How to Use a Breville Barista Touch

On this page (7 sections)

1. How do you make espresso on a Breville Barista Touch?
2. How do you choose and adjust a touchscreen drink?
3. How should you dial in the grinder and espresso?
4. Can you use Nespresso capsules in the Barista Touch?
5. How do you clean the Barista Touch after making a drink?
6. What should you do if the drink doesn't come out right?
7. What's the easiest way to learn the Barista Touch?

To use a Breville Barista Touch, choose a drink on the touchscreen, prepare the portafilter, and follow the prompts for brewing and milk steaming. Adjust the coffee and milk settings to match your cup, then save a changed recipe if you want to use it again.

The machine combines a built-in grinder, espresso brewing, and a steam wand with a touchscreen drink menu. Your first drink is easiest when you set up the beans, portafilter, and milk before choosing a recipe.

How do you make espresso on a Breville Barista Touch?

Select an espresso drink, prepare the portafilter with ground coffee, and follow the screen prompts. The machine guides you through the selected recipe, while the grind and dose affect how the espresso flows and tastes.

1. Fill the water tank and bean hopper as directed in the manual.
2. Choose an espresso drink on the touchscreen.
3. Grind coffee into the portafilter, then distribute and tamp it as instructed.
4. Lock the portafilter into the group head and start brewing from the screen.
5. Taste the espresso and adjust the recipe or grind for the next cup.

Start with the machine's suggested drink settings. Change one setting at a time so you can tell whether the next cup improves.

A whole bean espresso roast gives the built-in grinder beans to work with. Lavazza Super Crema is a medium roast Arabica and Sturdya blend described as ideal for espresso preparation.

The brew guide for this coffee uses 0.28 oz of ground espresso for a 1 oz shot. Treat that as a starting reference, and follow the Barista Touch instructions for its own dose and basket.

If you want a different brewing style, compare how to use a Breville Barista Express and how to use a Breville Barista Pro.

How do you choose and adjust a touchscreen drink?

Tap the drink you want, then review its coffee and milk options before you start. The touchscreen lets you adjust a recipe's settings, so you can tailor the drink without changing every control at once.

The available options depend on the selected drink. Espresso drinks focus on the coffee, while milk drinks also offer milk settings such as temperature and texture.

For a first cup, leave the suggested settings in place. If you want a stronger or milder result, adjust the coffee amount or shot volume incrementally and taste the next cup.

Save a custom recipe if you like the result and want it available again. Use the manual's instructions for naming, saving, or changing drink presets.

How to use Breville Barista Touch milk settings

Choose a milk drink and set the milk temperature and texture on the screen before steaming. Start with the suggested values, then make small changes based on whether you want a warmer drink or more foam.

Pour cold milk into the jug, staying within its fill marks. Position the steam wand as described in the manual, start steaming, and keep your hand clear of the hot metal parts.

When steaming ends, wipe the wand and purge it as instructed. Milk residue can dry on the tip, so clean it promptly after each use.

If you want to understand what the wand is doing, read how a steam espresso machine works. For a more manual workflow, see how to use a De'Longhi Classic espresso machine.

How should you dial in the grinder and espresso?

Change the grind gradually and judge the espresso by its flow and taste. A grind that's too coarse can make a shot run quickly, while a finer grind can slow it down; make one small adjustment before brewing again.

Use fresh beans and keep the hopper filled according to the machine's directions. If the espresso tastes sour or thin, check the grind and dose; if it tastes harsh or bitter, make a small adjustment and compare another shot.

Keep the portafilter basket and group head clean so old grounds don't affect the next brew. Brush away loose coffee and follow the manual's cleaning schedule.

The touchscreen's drink settings and grinder adjustments work together. If you change both at once, it becomes harder to know which change affected the cup.

Can you use Nespresso capsules in the Barista Touch?

No, Nespresso capsules aren't made for the Barista Touch's portafilter. The machine grinds whole beans for espresso, while Nespresso capsules need a compatible capsule machine.

Nespresso Vertuo capsules brew in the VertuoLine system and are not compatible with OriginalLine machines. The Vertuo variety pack includes Stormio, Odacio, and Melozio coffee capsules, each designed for a 7.8 oz serving.

Nespresso Original Ristretto Italiano capsules are made for the Original system and aren't compatible with Vertuo machines. They brew ristretto or espresso servings in compatible Original machines.

These capsules suit a separate Nespresso machine, not the Barista Touch. For the Touch, use ground coffee in its portafilter instead.

How do you clean the Barista Touch after making a drink?

Clean the portafilter, basket, and steam wand after use, and run the machine's cleaning cycle when prompted. Quick cleanup removes coffee grounds and milk residue before they dry.

Knock out the used coffee puck and rinse the basket and portafilter. Wipe the steam wand with a damp cloth, then purge it as the manual directs.

Empty and rinse the drip tray as needed. Follow the touchscreen prompts and manual for the cleaning disc, cleaning tablets, and descaling process.

Use supplies that match the machine's care instructions. Our guide to Breville Barista Touch cleaning supplies explains what to keep on hand.

What should you do if the drink doesn't come out right?

Check the simplest causes first: bean supply, grind setting, portafilter fit, water, and the selected recipe. Then make one adjustment and brew again so you can see what changed.

If espresso runs too quickly, try a finer grind in a small step and make sure the basket has the dose the manual recommends. If it barely flows, check whether the grind is too fine or the basket is overfilled.

If milk texture is off, check the jug fill level and wand position before changing the milk setting. Clean the wand tip if steam flow seems restricted.

For repeated errors, strange sounds, or a machine that won't heat or brew, check the troubleshooting section of the manual or contact Breville support. Don't remove covers or attempt repairs while the machine is connected to power.

What's the easiest way to learn the Barista Touch?

Make one drink at the suggested settings, then adjust only the part you want to change. That keeps the touchscreen workflow simple and makes it easier to learn how grind, coffee, and milk settings affect the cup.

Use whole beans for the built-in grinder and follow the on-screen steps from drink selection through brewing. For milk drinks, choose a milk setting before steaming and clean the wand right after.

Choose a Nespresso capsule only if you have a compatible capsule machine. For another Breville workflow, compare the Barista Express Impress setup and the standard Barista Express guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a drink on a Breville Barista Touch?

Select a drink from the touchscreen, prepare the portafilter with coffee, and follow the machine's prompts to brew. For a milk drink, fill the jug and use the steam wand as directed.

Use the screen's settings to adjust the drink, then clean the parts the manual says to clean.

Can you change the milk temperature on the Barista Touch?

The touchscreen includes milk settings for drinks that use steamed milk. Select the drink and review the available options before steaming, since the settings and steps can vary by drink.

Keep the jug within the fill marks and follow the manual's guidance for handling hot milk and the steam wand.

Can the Breville Barista Touch make coffee with Nespresso pods?

No, the Barista Touch is an espresso machine that uses ground coffee in its portafilter, while Nespresso capsules are made for compatible capsule machines. Vertuo capsules work only with the VertuoLine system, and Original capsules are not compatible with Vertuo machines.

What coffee beans work with the Barista Touch?

Use whole beans suited to espresso and grind them for the portafilter. Lavazza Super Crema is a medium roast Arabica and Sturdya blend described as ideal for espresso preparation.

Adjust the grind and dose using the machine's instructions and the results in your cup.