Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine
Ready in seconds; automatic milk wand; needs a grinder.
- ThermoJet
- Auto milk
- 54 mm
Coffee gear
Is the Breville Bambino Plus worth it?
Yes for most beginners who drink milk drinks: the Bambino Plus heats in seconds and textures milk automatically, which removes the two biggest frustrations. It isn’t worth it if you won’t buy a grinder, or if you mostly drink straight espresso on a tight budget.
The Bambino Plus uses Breville’s ThermoJet heating, so it’s ready in seconds, and its automatic steam wand textures milk to the temperature and froth you choose. It has a 54 mm portafilter and no built-in grinder, so the real cost includes a burr grinder that can grind for espresso.
Based on Specialty Coffee Association · Breville · De’Longhi
Which one should you buy?
De’Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine
15-bar pump and manual wand at an entry price.
- 15 bar
- Manual wand
- Budget
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine
Built-in conical burr grinder and pressure gauge.
- Built-in grinder
- Pressure gauge
- BES870XL
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: Worth it if you want lattes and cappuccinos with little learning curve. Get the De’Longhi Stilosa instead to test whether espresso is a hobby you’ll keep, or the Barista Express if you want the grinder in the same box.
This is a focused guide. For the full category with every pick, read the best espresso machine for beginners.
Bambino Plus vs the alternatives
Swipe the table sideways to see all three →
| Spec | Worth it for milk drinkersBreville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine | Cheaper way to find outDe’Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine | One box insteadBreville Barista Express Espresso Machine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat-up | ThermoJet, seconds | Boiler, slower | Thermocoil |
| Milk | Automatic wand | Manual wand | Manual wand |
| Grinder | Not included | Not included | Built-in conical burr |
| Footprint | Compact | Compact | Larger |
| Learning curve | Easy | Moderate | Moderate |
| Best for | Most beginners | Tight budgets | One-box setups |
| Price & stock | Check price | Check price | Check price |
Why pick Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine?
Two things make beginners quit espresso: waiting for a machine to heat and fighting with milk. The Bambino Plus is ready in seconds, and its automatic wand steams milk to your chosen temperature and froth level without you holding a jug.
Budget for a grinder that can grind fine enough for espresso. That raises the total cost, but a separate grinder is better than most built-ins and can be upgraded on its own later.
Great if you
- Make milk drinks most days
- Have limited counter space
- Want quick mornings
Skip it if you
- Don’t want to buy a grinder
- Make many drinks back to back for a crowd
- Want manual control over everything
Key specs
- Heating
- ThermoJet
- Milk
- Automatic steam wand with temperature/texture settings
- Portafilter
- 54 mm
- Shots
- 1 and 2 cup buttons
- Grinder
- Not included
Breville Bambino Plus Espresso MachineOpens Amazon; the live price and stock are shown there.
Check price on Amazon Why pick De’Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine?
If you aren’t sure espresso will stick, the Stilosa makes real espresso with fresh coffee and a capable grinder for a fraction of the price.
Warm-up is slower and steaming milk by hand takes practice, which is exactly what the Bambino Plus’s extra money removes.
Great if you
- Want to try espresso cheaply
- Mostly drink straight espresso or americanos
- Don’t mind learning to steam milk
Skip it if you
- Want fast, hands-free milk
- Plan to upgrade quickly anyway
- Need it to work with pre-ground coffee only
Key specs
- Pump
- 15 bar
- Boiler
- Stainless steel
- Milk
- Manual steam wand
- Water tank
- Removable
- Model
- EC260BK
De’Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso MachineOpens Amazon; the live price and stock are shown there.
Check price on Amazon Why pick Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine?
If you don’t want to buy two appliances, the Barista Express integrates a grinder and adds a pressure gauge that helps you learn.
Milk steaming is manual, and if the grinder fails the whole machine goes in for repair.
Great if you
- Want everything in one box
- Like a pressure gauge to learn from
- Have room on the counter
Skip it if you
- Want a top-tier grinder
- Want automatic milk
- Have a very small kitchen
Key specs
- Grinder
- Integrated conical burr
- Portafilter
- 54 mm stainless
- Milk
- Manual steam wand
- Gauge
- Pressure gauge
- Model
- BES870XL
Breville Barista Express Espresso MachineOpens Amazon; the live price and stock are shown there.
Check price on Amazon How to decide if the Bambino Plus is worth it
Add up the real cost: machine plus grinder plus fresh beans. Then decide which frustrations you’ll pay to remove.
Milk drinks
If you mainly drink lattes, the automatic wand is the biggest reason to buy the Bambino Plus.
Grinder
Budget for an espresso-capable burr grinder, or choose the Barista Express.
Counter space
The Bambino Plus is compact; the Barista Express is larger.
Learning
The Stilosa teaches you more but asks for more patience.
Breville Bambino Plus Espresso MachineOpens Amazon; the live price and stock are shown there.
Check price on Amazon Is the Bambino Plus worth it? Common questions
Is the Bambino Plus worth it over the Bambino?
The Plus adds automatic milk texturing. If you drink milk drinks, that’s usually worth paying for.
Does the Bambino Plus need a grinder?
Yes. It has no built-in grinder; you need a burr grinder that can grind for espresso, or pre-ground espresso coffee.
Is the Bambino Plus good for beginners?
Yes. Fast heat-up and hands-free milk make it one of the easiest machines to learn on.
Bambino Plus or Barista Express?
Bambino Plus for fast heat-up and automatic milk; Barista Express for a built-in grinder and gauge in one box.
How we judged value
We compared Breville and De’Longhi specifications and the sources on our main espresso machine guide, as of October 2026.
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 and Barista Express (accessed October 23, 2026)
- De’Longhi: Stilosa EC260 (official page) (accessed October 23, 2026)
- Specialty Coffee Association (accessed October 23, 2026)