MACHINE · BREVILLE BAMBINO PLUS · $400–500
It heats up in three seconds and ships with zero grinders. That is the whole personality: fast, small, and waiting for you to buy the part that matters.
The Bambino Plus is Breville’s compact machine: a ThermoJet heater, a 54mm portafilter, and an automatic steam wand that textures milk while you stand there feeling competent. Our read is based on specs, Breville’s own manual, and price. We have not run one in our kitchen.
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- For
- First-time espresso buyers who drink milk drinks, have a small counter, and will pair it with a real burr grinder.
- Skip it if
- You want a built-in grinder, you want to tinker with pressure and temperature, or you only drink straight shots and want a 58mm basket ecosystem.
- Price band
- $400–500 (check current price)
- Based on
- Specs, the manual, and price. No first-hand testing.
What you actually get
- 54mm stainless steel portafilter, 18g dose per Breville.
- ThermoJet heating, ready in 3 seconds, with PID temperature control.
- 15 bar pump with low-pressure pre-infusion, then extraction at 9 bar.
- Automatic steam wand: 3 milk temperatures and 3 texture levels.
- 1.9 L (64 fl oz) water tank. 4.95 kg. 11.9 x 7.4 x 14.3 in.
- In the box: 54mm tamper, Razor dose trimming tool, 480ml stainless jug, single and dual wall baskets.
- 2 year limited warranty.
Who it’s for
People who want a latte before work and do not want a second hobby. The auto milk wand is the reason to buy this over cheaper machines. It turns “I can’t steam milk” into a button press.
It is also the machine we point most beginners to in the Bambino Plus and Encore ESP pairing, because it leaves budget for a grinder.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who refuses to buy a grinder. Without one, this machine is a very fast way to make sad coffee.
- Straight-espresso people who want manual control over everything. There is no pressure gauge and no temperature menu on the spec sheet.
- Households pulling shot after shot for a crowd. It is small on purpose.
Three seconds to heat. Zero grinders included. Budget accordingly.
Bambino Plus vs Barista Express
| Bambino Plus | Barista Express | |
|---|---|---|
| Grinder | None | Built-in conical burrs, 16 settings |
| Portafilter | 54mm | 54mm |
| Heating | ThermoJet, 3 sec, PID | Thermocoil, PID |
| Pressure | 15 bar pump, pre-infusion, 9 bar | 15 bar pump, pre-infusion, 9 bar |
| Milk | Automatic wand, 3 temps x 3 textures | Manual steam wand |
| Water tank | 1.9 L | 2 L |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 year |
| Price band | $400–500 | $500–700 |
The short version: the Barista Express bolts a grinder on. The Bambino Plus makes you pick your own, which is annoying for a day and better for years. We argue that out in Barista Express vs a separate grinder.
Read the manual, it is short and slightly bossy
- Use the single wall baskets with fresh beans you grind yourself. The dual wall baskets are for pre-ground coffee.
- Auto frothing: Breville says to use only the supplied stainless steel jug, so a fancy new pitcher may not play nice with the auto mode.
- Run the cleaning cycle about every 200 extractions.
- Descaling is a button combination plus a tank of descaler. Steps are on our maintenance page.
What to put next to it
A grinder that can actually do espresso. Our default is the Baratza Encore ESP. Breville itself sells the two as a bundle, which is about as close to an admission as a brand gets. If you have more room in the budget, look at the Sette 270. The longer argument is on Grinder First.
Sources