Breville Barista Express vs De'Longhi Magnifica Evo
Get the Magnifica Evo. Unless you enjoy making coffee and want café-style espresso — then the Barista Express.
Breville Barista Express
Hands-on espresso with a built-in grinder — the classic first serious machine.
De'Longhi Magnifica Evo
Fresh beans, one button, good coffee. No barista skills needed.
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Both grind fresh beans. The Magnifica Evo makes espresso or a long coffee at the press of a button, for less; the Barista Express makes richer espresso and better milk once you've practised, but you're the barista.
- —You want café-style espresso and enjoy the process.
- —You want to tweak dose, grind and temperature.
- —You'll practise your milk.
- —You want fresh-bean coffee without learning to make it.
- —You drink espresso, americano or flat whites most days.
- —You want to spend less.
Key differences
Pros and cons
- +Built-in grinder with dose control
- +Rich espresso with good crema
- +Steam wand for proper milk texture
- −It's noisy when grinding.
- −It gets a little messy around the grinder.
- −The filter baskets are fiddly to take out of the portafilter.
- +Fresh beans at the press of a button
- +Simple one-touch controls
- +Cheaper than most bean-to-cup
- −Needs regular cleaning — the brew unit should be rinsed weekly.
- −Descaling reminders come often in hard-water areas.
- −The steam wand takes practice — easy to make big bubbles at first.
Ready to choose?
- Is the Barista Express worth it?
- Is the Magnifica Evo worth it?
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- Barista Express vs Bambino Plus
- Barista Express vs Luxe Café Premier
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How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: TechRadar, Trusted Reviews, Tom's Guide, manufacturer specifications.