Breville Barista Pro (BES878) vs KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder (KES6551)
Same class, different tax brackets.
The Barista Pro (BES878) runs ~31% more (listed in different currencies) — the split below is what the gap buys.
Breville
Strong consensusUS$699–849
The Barista Pro threads a real needle: genuine PID temperature control, a 30-setting conical grinder, and a 3-second heat-up in a single machine at a mid-range price. The ceiling on shot qua…
Full record & live prices →
KitchenAid
US$499 · CA$595–1,000
The KES6551 earns its place as a clean, well-designed all-in-one for beginners who want fresh-ground espresso without a separate grinder on the counter. The trade-off is a thermoblock-class…
Full record & live prices →The split
Where they actually differ
Barista Pro (BES878)
Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder (KES6551)
Quiet operation
Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder (KES6551) leads, decisively
Reliability record
Barista Pro (BES878) leads, clearly
Parts & repair
Barista Pro (BES878) leads, clearly
Value per dollar
Barista Pro (BES878) leads, clearly
The price
Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder (KES6551) costs less, clearly
US$699–849· CA$595–1,000
Shot ceiling
Barista Pro (BES878) leads, clearly
weakerstronger
The counter’s vote
Looks barely figure in either machine’s record — the counter can sit this one out.
Barista Pro (BES878): Sleek, minimalist stainless design has broad kitchen approval, but polarizes against heirloom-lever and industrial aesthetics some espresso enthusiasts prefer.
Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder (KES6551): Appliance-neutral KitchenAid branding appeals to kitchen-counter aesthetics but reveals no premium design story; "quiet" is a functional virtue, not a design virtue.
Only the Barista Pro (BES878): PID temperature control.
Where they tie: milk & steam · back-to-back drinks · ready when you are · built to last · push-button convenience — don’t let a spec sheet invent a difference.
On the counter
The size difference, to scale
So — which one?
Take the Barista Pro (BES878) if —
- It has to just work, every day
- You plan to fix, not replace
- Every dollar has to earn its place
- The shot itself is the hobby
Take the Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder (KES6551) if —
- There are sleepers to protect
- The difference stays in your pocket — or goes into beans
Both columns reading true? Take the Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder (KES6551) and put the difference into fresh, roast-dated beans — they move the cup more than this choice will.
Known weak points
Barista Pro (BES878)
Thermal stability issues under sustained pulling, solenoid wear (steam side), inconsistent pre-infusion calibration over time, non-standard 54mm portafilter locks accessory ecosystem.
Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder (KES6551)
Water leaks, pressure inconsistency, steam wand dripping, thermoblock temperature swings
For the row-by-row readers
The whole sheet, side by side
Matching rows fade back — the ink is where they differ.
Barista Pro (BES878)
Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder (KES6551)
Type
Thermoblock / thermojet
Thermoblock / thermojet
Heat-up time
3 seconds
50 seconds
Steam power
2.5/5
2.5/5
Brew + steam at once
No
No
Guest recovery
2/5
2/5
Shot quality ceiling
3.5/5
2.5/5
PID temperature control
Yes
No
Milk system
Manual steam wand
Manual steam wand
One-touch drinks
2
—
Removable brew group
No
No
Hot-water tap
Yes
Yes
Cup clearance
10.2 cm
0 cm
Workflow demand
3/5
3/5
Maintenance
2.5/5
2.5/5
Noise
3.5/5
1.5/5
Build longevity
3/5
2.5/5
Dimensions
35.6 × 40.6 × 39.4 cm
33.5 × 28.11 × 39.5 cm
One owner each
“Speaking of grind size, you can choose from 16 different grind settings, with eight coarse settings and eight fine settings. An ion generator reduces static in the grinds chute, meaning there is less mess in your portafilter basket.”
Wrong match-up? Change one side → — any two on file compare.
Still torn?
This page weighs them against each other. The finder weighs them against your mornings.
Two minutes of questions — milk, noise, budget, space — scored across everything on file. It’s honest when the answer is neither of these.
Take the two-minute finder →