The Breville Barista Touch espresso machine is one of the easiest ways to make café-style drinks at home without learning every barista skill first. It combines a built-in conical burr grinder, a fast ThermoJet heating system, and an automatic steam wand controlled from a touchscreen. It is best for beginners and busy households who want lattes and flat whites with little fuss. Enthusiasts who want full manual control or the best possible grinder will outgrow it.
It usually sells for around $800–$1,000 in the US, and it is still part of Breville’s current lineup alongside the newer Barista Touch Impress.
Breville Barista Touch espresso machine at a glance
| Model | BES880 (sold as Sage Barista Touch in the UK and Europe) |
|---|---|
| Price range | Around $800–$1,000 |
| Heating | ThermoJet, about 3 seconds to brewing temperature, with PID temperature control |
| Grinder | Built-in stainless steel conical burr grinder, 30 settings |
| Portafilter | 54 mm |
| Milk | Automatic steam wand with adjustable temperature and texture, or manual steaming |
| Controls | Color touchscreen with preset drinks and up to 8 saved custom drinks |
| Water tank | About 2 liters (67 oz) |
| Bean hopper | About 250 g (half a pound) |
Pros
- Very easy to use, with on-screen guidance for each drink
- Heats up in seconds, so a morning latte takes only a few minutes
- Automatic milk texturing frees you to do something else while it steams
- Grinder, timed dosing and steam wand in one footprint
- Save your own drink settings for different people in the house
Cons
- Expensive compared with the Barista Express or Bambino Plus
- Built-in grinder limits fine-tuning for light roasts
- 54 mm portafilter means fewer third-party accessories than 58 mm
- Single heating system, so you cannot brew and steam at the same time
- No pressure gauge for diagnosing shots
Design and build
The Barista Touch has the familiar brushed stainless steel Breville look, with the touchscreen replacing the Barista Express’s dials. It measures roughly 32 x 34 x 41 cm (W x D x H), so measure under your cabinets before buying, especially with the bean hopper on top.
The water tank slides out from the back-left side, and the drip tray has a pop-up “empty me” indicator. The machine feels solid, though some parts, such as the drip tray cover and hopper lid, are plastic.
Touchscreen and ease of use
The touchscreen is the main reason to buy this machine. You choose a drink, such as latte, flat white or cappuccino, and the screen walks you through grinding, tamping and brewing. You can adjust grind time, shot volume, milk temperature and milk texture for each drink, then save it under a name.
This makes the Barista Touch more forgiving than fully manual machines. You still grind, tamp and lock in the portafilter yourself, so it is not a push-button super-automatic. That hands-on step is what lets it make real espresso with good beans.
Grinder performance
The built-in conical burr grinder has 30 settings and doses directly into the portafilter by time. For medium and dark roasts, it covers the espresso range well once you dial it in. For very light roasts, some owners find they need to adjust the inner burr to reach a fine enough grind, which Breville’s manual explains.
If you get serious about espresso, a standalone grinder will offer more control. Our guide to the best espresso grinders for home baristas covers upgrade options.
Espresso quality
The Barista Touch uses low-pressure pre-infusion followed by 9-bar extraction, with PID temperature control. These are the basics that matter for consistent shots. With fresh beans and a good dial-in, it can make balanced, full-bodied espresso.
Use a scale under the cup for your first sessions, aiming for about a 1:2 ratio (for example 18 g in, 36 g out) in 25–30 seconds. Our step-by-step dialing-in guide works well with this machine.
Automatic milk frothing
The automatic steam wand is the second big selling point. Set the milk temperature and foam level, put the pitcher under the wand, and it steams and stops on its own using a temperature sensor at the base. Results are consistent and good enough for basic latte art.
You can also switch to manual steaming once you want more control. Because the ThermoJet system heats on demand, it switches from brewing to steaming in seconds, but it cannot do both at the same time.
Daily workflow: what using it is like
A typical latte on the Barista Touch goes like this:
- Turn it on. The machine is ready in seconds.
- Choose “Latte” or a saved drink on the screen.
- Push the portafilter into the grinder cradle to start grinding, which takes roughly 15–20 seconds for a double dose.
- Tamp with the included tamper. The built-in “Razor” trimming tool can level the dose if you overfill.
- Lock in the portafilter and tap to brew. The shot runs to a set volume.
- Put the milk pitcher under the wand and let it steam automatically while you knock out the puck.
- Pour and wipe the wand.
Expect the whole drink to take about 3–5 minutes once you have dialed in. The steps are familiar to anyone who has used a manual machine, just with clearer prompts.
Tips to get better results
- Use fresh beans with a roast date. Stale beans make thin, fast shots on any machine. Our list of the best coffee beans for espresso is a good starting point.
- Change one thing at a time. Adjust grind first, then grind time, then shot volume.
- Weigh your shots. The machine measures by volume, so a small scale under the cup helps you dial in accurately.
- Clean the grinder burrs every few weeks by removing the upper burr and brushing out old grounds.
- Use filtered or softened water to reduce scale buildup and improve taste.
Cleaning and maintenance
- Wipe and purge the steam wand after every use. The wand has an automatic purge when you return it to the down position.
- Empty the drip tray and knock out pucks daily.
- Run a cleaning cycle with a cleaning tablet about once a month or when the screen prompts you.
- Descale every 2–3 months depending on water hardness, following the on-screen prompt.
- Replace the water filter in the tank every 2–3 months.
Barista Touch vs Barista Touch Impress
The Barista Touch Impress adds Breville’s Impress puck system: a lever that tamps for you at a set pressure, plus automatic dose correction that adjusts how much coffee it grinds next time. It also has a slightly updated grinder. It typically costs around $200–$500 more.
- Choose the Barista Touch if you are happy to tamp yourself and want to save money.
- Choose the Impress if you want the most guided experience and fewer messy tamps.
Barista Touch vs Barista Express
The Barista Express uses dials and a pressure gauge instead of a touchscreen, and a thermocoil that takes longer to heat. It costs a lot less. If you want to learn espresso hands-on, the Express is still a great value. See how it compares with other models in our Bambino Plus vs Barista Express comparison.
What is in the box
Breville includes a 54 mm stainless steel portafilter, single and dual wall filter baskets in one- and two-cup sizes, a tamper, a 480 ml stainless milk jug, the Razor dose trimming tool, a cleaning kit, and a water filter with holder. You do not need to buy extras to get started, although a scale and a WDT tool help.
Who should buy the Breville Barista Touch?
- Buy it if you want quick, consistent milk drinks, like guided controls, and have the budget.
- Skip it if you mostly drink straight espresso and want to experiment with light roasts, or if you want the lowest price. A Bambino Plus plus a separate grinder may suit you better.
For more options at different prices, read our guide to the best espresso machines for beginners and our best espresso machines under $500.
FAQ
Is the Breville Barista Touch worth it?
For people who drink milk-based coffee daily and want an easy, all-in-one machine, it is good value compared with café spending. If you only want espresso, cheaper machines can match it on shot quality.
Does the Barista Touch have a built-in grinder?
Yes. It has a stainless steel conical burr grinder with 30 settings that doses straight into the 54 mm portafilter.
How long does the Barista Touch take to heat up?
Breville rates the ThermoJet system at about 3 seconds to reach brewing temperature. Running a blank shot to warm the portafilter still helps shot quality.
Can the Barista Touch make iced drinks?
It has no dedicated cold brew mode, but you can pull shots over ice or into cold milk for iced lattes and shaken espresso drinks.
What is the difference between the Barista Touch and the Barista Pro?
The Barista Pro uses buttons and an LCD screen instead of a touchscreen and has a manual steam wand only. The Touch adds automatic milk texturing and saved drink profiles.
How often should you descale the Barista Touch?
Follow the on-screen prompt, which is usually every 2–3 months. Hard water means more frequent descaling.
