Breville Barista Pro vs Oracle: The Toughest Decision I Have To Make Picking The True Winner Espresso Machine

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Are you interested in knowing the winner of the debate Breville Barista Pro vs Oracle? I’m here to humbly offer my personal view and answer to this question: Breville Barista Pro is my pick!

The winner Breville Barista Pro has my vote thanks to its optimum design with PID temperature control technology and a lightning-fast 3s heat-up time. It can extract bold and full-bodied espresso on a daily basis while frothing the creamiest milk foam. However, what truly seals the deal for me is its highly affordable price. Barista Pro is a good example of value and price!

On the other hand, Breville Oracle is an expensive high-end espresso machine with a dual boiler system that froths milk foam to perfection. Its espresso flavor is also worth mentioning since it’s robust and sweet. What icks me is that the price is too high for to simplistic value that the device offers.

Breville Barista Pro vs Oracle: Comparison Chart

Image
THE WINNER (#1)
Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine, 2 liters, Brushed Stainless Steel, BES878BSS
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Breville BES980XL Oracle Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel
Model
Breville Barista Pro
Breville Oracle
Dimensions (LxWxH)
13 x 12 x 13 inches
14.5 x 14.7 x 17.6 inches
Color / Material
Silver/ Stainless Steel
Silver/ Brushed Stainless Steel
Water Tank Capacity
64.2 oz
84 oz
Weight / Power / Voltage
20 Pounds/ 1680W/ 120V
37.26 Pounds/ 1800W/ 110–120V
Bean Hopper Size
8 oz
9.5 oz
Grinder type
Steel conical burr grinder
Steel conical burr grinder
Used Coffee Drawer Capacity
No dreg drawer
No dreg drawer
Grind Settings
30 settings
45 settings
Hot drinks' temperature
PID temperature control
3 seconds heat-up
Heating system
ThermoJet
dual boiler
Auto-purge
Milk frother
Steam wand
Steam wand
Programmable Drinks
2
4
What I Like
Price
$849.95
$2,199.95
THE WINNER (#1)
Image
Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine, 2 liters, Brushed Stainless Steel, BES878BSS
Model
Breville Barista Pro
Dimensions (LxWxH)
13 x 12 x 13 inches
Color / Material
Silver/ Stainless Steel
Water Tank Capacity
64.2 oz
Weight / Power / Voltage
20 Pounds/ 1680W/ 120V
Bean Hopper Size
8 oz
Grinder type
Steel conical burr grinder
Used Coffee Drawer Capacity
No dreg drawer
Grind Settings
30 settings
Hot drinks' temperature
PID temperature control
3 seconds heat-up
Heating system
ThermoJet
Auto-purge
Milk frother
Steam wand
Programmable Drinks
2
What I Like
Price
$849.95
More Info
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Image
Breville BES980XL Oracle Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel
Model
Breville Oracle
Dimensions (LxWxH)
14.5 x 14.7 x 17.6 inches
Color / Material
Silver/ Brushed Stainless Steel
Water Tank Capacity
84 oz
Weight / Power / Voltage
37.26 Pounds/ 1800W/ 110–120V
Bean Hopper Size
9.5 oz
Grinder type
Steel conical burr grinder
Used Coffee Drawer Capacity
No dreg drawer
Grind Settings
45 settings
Hot drinks' temperature
PID temperature control
3 seconds heat-up
Heating system
dual boiler
Auto-purge
Milk frother
Steam wand
Programmable Drinks
4
What I Like
Price
$2,199.95
More Info

Last update on 2023-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Breville Barista Pro vs Oracle: Differences

Breville Barista Pro wins 3-1 against Oracle, but they also stand to par regarding grinders’ performance. I will give more detailed comments below!

Espresso flavor and temperature

Winner: Breville Barista Pro

Breville Barista Pro and Breville Oracle brew equally delicious espresso with the authentic flavor of the roast. What makes Barista Pro the winner is its temperature performance. I have been able to pull drinks as hot as 170°F, and they stay warm for a longer time. With Oracle, it’s hard to pull anything hotter than 155°F. It runs around 150°F only (if my thermometer is correct) most of the time.

Grinder’s design and operation

Tie

Breville Barista Pro and Oracle are equipped with a steel conical burr grinder. Both are very potent, and I don’t find any aspect to function out of their original purpose. The noise level is not too high either. And the ground texture that I get is even without lumpy bits that can possibly ruin my balanced cups of espresso.

Breville Oracle boasts a powerful grinder
Breville Oracle boasts a powerful grinder

Oracle has more grinder settings than Barista Pro. It boasts 45 settings, while Barista Pro offers 30. Overall, I don’t think it’s a big difference that makes me think Oracle has a better grinder design. Why? 30 settings are more than enough to adjust the ground texture. In addition, you can fine-tune the ground from fine to coarse.

I have set the grinders at the highest level, and to my expectation, the ground is very fine, too fine for consistent extraction. So even though it’s possible, I don’t recommend setting the grinder too high cause that will put too much work on the pump pressure and the portafilter baskets.

Steam Wand

Winner: Breville Oracle

The PID temperature control on the Barista Pro allows for accurate temperature and milk texturing control. It has a manual steam wand that allows you to set the proper steaming temperature for the milk.

The Barista Pro also has a single ThermoJet element that controls temperature and allows you to modify it precisely. For example, raise the temperature by 2 degrees at a time to guarantee a smooth and uniform extraction.

This impacts the steam wand in that it allows you to manage the temperature/texture of the milk to improve its flavor. Hand texturing for the ideal latte art is a talent that takes time to master. So, once you know what you want, a manual steam wand becomes easy to manage.

Moving on, the Oracle outperforms the Barista Pro by including twin boilers. This eliminates the need to wait for the steam wand to reach the proper temperature for texturing. Most notably, the Oracle has both manual and automated steam wand control. In addition, you can set a timer to warm up the machine in the morning.

Heat-up time

Winner: Breville Barista Pro

Breville Barista Pro is equipped with a ThermoJet heating system, which is famously known for its fast heat-up time. As for Oracle, it puts its dual boiler to good use. As a result, both systems have benefits regarding temperature and efficiency. But solely speaking of heat-up time, Breville Barista Pro gives Oracle a run for its money.

Breville Barista Pro boasts a super-quick heat-up time
Breville Barista Pro boasts a super-quick heat-up time

While Barista Pro only takes 3 seconds to warm up and start brewing, Oracle needs to prime for 3-5 minutes. Of course, the optimal heat-up time may take longer so that the coffee temperature comes out the hottest possible. I recommend leaving Barista Pro on for 2 minutes and Oracle for 10 minutes. But, as you can see, this highlights the difference in the heat-up time of the pair.

Price and value

Winner: Breville Barista Pro

In terms of price and value, I believe Breville Barista Pro excels. This machine is half the price of Oracle, and even though Oracle is better at frothing milk thanks to its dual boiler, I don’t find other aspects of this model to be highly superior compared to Barista Pro.

The overall price and performance boil down to one question: “Which espresso machine is worth buying more?” And with the stability of espresso quality and the price tag that Breville Barista Pro offers, I think it’s a solid winner.

Breville Barista Pro is affordable
Breville Barista Pro is affordable

Breville Barista Pro vs Oracle: Similarities

I will reveal the 2 major similarities between these 2 machines below!

Auto-purge

Breville Barista Pro and Oracle boast an auto-purge system that helps with cleaning. These machines will purge the steam wand automatically after each frothing session to ensure no residue is left inside the wand, which will go sour and infect quickly if not removed on time. Any user who has owned an espresso knows the importance of cleaning the devices frequently and thoroughly, so I highly appreciate this feature.

Large drip tray

A large drip tray is always a plus point for espresso machines, which commonly consume and dispense a huge amount of water during and after pulling espresso. With the auto-purge function that quickly fills the tray, a spacious one helps avoid spilling and frequent dumping. I really like how Breville designed it.

Quick Rundown Of Breville Barista Pro

Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine, 2 liters, Brushed Stainless Steel, BES878BSS
  • Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use

Last update on 2023-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Quick heat-up time in 3 seconds
  • Strong heating system (ThermoJet) & consistency (PID)
  • Features a separate hot water dispenser
  • High pressure steam wand that can froth microfoam
  • Quiet smooth and silent grinder
  • The machine has a warming tray
  • Very good water temperature for hot coffees
Cons
  • Manual tamping
  • Not many convenient extra features

Quick Rundown Of Breville Oracle

Breville BES980XL Oracle Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel
  • Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted

Last update on 2023-03-29 / 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

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5/5 - (2 votes)