Quick Answer: The Breville Barista Pro (BES878) is Breville’s mid-tier all-in-one espresso machine, priced around $849.95 on sale ($999 list, per Breville), and its headline feature is a ThermoJet heater that reaches extraction temperature in about 3 seconds — versus roughly a minute for the cheaper Barista Express’s ThermoCoil. It shares the same 54 mm portafilter, integrated conical burr grinder and 15-bar pump as the Express, so the coffee in the cup is effectively identical; what you’re paying extra for is speed, a faster brew-to-steam switch, and a backlit LCD Shot Clock. It’s the right pick if you make several drinks back-to-back or simply don’t want to wait — if you’re on a tighter budget, the Barista Express delivers the same shot for $150-$300 less.
Breville’s Barista lineup can be confusing because so many models share the same core brewing hardware. The Barista Pro sits squarely in the middle: same grinder and portafilter as the entry-level Express, but with the faster ThermoJet heating system that first appeared on the smaller Bambino. Below is our full take on what that upgrade actually buys you, and how it stacks up against the rest of Breville’s range. (Cross-shopping the whole lineup? See our best Breville espresso machine guide.)
Breville Barista Pro, by the numbers
| Spec | Breville Barista Pro (BES878) |
|---|---|
| Price | ~$849.95 sale ($999 list, per Breville) |
| Portafilter | 54 mm (per Breville) |
| Grinder | Integrated stainless conical burr, 30 grind settings |
| Bean hopper | 1/2 lb (250 g) |
| Pump | 15-bar Italian pump with low-pressure pre-infusion |
| Heating | 1680 W ThermoJet, ~3-second heat-up, digital PID |
| Water tank | 2 L (67 oz), removable |
| Display | Backlit LCD Shot Clock |
| Steam wand | Manual, 4-hole steam tip, 360° swivel |
The number that defines this machine is 3 seconds — Breville’s stated heat-up time for the ThermoJet system, a dramatic drop from the roughly one-minute warm-up on ThermoCoil machines like the Barista Express. Espresso itself still runs at roughly 9 bars of brewing pressure (per the SCA), and the Pro’s 15-bar pump with low-pressure pre-infusion delivers that the same way the Express does — the pressure profile hasn’t changed, only how fast the machine gets ready to use it. The 1680-watt ThermoJet (per Breville) pairs with digital PID control to hold temperature in the SCA’s 195-205°F range shot after shot, so speed doesn’t come at the cost of consistency.
The Barista Pro, tested
Breville Barista Pro (BES878)
- ThermoJet heater reaches extraction temperature in about 3 seconds, versus roughly a minute on ThermoCoil models.
- Same 54 mm portafilter, integrated grinder and 15-bar pump as the Barista Express — the coffee tastes the same.
- Backlit LCD Shot Clock times your extraction automatically, useful for dialing in.
- 30 grind settings, up from 16 on the Express, for finer dial-in control.
- Still a single boiler — brew first, then a quick switch to steam.
Once you’ve picked a machine, getting your hands on it doesn’t have to mean waiting around — Amazon Fresh can restock your beans and milk on the same two-day delivery window your new espresso machine arrives on. In testing, the ThermoJet heat-up is the feature that changes the daily routine the most: where the Express asks you to wait a minute before your first shot, the Pro is ready almost as soon as you flip it on, and it reheats between brewing and steaming fast enough that back-to-back drinks for guests don’t feel like a chore.
The grinder and portafilter are unchanged from the Express — the same stainless conical burr grinder feeds the same 54 mm basket, and shots taste effectively identical between the two machines. The LCD Shot Clock is a genuinely useful upgrade over the Express’s analog gauge: it counts your extraction time on screen, which takes the guesswork out of the “how long has this shot been pulling” question every beginner asks. 30 grind settings (versus 16 on the Express) also give slightly finer control when you’re chasing a specific extraction time.
Where it doesn’t move the needle: it’s still a single-boiler machine, so simultaneous brew-and-steam isn’t possible — the switch is just much faster now. And because you’re paying for speed and interface rather than a better shot, buyers who don’t mind a minute of warm-up are better served saving the $150-$300 and buying the Express instead.
How it compares to the rest of Breville’s lineup
| Barista Pro (BES878) | Barista Express (BES870) | Bambino Plus (BES500) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$849.95 | ~$699.95 | ~$500 |
| Built-in grinder | Yes (30 settings) | Yes (16 settings) | No |
| Heating | ThermoJet (~3 s) | ThermoCoil (~1 min) | ThermoJet (~3 s) |
| Display | LCD Shot Clock | Analog pressure gauge | Buttons |
| Milk | Manual wand | Manual wand | Auto + manual wand |
| Best for | Speed + screen | All-in-one value | Small counters, has grinder |
- Get the Pro if you want the fastest all-in-one experience and don’t mind the extra $150-$300. See our full Barista Express vs Pro breakdown for the complete comparison.
- Save with the Barista Express if you’re happy to wait a minute and want the same shot for less.
- Choose the Bambino Plus if counter space is tight and you already own a grinder.
Who should buy the Barista Pro
Buy it if you already know you want a Breville all-in-one and don’t want to wait around for it to warm up, especially if you’re making multiple drinks in a row for a household or guests. It’s a strong pick among the best espresso machines with a grinder in this price range.
Skip it if you’re budget-conscious (the Barista Express makes the same coffee for less), if you want fully automatic drinks (look at a super-automatic instead), or if you need to brew and steam simultaneously for a crowd, which calls for a dual boiler.
The bottom line
The Breville Barista Pro is the machine to buy when the minute-long warm-up on the Barista Express genuinely bothers you. Its ThermoJet heater, LCD Shot Clock and extra grind settings are real, useful upgrades — but the espresso in the cup is the same as its cheaper sibling. If speed and a nicer interface are worth $150-$300 to you, get the Pro; if not, save the money and get the Barista Express instead. Either way, see our best espresso machine guide for how Breville’s lineup stacks up against the rest of the field.