Breville Barista Touch Review: Can’t Touch This!

If you’ve read my best Breville espresso machine guide, you’ll already know how highly I rate the Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine. Still, a couple of paragraphs aren’t enough to discuss why this is one of my favorite mid range espresso machines, hence this Breville Barista Touch review.

Amidst Breville’s lineup of mid range espresso makers, I’d consider the Barista Touch to be a major standout. It’s Breville’s mid range flagship machine, its crowning jewel, its pride and joy – whichever analogy you’d prefer. Of course, now you’ll want to know more!

I ordered the Barista Touch to test out for you. I’ve spent a bunch of time playing with it recently, and I’m excited to tell you how it went.

So, if you’re looking for easily digestible Breville Barista Touch reviews, look no further — read the rest of this guide to find out why I’m such a big fan of this fancy espresso machine.

Breville Barista Touch Overview

As I mentioned in my guide to the best home espresso machines, I consider the Breville Oracle Touch to be the Australian manufacturer’s best performing machine. However, it’s also packing a price tag close to $3,000. That’s enough to scare a lot of home baristas away, no matter how impressive its features might be.

Not everyone has the cash value of a used car lying around, so at $999.95, the Barista Touch might be easier to stomach. Part of the reason I’m drawing these comparisons is becauseI consider the Barista Touch to be kind of an “Oracle Touch Lite.”

There are really only a couple of big differences between these machines, starting with the boiler. While the Oracle Touch is a dual boiler coffee machine, the Barista Touch has a single boiler on board. I’ll get into why that matters later on in my Breville Barista Touch review, but for now, just know that it does make a difference.

The other major divide between these two? The Oracle Touch has automatic features that the Barista Touch doesn’t. The Barista Touch is very much a semi automatic, which means you’ll need to take care of tamping manually.

That might be a deal-breaker for some. However, as I get into the best aspects of this machine, I hope you’ll see it doesn’t have to be. If you ask me, a few extra seconds to dose and tamp the portafilter every morning is worth features like pre programmed specialty drinks and a ThermoJet heating system.

Breville Barista Touch Features

I’ve touched on a few of this machine’s features already – pun intended – but they’re only the tip of the espresso puck. Let’s get into why I’ve named the Barista Touch Breville’s best overall mid range espresso machine.

Compact Design

At 26 pounds (12.2 kilograms), the Barista Touch is a compact espresso maker – but not necessarily lightweight. You might need to hit the gym before you can comfortably lift it. However, once it’s on your countertop it shouldn’t take up a ton of space.

Breville has a knack for making espresso machines with compact footprints, and the Barista Touch is no exception.

Speaking of design, it’s about time I talked about the Touch’s sleek stainless steel housing. There are some manufacturers that go out of their way to give each of their espresso machines a unique look, but Breville isn’t one of them. I suppose you could argue that brushed stainless steel is their signature look. Either way, you won’t find me complaining about it!

Even if most of Breville’s machines look almost identical, you can’t go wrong with durable metal housing that’s easy to clean. While there is some plastic involved, it’s kept to a minimum. I’m particularly fond of the Barista Touch’s mirrored backsplash; it’s a great way to check your hair while making coffee in the morning!

Colors

I’ll admit that I got a bit spoiled after Breville released the Barista Pro in a wide variety of food-themed colors. I was expecting the same treatment for the Barista Touch, but you’ve only got four neutral options to pick from: Brushed Stainless Steel, Black Stainless Steel, Damson Blue and Black Truffle.

User Interface

If you’re familiar with some of Breville’s other semi automatics, you’ll know that the Barista Touch was the first machine to get an upgraded touchscreen display. Its interface is also one of the major features setting it apart from machines like the Barista Express or the Barista Pro.

Not all home baristas will care about a touchscreen, but I do think that it makes a difference. Analog controls – as retro-cool as they may look – aren’t always easier to program.

Anyone who’s used analog control machines knows how frustrating they can be. Changing temperature or grind size can mean memorizing a variety of button combinations and patterns. I’d prefer to leave the memory tests and brain games for doctor visits – not making my morning espresso macchiato.

With the Barista Touch, I doubt you’ll have any trouble navigating the touchscreen display. You’ll be able to adjust brewing temperature, milk texture and coffee strength. In fact, you’ll have to use the touchscreen for everything besides turning the machine on. There are even settings to personalize coffee recipes, which I’ll get into later in my Breville Barista Touch review.

Conical Burr Grinder

We all know that using the best burr coffee grinder is almost as crucial as the espresso machine itself. For this reason, I expect a lot from the grinders I review, especially built in ones. The Barista Touch features a built in stainless steel conical burr grinder, so it’s off to a good start.

If grinders aren’t your forté, allow me to explain. Not only do burr grinders outperform blade grinders in terms of consistency, the conical shape helps dampen noise during operation. I mean, do you really want to wake up the whole house (or the neighbors) every time you make coffee?

The Barista Touch’s grinder isn’t perfect, but you can still count on it for a consistent, uniform grind size. There are 30 grind settings to pick from, so you have plenty of room to maneuver.

My only complaint about the Barista Touch grinder is that it’s essentially been copied and pasted from the cheaper Barista Pro – even down to the number of grind settings. As much as I like the Barista Pro grinder, I would’ve liked to have seen some more grind settings. Even just five more notches would’ve felt like a step closer to the Oracle Touch’s 45 grind size options.

With all that said, I found this grinder to be far superior to the one on the Barista Express. Not only is there a wider range of grind adjustment settings on offer, each click feels like a smaller increment. I don’t have the numbers in microns, but I felt like I was closer to being able to make micro-adjustments with the Barista Touch grinder.

Automatic Dosing

Another perk of having a built in grinder? You don’t have to worry about dosing if you don’t want to. That’s the case with the Barista Touch’s automatic dosing feature, which makes the grinding process almost completely hands free.

You can program the machine to dose by time, so you only need to worry about making sure you’ve positioned the portafilter beneath the grinder.

Of course, you always have the option to manually dose your shots by keeping the portafilter against the grind button. That’s a level of control freakiness that not every home barista may need, but at least you’ve got the choice!

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of the dose timer function. After all, as soon as you make a grind adjustment you have to change the timer to compensate. That can get really tricky to deal with unless you’ve got a coffee scale handy.

Incidentally, dosing with the Breville Barista Touch is super clean and efficient thanks to the included portafilter collar. You simply click it onto the portafilter before inserting it into the grinder cradle. I was really impressed by how this works, and I barely noticed any stray coffee grounds.

Pre-Infusion

This feature functions just like it sounds. Before the machine extracts your espresso, it will automatically soak your coffee grounds with slow bursts of water. That may not seem like a big deal, but the end result is a more even extraction  – and better-tasting espresso.

My only gripe is that I wasn’t able to adjust the pre infusion settings on this machine. Other Breville espresso machines let you play around with pre infusion times, but that’s not an option with the Barista Touch. If you ask me, that’s a huge oversight on Breville’s part. Especially seeing as the manufacturer likes to set pre infusion at a whopping 10 seconds.

Digital PID Temperature Control

Like most of Breville’s semi automatics, the Barista Touch comes equipped with digital PID temperature control. A sensor constantly monitors and regulates temperature at the group head, ensuring stability throughout the brewing process.

As the name suggests, this feature gives you control over the brewing temperature. There are 8 temperature settings to pick from, which is almost double the range you get with the Barista Pro. I’ll give Breville a little extra credit for stepping up their game here!

Not everyone may want to tinker with temperature controls, but if I’ve learned anything about making espresso, it’s that brewing temperature is super important. A couple of degrees can make or break your espresso shot. So, the more precise your temperature control, the easier it’ll be to dial in that perfect shot.

Boiler

As I’ve mentioned previously in my Breville Barista Touch review, this is a single boiler machine. Still, it’s a ThermoJet heating system, which only takes three seconds to heat up.

My only complaint about the ThermoJet system is that it doesn’t heat up the group head and cup warmer like a thermocoil. Well, it does, but only after you’ve been using the machine for a while. During my testing, I had to use the hot water function to heat up the portafilter and flush the group head to bring it up to temperature.

Milk Foam

Want to rile up a room of home baristas? Ask them if auto steam wands are better than manual steam wands. It’s an easy way to cause some division – although I think most people will still be able to appreciate the Barista Touch’s auto frothing wand.

You could argue that having more control with a manual steam wand is what helps you create superior milk foam for latte art. Even so, there are distinct advantages that come with an automatic milk frother like this one.

For one, you’ve got a lot of control over how much froth the wand produces as well as temperature of your milk. There’s a sensor on the drip tray that measures the temperature of your milk and stops the wand once it reaches your desired setting.

Besides pressing a few buttons and putting the included stainless steel milk jug in position, the steam wand handles all the hard work for you. Once again, this is a distinct upgrade from the manual steam wands on the Barista Pro and the Barista Express.

I have to say I was extremely dubious before using the auto frothing wand. I mean, surely this thing wouldn’t be able to compete with my expert milk texturing technique! However, I’m happy to report that my mind was blown.

I don’t know how they’ve done it, but the folks at Breville have created a great success here. Time after time, the auto frothing wand whipped up sublime milk froth and I was left smiling and shaking my head. Oh, and the automatic milk texturing wand even has a cool self purging function once it’s back in position after steaming. I love this thing!

Specialty Drinks

If I’m being honest, the specialty drink menu is probably the Barista Touch’s biggest selling point.

You’ve got eight pre programmed drink recipes, including cappuccino, flat white and more. Not only can you use the touch screen to pick between them, but you can also change the presets to fit your preferences.

Listen, I get what’s going on here – Breville is trying to make the Barista Touch as close to an automatic machine as possible without going all the way. However, at the end of the day, you’re still going to have to pour the drink by hand. It’s all very well having a cappuccino on the menu, but if you can’t pour it correctly it’s just espresso with hot milk.

If you’re not going to take advantage of the specialty drink options, you might as well stick with the Barista Pro. You’ll get a lot of the same internal components minus the coffee shop drink menu and auto frothing wand.

User Profiles

Speaking of that drink menu, there’s technically a user profile function on the Barista Touch. I say technically because it’s not organized the same way that some user profile features are. However, it works similarly. Instead of saving “profiles,” the Barista Touch saves recipes.

Since you’ve got up to eight drink recipes, you can personalize how these espresso drinks are made – right down to nitty-gritty details like the amount of froth or the brew temperature. When you’re done programming your preferences, you can save the recipe and label it. Next time you want that drink, all you’ve got to do is press the button and wait for the magic to happen.

Filter Baskets

Breville usually doesn’t skimp on the accessories, and filter baskets are no exception. In addition to a 54 millimeter portafilter, you get both single and dual wall filter baskets with this machine.

If these tiny, porous baskets all look the same, here’s why terminology like “single wall” or “dual wall” matters. The Breville Barista Touch filter baskets with a dual wall are pressurized, and usually, the go-to option if you’re using pre ground coffee. Your non pressurized single wall baskets are what you’ll probably use the rest of the time – or at least whenever you’re grinding fresh beans.

Some baristas might instruct you to just throw those pressurized baskets in the trash, but I won’t! Even if your pressurized baskets spend most of their time collecting dust on your counter, they’re still the best option for pre ground coffee. If you decide you want a decaf at the end of a long day, you’ll want to keep those babies around.

Tamping

Manual tamping is another trait that separates the Barista Touch from the Oracle Touch, but I’m not complaining. Many home baristas prefer manual tamping over auto tamping, and the stainless steel tamper you get with the Barista Touch isn’t too bad. Granted, this machine will set you back more than $1,000. I’d half-expect a gold-coated espresso tamper at this price point!

How to Use the Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine

Did you think I’d forget to cover how to use this coffee maker in my Breville Barista Touch review? I know this is a bold statement, but I think the touchscreen makes this machine even easier to use than the Barista Pro or the Barista Express. Don’t worry – I’m ready to back up those words with, well, more words.

Before getting started you’ll need to install the water filter in the reservoir. After that, turn on the machine and follow the instructions on the screen for initial setup.

Brewing Espresso

To make an espresso shot from scratch, here’s what you’ll need to do:

Breville Barista Touch Observations

To be honest, I’m kind of old fashioned when it comes to semi-automatic espresso machines. I usually prefer a simple, analog approach. So, upon starting out with the Barista Touch, I fought against the touchscreen interface for a minute.

However, once I let go and embraced the concept, I found myself really enjoying this machine. Although the touchscreen is a little “sticky,” I soon got the hang of it. Plus, the whole thing is just so darned intuitive that I didn’t need to consult the user manual at all. Incidentally, there’s a whole tutorial section in the menu, which will be really great for beginners.

I won’t go into great detail about my experiences dialing in espresso, suffice to say it took me a while to get to grips with the grinder settings and dose timer. Still, I was eventually able to get some truly delicious espresso shots from the Barista Touch.

With the coffee beans I was using, I got the best results with a grind setting of 18 and a dose of 19 grams. Again, I highly recommend using a coffee scale with this machine.

What I really loved was the shot timer function. I’ve found the volumetric controls on other Breville machines to be pretty inconsistent, so being able to play with extraction times was super cool. Ultimately, having all the grind, dose and shot time information on the screen was awesome and made dialing in very efficient.

I will say that I missed having a pressure gauge – I love this feature on the Breville Barista Express. Plus, I just really wish I could adjust the pre infusion time. Breville, if you’re reading this, make that an upgrade on the next version of this machine!

Breville Barista Touch Cleaning

I think you’ll be able to appreciate how easy it is to maintain the Barista Touch.

First up, let’s talk about cleaning and descaling. While the Breville Barista Touch water filter should eliminate the need for frequent descaling, you’ll still need to run cleaning cycles from time to time.

The machine will alert you when it’s time to run a cleaning cycle – you just need to give the go-ahead. Plus, you’ll need to have some Breville Espresso Cleaning Tablets on hand. If only cleaning the entire house was as simple as pressing a button!

Anyway, not all of the Barista Touch maintenance is automated. Emptying the drip tray or cleaning out the portafilter is just as manual as you’d expect. When the buoy floats, that’s when you know it’s time to empty out the tray.

Like any espresso machine, you will still need to wipe down the bean hopper and the water tank regularly. The stainless steel exterior of the Barista Touch isn’t immune to stains or spills either, but a damp cloth and a mild cleaner will be your best friend.

Really, there is just one golden rule for maintaining the Barista Touch: keep the machine and its components away from the dishwasher. The dishwasher may seem like a dream come true, but it’s only a shortcut to needing a new espresso maker.

Breville Barista Touch Specifications

Breville Barista Touch vs Other Espresso Machines

I’ve been bragging a lot about this machine throughout my Breville Barista Touch review, but how does it compare to its rivals? Let’s find out!

Breville Barista Touch vs Breville Barista Express

The enduring Breville Barista Express is one of the best-selling espresso machines of all time, and for good reason.

Costing just $696.49, this workhorse machine is easy to use and consistently delivers good espresso. And while it doesn’t have an automatic frother, you can get perfectly good milk foam using the manual steam wand.

Sure, the Barista Express has its limitations, including a grinder that’s lacking in the settings department. However, for the price, this espresso machine with a built in grinder will definitely satisfy casual home baristas.

See Also: Breville Barista Express Review

Breville Barista Touch vs Breville Barista Touch Impress

Costing $1,482.00, the Breville Barista Touch Impress is one of the manufacturer’s newer models, and definitely brings a lot more automation to the table.

Most notably, the Touch Impress features a wonderful assisted tamping function. What’s more, the touchscreen interface is much improved, as is the burr grinder.

Best of all for newbies, the Breville Barista Touch Impress really walks you through the whole drink-making process and even gives friendly feedback on your dose.

With all that said, the Barista Touch allows you to access and tweak way more adjustable settings, making it more suitable for advanced baristas.

See Also: Breville Barista Touch Impress Review

Breville Barista Touch Review vs Others Comparison Chart

Verdict: Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine Review

If my Breville Barista Touch review wasn’t enough to convince you this machine is a winner, I don’t know what will! Seriously, as we’ve seen, I didn’t name this the best mid range Breville espresso machine for nothing.

It’s not often that I find an espresso machine that excels in making excellent espresso while still providing great value. As many awards as the Barista Express has garnered, it still pales in comparison to the impressive Breville Barista Touch.

That isn’t to say this machine is perfect. Still, if you want the best value for your money, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better espresso machine than the Barista Touch.

Breville Barista Touch Review FAQ