Comparison
Breville Barista Touch vs Barista Express
Both put the grinder in the box; the Touch also froths the milk, heats in three seconds 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 want café milk drinks with no steaming to learn. Its automatic wand froths the milk to the temperature and texture you set, it's ready in three seconds, and the touchscreen saves eight drinks of your own.
Around $1,000
The alternative
Breville Barista Express
9/10
Buy this one if you want to learn every step by hand, for less. The same grinder-in-the-box idea, PID and 54mm portafilter, with a manual wand, a thermocoil that takes longer to heat, and a 16-setting grinder.
Around $690
Key differences at a glance
| Breville Barista Touch | Breville Barista Express | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 $690 |
| Released | ||
| Released | 2017 | 2013 |
| Steam wand | ||
| Steam wand | Automatic: milk temperature and texture you set | Manual |
| Controls | ||
| Controls | Touchscreen, 5 preset drinks, 8 of your own | Buttons and a pressure gauge |
| Heating | ||
| Heating | ThermoJet, 3 seconds | Thermocoil |
| Grind settings | ||
| Grind settings | 30 | 16 |
| Brew temperature | ||
| Brew temperature | PID | PID |
| 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 | 1 year, limited |
| Size (W × D × H) | ||
| Size (W × D × H) | 12.4 × 12.6 × 15.7 in | 12.4 × 13.1 × 15.9 in |
The Touch wins the rows about speed and milk; the Express keeps the same grinder-in-the-box idea, PID and portafilter. Its case is the price and how much it lets you learn.
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.
- Ready before you've found a cup. ThermoJet heating reaches extraction temperature in three seconds and goes straight from the shot to the milk.
- 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.
Around $1,000
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, and the pressure gauge shows whether the shot is in range.
- The grinder in the box for less. It costs $310 less than the Touch, with the same PID and portafilter.
Around $690
Between the two
The Barista Pro is the Express with the Touch's three-second heating and 30-setting grinder, and a manual wand; the Express Impress adds automatic dosing and tamping to the Express. Every Breville is in one chart in our comparison.
Common questions
Which is better, the Breville Barista Touch or the Barista Express?
For most people, the Barista Touch: its automatic wand froths the milk to the temperature and texture you set, its ThermoJet heating is ready in three seconds, and it has 30 grind settings to the Express's 16 and a two-year warranty to one. The Barista Express is better if you want to learn every step by hand and spend less. Both put a grinder in the box and have PID and a 54mm portafilter.
What's the difference between the Barista Express and the Barista Touch?
The milk, the heating and the controls. The Barista Touch has an automatic steam wand, ThermoJet heating that's ready in three seconds and a touchscreen with saved drinks; the Barista Express has a manual wand, a thermocoil that takes longer and buttons with a pressure gauge. The Touch's grinder has 30 settings to the Express's 16. Both have PID, a 54mm portafilter and the same hopper and water tank.
Is the Barista Touch worth it over the Barista Express?
It is if you make milk drinks and don't want to learn to steam: the automatic wand, the faster heating and the touchscreen are what you pay for, at $310 more than the Barista Express. If you'd rather learn espresso by hand, the Barista Express is the better value.
Which is easier to use, the Barista Express or the Barista Touch?
The Barista Touch. You choose a drink on the touchscreen and it froths the milk for you; on the Barista Express you steam by hand on a manual wand. Both leave the dose and the tamp to you; for those done too, look at the Barista Touch Impress or the Barista Express Impress.
Do the Barista Express and the Barista Touch make the same espresso?
Close to it once you've dialed in: the Barista Express and the Barista Touch both have PID temperature control, low-pressure pre-infusion and a 54mm portafilter. The Touch's grinder has finer steps, 30 to the Express's 16, which makes dialing in easier.
Neither one?
For a grinder in a separate box and milk done for you, see Barista Express vs Bambino Plus. For every Breville side by side, see the Breville espresso machine comparison.