Disclosure: This site participates in the Amazon Associates Program. We earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. All reviews reflect our independent evaluation.
Which Espresso Machine Should You Buy?
Our Recommendations at a Glance
Breville Barista Express BES870XL
Best for: Home baristas willing to invest 2 to 3 weeks learning to dial in their shots. You want the best espresso quality in this price tier, and you're interested in the craft.
Price range: $649 to $749
Check Price on AmazonDe'Longhi Magnifica Evo ECAM29084SB
Best for: Households where multiple people want specialty coffee drinks daily without learning any barista skills. Maximum convenience, consistently good results.
Price range: $699 to $849
Check Price on AmazonFull Specification Comparison
| Feature | Breville BES870XL | De'Longhi ECAM29084SB |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Semi-automatic | Fully automatic |
| Grinder Settings | 25 Winner | 13 |
| Milk Steaming | Manual wand | Automatic LatteCrema Winner |
| Drink Programs | None (manual) | 12 pre-programmed Winner |
| Boiler | Thermocoil | Dual thermoblock Winner |
| Heat-Up Time | 3 seconds Winner | 40 seconds |
| Footprint (width) | 13.2" | 9.5" Winner |
| Learning Curve | High (weeks) | Low (minutes) Winner |
| Espresso Quality Ceiling | Higher Winner | Moderate |
| Water Tank | 67 oz Winner | 60 oz |
| Price Range | $649 to $749 Lower | $699 to $849 |
The Breville Barista Express: What You're Actually Buying
The Barista Express is a semi-automatic espresso machine with an integrated 25-setting conical burr grinder. The core proposition is simple: everything you need for quality home espresso in one machine, under $750. You grind fresh beans directly into the portafilter, tamp manually, and pull shots yourself with a 54mm portafilter at 9 bars through a Thermocoil heating system that reaches temperature in 3 seconds.
The manual steam wand produces micro-foam when used correctly. It takes practice, roughly 15 to 30 minutes to develop the wrist motion and milk positioning. Once you've done it a few times, it becomes second nature. The pressure gauge on the front provides immediate feedback on your extraction quality: if the needle lands in the correct 9-bar zone, your grind and dose are right. Outside that zone, you adjust.
The important thing to understand about this machine is that your skill is the variable. A well-dialed shot from an experienced operator on this machine tastes genuinely excellent. An under-extracted shot from someone who hasn't figured out their grind settings yet tastes thin and sour. That variance is entirely in the operator's hands, which is the appeal for some buyers and the dealbreaker for others.
Build quality is excellent. The brushed stainless finish feels premium, the machine is heavy and solid, and the pressure gauge is both functional and a handsome design element. After 8 weeks of daily testing, nothing felt loose or degraded. Read our full Breville Barista Express review for the complete breakdown.
The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo: What You're Actually Buying
The Magnifica Evo is a bean-to-cup super-automatic. You fill the hopper, fill the water tank, and press a button. The machine grinds, doses, tamps, brews, and steams automatically. A cappuccino is ready in about 45 seconds. The TFT color touchscreen makes the whole process navigable enough that a first-time user can make their drink in under 2 minutes without reading the manual.
The LatteCrema automatic milk system is the Magnifica Evo's standout feature. It froths milk to the right texture and temperature for each drink type, portions automatically, and self-rinses after use. In our testing with whole milk, it produced consistent micro-foam across 12 consecutive cappuccinos. The dual thermoblock handles brew and steam simultaneously, so there's no waiting between operations.
The espresso extraction is genuinely solid for a super-automatic, meaningfully better than pod machines. But it isn't as refined as a well-pulled shot from the Breville. The automated system can't replicate the precise control a skilled barista exercises over grind dose, distribution, tamp pressure, and shot timing. For most households, that difference is abstract. But if you're a serious coffee person, it's noticeable.
The My Menu feature lets you save 3 personalized drink profiles. Set your strength, temperature, and milk amount once and your morning drink is one tap every day. For households with multiple people with different preferences, this is genuinely useful. Read the full De'Longhi Magnifica Evo review for more detail.
Head-to-Head: Espresso Quality
Which Makes Better Espresso?
In blind tests using the same medium-dark roast beans at comparable grind levels, the Breville produced slightly more nuanced espresso: better sweetness in the finish, more distinct origin character, and cleaner acidity. The De'Longhi produced consistent, solid espresso with good crema and decent body.
The gap narrows significantly when the Breville operator is still learning. An under-dialed Breville shot is worse than what the De'Longhi produces automatically. Once dialed in, the Breville pulls ahead. The De'Longhi never produces a bad shot, which matters more in practice than theoretical ceiling for many users.
Head-to-Head: Milk Drinks
Lattes, Cappuccinos, and Flat Whites
The De'Longhi wins this category decisively. The LatteCrema system handles everything automatically and consistently. No technique required. The Breville's manual steam wand is capable of better milk texture at peak skill, but getting there takes weeks of practice and most users never reach the point where their manual wanding outperforms the De'Longhi's automation.
For households where multiple people want milk drinks and not everyone is going to learn to steam milk, the De'Longhi is the practical choice. The dual thermoblock also means you're not waiting between shots and steaming, which speeds up multi-drink mornings considerably.
Head-to-Head: Ease of Use
From Unboxing to First Good Drink
The De'Longhi is ready to produce a good cappuccino within 15 minutes of unboxing. The TFT touchscreen is intuitive, setup is minimal, and the machine handles all variables automatically. Anyone in your household can use it from day one without instruction.
The Breville requires real investment. Learning to distribute grounds evenly in a 54mm portafilter, tamp consistently at the right pressure, and read the pressure gauge to interpret extraction quality takes time. The included dual-wall baskets reduce the stakes for beginners, but you're still in a learning process for the first few weeks.
Head-to-Head: Grinder Quality
Built-In Grinding and Range
The Breville's 25-setting conical burr grinder provides significantly more range than the De'Longhi's 13-step grinder. More settings means more precision for dialing in different beans, roast levels, and ambient conditions. The Breville's grinder also produces a more consistent particle size distribution at fine settings, which matters for espresso extraction.
The De'Longhi's grinder is perfectly adequate for automated use, and the auto-calibration compensates for some of the limited range. But for an enthusiast who wants to explore different origins and roast profiles, the Breville's grinder provides meaningfully more control.
Head-to-Head: Value for Money
What You Get Per Dollar Spent
At $649 to $749, the Breville offers the complete espresso setup, integrated grinder included, at a price that genuinely undercuts comparable separate setups by $200 to $400. The De'Longhi at $699 to $849 costs more and provides automation rather than more hardware capability. Whether that automation premium is worth it depends entirely on how you plan to use the machine.
For an espresso purist who wants to develop skills, the Breville is better value. For a busy household where time is the constraint and multiple people want different drinks, the De'Longhi's convenience justifies the cost.
Final Verdict
Buy the Breville If...
You want to learn espresso. You're interested in the variables, the technique, and the process of dialing in a shot. You primarily drink espresso or milk drinks you're willing to steam yourself. You want the best espresso quality ceiling available under $750. You're the only person making coffee in your household, or everyone is willing to learn.
Buy the De'Longhi If...
You want push-button cappuccinos every morning with zero thought. Multiple people in your household want different specialty drinks and nobody wants to learn barista technique. You're coming from a pod machine and want a dramatic quality upgrade without the complexity. You value consistent, effortless results over maximum quality ceiling.
Both are excellent machines. The right choice depends entirely on your interest in the craft, not which one is objectively better.
Breville Barista Express BES870XL
Best for: Espresso craft, quality ceiling, grinder range
Check Price on AmazonDe'Longhi Magnifica Evo ECAM29084SB
Best for: Busy households, convenience, milk drinks
Check Price on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions
Is the Breville Barista Express or De'Longhi Magnifica Evo better for beginners?
The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo is significantly easier to start using immediately. You can make a cappuccino in 45 seconds with no prior experience. The Breville Barista Express requires 2 to 3 weeks of learning to dial in grind settings and extract properly. If you want a good espresso machine without a learning curve, go with the De'Longhi.
Which makes better espresso: Breville Barista Express or De'Longhi Magnifica Evo?
The Breville Barista Express has a higher espresso quality ceiling once dialed in. A skilled operator pulling 18g in, 36g out at 9 bars in 28 seconds will produce better espresso than the De'Longhi's automated system. However, the De'Longhi makes consistently solid espresso without any skill, which is better in practice for most users who won't develop barista technique.
Which is easier to clean, the Breville or the De'Longhi?
The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo is easier to maintain overall. It prompts you automatically when cleaning is needed and runs self-rinse cycles. The milk carafe requires a quick daily rinse. The Breville Barista Express requires manual backflushing and portafilter cleaning, which takes longer but isn't difficult once it's part of your routine.
Is the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo worth the extra cost over the Breville?
For households that value convenience and use the milk system regularly, yes. The dual thermoblock, LatteCrema system, and 12 automated drinks justify the premium if you're making multiple specialty milk drinks daily. If you're primarily an espresso drinker willing to invest time in learning, the Breville is the better value.
Can I use pre-ground coffee in either machine?
Both machines have a pre-ground coffee bypass. The Breville Barista Express has a dedicated pre-ground setting that bypasses the grinder. The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo has a bypass doser for pre-ground coffee. Both work well with pre-ground, though you'll get better results using whole beans with the integrated grinders.
Last tested: March 2026
Related Reading
Read our full Breville Barista Express review and De'Longhi Magnifica Evo review for complete breakdowns of each machine. Browse all our small appliance picks in the small appliances hub.