Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine
Ready in about 3 seconds and steams milk to the temperature and texture you pick, hands-free.
- ThermoJet, ~3 s
- Auto milk
- Compact
Coffee gear
Breville Bambino Plus vs Barista Express
Short version: the Bambino Plus is the better machine if you drink milk drinks and will buy a separate grinder; the Barista Express is the better buy if you want one box with the grinder included.
Both are 54 mm Breville machines with a 15-bar pump and PID temperature control. The Bambino Plus heats in about 3 seconds and textures milk for you. The Barista Express adds an integrated conical burr grinder with 16 settings, a pressure gauge and a bigger water tank, but you steam milk by hand.
Based on Specialty Coffee Association · Breville
Which one should you buy?
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine
Conical burr grinder with 16 settings doses straight into the portafilter, plus a pressure gauge to learn from.
- Built-in grinder
- 16 settings
- Pressure gauge
We don't list prices because they change daily; Amazon shows the current price and stock when you click. We earn a commission on purchases, which never decides a pick. How we choose.
The short answer: Latte or flat-white drinker with room in the budget for a grinder: Bambino Plus. Want everything in one box and to learn by watching a pressure gauge: Barista Express.
This is a focused guide. For the full category with every pick, read the best espresso machine for beginners.
Bambino Plus vs Barista Express: spec by spec
Swipe the table sideways to see both →
| Spec | Best for milk drinksBreville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine | Best all-in-oneBreville Barista Express Espresso Machine |
|---|---|---|
| Heat-up | ThermoJet, ready in about 3 s | Thermocoil |
| Milk | Automatic, adjustable temp & texture | Manual wand |
| Grinder | Not included | Integrated conical burr, 16 settings, ½ lb hopper |
| Water tank | 1.9 L (64 fl oz) | 2 L (67 fl oz) |
| Pressure gauge | No | Yes |
| Footprint | Narrow and compact | Larger (needs ~16 in clearance per Breville) |
| Best for | Lattes, small kitchens | One-box setups |
| Price & stock | Check price | Check price |
Why pick Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine?
The Bambino Plus solves the two things that make beginners give up: waiting and milk. Breville rates the ThermoJet heater as ready in about 3 seconds, and the automatic steam wand textures milk to one of several temperature and foam settings while you pull the shot.
It does not include a grinder, and that is the real cost to plan for. Espresso needs fresh, fine, adjustable grinding, so budget for a capable standalone grinder. The upside is that the grinder you choose will usually be better than a built-in one, and you can replace either part on its own later.
It is very narrow, which helps under cabinets and on crowded counters. The 1.9-liter tank is a little smaller than the Barista Express’s.
Great if you
- Make lattes or cappuccinos most days
- Have little counter space
- Already own, or will buy, a good grinder
Skip it if you
- Want one box with no extra purchase
- Want to learn milk steaming by hand
- Want a pressure gauge
Key specs
- Heating
- ThermoJet, ready in about 3 seconds
- Milk
- Automatic steam wand, adjustable temperature and texture
- Portafilter
- 54 mm
- Water tank
- 1.9 L (64 fl oz)
- Grinder
- Not included
Breville Bambino Plus Espresso MachineOpens Amazon; the live price and stock are shown there.
Check price on Amazon Why pick Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine?
The Barista Express puts a conical burr grinder on top of the machine. Beans go in a ½-lb sealed hopper, you set grind size on a 16-step dial, and it doses straight into the 54 mm portafilter. That saves buying and finding counter space for a second appliance.
The pressure gauge is a good teacher: it shows whether a shot ran too fast (grind finer) or choked (grind coarser). The steam wand is manual, so milk takes practice, which some people enjoy and others never warm to.
The built-in grinder is decent but less adjustable than a good standalone espresso grinder, and if it fails the whole machine goes in for service. Breville lists a 2-liter tank, larger than the Bambino Plus.
Great if you
- Want everything in one box
- Like learning from a pressure gauge
- Have room under your cabinets
Skip it if you
- Want automatic milk
- Want the best possible grinder
- Have a very small kitchen
Key specs
- Grinder
- Integrated conical burr, 16 settings
- Hopper
- ½ lb, sealed
- Portafilter
- 54 mm stainless
- Water tank
- 2 L (67 fl oz)
- Model
- BES870XL
Breville Barista Express Espresso MachineOpens Amazon; the live price and stock are shown there.
Check price on Amazon How to choose between the Bambino Plus and Barista Express
Both machines share Breville’s 54 mm portafilter, a 15-bar pump that drops to about 9 bar during the shot, and PID temperature control. The decision is mostly about milk and grinding.
What you drink
If most drinks have milk, the Bambino Plus’s automatic wand is the biggest quality-of-life difference. For straight espresso and americanos, the milk system matters less.
Total cost, not sticker price
The Bambino Plus needs a grinder. Add one to its price before comparing with the Barista Express.
Counter and cabinet space
The Bambino Plus is narrow and short. The Barista Express is wider and taller, and Breville suggests about 16 inches of clearance.
Upgrade path
Separate machine and grinder let you replace one part at a time. An all-in-one is simpler but ties the two together.
Breville Bambino Plus Espresso MachineOpens Amazon; the live price and stock are shown there.
Check price on Amazon Bambino Plus vs Barista Express: common questions
Is the Barista Express grinder good enough?
For most beginners, yes: 16 settings cover typical espresso beans. Enthusiasts often outgrow it and add a standalone grinder.
Can the Bambino Plus use pre-ground coffee?
It can with the included dual-wall baskets, which are forgiving. For better shots, use fresh beans ground for espresso and the single-wall baskets.
Which heats up faster?
The Bambino Plus. Breville rates its ThermoJet as ready in about 3 seconds; the Barista Express’s Thermocoil takes longer.
Which is easier for a beginner?
The Bambino Plus for milk drinks, because the wand does the steaming. The Barista Express teaches more, thanks to the gauge, but asks more of you.
Do they use the same accessories?
Both use 54 mm portafilters and baskets, so 54 mm tampers and baskets fit either.
How we compared them
We compared the two machines using Breville’s published specifications and instruction books: heating system, milk system, grinder, water tank, footprint and included accessories, and weighed them against what beginners most often struggle with.
We have not hands-on tested these products; we compare published specifications, independent measurements and manufacturer documentation, and we update this page when models change. Read the full methodology.
What sources did we use?
- Breville: Bambino Plus vs Bambino comparison (US) (accessed October 23, 2026)
- Breville: Barista Express BES870XL instruction book (PDF) (accessed October 23, 2026)
- Specialty Coffee Association (accessed October 23, 2026)