Breville stainless steel duo temp pro espresso machine

An excellent machine if your familiar with the process of manual brewing, and already have a high-quality grinder

Breville stainless steel duo temp pro espresso machine

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Price:   $450 List | $435.99 at Amazon

Pros:  Pulls excellent shots, great milk steaming

Cons:  Has a learning curve, no pressure gauge to help beginners, no grinder

Manufacturer:   Breville

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77

OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#5 of 19

  • Espresso Quality - 40% 9.0

  • Ease of Use - 30% 6.0

  • Ease of Cleaning - 15% 6.7

  • Milk Quality - 15% 8.5


Our Verdict

Providing essentially all of the performance of the award-winning Breville Barista Express but without a built-in grinder, the Breville Duo Temp Pro is one of the best espresso machines we've tested. It pulls rich, delicious shots, has a high-quality steam wand that can create great texture, and is relatively easy to use for a semi-automatic machine. If you already have an espresso-quality grinder, would prefer to buy one separately, or plan to buy pre-ground specialty espresso coffee, this machine is an excellent choice. However, if you want to reduce the countertop footprint of your espresso setup, the Barista Express offers a nice all-in-one rig.


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Awards 
Breville stainless steel duo temp pro espresso machine
 
Breville stainless steel duo temp pro espresso machine
 
Breville stainless steel duo temp pro espresso machine
 
 
Price$450 List
$435.99 at Amazon
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Overall Score 
Breville stainless steel duo temp pro espresso machine

77

78

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63

61

Star Rating
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ProsPulls excellent shots, great milk steaming Great espresso, impressive milk steaming performance, compact design Easy to use, quick and convenient, decent frothed milk Good espresso and milk steaming, quite inexpensive Inexpensive, good milk-heating element, easy to operate
ConsHas a learning curve, no pressure gauge to help beginners, no grinder No built-in grinder Uses expensive capsules, limited flavors available Doesn't quite achieve cafe quality results, somewhat slow, no built-in grinder Poor microfoam, slow to heat up, limited to 14 grams dose
Bottom LineAn excellent machine if your familiar with the process of manual brewing, and already have a high-quality grinder One of the smallest machines we've found that can achieve cafe-quality results This easy-to-use espresso machine and milk frother package is a great choice if you don't mind paying a little extra in the long run for convenience and so-so espresso Offers good taste and overall quality at a far below average price This basic machine may be appealing due to its low cost, but there are better options for producing good espresso if you're looking to save money
Rating CategoriesBreville Duo Temp Pro Breville Bambino Nespresso Evoluo Gevi De'Longhi Stilosa
Espresso Quality (40%)

9.0

8.3

5.4

6.3

5.0

Ease of Use (30%)

6.0

6.4

8.6

5.7

7.0

Ease of Cleaning (15%)

6.7

7.0

8.4

5.7

7.3

Milk Quality (15%)

8.5

10.0

7.0

8.0

6.0

SpecsBreville Duo Temp Pro Breville Bambino Nespresso Evoluo Gevi De'Longhi Stilosa
Dimensions15.5" x 13.3" x 17.6" 7.7" x 12.6" x 12.2" 9" x 12.2" x 12.3" 13" x 10" x 16" 8.1" x 13.5" x 11.2"
Milk FrotherSteam Wand Steam Wand Electric Stand Alone Steam Wand Steam Wand
Measured Water Tank Capacity61 oz 47 oz 54 oz 42 oz 34 oz
Cost per Shot$0.47 $0.45 $0.85 $0.45 $0.37
Lifetime Cost per Shot$0.64 $0.58 $0.93 $0.50 $0.42
Number of Cafe Replacement Shots to Make Up List Price158 118 93 51 46
Number of Cafe Replacement Lattes to Make Up List Price94 70 52 30 28

Show full specification detailsHide full specification details

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Duo Temp Pro can make cafe-quality rinks right in your own kitchen. Just keep in mind that it is a semi-automatic machine, so it presents a bit of a learning curve for beginners. It also does not have a built-in grinder, so you'll have to buy that separately or purchase pre-ground coffee which doesn't allow you to tweak the grind when and if needed. Bottom line, this machine made some of the best espresso milk drinks we tasted. That said, it does carry some of the difficulties inherent in a semi-automatic machine.

Should I get the Duo Temp Pro or the Barista Express?

If you've narrowed your choices down to these two machines and aren't sure which to get, consider a couple of things. The main difference between these two is that the Barista Express has a built-in grinder, while the Duo Temp Pro does not. If you already have an espresso-capable coffee grinder (we're talking one that can produce multiple sizes of fine espresso grinds, not one that simply claims its finest grind size is small enough for espresso), then the Duo Temp Pro is the clear choice.

However, apart from grinders, the Barista Express does have one main advantage over the Duo Temp Pro: its pressure gauge. This gauge lets you see whether or not the brewing process is hitting the right pressure, which in turn will let you know if you need to adjust your grind size or tamping pressure. This is a great feature for beginners, who may not be able to pick up on the subtle clues that they need to switch things up. So overall we think the Barista Express, with its pressure gauge and all-in-one construction, is the more beginner-friendly of the two options. It also costs more, but with the added features — especially if you also need a grinder — it's worth the modest jump in price.

Performance Comparison


Breville stainless steel duo temp pro espresso machine

We were able to pull some truly beautiful shoes on this machine.

Credit: Jenna Ammerman


Espresso Quality

The Duo Temp Pro was one of the top performers in our taste testing. This machine is one of just a handful of models we tested that can truly match the quality of a cafe drink. The espresso is rich and bold and produces a nice crema. Combine that espresso with the nearly perfect microfoam this machine's steam wand can produce, and you've got a cappuccino or latte that tastes like your favorite neighborhood barista just handed it to you.

Breville stainless steel duo temp pro espresso machine

The Duo Temp's cafe-quality cappuccino.

Credit: Jenna Ammerman


Ease of Use

Like all of the machines we tested that can make truly cafe-quality drinks, the Duo Temp Pro is semi-automatic. This means you have to grind, tamp, and brew the coffee yourself, and also steam the milk manually with a steam wand. This process isn't particularly difficult but does present a bit of a learning curve to beginners. Because of this, the Duo earned a somewhat average user-friendliness score. If you're looking for a more automated and convenient option, take a look at a super-automatic machine like the Gaggia Anima Prestige. Just remember, moving to a super-automatic machine generally brings a drop in drink quality.

Though the Duo Temp does present the inherent challenges of a semi-automatic machine, it does a fairly good job of lessening those difficulties as much as possible. The portafilter is well designed, doesn't leak, and thus generally dos not make a mess. The steam wand is easily moved and is short enough to hang over the drip tray, meaning excess milk ends up in the tray and not on your counter. Intuitive controls make it clear which settings need to be selected to pull a shot or use the steam wand. The tamp has a nice feel and heft to it, and conveniently stores in a magnetic slot. Both the drip tray and water tank are easy to remove and carry over to the sink.

Breville stainless steel duo temp pro espresso machine

The Duo Temp makes the semi-automatic brewing process relatively easy.

Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Overall we think the Duo Temp is slightly easier to use than other similarly-designed machines. This mostly comes down to the pre-infusion feature, which hits the grinds with a splash of lower-pressure water before ramping up to full pressure. That pre-infusion tends to flatten out the coffee and correct for any small errors in tamping, and to an extent grind size, resulting in a greater success rate for beginners.

Breville stainless steel duo temp pro espresso machine

The clear controls are helpful for beginners.

Credit: Jenna Ammerman


Ease of Cleaning

Here again, the fact that the Duo Temp is a semi-automatic machine means that it requires a bit more work than most of the super-automatic machines. You have to clean and wipe out the portafilter, wipe down the steam wand, and periodically empty the drip tray. All of this pushes its score down a bit relative to some of the other machines.

That being said, the Duo Temp doesn't have any egregious water or coffee spillage issues, so all of those extra semi-automatic related cleaning tasks aren't too arduous. The descaling process can be done with vinegar and water, so you don't have to buy any fancy solutions. The whole process took us 30 minutes, which was slightly above average but didn't feel too ridiculous for a task that only needs to be completed every 4-6 months. Bottom line, the extra cleaning required when compared to super-automatic machines isn't too bad and is well worth the upgrade in the quality of taste.

Breville stainless steel duo temp pro espresso machine

A handy hidden storage tray houses extra parts.

Credit: Jenna Ammerman


Milk Quality

The steam wand on the Duo can make perfectly creamy microfoam. Our professional barista tester remarked that it was easy to get similar results to what she makes in the cafe with this wand, and even beginners were able to get some really nice texture in their milk after just a few attempts. If you're looking to truly recreate a coffee shop latte at home, this steam wand is up to the task.

One thing to note is that the Duo Temp cannot steam milk and pull a shot at the same time. In fact, after pulling a shot it sometimes takes up to a minute for the machine to be able to get enough pressure to the steam wand to begin steaming. During this time your espresso shot is oxidizing and getting more acidic and bitter. This can be stopped by putting just a splash of cold milk in the espresso right after it's brewed, or even just putting whatever syrup you might be planning to use in your drink. This holds the espresso's flavor and will improve your end result.

Breville stainless steel duo temp pro espresso machine

The Duo Temp's steam wand can create cafe quality results.

Credit: Jenna Ammerman


Value

The Duo Temp is a decently high-value machine. It doesn't include a grinder, which will set you back more, but if you already have a capable grinder this could be seen as a good thing. For the quality of drinks you can achieve with this machine, we think it's well worth its comparatively modest price tag.

Conclusion

The Breville Duo Temp Pro can make cafe-quality espresso drinks at home, but it does take a little bit of practice for beginners and requires that you buy a separate, espresso quality coffee grinder.

— Max Mutter and Steven Tata

Is the Breville Duo Temp Pro good?

About the Breville Duo Temp Pro This coffee maker is a good buy if you love coffee with rich, flavorful, balanced espresso. Its advanced pre-infusion technology, perfect brewing temperature, the complete control and flexibility of this machine to brew coffee are worth every penny.

Is Breville Barista Express or Pro better?

The Winner Is: The Breville Barista Pro The Breville Pro wins out in better espresso brewing, better milk steaming, overall ease of use, and value proposition. The high quality burr grinder on the Pro edges out the Barista Express by offering a finer, more specific scale of grind settings, for fine espresso every time.