Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine BES878BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
Best for
Best at the prosumer entry ($500-1000)
Amazon rating
Amazon aggregate, one input among many in the Verdict Score
Current price
$849.95
Updated May 15, 2026 · 1 min read
Sources behind this verdict
10 reviewers weighted by source trust
The consensus
What reviewers found
Synthesized across the trust-weighted source mix below.
Across the reviewers we read, the Barista Pro is the consensus answer to 'what's the entry point into real prosumer espresso?' coffeeness.de, the high-trust source here, describes it as an affordable and approachable solution for aspiring home baristas while honestly flagging that it is 'far from perfect.' The thermoblock heating element gets it from cold to ready in roughly three seconds in user reports, and the LCD plus PID combination is repeatedly described in r/espresso threads as the right feature set at the price. Where reviewers disagree is consistent and unsurprising: the built-in grinder. Multiple r/espresso threads, including ones explicitly asking why the machine is not recommended more often, land on the same conclusion that the grinder is 'just barely good enough' and that step size and consistency become limiting once a buyer cares about light roasts.
What reviewers liked
- coffeeness.de validates it as a credible affordable home barista machine
- Three-second heat-up from cold reported consistently by r/espresso owners
- PID temperature control and pressure display at sub-$900
- Very large Amazon review base (3,353) at 4.4 average supports real-world reliability
Where it falls short
- r/espresso consensus is that the built-in grinder is the limiting factor, especially for light roasts
- Thermoblock steam pressure described as lower than boiler machines, 'won't feel like a cafe'
- coffeeness.de explicitly notes it is 'far from perfect'
- No assisted tamping like the Impress at a similar price point
Across the reviewers we read, the Barista Pro is the consensus answer to 'what's the entry point into real prosumer espresso?' coffeeness.de, the high-trust source here, describes it as an affordable and approachable solution for aspiring home baristas while honestly flagging that it is 'far from perfect.' The thermoblock heating element gets it from cold to ready in roughly three seconds in user reports, and the LCD plus PID combination is repeatedly described in r/espresso threads as the right feature set at the price.
Where reviewers disagree is consistent and unsurprising: the built-in grinder. Multiple r/espresso threads, including ones explicitly asking why the machine is not recommended more often, land on the same conclusion that the grinder is 'just barely good enough' and that step size and consistency become limiting once a buyer cares about light roasts. Owners who pair it with an external grinder almost uniformly rate the espresso quality higher. Steam pressure is described as adequate for latte art but lower than boiler-equipped machines.
At around $850 it sits at the genuine entry point of the prosumer band. The trust-weighted case is that this is the most defensible first prosumer purchase if the buyer can accept that the grinder is the eventual upgrade path.
- Highlight 1
- The Breville Barista Pro delivers third wave specialty coffee at home using the 4 keys formula and is part of the Barista Series that offers all in one espresso machines with integrated grinder to go from beans to espresso in under one minute
- 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
- Highlight 4
- Receive 2 free bags of specialty coffee when you purchase and register any Breville coffee machine; T and Cs apply
- 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
- Manual Microfoam Milk Texturing
- The powerful steam wand performs at the level allows you to hand texture microfoam milk that enhances flavor and enables creation of latte art at home
- Intuitive Interface
- LCD display with grinding and extracting progress animations; The screen provides you all the descriptive information you need to make coffee exactly the way you like it every time
It's a great espresso machine! Maybe just because it has a built in grinder, most coffee snobs would not recommend it. I've compared it against ...
The reason not to buy the barista pro is that the grinder isn't very good. There are much better options available if you buy a separate ...
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“Breville Barista Pro (BES878) Honest Review” · YouTube
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