The Breville Bambino Plus and the original Bambino are two of the best compact espresso machines for home use, but they cater to different users. The main difference lies in automation and price: the Bambino Plus features an automatic hands-free milk frothing wand and more precise temperature control for about $200 more, while the standard Bambino offers a fully manual steam wand and basic controls for a more budget-friendly price.
Here's everything you need to know to choose the right Breville espresso machine for your kitchen counter.
Breville Bambino
The Breville Bambino is a super-compact espresso machine designed for speed, simplicity, and great-tasting espresso. Thanks to its innovative ThermoJet heating system, it's ready to brew in just three seconds. With its tiny footprint, it's an ideal choice for apartments, small kitchens, or anyone who doesn't want their coffee setup to dominate their counter space.
- What it is: An entry-level, compact home espresso machine focused on fast, high-quality espresso shots.
- Key features: 3-second ThermoJet heat-up, 15-bar Italian pump, pre-infusion function for balanced extraction, powerful manual steam wand.
- Price: Around $300-$350
- Dimensions: 7.7" W x 12.6" D x 12.2" H
- Materials/Construction: Durable stainless steel housing and professional-style 54mm portafilter.
- Style: Sleek, minimalist, and modern. Comes in a brushed stainless steel finish.
- Pros: Extremely fast heat-up time. Very compact footprint fits almost anywhere. Affordable price for high-quality espresso. Simple, three-button operation is easy to learn.
- Cons: Manual steam wand has a significant learning curve to achieve good microfoam. No temperature or shot volume adjustment. Smaller water tank requires more frequent refilling.
This machine is for the espresso purist on a budget who enjoys a hands-on process and doesn't mind learning manual milk frothing.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/products/espresso/bambino.html
Breville Bambino Plus
The Breville Bambino Plus takes everything that's great about the original and adds a layer of convenience and precision, primarily with its automated steam wand. It maintains the same incredibly fast 3-second heat-up time but lets you create perfectly textured microfoam for lattes and cappuccinos at the touch of a button. It's the perfect machine for anyone who wants consistently fantastic milk-based coffee drinks without the learning curve.
- What it is: A compact home espresso machine with advanced features, including an automatic milk frothing wand.
- Key features: 3-second ThermoJet heat-up, automatic steam wand with adjustable milk temperature and texture levels, precise digital temperature control (PID), programmable shot volumes, automatic steam wand cleaning purge.
- Price: Around $500-$600
- Dimensions: 7.7" W x 13.2" D x 12.2" H
- Materials/Construction: Premium stainless steel build quality and a 54mm portafilter.
- Style: Polished and modern, available in multiple finishes like brushed stainless steel, black, and oyster.
- Pros: Automatic steam wand produces perfect microfoam every time without any skill required. Digital temperature control leads to more consistent espresso shots. Slightly faster and more convenient workflow. Larger water tank.
- Cons: Significantly more expensive than the standard Bambino. It's slightly deeper, taking up a bit more counter space.
The Bambino Plus is for home baristas who primarily drink lattes or cappuccinos and value consistency and convenience over manual control.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/products/espresso/bambino-plus.html
Breville Bambino vs. Bambino Plus Comparison
Dimensions & Footprint
Both machines are celebrated for their compact size, making them ideal for small kitchens. The standard Bambino measures 7.7" x 12.6" x 12.2", making it one of the smallest proper espresso machines on the market. The Bambino Plus is the same width and height but is slightly deeper at 13.2" to accommodate its more advanced internal components.
While the difference is minor (less than an inch), it's worth noting if your counter space is extremely limited. For most kitchens, both will fit comfortably without issue, but the original Bambino is the absolute winner for minimizing footprint.
Milk Frothing & Steam Wand
This is the most significant difference between the two models. The standard Bambino has a traditional manual steam wand. It’s powerful, but it requires practice and proper technique to create silky microfoam. If you're willing to learn, you can achieve great results, but expect a learning curve.
The Bambino Plus eliminates this entirely with its automatic, hands-free steam wand. You simply place the milk jug on the temperature sensor, select your desired milk temperature (3 settings) and froth level (3 settings), and press a button. The machine does the work for you, producing consistent, cafe-quality microfoam that's perfect for latte art. After steaming, it automatically purges the wand, making cleanup easier. For latte and cappuccino drinkers, this feature alone is a huge upgrade.
Control & Features
The standard Bambino prioritizes simplicity with just four buttons: one shot, two shots, steam, and hot water. It's designed for someone who wants to pull a shot and be done. There's no way to adjust brew temperature or shot volume - what you see is what you get.
The Bambino Plus offers more user control. It has precise digital temperature control (PID) for greater shot-to-shot consistency and gives you the ability to program shot volumes. This extra layer of control allows you to fine-tune your espresso to your exact preferences, which is a valuable feature for enthusiasts who want to experiment with different coffee beans.
Price & Value
The Breville Bambino typically costs around $300-$350, offering exceptional value. For that price, you get a machine that heats up in seconds and produces genuinely great espresso. If you primarily drink espresso and don't mind a little manual work for the occasional milk drink, its value is hard to beat.
The Bambino Plus comes in at around $500-$600. While the price jump is significant, the value it provides is clear for the right user. The automatic steam wand, temperature control, and programmable shots remove major hurdles in making fantastic coffee at home. If convenience and consistent results are important to you, the higher price is easily justified.
Who Each One Works Best For
The right machine for you comes down to your coffee habits and budget. The Breville Bambino is perfect for new home baristas who primarily drink espresso or Americanos, live in a small space, and work with a tighter budget. It’s also a good choice for people who enjoy the craft of coffee and want to learn the skill of manually texturing milk.
The Breville Bambino Plus is designed for latte, flat white, and cappuccino lovers who want cafe-quality results without the fuss. It's for users who prioritize convenience, consistency, and automation. If you value a machine that can produce perfect microfoam every single time you use it with no effort, the Plus is the clear winner.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both models are excellent choices that produce high-quality espresso, but they serve different priorities.
Choose the Breville Bambino if:
- Your budget is under $400.
- You mostly drink straight espresso or Americanos.
- You enjoy a hands-on process and are eager to learn manual milk frothing.
- You need the absolute most compact machine possible for a very tight space.
Choose the Breville Bambino Plus if:
- You regularly make lattes, cappuccinos, or other milk-based drinks.
- Convenience and shot-to-shot consistency are your top priorities.
- You want to make perfect microfoam effortlessly without any learning curve.
- You have the extra budget and are willing to invest in time-saving automation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Bambino and Bambino Plus?
The biggest difference is the steam wand. The Bambino Plus has an automatic, hands-free steam wand with adjustable temperature and texture settings for effortless milk frothing. The standard Bambino has a fully manual steam wand that requires skill to use effectively. The Plus also adds digital temperature control (PID) for more consistent espresso shots.
Which one is better for beginners?
For a true beginner who wants to make any type of coffee drink, the Bambino Plus is easier to use out of the box due to its automatic milk frothing. For beginners who only want to learn espresso and are on a budget, the standard Bambino is a fantastic and straightforward starting point.
How fast do they heat up?
Both machines feature Breville’s ThermoJet heating system and are ready to brew in just 3 seconds, which is exceptionally fast for a home espresso machine.
Do these machines have a built-in grinder?
No, neither the Bambino nor the Bambino Plus has a built-in grinder. You will need to purchase a separate, quality coffee grinder to use either machine with whole beans.
Is the price difference for the Bambino Plus worth it?
Yes, if you primarily drink milk-based coffee like lattes or cappuccinos. The automated steam wand delivers such consistent and high-quality results with zero effort that it easily justifies the extra cost for anyone who values convenience and cafe-quality microfoam.
Can you make good latte art with the standard Bambino?
Yes, absolutely. The manual steam wand on the Bambino is powerful enough to create silky microfoam suitable for latte art. However, it requires a lot of practice and technique to master, whereas the Bambino Plus does it for you automatically.
Do both machines use the same size portafilter?
Yes, both the Bambino and Bambino Plus use a 54mm portafilter, which is standard for Breville's consumer-grade machines. They come with both single-wall (for fresh grounds) and dual-wall (for pre-ground coffee) filter baskets.
Is the Bambino Plus much bigger than the Bambino?
Not really. It is less than an inch deeper than the standard Bambino but has the same width and height. Both are considered very compact and will fit comfortably in most kitchens.
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