The short version
| Bambino | Bambino Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ✓ $299.95 | $485.00 |
| Espresso | Same heater, pump and 54 mm basket | Same heater, pump and 54 mm basket |
| Milk | You steam it by hand | ✓ Steams it for you, or by hand |
| Steaming 170 ml of milk with the wand | 52 seconds | ✓ 40 seconds Coffee Kev |
| Hot water for an Americano | ✓ Its own button | From the steam wand |
| Water tank | 1.4 L (47 oz) | ✓ 1.9 L (64 oz) |
| Tamper in the box | Plastic | ✓ Metal |
| Warranty | 1 year | ✓ 2 years |
A check mark shows which one comes out ahead on that line.
Which one is right for you
Bambino Our pick
You want good espresso for less, and you don’t mind steaming milk by hand. Or you want to learn latte art. Or you drink Americanos, since it has its own hot-water button. The money you save can buy a grinder.
Bambino Plus
You drink lattes or cappuccinos most mornings and want the milk done for you. You like a bigger water tank and a longer warranty, and you’re fine paying more for them.
Marco at Craft Coffee Spot used both for over a year. He says both have great insides, and the big difference is the milk. His advice: buy the Bambino and a grinder, which together cost about the same as the Plus alone. Watch.
Your first latte
Bambino
- Fill the water tank. Grind your coffee on your separate grinder.
- Turn it on. Breville says it’s ready in 3 seconds.
- Press the grounds flat with the tamper, lock the handle in, and brew.
- Steam the milk yourself with the wand. Expect a few tries before it’s silky.
- Pour the milk over the espresso. Wipe the wand.
Bambino Plus
- Fill the water tank. Grind your coffee on your separate grinder.
- Turn it on. Breville says it’s ready in 3 seconds.
- Press the grounds flat with the tamper, lock the handle in, and brew.
- Pour milk into the jug, set it on the tray, and press the milk button. It steams on its own.
- Pour the milk over the espresso. Empty the small drip tray often.
Once you’re comfortable, a common starting point is about 18 grams of ground coffee, stopping at about 36 grams of espresso, in about half a minute. Tom’s Guide got exactly that, 18 in and 36 out in 28 seconds, on the Breville Bambino.
What it really costs
Neither machine has a grinder, so add one to compare. Most grinders made for drip coffee can’t grind fine enough for espresso, so you need one made for it.
machine grinder you’d need to buy
Grinders in this chart: KINGrinder K6 ($109.00), Baratza Encore ESP ($199.95).
Amazon prices as of Nov 6, 2026, 4:59 PM PT.
The milk is the real difference
The Bambino Plus has a milk button. Set the jug on the tray, press it, and it steams the milk on its own. You can still steam by hand. The Bambino has only the hand wand, with a one-hole tip. Coffee Kev timed both wands steaming 170 ml of milk: 40 seconds on the Plus and 52 on the Bambino. Watch.
“When we added the milk to our coffee, it retained a velvety texture that lasted all the way down our drink as we sipped it.”
TechRadar on the Bambino Plus, June 2021 · read the review
What reviewers said
“This shot was extracted in 28 seconds to a ratio of 1:2 (18g in, 36g out) with artisan Ethiopian beans.”
Tom's Guide on the Bambino, December 2025 · read the review
“I do notice the lack of a 3 way solenoid valve quite a bit, because removing the portafilter right after pulling a shot can be a messy affair”
CoffeeGeek on the Bambino, June 2024 · read the review
“On top of that, there's the tiny drip tray that needs emptying after every use.”
Tom's Guide on the Bambino Plus, May 2025 · read the review
What can go wrong
Bambino
- Coffee can splash around the cup, because the handle sits a little above it. (owner report 1, owner report 2)
- One owner’s plastic water tank cracked in two after a single cup. (owner report)
- It shakes while it brews, so keep an eye on your cup. (owner report)
Bambino Plus
- When it asks for a cleaning cycle, you can’t skip it. (owner report 1, owner report 2)
- A few owners report auto steaming stopping halfway, or the wand losing pressure. (owner report 1, owner report 2)
- The owners who love it point to the hands-free milk and the big water tank. (owner report 1, owner report 2)
We counted Reddit posts about problems in the first two years. There were about 16 for every 1,000 posts that mention the Bambino Plus, and about 9 for the Bambino. The Plus has more parts, like its auto-milk system, so more can go wrong. These are complaint counts, not failure rates. The Plus has a 2-year warranty; the Bambino has 1 year.
Questions people ask
Can I use pre-ground coffee in the Bambino Plus?
Yes. Use the double-walled basket that comes in the box. It's made for pre-ground coffee and forgives a lot. source
Does the Bambino Plus turn itself off?
Yes, it shuts itself off. Breville's manual doesn't say after how long. source
Is the Bambino Plus worth it over the Bambino?
Only if you want the milk steamed for you, a bigger tank or the longer warranty. The espresso is the same. Craft Coffee Spot, who used both for over a year, says the big difference is the milk. Watch.
Do the Bambino and Bambino Plus need a grinder?
Yes. Neither has one built in, and most grinders made for drip coffee can’t grind fine enough for espresso. A hand grinder like the KINGrinder K6 is the cheapest way to start.
What size tamper fits the Bambino and Bambino Plus?
Both take a 53.3 mm tamper. Breville calls the basket 54 mm, but it narrows inside. See tamper sizes.
Every spec, side by side
Show every spec, with sources
Each figure links to where it came from, usually the maker. “Maker doesn’t say” means we couldn’t find it in the maker’s specs or another source we can link.
Want something else?
- Just the Bambino: is the Breville Bambino worth it?
- Want the grinder built in? See Bambino Plus vs Barista Express.
- All our picks by budget: the best espresso machines under $500.
How we picked
We read each maker’s manual, the reviews where testers used these machines, and owner forums, and we link every fact. Brands don’t pay us to be picked. How we check.
Also read
Both machines take the same coffee. See the best espresso beans for a Breville or the best ground coffee for an espresso machine. If you also want a built-in grinder, read Barista Express vs Barista Pro.