Espresso MachinesUnder $1,300 · Semi-Automatic

Breville Barista Express (BES870XL) vs Profitec GO Espresso Machine (Pro 100)

Community-voted by verified owners — not a single reviewer's opinion. Who wins depends on how you make coffee.

Breville Barista Express (BES870XL)

Breville Barista Express (BES870XL)

One-box espresso that teaches you

$699
4.6 (19,500)
vs
Profitec GO Espresso Machine (Pro 100)

Profitec GO Espresso Machine (Pro 100)

PID-controlled 58mm prosumer entry

$1199
4.7 (1,400)

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Quick Verdict — Which One Is Right for You?

Choose the Breville Barista Express (BES870XL) if...

  • You want a complete espresso setup in one box
  • You’re just getting started and want the simplest buying decision
  • You make mostly milk drinks and don’t want to shop for a grinder yet
  • You want lots of community recipes, guides, and troubleshooting help
  • You’re okay upgrading later if you go deeper into espresso
Buy — $699 at Amazon

🔧 Choose the Profitec GO Espresso Machine (Pro 100) if...

  • You’re espresso-first and care about repeatability and control
  • You want PID temperature control and a built-in shot timer
  • You prefer a 58mm ecosystem with prosumer accessories
  • You’re willing to buy a real espresso grinder up front
  • You want a machine you can keep long-term without outgrowing quickly
Buy — $1199 at Whole Latte Love
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The Matchup

Our editorial take — what makes each machine tick and who each one is for.

This matchup is basically “all-in-one convenience” versus “espresso-first performance.” People cross-shop these when they’re ready to spend real money, but they’re deciding if they want a complete starter station (Barista Express) or a more prosumer espresso platform with PID (Profitec GO).

Breville Barista Express (BES870XL): The Breville Barista Express is still the king of getting people into espresso with one purchase. The built-in conical burr grinder, pressure gauge, and 54mm workflow make it approachable, and it can absolutely make great cappuccinos once you learn grind, dose, and timing. The main compromise is ceiling: as you get picky, the built-in grinder becomes the limiting factor, and owners who fall deep into espresso often end up adding a dedicated grinder or upgrading the machine later.

Profitec GO Espresso Machine (Pro 100): The Profitec GO is the opposite philosophy: no grinder, no shortcuts, just a compact German-built single-boiler machine with PID temperature control, shot timer, pressure gauge, and a real 58mm workflow. It heats to brew temperature in about 5–7 minutes, steams strongly for a single boiler, and is built like a long-term machine. The compromise is that it’s not a one-box solution: you need a grinder and accessories, and you need to learn a more traditional routine for steaming and temperature transitions.

Specifications

Side-by-side specs — the numbers that matter.

Breville Barista Express (BES870XL)Profitec GO Espresso Machine (Pro 100)
Boiler Type
Heat-Up Time
Portafilter Size54mm58mm
Pump Pressure
Water Tank
Milk Steaming
Dimensions
Weight
Warranty

What Owners Report

Based on our research from owner reviews across Reddit, YouTube, and specialty retailers.

Breville Barista Express (BES870XL)

What owners love
  • Built-in conical burr grinder makes it a true all-in-one setup
  • Pressure gauge + pre-infusion help new users dial in faster
  • 54mm workflow is forgiving and widely supported with guides
  • Manual steam wand lets you learn real milk technique
  • Strong value when you don’t want to shop for separate gear
Common complaints
  • Built-in grinder is the main quality ceiling over time
  • Thermocoil design is less stable than PID single-boiler prosumer machines
  • Slower warm-up than ThermoJet-style machines
  • More internal cleaning routine because grinder is built in

Profitec GO Espresso Machine (Pro 100)

What owners love
  • PID temperature control + shot timer for repeatable dialing in
  • 58mm portafilter ecosystem with real prosumer accessories
  • 0.4L insulated brass boiler with fast heat-up program
  • Pressure gauge + adjustable OPV for tuning brew pressure
  • German build quality designed to be kept long-term
Common complaints
  • No grinder included, so total setup cost is higher
  • Single-boiler workflow means brew/steam transitions
  • 5–7 minute heat-up is normal but not instant
  • More “hands-on” than the Barista Express for beginners

Owner Insights

🔒
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Where to Buy

Current prices from trusted retailers — plus the gear owners pair with each machine.

Breville Barista Express (BES870XL)
Amazon
$699Buy
Seattle Coffee Gear
$699Buy
Whole Latte Love
$699Buy
Complete your Breville Barista Express (BES870XL) setup
Normcore 54mm Spring-Loaded Tamper (V4)
Helps Barista Express owners get more consistent tamping, which matters when the built-in grinder consistency varies.
$49
Buy
Normcore 54mm Dosing Funnel (Magnetic)
Reduces mess from the built-in grinder and keeps dose more consistent during learning phase.
$29
Buy
IMS Precision 54mm Basket (Breville/Sage)
Common ‘first upgrade’ once owners want more clarity in straight shots and fewer extraction quirks.
$29
Buy
Timemore Black Mirror Nano Scale
Weighing dose and yield is the fastest way to improve shot consistency on the Barista Express.
$59
Buy
Profitec GO Espresso Machine (Pro 100)
Whole Latte Love
$1199Buy
Clive Coffee
$1199Buy
Amazon
$1299Buy
Complete your Profitec GO Espresso Machine (Pro 100) setup
Eureka Mignon Specialita Espresso Grinder
Most common grinder pairing in our GO owner data, and it matches the GO’s espresso-first intent.
$699
Buy
VST 58mm Precision Filter Basket (18g)
GO owners often move to precision baskets to take advantage of stable PID temps and better grinders.
$39
Buy
Acaia Lunar Scale
Fits well on compact prosumer drip trays and makes dialing in yield and time dead simple.
$249
Buy
Normcore 58.5mm Spring-Loaded Tamper (V4)
A consistent tamp pairs well with 58mm precision baskets and reduces channeling as you push finer grinds.
$49
Buy

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From the Community

Real takes from verified owners. No sponsored reviews, no PR samples.

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The Bottom Line

Our editorial take — community votes will shape this verdict as they come in

Choose the Barista Express if you want the simplest all-in-one path into espresso and you’re okay with eventually hitting the grinder ceiling. Choose the Profitec GO if you’re espresso-first, want PID control and a 58mm ecosystem, and you’d rather invest in a proper grinder and keep the machine long-term.

Choose the Breville Barista Express (BES870XL) if you want convenience, speed, and incredible lattes from day one with almost no learning curve.

Choose the Profitec GO Espresso Machine (Pro 100) if you want a machine that grows with you, love tinkering, and care more about shot quality than convenience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Breville Barista Express (BES870XL) and Profitec GO Espresso Machine (Pro 100), answered by our community data.

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