Now Breville is a brand that always comes up when talking about the best coffee machines. And in the popular category of espresso machines, you have this mainstream debate between Breville Cafe Roma vs Barista Express.
Time to compare the two, so your at-home espresso can taste even creamier!
Let’s take each crucial or deciding factor and then compare Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma and Breville BES870XL Barista Express within those limits…
Quick Comparison
Last update on 2023-05-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Breville Cafe Roma vs Barista Express: Detailed Comparison
Brewing Performance
Now you should know that Cafe Roma is a much more affordable unit than Barista Express. Even so, the former gives you a reasonable quantity of espresso shot for the price point.
Needless to say, the subtle crema and flavor nuances often a part of thousand-dollar espresso makers cannot be expected with Cafe Roma (since it’s priced below $200). But, at the same time, there’s no weak-tasting espresso here.
That’s because Cafe Roma features a full 15-bar pressure while the other Breville uses only 9-bar pressure for the extraction process. But both give you single-shot and double-shot filters for crema and consistency.
But with Barista Express, you also get custom controls. Such as Dose-Control Grinding in the form of a built-in conical burr grinder and Grind Size Dial that works with every type of coffee bean. So that explains the comparatively higher price tag of this particular model.
Build Quality
Build quality is one of the most common grounds between the two Breville-made espresso makers. For example, both machines are durable, corrosion-resistant stainless steel units. Obviously, Cafe Roma has the upper hand here because it exudes such remarkable quality at such an affordable price.
This same machine also has a smaller, thus more compact footprint. That’s 9 inches x 9 inches x 12 inches, as opposed to Barista Express dimensions of 12 inches x 13 inches x 13 inches. So if your kitchen countertop space is limited, you know the former is a more suitable choice.
And both offer a 1-year limited warranty, just thought you should know.
Milk Frothing
Can both also prepare delicious cappuccinos and lattes? Well, yes of course. All thanks to the standard steam wand that comes well-equipped with a froth enhancer.
In both cases, you have to learn to froth the milk since both machines aren’t automatic, which means it can be challenging for beginners but there is a learning curve. Nevertheless, the process of frothing milk certainly becomes much easier because of the inclusion of the stainless steel 360-degree steam wand. With it, you get the perfect angle for the steaming pitcher.
On top of that, the infuser, in both Cafe Roma and Barista Express, doesn’t disappoint. Be it for preparing latte-quality silky microfoam or cappuccino-style milk froth.
Cleaning
It just doesn’t make sense if you’re going to end up wasting your time cleaning the coffee maker after every brewing cycle, right?
Fortunately, that’s something you don’t need to worry about with Cafe Roma or Barista Express. Thanks to the simple design of both machines and their stainless steel construction. Along with the removable water tank, which has a large capacity for less frequent re-filling.
Needless to say, Barista Express does require a little extra cleaning since it’s outfitted with a burr grinder as well. But for cleaning that, just take out the bean container with a twist to reach and remove the burrs.
And lastly, both drip trays are removable for easy cleaning. But with Cafe Roma, sadly, there’s no warning light to alert you each time the tray becomes full. Barista Express, on the other hand, gives you the added advantage. But then that’s because the drip tray here is prone to creating more mess because the machine also features a grinder that often gets some coffee grounds into the tray.
Quick Rundown of Breville Barista Express
- Please refer to user guide or user manual or user guide (provided below in PDF) before first use
Last update on 2023-05-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown of Breville Cafe Roma
- Stainless-steel espresso machine with 15-bar thermoblock pump
- Dual-wall filter system for excellent crema; froth enhancer, cup-warming plate
- Accesories: Stainless steel frothing pitcher Tamping tool/measuring spoon/cleaning tool
- Removable drip tray and grid; Frothing jug included
- Measures 9 x 9 x 12 inches; 1-year limited warranty
Last update on 2023-05-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Product Videos
Final Verdict
Go ahead and buy Breville EXP8XL Cafe Roma Espresso Maker if you want an entry-level espresso machine that’s downright straightforward to use. Plus, it has a higher 15-bar pressure for extraction.
As for Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine, it’s the best for espresso brewing geeks who want to have it all. This includes an expresso coffee maker with an integrated burr grinder.
No denying that both espresso machines rank among the top choices. It’s just that one, which is Cafe Roma, is a more budget-friendly pick. While the other, Barista Express, offers more advanced features.
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I am Ralph Mason and I am a passionate coffee drinker. I worked as a barista for a few years and since 2012 I have been trying to convince as many people as possible of good coffee.
I started writing on the barista blog on RepublikCoffeeBar in 2018. It was a pure hobby site and I tested coffee products like coffee machines, beans, mug, and other accessories. After the first year, my blog is becoming a well-known coffee site with about 100 thousand visits per month.
In 2019 I decided to focus on RepublikCoffeeBar only. I became a full-time coffee blogger and was declared crazy by many.