Breville
Breville Barista Express BES870
$699.95
Released 2015
Best Espresso Machines · head-to-head
Breville Barista Express BES870 vs Smeg ECF02
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Smeg ECF02 is cheaper at $600. Every spec and price links to its source.
Smeg
Smeg ECF02
$600Cheaper
Released 2019
Which is better: the Breville Barista Express BES870 or Smeg ECF02?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Smeg ECF02 is the cheaper at $600.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Breville Barista Express BES870 | Smeg ECF02 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $699.95 | $600 |
| Brand | Breville | Smeg |
| Released | 2015 | 2019 |
| Type | semi-automatic | semi-automatic |
| Boiler | thermocoil | thermoblock |
| Built in grinder | Yes | No |
| Grind settings | 16 | — |
| Milk frother | manual steam wand | manual steam wand (Cappuccino System) |
| Pressure (bar) | 15 | 15 |
| Water tank (L) | 2 | 1.1 |
| Programmable | Yes | Yes |
| Release | 2015 | 2019 |
Sources — Breville Barista Express BES870: breville.com (verified 2026-06-15). Smeg ECF02: smeg.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Breville Barista Express BES870 and Smeg ECF02?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.
- Boiler: Breville Barista Express BES870 thermocoil vs Smeg ECF02 thermoblock
- Built in grinder: Breville Barista Express BES870 true vs Smeg ECF02 false
- Milk frother: Breville Barista Express BES870 manual steam wand vs Smeg ECF02 manual steam wand (Cappuccino System)
- Water tank (L): Breville Barista Express BES870 2 vs Smeg ECF02 1.1
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Breville Barista Express BES870
Based on one whitelisted hands-on review (Tom's Guide, April 2023). The reviewer set the machine up in the office for extended testing and rates it among the best espresso machines, praising consistently excellent shots with thick crema and superior milk steaming, while flagging the lack of a low-water warning, a fingerprint-prone stainless finish, and a real learning curve. No cross-source verification was possible; treat as a single-source view. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Consistently produces excellent espresso shots with thick crema; Superior milk steaming and frothing once mastered; Classic all-in-one stainless design with built-in conical burr grinder and four baskets.
Flagged: No low-water warning and the reservoir is hidden at the back, hard to check at a glance; Stainless finish quickly picks up fingerprints and stray coffee grounds; Learning curve; steaming milk and swapping single/double baskets takes practice.
Smeg ECF02
Two whitelisted hands-on testers (Tom's Guide, Oct 2024; TechRadar, Mar 2024) agree the Smeg ECF02 is a gorgeous retro machine that pulls decent straight espresso but is undercut by a short, weak steam wand, poor heat management between brewing and steaming, and a price inflated by Smeg styling. Both also flag the flimsy thin-plastic tamper. All quotes and measured values verified against source text; both sources survived verification intact. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Statement retro 1950s design in playful colors; Decent espresso extraction with acceptable crema, good for straight espresso; Beginner-friendly with quick, easy daily cleaning.
Flagged: Short steam wand with limited movement makes milk texturing hard; Price inflated; you pay a premium for Smeg styling vs similar machines; Flimsy thin-plastic tamper/scoop.