Gaggia is considered an Old Guard manufactured by a well-established Italian brand while the Breville Barista Express is relatively a young contestant. If you are considering an upgrade or you’re buying your first ever espresso maker, Gaggia Classic Pro Vs Breville Barista Express Comparison would be of great help to understand which of the two marvelous machines can get your attention.
Answering which one of the two is better is not as straightforward as you might be thinking. Both machines are designed and aimed at catering slightly different needs and preferences. Which is the better machine often depend on what the client is looking for. So, lets compare both machines and find out what the two have in store for us.
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Gaggia Classic Pro Vs Breville Barista Express Comparison Key Differences
Here are the key differences between Gaggia Classic Pro vs Breville Barista Express.
Design
The first and one of the most noticeable difference that you will see is the design of the Gaggia classic and Breville Barista Express. The Gaggia Classic boosts a compact design and small footprint while the Barista Express is slightly bigger than the Gaggia Classic. The Gaggia measures at 9.5x8x14.2 inches and the Barista Express measures at 12.5×12.6×13.1 which clearly shows you need little extra space for Barista Express to settle down.
There is not much difference in terms of weight as Gaggia weighs about 20 pounds and the Barista Express weighs about 23 pounds. Both the machines are super portable and you can easily transport them from one place to another if you switch places more often.
[amazon box=”B07RQ3NL76″]Despite the differences, the machines are designed to be super sturdy and durable. With a little care and tender love, the machines will last for many years to come thanks to the stainless-steel body and exceptional craftsmanship.
Settings and Display
Both the machines are semi-automatic but since Breville Barista Express has an integrated grinder, it has kind of more automated process to offer to its customers. You can save the grinder coarseness and the amount you like. For Gaggia there is nothing much to offer in terms of automated process and programmability.
For frothing both the machines have steam wand which are semi-automatic and let you prepare quality micro-foam for latte art and enhanced flavor. Moving on, the Breville Barista Express has a pressure gauge on the front which allows you to keep track of the pressure and see if you are getting optimal extraction. If not, you can immediately change the pressure to get precise extraction results. In case of Gaggia Classic pro, there is no pressure gauge which is a downside if you want to have full control of the brewing process.
[amazon box=”B00CH9QWOU”]Built-in Grinder
The main, most obvious, and notable difference between the Breville Barista and Gaggia Classic Pro is the Grinder. You simply can’t make espresso without a grinder, there is no getting around it. The Breville is packed with a well-designed and high-end burr grinder for outstanding coffee prep. The bean hopper can hold ½ pounds of beans at a time.
For the Gaggia Classic, you will have to buy a separate grinder which isn’t really tough to find as market is brimming with outstanding grinders that can be paired with Gaggia Classic Pro. We suggest to get a conical burr grinder with stainless steel blades for well-ground coffee as well ground coffee makes a big difference in the quality of your drink.
Most people prefer a built-in grinder as it is convenient and time-saving. You don’t have to do much in the morning when all you wish is to have your cup of coffee ready in the blink of an eye.
[amazon box=”B07RQ3NL76″]Steam Wand – Milk Frothing
Due to the thermo-coil heating system, the heat time for Breville Barista Express is about 20-30 seconds which is pretty impressive and convenient for folks who want their espresso as quickly as possible. On the contrary, the Gaggia takes about 50-60 seconds for the water to heat and the steam wand to be ready to make milk-foam for cappuccinos and lattes.
Another amazing feature on Breville is the auto-purge which is not present in the Gaggia. The steam wand requires a quick purge after steaming and before you start brewing your next shot. Talking about quality, the steam wand on Breville is made of stainless steel which can swivel 360 degrees. The steam wand on Gaggia however is made out of heavy-duty plastic and it swivels 360 degrees as well. You can replace the plastic steam wand wit a chrome wand but you will have to buy it separately. In terms of frothing, with its purge feature, the Breville Barista Express is the winner clearly.
[amazon box=”B00CH9QWOU”]Water Reservoir
In terms of water capacity, the difference is pretty negligible. The Breville Barista Express has a 67 ounces capacity and the Gaggia has a 71 ounces capacity. If you don’t like refilling the tank again and again, you will appreciate the extra 5 ounces capacity on Gaggia.
Conclusion
If we consider performance, both machines are on par with one another but Breville Barista Express is packed with more features as compared with Gaggia Classic Pro. The Breville has a built-in grinder, quick heat-up time, and is somehow automated with less work to do. The Gaggia on the other hand allows you to have more control over the process and features a larger water reservoir.
Gaggia is less expensive in case you already have a coffee grinder however if you are to purchase both the machine and the grinder at once, the price gap is negligible.
All in all, Gaggia Classic Pro vs Breville barista Express comparison has a clear winner which is Breville Barista Express thanks to its amazing features, built-in grinder and automated brewing process. It makes the brewing process more interesting and pleasant. Do let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comment section!
