For buyers choosing between heating-system designs
Breville Dual Boiler vs ThermoJet: Heating Systems Compared
Dual boiler vs ThermoJet vs thermocoil: how Breville's heating systems differ for brewing and steaming, and which one your routine actually needs.
The short answer
Choose a dual boiler (BES920 or Oracle Touch) for back-to-back milk drinks and maximum control. Choose ThermoJet (Pro, Touch, Bambino) for near-instant heat-up in a compact box. The older thermocoil (Express, Infuser) is slower but delivers the same shot quality for less.
Top picks at a glance
The picks, ranked
| Product | Boilers | Portafilter | Temperature | Pressure | Water tank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Dual Boiler BES920 | Dual stainless steel boilers | 58 mm commercial | PID control, adjustable pre-infusion | Over-pressure valve (OPV) | 84 oz |
| Breville Oracle Touch | Dual stainless steel boilers | 58 mm commercial | - | - | 84 oz |
| Breville Barista Pro BES878 | - | 54 mm | - | - | 67 oz (2 L) |
| Breville Barista Express BES870XL | - | 54 mm | - | - | 67 oz (2 L) |
| Breville Infuser BES840 | - | 54 mm | Adjustable temperature control | - | 61 oz |
Swipe sideways to compare all picks
01Best dual boiler
Breville Dual Boiler BES920
Enthusiast hardware: dual boilers, PID, and 58mm, without the Oracle's automation.
- Boilers: Dual stainless steel boilers
- Portafilter: 58 mm commercial
- Temperature: PID control, adjustable pre-infusion
Dedicated espresso and steam boilers let you brew and steam simultaneously, with PID temperature control, adjustable pre-infusion, and an over-pressure valve. This is the system for back-to-back milk drinks and roast-level dial-in.
Strengths
- Dedicated espresso and steam boilers for simultaneous brewing and steaming
- PID temperature control with adjustable pre-infusion
- Over-pressure valve lets you cap maximum brew pressure
- 58mm commercial portafilter with 84 oz tank
Limitations
- No grinder, and it demands a good one
- Large, heavy machine for a home counter
- Manual everything: the learning curve is real
| Boilers | Dual stainless steel boilers |
|---|---|
| Portafilter | 58 mm commercial |
| Temperature | PID control, adjustable pre-infusion |
| Pressure | Over-pressure valve (OPV) |
| Water tank | 84 oz |
Sources: Breville official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
What owners report
- Owners praise the dedicated espresso and steam boilers for simultaneous brewing and steaming
- Many owners like the PID temperature control with adjustable pre-infusion
- Owners say the over-pressure valve lets them cap maximum brew pressure
- Some owners stress that it has no grinder and demands a good one
- Owners note it is a large, heavy machine for a home counter
- A common complaint is the real learning curve, since everything is manual
Best for: Hobbyists who want to control pre-infusion, temperature, and pressure.
Skip if: You want one-touch drinks; every shot here is manual.
02Best automated dual boiler
Breville Oracle Touch
Fully automatic grinding, tamping, and milk on a dual-boiler, 58mm platform.
- Automation: Auto grind, dose, tamp, and milk texturing
- Boilers: Dual stainless steel boilers
- Portafilter: 58 mm commercial
The Oracle Touch pairs dual stainless steel boilers with automatic grinding, tamping, and microfoam. Same simultaneous brew-and-steam capability as the BES920, minus every manual step.
Strengths
- Automatic grinding, dosing, and tamping, plus automatic microfoam
- Dual stainless steel boilers: brew and steam simultaneously
- 58mm commercial-size portafilter
- Touchscreen with 5 pre-programmed cafe drinks
Limitations
- Flagship price, far above any Barista model
- Large countertop footprint for the dual boilers
- Automation limits the manual control enthusiasts want
| Automation | Auto grind, dose, tamp, and milk texturing |
|---|---|
| Boilers | Dual stainless steel boilers |
| Portafilter | 58 mm commercial |
| Water tank | 84 oz |
| Interface | Touchscreen, 5 pre-programmed drinks |
Sources: Breville official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
What owners report
- Owners praise the automatic grinding, dosing, and tamping paired with automatic microfoam
- Many owners like the dual stainless steel boilers for brewing and steaming simultaneously
- Owners say the 58mm commercial-size portafilter feels like proper cafe hardware
- Some owners balk at a flagship price far above any Barista model
- Owners note the large countertop footprint the dual boilers require
- A common complaint is that the automation limits the manual control enthusiasts want
Best for: Households that want cafe drinks at one touch with genuine dual-boiler hardware underneath.
Skip if: You want to control every variable; the automation is the point and the price.
03Best ThermoJet all-rounder
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
- Display: LCD with shot timer
ThermoJet hits brewing temperature in 3 seconds and recovers fast between brewing and steaming. For one or two milk drinks at a time, it behaves like a dual boiler in practice at a fraction of the price and size.
Strengths
- ThermoJet heating reaches brewing temperature in 3 seconds
- 30 grind settings allow finer dial-in than the Express
- LCD shows grind size, shot timer, and extraction progress
- 67 oz tank and 54mm portafilter match the rest of the Barista line
Limitations
- Shot quality in the cup is close to the Express, so the upgrade is mostly speed
- Manual steam wand still needs technique for latte art quality foam
- Costs more than the Express without changing the brewing fundamentals
| Heat-up | ThermoJet, 3 seconds |
|---|---|
| Grinder | Integrated conical burr, 30 settings |
| Display | LCD with shot timer |
| Water tank | 67 oz (2 L) |
| Portafilter | 54 mm |
Sources: Breville official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
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
Best for: Morning-rush drinkers who want the Express formula with a 3-second heat-up.
Skip if: You want automatic milk texturing; the steam wand here is still manual.
04Best thermocoil value
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
- Water tank: 67 oz (2 L)
The Express's thermocoil is slower to heat and needs a pause between brewing and steaming, but the 16-setting grinder and pre-infusion extraction deliver the same core shot quality for less money.
Strengths
- Integrated conical burr grinder with 16 settings removes the separate grinder purchase
- Low-pressure pre-infusion followed by 9-bar extraction for even, forgiving shots
- Analog pressure gauge shows the extraction zone while the shot pulls
- 67 oz water tank brews for days between refills
Limitations
- Thermocoil heat-up is slower than the ThermoJet models
- Manual steam wand takes practice to produce real microfoam
- 16 grind settings have coarser steps than the Pro and Touch with 30
| Pump | 15-bar Italian pump |
|---|---|
| Grinder | Integrated conical burr, 16 settings |
| Water tank | 67 oz (2 L) |
| Portafilter | 54 mm |
| Extraction | Low-pressure pre-infusion, 9-bar extraction |
Sources: Breville official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
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
Best for: Beginners who want an all-in-one machine and are willing to learn manual milk steaming.
Skip if: You want the fastest heat-up or push-button milk; the Pro and Touch do those better.
05Best thermocoil for learners
Breville Infuser BES840
The Barista Express minus the grinder, with adjustable temperature control.
- Pump: 15-bar Italian pump
- Extraction: Low-pressure pre-infusion
- Temperature: Adjustable temperature control
Same thermocoil trade-offs as the Express with adjustable temperature control added. The right pick when you own a grinder and want roast-level control without paying for speed you do not need.
Strengths
- Adjustable temperature control for dialing in light vs dark roasts
- Low-pressure pre-infusion for even extraction, like the Express
- 61 oz water tank and 54mm portafilter
- Manual microfoam steam wand for real latte art practice
Limitations
- No grinder, so it only makes sense if you already own one
- Thermocoil heat-up lags the ThermoJet Bambino models
- Older interface without the Pro's LCD shot timer
| Pump | 15-bar Italian pump |
|---|---|
| Extraction | Low-pressure pre-infusion |
| Temperature | Adjustable temperature control |
| Water tank | 61 oz |
| Portafilter | 54 mm |
Sources: Breville official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published coffee gear reviews
What owners report
- Owners praise the adjustable temperature control for dialing in light versus dark roasts
- Many owners like the low-pressure pre-infusion for even extraction, like the Express
- Owners say the manual microfoam steam wand gives real latte art practice
- Some owners find it only makes sense if a grinder is already owned, since none is built in
- Owners note the thermocoil heat-up lags the ThermoJet Bambino models
- A common complaint is the older interface lacking the LCD shot timer the Pro offers
Best for: Learners who own a grinder and want temperature control at a moderate price.
Skip if: You need a built-in grinder; the Express is the same platform with one.
Questions, answered
What is the practical difference between dual boiler and ThermoJet?
A dual boiler keeps brew water and steam water at temperature simultaneously, so you can pull a shot and steam milk at the same time with no recovery wait. ThermoJet heats on demand in 3 seconds and switches between brewing and steaming quickly, but cannot truly do both at once.
Do I need a dual boiler for two lattes a morning?
No. ThermoJet machines like the Barista Pro handle two sequential milk drinks with only brief pauses. Dual boilers pay off at four-plus drinks in a row or when entertaining, where the wait compounds.
Is thermocoil outdated?
Not for the cup. The Barista Express's thermocoil extracts with the same low-pressure pre-infusion as newer models; it is simply slower to heat and slower to switch to steam. If your routine is unhurried, the savings are real.
Which system is easiest to maintain?
ThermoJet and thermocoil machines descale through a guided cycle and have fewer parts to service. Dual boilers have more hardware and benefit from stricter water quality, but Breville's descale alerts keep maintenance on schedule.