Six machines. One honest breakdown. Zero guesswork.
If you're a new at-home coffee enthusiast looking for a great way to get started in your hobby then you're in luck, Breville has a machine for you. With that in mind, this is a brand that can really be overwhelming. With so many options (six in this article!) Breville has both managed to earn its place in the pantheon of home espresso machines, but it can be tough to know what's going to be a good fit for your kitchen. Whether you're just starting out, hunting for an upgrade, or building a gift list for someone special, we've got a breakdown to help you decide which Breville espresso machine is for you.
In This Article
- What We Cover in This Comparison
- Breville Bambino Plus — The Starter That Doesn't Hold You Back
- Breville Barista Express — The Classic for Good Reason
- Breville Barista Touch Impress — When the Machine Starts Pulling Its Weight
- Breville Oracle Jet — Automation That Actually Makes Sense
- Breville Oracle Dual Boiler — Almost Automatic, Fully Serious
- Breville Dual Boiler — Full Control, No Shortcuts
- Breville Espresso Machine FAQs
What We Cover in This Comparison
- We take a look at all six Breville espresso machines to help you understand what each one's niche is.
- We'll give you the information needed to determine what the best Breville espresso machine will be for your kitchen.
- You'll get an overview of what Breville's language like "Barista," "Touch," "Oracle," and "Impress" means so that you'll be prepared when reviewing the lineup.
- We provide some details on bits and pieces of Breville's design, like the portafilter sizes, how important dialing in the built-in grinders is, and more.
- While there's no single "best" Breville machine, there's a lot you can learn to help determine which one will work bes for you.
Breville Bambino Plus — The Starter That Doesn't Hold You Back
Breville Bambino Plus
The Bambino Plus is Breville's best espresso machine for beginners. It doesn't have a built-in grinder, but this is actually a positive for your first machine. By purchasing a standalone machine you get the opportunity to upgrade your grinder independently which gives you lots of flexibility when starting out. The Bambino Plus is a spartan machine that is light on features, but it does have a smart steam wand that offers automatic and manual steaming options. You'll also get solid performance at a great price point. This machine isn't a compromise, it's a genuinely solid platform to start your espresso hobby with.
A genuine starting platform with room to grow — not a compromise.
Pairing it with a grinder? Start here: How to Choose an Electric Espresso Grinder
Breville Barista Express — The Classic for Good Reason
Breville Barista Express
While this may not be a full Breville Barista Express review, we can at least give you the quick explanation of why this machine is considered such a classic. While the Barista Express hasn't changed much in recent years, this is for good reason. Anytime you see "Barista" in a Breville machine name it means that the unit has a grinder built in. Because of this, this all-in-one espresso machine has everything you need to get started. While the Barista Express has a no frills approach to its design and featureset, it is highly upgradeable with aftermarket baskets and tools, and it does offer good performance for beginners to learn on. This machine also represents some great value, and is periodically available at a discounted price. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to find out when the next sale occurs! Whether you get it on sale or not, the Barista Express is both an excellent machine to learn on and one that some users stick with for years and years.
The all-in-one classic plenty of people start on — and happily never leave.
Breville Barista Touch Impress — When the Machine Starts Pulling Its Weight
Breville Barista Touch Impress
The Barista Touch Impress is another all-in-one machine, but with a bit more going on in the features department. This machine has a touchscreen that walks you through drink creation, and even has lever assisted tamping that the machine helps you to calibrate with built-in sensors. This system communicates volume to the grinder and learns the ideal dose over time to prevent wasted coffee. The Touch Impress even features automatic milk steaming, allowing you to focus as much as you can on perfecting your shot process. You'll also get recommendations on grind size as it monitors your shot timings. The grinder is equipped with Baratza burrs too, which is a big win. This machine is a great fit for users ready for something more that still offers automation and instruction.
For the home barista who wants guidance and automation without giving up the reins.
Breville Oracle Jet — Automation That Actually Makes Sense
Breville Oracle Jet
The Breville Oracle Jet begins to blur the line between semi-automatic and superautomatic espresso machines. Importing all of the features of the Barista Touch Impress, the Oracle Jet handles the entire grinding and brewing process automatically, even walking you through dialing in the grind size. This machine also comes equipped with a commercial style 58mm portafilter, opening it up to more accessories. Finally, a second ThermoJet heating element in the group head helps provide more solid temperatures and a faster warmup time. The Breville Oracle Jet is a great choice for the user who wants more performance out of their all-in-one machine without needing full automation. For that, we'll turn to our next machine!
More performance and a commercial-style 58mm portafilter, minus the full-automation price of admission.
See it in action: Brewing on the Breville Oracle Jet
Breville Oracle Dual Boiler — Almost Automatic, Fully Serious
Breville Oracle Dual Boiler
If the Oracle Jet blurs the superautomatic/semi-automatic line, then the Breville Oracle Dual Boiler smashes it. This machine performs all of the automation of the Oracle Jet and adds a self-adjusting grinder. With a second boiler you're also getting the ability to brew and steam simultaneously, giving the Oracle Dual Boiler a leg up over the Oracle Jet in the performance department as well. This machine really is as close as Breville gets to full automation of the grinding, brewing, and steaming process but it still gives you the option of taking control. Whether you do that by manually walking through the drink crafting process or program automation for the drink you're looking to make, the Oracle Dual Boiler handles it with ease.
The closest Breville gets to superautomatic — without sacrificing what makes espresso worth making.
Breville Dual Boiler — Full Control, No Shortcuts
Breville Dual Boiler
Breville's Dual Boiler is a no-nonsense machine that gives you full control over the brewing process without automation or extra bells and whistles. One of Breville's longest in-production machines, the Dual Boiler does not have a grinder built into it. This does give you that upgrade flexibility, and the two boilers give you simultaneous brewing and steaming at a price that offers exceptional value. There just aren't dual boiler espresso machines that get close to this pricing while being so performance minded. That performance can also be found in the low pressure preinfusion that this machine can achieve with voltage adjustment to the pump, one of several adjustments the confident home espresso fan can make on the Dual Boiler. Given the price of this machine, we can easily recommend it to anyone wanting a more manual approach to their espresso hobby without breaking the bank.
Full manual control and true dual-boiler performance at a price that's hard to argue with.
Shop the full Breville lineup: see all six machines side by side on the Breville collection page.
Breville Espresso Machine FAQs
Which Breville espresso machine is best for beginners?
The Bambino Plus is the easiest entry point — it's affordable, light on features, and has a smart steam wand with both automatic and manual modes. If you'd rather have everything in one box, the Barista Express adds a built-in grinder and full manual control while staying beginner-friendly.
What do "Barista," "Touch," "Impress," and "Oracle" mean in Breville's names?
"Barista" means a grinder is built in. "Touch" adds a touchscreen and automatic milk steaming. "Impress" adds lever-assisted, sensor-guided tamping. "Oracle" models automate distribution and tamping, getting closest to a superautomatic experience.
Do all Breville espresso machines have a built-in grinder?
No. Four of the six do, but the Bambino Plus and the Dual Boiler don't — they're designed to pair with a standalone grinder, which gives you the flexibility to upgrade the grinder on its own later.
What's the difference between the Oracle Jet and the Oracle Dual Boiler?
Both automate grinding, dosing, and tamping. The Oracle Dual Boiler adds a self-adjusting grinder and a second boiler, so it can brew and steam at the same time — something the single-boiler Oracle Jet can't do.
Is the Breville Dual Boiler worth it?
For someone who wants full manual control and true dual-boiler performance without spending prosumer money, yes. It brews and steams simultaneously, has an actively heated group head, and allows tweaks like low-pressure preinfusion at a price that's hard to match. Note it has no built-in grinder, so budget for one.
Watch, Then Decide
Still on the fence? The video breaks down each machine. Sometimes you just need to see it.
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