Review: Breville the Barista Pro Espresso Machine
By Coffee Expert
August Croft
11 photos
The Curated Take
4.8/5
The Breville the Barista Pro Espresso Machine is suitable for both experienced and inexperienced baristas, offering quick heat-up times and pre-infusion and extraction technologies for smooth, flavorful shots. It blends automatic and manual features well, making it ideal for households with mixed experience levels. Despite some plastic components that may break over time and difficulties in cleaning the steam wand, its versatility and ease of use make it a valuable addition to any kitchen, especially for those looking for a semi-automatic espresso machine with an integrated grinder.
Ideal for
- Experienced and inexperienced baristas equally
- Heats up in seconds
- Pre-infusion and extraction tech ensures smooth, flavorful shots
Not ideal for
- Plastic components may break over time
- Difficult to clean the steam wand
- Hot water could be hotter
Milk Frothing
I was initially disappointed in the milk-frothing capabilities of my Breville Barista Pro, but all it took was a bit of practice to adapt to its tech. The microfoam produced...Read more
Heat Time
I absolutely love pressing the power button on my Barista Pro and hearing it beep at me within three seconds. Most of the time, I've got my grinds going into...Read more
Programmability
The Barista Pro made sense for me and my partner because of its modest learning curve. Having the ability to choose my grind size and amount of grounds, tamp my...Read more
Portafilter Size
The Barista Pro has multiple portafilter sizes: one for single shots and one for double shots. The included portafilters hold an ideal amount of espresso for either size, decked out...Read more
Steam Wand
As someone who loves milk coffee drinks, the steam wand on the Barista Pro is my one and only real complaint about the machine. It still works great. I end...Read more
Tank Capacity
While I rarely make more than 2-3 drinks on one tank full of water, the Barista Pro's water capacity is capable and adequate. I take a quad shot every morning...Read more
Espresso Extraction
My partner was stressed out about learning how to pull shots on our Barista Pro, mainly from a waste standpoint. Quality coffee doesn't come cheap, which is why I appreciate...Read more
Versatility
While the Barista Pro can't make cold brew or cold foam like some of its super-automatic rivals, it's a versatile fit for any kitchen. Any and all espresso drinks are...Read more
Grind Size Control
The fact that I can both auto grind and auto dose using the Barista Pro is terrific. This simple integration means my hands are free to prep my syrups or...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
August Croft
About the espresso equipment
- Model: Breville the Barista Pro Espresso Machine
Test conditions
- When I bought it: May 2023
- Where I’ve used it: Daily home use
- How many times I've used it: 300
Expert Reviews of the Breville the Barista Pro Espresso Machine
August Croft I purchased the Barista Pro for my home because of my professional barista experience versus my partner's lack thereof. This machine is automatic where it counts most (shot extraction and dosing) and manual enough for experienced baristas like me to have some programmability. It blends automatic and manual features well, making it ideal for my household full of mixed experience levels. I like that my machine heats up within three seconds so that I can make espresso before getting right to work. While the steam wand could use a better coating to avoid milk buildup, my lattes maintain their foam and texture alongside creamy, well-extracted shots day in and day out. It's held up well after nine months of use, with hopefully many more months to come!
Product Specs
| Housing material | Stainless steel, Plastic |
| Features | Auto shut off, Cup tray, Solenoid valve |
| Volts | 110-120V |
| Watts | 1680 W |
| Product width (in) | 13.9" |
| Product height (in) | 16" |
Review Ratings
Milk Frothing
4/5
August Croft gave 4 of 5 stars. I was initially disappointed in the milk-frothing capabilities of my Breville Barista Pro, but all it took was a bit of practice to adapt to its tech. The microfoam produced by this machine is powerful, so powerful that I find myself over-aerating my milk more often than not. I prefer a silkier mouthfeel to my lattes compared to a frothier option, but this may just be a personal preference. Regardless, the milk frothing of the Barista Pro is efficient and capable. It just might take some getting used to.
Heat Time
5/5
August Croft gave 5 of 5 stars. I absolutely love pressing the power button on my Barista Pro and hearing it beep at me within three seconds. Most of the time, I've got my grinds going into my portafilter the second the machine is ready; the integrated grinder works right away. No time is wasted with this espresso machine, something that's made my morning routine even easier. The fact that I can preheat my portafilter using the hot water spigot after three seconds is huge; Breville's ThermoJet tech makes up for a lack of boilers in my machine, for sure.
Programmability
5/5
August Croft gave 5 of 5 stars. The Barista Pro made sense for me and my partner because of its modest learning curve. Having the ability to choose my grind size and amount of grounds, tamp my coffee, and steam my milk helps me maintain my need for some barista cred now that I no longer work in a cafe. And all of Breville's other features in the Barista Pro help my novice barista partner learn how to pull their own shots without wasting too many grounds or otherwise getting frustrated.
Portafilter Size
5/5
August Croft gave 5 of 5 stars. The Barista Pro has multiple portafilter sizes: one for single shots and one for double shots. The included portafilters hold an ideal amount of espresso for either size, decked out in easy-to-clean stainless steel. Breville also has a fantastic portafilter cover made of dishwasher-safe plastic. This cover allows me to insert the portafilter into the machine where the grinds come out. Hands-free, the Barista Pro grinds into the portafilter, and the cover keeps all of the grounds inside of it. From there, all I have to do is tamp and pull my shots, making it easier and less messy than the average coffee grinder or integrated system.
Steam Wand
4/5
August Croft gave 4 of 5 stars. As someone who loves milk coffee drinks, the steam wand on the Barista Pro is my one and only real complaint about the machine. It still works great. I end up with microfoam and inches of height by the time I'm done pouring. But the steam wand needs a couple of extra seconds to heat up, spewing water rather than steam into my milk pitcher as I wait. The wand also takes a few seconds longer to heat an entire pitcher than any professional machine I've used, but it makes sense, given the lack of boilers onboard the Barista Pro. But, for whatever reason, the steam wand is nearly impossible to clean, even with hot water and a capable rag. I'm used to purging the line and wiping the wand clean quickly, something that isn't an option with this machine.
Tank Capacity
5/5
August Croft gave 5 of 5 stars. While I rarely make more than 2-3 drinks on one tank full of water, the Barista Pro's water capacity is capable and adequate. I take a quad shot every morning and steam enough milk for a 12oz latte. Even a quarter full, the Barista Pro's tank can handle all of this, including me rinsing the portafilters in between shots. I forget to fill the tank more often than not. When it does need refilling, I use the collapsible handle that's integrated along the top of the tank. While I don't think the Barista Pro is a good fit for anyone hoping to store their machine under any kitchen cabinetry, the capacity is ideal.
Espresso Extraction
5/5
August Croft gave 5 of 5 stars. My partner was stressed out about learning how to pull shots on our Barista Pro, mainly from a waste standpoint. Quality coffee doesn't come cheap, which is why I appreciate how flavorful and balanced the espresso shots are when made by our machine, even when dialing in. Breville utilizes pre-infusion tech that wets the grounds evenly, preparing them for extraction. When combined with Breville's precise dosing for single or double shots and the grind settings from the integrated grinder, it's honestly difficult to produce a poor or ill-tasting shot of espresso. I always end up drinking the shots used to help dial in the grinder and machine because they're just as tasty as the shots produced with my desired and dialed-in settings!
Versatility
5/5
August Croft gave 5 of 5 stars. While the Barista Pro can't make cold brew or cold foam like some of its super-automatic rivals, it's a versatile fit for any kitchen. Any and all espresso drinks are easy to brew, even over ice, and the microfoam steam wand means I can craft my ideal milk foam. I appreciate the aesthetic of the Barista Pro and its relatively compact size, especially considering its integrated grinder system. The grinder is capable enough on its own to be utilized for fresh ground coffee, espresso, or otherwise.
Grind Size Control
5/5
August Croft gave 5 of 5 stars. The fact that I can both auto grind and auto dose using the Barista Pro is terrific. This simple integration means my hands are free to prep my syrups or milk while my coffee grinds into the portafilter. Additionally, I can manually control my grind size to get things precisely where I want them based on the ambient humidity or temperature in my home. I'm impressed with the consistency and am so happy I opted for an integrated grinder rather than a separate appliance, given its efficiency and compact size.
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
August Croft I've had my Breville machine for almost a year, and it's still going strong. When it comes to what I love about my Barista Pro, I have to mention its ease of use paired with its customizability. I originally purchased my Barista Pro because my partner had little to no professional coffee experience. However, I did. I wanted some manual effort and programmability in terms of my espresso shots and milk steaming. The Barista Pro was an ideal fit for my household because of its ability to marry differing experience levels. To be honest, this machine has made my partner better at milk steaming than me, and they're stoked to make our drinks every single day. It's a win-win in my book.
Why did you choose this product?
August Croft Even though it was a special gift my partner and I wanted for our first-ever home purchase, we didn't want to spend more than $1,000 on an espresso machine. While we ended up getting our Barista Pro during an excellent sale, it's still usually priced under $900, a fair cost for a semi-automatic espresso machine. Plus, the fact that it comes with all of the accessories I need (milk pitcher, tamper, portafilters, etc.) and an integrated coffee grinder, I knew we got our machine for a steal. Having everything built into our espresso machine was one of the main reasons we chose the Barista Pro; I just didn't want to worry about buying everything separately and then face the daunting task of where to store it all.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
August Croft Based on its price and integrated features, the Breville Barista Pro made sense to me. There are plenty of espresso machine options out there that fall in the same price point as the Barista Pro, but very few offered me a blend of manual and automatic features alongside a built-in coffee grinder. Breville also included a few proprietary tech features in the Barista Pro that made it worthwhile for the cost. It heats up in three seconds, the steam wand creates great microfoam, and the interface is intuitive and attractive. While I wish this machine was easier for me to service without expert help, I know Breville's warranty and customer service line have my back should anything malfunction. After using it for nearly a year straight, nothing's gone awry, so I'm pleased.
