Coffee machine comparison

Editorially reviewed 2026-08-01. Objective fields are tied to the source record for each machine.

At a glance

Essential specifications

Start with the fields most likely to change the buying decision. Different values are labelled; matching values use neutral styling and unknown values remain unconfirmed.

Machine category

Breville Barista Express
semi-automatic
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
semi-automatic

Product lifecycle

Breville Barista Express
current
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
current

Built-in grinder

Different
Breville Barista Express
Yes
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
No

Adjustable brew temperature

Different
Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
No

Brew and steam together

Breville Barista Express
No
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
No

Manufacturer-stated heat-up

Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not confirmed

Width

Different
Breville Barista Express
317.5 mm
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
200 mm

Depth

Different
Breville Barista Express
350.5 mm
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
270 mm
View all 41 detailed specifications

These fields support deeper research. Every populated value must be traceable to the listed sources.

Breville Barista Express

Gaggia Classic Pro E24

Identity and design

Manufacturer

Breville Barista Express
Breville
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Gaggia

Model number

Breville Barista Express
BES870
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
E24

Introduced

Different
Breville Barista Express
2013
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
2024

Housing material

Different
Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Stainless-steel body

Colour options

Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not confirmed

Milk system

Different
Breville Barista Express
Manual steam wand
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Manual stainless-steel steam wand

Controls

Different
Breville Barista Express
Buttons, grind controls, and analogue pressure gauge
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Three rocker switches

App connectivity

Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not confirmed

User profiles

Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not confirmed

Portafilter diameter

Different
Breville Barista Express
54 mm
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
58 mm

Tamping

Breville Barista Express
Manual
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Manual

Removable water tank

Breville Barista Express
Yes
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Yes

Grinder type

Different
Breville Barista Express
Steel conical burr grinder
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not applicable

Grinder settings

Different
Breville Barista Express
16
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not applicable

Bean-hopper capacity

Different
Breville Barista Express
227 g
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not applicable

Automatic drink presets

Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not confirmed

Pre-infusion

Different
Breville Barista Express
Yes
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
No

Selectable milk-temperature setting

Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not confirmed

Two-cup brewing

Breville Barista Express
Yes
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Yes

Hot-water outlet

Breville Barista Express
Yes
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Yes

Manual hot-milk preparation

Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not confirmed

Milk frothing without brewing

Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not confirmed

Water-filter support

Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not confirmed

Boiler type

Different
Breville Barista Express
thermocoil
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
single-boiler

Boiler material

Different
Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Lead-free brass

Number of boilers

Breville Barista Express
1
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
1

Boiler capacity

Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not confirmed

Water-tank capacity

Different
Breville Barista Express
1.98 L
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not confirmed

Pump type

Different
Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
vibration

Published pump pressure

Breville Barista Express
15 bar
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
15 bar

Group

Different
Breville Barista Express
Breville 54 mm group
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Lead-free brass commercial group

Pressure gauge

Different
Breville Barista Express
Yes
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
No

PID

Different
Breville Barista Express
Yes
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
No

Hard-plumb capable

Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not confirmed

Height

Different
Breville Barista Express
403.9 mm
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
355 mm

Weight

Different
Breville Barista Express
10.02 kg
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
8.1 kg

Maximum cup height

Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not confirmed

Confirmed voltage

Breville Barista Express
120V-60Hz
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
120V-60Hz

Power

Different
Breville Barista Express
1600 W
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
1350 W

Warranty

Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not confirmed

Included accessories

Breville Barista Express
Not confirmed
Gaggia Classic Pro E24
Not confirmed
The short versionKey differences

  1. Grinder: Barista Express includes a conical-burr grinder; Gaggia E24 requires a separate grinder.

  2. Heating and control: Breville uses a PID-managed thermocoil with pre-infusion; Gaggia uses a brass single boiler without factory PID or pre-infusion.

  3. Portafilter: Barista Express uses 54 mm; Gaggia E24 uses 58 mm.

  4. Machine footprint: Gaggia is 117.5 mm narrower, 80.5 mm shallower, and 48.9 mm shorter, before adding its separate grinder.

Editorial take

Quick verdict

The Barista Express is a one-body grinder-and-espresso station with PID-managed thermocoil heating. The Gaggia Classic Pro E24 is a smaller 58 mm brass-boiler machine that requires a separate grinder and more manual temperature management.

Breville Barista Express

  • Choose the Barista Express when buying one integrated station is more important than grinder upgrade flexibility.
  • Its built-in 16-setting grinder, pressure gauge, and pre-infusion create a complete starting workflow in one body.
  • The 54 mm system and integrated grinder tie future grinder and machine decisions together.

Gaggia Classic Pro E24

  • Choose the Gaggia E24 when a compact 58 mm machine and independently selected grinder suit the plan.
  • Its brass boiler and three-switch interface keep the machine simple, but it has no factory PID or pressure gauge.
  • The complete setup needs additional counter width and budget for an espresso-capable grinder.
Our recommendation

Final verdict

The Barista Express is the simpler purchase for someone starting without a grinder and wanting one coordinated station. The Gaggia Classic Pro E24 is the more modular route for someone who wants to choose the grinder separately and prefers a traditional 58 mm boiler machine. Compare total setup cost and width rather than the espresso-machine bodies alone.

This recommendation is an editorial assessment of verified specifications and cited third-party experiences. We have not personally tested these machines.

Sources and further research

Manufacturer pages, manuals, videos, community discussions, and independent reviews.

Video reviews and demonstrations

Useful for seeing workflow and ownership perspectives; publisher relationships vary, and videos are not authoritative specifications.

Reddit and forum discussions

Anecdotal owner perspectives that may involve different revisions or maintenance histories.

Independent reviews

Editorial viewpoints included for balance; claims are checked separately before entering product data.

Manufacturer links and manuals

Use these for product identity, operation, and technical specifications.

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