#1: Breville Oracle
- Dual boiler system for simultaneous brewing and steaming
- Automatic grinding, dosing, and tamping
- Precise temperature control for consistent espresso
#2: Breville Oracle Touch
- Touchscreen for easy, customizable drink selection.
- Automated milk texturing for perfect froth.
- Fully automatic espresso process with user-friendly interface.
As someone who’s been obsessed with making the perfect cup of coffee for years, I’ve tried a variety of espresso machines to satisfy my caffeine cravings. I first got my hands on the Breville Oracle, I was excited about the promises it made in terms of automation and high-quality espresso. The automatic grinding, dosing, tamping, and milk frothing were a big draw for me, as they promised to simplify the process without sacrificing quality. But then, I had the chance to use the Breville Oracle Touch, and I was immediately impressed by how it took everything I loved about the Oracle and made it even more user-friendly, customizable, and efficient.
In this article, I’m going to dive deep into my experience with both machines and provide a comparison of the Breville Oracle vs Oracle Touch. If you’re trying to decide between these two models, I hope my perspective from actually using them can give you the insight you need to make the right choice for your coffee needs.
The Breville Oracle: A Classic Espresso Machine
The Breville Oracle, when I first used it, felt like an incredibly well-crafted piece of equipment that balanced automation and control. I was able to achieve café-quality espresso in the comfort of my own home, which was a huge win for me. The integrated grinder, tamper, and steam wand took a lot of the guesswork out of the brewing process, making it easier for me to focus on dialing in the right flavor profile.
One of the things I loved most about the Oracle was its consistency. It didn’t matter whether I was making a quick single shot or a more intricate double espresso; the machine delivered excellent results every time. The tamping was automatic, which saved me time, and the integrated grinder was good enough to get the coffee grounds just right for the perfect espresso shot.
However, as much as I appreciated the Oracle’s performance, I did find myself missing some of the more intuitive features that newer models like the Oracle Touch bring to the table.
The Breville Oracle Touch: A Game Changer
I upgraded to the Breville Oracle Touch, I could immediately tell the difference. The touchscreen interface was the first thing that caught my eye. Unlike the Oracle’s physical buttons and dials, the Oracle Touch allowed me to make adjustments with just a tap, making it significantly easier to adjust grind size, shot volume, and milk texture. The large, responsive display was a game changer, and it made navigating the different settings a breeze.
The customization options also took things to the next level. I could save my favorite drink settings and pull up pre-programmed coffee drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites with a single tap. This saved me so much time in the mornings when I didn’t want to fiddle with settings. For anyone who’s used both machines, the difference in convenience and ease of use is night and day.
The Key Benefits of the Breville Oracle Touch
The Touchscreen Interface: A Leap in Convenience
One of the standout features of the Oracle Touch is the touchscreen. It takes the manual adjustments from the original Oracle and makes them so much more user-friendly. With the Oracle, I had to rely on buttons and knobs, which sometimes felt like a hassle when I was trying to fine-tune my drink. The Oracle Touch’s display allowed me to swipe through settings, adjust my preferences with a tap, and even customize the intensity of the coffee flavors I wanted. The layout is intuitive, and I found it much easier to get exactly the cup of coffee I wanted.
Automatic Milk Frothing with Better Results
The automatic milk frothing system is another major improvement. While the Oracle had a capable steam wand, the Oracle Touch’s system is just smoother and more consistent. I remember spending a lot of time trying to get my milk just right with the Oracle. Sometimes it would foam up too much, other times it wouldn’t have enough texture. With the Oracle Touch, the automatic milk frothing works with precision every single time, producing silky, smooth microfoam without much effort. Whether I was making a flat white or a cappuccino, the texture was consistently perfect.
This feature is especially valuable if you want to make espresso-based drinks that require precise milk frothing but don’t want to spend time trying to master the technique. I no longer had to worry about wasting milk or overheating it. I could focus more on enjoying the process of making coffee rather than stressing over the details.
The Grinder: Consistency and Precision
The Breville Oracle Touch also improves on the grinder. The grinder in the Oracle was certainly capable, but the one in the Oracle Touch seems to produce a more consistent grind. I made espresso with the Oracle, I noticed a few slight inconsistencies in the texture of the grind, which affected the extraction. With the Oracle Touch, the consistency was on point, leading to better extraction and a more balanced shot every time.
This is especially important when you’re making specialty coffee or experimenting with different beans. The more consistent your grind is, the more likely you are to achieve the flavor profile you’re aiming for. For someone like me who’s always looking to improve my brew, the precision of the Oracle Touch’s grinder made a noticeable difference.
How the Oracle Touch Performs in Real Life
Ideal for Coffee Enthusiasts Who Want a Better Experience
If you’re someone who enjoys experimenting with different coffee beans, flavors, and milk textures, the Oracle Touch will likely be a better fit. It’s designed for coffee lovers who want consistency and ease of use without compromising on quality. In my experience, the Oracle Touch has made my daily coffee ritual feel more like an experience than a task. I no longer have to spend time adjusting every little detail; I can trust that the machine will deliver what I want with minimal intervention.
For those who are just starting their espresso journey or don’t have much patience for learning complex techniques, the Oracle Touch provides a fantastic entry point into the world of specialty coffee. You get all the professional-level features without needing to master them yourself.
For Professionals and Home Baristas
The Oracle, while great, might still appeal to those who prefer a more hands-on experience. If you’re someone who wants to be more involved in the process of making espresso and enjoys dialing in your own settings, the Oracle could still be the better choice. It allows for more manual control over every aspect of the coffee-making process. You’ll still get high-quality shots, but there’s more of a learning curve involved.
If you have a background in coffee and want something that’s both automated and customizable, the Oracle Touch will still serve you well. It has more advanced settings for people who want to fine-tune their coffee, but it takes much less effort than the original Oracle to get your drink just right.
Price: Is It Worth the Extra Investment?
Price is always an important consideration when purchasing any high-end appliance, and the Oracle Touch is more expensive than the Oracle. For me, the additional features were worth the extra cost, especially because the Oracle Touch’s automation, touchscreen, and improved milk frothing system saved me a lot of time and effort. If you’re someone who values convenience and consistently great coffee, the Oracle Touch will justify its price.
That said, if you’re looking for a high-quality espresso machine that doesn’t have all the extra bells and whistles, the Oracle remains an excellent option, albeit at a lower price point.
Product Review Conclusion: Breville Oracle vs Oracle Touch
After using both machines extensively, I would say the Breville Oracle Touch is the better choice overall. Its user-friendly touchscreen interface, improved milk frothing system, and more consistent grinder elevate the espresso experience in ways that the original Oracle simply can’t match. If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to make professional-quality espresso drinks at home, the Oracle Touch is hard to beat.
That said, the Breville Oracle is still a fantastic machine, especially if you’re someone who prefers a more manual approach and enjoys having more control over the process. Both machines offer exceptional performance, but the Oracle Touch delivers a level of convenience and consistency that I believe most coffee lovers will appreciate.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Breville Oracle vs Oracle Touch
Q: What is the difference between the Breville Oracle and Oracle Touch?
A: The main difference between the Breville Oracle and Oracle Touch lies in the user interface. The Oracle features physical buttons and dials for control, whereas the Oracle Touch has a touchscreen display that makes it easier to adjust settings and select pre-programmed drinks. The Oracle Touch also offers improved features such as a more consistent grinder and an enhanced milk frothing system.
Q: Which machine is easier to use, the Breville Oracle or Oracle Touch?
A: The Breville Oracle Touch is generally easier to use due to its touchscreen interface, which allows you to quickly adjust settings with just a tap. The Oracle requires more manual adjustments using physical buttons, which can be more complicated for beginners or those who want a more streamlined experience.
Q: Is the Breville Oracle Touch worth the higher price?
A: Yes, for most users, the Breville Oracle Touch is worth the higher price due to its added convenience, improved milk frothing system, and better grinder consistency. The touchscreen interface also saves time and makes the machine much easier to operate. If you’re looking for ease of use and consistent high-quality coffee, the Oracle Touch is a great investment.
Q: Can I make professional-quality espresso with the Breville Oracle?
A: Yes, the Breville Oracle can make professional-quality espresso. It offers automatic grinding, dosing, tamping, and milk frothing, making it an excellent choice for those who want a high-quality brew without the need for much expertise. However, it’s slightly less intuitive than the Oracle Touch when it comes to customizing settings.
Q: How does the milk frothing compare between the Oracle and Oracle Touch?
A: The Oracle Touch offers a superior milk frothing system, producing smoother, more consistent microfoam. The Oracle’s steam wand is still very good, but it requires more control and attention to get the best result. If you want effortless, high-quality milk frothing, the Oracle Touch is the better choice.
Q: Can I save my preferred drink settings on the Breville Oracle Touch?
A: Yes, the Oracle Touch allows you to save your preferred drink settings, which makes it easier to quickly make your favorite espresso drinks. This feature is not available on the original Oracle, where you would need to manually adjust settings each time.
Q: Which machine is better for beginners?
A: The Breville Oracle Touch is better for beginners due to its touchscreen interface and automated features. It’s much easier to use, and the pre-programmed drinks allow you to get great results with minimal effort. The Oracle requires more manual input, which may be challenging for those new to espresso machines.
Q: Does the Breville Oracle Touch have a better grinder?
A: Yes, the Oracle Touch has an upgraded grinder that provides more consistent results compared to the Oracle. This makes it easier to dial in the perfect grind for your espresso, which can lead to better extraction and more flavorful shots.
Q: Is the Breville Oracle suitable for people who want to experiment with different coffee beans?
A: Yes, both the Oracle and Oracle Touch are great for experimenting with different coffee beans. The built-in grinder allows you to easily adjust the grind size to match different beans, and both machines have customizable settings for shot volume and milk texture. However, the Oracle Touch’s consistency and convenience make it a bit easier to experiment with beans and flavors.
Q: How long does it take to make coffee with the Breville Oracle Touch?
A: The Breville Oracle Touch is designed for efficiency, and with its pre-programmed settings, you can expect a quick coffee-making process. It typically takes a few minutes to grind, tamp, and brew a shot of espresso, and the milk frothing process is streamlined. Overall, it’s much faster than manually adjusting everything on the Oracle.