Breville Barista Express & Pro Upgrades: The Accessories Worth Getting

The Barista Express and Barista Pro are two of the best entry-to-mid espresso machines on the market. But out of the box, they're leaving some extraction quality on the table. A few targeted upgrades can make a noticeable difference — here's what's actually worth it.

1. Bottomless Portafilter — The Biggest Upgrade You Can Make

Swapping to a bottomless portafilter is the single best thing you can do for your espresso. No spouted portafilter means you can see exactly how your puck is performing — channelling, uneven distribution, tamping issues all become immediately visible.

Both the Barista Express and Pro use a 54mm portafilter, and we've just added two new options that have been flying out the door:

• Black Series 54mm Bottomless Portafilter — clean, blacked-out aesthetic that looks sharp on any bench
• Aluminium Rosewood 54mm Bottomless Portafilter — warm tones, premium feel, a bit of a statement piece

Browse the full 54mm portafilter range here.

2. Self-Levelling Tamper — Remove the Guesswork

Uneven tamping is one of the most common causes of channelling and inconsistent shots. A self-levelling tamper takes the guesswork out entirely.

Our 54mm Dual-Spring Self-Levelling Tamper — Black Walnut uses a dual-spring mechanism to apply even, repeatable pressure every time. The self-levelling collar keeps the base perfectly flat regardless of hand angle — so your puck prep is consistent shot after shot.

Finished with a solid black walnut handle and stainless steel base, it's a premium tool that genuinely improves your espresso. 76 reviews and counting.

3. High Diffusion Shower Screen — Better Extraction, Every Shot

The stock shower screen does the job, but a high diffusion replacement distributes water more evenly across the puck, which means more consistent extraction and better flavour clarity.

It's a five-minute swap and one of the most underrated upgrades in home espresso.

→ High Diffusion Shower Screen for Breville

4. Puck Screen — Cleaner Machine, Cleaner Shots

A puck screen sits on top of your coffee puck before you lock in the portafilter. It keeps the shower screen cleaner between cleans, reduces channelling, and makes knock-out easier.

Small upgrade, surprisingly satisfying results.

→ Shop Puck Screens

Start Here If You're Not Sure

If you're only going to do one upgrade, make it the bottomless portafilter. It immediately improves your feedback loop as a home barista — you'll learn more in a week of pulling shots than you would in months with the stock setup. Pair it with the self-levelling tamper and you've got a serious puck prep setup for under $160.

Any questions about compatibility? Get in touch — we're happy to help.