Gaggia Classic Pro if you're willing to mod it with a PID kit and if you're willing to wait 15 minutes for it to heat up. BBP if you want your espresso fast with no wait time.
Comparison
Kitchen & Dining
Breville Barista Pro (BES878BSS)
Best Mid-Range Espresso Machine
The Breville Barista Pro sits between the Bambino Plus and Barista Express — it combines ThermoJet's 3-second heat-up time with an integrated conical burr grinder and a backlit LCD display for precise control over grind size, dose, and extraction time. Unlike the Barista Express which uses a thermocoil, the Barista Pro's ThermoJet system reaches optimal brew temperature faster and more consistently, making it the better pick for anyone who wants café-quality espresso with minimal waiting.
10 mentions · 4 threadslast mention Aug 20257.5/ 10
ClearPick Score
Decent
Score informed by 10 owner mentions across 4 Reddit threads · see every quote ↓
4 positive2 mixed4 negative
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Best Mid-Range Espresso Machine
Breville Barista Pro (BES878BSS)
~$1,100 CAD est. on Amazon.ca
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Every mention, sourced
Real comments from Reddit, linked to the original thread. Nothing paraphrased.
Yeah, In general the Breville hate is kind of irrational imo. The machines are really good value for money.
Praise
I'd not buy those Breville machines. I'd get a (non plus) Bambino and pair it with a nice grinder, if I were to buy a Breville. Or maybe the Breville dual boiler, again with a nice grinder. Of the three you show, I'd get the Gaggia, and a nice grinder. I've used the grinder on a BBE extensively. I'm not a fan of it.
Complaint
Not uncommon. Clean out with vinegar and rinse really well. The sunlight, even reflected, will cause algae to grow.
Complaint
Gaggia. Because eventually everything breaks, and with the Gaggia you can fix it. And there are mods for it that you can use to get a better shot. And because the built-in grinders on the Brevilles pretty much get panned by a lot of users who struggle to get quality results from them. Brevilles are decent machines, just avoid models with built-in grinders.
Complaint
Your apartment humidity will have nothing to do with it. There will be a level of humidity trapped inside of the reservoir if it's warm enough, but algae needs food so the most likely culprit will be in the water you're using. Clean the reservoir and buy a couple bottles of purified water to see if it happens again. If not, figure out a better water source
Mention
There is nothing wrong with the grinder. It grinds coffee beans. And the internal burr can be adjusted to grind even finer should you need it to. I have had this machine for 2 years and not once thought 'that's a bad grinder'. My espressos are tasting great, have a great texture and the machine is consistent. I would recommend the machine, unless you want to spend more of course.
Praise
The reason not to buy the barista pro is that the grinder isn't very good. There are much better options available if you buy a separate espresso machine and grinder, and they can be upgraded separately if you decide you want better results down the road. I also enjoy the instant heat up, that's why I use the Bambino Plus along with a DF64, but the not-plus Bambino and the DF54 seem to be great options as well for a lower cost.
Comparison
indeed so.. but honestly for milk drinks nobody can tell the difference.. i have a single dose grinder for any specialty/random coffees i buy and use the hopper for the daily milk drinks
Praise
Better burrs, but still no change to step size and issues with retention, from my understanding.
Complaint
✅ What Works
- Fast heat-up — ready to pull a shot with no waiting, unlike PID-modded alternatives
- Consistent espresso output reported by long-term owners ("great texture," "machine is consistent")
- Milk-drink performance is fine for daily use, even with the stock hopper
⚠️ Worth Knowing
- Built-in grinder is a recurring weak point — several owners say it "gets panned" and switch to a separate grinder
- Clear water tank can grow algae if exposed to sunlight, requiring regular vinegar cleaning
- Owners debating an upgrade often recommend a separate machine + grinder combo instead
ClearPick Verdict
Owners are split on the Barista Pro, and the fault line is the built-in grinder: several report it gets "panned by a lot of users who struggle to get quality results," while others say it's been fine and consistent for years. A separate, recurring complaint is algae growth inside the clear water tank when it's placed near sunlight, which owners solve with vinegar cleaning and purified water. Espresso and milk-drink performance are rated fine day-to-day, and the fast heat-up time is a genuine draw versus machines that need 15 minutes to warm up. This is a solid all-in-one for people who want speed and convenience and don't mind a mediocre stock grinder; espresso purists chasing top-tier grind quality should budget for a separate grinder instead.
