Comparison
Breville Bambino vs Bambino Plus
The same espresso from both. The difference is the steam wand, so the answer depends on whether you drink milk drinks.
Our pick
Editor’s pick
Breville Bambino Plus
9.4/10
Buy this one if you want lattes without learning to steam milk. Its automatic wand textures the milk to the temperature and foam level you set and stops on its own, and it carries a two-year warranty to the Bambino's one.
Around $490
The alternative
Breville Bambino
9/10
Buy this one if you drink espresso straight, or want to learn latte art. The same three-second heat-up, PID temperature control and 54mm portafilter, with a manual wand that leaves the milk to you.
Around $300
Side by side
| Breville Bambino Plus | Breville Bambino | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | Around $490 | Around $300 |
| Steam wand | ||
| Steam wand | Automatic, adjustable temperature and texture | Manual |
| Heat-up | ||
| Heat-up | 3 seconds (ThermoJet) | 3 seconds (ThermoJet) |
| Brew temperature | ||
| Brew temperature | PID | PID |
| Pre-infusion | ||
| Pre-infusion | Low-pressure | Low-pressure |
| Portafilter | ||
| Portafilter | 54mm, 19g basket | 54mm, 19g basket |
| Shot buttons | ||
| Shot buttons | 1 or 2 cups | 1 or 2 cups |
| After steaming | ||
| After steaming | Purges itself | Not stated on the listing |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty | 2 years, limited | 1 year, limited |
Everything that makes the espresso is a tie. The rows that differ are the wand and the warranty, which is why the choice comes down to milk.
Buy the Bambino Plus if…
- You drink lattes or cappuccinos most days
- You don’t want to learn to steam milk
- Several people at home will use it
- You want the two-year warranty
Buy the Bambino if…
- You mostly drink espresso straight
- You want to learn latte art on a manual wand
- You’d rather spend less on the same espresso
- You like controlling the milk yourself
How the Bambino Plus and the Bambino differ
Pull a shot on each and you won’t tell them apart. Both heat in three seconds with Breville’s ThermoJet, hold the brew water with PID control, start the shot with low-pressure pre-infusion and take the same 54mm portafilter and 19g basket. Everything that makes the espresso is shared.
The steam wand is the whole difference. On the Bambino Plus you set the milk temperature and how much foam you want, put the jug under the wand, and it textures the milk and stops when it gets there. On the Bambino you hold the jug and do that yourself: a skill that takes a few weeks and lets you pour latte art once you have it.
The Plus also purges itself after steaming, so the next shot isn’t pulled through overheated water, and Breville’s listing gives it a two-year warranty against the Bambino’s one. It costs $190 more.
So the question is how you drink it. Straight espresso, or milk drinks you want to make by hand: the Bambino. A latte most mornings and no interest in learning to steam: the Bambino Plus.
Both need a grinder
Neither machine grinds, so either needs a burr grinder fine enough for espresso, unless you buy pre-ground.
Common questions
Which is better, the Breville Bambino Plus or the Bambino?
For most people, the Bambino Plus: its automatic steam wand textures the milk to the temperature and foam level you set and stops on its own, so a latte needs no technique, and it has a two-year warranty to the Bambino’s one. The Breville Bambino is better if you drink espresso straight or want to learn latte art on a manual wand. The espresso from both is the same.
What’s the difference between the Bambino and the Bambino Plus?
The steam wand. The Breville Bambino Plus has an automatic wand with adjustable milk temperature and texture that stops by itself; the Bambino has a manual wand you work by hand. Both have three-second ThermoJet heating, PID temperature control, low-pressure pre-infusion and a 54mm portafilter, and Breville’s listings give the Plus two years of warranty to the Bambino’s one.
Is the Bambino Plus worth it over the Bambino?
It is if you make milk drinks and don’t want to learn to steam: the Bambino Plus’s automatic wand is the whole difference, and it turns a latte into a button press. If you drink straight espresso, the Bambino makes the same shot for less.
Can you make latte art with the Bambino Plus or the Bambino?
Yes, with both. Breville says the Bambino Plus’s automatic wand makes microfoam for latte art; the Bambino’s manual wand takes practice but gives you full control of the texture, which is how most people learn to pour.
Do the Bambino and the Bambino Plus need a grinder?
Yes. Neither the Breville Bambino nor the Bambino Plus has a grinder, so pair either with a burr grinder that grinds fine enough for espresso, or buy pre-ground espresso coffee.
Neither one?
If you’d rather the grinder came in the box, see Bambino Plus vs Ninja Luxe Café. For every machine at this budget, see the best espresso machines under $500.