Breville Espresso Machine Comparison Guide and Model Numbers Decoded 2026
Breville espresso machines represent a fantastic entry point for those seeking to learn how to brew great espresso at home. With standalone and all-in-one machines that include a grinder, Breville’s semi-automatic espresso machines come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can fit a wide range of budgets. Here’s some tips for picking out your first Breville espresso machine, figuring out the wide array of model numbers, or choosing an upgrade:
Jump To: Breville Bambino Plus | Breville Barista Express | Breville Barista Pro | Breville Barista Touch | Breville Oracle Touch | Comparison Video | What do the Breville Model Numbers Mean?
Looking for a machine-by-machine breakdown to help you decide? See our updated guide: Which Breville Espresso Machine Is Right for You?
Breville Bambino Plus (BES500)
Do you want the option to upgrade your grinder separately from your machine? The Bambino Plus espresso machine is the pick for you. the Bambino Plus is a powerful platform for new users With a compact footprint, ThermoJet heating for lightning fast start and steam times, and optional automatic steaming. The Seattle Coffee Gear Exclusive Bambino Pro offers everything that makes the Plus great, plus a better portafilter and an un-pressurized portafilter basket, giving you more control over extraction and drink quality.
Breville Barista Express (BES870)
The Barista Express espresso machine is one of the most popular introductory models on the market. This machine is Breville’s best-seller, and it’s easy to see why. With a palatable price point and built-in burr grinder, steam wand, and hot water spout, the Barista Express is all you need to brew great cafe style drinks at home. You’ll also be able to learn and improve your espresso and milk steaming game with a manual steam wand as well as both pressurized and unpressurized portafilter baskets. Perfect for the new user!
Breville Barista Pro (BES878)
Looking for the perfect upgrade from the Barista Express? The Barista Pro espresso machine is the perfect fit. With an updated look and digital display, as well as much faster heat up and steam times thanks to Breville’s ThermoJet heating tech, the Barista Pro does everything the Express does, but with a little more oomph. A great upgrade from an aging Barista Express, the Pro also makes a solid first machine choice for new users looking to go beyond what the Express offers.
Breville Barista Touch (BES880)
The Barista Touch espresso machine takes the concept of the Barista Express and adds a vibrant touch screen that walks you through each step of the brewing process. Featuring the same performance and consistency present in the Pro, the Touch adds some extra automation with it’s optional automatic milk steaming and programmable drink recipes. Combined with the simple to use interface, the Barista Touch is a great option if you want the control of a semi-automatic espresso machine but with some degree of automation.
Breville Oracle Touch (BES990)
The Oracle Touch espresso machine takes everything about the Barista platform and adds deeper automation features to create a nearly automatic experience. From automatic dosing and tamping to PID controlled heating elements that provide rock-solid temperature stability from bean to cup, this machine offers prosumer features and superauto-like automation. Rounding out the package is a professional style 58mm portafilter and custom drink recipes, providing a high degree of control without sacrificing ease of use. The Oracle Touch is a fantastic option for anyone wanting the simplicity of a superauto with the performance of a semi-automatic.
Breville Espresso Machine Comparison Video
Check out John's expert advise as he walks you through five different mid-range Breville Barista line Espresso Machine models: The Breville Barista Express, Breville Barista Express Impress, Breville Barista Touch, Breville Barista Touch Impress, and the Breville Barista Pro!
So What Do Those Breville Espresso Machine Model Numbers Actually Mean?
When looking at the model number of a Breville Espresso Machine, you may have seen codes such as "BES990BSS" or "BES878BSS1BNA1". We get lots of questions on what these model codes mean, so here is a quick guide on how to decode them. This is not a comprehensive list, but it covers every Breville espresso machine model we're aware of — current, discontinued, and legacy.
Product Line
"BES" stands for Breville Espresso and appears at the start of every modern Breville espresso machine model number. Older machines used "ESP" — for example, the Breville Café Roma (ESP8XL) and earlier entries in the lineup like the ESP6. Any machine made after the mid-2000s will carry a "BES" prefix.
Model Number
The three-digit number after "BES" identifies the specific machine. As a general rule, higher numbers indicate a more advanced or feature-rich model. Here is a full list of Breville espresso machine model numbers from legacy to current:
Legacy / Discontinued Models
- Breville Café Roma — ESP8 / ESP8XL
- Breville 800ES / Ikon — 800ESXL
- Breville Ikon — BES200 / BES200XL
- Breville Café Venezia / Ikon — BES230 / BES250 / BES250XL
- Breville Ikon — BES400 / BES400XL
- Breville Die-Cast Automatic — BES820 / BES820XL
- Breville Die-Cast Programmable — BES830 / BES830XL
- Breville Infuser — BES840 / BES840XL
- Breville Barista Express (first generation) — BES860 / BES860XL
- Breville Duo-Temp Pro — BES810 / BES810BSS
- Breville Dual Boiler (first generation) — BES900 / BES900XL
Current Models
- Breville Bambino — BES450
- Breville Bambino Plus — BES500
- Breville Barista Express — BES870
- Breville Barista Express Impress — BES876
- Breville Barista Pro — BES878
- Breville Barista Touch — BES880
- Breville Barista Touch Impress — BES881
- Breville Dual Boiler — BES920
- Breville Oracle — BES980
- Breville Oracle Jet — BES985
- Breville Oracle Touch — BES990
You'll also notice that older models frequently end in "XL" rather than a color code — for example, BES870XL or BES900XL. The "XL" suffix was used on machines that only came in stainless steel with no color variants. Breville phased this convention out on newer models entirely.
Color Code
On current machines, the letters after the model number indicate the specific color of that unit. Here's what each code means:
- BSS — Brushed Stainless Steel
- SST — Sesame Black
- CRN — Cranberry Red
- SS — Stainless Steel
- BLK — Black Sesame
- RCH — Royal Champagne
- DBL — Damson Blue
- SIL — Silver
- SSUSC — Sea Salt
- BBL — Black Truffle
- BLK/SS — Black Stainless Steel
- RBR — Red Velvet Cake
- SHY — Shy Blue
- TRF — Truffle
- BSK — Black Stainless Steel
- OYS — Oyster
- BTR — Butter
So the full formula is Product Line + Model Number + Color Code. A "BES878BSS" is an Espresso Machine (BES), the Barista Pro (878), in Brushed Stainless Steel (BSS). Not every machine is available in every color, but this key covers what you're likely to encounter.
Regional Suffix (1BNA1, 1BUS1, 4IAN1, etc.)
More recent Breville machines include an additional alphanumeric suffix at the very end of the model number — for example, BES985BSS1BNA1. This suffix identifies the region the machine was produced and sold for. "1BNA1" and "1BUS1" both indicate North America or United States; "4IAN1" indicates Australia. This has no bearing on the machine's features or performance — it only reflects the voltage standard and market the unit was designed for. If you're shopping in the US, you'll probably see 1BNA1 or 1BUS1 on current model numbers.