Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine vs Chemex 6-Cup Classic Coffee Maker (2026)

✍️ By the 247Verdict Editorial Team📅 Updated 05 October 2026

Which is better? We compared both on score, owner ratings, pros and cons.

Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine

9.1/10 Excellent

4.5★ (8,400 owners)

Built-in grinder, steam wand, colour touchscreen, 30 guided recipes, auto-purge. Guided barista learning.

Full Review

Chemex 6-Cup Classic Coffee Maker

9.0/10 Excellent

4.7★ (22,400 owners)

Non-porous glass, thick filters, 6-cup, hand-blown, natural wood collar. The manual brew museum piece.

Full Review

At a Glance

	Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine	Chemex 6-Cup Classic Coffee Maker
247Verdict Score	9.1/10	9.0/10
Owner Rating	4.5★ (8,400)	4.7★ (22,400)
Verdict	Excellent	Excellent

Quick Verdict

This is a genuine draw — both score within 0.15 points of each other. Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine: Built-in grinder, steam wand, colour touchscreen, 30 guided recipes, auto-purge. Guided barista learning. Chemex 6-Cup Classic Coffee Maker: Non-porous glass, thick filters, 6-cup, hand-blown, natural wood collar. The manual brew museum piece. Choose based on your specific needs. Check the current price on Amazon →

Pros & Cons Side by Side

Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine

Colour touchscreen displays step-by-step guidance for every recipe — genuine learning resource
Integrated conical burr grinder with 30 grind settings eliminates separate grinder purchase
Auto-purge function cleans group head after each shot automatically
30 built-in recipes guide through espresso, flat white, latte and more with video tips
Sage (UK)/Breville (US) engineering pedigree — same manufacturer as Sage Barista Express

£700+ for a semi-automatic with guided screen — Sage Barista Express delivers equivalent extraction without the touchscreen at lower cost
Touchscreen durability concerns in steamy kitchen environments over years
Video guidance is useful initially but rarely referenced by experienced users

Chemex 6-Cup Classic Coffee Maker

Permanent collection in the Museum of Modern Art — design recognised as functional art
Thick Chemex filters remove oils for the cleanest, clearest cup of any manual method
Non-porous borosilicate glass absorbs no odours or tastes — pure coffee flavour
6-cup serves 2-3 people in one pour — the most social manual brew method
Under £40 — the most beautiful coffee brewing method at any price

Proprietary Chemex filters required — standard filter paper incompatible
Requires kettle and coarse-grind coffee — not self-contained like pod machines
Glass requires careful handling — drops at sink height typically crack the base

FAQ

Which is better, Breville Barista Touch or Chemex 6-Cup Classic?

Is the Breville Barista Touch worth the extra cost?

Yes — Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine scores higher at 9.1/10 vs 9.0/10.

Who is the Breville Barista Touch best suited to?

Built-in grinder, steam wand, colour touchscreen, 30 guided recipes, auto-purge. Guided barista learning.

Who is the Chemex 6-Cup Classic best suited to?

Non-porous glass, thick filters, 6-cup, hand-blown, natural wood collar. The manual brew museum piece.

What are the main downsides of each?

Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine: £700+ for a semi-automatic with guided screen — Sage Barista Express delivers equivalent extraction without the touchscreen at lower cost; Touchscreen durability concerns in steamy kitchen environments over years. Chemex 6-Cup Classic Coffee Maker: Proprietary Chemex filters required — standard filter paper incompatible; Requires kettle and coarse-grind coffee — not self-contained like pod machines.

Do owner ratings agree with our verdict?

Largely, yes — Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine sits at 4.5★ from 8,400 verified Amazon owners, and Chemex 6-Cup Classic Coffee Maker at 4.7★ from 22,400.

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