Comparison
Breville Barista Express vs Express Impress
The same all-in-one, except the Impress measures the dose and tamps it for you. Start with whether you want to learn those two steps.
Our pick
Editor’s pick
Breville Barista Express Impress
9.2/10
Buy this one if it's your first espresso machine. It measures the dose and tamps the puck level for you, the two steps beginners get wrong most, and carries a two-year warranty to the Express's one.
Around $790
The alternative
Breville Barista Express
9/10
Buy this one if you want to learn every step by hand, for less. The same PID, 54mm portafilter and manual steam wand, with a grinder you dose from yourself and a tamper you press by hand.
Around $690
Key differences at a glance
| Breville Barista Express Impress | Breville Barista Express | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | ||
| What it is | All-in-one espresso machine: it doses and tamps for you | All-in-one espresso machine: you dose and tamp by hand |
| Price | ||
| Price | Around $790 | Around $690 |
| Released | ||
| Released | 2022 | 2013 |
| Dosing | ||
| Dosing | Measures the dose, corrects the next one | You judge the dose |
| Tamping | ||
| Tamping | Assisted lever: 10kg, 7° twist | Hand tamper, stored on the machine |
| Grind settings | ||
| Grind settings | 25 | 16 |
| Brew temperature | ||
| Brew temperature | PID, adjustable | PID |
| Heating | ||
| Heating | Thermocoil | Thermocoil |
| Steam wand | ||
| Steam wand | Manual | Manual |
| Portafilter | ||
| Portafilter | 54mm | 54mm |
| Bean hopper | ||
| Bean hopper | 250g | ½ lb (about 227g) |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty | 2 years, limited | 1 year, limited |
| Size (W × D × H) | ||
| Size (W × D × H) | 12.2 × 14.4 × 16.6 in | 12.4 × 13.1 × 15.9 in |
The Impress wins the rows about getting each shot right; the rest is the same machine. The Express's case is the price and how much it lets you learn.
Where the Express Impress excels
- A level puck every time. The assisted lever presses at a steady 10kg and finishes with a 7° twist, so a crooked tamp never ruins the shot.
- A dose that corrects itself. It reads how full the basket came out and adjusts the next grind, so you aren't weighing or guessing.
- Finer steps to dial in. 25 grind settings to the Express's 16 give you smaller moves between a sour shot and a bitter one.
Around $790
Where the Barista Express excels
- The most-taught machine to learn on. On sale since 2013, it has a tutorial for every step and every problem.
- Every step in your hands. You set the dose, tamp and steam yourself, which is how you learn what makes a shot good.
- The same all-in-one for less. It costs $100 less than the Impress, with the same PID, wand and portafilter.
Around $690
The rest of the lineup
The Barista Pro adds three-second heating to the Express, and the Touch machines froth the milk for you. Every Breville is in one chart in our comparison.
Common questions
Which is better, the Breville Barista Express Impress or the Barista Express?
For most people, the Barista Express Impress: it measures the dose and corrects the next one, a lever tamps the puck level, and it has 25 grind settings to the Express's 16 and a two-year warranty to its one. The Barista Express is better if you want to learn every step by hand and spend less. Both have PID, a manual steam wand and a 54mm portafilter.
What's the difference between the Barista Express and the Barista Express Impress?
The dose and the tamp. The Barista Express Impress measures each dose itself, corrects the next one, and tamps with an assisted lever at 10kg; on the Barista Express you judge the dose and tamp by hand. The Impress also has 25 grind settings to the Express's 16, an adjustable brew temperature, and two years of warranty to one. The heating, the steam wand and the portafilter are the same.
Is the Barista Express Impress worth it over the Barista Express?
It is if this is your first espresso machine. The dose and the tamp are where beginners' shots go wrong, and the Barista Express Impress does both for you for $100 more. If you already know how to dose and tamp, or want to learn, the Barista Express makes the same espresso.
Do the Barista Express and the Barista Express Impress make the same espresso?
Once the dose and tamp are right, yes: the Barista Express and the Express Impress share Thermocoil heating, PID temperature control and a 54mm portafilter. The difference is how easily you get there. The Impress gets the dose and tamp right for you; on the Express that's practice.
Which is easier for beginners, the Barista Express or the Barista Express Impress?
The Barista Express Impress, because it does the two jobs beginners get wrong most: measuring the dose and tamping it level. On the Barista Express you learn both by hand, which takes a few weeks of sour or bitter shots.
Neither one?
If you want the machine to froth the milk too, see the Breville espresso machine comparison. For machines from other makers that take the work off you, see the Barista Express alternatives.