Last updated: October 2, 2026
The Breville 878 — sold as the Barista Pro — is Breville’s mid-range prosumer-style machine for people who want to pull real espresso at home without adding a separate grinder, scale, and timer to the counter. It sits above the Barista Express (870) and below the Barista Touch and Dual Boiler in both price and automation. If you want hands-on control but don’t want to learn grinder dial-in on a standalone grinder first, this is the machine Breville built for you.
Street price usually hovers around $850-$900, though sales drop it closer to $700. At that price you’re paying for speed, a better grinder interface, and a faster heat system than the Express. You are not paying for better build quality or commercial parts — it’s still a compact thermocoil appliance, and you should buy it with that expectation.
What the 878 actually is
The 878 is an all-in-one semi-automatic with a built-in conical burr grinder, 54mm portafilter, PID-controlled thermocoil heating, and a digital shot timer with pressure gauge. Like all Breville 54mm machines, it ships with four baskets: single and double wall pressurized (dual-wall) and single and double non-pressurized (single-wall), plus the Razor dose tool, tamper, and a stainless milk jug.
What makes it a “Pro” over the Express is not pressure or pump — both use the same 15-bar Italian pump run at 9 bars — but speed and usability. The 878 heats in 3 seconds versus 30-45 seconds on the Express, has a much faster grinder (about 5 seconds for an 18g dose versus 10+ seconds), and shows grind time in seconds to 0.1s instead of an arbitrary 1-16 dial. It also adds a proper LCD that shows grind time, shot time, and pre-infusion.
Water tank is 2L (67 oz), drip tray is small, and the whole machine is 13.5″ deep. It is thermocoil, not a boiler: water flashes through a heated coil on demand for brew and steam. That keeps it compact and fast but introduces trade-offs for milk drinks back-to-back.
Who should (and shouldn’t) buy it
See also: Breville Bench Saver • Rocket Espresso Coffee Machine
Buy the 878 if you want to learn to dial in espresso but want one box, one plug, and one learning curve. The built-in grinder is good enough for medium to dark roasts and for milk drinks, and the LCD removes a lot of guesswork for beginners. If you drink one or two lattes a day and don’t want to weigh every dose on a 0.1g scale, the timed dosing is genuinely useful.
Don’t buy it if you already own a decent standalone grinder like a Eureka Mignon, Baratza Sette, or DF64. In that case you will get better espresso from a Bambino Plus or Infuser paired with your grinder for less money, and you won’t duplicate a grinder you don’t need. Also skip it if you pull 4+ milk drinks in a row for a household — the thermocoil needs about 30-40 seconds to switch from steam back to brew temperature, and the steam power is weak compared to a dual boiler or heat exchanger.
For people who only want convenience, a super-automatic or a Breville Barista Pro paired with pressurized baskets will give you drinkable coffee with pre-ground coffee, but at this price that’s an expensive compromise. The cheaper Barista Express does that job just as well.
Grinder and workflow in daily use
The integrated grinder is a 30-step conical burr with timed dosing. You set a grind size and a grind time, press the portafilter into the cradle, and it grinds directly into the basket. Hands-free, low mess, and faster than the Express. Dose consistency is within about 0.5g once you have the hopper at least half full — it drifts when the hopper is nearly empty due to popcorning.
For espresso, you will live in grind settings 5-15 depending on bean age and roast. Very light roasts expose the grinder’s limit: it doesn’t have the fine adjustment or burr size to grind fine enough without choking, and you can’t make micro-adjustments without jumping a full step. That’s the first ceiling most owners hit after 6-12 months. Dark and medium roasts are forgiving and work well.
Retention is 1-2g, so purge 2-3 seconds after changing grind settings or after the machine has sat overnight. The grinder is also loud and static-prone in dry climates — a spritz of water (RDT) on the beans helps, but don’t overdo it or you’ll gum up the chute.
Dial-in workflow is: set grind time to get ~18g in the double basket (weigh once, then rely on time), tamp level, lock in, and brew. Pre-infusion is automatic at low pressure for ~7 seconds, then full 9 bars. A good shot on the 878 runs 25-32 seconds from pump on, including pre-infusion, and yields 36g out. The LCD timer helps you chase that without a separate shot timer.
Thermocoil heat system: fast, but limited
The 3-second heat-up is real. You can turn the machine on and pull a shot almost immediately thanks to the PID-controlled thermocoil and a heated group head. Temperature control offers 5 settings (+/- 2F per step). That is enough to nudge sour or bitter shots but not true variable PID like a Dual Boiler.
The limitation is steam. The same thermocoil makes steam at ~266F, but it is thermoblock steam, not boiler steam. Pressure is modest, and the single-hole steam tip is slow — expect 45-75 seconds to texture 6 oz of milk. It makes decent microfoam once you learn to stretch properly, but it won’t punch through large jugs quickly. And after steaming, you must purge and wait before brewing again or you’ll scorch the next shot.
Descaling matters more on thermocoils than on boilers. Hard water will scale the coil and clog the solenoid valve, leading to weak flow or the common “no water from group head” failure. Use filtered water with 50-80 ppm hardness, change the water filter every 2 months, and descale only with Breville’s cleaner when prompted. Vinegar damages the sensors.
How the 878 compares
If you’re deciding inside the Breville lineup, this is the key choice:
| Model | Heat System | Grinder Control | Heat-Up | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barista Express 870 | Thermocoil, PID | Dial 1-16, slow grind | ~30 sec | Budget all-in-one, tight budgets |
| Barista Pro 878 | Thermocoil, PID + faster thermo | Timed to 0.1s, faster grind, LCD | ~3 sec | Beginners who want speed + feedback |
| Bambino Plus + Standalone Grinder | ThermoJet (3 sec) | Separate grinder, stepless control | ~3 sec | Better espresso, flexibility long-term |
| Barista Touch 880 | ThermoJet | Touchscreen auto-dosing | ~3 sec | Guests, automation over learning |
The honest math: a Breville Barista Express makes almost identical espresso in the cup for $200-$300 less. You give up the LCD, fast heat, and quick grinder, but not shot quality. If you are price-sensitive, the cheaper option is fine and the savings buy you a good scale, tamper, and a year of beans.
The Bambino Plus route is what enthusiasts usually recommend after they outgrow the built-in grinder. A Bambino Plus with a dedicated espresso grinder will outperform the 878 on light roasts and give you a true upgrade path — you can keep the grinder if you later buy a Dual Boiler. The downside is counter space, two devices to learn, and no hands-free grinding.
Common failure modes and ownership costs
The 878 is reliable for 2-4 years of daily home use, but it is not built to be serviced like a commercial machine. Know the weak points:
1. Grinder wear and clumping. The chute clogs if beans are oily or if you use flavored beans. Never put flavored or caramelized beans through it. Brush the chute weekly and vacuum the hopper every few weeks.
2. Solenoid and three-way valve. If shots gush even at the finest grind, or water dribbles from the group after the shot, the solenoid is sticking — usually from scale. This is the most common service call after year two in hard-water areas.
3. Steam thermoblock scaling. Weak steam that sputters is almost always scale or a clogged steam tip. Soak the tip, purge, and keep up with soft water. Breville charges $250+ for out-of-warranty thermocoil replacement.
4. Dose creep. The timed grinder drifts as burrs wear (around 300-500 lbs of coffee). You’ll notice you need longer grind times to hit 18g. That’s normal — recalibrate time, don’t just grind finer.
Portafilter gaskets harden after 12-18 months and will leak around the rim. A $12 gasket and 10 minutes replaces it. Keep the group clean with a backflush disc (water only, no detergent on thermocoils unless Breville specifically says so for your serial) weekly if you pull dark roasts.
Should you buy the 878 right now?
At full retail, the 878 is a tough sell over the Express unless you value the 3-second heat-up and LCD every morning — and many people do. If you make coffee before work and want to grind, tamp, and pull in under 90 seconds without thinking, the Pro’s workflow is noticeably smoother.
If you can find it for under $750 or as a refurb, it is the best all-in-one Breville for most first-time owners who want to learn. If it’s over $850, compare carefully: for the same money you can get a Bambino Plus ($300) + Eureka Mignon Silenzio ($350-400) and have better grind quality and smaller footprint, at the cost of a little more learning.
Buy for convenience and speed in one box. Don’t buy expecting cafe-level light roast espresso or heavy entertaining volume — that’s where a separate grinder and a dual boiler earn their price.
FAQ
Is the Breville 878 the same as the Barista Pro?
Yes. 878 is Breville’s internal model number. In the US it’s sold as the Barista Pro (BES878). In some markets it’s labeled BES878BSS or similar, but the machine is identical.
Can I use pre-ground coffee in the 878?
Yes, with the dual-wall pressurized baskets. Use the included single or double pressurized basket and you can brew with store-ground coffee. For the best flavor with fresh beans, switch to the single-wall non-pressurized baskets and grind fine.
Do I need to tamp hard on the 878?
No. A level, consistent 15-20 lbs is enough. The machine cares more about grind size and dose than tamp pressure. A calibrated or self-leveling tamper helps consistency more than pushing harder.
How long does the built-in grinder last?
Burrs typically last 2-4 years of home use (1-2 drinks daily) before they dull and dose times drift. Breville sells replacement burr sets, and swapping them is a 15-minute job. The motor itself usually outlasts the burrs if you keep beans free of rocks and avoid oily dark roasts.
