Breville Barista Pro BES878
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It doesn't change our picks. How we're paid
The step up from the Barista Express for people who want to keep doing it by hand: ready in about 3 seconds, more grind settings, a four-hole steam tip and an LCD. It drops the Express's pressure gauge.
Who it's for
Good fit if
you want a hands-on machine with a built-in grinder and don't want to wait for it to heat up.
Skip it if
you want help with tamping or milk, or you rely on a pressure gauge to learn.
Specs
| List price | $849.95 |
|---|---|
| Type | Semi-automatic with built-in grinder |
| Grinder | Stainless steel conical burrs, 30 settings |
| Heating | ThermoJet, ready in about 3 seconds, PID |
| Portafilter | 54 mm |
| Milk | Manual steam wand |
| Water tank | 67 oz |
| Size | 16.1 × 13.8 × 13.1 in (Breville lists this as W × D × H) |
| Weight | 20.92 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years |
From Breville US's product page and official documents, checked Nov 1, 2026. List prices change often.
What reviewers agree on
Each point is made by at least two of the independent reviews linked after it. We don't own or test the products we cover; see how we choose.
- It heats up in about 3 seconds, much faster than the Barista Express. (Coffeeness, Homes & Gardens, Home Grounds)
- The grinder has 30 settings, almost twice as many as the Express. (Coffeeness, Homes & Gardens, Home Grounds)
- PID temperature control and adjustable pre-infusion give you more to tune. (Coffeeness, Homes & Gardens, Home Grounds)
- The steam wand has a four-hole tip, where the Express has one hole. (Homes & Gardens, Home Grounds)
- Unlike the Express, it has no pressure gauge. (Coffeeness, Homes & Gardens)
- Even with 30 steps, the grind adjustment can be too coarse to fine-tune some coffees. (Coffeeness, Home Grounds)
Worth knowing
- Reviewers disagree on noise: one found the grinder loud (Coffeeness), another found it quieter than most grinders she has tested. (Homes & Gardens)
Raised by one reviewer: no dosing funnel in the box, and the grinder clumps and retains some grounds (Coffeeness); milk frothing takes practice and the machine is large and heavy (Homes & Gardens); build quality is not prosumer-level for the price, and it has a low-water sensor the Express lacks (Home Grounds).
How it compares
- vs. Barista Express ($699.95): slower Thermocoil heating, 16 grind settings and a one-hole steam tip, but it keeps the pressure gauge and costs $150 less.
- vs. Barista Express Impress ($799.95): assisted tamping and dose feedback, 25 settings, slower heat-up.
- vs. Barista Touch ($999.95): same heating and grinder settings, plus a touchscreen and automatic milk frothing.