Breville Barista Pro vs Breville Barista Express
Comparing the Breville Barista Pro vs Express. Tens of thousands of coffee lovers across the world make coffee using the Breville Barista Express and Breville Barista Pro Express machines. Although you can’t go wrong with either of these coffee makers, which one is the better of the two? Below we will compare the Breville Barista Express and Barista Pro in terms of their advantages and disadvantages so you can make an informed decision when purchasing an espresso machine.
Comparison of the features and benefits of Breville barista pro vs Breville barista express
Making your favorite coffee beverage just the way you like it is easier than ever with the Breville Barista Pro. But the real question is whether or not it’s a worthwhile use of your spare cash. The steep increase in the Breville Barista Pro’s starting price of around $900 was surprising in light of the relatively few technological changes between the two models. In comparison to the $700.00 Breville Barista Express, the Barista Pro, which now retails for around $800.00, is what we consider a fairer price.
The ThermoJet system allows for quicker heating time.
Both the Barista Express and the Barista Pro feature only one boiler, so you can’t brew and steam at the same time. While the Barista express takes the typical 30 seconds to heat up, the Barista Pro’s innovative ThermoJet heating system allows the machine to achieve its perfect temperature in just 3 seconds. The morning ritual of drinking espresso may be sufficient for some people. ThermoJet technology, on the other hand, not only improves the machine’s steaming capabilities but also drastically shortens the time it takes to steam the water and extract the espresso. If you want to serve several different kinds of milk-based coffee drinks at once, this is a good way to save time.
A disadvantage of the new ThermoJet system is rarely mentioned, though. The efficacy of the method eliminates the need to preheat the cup tray. The espresso machine’s group head needs to be flushed several times before it will reach the proper temperature for drawing a shot of espresso, even after the machine has been turned on. Users of prosumer machines sometimes view the requirement to flush the group head before extracting the first shot of espresso as a small inconvenience. This is also how Breville recommends using the Barista Express, so there’s that.
A pressure gauge with an LCD compared to a conventional analog one
The absence of a pressure gauge seems to be the most popular complaint about the Barista Pro in contrast to the Barista Express. Even while this function helps the machine maintain its classic look and is simple to operate, we still recommend the Barista Pro for its ease of use and superior espresso shot extraction. While the pressure gauge might give you some insight into how your espresso machine is doing in general, it is not the most accurate gauge for making precise adjustments. The Barista Pro, however, displays the crucial extraction time that must be taken into account while pulling an espresso shot. If you’re trying to find the ideal dose or grind size to get a specific coffee flavor, timing the process will provide you with more reliable information. The second crucial feature is that you can fine-tune the grinding quantity, temperature, pre-infusion duration, etc., all at the touch of a button on the display.
Enhanced steaming and position of the hot water outlet
The Barista Pro’s ThermoJet technology and four-hole steam wand allow for more precise and effective steaming. These developments can save steaming time by as much as a quarter. If you like to leave your cup beneath the brew head while you refill it with hot water for your tea or Americano, you’ll love the Pro’s new positioning of the hot water outlet.
Enhanced grinder with finer granular control and a pause feature
One place where the Barista Pro really shines is in the grinder, where it really stands head and shoulders above its predecessor. Both machines are technologically equivalent, however, the Barista Pro has more granular grinding controls. When comparing the Barista Pro and the Barista Express, the key distinction is in the amount of espresso grind settings: the former offers 30, while the latter has 18. Someone just starting out with espresso might not realize the significance of this, but getting the grind size just right is essential for making the best possible shot. One of our favorite improvements to the Pro version is the pause-while-you-grind functionality. With this function, you can pause the grinder midway through a predetermined dose to adjust the coffee’s height in the portafilter.
Streamlined and functional redesign
While we acknowledge that aesthetic preferences vary greatly from person to person, we think the new Pro model looks better than the black version of the other two popular espresso makers. If you’re curious, it shouldn’t take much effort to figure out why. The black truffle mat finish of the Barista Pro model makes it an attractive and practical complement to any kitchen without displaying fingerprints or stains. However, fingerprints can easily be seen on the slick surface of the sesame black Barista Express.
Barista Express or Barista Pro?
The Barista Pro helps bring the brewing process into the current day. To this end, it has an easy-to-use LCD screen for customizing the brewing temperature and grinding coarseness. However, the Pro has been criticized for not providing a simpler mechanism for brewing and temperature control, despite being termed “better” than the Express. It may also fail to deliver in terms of cost.
Should you spend the money on the Breville Barista Pro?
When the Breville Barista pro was first introduced it had a whopping price tag of over $900. At that price you might be forgiven for buying the Barista express at $700. But the price has since fallen to $800 or less, making it a no brainer. If you look hard on the internet you might even find the Barista pro much nearer the price of the older Barista express.
A Clear Recommendation
It’s crucial to keep in mind that the Breville Barista Express and the Breville Barista Pro are designed to accomplish distinct tasks when making coffee. The Pro stands out from other coffee makers due to its LCD display and thermojet heating technology, which allow for quick coffee making. All those extra features justify the extra price. On strictly budgetary considerations and don’t mind the not major inconveniences of the Barista Express but for a few dollars more, you are on the whole much better off buying the newer better Breville Barista Pro. To sum up, the Breville Pro is the better espresso maker because it provides superior results with less effort at an affordable price.