7 published specifications differ · Updated · Step-up pairing across price tiers
The Touch adds a touchscreen, ThermoJet heating, fourteen more grind settings and — the reason most people pay the difference — Auto MilQ automatic milk texturing. The Express keeps a PID thermocoil and asks you to steam by hand. Buy the Touch if you make milk drinks daily and do not want to learn a wand.
$660 · Semi-automatic
The default first espresso machine in the US: PID-controlled thermocoil, integrated conical burr grinder, 16 grind settings, one footprint.
$957 · Semi-automatic
Grinder, ThermoJet and Auto MilQ automatic texturing behind a touchscreen — the least manual machine that still uses a portafilter.
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 Touch |
|---|---|---|
| Score (within type)differs | 55/100 | 57/100 |
| List pricediffers | $700 | $1,000 |
| Machine type | Semi-automatic | Semi-automatic |
| Spec | Barista Express | Barista Touch |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Touch |
|---|---|---|
| Portafilter | 54 mm | 54 mm |
| Group type | proprietary | proprietary |
| Built-in grinder | Yes | Yes |
| Grind settingsdiffers | 16 | 30 |
| Spec | Barista Express | Barista Touch |
|---|---|---|
| Milk system | Steam wand | Steam wand |
| Automatic texturingdiffers | No | Yes |
| Spec | Barista Express | Barista Touch |
|---|---|---|
| Water tank | — | — |
| Bean hopper | — | — |
| Widthdiffers | 15.9 in | 15.7 in |
| Dimensionsdiffers | 15.9 × 13.1 × 12.4 in (W×D×H) | 15.7 × 12.6 × 12.4 in (W×D×H) |
| Weight | — | — |
| Wattage | — | — |
| Made in | — | — |
| Spec | Barista Express | Barista Touch |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Touch. Scores are computed by our published methodology, not a taste test. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.