What Are The Best Breville Espresso Machines In 2023?
It is no secret that we are big fans of Breville espresso machines.
Breville Oracle Touch, Credit: Breville
They are an Australian company with a proud track record spanning close to a century. While they do make other quality kitchen appliances (see our Smart Oven Air Countertop Oven here and the Super Q blender here) they are best known for their popular coffee makers and espresso machine. We take a look at the best Breville espresso machines in 2022.
You can see a summary of our top Breville espresso makers below if you’re in a hurry, along with buy links to Amazon and Breville’s site for current prices, any discounts, and extended warranty options (make sure you extend your warranty!).
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Also, use the table of contents below to navigate to any particular model, or just read through the review.
[toc[Best Breville Espresso Machines In 2023
- Breville Oracle Touch – Best Overall Breville Espresso Machine
- Breville Barista Touch – Best Touch Technology For The Price
- Breville Barista Pro – Best Semi-Automatic Breville Machine
- Breville Barista Express – Best Barista Experience Breville Machine For The Price
- Breville Bambino Plus – Best Compact Breville Espresso Machine
- Breville Bambino – Best Moderately Priced Breville Espresso Machine
- Breville Nespresso Vertuo – Best Breville Nespresso
Take a look at our detailed Breville Espresso Machine Reviews.
Breville Oracle Touch Fully Automatic Espresso Machine
This popular and highly rated machine is as good as it gets for home espresso machines. Possibly the best Breville espresso machine, it can do everything you want to perfection. This robust stainless steel machine looks great and makes genuine espresso. You can see our detailed review of the Breville Oracle Touch here.
Breville Oracle Touch Black Truffle, Credit: Breville
Despite the complex technology and capability of the Barista Touch, you do not need to be an expert to use it.
The Oracle espresso machine makes milk frothing easy. You have a choice between manual and automatic milk frothing. What makes the coffee so amazing is that it is so easy to make. You do not have to do much to create the perfect coffee or espresso. The creama is perfect.
It is not a budget coffee machine but the results and benefits are worth the investment. The integrated conical burr grinder works like a charm and dose precision dose control. There is no need to manually tamp so the Oracle Espresso Machine is a truly fully automatic machine.
It is user-friendly with an intuitive touch-screen display. The controls allow for precise brewing at all stages of the process. Not that it takes too long, the machine is fast! The dual boiler espresso machine gives you more options on the range of beverages you can produce with ease.
The machine looks great and has a durable and attractive stainless steel construction. It comes in three colors: Brushed Stainless Steel, Black Truffle, and Black Stainless Steel. The best bet for finding colors other than Stainless Steel is to buy directly on Breville’s site here. Or see it on Amazon here.
The only downside is that the many features and the dual boiler, while a great feature, add to the bulk of the machine. It is not the most compact unit but it works like a dream.
It is not just me that believes in this dual boiler espresso machine. The reviews are highly positive and there are many happy users.
Pros
- Touch-screen convenience
- User-friendly 4 keys formula
- Touch screen
- Easy to clean
- Precision on all aspects of brewing
- Powerful built-in grinder for controlled grinding
- Automatic tamping
- Durable and attractive stainless steel
- Dual boiler
- Quality stainless steel construction
Cons
- Pricey
- Somewhat bulky
- Warranty too short (1 year!) – buy an extended warranty, as long as you can get
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Breville Barista Touch
There is a lot to love about the Breville Barista Touch. It is another one of the best Breville espresso machines. It has state-of-the-art technology and is a semi-automatic machine.
Breville Barista Touch Stainless Steel, Credit: Breville
It looks great in quality stainless steel and the Barista Touch works like a dream.
Despite the many features, the Barista touch has a relatively small footprint compared to many comparable machines. This means it will not have to take up too much countertop space.
One of the amazing features is the way it froths milk. You can achieve the perfect design, texture, and temperature of your milk froth. If latte art is something you want to do, the Touch does this perfectly.
The burr grinder works well and controls the dose. This machine has a touch screen control panel making it a breeze to operate. It is highly versatile for a wide range of delectable drinks.
The default settings are there to make life easier but if you are a perfectionist or have different tastes, you have the option to adjust them manually.
The materials, design, and features also make the Barista Touch fairly easy to clean.
Just like the Breville Oracle Touch above, the Barista Touch also comes in Stainless Steel, Black Stainless Steel, and Black Truffle. You can see all of these colors and the current price on Breville’s site here or take a look on Amazon here, make sure that you buy an extended warranty from either site.
Pros
- More compact than some espresso machines
- Attractive brushed stainless steel exterior
- Adjustable milk temperature and texture control
- Adjustable coffee intensity
- Automatic milk wand cleaning system
- Integrated grinder with precise dosage control
- Good temperature control with PID
- Touch screen for quick and easy use
- Hands-free operation
Cons
- No preheating for mugs
- The water tank can be tricky to access
- No automatic cleaning
- Lacks a dual boiler
- 1 Year Warranty – definitely buy an extended warranty, as long as you can
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Breville Barista Pro
This model is a winner in many respects and is regarded as one of the best Breville espresso machines and with good reason. This affordable espresso machine has pretty much everything you might want to make fine coffee at home. For a more see our detailed review of the Barista Pro here.
Breville Barista Pro Damson Blue Color Option, Credit: Breville
Features include an integrated dosing grinder and an LCD. It also has a built-in steam wand. This makes the art of grinding coffee beans and making quality coffee a breeze. The results will match what you purchase in the best coffee shops. The high-pressure steam is ideal for latte art.
You do not need to be an expert, the semi-automatic Barista Pro is user-friendly and makes the process quick and easy.
It looks good and is well made from quality materials. This means that you will get many years of use out of your investment in this coffee maker. It is available in a choice of eight colors so there is something to suit all tastes and styles.
You also have the choice of non-pressurized or pressurized brew baskets. The single boiler allows you to pull shots and use the automatic steam wand. Some people are disappointed that it does not have an auto-tamping function, but this is a minor inconvenience. The brewing process is super easy.
The ThermoJet technology makes it faster and more precise extraction temperature with the heating and brewing process. It allows for the perfect extraction temperature and brew temperature.
The Pro evolved from the much-loved Express model. Breville built on its past success and added a few additional functions and conveniences. They did this without a massive price increase which is great.
Other improvements include an enhanced heating pad that is faster and more powerful, and the LCD eliminates the need for a pressure gauge.
Some purists might lament the lack of a pressure gauge on the Breville machine but for most home coffee fans this is not an issue.
Pros
- Powerful grinder
- Enhanced thermal coil
- Fast
- Feature-rich
- Relatively quiet
- Volumetric control
- Stainless steel looks good and is durable
Cons
- No pressure gauge
- Warranty is too short – buy an extended warranty
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Breville Barista Express
The older sibling to the Pro, The Barista Express has been a top-selling espresso machine for more than a decade (see our comprehensive review of the Barista Express here). This great semi-automatic machine is compact, easy to use, and great value for money.
Breville Barista Express, Credit: Breville
The Barista Express will make amazing espresso, cappuccino, lattes, and a host of other tasty beverages to tantalize your taste buds. The coffee grinder is a conical burr grinder. It is built in as is the milk frother for perfect milk texturing. It takes about a minute to start up once it is turned on so there is no need to wait too long for your brew.
Performance is consistent and the Barista Express is a cinch to operate. The integrated grinder is fast and effective. It looks good and made with the material and care we have come to expect from Breville. It is available in two color options.
As with the pro, you get both non-pressurized and pressurized baskets and tamping needs to be done manually. Unlike the Pro, the Barista Express espresso machine boasts a pressure gauge. It has a single boiler.
This is one of the more affordable options on the market that features an integrated conical burr grinder. This works well and eliminates the need for a separate grinder if you want to use your own beans. You get a lot of bang for your buck from this stainless steel model. The dose-control makes the process simple to do, even for beginners.
This semi-automatic Barista Express espresso machine is a pleasure to use. The temperature and pressure control are optimized for quality results every time. The digital PID allows for optimal temperature and gives you a precise heating system. It will taste as good as, if not better, than the coffee at your favorite cafe.
It comes with a tamper, water filter, and cleaning disks.
Pros
- Integrated conical burr grinder
- Effective stream wand
- Pressure gauge
- Optimized water pressure
- Fast and effective heating system
- PID allows for accurate
- temperature control
- Good value for money
- Tough and durable stainless steel
- Looks good
Cons
- No ThermoJet
- No LCD control
- Warranty too short, buy an extended warranty
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Breville Bambino Plus
As the name suggests, the machines in the Bambino range by Breville are compact coffee machines. Many people have limited counter space and need something smaller that still delivers top quality. The Bambino Plus is the answer for a compact semi-automatic machine.
Breville Bambino Plus, Credit: Breville
You can see our comprehensive review and comparison of the Bamino Plus and the Bambino here if you’d like more information on these two models.
This affordable coffee machine is compact with no compromise on quality or ease of use. It takes 3 seconds to heat up and operates with speed and efficiency. It features the Breville Thermojet heating system which is quick and accurate. Making coffee could not be easier.
The Bambino plus has automatic milk frothing that allows the steaming wand to deliver good steam power. This means that even amateurs can create the perfect cappuccino or other brews or simply for steaming milk.
You have a choice of three milk temperatures and three milk textures. This feature makes life easier delivers quality results.
What it does lack is an integrated grinder but for many people, this is not a deal-breaker. If necessary, you can always invest in a Breville Smart Grinder Pro. One also must tamp manually.
The looks will appeal to most and the compact design is a blessing. It has a modern stainless steel finish and a robust build.
Pros
- Compact
- Modern attractive design
- Automatic microfoam milk steaming wand
- Fast precise heating system with ThermoJet technology
- Pre-infusion for optimized flavor
- Affordable
Cons
- Lacks a built-in grinder
- No single wall basket
- 2-Year warranty
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Breville Bambino
The standard Breville Bambino is even smaller and comes in at a lower price. It shares many of the same features as the Bambino Plus (see our detailed review and comparison of the Bambino Plus and Bambino here).
Breville Bambino, Credit: Breville
It too is fast and easy to use. It will allow for single or double espresso shots and has an integrated steam wand that works well. The steam wand can also be used for hot water.
It can be used as semi-automatic or on manual if you prefer. The low-pressure infusion allows for pre-infusion and extracting the full flavor of the coffee beans.
It heats up in 3 seconds which is still impressively fast.
Pros
- Highly affordable
- Allows for quality milk texturing
- User-friendly
- Ultra-compact
- Modern stylish looks
Cons
- Lacks a built-in grinder
- Slightly slower to heat than the Plus model
- 1-Year warranty – buy an extended one
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Breville Nespresso Vertuo
Single-serve pod machines have become all the rage with many home users. They are efficient and extremely easy to operate. They are also easy to keep clean.
Breville Espresso Vertuo, Credit: Breville
Given the popularity of these convenient coffee machines, Breville has a range of quality options.
The Nespresso Vertu was one of their older options and was introduced in 2014. It allows you to make a quality espresso or single-serve coffee with a one-touch operation.
Note that it will only work with Nespresso Vertuo capsules.
The machine is highly versatile and will allow you to make a wide range of impressive
espresso and other drinks with practically zero effort. These machines could not be easier to use and there is little to no margin for error.
Nespresso’s Centrifusion technology uses barcodes and other technology for precision and consistent brewing without much effort. The crema is impressive, even on large coffees.
The machine has a generous 40 oz water tank. This can be removed and is easy to fill. The Vertuo heats up in 15 seconds which is slower than some machines but still pretty fast.
This is highly affordable and offers great value for money. Work in the cost of the capsules over time as these will add to the cost to use the machine, despite the low initial cost. It comes with 12 capsules to get you
started.
Another benefit is that it makes very little noise while working its magic.
Pros
- Affordable
- Super-easy to use
- Quick and simple to setup
- Compact design
- Sleek elegant looks
- Low noise levels
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Restricted in capsule choice
- Can only make one cup at a time
- Warranty is too short (buy an extended warranty)
New Kitchen Life is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
FAQs
What About The Warranty Periods for Breville espresso machines?
Most machines have a 1-year warranty while some models offer a 2-year-warranty. While the machines are robust and well-built, this is a short warranty. You should definitely buy an extended warranty on Amazon or on Breville’s site.
Do I need to register my Breville product?
It is a good idea to register your product and there are benefits. It does not, however, affect the warranty. You should always retain your proof of purchase in case of any warranty issues.
Why buy a Breville espresso machine?
Breville makes a range of quality kitchen products including juicers, toasters, waffle makers, and even pizza machines. They are generally best known for their range of coffee and espresso machines. They are a popular brand and have been going since 1932. They are reaching their century in business – not many businesses can say that these days. See our reviews of some of their other products (Air Fryer Countertop Oven here, Breville Super Q and Breville Q and blenders).
This Australian company has stood the test of time and proved itself in a highly competitive market. They are clearly making quality products, and have been for a very long time.
How Do I Set Up a Breville Espresso Machine?
This will vary slightly depending on the model, but the basic steps are the same for all Breville machines.
1. Clean the exterior
The first thing that you want to do on receiving your Breville machine is to give it a good clean. Use a soft cloth moistened in a bit of soapy water and wipe it down. Machines often get a bit dusty or grubby during transport.
You want to remove all the parts such as the milk jug, filter basket, the portafilter. steam wand, as well as the water tank. Clean and dry each part before reconnecting.
Do not use the dishwasher, simply soapy water, and a clean cloth.
2. Connect the water filter
You want to soak the water filter in water for roughly 5 minutes. Rinse it, place it in the filter holder, and connect the water filter.
3. Top up the water tank
Once the tank is locked in place, top it up with cool water.
4. Do a flush
Using the power button, start the machine up. You should hear the water heating up. After a few seconds, as Breville machines heat up rapidly.
Press the 2-cup button. Clear hot water should soon come out of the group head (the part that contains the portafilter)
Allow it to steam for around 10 seconds. Repeat the process and flush until all the water has been used.
Your machine should now be ready for use.
How Do I Clean a Breville Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine?
There are a couple of important things to do in order to keep your Breville Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine clean. Some should be done often while others need only be done occasionally.
Cleaning and maintaining the machine will ensure that your coffee always tastes at its best and extend the life of the machine.
Regular cleaning includes wiping the outside of the machine with a clean most cloth. Also, wipe the filter baskets regularly.
You also want to flush the group head. This is done with water and will remove old coffee grounds and oil. It is quick and easy to do daily.
The steam wand also needs regular attention. You do not want to leave any leftover milk in the wand. Leaving it will make the wand quite difficult to clean as it will harden. Simply wipe the wand with a damp clean cloth after every use.
If the machine has a grinder this will also need to be cleaned often. This will keep it running smoothly and ensure that no old beans or debris build-up. Clean the hopper, the grind bin regularly.
Also, remember to empty and clean the drip tray often. Many models will alert you when the tray is full but rather do it as a matter of routine. It does not take long to do.
Descaling and Flushing do not need to be done as often but take a bit more time and effort. They do not need to be done that often and most of the machines will tell you when this needs to be done.
Here is how to do them.
Descaling
Your machine should tell you when this is needed. Top models such as the Pro even guide you through the process step by step. The process might differ slightly depending on the machine so always refer to the user guide or the Breville website if in doubt.
If you have hard water, you will probably need to descale more often. The average regular user can probably go 4 to 6 weeks between descaling. Even if your machine does not have an indicator if the water flow
is slower than usual, it probably needs to be descaled.
Many people use vinegar. While this is effective, a proper descaling agent is recommended. You can buy the original product from Breville or a generic product with the same ingredients. Some are in liquid form while others are in a powder that you add to the water.
Here is the basic process:
- Fill the water reservoir and add the descaling product (or vinegar if you choose that route)
- Run the brew cycle until the water is depleted
- Rinse and refill the reservoir
- Repeat the above process until the water is again depleted. This will rinse the system
Flushing
This is another process that needs to be done from time to time. Your machine should come with a cleaning disk and a few cleaning tablets.
Once the tablets are used you will need to purchase additional tablets. They are not that expensive and easy to find.
Here is the process:
- Pop a 1-cup single wall filter into the portafilter and add a cleaning disk to the basket (above the cleaning disk)
- Ensure the drip tray is empty
- Fill the water tank to maximum
- Go to the menu and, using the ground amount, go to the flush option
- Press the option for 1 Cup
- The device will beep to tell you when it is done. It takes around 5 minutes, and you will not see any water coming out
- Remove the portafilter, empty, and rinse
- Empty and clean the drip tray
What’s the difference between an automatic and manual espresso machine?
Automatic espresso machines allow you to make coffee with minimal effort. You can make a complete drink with the touch of one button. These can be used by anyone and no training or skills are required.
The machine does all the calculations for you and takes the guesswork or precise measuring out of the equation.
Most of the machines we reviewed above are semi-automatic while the pod machines, the VertuoLine machines are fully automatic. They could not be easier to use. You can easily make third-wave specialty coffee at home.
The only downside to these machines is that you are limited by how the machines work. You can experiment a bit with the settings but there are restrictions.
Manual machines, on the other hand, take a lot more effort to operate. If you do not already have the training or skills, you will need to learn them. You have full control over the grind size, pre-infusion time, extraction time, and temperature.
What Should I Look For in a Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine?
There are a few important factors to consider before investing in a semi-automatic espresso machine. Here is what to look for in the best Breville espresso machine.
· The Built-In Grinder
Some have this feature but many of the budget or compact models do not have an integrated grinder. For some people, this is not an issue as they use pre-ground coffee.
· Portafilter Type
The portafilter is the basket that holds the ground coffee and allows water from the head to filter through for your shot. The average size is 58mm, but they can vary depending on the make and model.
The two main options are pressurized portafilters non-pressurized portafilters. Pressurized portafilters are easier to work with and ideal for the average person or beginner.
Non-pressurized portafilters can be a bit more of a challenge. The grind size needs to be right as the water brews directly. If you have a quality grinder this need not be a concern.
Some machines offer both options while the budget models tend to only offer a pressurized portafilter.
· User-friendliness
One of the main benefits of these machines is that they are easy to use. Despite that, some are easier than others. A semi-automatic espresso machine offers many advantages. These can, in most cases, be adjusted according to your taste.
· Ease of cleaning
Another issue is keeping the machine clean. This means both regular cleanings between uses and intermittent more intense cleaning. Some machines make this process easier than others.
· Budget
Give some thought to what you want to do with your machine, how much time you have, and what features you need. This will guide you to deciding on a budget.
Rather invest in a quality machine as this will last you many years and give you a great deal of pleasure.
· Single vs. Dual Boiler
You might notice that some of the more advanced machines come with a double or dual boiler. This means you can brew and steam at the same time. While a dual boiler is handy it is not a major issue, but a single boiler will be a bit slower. The end result should be just as good.
· Size
Espresso machines range from small compact units to rather bulky machines. If space is limited look for one with a small footprint.
· Looks
You want one that looks good in your kitchen and blends in with your style. Some Breville espresso machines are available in a range of colors if that is your thing. Most of the others are an attractive brushed stainless steel.
· Durability
When investing in an espresso machine or coffee maker you expect it to last many years. A quality machine that is looked after could last 5 to 10 years and even longer.
About the Author Sabrina
Sabrina is our head writer and expert researcher. She spends countless hours of research on each topic or product she writes about. She also tests products and recipes when she can and is known as a kitchen appliance junkie who is always trying new gadgets. Plus, she's a fairly decent cook above all else!