The Breville Barista Touch and the Bambino Plus are two top espresso machines from Breville, but they target very different users. The Barista Touch is an all-in-one solution with an intuitive touchscreen and a built-in grinder for those who want convenience and customization. In contrast, the Bambino Plus is a super-compact, lightning-fast machine that prioritizes simplicity and speed for beginners or those tight on space.
Here's everything you need to know to decide which of these excellent espresso machines is right for your kitchen counter.
Breville Barista Touch
The Breville Barista Touch is a premium semi-automatic espresso machine that makes creating specialty coffee at home incredibly straightforward. Its standout feature is the large color touchscreen, which guides you through creating everything from an espresso shot to a flat white. With a built-in conical burr grinder and automatic milk frothing, it merges high-level control with simple automation.
- What it is: An all-in-one semi-automatic espresso machine with a touchscreen interface and integrated grinder.
- Key features: Intuitive color touchscreen with pre-programmed café drinks, dose-control grinding with a built-in burr grinder, automatic milk texturing with adjustable temperature and foam level, and a 3-second heat-up time via the ThermoJet heating system.
- Price: Around $1,200 - $1,400
- Dimensions: 12.7" (W) x 13.1" (D) x 16" (H)
- Style: Modern and sleek, with a premium brushed stainless steel finish that looks professional on any countertop.
- Materials/Construction: High-grade stainless steel build for durability and consistent performance.
- Pros: All-in-one design simplifies the workflow (no separate grinder needed). Touchscreen interface is extremely easy to use. Allows you to create and save up to 8 personalized coffee settings. Automatic milk frothing creates perfect microfoam. Fast heat-up time.
- Cons: A significant investment compared to entry-level machines. The integrated grinder, while convenient, doesn't allow for future upgrades. Takes up more counter space than the Bambino Plus.
The Barista Touch is ideal for coffee lovers who want customizable, cafe-quality drinks with the convenience of a guided, user-friendly interface.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes880.html
Breville Bambino Plus
The Breville Bambino Plus is designed for speed, simplicity, and a small footprint. It's one of the most compact and fastest espresso machines on the market, perfect for beginners or anyone with a small kitchen. Despite its small size, it packs pro-level features like precise temperature control and an impressive automatic steam wand that delivers perfect milk texturing for lattes and cappuccinos.
- What it is: A compact, entry-level automatic espresso machine focused on ease of use and speed.
- Key features: Blazing-fast 3-second heat-up time with the ThermoJet heating system. Automatic milk frothing with adjustable temperature and texture levels. Simple button interface for one or two shots. Low-pressure pre-infusion for even extraction. Includes a 54mm portafilter and tamper.
- Price: $500 - $700
- Dimensions: 7.7" (W) x 12.6" (D) x 12.2" (H)
- Style: Minimalist and compact, with a clean stainless steel finish that fits seamlessly into modern kitchens.
- Materials/Construction: Stainless steel construction that feels sturdy despite its lightweight, compact design.
- Pros: Extremely compact and fits in any kitchen. The 3-second heat-up is almost instant. Superb automatic milk frothing for hands-free operation. Very easy to learn and use. More affordable entry point into high-quality home espresso.
- Cons: Requires a separate grinder, which is a significant additional cost. Fewer settings and customization options. Simplified interface isn't ideal for advanced users.
The Bambino Plus is the perfect machine for those new to home espresso or anyone who values counter space and speed over complex customization.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/espresso/bes500.html
Breville Barista Touch vs. Breville Bambino Plus Comparison
User Interface & Workflow
This is the most significant difference between the two machines. The Barista Touch is built around a slick, full-color touchscreen that guides you step-by-step through grinding, brewing, and milk frothing. You can select a drink like a latte or cappuccino, and the machine walks you through the process, even allowing you to adjust things like grind size and milk temperature and save the changes as a custom drink. It's a highly visual, intuitive experience.
The Bambino Plus uses a simple set of physical buttons: one for a single shot, one for a double shot, and buttons for milk temperature and texture. Its workflow is incredibly direct: grind your coffee separately, tamp it, lock the portafilter in, and press a button. This simplicity is great for beginners who might be overwhelmed by too many options, but it lacks the sophisticated customization of the Touch.
Dimensions & Footprint
If counter space is a primary concern, the Bambino Plus is the clear winner. At just 7.7 inches wide, it’s one of the smallest true espresso machines available, fitting easily under cabinets and in tight kitchen spaces. It's designed to be minimalist and unobtrusive.
The Barista Touch is by no means massive, but it's significantly larger due to its integrated bean hopper and grinder. At 12.7 inches wide, it requires more dedicated space. The tradeoff is that its all-in-one design means you don't need a separate area for a grinder, so the total footprint might be comparable depending on which grinder you'd pair with the Bambino Plus.
Grinder (Built-in vs. Separate)
The Barista Touch features a capable integrated conical burr grinder that is convenient and saves space. You simply place the portafilter into the grinder cradle, and it doses the correct amount of coffee grounds automatically. The downside is that you can't upgrade the grinder separately if your skills evolve.
The Bambino Plus has no grinder. This adds an extra step and cost to your setup, as you'll need to purchase a quality burr grinder to get the most out of the machine. The upside is a huge gain in flexibility - you can choose from hundreds of different grinders that may offer better performance or features than the one built into the Barista Touch.
Price & Value
There's a substantial price gap here. The Barista Touch typically costs more than double what the Bambino Plus does. However, when you factor in the cost of a good espresso-capable grinder for the Bambino Plus (which can easily be $200-$400), the gap narrows. The Bambino Plus offers incredible value as an entry point into the world of quality home espresso. The Barista Touch offers value through its seamless integration, convenience, and user-friendly automated features, which you pay a premium for.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both machines are fantastic performers from Breville, but they cater to different coffee-making philosophies and budgets.
Choose the Breville Barista Touch if:
- You want an all-in-one machine with a quality built-in grinder.
- You value a modern, intuitive touchscreen experience with guided tutorials.
- You want to save your own personalized coffee recipes for consistent results.
- Convenience is a top priority, and you are willing to spend more for it.
Choose the Breville Bambino Plus if:
- You have limited counter space or need a very compact machine.
- Speed is critical - the 3-second heat-up is a huge plus for busy mornings.
- You're new to espresso and want a simple, straightforward machine that's easy to master.
- You already have a quality burr grinder or want the freedom to choose your own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the main difference between the Barista Touch and Bambino Plus?
The main differences are the user interface and the grinder. The Barista Touch has a color touchscreen and a built-in grinder, making it an all-in-one unit designed for guided customization. The Bambino Plus uses simple buttons, is much more compact, and requires you to buy a separate coffee grinder.
Do I need a separate grinder for the Bambino Plus?
Yes. The Bambino Plus does not have a built-in grinder. To make quality espresso, you will need to purchase a separate burr grinder capable of grinding fine enough for espresso. Pre-ground coffee is not recommended as freshness is key to good espresso.
Which machine heats up faster?
Both machines use Breville's ThermoJet heating system and have an impressive 3-second heat-up time. Neither machine will keep you waiting to pull your first shot.
Are these machines good for beginners?
The Bambino Plus is arguably one of the best espresso machines for beginners due to its simplicity and excellent performance. The Barista Touch is also very user-friendly thanks to its touchscreen guides, but its higher price and greater number of features may be a bit much for someone just starting out.
How is the milk frothing on these machines?
Both models feature an excellent automatic steam wand that creates silky microfoam and allows you to adjust milk temperature and texture level. This is a standout feature for both, making it easy to create lattes and cappuccinos without manually texturing the milk.
Does the Barista Touch make better espresso than the Bambino Plus?
Not necessarily. Both machines have the core technology (like precise temperature control) to produce excellent espresso. Assuming you pair the Bambino Plus with a grinder that is as good as or better than the one in the Barista Touch, the resulting espresso quality can be identical.
Is the Barista Touch worth the extra money?
It depends on your priorities. If you value the convenience of an all-in-one system, a modern touchscreen interface, and the ability to save custom drinks, then the higher price of the Barista Touch is easily justified. If you prefer keeping things simple and modular, the Bambino Plus offers better financial value.
Which one is easier to clean?
The Bambino Plus is slightly easier to clean. It's a simpler system without an integrated grinder to maintain. The Barista Touch requires regular cleaning of the machine, the steam wand, and the built-in grinder.
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