Dual Boiler vs Barista Pro: separate the grinder, double the boilers?
$750 apart: Breville's own comparison table lays out the fork — one machine with a grinder, or a dual-boiler that expects you to own one.
This is the real fork inside Breville's espresso line, and Breville's own comparison page documents every figure below (checked 2026-09-22).
| | Barista Pro (BES878) | Dual Boiler (BES920) | |---|---|---| | Price | $849.95 | $1,599.95 (out of stock at check) | | Grinder | Integrated, 30 settings, 1/2 lb hopper | None — bring your own | | Boilers | Single ThermoJet + PID | Dual stainless: PID espresso boiler + separate steam boiler, heated group head | | Pumps | 15 bar | Dual 15-bar — brew and steam simultaneously | | Portafilter | 54 mm | Commercial 58 mm | | Pressure gauge | None | Yes, extraction feedback | | Shot control | Volumetric 1 & 2 cup | Volumetric 1 & 2 shot or manual + shot clock | | Tank | 67 oz | 84 oz | | Size (W×D×H) | 16.1 × 13.8 × 13.1 in | 14.9 × 15.9 × 14.6 in | | Weight | 20.92 lb | 28.35 lb | | Power | 1680 W | 1700 W |
The decision
- You don't own a grinder — the Pro is one purchase; the Dual Boiler requires budgeting a separate grinder (see our Eureka Mignon and Baratza coverage).
- You steam milk while pulling shots — only the Dual Boiler's dual pumps and separate boilers do both at once; the Pro serializes brew then steam.
- You want to grow into 58 mm accessories — the Dual Boiler shares its 58 mm class with the prosumer world (Rancilio, La Marzocco home lines); the Pro's 54 mm accessories stay within Breville's ecosystem.
- Counter reality — the Dual Boiler is deeper (15.9 in) and 7.4 lb heavier; check clearance under cabinets.
Breville sells the Dual Boiler bundled with its Smart Grinder Pro as the Dynamic Duo (BEP920, $1,699.95) — documented on the same pages — which is the official answer if you want the Dual Boiler without already owning a grinder.