Breville BES880BSS vs BES870XL: Is the “Touch” Truly Better Than the “Express”?

Walking into my kitchen at 6:00 AM, the choice between the Breville Barista Touch (BES880BSS) and the Breville Barista Express (BES870XL) feels less like a technical decision and more like a lifestyle choice. Do I want to feel like a gritty, hands-on craftsman, or do I want a premium, guided experience that gets me to my caffeine fix with zero friction?

Both of these machines are icons in the home espresso world. They both grind your beans fresh, look stunning in brushed stainless steel, and use the same high-quality 54mm portafilter. However, after pulling hundreds of shots on both, I’ve realized that while they share the same “bones,” the soul of the experience is completely different.

If you are trying to justify the price jump to the Barista Touch or wondering if the Barista Express is “enough” for your morning latte, let’s dive into the nuances that only become clear after you’ve cleaned the drip tray a few dozen times.

The Big Divide: Analog Soul vs. Digital Brain (Breville BES880BSS vs BES870XL)

The most glaring difference is how you interact with the machine. The Barista Express (BES870XL) is an analog beauty—it features a pressure gauge front and center and uses manual dials to control your grind and shot volume. It’s for the person who wants to “dial in” their coffee like a hobbyist.

The Barista Touch (BES880BSS) replaces that pressure gauge with a vibrant color touchscreen. It’s a smart machine that essentially holds your hand, automating the two hardest parts of making espresso: the milk texturing and the water temperature timing.

Comparison Table: Key Specifications (Breville BES880BSS vs BES870XL)

Feature	Breville Barista Express (BES870XL)	Breville Barista Touch (BES880BSS)
Interface	Analog Dials & Pressure Gauge	Color Touch Screen
Heating System	Thermocoil (30-60 sec heat up)	ThermoJet (3 sec heat up)
Milk Texturing	Manual Steam Wand	Automatic & Manual Options
Customization	Manual Override Only	Save up to 8 Personalized Drinks
Grinder	Integrated Conical Burr	Integrated Conical Burr (Digital Control)
Warranty	1-Year Limited	2-Year Limited
Best For	The Aspiring Barista	The Convenience-Focused Gourmet
Check Latest Price & Deals	Buy on Amazon	Buy on Amazon

Detailed Comparative Review: My Personal Take

Design: The Pressure Gauge vs. The Screen

When I look at the Barista Express, I see a classic. That central pressure gauge isn’t just for show—it’s your primary feedback loop. If the needle doesn’t hit the “espresso range,” you know your grind is too coarse. It feels like a piece of industrial equipment that belongs in a high-end cafe.

The Barista Touch looks cleaner and more modern. By removing the knobs and the gauge, Breville has made a machine that feels less intimidating. The touchscreen is surprisingly responsive; it doesn’t feel like a cheap tablet glued to a coffee maker. It guides you through the process in three steps: Grind, Brew, and Milk. For a guest staying at my house, the Touch is the only machine they can actually use without a 20-minute tutorial.

Performance: 3 Seconds vs. 45 Seconds

This is where the Barista Touch absolutely ruined the Express for me. The Touch uses the ThermoJet heating system.⁴ From the moment I hit the power button, it is ready to pull a shot in three seconds.

With the Barista Express, I usually have to wait about 45 seconds to a minute for the machine to get up to temp, and even then, I prefer to run a “blank shot” to heat up the portafilter. The speed of the Touch is a game-changer when you’re running late for work. Furthermore, the transition from brewing to steaming on the Touch is near-instant, whereas the Express requires a bit of a “cooldown” or “heat-up” period between tasks.

The Milk Magic: Manual vs. Auto-Steam

Steaming milk is the hardest skill for a home barista to master.

• On the Barista Express, it’s all on you. You have to find the right angle, create the “vortex,” and feel the pitcher for the right temperature. It’s rewarding when you get it right, but frustrating when you end up with soapy bubbles instead of microfoam.
• On the Barista Touch, you set the temperature and the foam level on the screen, put the wand in the milk, and let go. The machine uses a sensor to stop at the exact degree you requested. The microfoam it produces is consistently better than what I can do manually 80% of the time.

Ease of Use: Consistency is King

One morning, I want a double-shot flat white. The next, my partner wants a single-shot latte. On the Express, I’m constantly adjusting the “Grind Amount” dial and trying to remember where I had it set.

On the Touch, I just swipe to my saved “Personalized Coffee” profile. It remembers my grind time, my brew time, and my milk temperature. That level of repeatability is what makes the Touch worth the extra money for a busy household.

Breville Barista Touch (BES880BSS) Espresso Machine

Pros:

• Speed: 3-second heat-up time is unbeatable.
• Auto-Milk: Perfect microfoam for latte art without the learning curve.
• Personalization: Save 8 custom drinks with unique names and settings.
• Warranty: Comes with a 2-year warranty compared to the 1-year on the Express.⁵

Cons:

• Price: It’s a significant jump in cost.
• Less “Feely”: You lose that tactile connection of the analog gauge and dials.

Breville Barista Express (BES870XL) Espresso Machine

Pros:

• The “Barista” Experience: You learn the actual craft of espresso.
• Durability: Fewer electronic parts (like a screen) that could potentially fail over time.
• Value: Often half the price of the Touch while producing the same quality of espresso.
• Tactile Feedback: The pressure gauge is the best tool for learning how to “dial in” beans.

Cons:

• Learning Curve: Be prepared to waste a bag of beans just learning how to use it.
• Slower Heat Up: The older heating system takes time to stabilize.
• Manual Steam Only: No automation for milk; you are the sensor.

The Verdict: My Recommendation

Which machine should you buy? It really comes down to what you want your morning to look like.

I recommend the Breville Barista Express if you genuinely want to learn about espresso. If you find joy in the process—the tamping, the manual steaming, the tweaking of the grind—this is the most rewarding machine on the market. It’s a “purist’s” entry-level machine that looks amazing and lasts forever.

I recommend the Breville Barista Touch if you want a “Cafe Quality” drink but don’t want a “Cafe Job.” If you want a delicious latte while you’re getting the kids ready or checking emails, the automation and the 3-second startup time are worth every penny. It removes the “guesswork” and replaces it with a “swipe.”

In my kitchen, the Barista Touch is the winner for daily life, but I still have a soft spot for the Express and that satisfying needle jump on the pressure gauge.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Does the Barista Touch make “better” coffee than the Express?

A: Not necessarily. They use the same conical burr grinder and the same 15-bar pump system. The “quality” of the espresso is identical, but the consistency is much higher on the Touch because the computer controls the variables.

Q: Can I still steam milk manually on the Barista Touch?

A: Yes! While the auto-steam is a headline feature, you can still lift the wand and texture the milk yourself if you want to practice your skills.

Q: Is the 3-second heat-up really that important?

A: If you only make one coffee a day, probably not. But if you make multiple drinks or are often in a rush, not having to wait for the machine to “warm up” feels like a true luxury.

Q: Which machine is easier to clean?

A: Both have similar cleaning cycles (tablets and descaling), but the Barista Touch is slightly easier because the screen gives you step-by-step animations on how to do the cleaning.6 No need to look up the manual!