Quick Answer: Buy the Breville Barista Pro (around $900) if you want the fastest, most convenient all-in-one — its ThermoJet heater hits extraction temperature in about 3 seconds, it switches to steam almost instantly, and it adds a backlit LCD Shot Clock. Buy the Breville Barista Express (around $700) if you want to save $100-$200, because it uses the same 54mm portafilter, the same integrated conical burr grinder, and pulls espresso that tastes effectively identical. Neither machine makes better coffee than the other — the Pro simply makes it faster and with a nicer screen, so the decision comes down to whether that speed and convenience are worth the premium to you. If you’re still choosing a brand, see our overall best espresso machine rankings and our best Breville espresso machine guide.
The Breville Barista Express and Barista Pro are the two most cross-shopped machines in Breville’s all-in-one lineup, and “Barista Express vs Barista Pro” is one of the most common decisions for buyers who want one appliance that grinds, doses, brews, and steams. They share the same DNA — same portafilter, same grinder, same pump — so the differences are all about how fast and how conveniently they get you to a shot. We’ve used both to settle which one fits which buyer. (For a cheaper Breville alternative, see our Barista Express vs Bambino comparison, and for the cross-brand view our Breville vs De’Longhi breakdown.)
Barista Express vs Barista Pro at a glance
| Feature | Barista Express (BES870) | Barista Pro (BES878) |
|---|---|---|
| Price (approx.) | ~$700 | ~$900 |
| Heating system | ThermoCoil | ThermoJet (3-second heat-up) |
| Display | Analog pressure gauge | Backlit LCD Shot Clock |
| Built-in grinder | Yes — conical burr | Yes — conical burr |
| Grind settings | 25 | 30 |
| Portafilter | 54mm | 54mm |
| Pump | 15-bar Italian | 15-bar Italian |
| Steam wand | Manual, microfoam | Manual, microfoam (faster switch) |
| Water tank | 2 L (67 oz) | 2 L (67 oz) |
| Best for | Value seekers | Speed & convenience |
| Rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Barista Express vs Barista Pro by the numbers
- 3 seconds — the time Breville says the Barista Pro’s ThermoJet heating system takes to reach optimal extraction temperature. The Barista Express’s ThermoCoil takes about a minute from cold, which is the headline difference between the two.
- ~$100-$200 — the typical price gap, with the Barista Express around $700 and the Barista Pro around $900. That premium buys speed and the LCD, not a better shot.
- 54mm — the portafilter diameter on both machines, per Breville, so baskets, tampers, and accessories are cross-compatible between them.
- ~9 bars — the extraction pressure both machines target at the puck; espresso is properly extracted at about 9 bars, the figure the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) associates with correct extraction, even though both list a 15-bar pump.
- 195-205°F — the brew-water range the SCA recommends for espresso. Both machines hold it with Breville’s digital PID temperature control, so cup temperature is not a differentiator.
- 25 vs 30 — grind settings on the Express versus the Pro; the Pro’s extra steps give slightly finer control when dialing in, though both cover the espresso range comfortably.
The core difference: ThermoCoil vs ThermoJet
The single biggest distinction is the heater. The Barista Express uses Breville’s ThermoCoil system, which takes roughly a minute to heat from cold and needs a further wait to climb from brew temperature up to steam temperature. It’s perfectly good — it just makes you pause.
The Barista Pro uses the newer ThermoJet heater, which Breville says reaches extraction temperature in 3 seconds. In practice that means you walk up, the machine is ready almost immediately, and after pulling your shot it switches to steam so fast that back-to-back drinks feel effortless. If you make multiple lattes in a morning or serve guests, the ThermoJet is the feature you’ll notice every single day.
Breville Barista Pro (BES878)
- ThermoJet heater reaches extraction temperature in about 3 seconds — almost no wait.
- Backlit LCD Shot Clock shows shot time and guides grind, dose, and extraction.
- Integrated conical burr grinder with 30 settings doses straight into the 54mm portafilter.
- Fast switch from brewing to steaming for effortless back-to-back milk drinks.
Breville Barista Express (BES870)
- Same integrated conical burr grinder and 54mm portafilter as the Pro — identical espresso.
- Analog pressure gauge and dial controls; ThermoCoil heats in about a minute.
- 15-bar Italian pump that regulates toward about 9 bars at the puck.
- Manual steam wand for microfoam — the classic grind-and-brew for $100-$200 less.
Interface: analog gauge vs LCD Shot Clock
The Barista Express keeps things analog: an extraction pressure gauge on the front tells you whether your grind is in the right zone (needle in the “espresso range”), and you set grind and dose with physical dials. It’s tactile and reliable, and plenty of baristas prefer it.
The Barista Pro replaces the gauge with a backlit LCD screen — Breville’s Shot Clock — that displays shot time as it pours and walks you through grind size, dose, and extraction. For a beginner, seeing shot time on screen makes dialing in more intuitive than reading a needle. For an experienced user, it’s a nice-to-have rather than a necessity, since shot time can be timed either way.
What’s identical between them
It’s worth being clear about how much these two machines share, because it’s most of the machine:
- The same integrated conical burr grinder, dosing straight into the portafilter.
- The same 54mm portafilter and baskets, so accessories are interchangeable.
- The same 15-bar Italian pump that regulates toward about 9 bars at the puck.
- The same manual, microfoam-capable steam wand design.
- The same 2-liter water tank and 250g bean hopper.
- The same digital PID temperature control holding the SCA’s 195-205°F range.
Because of this overlap, the espresso in the cup is effectively identical. You are not upgrading the coffee when you buy the Pro — you’re upgrading the speed and the interface. If grind quality matters most to you, remember both bundle the same grinder; to go further, pair either with a dedicated espresso grinder.
Which should you buy?
Buy the Barista Pro if you make multiple drinks in a row, hate waiting, serve guests, or simply want the smoothest, most modern experience. The 3-second ThermoJet heat-up and near-instant steam switch save real time every morning, and the LCD makes dialing in more approachable. It’s the machine most people will be happiest with if the price fits.
Buy the Barista Express if you want the same great espresso for $100-$200 less, mostly make one or two drinks at a time, and don’t mind a short warm-up. It remains one of the best value all-in-one espresso machines you can buy, and choosing it over the Pro costs you convenience, not coffee quality.
Whichever you pick, keep it running well with a regular descaling routine, and if you later want to step up, our best espresso machine under $1000 guide covers where to go next.
The verdict
The Barista Pro and Barista Express are the same espresso machine at heart, separated by a heater and a screen. The Barista Pro wins on speed and convenience thanks to its 3-second ThermoJet heat-up, faster steaming, and LCD Shot Clock, and it’s the machine most buyers will enjoy most. The Barista Express wins on value, delivering an effectively identical shot for meaningfully less money. Decide how much that daily convenience is worth to you — the coffee will be excellent either way.