Breville Barista Touch Impress vs De'Longhi Magnifica Evo
Updated · Price Drop Radar
Bottom line
These are two different kinds of machine. The Breville Barista Touch Impress is a semi-automatic: it grinds, doses and helps you tamp, but you still lock in the portafilter and knock out the puck. The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema is fully automatic: one button grinds, brews and froths. Pick the Breville if you want café-style espresso and silky milk with some hands-on work. Pick the De'Longhi if you want drinks with no learning curve, a narrower machine and a lower price.
Breville Barista Touch Impress
De'Longhi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema
Side by side
| Spec | Breville Barista Touch Impress | De'Longhi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema |
|---|---|---|
| Type [1][3][4] | Semi-automatic: grinds and doses into the portafilter, lever-assisted 22 lb tamp | Fully automatic: one-touch grinding, brewing and frothing |
| Grinder [1][4] | Baratza burrs, 30 settings | Conical burr, 13 settings |
| Milk [1][3][4][6] | AutoMilQ hands-free steam wand: 104 to 167°F, 8 texture levels, settings for oat, almond and soy | LatteCrema automatic milk carafe; froth density can't be adjusted |
| Drinks [1][4] | 13 presets, save up to 6 of your own | 7 one-touch: espresso, cappuccino, latte macchiato, iced coffee, coffee, hot water, My Latte |
| Heat-up [1] | About 3 seconds (ThermoJet) | Not listed by De'Longhi |
| Portafilter [1][3] | 54mm | None (brew unit is inside the machine) |
| Water tank [2][3][5] | 67 oz (2 L) | 60 oz |
| Size (W x D x H) [2][5] | 12.5 x 13.2 x 15.8 in | 9.45 x 17.3 x 14.17 in |
| Weight [2][5] | 23 lb | 21.2 lb |
| List price [1][5] | $1,499.95 | $899.95 |
Breville Barista Touch Impress
- Doses, tamps and tells you when to grind finer or coarser
- Hands-free milk with separate oat, almond and soy settings
- Ready to brew in about 3 seconds
- You still handle the portafilter and empty the puck every shot
- Can't brew and steam at the same time, though you can queue the milk
- Costs more at recent prices
De'Longhi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema
- One button per drink, nothing to learn
- Removable, dishwasher-safe parts
- About 3 inches narrower on the counter
- No way to change how foamy the milk is
- Painted plastic housing
- Fewer grind settings and drinks
Which one is right for you
| If you are | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want real espresso and are willing to learn a little | Breville Barista Touch Impress | Assisted dosing and tamping with grind feedback |
| Several people want drinks fast with no learning | De'Longhi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema | One-touch drinks and a milk carafe |
| Drink oat or almond milk | Breville Barista Touch Impress | Dedicated plant-milk settings and adjustable texture |
| Narrow counter | De'Longhi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema | 9.45 in wide vs 12.5 in |
| Tighter budget | De'Longhi Magnifica Evo LatteCrema | $600 lower list price |
What to look for
How much of the work you want to do
Why it matters: A semi-automatic like the Breville makes better-tasting shots possible but asks you to take part. A fully automatic machine like the De'Longhi does it all and trades away some control.
How to check: Picture a busy weekday morning. Will you enjoy locking in a portafilter and pulling a tamp lever, or do you want to press one button?
Watch out: TechRadar notes the Breville's grinder and tamp system give feedback on dose and grind, so the learning curve is short, but it's still there.
Milk system
Why it matters: Steam wands make finer microfoam; carafes are easier and faster to live with.
How to check: Decide if you care about latte-art texture or just want foamy milk on demand.
Watch out: Whole Latte Love's review says the Magnifica Evo gives no way to adjust froth density. The Breville offers 8 texture levels.
Plant milk
Why it matters: Oat, almond and soy foam differently from dairy because of their fat and protein.
How to check: Look for dedicated plant-milk settings.
Watch out: Breville lists separate settings for oat, almond and soy. We didn't see plant-milk settings listed on De'Longhi's product page.
Counter space
Why it matters: Width decides where the machine fits; depth decides if it sits under cabinets.
How to check: Measure the spot, including room to pull the water tank out.
Watch out: The De'Longhi is narrower (9.45 in vs 12.5 in) but deeper (17.3 in vs 13.2 in).
Traps and timing
- This Breville listing is the Barista Touch Impress (BES881). TechRadar describes it as combining the older Barista Touch's touchscreen with the assisted tamping of the Barista Express Impress, so don't assume the plain Barista Touch has the same features.
- De'Longhi sells several Magnifica Evo versions. Whole Latte Love notes the ECAM29084SB has the LatteCrema carafe and 7 drinks, while the ECAM29043SB has a manual steam wand and 6 drinks.
- Breville's list price is $1,499.95; Whole Latte Love and TechRadar's retailer link both showed $1,199.95 on sale. If Amazon is near full price, it has been cheaper.
- The Breville can't brew and steam at once. TechRadar says you can start a shot and have the milk begin when it finishes, so it costs about 15 to 20 seconds per drink, not more work.
Before you check out
- Decide: hands-on semi-automatic or one-button fully automatic.
- Check if anyone in the house drinks oat, almond or soy milk.
- Measure width and depth where the machine will sit.
- Confirm the model number on the listing: BES881 or ECAM29084SB.
- Compare the live Amazon price to the list prices on this page.
How we put this together
We don't test espresso machines in a lab. We compared the makers' published specs, the Amazon listings and independent reviews, all listed under Sources, and where they disagree we say so. Prices come from Amazon and are refreshed by our system throughout the day.
Price Drop Radar earns a commission on qualifying Amazon purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. That never decides which product we recommend.
Quick answers
Is the Breville Barista Touch Impress fully automatic?
No. It grinds, doses and assists the tamp, but you lock the portafilter into the machine yourself and empty the puck after each shot. The milk side is hands-free.
Can the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo make iced coffee?
Yes. Iced coffee is one of its 7 one-touch drinks, according to De'Longhi.
Which is better for oat milk?
The Breville. It has separate frothing settings for oat, almond and soy milk and 8 texture levels.
Which takes up less counter space?
The De'Longhi is narrower at 9.45 inches wide but deeper at 17.3 inches. The Breville is 12.5 inches wide and 13.2 inches deep.
Sources
- Barista Touch Impress (BES881) product page, Breville
- Breville BES881 Barista Touch Impress specifications, Whole Latte Love
- Breville the Barista Touch Impress review, TechRadar
- Magnifica Evo with LatteCrema System (ECAM29084SB), De'Longhi
- De'Longhi Magnifica Evo ECAM29084SB specifications, Whole Latte Love
- De'Longhi Magnifica Evo espresso machines review, Whole Latte Love