ConsFirst / Espresso machines / Compare

Breville Barista Touch vs Gaggia Classic Evo Pro (E24)

Which one has the downsides you can live with?

We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes what we report. Learn more

The short answer

Breville Barista Touch ranks higher (#2 vs #4 of 11) and scores better on milk frothing, ease of use, cleaning & upkeep. Gaggia Classic Evo Pro (E24) wins on espresso quality, durability.

The biggest complaint about the Breville Barista Touch is durability is mixed; for the Gaggia Classic Evo Pro (E24) it's no pid: inconsistent temperature and shots. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.

#2 of 11 · $$Breville Barista Touch

Good for: Beginners who want guidance and a grinder in one

Its catch: durability is mixed

Check price on Amazon
#4 of 11 · $$Gaggia Classic Evo Pro (E24)

Good for: Learning to pull café-quality shots

Its catch: no PID: inconsistent temperature and shots

Check price on Amazon

Paid links. We don't list prices — they change daily. Neither one feels right?

Side by side

Breville Barista TouchGaggia Classic Evo Pro (E24)
Rank in espresso machines#2#4
Price tier$$$$
TypeWith built-in grinderEspresso machine (no grinder)
Amazon 1–2★ share16%13%
Overall score3.83.6
Espresso quality3.54.5
Milk frothing4.53.5
Ease of use4.53.0
Cleaning & upkeep4.03.0
Durability2.54.0

Price tiers: $ under $300 · $$ $300–800 · $$$ over $800. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.

Top complaints

Breville Barista Touch

  • Durability is mixed

    Amazon's review summary says durability gets mixed reviews, with several customers reporting it broke within 7 months, and some find it overpriced.

    Source: Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Harder to dial in, less nuance

    Wirecutter says it offers less control and makes less-nuanced espresso than its top pick, and its narrower, deeper portafilter introduces more variability into each shot.

    Source: Wirecutter (NYT)
  • Small annoyances

    Wirecutter says the pitcher can sit slightly off balance on the auto-froth sensor, and a long-term tester finds repeated filter and descale reminders annoying.

    Source: Wirecutter (NYT)

Gaggia Classic Evo Pro (E24)

  • No PID: inconsistent temperature and shots

    Wirecutter says shot consistency is harder to sustain back to back without PID control, and Tom's Guide says temperatures still aren't properly stable. Consistency is a negative aspect on Amazon.

    Source: Wirecutter, Tom's Guide review, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Leaks and spitting from the steam wand

    Leakage is a negative aspect on Amazon, with owners reporting water spitting and dripping from the steam wand. Amazon's summary also says some report it breaking down after 1.5 years.

    Source: Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Flimsy tamper, few accessories, awkward tank

    Wirecutter and Tom's Guide both say the plastic tamper needs replacing, and there's no milk pitcher. Wirecutter found reinserting the under-boiler water tank and its tubes tricky.

    Source: Wirecutter, Tom's Guide review

Who should pick which

Pick the Breville Barista Touch if

  • Beginners who want guidance and a grinder in one

  • Hands-free milk at different temperatures

  • Households that want to grow into manual settings

Skip it if: You want the most nuanced shots for the money; You want a strong long-term reliability record; You want a standard-size portafilter

Check price on AmazonAll complaints →

Pick the Gaggia Classic Evo Pro (E24) if

  • Learning to pull café-quality shots

  • People who already own a good grinder

  • Long-term ownership with routine maintenance

Skip it if: You want push-button milk drinks; You want accessories in the box; You want consistent temperature without technique

Check price on AmazonAll complaints →

We don't list prices — they change daily. Paid links.

Neither one feels right?

If both catches are deal-breakers, start here.

#1 in espresso machinesDe'Longhi La Specialista Touch

Tom's Guide's best espresso machine overall: a compact all-in-one whose Bean Adapt guidance, smart tamper and touchscreen make good shots easy, with manual or automatic milk. Hand-steaming is fiddly around the temperature probe, tamping is guided rather than built in, and Amazon's sample is still small.

Its catch: fiddly hand-steamingA third option · #3Breville Bambino Plus

The easiest machine here for café-style milk drinks, with a tiny footprint and automatic steaming that actually works. But Amazon owners often report units failing within months, and Wirecutter found shots harder to dial in than on its top picks.

Its catch: stops working within monthsAll 11 comparedSee every espresso machine, ranked

Each one's biggest complaint at a glance, with the full ranking.

Browse espresso machines →

More head-to-heads