6 published specifications differ · Updated
Same 54 mm portafilter, same integrated grinder, same shot. The Pro swaps the Barista Express's PID-controlled thermocoil for a ThermoJet that reaches temperature in three seconds and adds fourteen more grind settings. If you brew one drink and walk away, the Express does the same job for less; if you resent waiting, the Pro is the upgrade you can actually feel.
$660 · Semi-automatic
The default first espresso machine in the US: PID-controlled thermocoil, integrated conical burr grinder, 16 grind settings, one footprint.
$835 · Semi-automatic
The Barista Express with ThermoJet instead of a thermocoil — three seconds to extraction temperature and 30 grind settings.
Rows where the two machines differ are highlighted. A row is only counted as a difference when both manufacturers publish the figure — an em dash against a number is a gap in disclosure, not a win.
| Spec | Barista Express | Barista Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Score (within type)differs | 55/100 | 40/100 |
| List pricediffers | $700 | $850 |
| Machine type | Semi-automatic | Semi-automatic |
| Spec | Barista Express | Barista Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Heating systemdiffers | Thermocoil | ThermoJet |
| Heating circuits | 1 | 1 |
| Boiler material | — | — |
| PID temperature control | Yes | — |
| Heat-up time | — | 3 s |
| Pump pressure (marketing) | 15 bar | 15 bar |
| Pressure profiling | — | — |
| Brew pressure at the puck | ~9 bar | ~9 bar |
| Spec | Barista Express | Barista Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Portafilter | 54 mm | 54 mm |
| Group type | proprietary | proprietary |
| Built-in grinder | Yes | Yes |
| Grind settingsdiffers | 16 | 30 |
| Spec | Barista Express | Barista Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Milk system | Steam wand | Steam wand |
| Automatic texturing | No | No |
| Spec | Barista Express | Barista Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Water tank | — | — |
| Bean hopper | — | — |
| Widthdiffers | 15.9 in | 16.1 in |
| Dimensionsdiffers | 15.9 × 13.1 × 12.4 in (W×D×H) | 16.1 × 13.8 × 13.1 in (W×D×H) |
| Weight | — | — |
| Wattage | — | — |
| Made in | — | — |
| Spec | Barista Express | Barista Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Removable brew group | — | — |
| Backflushable | No | No |
| Self-clean / auto rinse | No | No |
Both are advertised at 15 bar, and both actually brew at roughly 9 bar — the advertised figure is the pump's maximum, not the pressure at the coffee.
Prices are the manufacturer's published list price plus any snapshots we have tracked; confirm on the retailer's page before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases — this never affects rankings, which are computed from specifications.
Prices are the manufacturer's published list price plus any snapshots we have tracked; confirm on the retailer's page before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases — this never affects rankings, which are computed from specifications.
A 0.3 litre insulated brass boiler with PID control in a 21 cm-wide body, heating up in about seven minutes.
58 mm portafilter, 45 grind settings and Auto MilQ automatic texturing with alternative-milk profiles in one touchscreen machine.
A Dedica with an automatic steam wand — milk texturing without the learning curve, still in a compact body.
Specifications for both machines are transcribed from their manufacturers' official pages — Breville Barista Express and Breville Barista Pro. Scores are computed by our published methodology, not a taste test. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.