Unleash Your Inner Barista with the Top-Rated Breville Espresso Machine - Backed by 2023 Rave Reviews

Starting your search for a reliable espresso machine can be easier when you turn to a trustworthy brand. Have you come across Breville? For almost a century, Breville has won awards through producing innovative and quality small kitchen appliances.

This year, let's explore Breville's top-performing espresso machines. While each machine has a similar look that features smooth curves, backlit buttons, and brushed stainless steel, each model offers its set of unique features. Today, we'll highlight the nine best Breville espresso machines that distinguish themselves from the rest.

Enough about the brand, let's dive into the best of the best! We've conducted reviews on the seven highest-rated Breville espresso machines available right now. The newest addition to the Breville family, the Barista Pro, deserves the top spot on our list.

Similar to the Barista Express, the Barista Pro comes equipped with a built-in conical burr grinder with dose control. This feature grinds precisely the amount of coffee grounds required at the touch of a button. The manual steam wand has the same amount of pressure for preparing microfoam for latte art. Additionally, the Barista Pro offers a dedicated hot water tap that has an angled feature, ensuring that there's no need to move your cup to add water after pulling an espresso.

The most significant improvement between the Barista Pro and the Barista Express is the LCD interface, making it easier to use. There are clever animations that show the grinding and extraction progress, which makes producing the perfect shot simple. Apart from that, other aesthetic changes provide the Barista Pro with a sleeker look than the Express.

Both the Barista Pro and the Barista Express rely on advanced PID temperature control, ensuring that the brewing water is at the right temperature with minimal change. However, the Pro uses Thermojet heating systems to heat and recover faster, preparing your machine to brew in only three seconds. If you want to learn more about the Breville Barista Pro, we recommend our Breville Barista Pro review.

As for the Barista Express, it remains Breville's top seller. Compared to other machines on this list, it provides a more hands-on experience. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, especially since it comes at an affordable price point. We have a full review of this espresso machine here.

Similar to the Barista Pro, the Breville Barista Express espresso machine comes with an integrated conical burr grinder. Once you load the bean hopper, you can easily dispense freshly ground coffee directly into the portafilter, ensuring maximum freshness. The Grind Amount dial allows you to control how much or how little you dispense for each shot. It brews with Breville's familiar pre-infusion and 9-bar extraction protocol, along with PID temperature control to keep the 1600-watt thermocoil heating system operating at the best temperature for the best extraction. This means that you'll achieve the best possible flavor from your coffee beans.

Breville’s steam wand produces a distinctive micro-foam milk texture that goes perfectly with lattes and cappuccinos that are as rich and creamy as you want them to be. The machine also has a separate hot-water dispenser that you can use to prepare Americanos or tea based on your preference.

To know more about the Breville Barista Express, please check out our video review which provides extensive details on the product.

The Barista Touch is an ideal super-automatic espresso machine that offers great value for money. It is a simplified solution to making flavor-packed espressos at home with just a few clicks, making it the easiest to operate espresso machine we have come across so far.

The user can select their preferred beverage from five café favorites displayed on the touchscreen, tap the grind icon, and allow the integrated conical burr grinder to prepare fresh coffee beans to the perfect size according to taste. You can also customize the dosage for your drink!

To make a cup of espresso using the machine, just lock the portafilter into the brew unit and press the brew icon (don’t forget to place a cup under the portafilter). Before delivering the perfect PID-controlled extraction, the Touch pre-infuses your coffee.

If you opted for a milk drink, position the steaming pitcher beneath the milk frother wand and press the frothing icon on the touchscreen. The Barista's microfoam technology will froth your milk to the perfect, adjustable temperature and texture for your beverage.

Looking to customize your drink further? Add more coffee to it, make it hotter, or something else? Program up to 8 custom drinks and name your creations for future use.

The Duo Temp by Breville does a great job emphasizing the essential features that produce excellent espresso and frothed milk while keeping the bells and whistles to a minimum, requiring a bit more effort.

The Duo Temp is a semi-automatic espresso machine that does not allow for pre-programmed shot volumes. Instead, you must initiate the shot and pay close attention to know when it is done, which should happen within 30 seconds or so. It also lacks a built-in grinder or any fancy display.

Duo Temp's name refers to the fact that steaming milk and pulling espresso should be done at different temperatures. Breville understands this well and conveniently incorporates an automatic purge function after steaming, ensuring the Duo Temp returns to the ideal brewing temperature.

Like the expensive espresso machine models, the Duo Temp also features automatic pre-infusion, ensuring the espresso is richly flavorful. Additionally, it features a 1600 W heating element and thermocoil for fast heat-up times, a manual steam wand for easy microfoam creation, and automatic maintenance warnings. The Duo Temp also boasts the classic Breville aesthetic, with its round edges and brushed stainless-steel finish.

The Breville Infuser espresso machine is all about finding harmony between essential features and accessories from some of Breville's most popular espresso makers and accessories like single and double wall filter baskets. Want to master the art of being a barista? The single-wall filter basket will help you hone your grinding and tamping skills. Prefer beautiful crema? Let the dual-wall filter basket handle that for you.

The Infuser falls in the medium price range, making it an affordable choice compared to more expensive Breville models, especially with the addition of the PID digital temperature control. It also features pre-infusion (which is a must for any machine with "Infuser" in its name), and it is crucial for consistency in producing the best coffee.

Unique features of the Breville Infuser espresso machine include cleaning aids, a steel frothing jug, and a plastic insert for the portafilter that reduces heat loss during extraction. The user can also avail of volumetric controls with preset, manual override, or programmable shot volumes; a pressure gauge that balances grind and water pressure; and an auto-sleep off mode that shuts off the espresso machine automatically after three hours.

For a detailed review of the Breville Infuser espresso machine, check out our website.

Explore the Infuser in more detail by clicking on the following link: Discover the Infuser.

Even espresso enthusiasts who frequently invest thousands of dollars in machines agree that the Dual Boiler from Breville is worth considering. It boasts the qualities you would expect from a prosumer espresso machine, compacted into a Breville-friendly design, and offered at a lower price.

With a dual boiler system, it is possible to extract espresso and steam milk simultaneously since each boiler can maintain an independent temperature. The coffee boiler features PID control and includes an over-pressure valve (OPV) that ensures optimal extraction temperature and pressure while preventing bitter flavors from affecting the cup (5). 

The second steam boiler eliminates the need to wait for your espresso to finish before frothing milk. This espresso machine uses a genuine steam boiler that produces drier steam, ultimately resulting in superior milk texture and foam for lattes and cappuccinos. 

You can choose between manual or semi-automatic operation, utilizing the built-in shot clock to time your extraction or pre-programmed single and double shot buttons to a volume of your choice, which simplifies extraction by pushing a button.

Additionally, it features an auto-on timer, which many fans appreciate since it ensures your Dual Boiler is ready to brew when you wake up. Unfortunately, it is inexplicable that this helpful characteristic is present in nearly every cheap coffee maker but not present in expensive espresso machines.

More information about the Breville Dual Boiler can be found in our Breville Dual Boiler Review.

The Breville Bambino Plus is a low-cost, compact, and user-friendly machine that offers numerous advanced features. If you are starting your espresso journey but do not want to begin with an entry-level machine, this compact machine is an excellent option, providing several options like the Barista Touch while costing only half the price and taking up a tiny footprint. With a width of under 8 inches, the Bambino Plus is one of the smallest Breville options available.

The Breville Bambino Plus is an automatic espresso machine featuring programmable volumetric dosing. Once the volume for a single or double shot is set, preparing your espresso is as simple as pressing a button and walking away. You can even program a specific pre-infusion duration.

The automatic milk frothing is one of the most impressive features, utilizing a temperature sensor integrated into the drip tray. Coffee legend James Hoffmann appreciates this advancement, commenting, "If you don't want to bother with milk frothing but still want high-quality results, that's impressive to me."

You can pick from three different milk texture levels, from lightly creamy to airy froth, and three different milk temperatures. Afterward, you only need to add the steam wand to the included stainless steel frothing pitcher and let the machine do its job.

The best aspect of the Breville Bambino Plus is its ability to grow as you acquire more skills. Milk frothing and shot pulling may be done manually, including manual pre-infusion. However, the device comes with pressurized filter baskets, so don't forget to upgrade to unpressurized baskets (an affordable add-on) when you're ready to take things to the next level.

This is the machine for you if you're seeking an espresso machine that serves as a personal barista in your kitchen. While it is approximately $1000 more expensive than any other device on this list, it provides advanced technology and easy operation.

Upgrade your coffee game with the Oracle Touch, an enhanced version of the popular Breville Oracle espresso machine, now featuring a massive 4-inch color touchscreen for a more intuitive user experience. Say goodbye to the frustration of navigating complex coffee machines before you've even had your caffeine fix.

With the touch of a finger, you can select your preferred drink from preset options such as espresso, latte, cappuccino, flat white, and Americano, and customize it to your liking by adjusting temperature, strength, and milk texture. You can even save your unique creation for future reference.

The Oracle Touch offers the same high-end features as professional-grade espresso machines, including PID temperature control, dedicated brewing and steaming boilers, and a heated group head. And with its automated grinding, dosing, tamping, pre-infusion, extraction, and milk frothing capabilities, it incorporates the efficiency of super-auto espresso makers. This machine truly embodies the "best of both worlds" philosophy.

If you're looking to dip your toes into the Breville world without breaking the bank, the Cafe Roma semi-automatic espresso maker is a great option. The 15-bar pump delivers a rich layer of crema, even with pre-ground coffee, and the dual-wall portafilter is ideal for beginners. The Cafe Roma's built-in steam wand makes milky espresso drinks like cappuccinos and lattes a breeze, and its compact size is perfect for smaller households.

Choosing the right Breville espresso machine for your needs isn't as daunting as it seems. There are three types of machines: semi-automatic, automatic, and super-automatic. Semi-auto machines require more effort from the user, while auto and super-auto machines are easier to use and offer more convenience. Depending on your personal preferences and level of skill, any of these options can produce a delicious, satisfying cup of coffee.

Are you looking to expand your coffee knowledge? Expert Aurimas Vainauskas, CEO of Coffee Friend, recommends investing in a home espresso machine. The more control you have, the better, as it allows experimentation and adjustment of various parameters to create a variety of drinks.

Keep in mind that a higher degree of automation often means a higher price point, as you are paying for technology and convenience. However, even semi-automatic machines, such as those by Breville, allow for flexibility in meeting different household members' coffee preferences.

For a more efficient and cost-effective option, consider getting a Breville espresso machine with a built-in conical burr grinder. Compared to using pre-ground coffee beans or a blade grinder, a burr grinder ensures a better espresso.

If you plan to invest in a separate grinder in the future, opt for a Breville espresso machine without a grinder and allocate budget for a high-quality grinder for better results. Flat burr grinders are consistent and yield balanced cups, while stainless-steel conical burrs retain less coffee grounds and produce a richer mouthfeel.

Breville's espresso machine heating systems include the thermocoil, thermojet, and boilers. Each system has pros and cons, so decide according to your preferences. For example, boilers yield better espresso and steamed milk, while thermoblocks are generally less expensive.

Ultimately, investing in a high-end espresso machine with a boiler provides the most stable brew temperature and powerful and drier steam for optimal taste and texture.

In case you're not a fan of espresso, you may not be able to distinguish the varying tastes that certain coffee machines offer. However, if that's the case, you might have a preference for boilers over other types of machines.

One of the significant advantages of a thermocoil when compared to a dual boiler machine is how quickly it heats up. For instance, Breville's new thermojet technology heats up in only three seconds, which is much faster when compared to a big dual boiler machine that could take between 10 to 20 minutes to reach a stable temperature. However, Breville has a solution to this problem as some of their models come with an auto-on timing feature that helps manage this issue.

Another advantage of the thermocoil is that it's small. Double-boiler machines aren't typically compact, but thermocoils allow for smaller models like the Bambino Plus and Cafe Roma.

Quality construction for an excellent espresso is the hallmark of the Breville espresso machine family. Regardless of whether you choose the entry-level Cafe Roma, luxurious Oracle, or anything in between, there is something available for everyone who wants more than just an ordinary coffee maker.

The Breville Barista Pro espresso machine provides an almost ideal balance between price and features and between automatic and control. With the upgraded LCD, extraction becomes intuitive, and the built-in grinder and ultra-fast ThermoJet heating system streamline the process. The cost of the machine focuses mostly on the technology that enhances the flavor of your coffee. The PID digital temperature control, micro-foam milk frothing, and grind size dial promise and deliver excellent-tasting espresso and cafe beverages.

Breville is an Australian brand that dates back to 1932. Even though they're based in Sydney, like numerous consumer products these days, their espresso machines are manufactured in China.

Nespresso and Breville have a contract that allows Breville to make some of their products. As a result, there are Breville/Nespresso branded products that work with Nespresso capsules. Nespresso trusts Breville as a partner due to their reputation and expertise.

Every Breville espresso machine comes with a one-year warranty. With regular cleaning and maintenance, you can expect it to last well beyond the warranty period. To avoid your espresso tasting terrible, remember to descale your Breville espresso machine every few months. Your Breville espresso machine should last at least three to five years, but don't expect the same longevity you get from all-stainless-steel prosumer machines.