Comparison
Breville Barista Pro vs Barista Touch
The same espresso machine underneath; the Touch froths the milk for you and runs from a touchscreen. Start with whether you'll steam by hand.
Our pick
Editor’s pick
Breville Barista Touch
9.3/10
Buy this one if you drink lattes and don't want to learn to steam. Its automatic wand froths the milk to the temperature and texture you set, and the touchscreen saves eight drinks of your own.
Around $1,000
The alternative
Breville Barista Pro
9.2/10
Buy this one if you drink straight espresso, or want to learn milk by hand. The same three-second heat-up, PID, 30-setting grinder and 54mm portafilter, with a manual wand and buttons, for less.
Around $850
Key differences at a glance
| Breville Barista Touch | Breville Barista Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | ||
| What it is | All-in-one espresso machine: it froths the milk for you | All-in-one espresso machine: you steam the milk by hand |
| Price | ||
| Price | Around $1,000 | Around $850 |
| Released | ||
| Released | 2017 | 2019 |
| Steam wand | ||
| Steam wand | Automatic: milk temperature and texture you set | Manual |
| Controls | ||
| Controls | Touchscreen, 5 preset drinks, 8 of your own | LCD screen and buttons |
| Heating | ||
| Heating | ThermoJet, 3 seconds | ThermoJet, 3 seconds |
| Brew temperature | ||
| Brew temperature | PID | PID |
| Grind settings | ||
| Grind settings | 30 | 30 |
| Dosing and tamping | ||
| Dosing and tamping | By hand | By hand |
| Portafilter | ||
| Portafilter | 54mm | 54mm |
| Bean hopper | ||
| Bean hopper | ½ lb | ½ lb |
| Water tank | ||
| Water tank | 67 oz | 67 oz |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years, limited |
Everything that makes the espresso is a tie. The rows that differ are the milk and the controls, which is why the choice comes down to whether you'll steam by hand.
Where the Barista Touch excels
- A latte without learning the wand. Pick the milk temperature and texture, and the automatic wand froths it and stops on its own.
- Your drinks, saved. The touchscreen walks you through grind, brew and milk, and saves up to eight drinks of your own, so the morning flat white is one tap.
- Clean steam every time. Breville says the wand cleans itself after texturing, so dried milk doesn't build up in the tip.
Around $1,000
Where the Barista Pro excels
- Full control of the milk. The manual wand leaves texture and temperature to you, which is how most people learn to pour latte art.
- The same espresso for less. It costs $150 less than the Touch, with the same heating, grinder, PID and portafilter.
- The newer of the two. On sale since 2019, two years after the Touch, with an LCD that shows the grind and the shot as they run.
Around $850
Want the dose and tamp done too?
The Barista Touch Impress adds Breville's Impress puck system to the Touch: it measures the dose and a lever tamps it level. Every Breville is in one chart in our comparison.
Common questions
Which is better, the Breville Barista Touch or the Barista Pro?
For most people, the Barista Touch: its automatic wand froths the milk to the temperature and texture you set, and the touchscreen saves your drinks, so a latte needs no technique. The Barista Pro is better if you drink straight espresso or want to learn milk by hand, and it costs less. The espresso from both is the same: three-second ThermoJet heating, PID, a 30-setting grinder and a 54mm portafilter.
What's the difference between the Barista Pro and the Barista Touch?
The milk and the controls. The Barista Touch has an automatic steam wand and a touchscreen with preset and saved drinks; the Barista Pro has a manual wand and an LCD with buttons. Both have ThermoJet heating that's ready in three seconds, PID temperature control, a 30-setting grinder, a 54mm portafilter, the same hopper and water tank, and a two-year warranty.
Is the Barista Touch worth it over the Barista Pro?
It is if you make milk drinks and don't want to learn to steam: the automatic wand is the main thing you pay for, at $150 more than the Barista Pro. If you drink espresso straight, the Barista Pro pulls the same shot.
Is the Barista Touch newer than the Barista Pro?
No. The Barista Touch came out in 2017 and the Barista Pro in 2019. The newer Touch is the Barista Touch Impress, which adds automatic dosing and assisted tamping to the Touch.
Do the Barista Pro and the Barista Touch make the same espresso?
Yes. The Barista Pro and the Barista Touch share ThermoJet heating, PID temperature control, low-pressure pre-infusion, a 30-setting conical burr grinder and a 54mm portafilter. They differ only in how you make the milk and how you choose the drink.
Neither one?
If you want the grinder in a separate box, see the best latte machines. For every Breville side by side, see the Breville espresso machine comparison.