Breville Barista Express Black
Score: 81/100
De'Longhi Magnifica Start
Score: 72/100Rankings
The Breville Barista Express (Black Sesame) is an all-in-one espresso machine featuring a built-in conical burr grinder and PID temperature control. Its single-boiler architecture limits rapid back-to-back steaming and the grinder can clog with oily beans. Ideal for beginners to intermediate users who want a stylish, compact machine with solid espresso performance.
The De'Longhi Magnifica Start is a super-automatic espresso machine with a built-in conical burr grinder and a 1.8 L water tank, providing one-touch coffee preparation in a relatively compact package. Its manual frother and plastic-heavy build limit advanced milk-texturing and premium feel. Suited for small households seeking fresh-bean espresso without a high price.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
2,000 mlbest | 1,800 ml | |
15 barbest | 15 barbest | |
120 Vbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 1,600 W | 1,450 Wbest |
| ↓ lower better | 10.03 kg | 8.85 kgbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Power & Energy(2) | ||
Voltage (V) | 120 V | 220-240 V |
Power Consumption (W) | 1600 W | 1450 W |
Capacity & Size(2) | ||
Water Tank Capacity (ml) | 2000 ml | 1800 ml |
Dimensions (HxWxD) | HxWxD: 15.9 in x 12.5 in x 13.8 in | 350-360 x 240 x 440 mm |
Features(1) | ||
Grinder Type | Conical Burr | Conical burr |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (kg) | 10.03 kg | 8.85 kg |
Body Material | Stainless Steel | Plastic/Metal |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers consider the Barista Express a strong value proposition for beginner to intermediate home baristas, emphasizing its integrated grinder, PID temperature control, and pre-infusion as key factors that deliver café-quality espresso. While they commend its fast heat-up and user-friendly LCD interface, they note the single-boiler architecture and pump noise as drawbacks compared to higher-end dual-boiler models.
Everyday users generally praise the machine for its convenience, sturdy build, and ability to produce flavorful espresso and milk-based drinks at home. Common praise centers on the fresh-ground flavor, quick heat-up, and comprehensive accessories, while recurring complaints involve the learning curve, occasional grinder clogs, cleaning effort, and the need to wait between brewing and steaming due to the single boiler.
“great coffee and espresso”
“excellent midranged superautomatic”
Professional reviewers commend the Magnifica Start for its quick grind time, solid espresso quality and excellent value in a compact package, while noting the lack of advanced features such as pre-infusion, automatic milk handling and a more premium build. The machine is praised for its ease of use and reliable performance, but its basic drink repertoire and plastic construction keep it positioned below higher-end De'Longhi models.
Everyday users love the consistent coffee quality, compact size and straightforward cleaning, but they frequently mention noise during operation, the need to manually froth milk, and a feeling that the plastic housing feels less upscale. Overall sentiment is positive for basic home use, with recurring calls for quieter operation and more drink options.
