Deciding on Breville Duo Temp Pro vs Infuser? Check out the ultimate showdown of these coffee machines so you can choose the best one for you.

Short on time? The Breville Infuser wins this face-off.

When you see both Breville Duo Temp Pro and Infuser, you might think they’re one and the same.

However, while they might look similar, they’ve each got a few standout features that really make them different.

In this showdown of the Breville Duo Temp Pro vs Infuser, I’ll walk you through exactly what those differences are. Plus, I’ll throw in my expert opinion as an ex-barista on which is the best one.

Let’s jump in!

Table of Contents

Breville Duo Temp Pro At A Glance

Breville is a brand that, although it originated in Australia, has spread to more than 70 countries around the world.

One of the many products they sell is the Duo Temp. This Breville espresso machine, although not fancy, is a great entry-level espresso machine for beginner baristas.

One thing that makes this machine stand out is its 1600-watt Thermocoil-integrated stainless steel water path.

To put it simply, it’s a great water heater. With it, you get coffee that’s brewed at just the right temperature.

Even though the device is for beginners, that lets you feel like you’re a pro barista without having to face a huge learning curve.

This third-wave specialty coffee machine also has an auto purge for its heating system after every steaming. So, once you’re done frothing milk, you can clean the device out easily.

Auto purge basically speeds up the time it takes to switch from brewing espresso to steaming milk.

That means you get a faster cup of coffee. I don’t know about you, but that’s definitely a perk for me!

Pros

Low-pressure pre-infusion, so the machine promotes maximum flavor extraction
The steam wand is high-powered, which means you can create beautifully textured microfoam
Features a 9-bar extraction process, so there’s even extraction from the beans
Comes with automatic purging, meaning you can guarantee your next cup of espresso won’t get burned

Cons

The water tank is at the machine’s back, so it can be a hassle to remove and refill it
No integrated grinder, meaning you should purchase a separate grinder if you want to grind coffee beans on your own

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Breville Infuser At A Glance

The Breville Infuser is one of the Breville Group’s espresso machines. The company, which launched in Sydney in 1932, originally sold radios.

However, over the years, they’ve become a household name thanks to their espresso machines.

One of those machines is the Breville Infuser, which lets at-home baristas really play around with their coffee. In fact, all that personalization is what really makes this machine stand out.

A few things you can adjust are the bean dosage, water pressure, milk foam, and temperature.

With the temperature, for instance, you can adjust in increments of 4 degrees Fahrenheit.

So, if you want an extra hot latte, that’s a possibility. Or, if you prefer your coffee lukewarm (jail, in my book), you can go that route too.

On top of that, the machine features a low-pressure pre-infusion. It increases the machine’s pressure gradually, so the machine pulls as much flavor as possible out of the beans.

The adjustability and pre-infusion add up to a super-personalized cup of coffee. Overall, it’s great for baristas who want to skip the Starbucks lines and have their perfect brew at home.

Pros

Adjustable PID temperature control so you can create an espresso according to your desired heat
Has a fast warm-up time, meaning you can easily make a cup before work in the morning
Comes with a dry puck feature, so it’s easier to get rid of used coffee grounds
Features a pre-infusion system, which means that you get super flavorful coffee.

Cons

It’s bulky, so it might not fit small countertops
A lot of programmable settings can be a hustle for beginners

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Breville Duo Temp Pro vs. Infuser: The Similarities

Now that you know a bit about both these machines let’s get into their similarities.

The most obvious similarity between the Breville Duo Temp Pro and the Breville infuser is their appearance.

However, there are a lot more similarities than just that.

Here’s a breakdown of what both of these machines have in common.

PID Technology

Both machines have a PID technology (Proportional Integral Derivative). It allows maximum control of a loop feedback mechanism.

To put that in layman’s terms, that means you can easily control and monitor the temperature of your coffee’s water.

Why is this important?

Well, having the right water temperature is important for extracting flavor from your beans.

If the water is too hot, the coffee can taste burnt and over-extracted. If the water is too cold, however, it can taste weak and under-extracted.

So basically, this PID system makes it easy for you to get a great brew.

Pressure

One more thing that both espresso machines feature is a standard 9-bar pressure system. They achieve this through the 15-bar Italian pump from Breville.

This is actually a pretty high pressure for coffee extraction. As a result, it creates a creamy and sweet espresso in every brew.

So this means that both machines will give you an espresso with great crema and lots of flavor!

Steam Wand

Breville Infuser and Duo Temp Pro feature commercial-style steam wands. This type of milk frother allows milk steaming and frothing for your cappuccinos or lattes.

The commercial-grade steam wand takes 15 seconds to achieve its full power. This is sort of slow, but that’s actually a good thing.

Why?

Because of the slow-progressing steam, you have more time to aerate the milk. It’s perfect when you’re a beginner!

Just a heads-up, though., The steam wand is manual. So, it can take a little patience to master how it works, especially with frothing milk.

Water Tank

Both these Breville espresso machines in this face-off feature a 61-oz removable water tank.

Because the tank is removable, it’s really easy to refill. Just detach it from the machine and fill it directly in the sink.

On top of that, with the 61-oz tank, you can create at least 9 cups of espresso! If you prefer lattes, both machines enable you to make at least a dozen cups.

This means you’ll only refill the water tank at least once or twice a week.

Portafilters

breville portafilter — *Source: breville.com*

Portafilters ensure only fresh ground coffee is used during brewing.

They normally come in one of two types:

pressurized
non-pressurized

Pressurized portafilters can correct issues with the grind size. They’re best used with slightly coarser grounds and maintain even pressure for a more consistent brew.

These are best for beginners.

On the other hand, non-pressurized portafilters have a bit of a learning curve. You have to get the coffee grind right in order to get the right pressure.

The benefit is that they allow more extraction control, so you can make a better espresso.

Both these Breville machines feature pressurized and non-pressurized portafilters. That means they’re both beginner and expert-friendly.

Auto Purge

Both machines have the auto-purge feature.

This means it’s easy to switch from brewing to steaming and vice versa. It also means you can get your espresso shot faster.

These machines’ Thermocoil heating system is responsible for making this possible.

What it does is auto-purge the steam wand before pulling a shot. This allows excess hot water to drip into the machine’s drip way.

As a result, the auto-purge stops temperature surfing.

It only takes about 15 to 30 seconds, too, making it the next fastest thing to a Breville dual boiler.

Breville Duo Temp Pro vs. Infuser: The Differences

Now that we’ve gone over the similarities between the Breville Duo Temp Pro and the Infuser, it’s time to talk about the differences.

This is where each machine really starts to show off what makes it special.

Here’s a look at the differences and how they affect your coffee.

Programmability

The Breville Infuser has a lot of programmable settings.

For instance, its adjustable PID temperature control lets you tweak the temperature of your brew. That way, you can get a drink that’s as hot or cool as you like.

It also helps you get your espresso extraction just right.

You can’t do that if you’re getting the Breville Do Tem Pro. While it also has PID technology, the temperature is not adjustable.

Another edge of the Breville Infuser espresso machine over Duo Tem Pro is the single-shot or double-shot programmability. This allows you to make a cup with better consistency with the same coffee grounds used.

WINNER
The Breville Infuser wins this round since it allows temperature and volume adjustments.

Hot Water Spout

Not everyone likes pure espresso.

If you fall into this bucket, a hot water spout can be a nice touch to your machine. It lets you make hot chocolate, tea, or americanos as opposed to just shots and lattes.

Breville Infuser is a proud espresso machine with this feature.

On the contrary, the Duo Temp Pro does not have a hot water spout. Instead, it produces hot water using the steam wand.

This means you also have to manually switch between hot water and steam by pressing the button.

Although you can still make americanos or tea with it, it’s not as powerful as a hot water spout, and it’s much slower.

WINNER
The Breville Infuser wins this round because it has a hot water spout, which is faster and more powerful than producing hot water with a steam wand with Duo Temp Pro.

Interface

breville inerface — *Source: breville.com*

The interfaces of these machines are pretty different.

For starters, the Breville Infuser features different programmable buttons on the interface. It also has a self-cleaning button and a pressure gauge.

In contrast, the Duo Temp Pro’s interface looks cleaner and more straightforward.

All the machine’s brewing aspects can be controlled using the turn-knob on the front of the machine. This actually makes it a bit easier to use than the Breville Duo Temp because you don’t have tons of controls to fiddle around with.

Of course, while it might be easy to use, it’s not quite as advanced as the Breville Infuser. So, you sacrifice customization for ease of use.

WINNER
The Breville Duo Temp Pro wins this round. It has a straightforward interface that looks cleaner and is less overwhelming for beginners.

Size and Weight

The Breville Infuser measures 10.2 x 12.5 x 13.2 inches. That makes it a pretty compact machine.

It also weighs 17 pounds, which makes it a little on the lighter side.

On the other hand, the Breville Duo Temp Pro measures 15.5 x 13.3 x 17.6 inches.

It’s 2 pounds heavier than the Infuser, so it can be a bit tougher to move around.

Still, both machines are relatively small, so they generally fit well on most countertops.

WINNER
Breville Infuser is the winner because it’s lighter and smaller, making it a bit easier to move around.

Cleaning

Figuring out when you need to clean your coffee machine can be tough.

After all, unless it looks dirty on the outside, most of us tend to assume all is well!

The trouble is that this can lead to mineral build-up in the machine. If you don’t clean it out, that can ultimately cause your brewer to jam.

Thankfully, the Breville Infuser features a “Clean Me” indicator. This lights up on its own when it’s time for you to clean the espresso machine.

It normally lights up when too many residual oils and grinds accumulate around the machine’s brew head.

This feature makes it easy for you to tell when it’s time to clean the device. To clean it, use the small filter basket along with Breville’s rubber seal in the portafilter.

Then, add one of Breville’s cleaning tablets to the filter. Turn the machine off and then hold down the single and double shot buttons for ten seconds. This will start the cleaning cycle.

Place a pitcher under the filter and allow the cleaning cycle to run. It’ll take about 5 minutes.

Afterward, just press and hold the double shot button to purge any lingering solution, and you’re all set!

Cleaning the Breville Duo Temp Pro works pretty much the same as with the Breville Infuser.

However, it does not have a cleaning indicator.

As a result, you’ll have to guess when it’s time to clean the machine.

WINNER
The Breville Infuser wins thanks to the indicator that lets you know when to clean it. Other than that, the cleaning cycle of these machines is the same.

Value for Money

breville espresso machine — *Source: breville.com*

Both machines are reasonably priced.

They can get the job or make espresso well, and their large water capacities reduce the times you should refill the tank.

Plus, both machines also have the Thermo block system, allowing fast water heating.

If you’re looking for a more budgeted option, the Breville Duo Temp Pro is cheaper. Still, it doesn’t come with the extra bells and whistles that the Infuser does.

As a result, since the Infuser isn’t too much more expensive, it tends to provide better value for money.

WINNER
The Breville Infuser wins this round because it’s well-priced but comes with lots of special features.

The Final Verdict

When it comes to Breville Duo Temp Pro vs Infuser, the Infuser takes the lead. It gives you more programmability and lets you hone your barista skills.

Choose the Breville Infuser if: