintenance. Longevity depends more on water quality and care than on the model.