Breville Bambino vs. Bambino Plus – A Barista Reveals Which Espresso Machine Is Worth It

If you want a simple Breville espresso machine, you're probably stuck between the Breville Bambino and the Breville Bambino Plus. For an extra $150, you'll get a bigger machine with an automated milk system, but is it worth it?

As a former barista and H&G's coffee expert, I've had plenty of experience with both models. I've interviewed well over thirty baristas and their most common recommendation for the best espresso machine on the market is the Bambino. It's simple and allows you to make your coffee exactly as you like it.

If you like the look and sound of the Bambino, but you're not that confident with coffee, the Bambino Plus might be what you need. The automatic temperature and texture settings take the guesswork out of brewing. It's a lot less fuss and you'll get reliably good results. If you're savvy and shop the coffee maker sales, you might be able to pick up the Bambino Plus for the price of a Bambino anyway.

What Is The Difference Between the Breville Bambino and Bambino Plus?

I've fully tested the Bambino Plus and I've used the Bambino several times at one of my friends' places - I'm going to properly test the Bambino soon. Below, you can see my thoughts and the specs of the machines in a direct comparison.

On paper, there's very little difference between the two machines. They're roughly the same size, with similar-looking features, and their coffees taste the same.

The Bambino is obviously more of a manual experience whereas the Bambino Plus is more automatic. The Bambino Plus, unsurprisingly, is also slightly bigger than the Bambino, so that may be an issue if you have a small kitchen. On the other hand, that means that the Bambino has a larger water reservoir, so you can pull more shots before you have to refill it.

You'll see in the table below that the main difference is in milk frothing. It's worth noting that neither espresso machine has an integrated grinder, so it's worth looking at our guide to the best coffee grinders if you want to complete your coffee station.

Espresso

The most important test is a basic shot of espresso. For this, these machines are basically identical. That's because Breville shares its basic coffee set-up tech across its range of coffee machines. That means that even the bigger Barista Pro (which I adore) shares its incredible technology with the smaller Bambino range.

Both the Bambino and the Bambino Plus have Breville's signature ThermoJet heating systems, meaning they're warmed up and ready to go in just three seconds.

Both machines allow you to customize your shot length and strength, and offer a slow pre-infusion feature to help deliver a smooth, balanced espresso. As a result, the Bambino and Bambino Plus can produce comparably smooth shots, so if you primarily drink espressos and Americanos, you’re unlikely to miss the additional features of the Plus. As a result, both of the Bambinos are perfect for black coffee.

Milk Frothing

The differences between the machines really start to show through when it comes to choosing the Breville Bambino or Bambino Plus for milky coffees.

The Bambino’s steam wand rotates through 360°, making it easy to find the right angle for frothing milk. It also has a single-hole steam tip, which produces a gentler flow of steam, giving you more time to control the temperature and texture of your milk. This can be particularly helpful for beginners learning to achieve consistently smooth, silky results with dairy and non-dairy alternatives.

There are no automated frothing settings or presets on the Bambino, so you’ll need to master the technique yourself. That might sound daunting at first, but learning to steam milk by hand is a useful skill, particularly if you regularly use plant-based alternatives. These milks can be more sensitive to heat, and automated settings don’t always deliver the texture you want. Manual frothing gives you greater control over the temperature and helps you avoid overheating the milk.

If you’re a beginner who would rather skip the learning curve, however, the Bambino Plus is an excellent alternative as it froths milk automatically. Its steam wand doesn’t offer the same 360° rotation, but its pre-set frothing functions makes up for it by doing most of the work for you. You can choose from three temperature settings and three milk-texture options, giving you the flexibility to tailor your milk to different drinks without having to master the technique yourself. If you’re making coffee in an early-morning daze, that convenience can make all the difference.

Appearance

Both of these are approachable espresso machines. Their simple, slick appearances make them appealing to a range of coffee drinkers. Side by side, there are only a few subtle differences between the Bambino and the Bambino Plus. The Bambino Plus has an automated milk frothing system, which means that the hot water button has been shifted from the side onto the front panel. It doesn't look more crowded, but it makes the Bambino Plus appear like it can do more with your coffee.

The Bambino is slightly narrower at the top and has a 47 fl oz reservoir compared to the Bambino Plus' 64 fl oz setup. This looks like more than it is. The extra 17 oz is enough for about four cups of coffee, depending on the coffee you're making. If you live in a household with lots of coffee drinkers, you'll appreciate a bigger water reservoir, but you wouldn't miss it if you didn't have one.

You can choose a range of colors for Breville's Bambino Plus. It's available in stainless steel, black truffle, sea salt, damson blue, oyster shell, royal champagne, red velvet cake, black stainless steel and smoked hickory. I'm aware that list sounds more like a restaurant menu and, honestly, the colors look delicious.

The Bambino on the other hand, is available in only stainless steel. It looks smart and this is the style I would choose anyway, but it's always nice to have the option to add a pop of color.

Extra Features

Although the Bambino and the Bambino Plus have more in common than they do in differences, there are a few other things to note.

These come with a range of essential accessories, such as a tamper, portafilter, portafilter baskets, and a 16 oz steel milk jug. However, the Bambino Plus' tamper is metal rather than plastic, and while it doesn't really affect the coffee, it feels more premium. It also has a razor dosing tool, which is really useful if you want to make coffees with consistent flavors.

The drip trays are similar, but the Bambino Plus has a sensor underneath, measuring the temperature of your milk so that it doesn't burn. This is a useful feature, but it makes the drip tray feel less solid. Therefore, the Bambino, even though it's smaller and less expensive, feels more robust.

How Do They Rate Online?

The Bambino has 4.3 stars from 1.1k customers on Google Reviews, so you can see it's already a popular machine. If you've got the barista skills but not the space, this is the perfect option.

On the other hand, the Bambino Plus is one of the best espresso machines on the market. With 4.5 stars from 2.3k customers on Google Reviews, the Bambino Plus is more popular with more people.

Breville Bambino Vs Bambino Plus: Which Is Better?

Both of these have incredible reputations amongst baristas and home coffee enthusiasts. They're excellent quality, can handle a range of coffee types, and are made to love and last. The only downside of both machines is that they lack a grinder, but don't worry, Breville has an answer for that. Their AutoDose Coffee Grinder is available on Amazon and, if you don't like that, there are plenty of other excellent espresso machines on the market.

Choosing between the two is easy when you break it down. If you like milky coffees, using dairy milks, and you don't want a lot of hassle, buy the Bambino Plus. If you drink your coffees black, or plan on honing your frothing skills, buy the Bambino. You'll save money and won't feel like you've been cheated out of the features in the Bambino Plus.

FAQs

Is the Breville Bambino Plus Worth the Extra Money?

If you enjoy milky coffees but aren’t confident frothing milk yourself, the Bambino Plus is well worth the extra investment. Its automated settings take the guesswork out of the process, helping you achieve consistent results with minimal effort.

However, if you primarily drink espressos or Americanos, the additional features are largely unnecessary, making the standard Bambino a better-value choice.

Which Breville Bambino Is Best for Beginners?

Without a doubt, the Breville Bambino Plus is the best for beginners. While the coffee brewing process is virtually the same, the automatic milk frothing on the Plus allows for hands-free frothing without manual skill.

Which Breville Espresso Machine Is Best for a Small Kitchen?

If size alone is your primary concern, then the Breville Bambino is the best choice, with a slightly smaller footprint compared to the Bambino Plus, however the difference is minimal if you prefer the automatic milk frothing on the plus.

The Bambino measures 7.7" x 12.6" x 12.2", while the Plus comes in at 9.6" x 16.3" x 16.9".

Which Breville Bambino Is Best for Latte Art?

Both the Breville Bambino and the Bambino Plus are great for latte art with their built-in milk frothers. The difference is the approach.

If you are a beginner or want to simplify the process, we recommend the Plus, with the hands-free automatic steam wand with preset temperature and foam levels.

If you would like to build and perfect the skill manually, then the standard Bambino with the manual steam wand can encourage skill building, requiring you to froth the milk to the perfect consistency yourself.

Does the Breville Bambino Have a Built-in Grinder?

Neither the Breville Bambino nor the Bambino Plus comes with a built-in coffee grinder, so you will need to pick up one of the best coffee grinders separately if you want to buy whole beans and prepare them yourself for freshness.

Other Coffee Makers to Consider

Of course, there are other machines on the market. Here's the competition from around a similar price point and functionality if you want something different.

How We Test Coffee Makers

I've tested both of these espresso machines myself. This means that I can give you a first-hand account of what both products are like to use. In particular, I took the Bambino Plus to our test kitchen where I made thorough notes on all aspects of the machine. From unboxing to washing up, I took note of every detail so that I know everything you need to. If you'd like to learn more about how we test coffee makers, visit our dedicated page.

I have also created guides to choosing the best coffee beans and how to store coffee grounds to help you brew the best coffee at home.

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