Breville Dual Boiler vs Barista Pro: Without beating around the bush, my vote is for the first one, and allow me to elucidate why.
The Breville Dual Boiler has two boilers – of course it does. That means you can pull a shot and use the steam wand to froth milk simultaneously. Also, it has some nice-to-have features like a top loading door to refill without removing the water tank or a front window to monitor the water level. However, a built-in grinder is notably absent from its feature set.
The Breville Barista Pro, on the other hand, features a high-quality grinder with up to 30 grind settings. This one can pull nice shots of espresso and froth milk, but it takes some practice with its professional steam wand. On top of that, it comes with an attractive price tag.
Breville Dual Boiler Vs Barista Pro: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2024-11-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Breville Dual Boiler Vs Barista Pro: Differences
The Breville Dual Boiler takes the cake with a 3-2 triumph over the Barista Pro, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Read on for a deeper dive into the details.
Coffee Flavour
Winner: Breville Barista Pro
Built-in Grinder
The Breville Barista Pro features an integrated conical burr grinder like most Breville machines, whereas the Dual Boiler is a non-grinder machine. So, if you opt for the latter, be prepared to set aside an extra budget for a high-quality stand-alone grinder, such as the Breville Smart Grinder Pro. Not to mention, you will need to prepare additional space for it, which can be frustrating for those with limited kitchen countertops.
The burr grinder itself is the best choice for espresso machines because it provides a uniform grind size for optimal flavor extraction. Even better, the Barista Pro’s grinder offers a remarkable 30 different grind settings, which outpaces most built-in grinders in other espresso machines, like those from Jura. So you can freely personalize the coarseness of your coffee beans while your selected grind setting is conveniently displayed on the LCD screen.
Thankfully, the Dual Boiler comes with a magnetic tamper, even though it lacks a grinder. But such a commercial-grade machine should use a well-made stainless steel tamper like the one with the Barista Pro instead of a flimsy plastic one. My guess is that people who opt for it will quickly upgrade to a high-quality 58mm tamper like this one.
Oh, right, the Dual Boiler uses a commercial-grade 58-mm stainless steel portafilter, which is better for extraction compared to the 54-mm one on the Barista Pro. Both have four different filter baskets, including pressurized (double wall) and non-pressurized (single wall) versions for both single and double shots. So whether you’re a beginner with inconsistent grinding or tamping or a more experienced barista who wants more control over the extraction process and more nuanced flavors, there’s always something for you.
Heating System
True to its name, the Breville Dual Boiler features two separate boilers, allowing you to simultaneously pull an espresso shot and steam milk with the steam wand. Each boiler is independently controlled to ensure that the temperature is precisely tailored to the needs of each task. The brewing boiler is optimized for lower temperatures, while the steam boiler provides higher temperatures for milk frothing.
On the flip side, the Barista Pro has a single Thermojet heating system that can heat up in just 3 seconds. Undoubtedly, it’s the quickest single-boiler machine when it comes to transitioning between brewing and steaming, leaving older-generation Brevilles like the Barista Express with Thermocoil technology in the dust. So, I think the absence of a dual heating system is hardly a deal-breaker in this case.
To ensure your espresso is consistently at its peak temperature from the moment it’s dispensed to your final sip, I highly recommend preheating the portafilters and your cups. This can be easily done by pulling a couple of blank shots and utilizing the machine’s built-in cup warmer. By the way, the Dual Boiler has a large cup warming tray due to the lack of a bean hopper.
Brewing System
Pre-infusion? Right, I’m glad Breville didn’t bypass this function on these machines since it leads to a more balanced cup of espresso. In short, it is a process where a small amount of water is applied to the coffee grounds before the full brewing pressure is used, allowing the coffee grounds to bloom, releasing trapped gases, and ensuring a more even extraction. It also helps minimize channeling, which results in uneven extraction. Even better, they both allow you to play with the length of this process.
After this low-pressure process, their 15-bar pumps provide the ideal pressure for espresso extraction. Unlike drip-brew coffee makers, they rely on pressure to force water through the coffee grounds instead of gravity. The common standard for espresso extraction pressure is around 9 bars (measured in atmospheric pressure units, or “bars”), although some machines might operate slightly above or below this range, such as these Brevilles.
As expected, both were capable of making creamy, rich espressos with a luscious layer of golden crema on top that closely resembled the work of a skilled barista. What else could you wish for from these mid-tier semi-automatic espresso machines?
Milk Frothing System
They are equipped with manual 360° swivel-action steam wands. So you’ll need to roll up your sleeves and let your inner barista out to froth milk yourself. The learning curve might be steep if you’re a novice, but a manual steam wand is a must for anyone who wants to become a skilled latte artist.
The Breville Barista Pro uses a 4-hole manual steam wand, compared with a 3-hole tip on the Dual Boiler’s wand. That means the former distributes steam more evenly, resulting in better aeration and better microfoam milk. Don’t expect them to compete with the professional frothers you’d find in a professional café, but they work fine for most at-home baristas and can help them up their latte art game right in your kitchen.
To steam and froth milk with these wands, all you need to do is fill a stainless steel milk jug (included in the package) with cold milk, turn the steam dial on, position the wand at a 2-3 o’clock angle, and insert it roughly 1 cm below the surface. Then, lower the pitcher a bit to bring the wand’s tip to the milk surface, and keep going until the pitcher is too hot to hold comfortably (about 60–65 °C). It took about 42 seconds for the Dual Boiler to steam milk to 140 F (60 °C), compared to just 40 seconds for the Barista Pro. They can swivel 360°, making it a breeze to find the perfect angle for steaming.
During testing, I found they steam milk beautifully. I could make both thick foam to top off a nice macchiato or cappuccino and latte-art-worthy microfoam. Of course, there’s a learning curve, which can be quite steep, for texturing the perfect milk foam. If you prefer a hands-off approach, Breville offers models like the Breville Oracle with automatic steam wands.
Design & Usability
Winner: Breville Dual Boiler
Dimensions, Footprint, & Weight
| Breville Dual Boiler | Breville Barista Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 16.3 x 15 x 15 inches | 8.7 x 13.3 x 16.9 inches |
| Weight | 30 lbs | 25 lbs |
These Breville semi-automatics are not on the compact side, but I believe they will still fit nicely on most countertops as long as you do some rearranging before finding a suitable spot for them. Just keep in mind that if you’re leaning toward the Breville Dual Boiler, remember to set aside extra space for an independent grinder.
Speaking of external build quality, they are made almost entirely out of plastic with just some steel parts, such as the portafilter handle, the drip tray, and the machine’s core body. This gives them a somewhat less premium feel compared to traditional espresso machines from Rancilio, Gaggia, and Rocket. But hey, they are mid-range machines, after all.
Their user interfaces are super easy to navigate. You might find yourself consulting the user manual for the first few days, but it’s safe to say it will soon become a relic, stored away and forgotten.
The Dual Boiler includes some buttons to let you adjust almost any parameter of the espresso-making process. There is a prominent pressure gauge in the center that shows whether your espresso is being extracted at the optimum pressure – Once you get more experience, it will really help you dial in each shot. On the left-hand side, an LED screen provides real-time updates on your espresso extraction.
As for the Breville Barista Pro, its LCD digital display is among the aspects that I love about it. While it’s a text-only screen, all the menus are intuitively laid out, offering clear guidance as you navigate through the various stages of your espresso preparation game. If you’re keen on a more smartphone-esque user experience, the Breville Touch, with its touchscreen interface, is worth considering.
Pre-programmed Coffee Options
| Breville Dual Boiler | Breville Barista Pro |
|---|---|
| Espresso Hot Water | Espresso Hot Water |
These machines serve as your personal espresso laboratories, giving you precise control over almost every aspect of their espresso preparation, such as grind size, pre-infusion time, coffee strength, shot volume, one or two shots at once, and brewing temperature. So you can freely explore and experiment with different combinations to find the optimal settings that match your taste preferences and the characteristics of the coffee beans you’re using.
Like other Brevilles, they both have a hot water spout. This is particularly useful for making tea or creating Americano-style coffee by adding hot water to an espresso shot. It’s also handy for practical tasks like rinsing cups or pre-warming portafilters. The icing on the cake? The separate spout eliminates the risk of cross-contamination between milk and hot water.
Did I mention they come with pressurized filter baskets? They are excellent for using pre-ground coffee whenever you’re in the mood for decaf or when you temporarily run out of whole coffee beans. It’s also a convenient solution for having a quick drink without needing to grind fresh beans.
Spout & Cup Clearance
| Breville Dual Boiler | Breville Barista Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Spout Type | Dual | Dual |
| Cup Clearance | 4 inches | 4 inches |
They are equipped with portafilters instead of height-changeable coffee dispensing spouts. They can accommodate most cup sizes, and if you enjoy taking your coffee on the go or prefer using larger vessels for your drinks, you can move their drip trays out. I just wish I could lift my espresso cups somehow to maintain the beautiful crema layer.
Water Reservoir & Bean Hopper
| Breville Dual Boiler | Breville Barista Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Water Reservoir | 2.5 liter | 2 liter |
| Bean Hopper | None | 0.24 liter |
Their large water reservoirs are on the back, but the Breville Dual Boiler elevates convenience with a top-access door for hassle-free refilling. And if you want to do that to give it a thorough cleaning, a built-in roller-bearing system makes rotation a breeze. To top it off, a strategically placed front window lets you keep an eye on the water level at all times.
As for brewing espresso, high-quality water is always best, don’t you agree? But unless you use bottled water or pre-filtered water, there are always impurities in your water, more or less. These can not only impact the taste of your espresso but could also potentially shorten the lifespan of the machine. Fortunately, both come out of the box with a water filter as an optional option to purify your water.
The Barista Pro’s conical bean feeder can hold 500 grams of beans. It’s transparent, so you can easily know when it’s the right time to load the beans. Plus, there is an airtight lid that acts as a protective seal, preserving the rich, aromatic qualities of your coffee beans for the long haul.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Tie
Let’s face it: the thought of cleaning and descaling an espresso machine rarely elicits joy. If you share that sentiment, you are not alone, my friends. However, when it comes to these Breville machines, maintenance is a walk in the park—no technical wizardry is required.
Firstly, you should backflush the machine with clear water after each use to purge any residual coffee grounds, oils, or buildup that may have accumulated. This involves placing a blind basket (a cleaning disc that has no holes) into the portafilter, locking it into the group head, and letting the machine run for 20 seconds.
Likewise, these machines will alert you when it’s time to give them a descale cycle when they detect a sufficient build-up of limescale. This may sound like a daunting task, but actually, you have to do almost nothing but activate an automatic cleaning program. I always recommend using a Breville descaler for the best results and using the water filter to minimize the frequency of cleaning cycles.
By turning on the steam knob after preparing a milk-based drink, their manual steam wands purge a jet of hot steam to ensure the interior stays hygienic and ready for your next milk froth creation. Don’t forget to wipe the exterior with a soft rag.
Finally, you should empty the used coffee grounds box and drain the drip tray at the end of the day. The water reservoir should receive the same care unless you want to develop an algae ecosystem in it – and let’s be honest, who wants that? You can also disassemble the burr grinder to get rid of accumulated coffee oils.
Utilities & Other Features
Winner: Breville Dual Boiler
Auto On/Off
Both the Breville Dual Boiler vs Barista Pro have an automatic shutoff feature, kicking in after 20 and 30 minutes of inactivity, respectively. That is a cool feature, but it would be better if the duration of this inactivity period could be adjusted to be longer or shorter. The Dual Boiler even allows you to set the clock and specify a time for it to turn on automatically.
Quick Rundown Of Breville Dual Boiler
- Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use
Last update on 2024-11-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown Of Breville Barista Pro
- Earn up to $200 cashback and receive two free bags of coffee beans when you purchase a selected Breville Espresso or Coffee machine. Valid Sep 18, 2024 until Dec 31, 2025
- DOSE CONTROL GRINDING: With a single touch, the integrated precision conical burr grinder with dose control delivers the right amount of coffee on demand, for maximum flavor
- OPTIMAL WATER PRESSURE: Low pressure pre-infusion gradually increases pressure at the start and helps ensure all the flavors are drawn out evenly during the extraction for a balanced tasting cup
- FASTER HEAT UP TIME: Innovative ThermoJet heating system achieves the optimum extraction temperature in 3 seconds with the instantaneous transition from espresso to steam
- PRECISE ESPRESSO EXTRACTION: Digital temperature control (PID) delivers water at the right temperature +/- 2°C, ensuring optimal espresso extraction
Last update on 2024-11-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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References:
- Breville Dual Boiler: https://www.breville.com/au/en/products/espresso/bes920.html
- Breville Barista Pro: https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes878.html
I’m Floyd J. Alcock, an experienced barista with a deep love for coffee. I curate personalized coffee experiences, guiding customers through diverse flavor profiles and suggesting ideal brewing methods. My extensive knowledge of espresso machines enables me to recommend the best equipment to match specific needs and budgets. Sharing my expertise and passion with coffee enthusiasts brings immense satisfaction. I look forward to continuing my journey of coffee discovery with every customer I serve, fostering connections over a shared love for this magical beverage.