Breville Barista Pro vs Express — Which Should You Buy?

Both the Breville Barista Express (BES870) and Barista Pro (BES878) are popular semi-automatic espresso machines with built-in grinders. The Pro is the newer, upgraded model with a faster heating system and digital display — but is it worth the extra cost? Here's a detailed comparison for Australian home baristas.

Both machines use conical burr grinders, but the Barista Pro has a slightly improved grinder with better consistency at finer settings. The Express has 16 grind settings with an internal adjustment, while the Pro has 30 digital settings. In practice, both grinders are adequate for home espresso. The Pro's finer adjustment increments make dialling in slightly easier, but the Express gets the job done.

The Barista Pro uses ThermoJet heating, which reaches brewing temperature in about 3 seconds. The Barista Express uses a traditional thermocoil that takes 30-60 seconds to heat up. This is the biggest practical difference — the Pro is ready to brew almost instantly, while the Express needs time to warm up (and ideally a 15-20 minute full warmup for best results).

The Express has analogue buttons and a pressure gauge. The Pro has a digital LCD screen that shows grind size, shot time, and temperature. The digital display is nice but not essential. Many experienced baristas prefer the tactile feedback of the Express's controls.

In Australia, the Barista Express retails for around $599-699 AUD, while the Barista Pro is typically $799-899 AUD. The Express offers better value for beginners. If you're on a budget, the Express is excellent. If you value convenience and faster warmup, the Pro justifies the premium.

For most home baristas, the Breville Barista Express is the better value. It makes equally good coffee once dialled in. The Pro is worth it if you value instant heat-up and the digital display. Either way, the key to great espresso is technique — grind size, dose, and timing matter far more than which model you choose. We can help you dial in either machine.