Barista Touch Vs Oracle: Is It A Wise Investment?

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In this post, I have some reviews and comparisons between Barista Touch Vs Oracle. With the Oracle, you have the advantage of speed, but the Barista Touch is more intuitive with its interface for making espresso drinks. Additionally, an innovative feature allows you to save your drinks or select a pre-programmed drink directly from the menu, saving time and effort.

With the Breville Barista Touch, you can make espresso drinks at home more quickly and with intricate features. The touchscreen display and intuitive user interface allow you to pull a shot or two of espresso faster.

The Breville Oracle comes with a bright LCD display with a buttons interface. You will enjoy a tasty and rich espresso that is perfect for beginners. This will allow you to understand the critical variables, such as the brewing time and strength, without feeling confused to learn about them. I was impressed with the fresh, clean interface, auto and manual controls that are indeed a paradise for espresso lovers!

Barista Touch Vs Oracle: Comparison Chart

Image
The Winner (#1)
Breville Oracle Espresso Machine BES980XL, Brushed Stainless Steel
The Runner-Up (#2)
Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine BES880BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
Model
Breville Oracle 980XL
Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS
Dimensions (LxWxH)
14.5 x 14.7 x 17.6 Inches
12.7 x 15.5 x 16 Inches
Color
Brushed Stainless Steel
Brushed Stainless Steel
Weight
37.26 Pounds
23 Pounds
Material
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Power/Voltage
1800 W/ 110–120 V
1680W/ 110–120 V
Portafilter Size
57 mm
54 mm
Water Level Indicator
Only For Drip Tray
For Water Tank & Drip Tray
Heating System
Stainless Steel Dual Boiler + PID
ThermoJet + PID
Water Tank Capacity
84 Ounces
67 Ounces
Pre-Programmable Coffees
Adjustable Grind Settings
Automatic Tamping
Automatic Milk Frothing
Bean Hopper Capacity
8 Ounces
8 Ounces
Removable Drip Tray
What I Like
Price
$2,179.94
$999.95
The Winner (#1)
Image
Breville Oracle Espresso Machine BES980XL, Brushed Stainless Steel
Model
Breville Oracle 980XL
Dimensions (LxWxH)
14.5 x 14.7 x 17.6 Inches
Color
Brushed Stainless Steel
Weight
37.26 Pounds
Material
Stainless Steel
Power/Voltage
1800 W/ 110–120 V
Portafilter Size
57 mm
Water Level Indicator
Only For Drip Tray
Heating System
Stainless Steel Dual Boiler + PID
Water Tank Capacity
84 Ounces
Pre-Programmable Coffees
Adjustable Grind Settings
Automatic Tamping
Automatic Milk Frothing
Bean Hopper Capacity
8 Ounces
Removable Drip Tray
What I Like
Price
$2,179.94
More Info
The Runner-Up (#2)
Image
Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine BES880BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
Model
Breville Barista Touch BES880BSS
Dimensions (LxWxH)
12.7 x 15.5 x 16 Inches
Color
Brushed Stainless Steel
Weight
23 Pounds
Material
Stainless Steel
Power/Voltage
1680W/ 110–120 V
Portafilter Size
54 mm
Water Level Indicator
For Water Tank & Drip Tray
Heating System
ThermoJet + PID
Water Tank Capacity
67 Ounces
Pre-Programmable Coffees
Adjustable Grind Settings
Automatic Tamping
Automatic Milk Frothing
Bean Hopper Capacity
8 Ounces
Removable Drip Tray
What I Like
Price
$999.95
More Info

Last update on 2024-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Barista Touch Vs Oracle: Differences

I can conclude that the Breville Barista Touch is the better choice for everyday use! For its easy to use programmability, intuitive design, and stunning stainless steel construction, this appliance gets the point of 3 – 4!

1. PORTAFILTER SIZE

The Winner: Breville Oracle

Stainless steel portafilters come with the Breville Oracle’s 58mm coffee maker. It also features a 54mm portafilter, which is slightly smaller than the previous version. In professional baristas, 58mm is the standard between these two. Portafilters that are 54mm in diameter were designed to prevent spraying because they are more profound than a 58mm filter, which prevents spraying of the liquid.

A 54mm basket, when combined with stainless steel, makes the puck have even more coffee volume. The most significant benefit of brewing properly is that it can extract maximum flavour with a higher level of body and aroma strength.

Furthermore, the benefits of using a 58mm or 54mm portafilter are determined by how the respective machines are designed to manage the temperature. With a shorter heat-up time and a reduced heat loss, you can achieve a smoother extraction.

So, since the flavour isn’t so different between a 54mm and a 58mm, it’s hard to tell the difference. Either one will produce a good espresso. However, a lot of research shows that buying the 58mm is the best option in terms of quality. Besides offering a greater level of consistency, it is durable and withstands intense use.

2. WATER FILTRATION

The Winner: Breville Barista Touch

Breville Barista Touch: Water filter
Breville Barista Touch: Water filter

When you use an espresso machine often, mineral scale and other unwanted deposits can build up inside the machine. If your machine is clean and descaled, you can make perfect espresso at home.

Avoid hard tap water or filtered water to prevent permanent damage.

Fortunately for all Oracle and Barista Touch owners, both models feature a water filter and a holder. The procedure will prevent the machine from building upscale and keep it in good working condition. Furthermore, it also prevents premature wear and tears in expensive and complex machines designed for automatic brewing.

What makes the water filter different from the others is the quality. The Barista Touch’s water filter is a class apart from the Oracle, a high-quality, consistent filter.

With the ClaroSwiss water filter, you can be assured that the water is free of impurities and scale that would otherwise cause problems. As a result, the flavour of your coffee will be enhanced greatly. The filter in the reservoir works tirelessly to refine the water to make it more refined and clean for espresso, even if you use tap water.

While the standard water filter and holder on the Oracle are reliable, they fall short in performance and efficiency. The two machines both feature a hardness test strip to ensure that the filter is working properly and that you can instantly taste the difference.

3. SIZE

The Winner: Breville Oracle

Breville Oracle comes in a much larger size than the Barista Touch. This is because it is equipped with a larger or rather 84-ounce water reservoir, which carries more water. Compared to the Barista Touch, it is bigger, wider, and bulkier.

Its 67-ounce water tank gives it an edge over its competitors and is made of BPA-free plastic. That is definitely a plus for the Barista Touch. This makes it safer and more dependable to use for an extended period.

In other words, it measures 12.7 x 15.5 x 16 inches in size, so it is lightweight and is simple to move around. This coffee grinder is still light and convenient to use, even with the coffee grinder on top of it. If you ask me, I would recommend it to people with smaller kitchen spaces.

Besides that, I’d also like to mention that the Oracle comes with a water tank embedded within the machine. This means the water tank won’t pop out using the machine. The water tank of the Barista Touch is located outside the machine. They only share the same feature of having water tanks at the back.

You can install the Oracle anywhere and just have to move some things around to make space for it. However, you will save money in the long run because it has a large water tank with fewer refills.

4. PRE-PROGRAMMED COFFEES

The Breville Oracle Touch has pre-infusion technology and low pressure that Barista Pro doesn't have
The Breville Oracle Touch has pre-infusion technology and low pressure that Barista Pro doesn’t have

The Winner: Breville Barista Touch

The buttons and LCD display of the Breville Oracle make it easy and convenient to adjust each parameter. You will no longer have to guess the dosage by manually pulling a shot.

With the addition of the coffee grinder and the automatic tamper/dosing and texture settings, the machine improves accuracy and reduces the time it takes to brew. Moreover, it is easy to operate, with buttons that are sturdy to hold and a bright LCD display.

There are many options available to you regarding dose, tamping pressure, strength, the size of the shot, and even the milk temperature and texture. This model comes with a Pre-Infusion feature and dual stainless-steel boilers, making programming easier.

Breville Oracle gets it right when it comes to programmability. Regarding preprogrammed settings, it falls just one step below the Barista Touch. 

With the Barista Touch, you’ll have access to every one of the features mentioned above for an Oracle device. The coffee maker incorporates 5 preprogrammed options for the perfect café-style coffee drink. These include espressos, long blacks, lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites.

Nonetheless, I should mention that the Oracle features a ‘Long Black’ button with adjustable settings for creating a rich cup of coffee. The Oracle has one preprogrammed function, and the Barista Touch has five pre-programmed tasks.

A unique feature of the Barista Touch is that you can design and save up to eight different coffee recipes – a unique feature that lets you create the perfect coffee drink every time. This helps you save time by not repeating your favorite beverage according to your preference of strength and volume. Unfortunately, Oracle does not offer you such an option.

5. INTERFACE

The Winner: Breville Oracle & Barista Touch

Barista Touch and Breville Oracle both have superior interfaces. There are a lot of controls available in the program, and navigating without getting lost is easy. I also like how Oracle’s buttons respond quickly and feel solid. Barista Touch has the same ‘Swipe and Select’ touchscreen as its predecessor.

Even though they differ in design, both machines offer users a more accessible and more precise way to interact with them.

6. CLEANING

Oracle: Cleaning system
Oracle: Cleaning system

The Winner: Breville Oracle

First of all, Oracle’s automatic tamping and dosing save a great deal of time cleaning up. It has several different tools to help you clean effectively and efficiently. You can keep your Oracle machine safe, efficient, and productive by keeping it clean with the Cleaning Kit that comes with the device.

Consequently, it is less likely to cause splatters when cleaning, and it’s easy to maintain and clean. It’s not anything that you weren’t expecting anyway, especially from a box as powerful as Oracle.

The Oracle is the easier-to-use and mess-free espresso machine out there, even though it is more expensive. The Barista Touch’s automatic purging setting causes more mess long term despite both devices significantly enhancing releasing hot steam after you finish brewing.

When the steam wand is first activated, it splatters milk around its perimeter. I have to clean them out with a cloth to remove the tough stains.

This process takes about 30 seconds, and you will need to clean up splatters of water and milk afterwards.

Barista Touch Vs Oracle: Similarities

Barista Touch Vs Oracle: Is It A Wise Investment?

Barista Touch and Oracle both operate at high-quality levels. They deliver espresso, single and double shots, with steamed milk, with just a couple of pushes. These two machines both contain sensors and precise settings that ensure reliable and fast performance.

These features are all present in the Breville Oracle and Barista Touch: PID temperature controls, an automatic steam wand, quick self-cleaning functionality, and a removable drip tray with an indicator.

Because both machines combine the best features of semiautomatic and super-automatic machines, they are deemed a hybrid between them. However, the main difference is their price. Furthermore, the Barista Touch even has a touchscreen interface for more tech-savvy users.

Moreover, the rest of the features, such as the brew speed, the quality of foam during frothing, and the complicated settings, are very similar as well!

Quick Rundown Of Breville Oracle BES980XL

Breville Oracle Espresso Machine BES980XL, Brushed Stainless Steel
  • AUTOMATIC MICROFOAM MILK TEXTURING: Self-cleaning steam wand, powered by a dedicated boiler, automatically textures milk to your liking and delivers barista quality microfoam that enhances flavour and is essential for creating latte art at home
  • PRECISE ESPRESSO EXTRACTION: Dual stainless steel boilers and heated group head controlled by digital temperature control (PID) delivers water at precisely the right temperature, ensuring optimal espresso extraction
  • OPTIMAL WATER PRESSURE: The Over Pressure Valve limits the maximum pump pressure throughout extraction, helping prevent bitter flavours; Low pressure pre infusion gradually increases water pressure to gently expand grinds for an even extraction
  • SHOT CONTROL AND LCD DISPLAY: Choose between one shot, two shots or manual control on the LCD display to control how much espresso ends up in your cup to make the perfect coffee/espresso every time

Last update on 2024-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Easily programmable machine with a user-friendly interface.
  • You can grind coffee beans of all kinds in it.
  • Featuring a stainless steel dual boiler, this appliance will heat up quickly.
  • Controls for temperature and strength that are accurate.
  • An automatic grinder and tamper for daily use.
Cons
  • Plastic parts and poor design.
  • After prolonged use, it may become hot.

Quick Rundown Of Breville Barista Touch BES880

Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine BES880BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel
  • Item Package Dimension: 17.39L x 16.19W x 16.19H inches
  • Item Package Weight - 28.25 Pounds
  • Item Package Quantity - 1
  • Product Type - COFFEE MAKER

Last update on 2024-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Easy-to-use one-touch display with 5 pre-set coffee settings.
  • Up to nine customised coffees can be saved.
  • Automated cleaning capability.
  • The BPA-free water reservoir has a water level indicator, making it easy to refill.
  • Programming is easy and quick.
Cons
  • Steam wands are a little cumbersome to operate.
  • Sometimes, the foam produced by this machine is really thick.

Product Video

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References

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